Westerville or Powell (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati: cul-de-sac, transplants, amusement park)

[newuser1102]

I am considering a job with a major employer in Polaris & would be moving family (husband, 4 yr old & 2 yr old). We currently live in Cleveland (we enjoy) and previously in Cincinnati (way too conservative & not a lot of transplants). Neither my husband nor I are from Ohio (go badgers & steelers!).

We've decided we are ready for cul-de-sac life (took us awhile) and have been told to look in Westerville & Powell. We'd like 4 br, 2.5 ba, active/fun neighborhood, newer home, easy/quick commute to Polaris, access to airport, indoor rec center w/pool for kids, GREAT schools.

Recommendations??

Oh, we've heard Westerville is "dry"?? Help us understand....No alcohol sold at Kroger or restaurants? Can I enjoy a beer in my driveway?

[sftong]

if airport is your main criteria, then westerville is closer to airport than powell. it probably takes you 25-30 minutes to get to airport from powell.

if school is more important, then you might want to consider powell due to olentangy school being rated higher consistently in the past few years.

Both places offer newer communities, but I would think powell is pricier.

[LancasterNative]

Powell is more upscale, a little quieter, and still has a lot of its rural atmosphere intact. There's even a state-designated Scenic Byway (Ohio Rte. 315) that goes right through the area along the Olentangy River—one of the loveliest drives in all of greater Columbus.

Westerville is BIG! It's sometimes called the "suburb on steroids." Traffic is a zoo. But it has a wide array of housing options in different price ranges, and is closer to the airport.

As for being dry, Westerville always prided itself on being the birthplace and HQ of the Anti-Saloon League, and that heritage of nosey busybodies kept the entire city dry for over a century! The influx of newer residents in recent decades, not as willing to have Nanny-government do-gooders tell them what to imbibe, finally (thankfully) led to the lifting of local prohibition in most precincts.

That was way back in...2006!

The lasting legacy of Westerville's long ban on adult beverages: no really good or noteworthy restaurants in the area. Only fast-food and other chain places. That'll take some time to fix...

[streetcreed]

The lasting legacy of Westerville's long ban on adult beverages: no really good or noteworthy restaurants in the area. Only fast-food and other chain places. That'll take some time to fix...

Lancaster Native that is true. Westerville has to have the least interesting restaurant scene in the Columbus metro. I did notice a few new joints in the urban part of downtown westerville.

However, as I am sure you know, Westerville is located right next to areas of Columbus with a ton of restaurants in areas like Polaris and even 161 still.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by streetcreed

However, as I am sure you know, Westerville is located right next to areas of Columbus with a ton of restaurants in areas like Polaris and even 161 still.

That's a good point. Although some folks might mentally conflate Polaris w/the Westerville area and think of it as all one big 'burb, Polaris really is a separate place. It has its own ZIP code. In fact, Polaris is basically midway between Westerville and Powell.

[unicorn23]

I would pick Powell over Westerville.

[Mike Dunn]

Here is a link that may help you more with schools.

GreatSchools.net


Depending on your price range and travel time to airport.........maybe New Albany?

[OLHS_CHEER]

Powell over Westerville

[Cherron]

I just drove through Powell the other day for the first time. Wow! Gorgeous area. All the housing communities have awesome landscaping at their entrances and I felt as though I were driving through a garden. It was bumper to bumper traffic though. Highbanks Metropark is near with a nice nature center and good hiking trails if you are interested in that sort of thing. There is no hospital except for the new Methodist hospital in neighboring Dublin. I've been told this hospital considers alternative therapies and healings and even has a zen garden on it's property. There's a zoo, aquatic park and I believe even a small amusement park in the area too. Homes are definitely newer and pricier around Powell. Westerville has more diversity, with a nice mix of older and newer or lower-priced and higher-priced homes. It has many parks, inlcuding Inniswood Gardens MetroPark and a nice community center. It does have an older hospital (St. Ann's) and, like others have said, is much closer to the airport. The difference between the two cities is like night and day. You really need to compare them yourself.

[Fletchman]

Personally, I'd say Westerville is the better community. Outstanding downtown, great library, very safe. There are a great mix of homes that are attractive and well-kept.

Powell is a brand new area for the most part. The building standards, to me, seem cheaper than Westerville or Dublin. But, again, it depends which subdivision you look at. I also despise Sawmill Parkway, which curves and curves and has NO streetlights at night. Very congested and unsafe. Powell just doesn't seem very well planned.