Is Columbus the best city in the Midwest? (Cleveland, Cincinnati: 2015, apartments)

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by MittenDweller82

I've lived in Columbus for 10 years. I've also lived on the west coast, Indianapolis, Chicago, and gasp...even Michigan. If I hadn't lived in so many other places, I might rate Columbus higher, but compared to even small Midwestern cities I think it is lacking.

Columbus is a growing area, but despite that as mentioned before on this thread it is culturally lacking, has bad urban planning, high crime, and is overall very polluted. Cleveland in comparison has much more to offer in fine art, theatre, parks and recreation (not just because its near a national park) and much better urban planning. The culture in Columbus is laser focused on football and beer. (its not for everyone, but I'm not knocking it). I have to go back to urban planning. So much of Columbus is paved with either parking lots or roads that have been abandoned. Nature is completely disregarded here which is sad because there are a lot of beautiful river front areas that have been polluted. Cities like Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids, Indy and even Chicago have spent large amounts of money on smart growth and implementing public transit, something that Columbus hasn't done. As the population grows here, the existing aging streets simply get more congested. Housing: Neighborhoods are insanely tight, even new developments-houses are literally on top of each other. In order to get space your looking at outer reaches of Dublin, Gahanna, (or spending millions). Again, urban planning. Crime-Crime has become a national spotlight for Columbus, with nearly every day bringing another homicide(s). Overall, I think Columbus has a very stable economy, but some serious issues with crime and blight. After 10 years here I am looking to relocate to a smaller city with more nature and cultural opportunities.

What? Chicago and Cleveland have higher crime than Columbus. Maybe you live in a bad part of town so this is skewing your perception of reality. Anecdote.
Cleveland is also more polluted. Cleveland just as much into sports if not more so with Indians, Browns, Cavs. Your take seems biased.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by dustin183

What? Chicago and Cleveland have higher crime than Columbus. Maybe you live in a bad part of town so this is skewing your perception of reality. Anecdote.
Cleveland is also more polluted. Cleveland just as much into sports if not more so with Indians, Browns, Cavs. Your take seems biased.

For anybody interested in high culture (theaters, orchestras, art museums), Columbus arguably is in the third tier among Midwestern cities. E.g., Columbus cultural amenities are far behind Cincinnati, let alone Chicago and Cleveland, two of the more cultured cities in the U.S.

I would like you to document that Cleveland is more polluted than Columbus. It may be true, but given the closure of most Greater Cleveland coal-fired electricity generators, I wonder if air pollution differs much between the two metropolitan areas CURRENTLY.

Columbus lacks any recreational resource comparable to Lake Erie, let alone even the Cuyahoga River.

https://www.10best.com/awards/travel...kayaking-spot/

https://www.wkyc.com/video/news/loca...2-9e34bdbfcf75

Less than 30 miles from downtown Cleveland:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/cuyaho...er-heard-of-it

Comparing crime in the cities of Cleveland and Columbus is ridiculous, given that Columbus is a much larger city that has swallowed up most of Franklin County, including suburban areas, and parts of surrounding counties. Cleveland has less than 20 percent of Cuyahoga County's land area, and less than a third of Cuyahoga County's population. Compare crime statistics for Greater Cleveland and Greater Columbus and you might have something worth discussing.

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by WRnative

For anybody interested in high culture (theaters, orchestras, art museums), Columbus arguably is in the third tier among Midwestern cities. E.g., Columbus cultural amenities are far behind Cincinnati, let alone Chicago and Cleveland, two of the more cultured cities in the U.S.

I would like you to document that Cleveland is more polluted than Columbus. It may be true, but given the closure of most Greater Cleveland coal-fired electricity generators, I wonder if air pollution differs much between the two metropolitan areas CURRENTLY.

Columbus lacks any recreational resource comparable to Lake Erie, let alone even the Cuyahoga River.

https://www.10best.com/awards/travel...kayaking-spot/

https://www.wkyc.com/video/news/loca...2-9e34bdbfcf75

Less than 30 miles from downtown Cleveland:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/cuyaho...er-heard-of-it

Comparing crime in the cities of Cleveland and Columbus is ridiculous, given that Columbus is a much larger city that has swallowed up most of Franklin County, including suburban areas, and parts of surrounding counties. Cleveland has less than 20 percent of Cuyahoga County's land area, and less than a third of Cuyahoga County's population. Compare crime statistics for Greater Cleveland and Greater Columbus and you might have something worth discussing.

I didn't say Columbus had more "high culture". Though even that is debatable.
Cleveland is known for crime. It's pretty much common knowledge. Same for St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore, etc. Not saying there aren't any safe parts of those towns or that those are bad towns. They just have higher crime rates.


So you don't think Columbus is the best city in the midwest?

What is your top ten ranking?

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by dustin183

I didn't say Columbus had more "high culture". Though even that is debatable.

Anything is debatable, as we've learned on a national level in recent days/years (Sen. Ron Johnson praising the Capitol rioters). For anyone familiar with the cultural institutions in Columbus versus Cleveland and Cincinnati, it's ridiculous to say it's debatable. Have you visited in the last five years the Cleveland Museum of Art or the Cincinnati Art Museum? Were you aware that admission to both museums, unlike the Columbus Museum of Art, is free? The Cincinnati Art Museum even offers free parking. Have you ever attended a Cleveland Orchestra concert at Severance Hall?

Originally Posted by dustin183

Cleveland is known for crime. It's pretty much common knowledge. Same for St. Louis, Detroit, Baltimore, etc. Not saying there aren't any safe parts of those towns or that those are bad towns. They just have higher crime rates.

