Anyone from Dayton? (Springfield, Beavercreek, Centerville: sales, buy, school districts)

[JefferyT]

if my memory serves me right, its a typical suburb with tract homes, yet I believe that Englewood also has an older "downtown" district

Yep, you are right...Englewood does indeed have an "old town" out along OH 48. It was a country village from the 19th century and also has some pre WWII bungalow type housing, but the place around this small old town area is mostly suburban.

From what I recall the place was very pleasant low key suburbia, with that nice view out over the Stillwater valley as you drive north on 48. Another nice park in the area is Aullwood Nature Center.

As for Clayton, they are developing their own little version of "The Greene", out off of US 40, but with single family housing, too.

[Solomontos]

Of the northern burbs, Miami County seat, Troy is one of the most beautiful around. Well planned, nice city with friendly people to any and all who move there. Downtown Troy is like "Main Street USA" with buildings in incredibly nice condition, streets and alleys clean, and there is music on the fountain square - and some of the best restaurants in the area.

Tipp City, on the other hand, is full of charm but has a underlying racist spirit. You can be in about any establishment and hear the "n" word used. Especially now that the RTA is planning on running public transportation. African American's are discouraged from moving there. Those that have moved there were not welcomed. One Tipp black student was booed when he was put in as a substitute during a football game. The family soon moved back out of town.

Vandalia is nicely situated but charm and friendlyness it doesn't have. Englewood is a very nice community and well enforced laws. Of the four,Troy and Englewood are accomodating for most people, Vandalia for some who want "location" and Tipp City if one is white and wants to keep people of color at a distance.

[JefferyT]

^
Wow..I am suprised to hear that about Tipp. It always seemed like such a pleasant small town to me (but with subdivisions around, too)

I'd like to hear more about good restaurants in Troy as I don't get up that way much. It might be worth a trip to try one of them.

[receptionist]

Hi Steeltownkid! and welcome!! You asked:

>>>So is there anything else you can tell me about Englewood? It seemed like a pretty nice place when we were house hunting...Metro Park, amenities, etc... You mentioned people have a weird love for the place...do you not particularly like it? I was a little concerned about proximity to Trotwood, which I was told was a little on the sketchy side.

The people in Englewood love their community, and I think a big part of that is the schools, which are very good, and is a benefit to the town whether or not you have kids yourself. I have many friends who live there and are intensely loyal to that part of town. Trotwood is indeed sketchy, and its proximity to Englewood is a drawback, of course. I do not feel safe shopping at the big stores on Salem Ave. Fortunately, 2 large retailing areas have sprung up nearby, Miller Lane, at the junction of I 70 and I 75; and further east on I 70 in Huber Heights.

The south of town has all the high end retailers such as Dorothy Lane Market, Trader Joes, The Green, etc. I feel for the people north, bc they really don't have anything comparable, and have to trek down here a lot more often than we have to go there.

Pluses: The Metro park at Englewood dam is great, as is Aullwood. The YMCA is superb. People are very friendly, the roads aren't congested at all, and you can hop in your car and be in the country in 5 minutes. If you and your wife enjoy antiquing, all the best opportunities to find bargains are up there. And you are 10 minutes from the airport.

[receptionist]

I had a very good sirloin steak dinner at Boltz in Englewood Friday night for $8.99, that's pretty hard to beat! Atmosphere isn't much, but the food rocked. And then we drove through the Tim Horton's across the street for the best coffee in town. So a taste of home is handy.

[wrightflyer]

Speaking of Tim Horton's, is it just me or are they trying to outpace Starbucks in the number of locations (2 in Beavercreek in the past three years!)? Not that it's a bad thing as they do have good coffee and doughnuts, but IMHO if your ever over by the Fairfield Mall on Commons Blvd, stop by Kava House one of the best (by DDN people's choice) and it's local. There, my shameful plug for a favorite business.

Yeah, Northmont is pretty cool. Beautiful campus and country. And I'll admit having the airport there for a quick getaway beats having to travel construction clogged highways.

[Crew Chief]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

Speaking of Tim Horton's, is it just me or are they trying to outpace Starbucks in the number of locations (2 in Beavercreek in the past three years!)? Not that it's a bad thing as they do have good coffee and doughnuts, but IMHO if your ever over by the Fairfield Mall on Commons Blvd, stop by Kava House one of the best (by DDN people's choice) and it's local. There, my shameful plug for a favorite business.

Yeah, Northmont is pretty cool. Beautiful campus and country. And I'll admit having the airport there for a quick getaway beats having to travel construction clogged highways.

Wrightflyer, we like supporting our caffein habit at Boston Stoker, as well! Yep, spending money in local businesses is the way to go!)

[Giesela]

[quote=receptionist;531513]. Great communities where you will find diversity and good amenities are Englewood, Yellow Springs, Kettering, Beavercreek, and Centerville.

For people who are going to work or be stationed at Wright Patt...avoid Fairborn! Beavercreek or Enon, people! trust me on this. Xenia...oh Xenia. Well, you drive past it to get to the outlet mall. Not much more to say about it.

