Bexley/Olde Town East (Columbus, Franklin: fit in, real estate, condos)

[help4columbus]

Hi everyone, My husband and I are moving to Columbus in the next few months. We are really excited about our move. We want to send our kids to Catholic schools, and are considering moving to Bexley or Clintonville. However, I am totally in love with a house that is about two blocks from Franklin Park, to the South. It is less than a mile to the Catholic h.s. in Bexley and less than 2 to the Catholic grade school. It is not technically in the boundaries of Old Towne East (according to retro metro), but is obviously close by. However, my husband thinks the area is too crime ridden, while I say that the area is moving toward revitalization, and we can get in on the ground floor, and pay way less in taxes than if we lived in Bexley and afford a larger home. What do you think? Thanx!

[streetcreed]

Thank you for posting this,
I have lived in Columbus for 21 years and happen to live in the central city. I live just north of downtown in the Short North.

It seems that you understand Columbus very well. Clintonville is an amazing neighborhood. Bexley is a great suburb. Olde Town East has some amazing homes with great deals on what you can buy.

It is your lucky day because I also have many friends living in the Olde Town east area. I have spent a lot of time there, on Bryden Rd., and have never felt unsafe walking around. At first I was a little wary of the area but it has really grown on me. It's a very unique neighborhood. The neighborhood is really quite quiet. As I am sure you have seen it is mostly large mansions and houses. Most of the homes are being renovated or have been. If you do live there you will witness this for yourself.

Olde Town East has some higher crime areas near by, but Olde Town East is a neighborhood that is not on the decline but sees more and more gentrification every day. Home values there are always increasing.

I do know that the areas of Bryden Rd. in Olde Town are the nicest sections. The areas closer to 71 are also more gentrified at this point. When you get a little further back (meaning closer to Bexley going east) toward Franklin Park you have a little more mixed incomes, but it is still alright.

I think that I know the area you are talking of, your are just a little east of the actual "olde town east boundary." The gentrification from just a few blocks down is moving in that direction, but it is not as gentrified already as the actual boundaries just a little bit further west. The area just south of the park does seem to get nicer than the area right next to the park.

My friends who live in the area have never had problems. The only thing he has mentioned is a few people asking for money and change if he walks on Main St., a commerical corridor south of where your looking.

The people who live in Olde Town love the neighborhood, how close to downtown it is, the diversity in their neighborhood, and the community there seems to be proud of what they have. They always seem to be boast the diverse group of people living there. If you were not fine with this, I think you would have probably not even looked into the area.

There are more lower income individuals on the other side of Broad St. from Franklin Park. In an area called the King-Lincoln district.

In general the actual boundaries of Olde Town East from Broad on the north to Main on the south are decent. Anything on the other side of Broad St. gets closer to some public housing and more income issues. If your going to be behind Franklin Park you fit in the "better" section of the near eastside neighborhoods.

The more troubled areas are north of Broad, and south of Main. Outside of the area your looking into.

If you do live in the area it is more likely you will see someone who looks poorer or displaced, than seeing a crime happen. People do not really go into the area to commit a crime. Crime there is related among known individuals on or in their property.

There is very little commerical districts in the area bringing in people who do not live there. Olde Town East is not the most expensive downtown area neighborhood, but actually seems to be more "out of the way" of all of the entertainment/shopping/bars stuff that you will find in some of the more expensive central city neighborhoods like the Short North, German Village, and Victorian Village.

[timothyb]

I just moved to OTE and I love the area. The architecture is amazing. Yes, the neighborhood is not as fancy as New Albany or the wealthier burbs. However real estate in this area is a bargain compared to other neighborhoods in Columbus. The proximity to a revitalized downtown, the diverse neighborhoods, and genuinely nice people makes OTE a great choice...

[help4columbus]

Well, we decided to go with Clintonville, but for no other reason that we found the most perfect beautiful house close to a Catholic school. We did look at the Franklin Park house, and the area seemed great. My husband was still nervous, and since we loved the Clintonville house and it was cheaper, Clintonville won. Thanks for all the posts though - this is a great forum!

