Anyone from Dayton? (Middletown, Centerville, Springboro: employment, landscaping, school)

[Zidentia]

Originally Posted by UDgrad

. However, I currently live in CA and would not move back to Dayton or any suburb. There is not much to do in Dayton and that's why the crime rate is so high.

When you move a lot you tend to leave the past right where it is. It is sad the "Cleanest City In America" is having issues but Dayton has a long history of innovation and hard work. The question is, is how long will it take to revitalize it?

When people say "never" they really have not lived. Every location has pros and cons and they appeal to everyone in thier own unique way. I have been to several cities in CA many times and while it is a very nice place the value is really out of whack for me. Who knows I may move there anyways. Never say never.

[rhomp2002]

Get in touch with Preservation Dayton. Also there are some realtors, including my favorite one, who are very active in the rehab of older homes and historic districts. I have been to meetings in 3 of the historic districts and have my own preferences for which ones struck me as being the friendliest and have the neatest amenities. What I particularly liked was that in all 3 of the districts I felt totally accepted almost immediately and also felt that if I did attempt a renovation I would be able to find all kinds of assistance so long as I did my part. The Preservation Dayton group is really a winner from my point of view and well worth getting involved with and using their facilities. They have guides to all the historic districts that you can use to walk the various districts and see what they are all about and then the districts themselves have associations with websites so you can see how the associations operate as well. Good luck. I am stuck in NYC right now but hope to move to Dayton in the near future.

[Buzzweiser]

I think one of the biggest things Dayton needs is a new mayor. McClin has been running things too long and doesn't want to change to meet the demands of today. She don't even abide by her own law that any city employee must live in the city limits. Sure she has a house inside the city limits but she actually lives outside the corporation line in another house. Her Dayton home is just a ruse. Her own city employees know it, they haven't picked trash up there in years. Everyone knows if you live in a house you generate some trash from time to time. If they want to revitalize Dayton they need to attract new business to Dayton. Behr paint came in and that was a start but they need more. There's too many of the businesses and plants and factories sitting empty, and while I know times are tough just a few short years ago things were a lot better and they sat on their hands and did little to bring work to Dayton. Dayton can be a great little city, but if they let its reputation continue to decline it will only make it that much harder to get it going back in the right direction.

[theapguy]

I grew up in a rural area just outside Phillipsburg, which is on the border of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. After living in New York City for the past 6 years and visiting my parent's home in Oakwood from time to time, I've compiled a list of my favorite Dayton spots for 20/30-something people. Take into consideration that my current perception of Dayton comes from a blend of my past childhood and teenage experiences combined with my experience living in a major cosmopolitan area for several years.

Also, a lot of weight on this forum has been given to crime in Dayton, and while it's not the safest city to live in, the crime is very localized into a few areas and it's not widespread as some might have you believe. Much gentrification has occurred in the past decade, and this can be seen in the increase in public investment in downtown cultural centers (Schuster Center and Dayton Dragons ballpark for example) and also small businesses that cater to upper middle class tastes (a profusion of wine bars for example). Also, Dayton City schools has seen huge gains in the past several years but that progress seems to have plateaued for now.

However, the GM plant that has been closed in nearby Morraine excabarates the local economic stress that comes with Dayton's reliance on manufacturing. It's also sign of our larger national economy in collapse, and the future of Dayton remains in turmoil because of this.

Anyway, on with the list!

Highlights of Dayton:

Neighborhoods:

Oregon District (most dense concentration of restaurants/bars in the city, beautiful historic houses as well)
Downtown loft district (burgeoning young yuppie population revitalizing industrial lofts)
St. Anne's Hill historic district (beatiful neighborhood of Queen Anne style housing on the other side of the Great Miami)
Tech Town (upcoming high tech district of Dayton)

Sports:

Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball (terrible team, but at least we have baseball)
University of Dayton Basketball (regularly is seeded in NCAA Tournament)
Dayton Bombers Hockey

Museums/Cultural Centers:

