Grad student moving to columbus, advice! (Dublin, Worthington: apartment complex, rentals, crime)

[steelersfan87]

I am moving to columbus, ohio sometime this summer (july-august 2012). I am going to be attending ohio state university so I want to find somewhere to live within driving distance to the university. I am thinking that a 20/25 minute drive is the furthest out I would want to be. Can anyone give me some apartment complexes that are safe within this distance? And if not the name of specific apartment complexes then at least the city/area names to search in. I think that I want to spend somewhere between 550 and 750 a month. But safety is a huge concern and I would consider paying more if I needed to to feel safe. Thanks!!

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by steelersfan87

I am moving to columbus, ohio sometime this summer (july-august 2012). I am going to be attending ohio state university so I want to find somewhere to live within driving distance to the university. I am thinking that a 20/25 minute drive is the furthest out I would want to be. Can anyone give me some apartment complexes that are safe within this distance? And if not the name of specific apartment complexes then at least the city/area names to search in. I think that I want to spend somewhere between 550 and 750 a month. But safety is a huge concern and I would consider paying more if I needed to to feel safe. Thanks!!

I don't have specific apartment complex names, but any of the central urban neighborhoods will meet your criteria if you are just looking for a one-bedroom or studio. Weinland Park would be the closest neighborhood, and would be relatively cheap to live. It is not as safe as some other places, but there is a significant amount of revitalization going on, so it's gradually getting better. You might also try Harrison West or Grandview Heights.

[wrightflyer]

Some of these areas, like King Ave/5th Ave corridors, NW Columbus, Arena District and downtown will have actual complexes (small and large). Victorian Village, Clintonville, Weinland Park and again King Ave/5th Ave corridors will tend to have multi-unit buildings with 2-8+ apartments.

I would put the King Avenue and 5th Avenue corridors (from Neil Ave on West across the Olentangy River) on your list. Part of that area is Columbus, and parts are Grandview Heights. Both parts should be fine. Also out here are the Granview Avenue corridor and Northwest Blvd. The areas on the campus side of the Olentangy are Harrison West.

Newer (and/or renovated) apartments will actually be found closer to downtown when staying inside 20/25 minutes. Check out the Arena District or downtown. Victorian Village is tad expensive but is well worth it. Victorian Village's northern border is 5th Avenue. running down Neil Avenue to I-670. The closer to downtown tends to be more expensive and better kept.

While I will admit Weinland Park has come some ways, it is certainly still in transition. I would not describe the place as completely safe. I would not rent or sign a lease here without first seeing the neighborhood and the lay of the land. If you have time to come into town and look, I certainly would recommend taking a first hand a look.

Clintonville should be on your list. It is a large area north of campus (actually north of Arcadia and Dodridge) that is home to many young professionals, families, OSU workers, and grad students. High Street is the main drag, though there is some commercial along Indianola on the east side of the neighborhood. I would not look at anything on Broad Meadows Blvd. to the north of the Graceland Shopping Center as it is a set of problem complexes. Otherwise, everything else up there should be fair game.

Finally, if you want more suburban settings, there are plenty of complexes from the 1960's to now scattered across NW Columbus. These are the nicer "suburban" areas of Columbus proper. They are suburban style developments, having been annexed into Columbus city services. Some corridors include Bethel Road, Kenny Road, Olentangy River Road and Henderson Road. I would not venture too far past the Scioto River towards Dublin, OH, or north up Sawmill Road, as both directions will start putting you past your commute time limits you imposed. If you really want to push the time and spend the money on commuting, there are a number of apartment complexes around Tuttle Crossing Mall which are nice, new and safe. However, with gas prices nearing $4/gallon and with other similar complexes and areas closer to campus, it probably is not really worth it.

Considering the parking headache that is OSU, I would live as close as possible, and near a frequent bus line that goes in and out of campus. Lines include #7, #18, #2, #84(?), and some others. They have changed some of the cross town routes towards Grandview Heights since I was there, but the other lines should be the same. The local transit agency is COTA.

[summer22]

Broad Meadows was not good.

I viewed a great apartment there last week -- it was in a four-unit building, was well maintained, spacious, and very affordable. The back of the building bordered on a cemetery (so no neighbors to worry about there.) There were parking spaces and the unit included a washer and dryer.

But... just because this particular four-unit had good management and screened its tenants, does not mean the other dozens of four-units have good management. Every building on that block seems to be separately owned, even though they all look the same.

If you go to the Columbus Police webpage and look at the crime maps, especially if you extend the date range to 60, 90, or 120 days, you will see the kinds of trouble that happens on that block.

There seems to be one way in, and one way out of the complex, so it is one long, long block of buildings with a lot of entrenched social problems. If you live there you might be able to avoid it, but you might not. If you have good neighbors you might be fine, but you wouldn't know that until you move in.

