Transferring to Dayton - South Park Info? (Kettering, Oregon: apartment, HOA)

[zlz_nova]

We will probably be moving to Dayton in the near future (job at Wright-Patt) and I am trying to determine what areas to look at. I currently live in Northern VA (Fairfax/Fair Lakes area), which is a suburb of DC. I don't want to live in a place that is more suburb-y than where I am now, so would prefer to avoid the cookie cutter McMansions or soccer mom central. We do not have any kids yet (maybe in the next few years), early 30s with advanced degrees, white (if that matters).

I was intrigued by some of the houses in the South Park area (there are several on Park Drive right now...Linden Ave has cool stuff too but I think that is another district), but I don't have a good idea of what it is actually like. I tried to ask our realtor, and she said she would rather not talk about Dayton and "would find us a nice place to live". Is it not safe? Is it bad to walk my dog after 7pm, or will my car be stolen or something? There is a wide range of housing prices there, so I don't quite get what is going on.

And if not that area, then where to look next? I don't want to live in a place where going to the mall is the most exciting thing to do, but I also want to feel safe walking around in the neighborhood. I think the max price would be 300K (yay for profit from crazy DC housing market). All opinions welcome!

[Ohiogirl81]

Well, 30 years ago when I lived in South Park, it was a dump, but times have changed (thank goodness!). The UD service and ministry clubs did a lot of their volunteer work there back then. Park Drive used to be simply awful, and the last time I was in the neighborhood, a couple of years ago, my jaw dropped at the changes.

There seems to be a lot going on in South Park now; the neighborhood associations is very active. Check out the neighborhood association's web site, and Preservation Dayton.

Although with 300K to spend, you can buy a house almost anywhere in Dayton. Another possibility for you might be Oakwood, just south of the city limits.

[bairdch]

Southpark has some good areas and bad, but overall is changing for the better, but not there yet. Me and my wife bid on a house in South Park and lost the bid. I live just down the street from there. Here is their official HOA site: Welcome to South Park Historic District

[wrightflyer]

I agree with Ohiogirl81. South Park has benefited from UD and its location on the South side of Downtown Dayton. If your thinking about kids and live in South Park, I would check into local private and Catholic Schools. Dayton Public is a far cry from Fairfax County.

The only thing about Oakwood would be the whole suburban soccer mom mentality. It has everything going for it. One of the highest property values in the area, old historic homes, and amazing public schools. However, there is a huge keeping up with the Jones mentality here just as in any "cookie-cutter" suburb in Dayton or NoVa.

In terms of what the areas are like. I would think of South Park as the recently gentrified areas of NW DC east of Rock Creek and Oakwood as NW DC west of Rock Creek. All of that but with less people, density, and crime. I say less crime because there are fewer people and less rifraf.

[JefferyT]

South Park and St Annes Hill are probably your best bets for historical districts at reasonable prices. South Park is very up and coming and has some good fundamentals going for it, in terms of location.

Personally I like St Annes Hill, mainly because it is older.

The Linden area would be Huffman Historic district, though Linden Heights is a nice neighborhood too.

Another very nice older neighborhood, literally on top of dowtown, is the Oregon district, but this is probably the most expensive historic district.



One thing you need to know is that Realtors and your potential coworkers will try to steer you away from Dayton due to their own biases against the city...the mentality is very anti-city and pro rural/sububran

Do not listen to them if you want to live in a non-suburban environment.

Here is a little tour of Saint Anne's Hill

Saint Anne'
s Hill

An a sort of analyses of the house architecture in the Oregon District (there are more pix near the end of the thread)

The Folk Proces in Dayton's Oregon

I dont have anything quite like that for South Park..here is one looking at the some of the denser parts of the neighborhood.

Urban/Dense South Park

And the older part of the neighborhood, closer to downtown (with some history). much of which is not in the "historical district", oddly enough. I hear much of this will be torn down in the future. Between this "Lower South Park
" area and downtown is a freeway, and then the Oregon, whcih is much nicer.

Lower/Older South Parkk

If you want to look in South Park, stay south of Hickory Street.

[JefferyT]

I'd say South Park and especially Oregon are pretty safe...you can walk your dog there without hassle.

People have mentioned Oakwood. An interesting part of Oakwood that is close to University of Dayton is Schantz Park, which is the area east of Brown and south of Irving streets. Oakwood has a bad reputation for snob appeal and ladies with blue hair and "country club" elitism, but the area west of Far Hills is getting more an more young proffessionals and academics and such, so the feel there is becoming more hip, maybe a bit more "Arlington" or "Tacoma Park" (but not quite there yet). The place was mostly built out before WWII, so you will get more of a "neighborhood' feel rather than suburbia. This is still perahaps Dayton's most desirable suburb.

Another area that is interesting is Southern Hills, as it is somewhat hilly and backs up on to a big park. There are two parts to this area, one north, around a big high rise apartment building, the other closer to Dorothy Lane.

Check out this history/pix thread on Southern Hills

Carrmonte & Berkley Heights

[wrightflyer]

The only problem with west Oakwood is the price. I think the west area is worst in terms of having a very snobish mentality. Most of the homes over there are 400K plus. If they aren't, they are probably old and in need of updating. The area around Schantz Park is better and in your price. I envy you for being able to pay off your house with the $$$ you'll get from selling your home in NoVa.

[zlz_nova]

Thanks for the info! It is interesting how, in DC, the "cool" people live in the city, and my friends make fun of me for being in the suburbs. I grew up in the suburbs in SW MI (between Chicago and Detroit), and I suppose I spent most that time thinking the "city" was dirty and scary. I guess it depends on what you are used to...though Detroit is still scary to me. When I first moved here, the city was scary to my small town self, but now if I could afford to live in a cool DC place I would.

Also, we won't acutally make $300K on selling a house here...I didn't make out *that* good. The market has actually slowed down quite a bit, so I'm hoping we get close the price we want. 300K is the most I would want to spend to get something that I like, but if I don't have to spend that much I don't want to. My ability to determine a good deal is somewhat skewed after living in Nova for a while!

[dayton_ohio]

I haven't found Oakwood to be filled with soccer moms, blue-haired ladies, etc. It's a good mix of original residents (older folks), old money, professionals, professors, etc -- single people, people with kids, retired grandparents. It's a really nice place to live.

What about some of the older parts of Kettering? (just south of Oakwood) Similar homes, with lower taxes.

[designinme]

I would suggest Oakwood. Its a nice place, and you could find something in your price range no problem. I would also suggest checking out west kettering ( stroop rd. near kettering hospital ). Very nice homes in that area as well.