what do you hate about columbus (Cleveland, Toledo: rentals, neighbourhood, to live in)

[HuskerDu]

The alternative/indie rock music scene is practically non-existent. Cleveland, Cincinnati and even some smaller college towns put C-bus to shame. There is a definite lack of anything other than country fried blues rock, tired funk (uggg!!) or bands that sound like watered down versions of better, more established acts from other places... and OMG (in a raspy sorority girl accent), CD101 is just awful. There really is no character at all to the current Columbus independent music scene.

[charlessocccer]

I Grew up in Columbus, right by where northland used to be and i just moved out a year and a half ago to a smaller town on the outskirts of the county(im still in high school) i am up there normaly at least twice a week and i HATE it, hardly any good drivers, and the suburbs (at least on the noth to north east side) just keep geting worse and worse.

I used to hear gunshots EVERY night and we had wasy too many higher speed police chases to count on our street(secondary road) and almost all of my friends houses have been shot up at some point....

the area up by where northland was is pretty segregated, North of morse road and east of I71 was black, south of morse and east of I71 was somalian, north of morse and west of I71 was mexican, and south of morse and west of I71 was what is left of the whites....and ur not treated with very much repsect or any friendliness if ur in the area where ur skin doesnt match

[Traveler87]

It is truly funny to watch people bash Columbus when they do not know the true facts, basing their opinions as facts.

Worse weather in the nation???

A city not for young professionals? When it is attracting younger people from all over the country and world to work at its many fortune 500 companies. Come on people, learn a little about Columbus before you bash it like you do.

[Snodrifter]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

It is truly funny to watch people bash Columbus when they do not know the true facts, basing their opinions as facts.

Worse weather in the nation???

A city not for young professionals? When it is attracting younger people from all over the country and world to work at its many fortune 500 companies. Come on people, learn a little about Columbus before you bash it like you do.

Thanks for deleting that. I spent over 6 years living there. Was born in Columbus. Also graduated high school there. Also, lived in every other region of the country, so I'm taking what I've seen everywhere else and applying it to Columbus. I'm in town there at least once a year to visit family, etc. So, if Columbus has such a sparkling, fortune 500, young professional attracting economy, why aren't there a ton of tower cranes dotting the skyline? Why are there so few things to do, so few things to offer compared to other cities its size. And yes, I'm sorry, but when it's cloudy for about 75% of the year, I'd say that pretty much sucks. Again, not sure why you felt the need to delete my post, considering I was answering the thread title, and I feel I have a pretty damn good base of knowledge regarding the city. I mean, sure, it's better than, say, Dayton or Chillicothe, but compare it to San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, etc... Maybe it's you who needs to get out more and learn some things about other places before you just assume that someone is putting up some uneducated, unnecessary bashing...

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by Snodrifter

Thanks for deleting that. I spent over 6 years living there. Was born in Columbus. Also graduated high school there. Also, lived in every other region of the country, so I'm taking what I've seen everywhere else and applying it to Columbus. I'm in town there at least once a year to visit family, etc. So, if Columbus has such a sparkling, fortune 500, young professional attracting economy, why aren't there a ton of tower cranes dotting the skyline? Why are there so few things to do, so few things to offer compared to other cities its size. And yes, I'm sorry, but when it's cloudy for about 75% of the year, I'd say that pretty much sucks. Again, not sure why you felt the need to delete my post, considering I was answering the thread title, and I feel I have a pretty damn good base of knowledge regarding the city. I mean, sure, it's better than, say, Dayton or Chillicothe, but compare it to San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, etc... Maybe it's you who needs to get out more and learn some things about other places before you just assume that someone is putting up some uneducated, unnecessary bashing...

Seriously, its posts like this that show no true knowledge. Just because there are not cranes over the skyline does not mean it is not a progressive city.

Second off, I do get out a lot, my job requires it. I am going for my masters in planning, which means I travel all across the country, and Canada, look at my name, figured that would be a hint, guess not.

First off, learn the facts about Columbus, and half the other cities you just mentioned on there. Look at population growth, economy growth, and living standards as well as cost of living. Things will definately change on that list. Fortune 500 companies in Columbus??? Come on, you have lived there long enough like you said, you should know them, or at least one.

And every other region of the country? Name them please.

[Snodrifter]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

Seriously, its posts like this that show no true knowledge. Just because there are not cranes over the skyline does not mean it is not a progressive city.

Second off, I do get out a lot, my job requires it. I am going for my masters in planning, which means I travel all across the country, and Canada, look at my name, figured that would be a hint, guess not.

First off, learn the facts about Columbus, and half the other cities you just mentioned on there. Look at population growth, economy growth, and living standards as well as cost of living. Things will definately change on that list. Fortune 500 companies in Columbus??? Come on, you have lived there long enough like you said, you should know them, or at least one.

And every other region of the country? Name them please.

