Moving to Columbus from AZ - Bexley, Grandview or Clintonville? How about childcare? (Cincinnati: section 8, day care)

[pinki]

Hi!
We just found out we're moving to Columbus to begin my medical residency at OSU in July. We currently live in Phoenix, but are originally from Cincinnati and so are excited to be Buckeyes once again.

We need some help about places to live, preschools/daycares...
We would like to live close-in to the University Hospital - a walkable, mature, child-friendly neighborhood, tree-lined streets and homes with character. No suburban wasteland for us...from our research, we've narrowed our list down to Grandview, Bexley and Clintonville - do these fit our needs?

Also, we'll be needing fulltime childcare/preschool for an 18 month old and 3 year old - again, we'd like a unique place, no chains, please - any suggestions? The OSU daycare has something like an 18 month waitlist. So far, I've located the Columbus Montessori Center in Bexley, but am having a problem finding places in Grandview and Clintonville - any suggestions?

Thanks so much! Looking forward to calling Cbus home!

[urbangal]

Hello there,

welcome back to Ohio.

all 3 of the places you mentioned are great places; If you are purchasing a home, just remember Bexley and Grandview taxes will be almost double what you pay in Clintonville. Clintonville is part of the Columbus public school system, the other 2 are not. Clintonville and Grandview are a bit more walkable and have a few more things to do as far as retail, restaurants, etc.

Clintonville is very close to Worthington, I am pretty sure there is plenty of good childcare available there. As far as Bexley, the Jewish Community Center on College Ave has excellent childcare. The teachers/day care workers are outstanding, I know alot of people that have their children there.

[danielamarie]

If you move to Clintonville, check out North Broadway Children's Center Home or Indianola Children's Center [url=http://www.indianolachildrenscenter.org/] North Broadway is right in the middle of Clintonville and all my friends with kids there have loved it (and many of my friends are teachers). Indianola Children's Center is within walking distance of OSU and about 10 minutes from Clintonville. It would probably even be convenient if you lived in Grandview or Bexley because it is so close to OSU. You could easily drop your kids off on the way to work. A lot of professors send their kids there. It is independent and has a very child based curriculumn. OSU uses both of these daycares as research and student teaching sites for the school of education.
And don't worry about Columbus Public Schools. If you live in Clintonville, your child would attend either Clinton Elementary or Indian Springs Elementary, both of which might as well be suburban schools because of middle class make up of children. Everyone I know who has sent their kids to them has liked them and I did some work at Clinton in college and it was wonderful! Great principal and teachers! To be honest, I think that most of Columbus Public schools are good. A lot of times people don't want their children attending school with children who are minorities or from poverty which is a shame. But Clinton and Indian Springs don't have as many problems with poverty so it isn't even an issue. Good Luck! I'm sure you will find a nice place to live in Columbus.

[ChrissyR]

Fellow former buckeye/now Arizonan/moving back to Cbus person here! Just wanted to say good luck to you! Weve been in Tucson for 10 yrs now and my husband got a job at DFAS. We will be coming back home in May. I wish you the best.

[Looney1]

You should add Upper Arlington to your list. Right next to OSU- a heavily-OSU employed population. Best schools in the state.

[Tspang]

You should really check out Upper Arlington. The schools are terrific a wonderful family centered community.

[OHtoCT]

I have lived in Tempe, Phoenix, Grandview and Bexley. Tempe and Grandview are a bit alike (Grandview of course being really smaller). Bexley is great if you are affluent, senior cit, or grew up there. It is surrounded by four bad streets and to go anywhere via car, scooter or bike trails, you'll be passing through crappy neighborhoods. I would 150% say Grandview.

[streetcreed]

Bexley is not surrounded by all bad areas. The area west of Bexley, between Bexley and Downtown, is an area with many large, fixed up homes, but many poor African Americans.

However, the areas south of Bexley and east of Bexley are mostly middle class with some mixed incomes. Berwick (south of Bexley) is not a bad area is home to the mayor and his family. I think many generalize all the areas around Bexley as bad simply because some of them have section 8 or some poverty and are mixed income. I personally have no problem with mixed income areas.

[jmw2]

Bexley is certainly NOT completely surrounded by bad areas. While there are a couple questionable areas adjacent, there are wonderful communities that are also adjacent. Bexley is a wonderful community with a small-town feel. Yes, many affluent live here, but also many professional families in the upper-middle and middle-middle class. I am originally from Toledo and now live in Bexley. Certainly the taxes are very high, but I have learned that one gets what they pay for. If one could check, it would be noted that Bexley schools are truly rated one of the highest (along with Arlington) in the state, with one of the best rates for students being accepted into highly ranked colleges. That is absolutely the truth. The elementary schools are also ranked highest in the state, particularly Montrose Elementary in south Bexley. For Daycare, The Jewish Community Center really cannot be beat. It's worth the cost. My son now attends the JCC for daycare, he will attend this next school year for pre-K and I wouldn't have him anywhere else. We are not Jewish, we are Christian. You can't lose if you decide to look for homes here. And yes, I would also recommend trying Arlington, another wonderful area and school district.

[OLHS_CHEER]

What about Powell, also with great schools