Relocating to Gahanna /young family/ where to live?

[Lucy112]

Originally Posted by carlek

Also wanted to mention that the whole Westerville district allows intra-district enrollment (so you can enroll at any school in the district) if the schools you want have space and you agree to transport your child. Also we have an elementary-level Magnet program that you can lottery into for Arts, Math/Science and World Cultures. So there are options if you end up not liking your home school. But honestly, in your price range you should be able to afford a house that is zoned for one of the best elementary schools.

That's good to know! Do you know what the good/not so good elementary schools are specifically? Sometimes greatschools isn't accurate with their ratings..

[carlek]

Just so you can see some examples, this is a house right down the street from me that attends Alcott Elementary, Genoa Middle and Central HS (frequently considered the best school trio in Westerville): 6975 Hilmar Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216006674 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Same area: 7188 Greenery Court, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216005561 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

This is in the same general area, same schools. Smaller, less expensive: 6772 COLLINGWOOD Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216007371 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

This one's further north, attends Fouse Elementary, also very, very good: 7533 Totten Springs Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216007313 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

This one's just to the south of my neighborhood and is in the City of Westerville, not Genoa Twp (slight tax differences though both provide very good services, snow removal, police/fire, etc.). It's in Olde Mill, attends Robert Frost Elementary, very good: 543 Grist Run Road, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216007444 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Here's one in Spring Grove, attends Mark Twain, also very good: 22 Lynette Place S, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216006176 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Just some examples of what you can get in the area (and no I'm not a realtor, I just like looking at listings).

I would say to avoid Hawthorne and Wilder and maybe Pointview (but that last one's a maybe, I don't really know). The rest all have good to great reputations. Hawthorne and Wilder are in neighborhoods you probably wouldn't even look at because they are lower in price/home value. Both are on the Westerville/Columbus border rather than in Westerville proper.

I'm so sorry, I misread your price range as being up to $300,000 and all the links I posted are above what you indicated. I still think you could find what you are looking for with a good, fast realtor. Like I said, I'd only avoid those two schools, and even then there are folks who love those schools. I'm just basing it off hearsay. I still think you could find houses in that range in a good school attendance area. Possibly older homes and under 2,000 sq ft, but they're out there.

You might consider the parts of Blacklick that feed into Gahanna schools (not Southwestern/Licking) as well.

Here's an example of one in that range. It's a good area, but smaller and older, though fixed up. I think it would be either Robert Frost or McVay elementary, both very good reputations: 200 MATTHEW Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216008183 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Nice area, Mark Twain or McVay I think?? 1069 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216006794 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Another older, fixed up one. This is in Huber Ridge and people seem to really like their elementary school. Also close to shopping and a neat park: 182 Brisbane Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216006714 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Robert Frost elementary zone: 410 OLDE MILL Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216004009 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

[Lucy112]

Originally Posted by carlek

Here's an example of one in that range. It's a good area, but smaller and older, though fixed up. I think it would be either Robert Frost or McVay elementary, both very good reputations: 200 MATTHEW Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216008183 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Nice area, Mark Twain or McVay I think?? 1069 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216006794 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Another older, fixed up one. This is in Huber Ridge and people seem to really like their elementary school. Also close to shopping and a neat park: 182 Brisbane Avenue, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216006714 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

Robert Frost elementary zone: 410 OLDE MILL Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 | MLS 216004009 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

This is all great info. Thanks for looking into this for me! I'd love to be in the Alcott/Fouse schools, but it's good to know there's a chance I could get into them or the magnet schools if we're in a different neighborhood.

[Lucy112]

Originally Posted by carlek

I would definitely look at Westerville too! We moved to northern Westerville (Genoa Township 43082 zip) 2 years ago after being in an inner-ring suburb for several years (needed more space). It was between Gahanna and Westerville because my husband works in New Albany. We just liked Westerville better. It has a great sense of community and the historic Uptown area is awesome, as are the parks, library and walking/biking trails. I wouldn't put too much stock in Great Schools either. When we bought our house my daughter's school (Alcott) was ranked a 9 and this year it's coming up as a 7 and I have no idea why. It's a fantastic school in a great neighborhood! And getting to Gahanna/Easton is pretty easy from here, you just hop on Sunbury Rd and take it all the way. A lot of Genoa Twp may be out of your price range (300K plus homes) but we lucked out and out neighborhood area (Northern Lakes/Sherbrook/Orchard Lakes) has houses from $250 to $300 depending on size). It's a great area. Also Genoa Farms and Covington Meadows are in the 200s. There are so many other great neighborhoods further south in Westerville that feed into good elementary schools too. Spring Grove, Millstone Creek, etc., etc. Except for a couple of schools right on the Columbus/Westerville border I don't think you can go wrong in Westerville!

Thanks Carlek for your suggestions! We drove through those neighborhoods (Sherbrook, etc) in Westerville and loved them! We are working with an agent and hope a listing comes up soon. We are also checking out the Polaris area but north Westerville is our top choice.

[carlek]

Originally Posted by Lucy112

Thanks Carlek for your suggestions! We drove through those neighborhoods (Sherbrook, etc) in Westerville and loved them! We are working with an agent and hope a listing comes up soon. We are also checking out the Polaris area but north Westerville is our top choice.