I am relocating to work at WPAFB and have been burning out my eyeballs on the Dayton MLS. Still haven't found what I'm looking for (well not in my price range
I was hoping for a small house on a couple acres where I can garden with a little privacy and have some moving yard art (chickens, wildlife).
Anyway - I was interested in the description of the smaller towns. I've got a pretty good picture of Yellow Springs. Someone at work described Springfield as "redneck". Someone on this forum? described Xenia as bible belt.........Enon? What about Enon? How about New Carlisle and some of the other towns? More descriptions the better. I am looking basically in a 20-25 arc from the north, arcing east and around the the s/e of Dayton.

[wrightflyer]

[quote=Giesela;610612]

Originally Posted by receptionist

. I was hoping for a small house on a couple acres where I can garden with a little privacy and have some moving yard art (chickens, wildlife).
Anyway - I was interested in the description of the smaller towns. I've got a pretty good picture of Yellow Springs. Someone at work described Springfield as "redneck". Someone on this forum? described Xenia as bible belt.........Enon? What about Enon? How about New Carlisle and some of the other towns? More descriptions the better. I am looking basically in a 20-25 arc from the north, arcing east and around the the s/e of Dayton.

Starting from the north, I can't say too much about New Carlisle and the area around it as I've only been through there once on my way to something (maybe Ohio Caverns) further north. It's pretty though.

Donnelsville and Enon can be a good fit. While Donnelsville is more a hamlet, Enon has a small town feel. These are also probobly the cheapest in terms of the coast of housing and land. You've already heard of Yellow Springs. However, one thing about YS is that it can be really overpriced. Ceaderville may be too far out for the comute and it would be a bible belt town as it is home to a baptist college. Is a bible belt town a problem? Clifton is like Donnelsville but north of Ceaderville and east of YS. That might fit. Xenia would best serve you if you live in the township. It is by Ohio's standards a city, and one with its strip malls and decaying neighborhoods. If you do consider the city, stay on the edge where the density isn't so great.
It would also be the cheapest place in Greene County.

Areas I would avoid are Bath Twp surrounded by Fairborn, Yellow Springs, and Enon, as a large part of the Twp is owned by Cemex, a quarry company and they seem to constantly fight residents over mining. Also, it's in the less desirable Fairborn Schools. If price is a concern, much of Beavercreek twp would probobly be too expensive and built out in a decade or two.

In terms of rednecks and bible belters, there will be a few in any twp in the area (heck they're in Beavercreek too). Yellow springs would be the exception.

I hope that at least gives you some idea as to what the towns (and townships) are like. More than likely, you'll have to search for a home in the townships depending on the nuber of acres you want and especially with the livestock. It'll be hard to stay in a town proper and get that as housing isn't numerous or its in a small subdivision.

[SteeltownKid]

Originally Posted by receptionist

Hi Steeltownkid! and welcome!! You asked:

>>>So is there anything else you can tell me about Englewood? It seemed like a pretty nice place when we were house hunting...Metro Park, amenities, etc... You mentioned people have a weird love for the place...do you not particularly like it? I was a little concerned about proximity to Trotwood, which I was told was a little on the sketchy side.

The people in Englewood love their community, and I think a big part of that is the schools, which are very good, and is a benefit to the town whether or not you have kids yourself. I have many friends who live there and are intensely loyal to that part of town. Trotwood is indeed sketchy, and its proximity to Englewood is a drawback, of course. I do not feel safe shopping at the big stores on Salem Ave. Fortunately, 2 large retailing areas have sprung up nearby, Miller Lane, at the junction of I 70 and I 75; and further east on I 70 in Huber Heights.

The south of town has all the high end retailers such as Dorothy Lane Market, Trader Joes, The Green, etc. I feel for the people north, bc they really don't have anything comparable, and have to trek down here a lot more often than we have to go there.

Pluses: The Metro park at Englewood dam is great, as is Aullwood. The YMCA is superb. People are very friendly, the roads aren't congested at all, and you can hop in your car and be in the country in 5 minutes. If you and your wife enjoy antiquing, all the best opportunities to find bargains are up there. And you are 10 minutes from the airport.

hey receptionist...

Thanks for the welcome. My wife is already down in Ohio and it's funny, she mentioned that there are always cops around Englewood. That's good, as long as they're not bad cops, I guess.

I think we'll really enjoy it, especially the part about little congestion on the roads. Big problem in Ontario!

Re: Tim Horton's, that's funny stuff. You and wrightflyer should now that a couple stores popping up is a mere drop in the bucket compared to north of the border. We had a friend visit us once and he wanted us to pick him up in downtown Hamilton, my hometown and the actual birthplace of the first Tim Horton's. He tells us he's near a Tim's.I ask him to be much more specific seeing as you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one!

In fact, the coffee has gone down hill a little bit in recent years and the items are all smaller. Profit-driven measures, I figure. But, Tim's, founded by the famous Buffalo Sabres hockey player Tim Horton (a real nasty guy who drank hard and ended up dying in a car accident), is a Canadian institution...the lineups at most locations every morning being a pretty good indication.

Anyhoo, thanks again for all the info, folks. I'll visit when I can and throw in my own two cents about the area.

Btw, does Dave Chapelle really love in yellow Springs? Cheers.