[velocitytrap]

streetcreed
I am also looking at a house in the olde town east area in almost exactly the same place as help4columbus mentioned. This area is not directly inside the olde town east but sandwiched between the historic district and Bexley. My concern is that Bryden road seems to be the boundary between houses that have a higher resale value and those that are selling for less (the streets beginning directly south of Bryden). I'm concerned that these houses in somewhat disarray would hold property values down not to mention they tend to look unsightly. I have heard that the area has one of the highest appreciation for home values currently in Columbus. Also, I know that the mayor is trying to revitalize Columbus but I'm not sure if and money is slated to be pumped into the area where I am looking. I guess before spending money I want to be sure that the area will be increasing in value and not be dragged down. Do you have any insight as to where the area is going in 5-10 years?

[streetcreed]

There is a lot of money being pumped into what is known of the King Lincoln district, it is a very mixed income neighborhood located further north of where your looking. It is on the other side of Broad St. from you. I wouldn’t' suggest looking into this area, but your area will profit from the positive changes in the presently more problematic areas just to the north.

The King Lincoln neighborhood is one of the mayor's main priorities. A good deal of investment is going in there.

Also, there are some condo conversions occuring on the retail/olde mansion strip of Broad St. just to the north of Olde Town as well.

However, there isn't anything major planned from the city government for the actual olde town east area or the areas along Main Street closer to Bexley that I know of. I know there have been some neighborhood clean up programs going on around the exterior of the olde town east area.

The private sector seems to be reinvesting in the Main Street corridor just to the south of olde town at a decent rate.

I think that Bryden Rd. is the most gentrified of the Olde Town East streets, but some of the streets are following suit as well. What street is the actual house on? An about intersection might help, if I am in the area I can take a look and see what I think.

[cartier]

So, about five friends and I are moving to OTE from OSU Campus area. We're all ages between 18-24. We're really worried because some people have been telling us that area is really bad. We're about a block off Broad on Linwood and from the looks of it .. we're in a decent area but still not sure. Any info on that area?

[streetcreed]

I am 21 and I have friends in OTE, a lot of students from the Columbus College of art and design. I feel that if your living with friends and all going to have a house or townhome, oldetown is fine.

I live in the OSU campus area and like it because theres so many people walking around and I live on south west campus and feel safe. Mostly around campus the negative issues are someone bothering you for money or someone talking to you when you walk by every once in awhile. I have never had a break in or car break in.

In OTE its the opposite, its pretty quiet, theres less people walking so you see less homeless, but i do know one friend whose car was broken into in Olde town, then I have 5 others who have lived there and have never had any problem. Crime rate is kind of higher in the area your talking about, but I know other students who have lived there and not had a problem.

[allisonf]

I am looking at an area a little (okay, alot) closer to Livingston, it's Oakwood, technically called Old Oaks. The house is beautiful, the neighborhood looks very sketchy, anyone have info on this area, the house is about half a block off Livingston. I'm wondering if the revitilization will spread that close to Livingston and if buying a home there now is a good gamble.

[woodlandparker]

-The more troubled areas are north of Broad, and south of Main. Outside of the area your looking into-

This information is not exactly correct. I live in the neighborhood directly north of Franklin Park (and Broad) known as "Woodland Park" . Our community has some of the lowest crime rates in the near east and the central city in general. We also have some of the highest property values in the east side of Columbus proper. With the variety of housing stock, from 10,000 square foot mansions to town house condos to new york style high rise condo buildings, there is something for everyone. Franklin Park has also just announced that their large master plan improvements for the park are underway and will infuse millions of dollars in the Conservatory and 90 acre park. Our neighborhood has great ammmenities with our own YMCA, Library Branch, and a great park system (Nelson, Wolf, and Franklin Parks) just steps away. The Mansion Day school is one of the best private k-6 schools in the city and located in the heart of Woodland Park. Also the Alum Creek bike trail is a relaxing place to visit as well as the dozen or so tennis courts at Wolf park. We are just a few blocks from some of the most expensive real estate in the county (Parkview in Bexley) and have the advantage of being just off 670. I can be at Easton, the Airport, OSU, Downtown, or the Short North in minutes. I have lived in the area for 8 years and love the fact that my home is surrounded by other single family, owner-occupied homes. I know my neighbors and enjoy the activities of our neighborhood association. There has been a tremendous amount of revitalization in Woodland Park as new residents move in and renovate homes.

Check Woodland Park out on the web at www.woodlandparkna.com or on the Woodland Park link on www.columbusretrometro.com come to our garden tour this June 24th from 1-6pm or our walking tour on July 28th.