river road/hillside (Cincinnati, Riverside, Norwood: crime rates, houses, safe neighborhood)

[smilinpretty]

Please tell me about the area of Cincinatti along the river. River Road and Hillside? Is this a safe neighborhood?

[aquila]

River Road goes a LONG way. Which particular section of Hillside Avenue are you talking about, because it literally stretches all the way from Sedamsville (lower Delhi...not a great area) over to Sayler Park (ehh...okay in spots). Parts of Hillside don't have many homes along them and simply meander along the side of the hill through a canopy of trees, with some dips and curves in the road. More than anything, it simply reminds you of an Appalachian country mountain road with predominantly older houses - turn of last-century saltboxes and ranches here and there. Not that I'm saying this in a negative prejudiced way, but it's a rather "hillbilly" area in places...where you're apt to see cars on cinder blocks and people sitting on their porches tossing back the beers. Other parts are okay...simply a country road. Just sayin'.

As a general rule I'd consider it safe, sure. I don't think you'd have to worry about crime too much along the Hillside Avenue area.

[smilinpretty]

Thank you so much for the information. The area I am talking about is where you see the cars on blocks and older houses with front porches, where you find people drinking their beer. Since you say that area is safe I will take your word. I will be in that area this summer.

[aquila]

Yeah, I'd consider it safe in general. It's just "redneckish", that's all...guys not wearing shirts outside, tattooed arms, carrying a beer around as they work on their cars, smoking a cigarette then tossing the butt on the ground. Not really safety issues...just kinda reminds you of small-town areas of the south. (Keep in mind, I'm not saying any of this in a prejudiced way...just relating an observation.) I wouldn't worry about people slinging guns around shooting at you, nor would I worry too much about people breaking into your home. You might encounter someone smoking pot - but if you look at this site, you'll see there have been a list of police calls made to the area, but it seems to be a lot of traffic stops and family assault complaints.

[Photon22]

Aqula, You sound as though you make a lot of damning "unpredjudiced " observations as you do a 50 MPH drive by! As someone who actually LIVES here I can say i find it's working class lack of uptightness refreshing.My neighbors smile and say hello.I suppose this is their "country" ways,still it 's nice.I moved here7 yearsago and enjoy it .I live in a 1880's italinate house with a interesting history and veiw of the river.I suppose thats redneckish tho..shucks. there are diverse income and racial groups in my neighborhood but i have never noticed that being a problem.Many families have lived here for 40 years or more.Says something ..

[goyguy]

Pete Rose grew up on Braddock St thereabouts. I think it's safe to say that he's a product of his environment in terms of his being a scrappy stubborn determined type of guy. The folks dwelling near the river west of downtown are "salt of the earth," to be sure, generally speaking. Over the past 50-60 years, much the same could be said of Norwood, the East End and California, Groesbeck, Lockland and Reading, and the Elmwood Place/Carthage/Hartwell belt. (Plus, people probably still refer to "Hamiltucky," lol.) The Appalachians are full of natural beauty, but you can't eat the scenery. GM, "Procter's," Cincinnati Milacron, and many other manufacturing companies offered scads of well-paying jobs which drew people from their mountain homes like a high-powered magnet.
Enough of the history lesson. I think aquila was "not hatin', just statin'." What makes this country great is all the cultures and lifestyles its people bring to it. I may not drive a pickup truck - let alone with a gun rack - or enjoy country or bluegrass music, or fear and despise "outsiders" particularly with different skin tones, or vote a right-wing slate. But there's something to be said for accepting people as they are and finding common ground to stand on with them. Oh Lord, Kumbaya
There's a distinction between prejudice (pre-emptive judgment of someone based on appearance and/or behavior) and preconceived notions. Preconceived notions mean that perceptions are made with the knowledge that every rule has its exceptions. My take on what aquila wrote is that s/he wasn't looking down on the "typical" Sedamsville-Addyston dweller, but just illustrating how they look and act. S/he may have preconceived notions about poor White Southerners while lacking in scorn or blanket assumptions. Who's kidding who when they say they totally lack preconceived notions? Every one of us starts accruing them not long past infancy. I've been, done, and seen way too much to let those get in the way of treating everybody the same and keeping an open mind. Far more Americans are that way in reality rather than irreparably "prejudiced."
OK...sorry for going professorial here, but this is ripe discussion material. I've run up against a LOT of preconceived notions as soon as newly-met individuals hear that I was raised in Cincinnati's suburb called Wyoming. The majority of people can put those notions aside (particularly when I "call them" on 'em and make light of it.) Some are prejudiced and can't see past it - their loss.
Back - finally - to the TO's question. If "smilinpretty" is what the name implies, the worst thing to worry about in Pete Rose's old stomping grounds would be catcalls from passing men. And guys can be pigs/dogs/etc like that no matter where you go.

[Riverwest]

I was informed about this thread by a friend who knows that I live in the area. Concerned citizens in these neighborhoods (Sedamsville/Riverside) have been working for many years to make these communites good places to live.

This area of Cincinnati has one of the lowest crime rates, and the highest amount of greenspace in the city. We have suffered a declining population over the years, mostly through displacement by various urban renewal initiatives. The people that are left are mostly working class, and share a deep commitment to the area. Those that move in appreciate the low density, river views, and close proximity to the city. Even in this economy, we are involved with multiple developers and new projects, and have several indivdual home renovations occuring.

As with any place, there are some folks whom you would like to have as neighbors, adn some you don't. For us, the location, the friendly people, and the river more than make up for that.