[98PanAm]

None of King or 5th Avenues are in Grandview Heights, no matter how far west you go. For the most part, you have to be south of 3rd Ave. (and west of the RR tracks parallel to and west of Olentangy) to be in GH proper. The border mostly follows the alley parallel to and south of 3rd, so none of the apts or duplexes on 3rd are in GH. The only two places where GH crosses or even touches 3rd Avenue are the portion of the block encompassing the high school football field between Fairview Ave. and North Star Rd. (not including the streets themselves) and a slim portion around Lincoln and Wyandotte. At no place does it encompass anything on 5th Ave, although GH does provide police and fire protection to Marble Cliff under contract. Almost everything between 3rd and King Ave. is in Columbus to just west of Glenn, including Grandview Avenue, NW Blvd, etc.

I lived in that neighborhood for eighteen years, and there tends to be much confusion among the transient (rental) population there concerning where they actually live. For example, I knew someone who lived in the big, newer apartment complex that runs between 5th and King Avenues just west of Olentangy, and she and many of her neighbors thought they lived in GH. They were wrong, however, hence the 1st precinct CPD cruisers that used to drive through the complex on occasion (it's CPD 1st precinct, cruiser district 14).

With that being said, the area west of Olentangy would be a good place to consider, with less crime than some areas east of the river, but still with a very quick, easy commute to the university. The reason the corporate limit issue could make a difference to you even without kids is that rentals in GH proper (say along NW Blvd south of 3rd) would tend to be more expensive due to the supply/demand equation and competition with people wanting to get their kids into the GH school district, which, unlike some suburban schools districts in central Ohio, strictly follows the GH corporate limit lines (and Marble Cliff). The area between 3rd and King is City of Columbus and Columbus schools, however, so it could (emphasis on COULD) tend to be a bit less.

I knew of many (mostly married) OSU students who lived in duplexes and apts along King, 5th, and 3rd, west of Olentangy.

[HPY1]

Just rent in Grandview or Upper Arlinginton - You'll be a short bus ride or car drive from the OSU Campus.

Another good uption is N. Up High Street to Clintonville or Worthington then you can take the bus up and down high street and won't have to pay to park on Campus. It used to be that OSU students ride COTA for free! Double check that before you make plans based upon this post. You can also check on the price of monthy COTA pass vs the price of parking on campus per quarter. (Or has OSU switched over to semsters now?)

My $.02

[O I A]

I have apartment in harvard square aps , i wanna move out in about 2 weeks , its about 10 mins to OSU , and its very safe , if you intersted please tell me ?

[wrightflyer]

Just FYI for everyone, OSU has switched to semesters as of this summer term.

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by 98PanAm

None of King or 5th Avenues are in Grandview Heights, no matter how far west you go. For the most part, you have to be south of 3rd Ave. (and west of the RR tracks parallel to and west of Olentangy) to be in GH proper. The border mostly follows the alley parallel to and south of 3rd, so none of the apts or duplexes on 3rd are in GH. The only two places where GH crosses or even touches 3rd Avenue are the portion of the block encompassing the high school football field between Fairview Ave. and North Star Rd. (not including the streets themselves) and a slim portion around Lincoln and Wyandotte. At no place does it encompass anything on 5th Ave, although GH does provide police and fire protection to Marble Cliff under contract. Almost everything between 3rd and King Ave. is in Columbus to just west of Glenn, including Grandview Avenue, NW Blvd, etc.

I lived in that neighborhood for eighteen years, and there tends to be much confusion among the transient (rental) population there concerning where they actually live. For example, I knew someone who lived in the big, newer apartment complex that runs between 5th and King Avenues just west of Olentangy, and she and many of her neighbors thought they lived in GH. They were wrong, however, hence the 1st precinct CPD cruisers that used to drive through the complex on occasion (it's CPD 1st precinct, cruiser district 14).

With that being said, the area west of Olentangy would be a good place to consider, with less crime than some areas east of the river, but still with a very quick, easy commute to the university. The reason the corporate limit issue could make a difference to you even without kids is that rentals in GH proper (say along NW Blvd south of 3rd) would tend to be more expensive due to the supply/demand equation and competition with people wanting to get their kids into the GH school district, which, unlike some suburban schools districts in central Ohio, strictly follows the GH corporate limit lines (and Marble Cliff). The area between 3rd and King is City of Columbus and Columbus schools, however, so it could (emphasis on COULD) tend to be a bit less.

I knew of many (mostly married) OSU students who lived in duplexes and apts along King, 5th, and 3rd, west of Olentangy.

And you know, I should have realized this, because I would drive these streets a number of times. That and I have a AAA map of Columbus and have looked at it many times only to realize those areas are not GH.

Still, even though these streets are Columbus, it still felt like a rather safe area, more so than places around campus north, east or south. Of course, always being vigilant and smart does not hurt when it comes to living anywhere.

And the whole supply/demand aspect of GH apartments with the schools makes total sense.