Great to hear Lucy! Just be aware, if looking at the Polaris area, that some parts of it may be Worthington schools (good), some Columbus schools (I'd avoid), and some Olentangy schools (very good). That's the weird thing about central Ohio--the "city" listed in an address doesn't automatically correspond to the school district, so be very careful about checking which school district a house or neighborhood feeds into. For instance, there are neighborhoods to the immediate SW of the Polaris area that have a Westerville address and zipcode but are actually Worthington schools (again, Worthington is a good district). It's really bizarre.

Did you guys look at the Annehurst neighborhood at all? It's I guess in the SW quadrant of Westerville, quite close to parts of Worthington, and full of homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. It's got a fantastic elementary school, a community park with its own pool, and from what I hear, a wonderful sense of community. I just thought of it because it would definitely be in your price range and I hear great things about it. Here are two in that area on the market now:

http://www.herrealtors.com/homes-for...3081-152971743

http://www.herrealtors.com/homes-for...3081-173086162

I'll keep my ear to the ground for you about homes on some of the FB groups I'm on.

[Lucy112]

Originally Posted by carlek

Great to hear Lucy! Just be aware, if looking at the Polaris area, that some parts of it may be Worthington schools (good), some Columbus schools (I'd avoid), and some Olentangy schools (very good). That's the weird thing about central Ohio--the "city" listed in an address doesn't automatically correspond to the school district, so be very careful about checking which school district a house or neighborhood feeds into. For instance, there are neighborhoods to the immediate SW of the Polaris area that have a Westerville address and zipcode but are actually Worthington schools (again, Worthington is a good district). It's really bizarre.

Did you guys look at the Annehurst neighborhood at all? It's I guess in the SW quadrant of Westerville, quite close to parts of Worthington, and full of homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. It's got a fantastic elementary school, a community park with its own pool, and from what I hear, a wonderful sense of community. I just thought of it because it would definitely be in your price range and I hear great things about it. Here are two in that area on the market now:

176 Spring Hollow Lane, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 215024258 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

708 College Crest Road, Westerville, OH 43081 | MLS 216007711 | Listing Information | HER Realtors Columbus, Cincinnati, & Dayton Ohio Real Estate

I'll keep my ear to the ground for you about homes on some of the FB groups I'm on.

We just found a house that listed in the Polaris area (Prestwick Commons) with Olentangy schools. I drove through that neighborhood and really liked it. I know the schools are great and it seems like a cute community. I just worry about traffic! Do you know if traffic would be really bad on 270 and 71 during rush hour? I understand the mall being really busy, especially during the holiday season, but if it's just constantly busy with high traffic all the time, then that would be a pain.

[carlek]

Originally Posted by Lucy112

We just found a house that listed in the Polaris area (Prestwick Commons) with Olentangy schools. I drove through that neighborhood and really liked it. I know the schools are great and it seems like a cute community. I just worry about traffic! Do you know if traffic would be really bad on 270 and 71 during rush hour? I understand the mall being really busy, especially during the holiday season, but if it's just constantly busy with high traffic all the time, then that would be a pain.

Lucy, I'm going to send you a direct message. I'd like to add you to this huge FB group I'm on for moms in the Westerville/Lewis Center area (that neighborhood is in Lewis Center) because I think those ladies would have better answers for you on the traffic issue (I'm a SAHM so I don't really know, but I do think that Polaris Pkwy would probably be no fun at all during rush hour). Also, it would be a great place to ask about neighborhoods, upcoming home listings, etc.

[karana1]

I live in Gahanna in an older subdivision near Easton, Royal Manor, and I'd like to add my 2 cents. If you're set on finding a forever home, then maybe this info isn't for you. But, I'd suggest dipping your toe into one of the older subdivisions to build up some equity and also have a short commute to a new job. Check the police reports for crime stats in various precincts and take a look at the Franklin County Health Dept page's safety audits for pools and restaurants. Very interesting reading! Check with local realtors and ask about problems with: flooded streets, snow removal, and termites.
Westerville has Gahanna beat with their fantastic library and the little shopping area surrounding it, but Gahanna's schools have been fairly highly rated consistently. Like a lot of areas around Ohio, you'll notice as you drive around that gas meters look like the original set up from the sixties and probably are. Streets too show crumbling curbs and several potholes. In some areas, you can't tell the difference between Gahanna, Westerville, Columbus, or Whitehall. I'm not saying that's good or bad, it just is.
Good luck!

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by karana1

Streets too show crumbling curbs and several potholes. In some areas, you can't tell the difference between Gahanna, Westerville, Columbus, or Whitehall. I'm not saying that's good or bad, it just is.
Good luck!

I can tell the difference when driving in Gahanna and Westerville versus [east-side] Columbus and Whitehall. Many more homes that need repair (or torn down) in the parts of Columbus/Whitehall south of Broad along James and Hamilton (these areas of East Columbus built after WWII but had been dealt to Columbus Public schools versus the suburban districts). Once you get west of James in Berwick and Bexley, it is a different story, especially Bexley's old money.

You cannot deny that there is more overall wealth in Gahanna and especially Westerville than the parts of Columbus you are referencing.

As for street maintenance, potholes and curb repair are a fact of life living in a northern climate where winters have many freezing and thawing periods (breaks up the pavement causing aforementioned potholes).