Any 'urban' "hip' towns on the outskirts of Cincinnati? Great schools, walkable downtowns? (Columbus: renting, neighborhoods)

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

I wonder if Gahanna would more fit the bill.

No. Gahanna has a small downtown area that's nice and it is growing, but outside of that, it's still basically a run of the mill suburb with too much sprawl.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by t45209

If there are two neighborhoods in the Cincinnati area that have been accused of having a stuck up yuppie vibe, it's often Mariemont and Wyoming. Don't get me wrong, they are nice neighborhoods, but really do not seem to fit what you are looking for.

Also, in an earlier post you mentioned how cramped you are in your current living situation. If that's a concern, then you can virtually write off Mariemont. The houses are older, with tons of character, but generally small, like English cottages. You won't find anything spacious in Mariemont.

Wyoming, on the other hand, you will find massive homes, from stately Victorians to mid-century mod executive homes.

Pickings in the OP's stated price range could be pretty slim in Wyoming, though. They sure wouldn't get anything "massive."

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Pickings in the OP's stated price range could be pretty slim in Wyoming, though. They sure wouldn't get anything "massive."

From what the OP has indicated the hubby works from home and they are free to go anywhere in the state, the reason she posted in all three of the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland forums.

With that kind of freedom, I would be thinking a little further out of the main cities. For example Wilmington, it certainly has a downtown and I would think you can walk much of it. Another would be Medina south of Cleveland. Amounts to how often do you actually go into the City versus what you want close to you for daily living.

[progmac]

i'm wondering if lakewood near cleveland might fit the bill

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by progmac

i'm wondering if lakewood near cleveland might fit the bill

Although I like Cincinnatis urban core better, Cleveland definitely wins in having hip, diverse, walkable suburbs.

I'd say Clevelands' Cleveland Hts and Lakewood are basically direct counterparts to Chicagolands Oak Park and Evanston.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Although I like Cincinnatis urban core better, Cleveland definitely wins in having hip, diverse, walkable suburbs.

I'd say Clevelands' Cleveland Hts and Lakewood are basically direct counterparts to Chicagolands Oak Park and Evanston.

I think that is an accurate comparison.

I think that the Lakewood schools are slightly better and the crime situation and city services are a bit better in Lakewood.

Lakewood does nit have a lot of cultural events but is about a 20 minute drive to nearly anything in Cleveland.

[kjbrill]

I am glad to see some of us are willing to say Cleveland may be a better choice for the OP due to their desires. Would I prefer Cleveland, Nope otherwise I would have moved there. But individual circumstances vary. Cleveland's topography is more conducive to the the development of suburbs with defined downtowns, permitting walkability. I would only question just how much walkability actually exists there.

But suggesting to the OP they check out certain sections of Cleveland to me is encouraging. It indicates to me not all of us in Cincinnati are close-minded isolationists who cannot see beyond our own boundaries.

[robrobrob]

Basically, what the original poster wants is something that doesn't exist in most cities. I am from Pittsburgh and this is a question that people reapedly ask. We have a couple of walkable suburbs/towns with great schools and we have a few city neighborhoods with very nice business districts. A lot of posters rave about city schools but for the most part those people have decided to live in the city regardless of the schools. I think city schools are okay if you are knowledgeable about them. The problem is that you aren't really that knowledgeable if you don't live in the city currently.

I would think that Mariemont or Bexley in Columbus would be the closest fit. I think realistically the poster wants a walkable town with great schools. Lets face it hipsters aren't exactly living in the burbs regardless of what city they call home.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

A lot of posters rave about city schools but for the most part those people have decided to live in the city regardless of the schools. I think city schools are okay if you are knowledgeable about them. The problem is that you aren't really that knowledgeable if you don't live in the city currently.

^^ Truth.

[flashes1]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I would think that Mariemont or Bexley in Columbus would be the closest fit. I think realistically the poster wants a walkable town with great schools. Lets face it hipsters aren't exactly living in the burbs regardless of what city they call home.

And lets face it that hipsters aren't exactly big family people either. By the time people start having kids, their hip factor has expired.