United States Air Force Museum (largest museum of its kind in the world)
Dayton Art Institute (good contemporary art)
Schuster Center (Dayton's newest venue for Broadway and Opera productions)
Victoria Theater (Dayton's longstanding venue for plays)
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (pride and joy of classical music in Dayton)
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (excellent small kids museum, the observatory makes for great astronomy education utreach)

Bars:

Therapy Cafe (by far the best bar in Dayton, feels like you're in SoHo NYC)
Partner's Bar (my favorite dive bar in Oakwood, it's a two story carpeted house with a rooftop deck)
Tanks Bar (good burgers/fries)
Fieldhouse (dive, for UD kids)
Dublin Pub (best Irish bar in Dayton)
Leaf and Vine (great cozy wine bar in Troy, Ohio)
Corn-n-Vine (new wine bar by the owners of Leaf and Vine)
The Wine Gallery & Café (haven't been here yet but I've heard great things)

Restaurants/Cafes:

Boston Stoker Coffee (best coffee in the Midwest. seriously.)
Milano's Pizza and Subs (famous food joint founded by UD students)
Marion's Pizza (famous Dayton pizza, along with Cassanos)
Webster Street Market (farmer's market every saturday plus local restaurateurs)
Mama Di Salvos (best Italian in Dayton)
Elsa's Mexican (best Mexican in Dayton)
Thai 9 (best Thai/sushi in Dayton)
Jay's Seafood (best seafood in Dayton)
Young's Dairy (best ice cream in Dayton area)
Paccia (italian fusion in Oregon District with class)
Golden Nugget (best breakfast in Dayton)

Music/Entertainment Venues:

Canal St Tavern (best place in the city for live music)
The Neon (best indie movie theater in Dayton)
Wiley's Comedy Club (best comedy club in Dayton. Dave Chappelle, who has a house in Yellow Springs, makes regular surprise appearances)
Gilly's (best place for live jazz)
Fraze Pavilion (for outdoor concerts in the summer)
The Winds (probably best restaurant in Dayton area)

Retail:

Books & Co (best bookstore in Dayton)
The Greene (a mall designed like a miniature town)
Arrow Wine (best liquor store/cigars in Dayton)
Esther Price Candies (best chocolate in Dayton)
Gem City Records (best record store in Dayton)
Bonnett's Books (best used bookstore in Dayton)

Outdoors:

Yellow Springs/John Bryant State Park (most progressive town in Ohio, great restaurants/biking town. John Bryant State Park contains an observatory used by the local astronomy club)
Riverscape (water light shows, fireworks, ice skating in winter)
Englewood Recreation Dam and Park (great place to go hiking)
Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm (great nature center and preserve, many childhood memories from here)
Carillon Historical Park (the "Central Park" of Dayton, )
Deweese Park

Education:

Sinclair Community College (top 20 community college in the country)
University of Dayton (highly ranked Catholic university)
Oakwood city schools (top 10 elementary and high schools in the state)
Dayton Metro Library (high quality public library)

Other:

Hamfest (largest yearly Ham radio festival in North America)
RTA (extensive, reliable public bus system)

[southernbuckeye]

Grew up in Dayton and lived there for nearly 40 years. Use to be prosperous but is now dead. Typical dying rust belt city. So sad to go back and visit now. High taxes, high crime and deterioring infrastructure. Local government has spend billiions of dollars buying up all the buildings, because private business has left. Troy, Tipp City and Centerville, Springboro still nice, but no jobs.

[willabee]

Originally Posted by southernbuckeye

Grew up in Dayton and lived there for nearly 40 years. Use to be prosperous but is now dead. Typical dying rust belt city. So sad to go back and visit now. High taxes, high crime and deterioring infrastructure. Local government has spend billiions of dollars buying up all the buildings, because private business has left. Troy, Tipp City and Centerville, Springboro still nice, but no jobs.

Mmmm....lemme see if I can categorize this.

Typical Dayton bashing, sky is falling, negative post with non-objective information. Also, seems to refuse to be part of the solutions but instead part of the problems by talking about "how bad it is"...whoa is Dayton we're all doomed here.... (probably one of our many trolls who just made a new account to post under...lol)

[willabee]

Originally Posted by theapguy

I grew up in a rural area just outside Phillipsburg, which is on the border of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. After living in New York City for the past 6 years and visiting my parent's home in Oakwood from time to time, I've compiled a list of my favorite Dayton spots for 20/30-something people. Take into consideration that my current perception of Dayton comes from a blend of my past childhood and teenage experiences combined with my experience living in a major cosmopolitan area for several years.

