Liveliest Downtowns in Ohio? (Columbus, Cleveland: 2013, apartments, loft)

[rye-rye]

Ohio has quite a few relatively large downtown districts. Which of the major Ohio downtowns are actually lively, in terms of shopping, cinemas, housing, festivals, and after five o'clock use?

Sadly, so many of America's cities have impressive skylines but lack activity after working hours. I am interested in relocating from Portland, Oregon as a pioneer to reinvest in one of America's older cities. (Portland used to struggle but has now evolved to be a successful story of urban revitalization and civic life, I want to be apart of another community that is on its way up)

I'd love to hear your sentiments.

[bjimmy24]

If you're wondering about Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, all 3 have seen tremendous growth downtown in the last 5 or so years. I think you'd probably enjoy all of them to be honest. None of them really have a lot of shopping (though Tower City Center at the Terminal Tower in Cleveland is a mall). Tower City also has a cinema, though I don't think it's used too frequently (honestly, I always went to see movies at Capital Theater at Gordon Square, Cedar-Lee in Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Square Theater) until the Cleveland International Film Festival comes around, then it's swamped with people! But I've never actually lived downtown, so maybe people do go there now. CLE's downtown has some nice entertainment and dining options as well. I personally feel that downtown Cleveland feels the "biggest" of the all the downtowns in the state.

I think you'll definitely notice a little less activity in all the downtowns after 5-6 in the evening. But compared to 10 years ago, it's gotten a lot better and it seems like they are all going in the same direction of being more and more lively places.

[natininja]

In terms of downtown liveliness, I'd say the ranking is: Cleveland, Cincinnati, then Columbus. But they're all improving rapidly.

If you want a really old-time/historic feel, Cincinnati is definitely tops, followed by Cleveland and Columbus in a distant third.

Columbus, as a whole, is more youthful and energetic, and is the only one with a booming city population. Though the downtowns are growing in all 3C's.

Cincy has decent shopping, but certainly not great. Has some high-end stores like Tiffany's and Saks, mid-end like Macy's, low-end like TJ Maxx. Plus local retail like hat shops, an eco-conscious "general store", and whatnot, and quite a lot of restaurants and nightlife, with new cafes/bars opening seemingly every week in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood which abuts the CBD to the north. There's a large cinema within walking distance of downtown in Newport, KY.

Cleveland is the only city with rail transit, though Cincinnati's streetcar project has been advancing for a number of years (surviving political pitfalls along the way). Columbus is about to or just started a bikeshare. Cincy is seeking to start one; not sure about Cleveland.

I think you should look at the cities with streetview, and pay them visits if you can. All three have vastly different feelings to them, but all have a sizable community of people committed to making them thriving progressive cities.

[pontiac51]

Cleveland, because of the Warehouse District, the Flats, E 4th St, Gateway and Playhouse Square among other things.

[Steelers626]

Cleveland..especially with all the new developments happening

[Tobias C]

The other mid sized cities in Ohio are enjoying successes as well....Toledo, Akron, Dayton, etc. Were trying up here in Toledo. We've seen a substantial turn around Downtown in the past decade with the construction of our new baseball stadium and new arena, as well as steady progression of development in the Warehouse District. Lots of new reataurabts, bars, loft apartments, and the like.

[natininja]

While the population numbers indicate Cleveland has the liveliest downtown, there are other factors to consider. In my opinion, the density and compactness of the built environment in Cincinnati outweighs the not-enormous edge Cleveland's downtown has in "liveliness." But obviously YMMV. Cleveland has wide boulevards and quickly tapers into detached houses set back from the sidewalk in its central core neighborhoods. Cincinnati has a great number of brick Victorian rowhouses in downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, combined with narrower streets and many brick-paved alleyways. (You can even see the density vs. the other cities in the skyline. Cincinnati also has an interesting topography, where the downtown sits in a river basin, surrounded by hills. This offers tons of beautiful vistas, as well as cool things like pedestrian-only parts of the street network, where you get things like stairways with street signs. Urban hiking on Cincinnati's hillside steps is a favorite pastime of mine when I visit. As I said, there are great views to be had (some from dirt-cheap homes by Portland standards) of the downtown area, including the skyline of church steeples in Over-the-Rhine.

Anyway, I just want to point out that numbers aren't the only thing you should look at. As far as the "projects pissing contest," Cincy can surely hold its own, with the awesomely designed new riverfront park being built (phase 1 & 2 are complete) containing a brew pub among other things, the Banks district reconnecting downtown to the river, the on-going massive revitalization of Over-the-Rhine, commercial and residential towers being erected, historic office tower conversions to residential, the $50mil renovation of Washington Park, the renovation of Fountain Square (the city's lively central square, which is another thing the other 2C's don't have an equivalent of), and more.

Like I said above, each of the 3C's is really unique. If you look into them, it will probably become clear which one is right for you. It all depends on your personal criteria; numbers can't tell you everything.

As far as beyond the 3C's, other cities are doing stuff, too. So if a smaller city is appealing, you have options there, too. Can't say I'm really familiar with them, though I know the Oregon District in Dayton is nice. Maybe the name is appealing enough to check it out.

[L2DB]

In before jbcmh with "Columbus has the best downtown obv."

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by L2DB

In before jbcmh with "Columbus has the best downtown obv."

I thought bjimmy's response was pretty fair and I hadn't planned to add anything more. But thanks for your concern and assumption.

[fakkelsey]

It has been a little while since I have been to Cleveland. The thing I did not care for there was the huge separation gaps between lively districts. More so from the lake walkways. I have read they are trying to improve that so it may be better now. Certainly Cleveland by most has a bigger city feel and the numbers tend to back that up, however, as pointed out above, it is not compact and derives in strips instead of areas. Industrial feel is certainly what Cleveland is about to me. Not a bad thing, just the differences with the three c's. A nice city over all though with nearby waterfalls and beaches. No other city in Ohio offers that. (and of course the train system)

Columbus is very lively along High street. The collage students really help with that end of things. High street in my opinion is the liveliest stretch of a downtown thoroughfare there is in Ohio. Add to that the beautiful river parks, fountains (one of which is the highest in the state I believe) and a replica of the old ship sailing to America, Columbus is a beautiful lively city. The fairly newly created Arena district provides movies and entertainment and is right of High street, while German town (just south of downtown) has it's own different feel.

Cincinnati is more compact with everything. Instead of being distinct different main drags or stretches the downtown area can be fun and full of shopping anywhere, if you include casino shopping. Any street you go on is full of life and are enjoyable due to the narrow streets. Connected to downtown is the OTR district which is just as compact with history to boot. The northern third has some work to be done yet but the southern third has been completely transformed. Two main business stretches are active here and Covington just across the river continues with the urban feel in their three main stretches and the same holds for Newport, the entertainment side of things. The new parks and fountains are amazing.

Over all, all three cities have their pros and cons. All three cities can be quite lively and beautiful. All three cities seem to be in a whole different world of their own in their feel and placement. You know the old saying how it's hard to compare apples and oranges. That is the way it is. Each city is lovely for what they are and who they are, all with very different characteristics. Ohio is a great state indeed. Toledo on the other hand -- LOL. They got their pros to. I use to go their quite a bit. I do love their bridge and zoo, but maybe as mentioned earlier, their downtown area is starting to pick up. It has been a couple years for me. The best of luck to all of the OHIO cities both big and small.