Again, both Cleveland and Columbus have high crime neighborhoods, but Cleveland proper is a much smaller city than Columbus and doesn't have the sprawling suburban neighborhoods.

Originally Posted by dustin183

So you don't think Columbus is the best city in the midwest?

What is your top ten ranking?

Not playing that game. Don't even want to think about it, because it certainly depends upon the parameters being measured. However, I'm very certain that Columbus is not the best city in the Midwest, and based on all of the factors most important to me -- natural attributes (e.g., Lake Erie, Lake Michigan), medical care, high culture, pro sports, ethnic dining, housing affordability, and mass transit -- Columbus certainly doesn't rank in the top five Midwest cities.

[kingsdl76]

NO, it's not.

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Not playing that game. Don't even want to think about it, because it certainly depends upon the parameters being measured. However, I'm very certain that Columbus is not the best city in the Midwest, and based on all of the factors most important to me -- natural attributes (e.g., Lake Erie, Lake Michigan), medical care, high culture, pro sports, ethnic dining, housing affordability, and mass transit -- Columbus certainly doesn't rank in the top five Midwest cities.

Hmm... well it's a personal choice. If I were to live anywhere in the midwest Columbus would be my top choice. There is a certain je ne sais quoi about Columbus. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it is because I am not very fond of the other options. I've been to Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis. And for me at least Columbus would be my choice over those cities, but perhaps it's due to personal bias. Or maybe I don't like older cities? Columbus has a newer vibe, more diversified economy. I really don't like that massive steel rusty bridge in downtown Cleveland. I really hate that thing. It's not a good look, not an asset, they should delete it. Detroit is too blighted. Chicago is too dangerous and cold in winter.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by dustin183

I really don't like that massive steel rusty bridge in downtown Cleveland. I really hate that thing. It's not a good look, not an asset, they should delete it.

Rusty??? Veterans Memorial Bridge largely is a reinforced concrete bridge with one steel span.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroi...uperior_Bridge



https://fineartamerica.com/featured/...duct=art-print



https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1...oiowE3oECCsQAw


The Main Avenue Bridge which carries Route 2 is painted blue. Illuminated at night, it's spectacular, especially with a large lake freighter passing beneath it.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Avenue_Bridge



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_A...Ave_Bridge.jpg


https://imgur.com/r/Ohio/TvVgFlY



You really have confirmed your ignorance of Cleveland.

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Rusty??? Veterans Memorial Bridge largely is a reinforced concrete bridge with one steel span.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroi...uperior_Bridge



https://fineartamerica.com/featured/...duct=art-print



https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1...oiowE3oECCsQAw


The Main Avenue Bridge which carries Route 2 is painted blue. Illuminated at night, it's spectacular, especially with a large lake freighter passing beneath it.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Avenue_Bridge



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_A...Ave_Bridge.jpg


https://imgur.com/r/Ohio/TvVgFlY



You really have confirmed your ignorance of Cleveland.

Maybe it's not a bridge. A big rusty piece of scaffolding that just wreaks "we are rust belt". Maybe you can help me identify the structure. It's an eye sore, but maybe the city sees it as an homage to it's past or something and think it has historical or artistic value.

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by dustin183

Maybe it's not a bridge. A big rusty piece of scaffolding that just wreaks "we are rust belt". Maybe you can help me identify the structure. It's an eye sore, but maybe the city sees it as an homage to it's past or something and think it has historical or artistic value.

Bridges across the Cuyahoga Valley in downtown Cleveland are massive, and you described a "massive steel rusty bridge in downtown Cleveland." Now it turns out you don't have a clue what you're talking about (neither do I) in your disparaging comment. Again, this defamation is indicative of your ignorance of Cleveland and of your easy, disingenuous willingness to disparage Cleveland relative to Columbus.

Increasingly, and IMO sadly for Cleveland, Ohio and the U.S., the last remnants of Cleveland's great industrial past are disappearing. I know of nothing so conspicuous as a massive rusting bridge that says "we are rust belt," and, by your own admission, neither do you. However, there are "Cleveland" script signs strategically placed around Cleveland. See the video here:

https://www.thisiscleveland.com/loca...edgewater-park

This is Cleveland in the early 21st century.

The Clark Ave. Bridge, demolished 1980-85, is the only bridge that I remember fitting your description. When I was a young man in the late 1970s, and the bridge was closed and had holes in its deck, I once hiked it to get a up close view of an operating blast furnace at night. Is that the bridge you remembered?

http://unionmiles.org/wp-content/upl...-Cleveland.pdf

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by WRnative

Bridges across the Cuyahoga Valley in downtown Cleveland are massive, and you described a "massive steel rusty bridge in downtown Cleveland." Now it turns out you don't have a clue what you're talking about (neither do I) in your disparaging comment. Again, this defamation is indicative of your ignorance of Cleveland and of your easy, disingenuous willingness to disparage Cleveland relative to Columbus.

Increasingly, and IMO sadly for Cleveland, Ohio and the U.S., the last remnants of Cleveland's great industrial past are disappearing. I know of nothing so conspicuous as a massive rusting bridge that says "we are rust belt," and, by your own admission, neither do you. However, there are "Cleveland" script signs strategically placed around Cleveland. See the video here:

https://www.thisiscleveland.com/loca...edgewater-park

This is Cleveland in the early 21st century.

The Clark Ave. Bridge, demolished 1980-85, is the only bridge that I remember fitting your description. When I was a young man in the late 1970s, and the bridge was closed and had holes in its deck, I once hiked it to get a up close view of an operating blast furnace at night. Is that the bridge you remembered?

http://unionmiles.org/wp-content/upl...-Cleveland.pdf

This thing - what the hell is this thing? (left side of photo)

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/cl...44138-97345923