What is there to do in Cbus for a Balt/DC transplant? (Columbus: unemployment rate, university)

[maestro]

Originally Posted by streetcreed

The crime rate of the Short North, the actual Victorian Village/Italian Village areas, is maybe a little higher than Grandview, but it should remembered that it is very safe for an urban area. Also, it is hardly a high crime area, it is just the city and every once in a while you hear of something.

For the last few years crimes in the short north seem to be even further on the decline. These days you only hear of some breakins/robberies north of the short north in Weiland Park or around the university district.

very true. While the crime rate in the Short North is higher than G'view, it's not a widespread problem. Sorry if my post was misleading.

I will say that bums can be an issue a bit in Victorian Village/Short North. My buddy lives in V. Village and his garbarge cans are rummaged through every week and he's had to "shoo" a few bums off his front stoop a few times.

[chesapeake83]

I'm sure the bums will seem harmless to me after dealing with crackheads in Baltimore. Not to say that all of Baltimore is exactly like "The Wire" - I love Charm City.

[firefightermom]

I'm an Ohio native who lived in the DC metro area also. My husband is a MoCo native, which is why I moved there. Before kids, it was great. After kids, we decided we needed something better. Better schools, less congestion, less crime. Once you have kids, your social life does change, and those dance clubs and bars just don't fit in...even going to museums and such is different. We finally moved to PA this past March and don't miss DC at all.

If you know you can get jobs, then go ahead and move.

[ExCMHer]

If you plan on having kids soon, you can kiss all of the clubbin' stuff goodbye. It will not be even remotely on your agenda for the first 18-24 months after the baby is born -- count on it.

Your larger concern should be the location of family, and which set of parents are more likely to want to help babysit & things like that from time to time. I'd recommend living as close as you can to either set of parents (within reason & sanity), because that will make your life a lot easier.

You won't have the Smithsonian any more living in Columbus, but Columbus is a very nice (and relatively easy) place to raise a child. (I should know; I was raised there.) As with most DCers, my wife & I will probably live here for 5-10 years and then move someplace smaller.

Once you really settled into the family thing with a couple of kids, the hustle/bustle stuff will be long in your rear view mirror. Flights from CMH to BWI are cheap on Southwest, and you can come visit the Smithsonian with your kids virtually any time you'd like when they're old enough.

[chesapeake83]

You know what ExCMHer? I was thinking the same thing... that once I have kids, I will probably not be as into nightlife as I am now. And that if we have more disposable income due to the lower cost of living, we could fly to places when we want a change of pace. In MD, we have a lot of family members very close by that are willing to help with kids. In Columbus, the nearest grandparent will be 2 hrs away in Canton, but we will have married friends to socialize with. All of our friends in MD/DC are single, so it is starting to get a little harder to relate to them now that I am married.

[streetcreed]

I think that with a spouse and a job you will find Columbus has more than enough nightlife and restaurants. The central city of Columbus is known for having restaurants that can compete with larger metros (see the short north/german village.)

Also, maybe 10 years ago Columbus was not known for having a large club/bar selection outside of the University district crowd. However, now Columbus has areas that cater specifically to a mature or young professional crowd. The Park St. area downtown, The Short North, and South High St/German Village offer plenty of diverse nightlife. Columbus is not Cleveland. It should not be forgotten that Columbus is a great place to raise a family, but it also has one of the most gentrified midwestern inner cities and the cities median age is one of the youngest in the country, 31 not counting college students. These attributes create a place that is anything but stale.

Any new transplant or visitor should remember Columbus has two sides. One the annexed "new" areas. Easton and all of Columbus' high end main stream shopping can be found in these areas.

However, Columbus' true culture and personality can only be revealed by visiting or staying in the central city.

One trip to downtown, a riverfront festival, the Short North, unique shops in south Clintonville, or attractions like the Franklin Park Conservatory will reveal the more hip and interesting Columbus that thrives on localized entrepreneurial spirit.

[dustin183]

Originally Posted by streetcreed

One trip to downtown, a riverfront festival, the Short North, unique shops in south Clintonville, or attractions like the Franklin Park Conservatory will reveal the more hip and interesting Columbus that thrives on localized entrepreneurial spirit.

True.

Streetcred, you seem to know alot. Are you a realtor? Just curious...

[chicagoerin]

Originally Posted by Zippy7fo

I know DC is expensive but I would not move back to Ohio until after the recession/depression ends. The economy here is shedding jobs left and right....play it safe for now and move back when things pick up, especially if you plan to have kids..

Sorry but this simply is not true. Columbus usually does way better in a recession than most towns because of our diverse employment base . In fact, Employment in 8 county region area has risen 2500 more jobs in Oct 08 than Dec 07 which is way better than national average. When you read the doom and gloom about Ohio they are talking about Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, etc. Columbus is more recession proof than these cities, as they rely heavily on a manufacturing employment base.

–

[Zippy7fo]

Originally Posted by chicagoerin

Sorry but this simply is not true. Columbus usually does way better in a recession than most towns because of our diverse employment base . In fact, Employment in 8 county region area has risen 2500 more jobs in Oct 08 than Dec 07 which is way better than national average. When you read the doom and gloom about Ohio they are talking about Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, etc. Columbus is more recession proof than these cities, as they rely heavily on a manufacturing employment base.

–

Lmao....I'm not making fun of you but I just read that Columbus unemployment rate is near 7.4 percent and dc/md/va----like a 3 percent avg....so what exactly am I not telling the truth about?

[14thandYou]

Originally Posted by Zippy7fo

Lmao....I'm not making fun of you but I just read that Columbus unemployment rate is near 7.4 percent and dc/md/va----like a 3 percent avg....so what exactly am I not telling the truth about?

I think what the original poster was saying was that Columbus typically fares better than other midwest/Ohio cities because its economy is more diversified--which is true. Historically, Columbus's economy has fared better during recessionary periods than paces such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, etc. I don't believe the comparison was being made to DC/VA/MD.

And for the record, the District's unemployment rate is exactly what Columbus's is: 7.4% (source: washingtonpost.com). The DC region as a whole is just over 4%, but of course DC has the best economic insulator of any U.S. city: the federal government.