Re: Progressiveness of Columbus. I just never see it when I go back. Yes, there is new development. There is SOME new infill going on. Not much, mind you, but some. I'm happy to see it, for the city, but I notice a lot of people tout things way too highly, there. I.e, bragging about Easton and Polaris? C'mon! Also, there are very few residential options downtown. The arena district and the short north are both very small, area wise. German Village is nice, but I've noticed it seems to be declining. There really aren't a lot of areas with, say, mid-rise mixed use development and full blocks. It just isn't growing at a really appreciable rate. Compared to other cities in Ohio or the midwest, OK, sure, call it a freaking boom town, but on a national scale, compared to Western cities, it doesn't hold a candle. Facts, OK, Columbus has a low growth rate. Also, aren't a lot of companies leaving? I remember when Bank One (I think was the name) moved it's HQ from Cbus to Chicago. Is Borden still around? Wendy's has been doing just fantastically, hasn't it? Ok, there is Nationwide. Can't forget White Castle (Love the HQ building, btw...). Cost of living in Columbus, according to the military BAH rates, is actually higher than where I live now (Denver), and I can't figure out why. I wont knock the quality of life, but it's just kind of, well, tepid... Let's see, as for the where have I lived bit... Columbus, Minneapolis, Philly area, DC area, Phoenix, Norcal, Spokane, Pensacola, Dallas, San Antonio. Think I've seen enough? I'm at 46 states (all save the Dakotas, Oregon and Montana), 5 continents (everywhere but S.America and Antarctica) and 44 countries.

[NewToCA]

Snodrifter, having moved around a bit myself and having spent 14 years in Columbus I can see some of your points. However, I think that for Ohio, Columbus probably has the best future of any significantly sized city.

My major negative observations are just that the city is a bit bland in their store and restaurant collection, a bit more limited than I have seen in some cities of similar size(extremely chain oriented). Though downtown is fairly large in terms of land size, I find it to be a bit sparingly developed with quite a few vacant storefronts and too much surface parking. I think Columbus has been chided by a few authors for having a lack of willingness to save old substantial structures, so I believe quite a bit of historical architecture has been lost. I recall a discussion about a decade ago concerning a beautiful large brick mansion downtown that was demolished for expansion of a doctor office parking lot near Grant Hospital. That kind of stuff is a shame.

Until recently it seemed the city lacked synergy in establishing cultural icons. The move of COSI wasn't well thought out, ending up with suboptimizing the new COSI building, taking business away from the somewhat historically significant original Wendy's restaurant, and the substantial decline of the Columbus Historical Society during the past 15 or so years. Although a bit of a different objective, the integration of multiple facilities in the Arena District indicates Columbus is altering their development approach, and hopefully they will better integrate and colocate some of their museums too.

Finally, they have allowed City Center to languish far too long. The city should have provided incentives for redevelopment well before now, using it as a springboard for residential development so needed in the downtown area.

Overall I like the city, and enjoyed living there, but these are some things I thought could stand improvement.

[west5548]

Originally Posted by Snodrifter

Re: Progressiveness of Columbus. I just never see it when I go back. Yes, there is new development. There is SOME new infill going on. Not much, mind you, but some. I'm happy to see it, for the city, but I notice a lot of people tout things way too highly, there. I.e, bragging about Easton and Polaris? C'mon! Also, there are very few residential options downtown. The arena district and the short north are both very small, area wise. German Village is nice, but I've noticed it seems to be declining. There really aren't a lot of areas with, say, mid-rise mixed use development and full blocks. It just isn't growing at a really appreciable rate. Compared to other cities in Ohio or the midwest, OK, sure, call it a freaking boom town, but on a national scale, compared to Western cities, it doesn't hold a candle. Facts, OK, Columbus has a low growth rate. Also, aren't a lot of companies leaving? I remember when Bank One (I think was the name) moved it's HQ from Cbus to Chicago. Is Borden still around? Wendy's has been doing just fantastically, hasn't it? Ok, there is Nationwide. Can't forget White Castle (Love the HQ building, btw...). Cost of living in Columbus, according to the military BAH rates, is actually higher than where I live now (Denver), and I can't figure out why. I wont knock the quality of life, but it's just kind of, well, tepid... Let's see, as for the where have I lived bit... Columbus, Minneapolis, Philly area, DC area, Phoenix, Norcal, Spokane, Pensacola, Dallas, San Antonio. Think I've seen enough? I'm at 46 states (all save the Dakotas, Oregon and Montana), 5 continents (everywhere but S.America and Antarctica) and 44 countries.

Amen to this. Everything is overrated here or revolves around Ohio State.

[Snodrifter]

Originally Posted by NewToCA

Overall I like the city, and enjoyed living there, but these are some things I thought could stand improvement.

Absolutely. I should add that there are far, far worse places to live. I just got REALLY annoyed with all the self promoting fanfare that the city tried/tries to drum up, and the things that it tries to brag about... I'd just sorta stand there, **** my head to the side and say "wow, really?"

[maestro]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Columbus is UNDERRATED by those outside of Columbus, but OVERRATED by those in Columbus.