Possible relocation to Louisville (Columbus: home, theater, college)

[QCP]

Hello everyone. I am considering a relocation to Louisville within the next couple of years. I'll admit, I've only been there a couple of times, and that was to play sports during college, so I really didn't see much. But from everything I have researched, it seems like the city for me.

I was born and raised just north of Cincy, but have lived in Charlotte, NC for the last decade. Don't get me wrong, I love Charlotte, it is a great place to live. It was even just ranked as the best place in America to live by Relocate America. But I am just flat out sick and tired of the growth. When I say growth, I mean serious growth (about 80k per year). In the last decade we have nearly doubled our metro population (now nearly 2 million - and that doesn't account for the estimated 100.000 illegal aliens) and shows no, and I mean absoluetly zero, indication of slowing down. We are destined to become another Atlanta. For me Atlanta is a great city to visit, but not ideal for living. Just too large. To put things in perspective, I live less than 12 miles from Uptown, and at rush hour my commute can be more than an hour, and that's not because of accidents, just normal traffic. Ughhhh.....

Anyways, I want to downsize. Plus I would like to be closer to home as I am starting a family. I've looked at Cincy again, but can't pull the trigger (just too many rough areas). And I would like to live near downtown, at least at first. Columbus, well that's nothing but Charlotte, with crappy weather and a lack of outdoor recreation. I LOVE rural Kentucky, but after living here for 10 years, I've gotten use to the city amenities. So I looked at Louisville (only on the web) and immediately fell in love.

I am looking for a medium sized city, yet has all the amenities of a large city (arts, theater, sports, etc.). I would like a downtown that is vibrant, yet accessible. A downtown and inner ring area that is safe for raising a family, walking to local shops and free of homeless beggars (at least for the most part). A great city park system full of greenery and recreation. A great urban feel, yet only minutes away from beautiful countryside. I want a good size city, but not so big that it has lost its sense of community.

I don't know, I may be living in a fantasy land, but when I look at Louisville, that is what I see. Is my perception at least somewhat close to reality?

I know this post was extremely long, but I really want to get as much information as I can, as I am not looking for a place to only tryout for a while, but firmly establish my roots, possibly for the rest of my life.

Thanks so much in advance for any information you can share.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by QCP

Hello everyone. I am considering a relocation to Louisville within the next couple of years. I'll admit, I've only been there a couple of times, and that was to play sports during college, so I really didn't see much. But from everything I have researched, it seems like the city for me.

I was born and raised just north of Cincy, but have lived in Charlotte, NC for the last decade. Don't get me wrong, I love Charlotte, it is a great place to live. It was even just ranked as the best place in America to live by Relocate America. But I am just flat out sick and tired of the growth. When I say growth, I mean serious growth (about 80k per year). In the last decade we have nearly doubled our metro population (now nearly 2 million - and that doesn't account for the estimated 100.000 illegal aliens) and shows no, and I mean absoluetly zero, indication of slowing down. We are destined to become another Atlanta. For me Atlanta is a great city to visit, but not ideal for living. Just too large. To put things in perspective, I live less than 12 miles from Uptown, and at rush hour my commute can be more than an hour, and that's not because of accidents, just normal traffic. Ughhhh.....

Anyways, I want to downsize. Plus I would like to be closer to home as I am starting a family. I've looked at Cincy again, but can't pull the trigger (just too many rough areas). And I would like to live near downtown, at least at first. Columbus, well that's nothing but Charlotte, with crappy weather and a lack of outdoor recreation. I LOVE rural Kentucky, but after living here for 10 years, I've gotten use to the city amenities. So I looked at Louisville (only on the web) and immediately fell in love.

I am looking for a medium sized city, yet has all the amenities of a large city (arts, theater, sports, etc.). I would like a downtown that is vibrant, yet accessible. A downtown and inner ring area that is safe for raising a family, walking to local shops and free of homeless beggars (at least for the most part). A great city park system full of greenery and recreation. A great urban feel, yet only minutes away from beautiful countryside. I want a good size city, but not so big that it has lost its sense of community.

I don't know, I may be living in a fantasy land, but when I look at Louisville, that is what I see. Is my perception at least somewhat close to reality?

I know this post was extremely long, but I really want to get as much information as I can, as I am not looking for a place to only tryout for a while, but firmly establish my roots, possibly for the rest of my life.

Thanks so much in advance for any information you can share.

You've hit the nail on the head....you don't need advice...what you are looking for is here....a VIBRANT urban city that is safe where families actually live IN the city. A place that is progressive and accepting and growing at a nice clip, with light traffic, wonderful parks, some of the best restaurants outsside the top 10 cities, and only minutes from beautiful countryside, lakes, and rolling blugrass hills. You are totally a Highlands or Crescent Hill person. PM me for more.

[QCP]

Originally Posted by stx12499

You've hit the nail on the head....you don't need advice...what you are looking for is here....a VIBRANT urban city that is safe where families actually live IN the city. A place that is progressive and accepting and growing at a nice clip, with light traffic, wonderful parks, some of the best restaurants outsside the top 10 cities, and only minutes from beautiful countryside, lakes, and rolling blugrass hills. You are totally a Highlands or Crescent Hill person. PM me for more.

Thanks so much, that really excites me. I look forward to visiting this summer. I will take you up on the PM offering before I visit. Again, thanks.