Columbus, OH review from an upstate New Yorker who is moving back to NY (Westerville: transplants, condos)

[chesapeake83]

Whoa, this is what I am worried about! I am thinking about moving to Columbus from DC, and I think I may miss the big city! Is this guy nuts or is Columbus more than a huge suburb with McMansions and big box stores? Can someone let me know about the unique culture of Cbus because the cost of living is so cheap there that I would love to move if I know I will not be bored out of my mind...

All I have gleaned from posts so far is that the upscale areas (where I want to live) are full of stuck-up people (what I don't want). Where do the educated young professionals hang out and live?

Sorry if I have offended anyone, but my new husband wants to move here to be near his family and I would like to make sure I will be happy here to before I commit to leaving DC.

[1watertiger]

im sorry to agree, but the pizza does suck in cbus and yes IMO most of the (small) metro feels like a giant suburb.

[CortlandGirl79]

If you like history and cultural amenities you would be better off moving to a city like Cleveland or Cincy if you are thinking Ohio. I despise the sprawly, big box feeling of Columbus. Cleveland has a lot more character and way better public transportation. Just my 2 cents.

[west5548]

Originally Posted by Buckeye 89

new york pizza is nasty....im just saying

So is the Donatos flat crust crap Columbus loves so much. Talk about nasty pizza...

[west5548]

Originally Posted by monkey8522

Columbus, OH review from a fed-up upstate New Yorker who is moving back to NY

Pros (1):

* Lots of chains stores and restaurants (f you are into that)

Cons (12):

* Surprisingly bad crime: including serial rapist on the loose, murders, theft, and break-ins.
* Surprisingly bad traffic between the morning rush and the evening rush from 4-6 on all the major highways
* Central Ohioans tend to be slow and incompetent drivers, often slowing down traffic due to their slow driving tendencies. It often takes a while to get anywhere in this town.
* The areas infested with parking meters have parking meter fairy hawks that often give you a citation within minutes of time being expired. And our lovely city mayor wants to INCREASE the rates.
* Cops love to pull people over for barely going over the speed limit and really for any reason at all, and they love to slam you with as many citations as possible, and construction traffic drivers BEWARE.
* Lack of cultural diversity
* Lack of intrinsic culture and uniqueness (except for save, Ohio State Football Season)
* Which brings me to: Ohio State Football season, if you are not an Ohioan you will come to loathe the term “Buckeye.”
* Bad pizza (truly Ohio Pizza is nasty, and NY pizza is unavailable here)
* Everyone around you is obese as Columbus is the 7th fattest city in the country.
* Lastly don’t let the pictures and nice internet web pages fool you about Columbus, Columbus is the worst, Nashville TN tops Columbus, and we’re talking about Naaashville, TN

*** As a final note people say Columbus is "typical" by that they mean boring and bland, so if you want boring and bland come to Columbus.

I happen to agree with just about everything on this list.

[Buckeye 89]

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

No... I am saying that, in Columbus, fitness and desirability go hand in hand with the level of success you are capable of achieving. Youth also factors in and guess where all of these things are most likely to be found?? Go to a Speedway gas station on the west side during any given morning and report back to me what the people walking out are carrying in their grubby fat hands... then walk into a coffee place in the Short North or German Village and do the same. Does this answer your question? If you are referring to "yuppies", which is an outdated term only a 99.7 blitz (or whatever it's called now) listener would still use, then yes... people with little imagination, who move into suburbs like Dublin or Westerville, are as guilty as any Grove City Waffle House waitress. They just have no idea how close they really are to that situation.

Fat people in every level in society, And i learned the term "yuppie" on this board. I didn't know what it was until i showed up here.

So is the Donatos flat crust crap Columbus loves so much. Talk about nasty pizza..

.

Ehh if you say so, It's better than that floppy goo pizza you guys eat in the east

[streetcreed]

Whoa, this is what I am worried about! I am thinking about moving to Columbus from DC, and I think I may miss the big city! Is this guy nuts or is Columbus more than a huge suburb with McMansions and big box stores?

Seriously, this is a generalization. Like any American metro, Columbus has bix box stores and mcmansions.

However, to completely ignore Columbus' gentrified and older inner-city is insane. Do not worry, Columbus has safe, youthful, progressive neighborhoods. These are found in central Columbus.

Every year Columbus' central city has been increasing in populations that are progressive enjoying the amenities you cannot find in suburbs.

All I have gleaned from posts so far is that the upscale areas (where I want to live) are full of stuck-up people (what I don't want). Where do the educated young professionals hang out and live?

Columbus' has many upscale central city neighborhoods. Victorian Village and German Village are the top two.

Both have renovated buildings, homes, stores, local restaurants and retailers.

They are progressive, educated and near cultural attractions like the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Columbus Art Museum, the theaters downtown, parks, bars, movie theaters, local markets etc.

In general, focus on living northern downtown area (the Short North which includes Vicotorian Village and Italian Village.)

Also, the Grandview Heights area and the north university district includes many new city dwellers. For families, Clintonville (north of OSU) and Berwick on the east side are attracting many progressive Columbusites.

If someone has the impression Columbus is only McMansions and suburbs, it is because they remain confined to those areas of the metro and fail to effectively visit and/or explore the central city, including the thriving, beautiful neighborhoods off the of the central retail strips.

To explain from an outsiders view, my friends from SanFrancico were living in Columbus for two months. Their impressions that mirror blunt comments from many out of state coworkers are:
A) Columbus is bigger and more culturally progressive than they assumed.
B) Columbus appears to have escaped the rust-belt syndrome that has plagued most midwestern cities. And thus has a cleaner, move liveable inner city.
C) Columbus has a bigger central city Gay and Lesbian popluation than one would expect in the middle of Ohio.
D) Columbus local dinning/restaurant scence is a hidden gem.

* Once again most of these stellar establishments are in the central city neighborhoods, not the sprawling suburban big box centers.
E) Columbus’ Short North and German Village neighborhoods are charming, artistic, interesting places.
D) There is a lack of major/ brand name stores in the downtown, but they exist on the cities fringes (Saks, Nordstrom, etc..)

[monkey8522]

I love how you tout off cultural attractions like Wexner or Columbus Art Museum, I bet you rarely visit these places that you have mentioned. . .

I also love the word 'progressive', please define. To me progressive means someone who lives in New York City not someone who lives in Columbus, Ohio.

[Lulu34]

Upstate ny is more fun than a flat, plain, crime infested "city"

[Lulu34]

I hear you monkey, the people in Columbus think they have it good, but they don't know what's good! maybe a mediocre life is their "American dream"....hmmmm sad! but I think is true