Centerville Area: more than big boxes? (Dayton, Beavercreek: to rent, houses, neighborhoods)

[GoMama]

We may be relocating from Boston area to Centerville OH area. I am aware of the excellent schools, etc. but am looking for more info on any towns in this area that may offer something unique in the way of arts, culture, walkability, independent shops/restaurants, perhaps an upcoming "downtown" area... something along those lines. Hoping to find not just a suburb with Walmart and Chili's as a fun night out. Thanks for any input.

[prfcttimeofday]

Originally Posted by GoMama

We may be relocating from Boston area to Centerville OH area. I am aware of the excellent schools, etc. but am looking for more info on any towns in this area that may offer something unique in the way of arts, culture, walkability, independent shops/restaurants, perhaps an upcoming "downtown" area... something along those lines. Hoping to find not just a suburb with Walmart and Chili's as a fun night out. Thanks for any input.

Based on what you have listed, I'd say your best bet would be Oakwood, which sits less than 10 minutes north of Centerville and Rt. 48 goes through both cities so it's a straight shot.

Oakwood, sits right next to the UD campus and is minutes from Downtown Dayton, yet is probably one of the most desirable places to live, with nationally ranked schools, tree-lined streets and a downtown shopping area with lots of local places for you to go (French Bistro, Gourmet Groceries, Ice Cream Parlor...etc.)

The city markets itself as a 'walkable' community and in fact it is. . .everyone walks to school--there are no school buses

Most in oakwood care for their homes and are college educated and very friendly. . .don't let the rumors of snobbery scare you. . .it's rarely true and while it is very affluent, most have their feet on the ground and heads attached and are good neighbors and really care about each other. I would definitely check it out.

Also, if you are looking for an upcoming area and aren't tied to a school system. . .check out the historic districts in Dayton: Southpark (which sits next to Oakwood) St. Anne's Hill, Oregon...etc.

Hope this helps!!

PS...if you do have a kid and they are in a music program (marching band etc) I would definitely steer you to Centerville, who has an amazing music program at its high school.

[JefferyT]

The old part of Centerville, at the intersection of Miamisburg-Centerville Road (OH 725) and Far Hills (OH 48) is 19th/early 20th century village connected in to the immediate postwar era suburban developments via streets. So its a very walkable little area with lots of nice old houses (not big ones, though). Here you will find the Town Hall Theatre, which is a community theatre group. The Centerville High School has a new arts center where they are set to host regional talent and traveling artists, not just high school things. And clasical guitarist John McCutchen lives here and has his annual Guitarfest in a local park.

Also in this area are little shops and botiques of various types. There are three indy restaurants here, Savona (upscale Italian), a seafood place, and Dos Pyramides mexican place. Further out 725 there is Rue Dumaine and the old school Paragon Steak House. Further in on US 48 there is Madisons Bistro. Closer to the mall area is Cena brazilian place and Meadowlark. There is also a Dorothy Lane Market (gourmet and better groceries, wine & beer, good produce , great little bakery) in the area, but its in a little shopping center, not in the old part of C-Ville.

Oakwood is sort of similar, but its more upscale than Centerville I think, with places like Talbot, and so forth.

[Crew Chief]

I live in Washington Twp. and LOVE it there. And agree with Jeffery T about the area at the OH 725/OH 48 intersection (that would be "Beautiful Downtown Centerville"...) Centerville/Washington Twp DOES have excellent schools, some great restaurants and shopping (BESIDES the Big Boxes) but walkability seldom comes to mind when I think of C/WT as a whole. But part of me has to agree with prfcttimeofday that Oakwood and some of Dayton's historic neighborhoods are WONDERFUL places to live in their own right. It's easy to get caught up in what some see as the "snobbish South Suburbs" (especially Oakwood) because they DO offer so much. But the longer I live here (we're "naturalized" Ohions, having moved here in 2000...) the more I see that EVERY city and township around here has something to offer in it's own way. The "dirty secret" I keep from my wife is that there are times I wish we lived in Tipp City or Springboro, simply because I like THEIR downtowns better than the "wannabe" one we have at OH 725/OH 48.

So GoMama, MY advice (FWIW...) is rent when you first get here, if that's feasible, and get to know the WHOLE area. You'll find there's so much to discover everywhere you look. Welcome and hope you come to love this corner of Ohio like we do!

[GoMama]

Thanks so much for the feedback. Oakwood looks very nice, will look more into that. Springboro is on the radar, too.
CrewChief - I read about Tipp City, too and this looks great, but it's too far commute for where we need to be. Would Springboro be a good comparison?
I'd love to rent first, but we've got a child that will need to start school and I would prefer that they start where they'll be for the year, esp after such a big move. Makes it a more pressing decision to pick a district. From what we hear, we can't really go wrong school wise in many of these towns, so that's why it comes down more to lifestyle and "vibe" that we get. If we did not have kids, we'd be in a historic city neighborhood in a heartbeat. But, it wouldn't make sense to get them is a 'lesser' system or to pay for private, when so many excellent school systems are right there.

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

The "dirty secret" I keep from my wife is that there are times I wish we lived in Tipp City or Springboro, simply because I like THEIR downtowns better than the "wannabe" one we have at OH 725/OH 48.

CrewCheif, At least you have a downtown. Try living in Beavercreek where the closest thing we have to a downtown is The Greene. Maybe it will look decent in oh 50-100 years, but on the surface now it still is a shopping mall (though a unique one at that).