Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
If you're looking for a truly, seriously, urban neighborhood to the scale of Chicago or a Northeast city, nothing compares to OTR's walkability, narrow streets, old housing stock, and overall vibe. It's easy to forget you're in Ohio when going out in OTR for dinner or nightlife on a weekend. With many Cincinnati jobs in the downtown area, you could easily live in OTR, take the streetcar to work downtown, walk to bars/restaurants after work and on weekends every day. I haven't been inside the Kroger there, so idk what it's like, but it at least has one within the neighborhood that does not require a car to drive to. And then there is of course Findlay Market, which has become sorta a tourist attraction, but still provides plenty of options for local groceries. The Music Hall is located there. There are local breweries in the neighborhood. There's a casino if that's your thing. And the streetcar can take you to The Banks for more dining/nightlife plus Reds and Bengals games and the Underground Railroad Museum.
It's honestly a great neighborhood within itself for having amazing food and nightlife. One of my favorite bars ever is there (16-Bit, which I know is in other Ohio cities, but I prefer OTR over their neighborhoods). And my favorite Italian restaurant away from the Northeast/Chicago is in OTR (A Tavola). Even as a total Mexican food snob, I enjoyed Bakersfield a lot. Around 2am when the bars start emptying out, it's pretty surprising how completely packed some of the streets can get. There are numerous bars and places to dance, and a lot of people will end up at places like Goodfella's for pizza at the end of the night, but there are even now street food vendors liked you'd find in NYC and LA.
In the end, for me, it's the level of urbanity that OTR provides. The narrow streets filled with rowhomes and mixed use buildings feels like somewhere entirely else that is not the Midwest and it's quite possible to live a car-light lifestyle in OTR. To me, CWE doesn't have the same urbanity. There are numerous detached homes with sizable front yards. That's not the style of neighborhood I want to live in as it just isn't as city-like as OTR. If someone simply prefers less city vibes, then I could understand preferring CWE over OTR. But for someone who wants a Chicago-style urban lifestyle, I don't think anywhere gets as close as OTR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis
CWE is great in it own way.
It is becoming too gentrified and is loosing its uniqueness as far as restaurants and amenities go. Whole Foods and Shake Shack type places can be found in most cities. Coffee Cartel can't. If someone wants to see a neighborhood that is St. Louisy, I would take them to either the Loop or Washington Avenue.
OTR was still unique 5 years ago and hopefully still is. Is it as grand as the CWE, I don't think so but it sounds like it still has its soul.
One can imagine a street such as this thriving some day, but for now, lots of vacant store fronts and trash everywhere. This is right around the corner from Findlay Market btw.
Thanks for the responses! It's getting pretty late on this side of the pond, so I'll have to write more specific responses tomorrow, but is the argument for some basically just that OTR is the most traditionally urban? If so I'd agree(the CWE is not St. Louis's most urban neighborhood, though it is certainly very urban by US standards), but that doesn't seem at all how I'm interpreting the thread... As Bjimmy24 and others have posted the boarded up abandoned buildings scattered all over OTR; that's what you guys consider the "best in the Midwest outside of Chicago"? I've lived here in Paris for more than a decade now (and have lived in several cities on different continents as well as a lot of traveling) and urban living here is something I love over pretty much every US city, but I've spent quite a bit of time in various Asian cities as well for example (such as cities in Burma) that are way, way more urban than cities in this list (and well the US relally...), but that doesn't mean I'd just auto say they're the best...
Most people don’t have extensive experience in all of these neighborhoods, mine is limited. One of the things to me is that Cincinnati and OTR is a place I would move to from the NY area.
Can you elaborate? I find the CWE in St. Louis to be way more cosmopolitan, progressive, rounded, etc.
Hi Caesarstl, People like what they like, I don't care or get offended at anyone’s choices in this poll or in any other conversation here, it’s all just personal choice. I have been to the CWE and some other neighborhoods in that area and they're all nice places. I’ve also been to a couple of others. Most of these poll choices are probably pretty much at the same level and they are all constantly changing and improving. You’re going to see nice public spaces, streetscapes, see amazing homes, tour cool old architecture, eat great food, drink beers etc...I prefer Cincinnati it’s just a lot closer to me, I like it and it’s someplace I’d consider traveling to.
If you came to NJ or any place near my town and thought meh...I’ve seen better in XYZ town on the list I’m just glad you’re happy. I argue enough with my job so when I come here it’s largely a distraction and I can’t believe people get veins in their foreheads over which town is better, when it’s all perspective and familiarity and we don’t even know each other! Can you imagine walking past someone in the CWE and they said “ST Louis SUCKS” out loud most would shake their head think they were drunk and move on. Kinda like that!
But go Blues wink ��
Last edited by Koji7; 06-04-2019 at 05:11 PM..
Reason: Added Blues
Although I love the Flats, which has been largely reborn with more residents than before, it is an apples-to-oranges comparison to areas like St. Louis' Central West End (CWE) OR Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine (OTR), the latter 2 being residential neighborhoods while being, also, trendy, while the Flats is a created-from-nothing (industrial area) trendy bar/restaurant area, that recently, has morphed into an apt district (largely crafted from converted warehouses with some newer large buildings thrown in here and there).
A better Cleveland comparison to CWE and OTR is Ohio City, University Circle/Little Italy or even Edgewater.
Interesting poll. All have so much history, and potential. All of these also have a bit of grit, and are trying to reinvent themselves after decline. In the next 10 years. I think these areas have the potential to become some of the most appealing in the US. So much of the US is about gentrification that it's nice to see these areas retaining a touch of old school grit.
I love OTR. It is probably the most visually interesting neighborhood in the midwest. But, it is still a work in progress and relatively small. I think Minneapolis's Uptown (and adjacent areas) is the most vibrant and functionally urban area outside Chicago.
I love OTR. It is probably the most visually interesting neighborhood in the midwest. But, it is still a work in progress and relatively small. I think Minneapolis's Uptown (and adjacent areas) is the most vibrant and functionally urban area outside Chicago.
Arguably the North Loop, Northeast/Old St. Anthony, and even Dinkytown are more vibrant than Uptown these days (especially in the last decade).
Arguably the North Loop, Northeast/Old St. Anthony, and even Dinkytown are more vibrant than Uptown these days (especially in the last decade).
I can see that. Either way I think Minneapolis is the most functionally urban city in the Midwest outside of Chicago. I would probably place Milwaukee 3rd.
Cincinnati and St Louis have better old urban architecture, Detriot has more of the big city urban architecture. But Minneapolis has managed to avoid the disinvestment and population losses that the other industrial Midwestern cities have experienced.
Reguardless, all of these cities are seeing revitalization. Even the cities that continue to lose population generally have urban neighborhoods that are thriving and growing.
Arguably the North Loop, Northeast/Old St. Anthony, and even Dinkytown are more vibrant than Uptown these days (especially in the last decade).
North Loop should have been the poll choice for Minneapolis here, rather than Uptown.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
