Apartment hunting in Clifton neighborhood and Finneytown (Cincinnati, Hamilton: middle-class, transplants)

[peanut's mom]

I posted a thread a couple of months ago asking about cultural and ethnic diversity in Cincinnati. Just to recap, my husband will be working out of the airport (yes, another Delta transplant) and we would like to live at least 30 minutes to/from there in a safe, middle class neighborhood. We have a 2-year old so we'd like to be near a park. Schools aren't as important at the moment since we'll probably move again before my kid gets to kindergarten.

We weren't sure if we were definitely moving until recently. The Clifton area and Finneytown were suggested places to look. We will be making a trip out in a couple of weeks in hopes of signing a lease on an apartment while there. I think we'll probably stay in Clifton and drive out to Finneytown. I need advice on:

- recommended hotels in Clifton area
- apartment complexes to consider
- mosques in either area
- any points-of-interest to check out

Would greatly appreciate the help.

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by peanut's mom

I posted a thread a couple of months ago asking about cultural and ethnic diversity in Cincinnati. Just to recap, my husband will be working out of the airport (yes, another Delta transplant) and we would like to live at least 30 minutes to/from there in a safe, middle class neighborhood. We have a 2-year old so we'd like to be near a park. Schools aren't as important at the moment since we'll probably move again before my kid gets to kindergarten.

We weren't sure if we were definitely moving until recently. The Clifton area and Finneytown were suggested places to look. We will be making a trip out in a couple of weeks in hopes of signing a lease on an apartment while there. I think we'll probably stay in Clifton and drive out to Finneytown. I need advice on:

- recommended hotels in Clifton area
- apartment complexes to consider
- mosques in either area
- any points-of-interest to check out

Would greatly appreciate the help.

Clifton is where you will find mosques, but there aren't any acceptable hotels in Clifton. And, Finneytown is an odd choice and not convenient to the airport.

[CincyExpert]

For apartments I suggest looking at Prince Frederick's in Finneytown or Williamsburg of Cincinnati about 2 miles east down the road in the Hartwell neighborhood. It takes about 30 min to get to the airport from both of these places during non-rush hour.

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by CincyExpert

For apartments I suggest looking at Prince Frederick's in Finneytown or Williamsburg of Cincinnati about 2 miles east down the road in the Hartwell neighborhood. It takes about 30 min to get to the airport from both of these places during non-rush hour.

Nonsense. Its 30 miles from Finneytown to CVG. And, at rush hour it would take an hour with no accidents on 75.

[CincyExpert]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

Nonsense. Its 30 miles from Finneytown to CVG. And, at rush hour it would take an hour with no accidents on 75.

So what would your recommendation be for a safe, diverse, middle-class neighborhood closest to the airport?

[goyguy]

Central Parke (sic) on Galbraith Rd is another nice Finneytown-area apartment complex. The longer - but much faster - way to the airport from there would be to take the Cross-County Highway west. At the end, simply head south on 275 and approach CVG from the opposite direction than almost everybody else.
Finneytown differs greatly from Clifton, one location being an aging inner-ring suburb with its businesses strung along a heavily-traveled street for over a mile while the other is a gracefully-aged city neighborhood with walkable commercial districts. The respective housing styles are also markedly different. All this will be readily apparent once you see for yourself.
As for accommodations, there's a Holiday Inn Express at Mitchell Ave and I-75 (close to Clifton as well as to the start of Winton Rd, the way to Finneytown.) Also not far from Clifton is the Vernon Manor, a restored 1920's hotel which is a nice place to stay in but not in the greatest location to walk around outside.

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by CincyExpert

So what would your recommendation be for a safe, diverse, middle-class neighborhood closest to the airport?

Northern Ky, would be my choice for a person working at the airport. For a nice neighborhood try Fort Mitchell (one of the best anywhere) Highland Heights or Erlanger. If pressed for a Cincinnati suburb it would be Anderson Twp. south of Beechmont.

The diversity thing about Clifton is way over rated. This is no longer 1955 and my Asian friends living in No Ky love it there. In Cincinnati, "diversity" is code for "lots of blacks." That doesn't translate well into a better lifestyle of necessity because of the differential demographics of urban black famailies in Southern Ohio. Kennedy Heights is the best well integrated neighborhood with a significant black, middle class population. Hamilton County has 1% non black minority population. There are Asian enclaves here and there, in such places as Sharonville, but that doesn't result in a bettter lifestyle for transplants necessarily.
I don't hate Clifton. If I worked at the Medical Center or UC, or even downtown, Clifton would be fine. But to arrange a long commute to and from Clifton is just silly.

PS, to Finneytown to West 275 to CVG is 37 miles.

PPS, the Vernon Manor is OK, but why would a visitor from out of town want to stay there? Stay at the Westin downtown (and enjoy the city center) or one of the plethora of Comfort Suites type motels in Erlanger or Florence since the house hunting commute to Cincinnati is only a few minutes. And there is no good reason to stay at the Mitchell Ave. Holiday Inn.

[soozycue520]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

PPS, the Vernon Manor is OK, but why would a visitor from out of town want to stay there? Stay at the Westin downtown (and enjoy the city center) or one of the plethora of Comfort Suites type motels in Erlanger or Florence since the house hunting commute to Cincinnati is only a few minutes. And there is no good reason to stay at the Mitchell Ave. Holiday Inn.

Vernon Manor is a fine hotel, and if you are looking to check out the Clifton area, this is the perfect choice. The hotel has charm & character. The staff treats you like family, and there is a free shuttle service to shuttle you around town, downtown, wherever {in a 5 mile radius}.
cincinnati historic hotels, cincinnati accommodations, cincinnati weekend packages - Vernon Manor Hotel, Cincinnati Ohio

There is also the Kingsgate Marriott.
Kingsgate Marriott Conference Hotel at the University of Cincinnati: Accommodations for successful conferences in Covington

These hotels cater to the area hospitals and universities, and are quite respectable places to stay.

peanut's mom, I am not familiar with Finneytown, but near the hospitals, new condo complexes are going up left & right, and the Gaslight Village of Clifton is a really cool place to live. CliftonCommunity.org

[jlrosen]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

Clifton is where you will find mosques, but there aren't any acceptable hotels in Clifton. And, Finneytown is an odd choice and not convenient to the airport.

There are several very nice bed and breakfasts in Clifton that aren't terribly expensive. Also the Kingsgate Marriot on the UC campus (not technically clifton but very close)

[peanut's mom]

Originally Posted by soozycue520

Vernon Manor is a fine hotel, and if you are looking to check out the Clifton area, this is the perfect choice. The hotel has charm & character. The staff treats you like family, and there is a free shuttle service to shuttle you around town, downtown, wherever {in a 5 mile radius}.
cincinnati historic hotels, cincinnati accommodations, cincinnati weekend packages - Vernon Manor Hotel, Cincinnati Ohio

There is also the Kingsgate Marriott.
Kingsgate Marriott Conference Hotel at the University of Cincinnati: Accommodations for successful conferences in Covington

These hotels cater to the area hospitals and universities, and are quite respectable places to stay.

peanut's mom, I am not familiar with Finneytown, but near the hospitals, new condo complexes are going up left & right, and the Gaslight Village of Clifton is a really cool place to live. CliftonCommunity.org

Thanks for the links.

I have checked out CliftonCommunity.org and it really piqued my interest in the neighborhood.