Also, a lot of weight on this forum has been given to crime in Dayton, and while it's not the safest city to live in, the crime is very localized into a few areas and it's not widespread as some might have you believe. Much gentrification has occurred in the past decade, and this can be seen in the increase in public investment in downtown cultural centers (Schuster Center and Dayton Dragons ballpark for example) and also small businesses that cater to upper middle class tastes (a profusion of wine bars for example). Also, Dayton City schools has seen huge gains in the past several years but that progress seems to have plateaued for now.

However, the GM plant that has been closed in nearby Morraine excabarates the local economic stress that comes with Dayton's reliance on manufacturing. It's also sign of our larger national economy in collapse, and the future of Dayton remains in turmoil because of this.

Anyway, on with the list!

Highlights of Dayton:

Neighborhoods:

Oregon District (most dense concentration of restaurants/bars in the city, beautiful historic houses as well)
Downtown loft district (burgeoning young yuppie population revitalizing industrial lofts)
St. Anne's Hill historic district (beatiful neighborhood of Queen Anne style housing on the other side of the Great Miami)
Tech Town (upcoming high tech district of Dayton)

Sports:

Dayton Dragons Minor League Baseball (terrible team, but at least we have baseball)
University of Dayton Basketball (regularly is seeded in NCAA Tournament)
Dayton Bombers Hockey

Museums/Cultural Centers:

United States Air Force Museum (largest museum of its kind in the world)
Dayton Art Institute (good contemporary art)
Schuster Center (Dayton's newest venue for Broadway and Opera productions)
Victoria Theater (Dayton's longstanding venue for plays)
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (pride and joy of classical music in Dayton)
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery (excellent small kids museum, the observatory makes for great astronomy education utreach)

Bars:

Therapy Cafe (by far the best bar in Dayton, feels like you're in SoHo NYC)
Partner's Bar (my favorite dive bar in Oakwood, it's a two story carpeted house with a rooftop deck)
Tanks Bar (good burgers/fries)
Fieldhouse (dive, for UD kids)
Dublin Pub (best Irish bar in Dayton)
Leaf and Vine (great cozy wine bar in Troy, Ohio)
Corn-n-Vine (new wine bar by the owners of Leaf and Vine)
The Wine Gallery & Café (haven't been here yet but I've heard great things)

Restaurants/Cafes:

Boston Stoker Coffee (best coffee in the Midwest. seriously.)
Milano's Pizza and Subs (famous food joint founded by UD students)
Marion's Pizza (famous Dayton pizza, along with Cassanos)
Webster Street Market (farmer's market every saturday plus local restaurateurs)
Mama Di Salvos (best Italian in Dayton)
Elsa's Mexican (best Mexican in Dayton)
Thai 9 (best Thai/sushi in Dayton)
Jay's Seafood (best seafood in Dayton)
Young's Dairy (best ice cream in Dayton area)
Paccia (italian fusion in Oregon District with class)
Golden Nugget (best breakfast in Dayton)

Music/Entertainment Venues:

Canal St Tavern (best place in the city for live music)
The Neon (best indie movie theater in Dayton)
Wiley's Comedy Club (best comedy club in Dayton. Dave Chappelle, who has a house in Yellow Springs, makes regular surprise appearances)
Gilly's (best place for live jazz)
Fraze Pavilion (for outdoor concerts in the summer)
The Winds (probably best restaurant in Dayton area)

Retail:

Books & Co (best bookstore in Dayton)
The Greene (a mall designed like a miniature town)
Arrow Wine (best liquor store/cigars in Dayton)
Esther Price Candies (best chocolate in Dayton)
Gem City Records (best record store in Dayton)
Bonnett's Books (best used bookstore in Dayton)

Outdoors:

