Moving to Youngstown Ohio (Beavercreek, Beaver: crime, how much, house)

[JR_C]

What, exactly, is the point of your last post, 000000?

Didn't the original poster ask for peoples' opinions about where to live? Isn't that what many of the follow-up posters have provided - their opinion? (and where are these "pro-yo" activists and their "rose-tinted vision of what they want things to become?" Have they posted in this thread yet?)

If the OP is, in fact, a representative from the company referenced in the Vindy article, are you suggesting they break their lease and move somewhere else?

[000000]

it is a perfect demonstration of how people in the mahoning valley love to prop up their little place as special while dismissing other parts of the area as something altogether different. while there are a number of cookies in the valley, the experience is of the same cutter. schools differ between the area, but chain shops, and the blandness of the experience does not.

i am not suggesting that they leave, i am trying to let them know what they are getting into. they are getting into an area which has a lot of small city dysfunction. i respect what the OP is doing. in fact, i respect anyone who is willing to give the youngstown area legitimate jobs because lack of opportunities for people to work feeds the other problems that youngstown faces with crime.

you and i know both know who the pro-yo people are on here.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by 000000

it is a perfect demonstration of how people in the mahoning valley love to prop up their little place as special while dismissing other parts of the area as something altogether different. while there are a number of cookies in the valley, the experience is of the same cutter. schools differ between the area, but chain shops, and the blandness of the experience does not.

Are we reading the same thread? I'm only seeing one poster who suggested a single community - Liberty.

I don't really like suburbs, (unless they were largely developed before 1930) so I'm not going to argue with you about blandness. But people seem to like that, so I'm not going to write negatively about them. That's why I deferred to those who know about the suburbs.

i am not suggesting that they leave, i am trying to let them know what they are getting into. they are getting into an area which has a lot of small city dysfunction.

I still don't get the point, though. If you tell someone they're really going to hate it here, you're helping to close their mind to what we have to offer, i.e. your suggestion that they just skip the local entertainment venues and make the hour drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh. (I realize I'm putting words in your virtual mouth, but that's what it looks like you really meant, to me.)

you and i know both know who the pro-yo people are on here.

The only "pro-yo" poster I've seen in this thread is BoardmanFrank. If I were on my toes, I would have given a similar reply. (and would have given him rep points if I could) But I've fallen into that negativity trap, too.

BTW, if this is getting off topic, can we take it to PM's?

[James16146]

If you don't mind a bit of a drive (20-25 min. one way to Youngstown, but the traffic isn't heavy), I would recommend Sharon, PA. It offers a small-town environment that's low on suburban plastic, a redeveloping downtown area ($32 million waterfront revitalization breaking ground this month), a beautiful park that includes a free golf course, a great country club, solid schools, and reasonably-priced housing. Check us out!

[bethany12]

Originally Posted by James16146

If you don't mind a bit of a drive (20-25 min. one way to Youngstown, but the traffic isn't heavy), I would recommend Sharon, PA. It offers a small-town environment that's low on suburban plastic, a redeveloping downtown area ($32 million waterfront revitalization breaking ground this month), a beautiful park that includes a free golf course, a great country club, solid schools, and reasonably-priced housing. Check us out!

I have looked at Sharon and the prices, the size, and character of homes are amazing, but the property taxes would kill me. What about areas outside of Sharon in Trumbull or Mercer County?

[James16146]

Originally Posted by bethany12

I have looked at Sharon and the prices, the size, and character of homes are amazing, but the property taxes would kill me. What about areas outside of Sharon in Trumbull or Mercer County?

Sharon's property taxes are comparable--in dollar amounts--to just about everywhere else in the immediate area. There is some good news, though:

*City council recently slashed the city's property tax millage by 33%
*Many properties in Sharon--including mine--qualify for a Pennsylvania homestead exemption, which is automatically deducted from the tax bill (but not reflected in real estate listings)--typically these exemptions reduce the total yearly tax by several hundred dollars
*Many Sharon homeowners have successfully appealed their taxes though Mercer County. Two homes near Buhl Park had their tax bills reduced nearly $2000; others have been successful in lowering their taxes by at least a few hundred dollars.
*The tax figures presented on real estate websites are the total yearly tax bill (not half-year, which many communities use to paint a rosier picture) and are billed in two installments...when I lived in a Cleveland suburb (and not an upper-crust one, either) the taxes were MUCH higher than anything in the Shenango Valley area

[JR_C]

I have a co-worker who lives in Sharon, PA. I don't know for sure, but I don't think it takes him 25 minutes to get to downtown Youngstown everyday.(I think it might be less) Maybe it depends on what part of Sharon you live in?

[James16146]

Originally Posted by JR_C

I have a co-worker who lives in Sharon, PA. I don't know for sure, but I don't think it takes him 25 minutes to get to downtown Youngstown everyday.(I think it might be less) Maybe it depends on what part of Sharon you live in?

Perhaps...or how fast he drives. I commute to Youngstown from Sharon as well and it generally takes me 20-25 minutes. The nice thing, though, is that the traffic to the east and north of Youngstown is MUCH lighter than that to the west and south (probably because of the comparatively lower population), and there is nothing like the nightmare of 224 in Boardman to deal with.

[000000]

Originally Posted by JR_C

I still don't get the point, though. If you tell someone they're really going to hate it here, you're helping to close their mind to what we have to offer, i.e. your suggestion that they just skip the local entertainment venues and make the hour drive to Cleveland or Pittsburgh. (I realize I'm putting words in your virtual mouth, but that's what it looks like you really meant, to me.)

OP came in asking about big city amenities, and presumably wanted honest replies. youngstown only offers small town versions of few. after all, the reality is that youngstown is a small city.

we can celebrate things simply because they are local, or take the view that an outsider who has not already learned to lower their expectations would have. i do not think that the other people in the thread quite prepare the OP for the lack of cultural stimulation in youngstown. to use the symphony example, cleveland's symphony is objectively known throughout the world as among the best. should people only support the youngstown symphony because it is local when a world-class alternative is available an hour away? plus, let us not kid ourselves that the list of things to do in the small city compares to larger cities.

having multiple viewpoints only helps to broaden minds. i am sure that the OP who is capable enough to run a business knows that a message board is not the best source of information, but is at best a vox populi poll. if you want to pretend or try to minimize the idea that people with other opinions do not exist then you are just setting up a rude awakening for the when the OP meets other people in town.

[000000]

Originally Posted by JR_C

The only "pro-yo" poster I've seen in this thread is BoardmanFrank.

you have some more looking to do...