Zanesville... Seriously! (Columbus, Cleveland, Newark: to rent, houses, safest area)

[LancasterNative]

Ok, I've read all the comments about Zanesville, Ohio. And I've heard all the jokes and stereotypes. I even saw this former capital of Ohio appear on a thread about the "Crummiest Freaking town in America"!

All in all, I really don't care.

I don't mind rednecks and hillbillies at all because frankly, they're my kind of people. That's part of my heritage, and I'm proud of it. Plus I'm a very conservative person anyway--what annoys me most are all the liberals, freaks and perverts in the big city.

However, I do mind drugs and crime. I don't want that crap anywhere near us...that's one thing about the city I'll be glad to leave behind.

So HONESTLY...there's a very strong possibility I'll be moving to Zanesville soon. I'm looking forward to it! Question is, since I've never lived there before...does anyone in/from the Zanesville & Muskingum Co. area have thoughts on where to live there?

My lady and I are looking for a single-family home, probably out a-ways from downtown (don't really want I-70 going thru our yard).

What are the safest areas? Is there a big difference between the north & south sides of Zville?

What about historic homes? And does anyone know the scoop on sweet little places like Dresden and Frazeysburg?

Thanks y'all

[Cosmic]

I have lived in Zanesville but a long time back. Then it was a very nice place to live. Was off Putnam Ave the main drag, Woodlawn Ave. Might still be Ok, who knows.

If you go by on the freeway, can see some fire damaged houses with holes in the roof. Not a good sign? Also see a bunch new development that was not there before.

I would look at the Realtor(dot)com listings for the more burb areas. Houses look pretty cheap. Was a town I considered as a back up if nothing else worked to rent a house when moving back from Boston.

You are close enough, I would just spend a bunch of weekends up there to get the feel and lay of the land. Maybe rent a motel, roam the area. Can't really depend too much on some comments. Read the newspaper. I even worked there once, night job after a day job in a factory. It covers a bunch of counties in the area. Way to see what is happening over a time period.

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.c....dll/frontpage

I have intended to stop on various trips by there and go in to see what it is like today. Something always came up, too late, running behind, tired, etc.

Why do you really want to be there??? Lost a lot of population since I lived there. Most of those type towns you want to put your finger on what would bring them back to boom towns again. Or will they continue to slide?

I would not judge it until I knew a lot more up close and personal. Might still be a decent place to live in the right neighorhood. The main drag used to have coffee shops where you could talk with some of the locals. Might be a friendly enough place.

[LancasterNative]

Thanks Cosmic, I really appreciate the input.

There are actually several reasons we want to move to Zville. Right now, my lady and I are trapped in Columbus (too big, congested, stressful, noisy, high-cost, liberal, etc.) but we're each originally from small towns. Especially after we get married, we really want to escape back to some sanity!

So we've each been looking for jobs in the outlying communities nearby...Delaware, London, Marysville, Lancaster, Mt. Vernon, Nerk, etc. And to our pleasant surprise, she found a job in Zville! I also have a few possibilities of which I'm hoping one will fall into place, each in Muskingum Co.

Meanwhile, we've been over there a few times already...exploring, getting a feel for the place. And you're right: common sense tells you just by looking at certain areas that "this is not where ya want to be!"

From what I've seen so far, the outskirts of Zville are really nice and have some beautiful homes. There's also a really neat historic section just NW of downtown, between Maple and Blue Avenues, with many fine Victorian, Italianate and other older houses. They all seem in good repair, and I'm guessing were built ca. 1870–1925.

I've added an RSS feed from the Zanesville Times-Recorder to my Yahoo! page

[Cosmic]

Well Lancaster best of luck, hope it works out for you.

Be interesting to hear how you make out.

I still want to visit Zanesville to see what it is like these days. That freeway was just being built when I left, used to have to go thru town to travel down that way. The lack of thru traffic probably is a big plus in a way.

[LancasterNative]

Thanks Cosmic!

Man, if I-70 wasn't there yet, that would've been awhile back. I've driven thru Zville a few times before, and the freeway actually cuts thru just N of downtown. It offers nice (although brief, speeding thru at 65+) views of the downtown area, with the cluster of historic churches and the courthouse displaying the town's distinct quaintness.

Oh and the new Y-bridge, built in the '80s, is way cool!

I've just begun to learn my way around a little...

[sdmlions]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

Thanks Cosmic!

Man, if I-70 wasn't there yet, that would've been awhile back. I've driven thru Zville a few times before, and the freeway actually cuts thru just N of downtown. It offers nice (although brief, speeding thru at 65+) views of the downtown area, with the cluster of historic churches and the courthouse displaying the town's distinct quaintness.

Oh and the new Y-bridge, built in the '80s, is way cool!

I've just begun to learn my way around a little...

Hi there,
I am the person that posted Z'ville as the 'crummist town in america' simply because I hate it there. But, you might like it if it is what you are used to, and if you like a slower pace of life than in C'bus. North Z'ville is MUCH nicer than, South Z'ville although there are some newer areas going up out towards Avondale which may end up being nice. The houses around Z'ville high are nice on the North side, and there is a fair bit of shopping close by there. But for real if you want a slower pace of life you would be better off living somewhere between Newark and Coshocton, because Z'ville is in desperate need of a make over. The town looks like it hasn't been touched in 20 years, and there is lots of drugs and strange people that kick around the place. My in laws live about 10 miles south of town, and if there is anything else you would like to know just let me know and I can try and find out for you...

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by sdmlions

Hi there,
I am the person that posted Z'ville as the 'crummist town in america'...

Wow, sdmlions...thanks for stopping by!

Yeah, I'm ready for a change of pace. I've lived in C'bus for over a decade now, and spent time ("served" time?) in Cleveland before that. I never thought I'd be missing small-town atmosphere this much so early in life, but hey...times change, people change...

I've started to get the same impression you expressed as to North side/South side, namely that the north side of Z'ville is nicer. The areas up near the mall, especially N. of Military and along Dresden Rd. appear to be really pleasant. and the outlying areas between Z'ville and Dresden are beautiful. Living out in the country (a township area) is definitely an option for us...

Like any other sized town, I plan to avoid the inner city at all costs!

Anyway, thanks for the great info

[sdmlions]

Anytime, pal. If you want to know anything else, just let me know!

[LancasterNative]

Thanks again, friend!

Fortunately for us this is not an immediate move; we have several months at our disposal to research, explore & decide on what the best situation would be.

Take care!
-LN

[GiovannaH]

Originally Posted by sdmlions

Hi there,
I am the person that posted Z'ville as the 'crummist town in america' simply because I hate it there. But, you might like it if it is what you are used to, and if you like a slower pace of life than in C'bus. North Z'ville is MUCH nicer than, South Z'ville although there are some newer areas going up out towards Avondale which may end up being nice. The houses around Z'ville high are nice on the North side, and there is a fair bit of shopping close by there. But for real if you want a slower pace of life you would be better off living somewhere between Newark and Coshocton, because Z'ville is in desperate need of a make over. The town looks like it hasn't been touched in 20 years, and there is lots of drugs and strange people that kick around the place. My in laws live about 10 miles south of town, and if there is anything else you would like to know just let me know and I can try and find out for you...

Just a question, why did you hate it so much?

I lived there a while ago, and I didn't like it, either.

I am planning on writing a book about it.

Thanks,

Gio