Yellow Springs/John Bryant State Park (most progressive town in Ohio, great restaurants/biking town. John Bryant State Park contains an observatory used by the local astronomy club)
Riverscape (water light shows, fireworks, ice skating in winter)
Englewood Recreation Dam and Park (great place to go hiking)
Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm (great nature center and preserve, many childhood memories from here)
Carillon Historical Park (the "Central Park" of Dayton, )
Deweese Park

Education:

Sinclair Community College (top 20 community college in the country)
University of Dayton (highly ranked Catholic university)
Oakwood city schools (top 10 elementary and high schools in the state)
Dayton Metro Library (high quality public library)

Other:

Hamfest (largest yearly Ham radio festival in North America)
RTA (extensive, reliable public bus system)

Great post! Thanks.

[Giesela]

Originally Posted by eva-girl

There are some nice places in Dayton to visit but I would not personally choose to live there. Most people who live near Dayton never go into the city unless it is for work or to attend a play (Schuster center) or maybe go to the Oregon District (comedy club, etc. but even that area seems to be loosing its appeal.).

If you are renting and want something rural, I would suggest looking at the Beavercreek area, Sugarcreek Township/Bellbrook, both of those areas are east and southeast of Dayton. Stay away from rural areas directingly west. South around/outside Miamisburg may be ok too.

Lots of people love the Northern portion outside the city limits and the prices generally run less than in the Southern or eastern areas but I don't know alot about the area. As someone else has said, the city is somewhat divided - the North suburbs and the South (or South East) ones and people seem to seldom migrate between the two although both are fine. The west side of Dayton is mostly populated by blacks and is where most of the crime statistics arise from (esp. the violent ones). East Dayton has its crime too but of a less violent nature. Recently I read the East Dayton was accumulating a growing hispanic population . Basically, stay out of Dayton proper especially if you have kids.

The problem is there really isn't that much available east of Beavercreek. Certainly not rural rentals. Buying there is is pretty pricey. You have to go out to Clinton, Cedarville, South Vienna etc. to find more reasonable (at least for my pocketbook and the commute is very indirect. If you want to rent IN Beavercreek in a suburb there's plenty of availability, with rents being pegged to military housing allowances. If you go down between Xenia and Bellbrook you risk getting caught in the traffic back up where those lights are on.....35(?). Bellbrook/Sugercreek Township is pricey too and has some of the craziest taxes in the area. Going east and slightly north is Enon, small sort of bedroom commuting town. North is New Carlisle which seems like a decent town. In the rural areas around it be careful, there are pockets of places that look sort of trashy. Miami County, NW has seen huge amounts of growth with lots of developments but may be your best bet for something in the country - but its a commute.

Just did an MLS search on Greene county, 99,000-210,000 btw 1-50 acres and there are 6 places. 2 in Xenia area, 2 in Jamestown, 1 near Enon, 1 on Kemp outside Beavercreek which is 2 lots

[Giesela]

Originally Posted by willabee

Mmmm....lemme see if I can categorize this.

Typical Dayton bashing, sky is falling, negative post with non-objective information. Also, seems to refuse to be part of the solutions but instead part of the problems by talking about "how bad it is"...whoa is Dayton we're all doomed here.... (probably one of our many trolls who just made a new account to post under...lol)

I see what your saying willabee but playing ostrich or cheerleading doesn't count as being part of the solution in my book. Can't solve a problem until you recognize it.

[wrightflyer]

^^Those lights on 35 are a pain and rather dangerous. They are supposedly going to make those at-grade intersections disappear starting in 2012-2013, but who really knows if the funding will be there? That or they will wait for someone(s) to be killed in a horrible accident, especially at Factory.

Xenia, which has been seeing growth in its school report card, whether you believe in those are not, which can't be bad at all. I'd still recommend Xenia township as the city can still be very spotty in certain areas. But that's where most of the rural rentals are anyways. Beavercreek and Bellbrook/Sugarcreek are both insane in terms of property taxes with Bellbrook being worse, but they pale in comparison to the suburbs in Columbus. I'm willing to bet most of those 1-50 acre properties are really no more than 3 acres, though there was a 71 acre parcel out there if you got a million dollars!