Apartment complexes in Columbus/Grandview Heights (Upper Arlington, Hudson: apartment complex, college, to live)

[valpofan11]

I am currently a college student, but Columbus is one of my top 2 choices of where I would like to go to live & work after I graduate. I would be seeking a relatively affordable, quiet, safe apartment with access to public transportation in Columbus and/or Grandview Heights. What are the options like that would fit that criteria? I already know rents are soaring in the city, so there might be difficulties.

[Ellad]

Check along King Ave and also along N Star in Grandview. That is where the affordable Grandview Apartments are.

[kevinbelt]

Most apartments in Grandview aren't complexes. There are more complexes than there used to be, but most places are still one-building mom-and-pop type places. How many bedrooms are you looking for, and what's your budget? The majority of units are 2BR and run around $1000/month. The majority of 1BRs are in the King/North Star Area and generally run around $500-600/month. Pretty much everywhere in the area is quiet and safe, and it's one of the few parts of Columbus with good public transportation.

[wrightflyer]

Ditto to Kevin. I have friends who have lived or lived in that area. You are surrounded by tons to do. It is safe. Public transit, for Columbus at least, isn't bad. I'd still recommend thinking about a car, but it isn't a necessity the moment you move, if you move to this area. Grocery can be found at Kroger on Northwest Blvd and Giant Eagle along Grandview and 3rd (?). There is also a brand-new Giant Eagle Market District (think like a sort of Wegman's, if you know that brand). Target and

Biking may be an option (don't let the MSP-based poster scare you). But be careful as cars still play a central role in Columbus commutes and travel and said poster is right about that. Around that area, the highest speed is 35 mph but all side streets are 25 and I believe King or 5th is 25. You'd be liable to be hit from someone pulling out of a driveway or parking lot. AND DON'T BIKE ON THE SIDEWALKS. That is a lesson OSU students should learn (and some do the very hard way), even around campus. The only road that can be pretty busy and dangerous for inexperienced bicycling is Olentangy Rive Road, where AMC, Target, Barnes & Nobles and other big box stores can be found. It is 4 lanes and varies between 35 and 45 with on and off ramps to OH-315. Public buses do travel into this shopping center. Grandview Yard (next to the GE Market District) would be another place that is slowly being built up and out, but it seems to have a more office approach to what I remember the original intent was to be.

[valpofan11]

Originally Posted by kevinbelt

Most apartments in Grandview aren't complexes. There are more complexes than there used to be, but most places are still one-building mom-and-pop type places. How many bedrooms are you looking for, and what's your budget? The majority of units are 2BR and run around $1000/month. The majority of 1BRs are in the King/North Star Area and generally run around $500-600/month. Pretty much everywhere in the area is quiet and safe, and it's one of the few parts of Columbus with good public transportation.

Won't know about budget until I would get a job. Would be looking for one bedroom.

[Cbus76]

The Quarry apartment complex is off of 5th Avenue on the other side of the Scioto River from Grandview Heights. Not sure if COTA buses run past the complex, but I think they do. It was a nice complex 15 years ago, I assume it still is. Easy access to Grandview and downtown.

[Buckeye614]

Originally Posted by Cbus76

The Quarry apartment complex is off of 5th Avenue on the other side of the Scioto River from Grandview Heights. Not sure if COTA buses run past the complex, but I think they do. It was a nice complex 15 years ago, I assume it still is. Easy access to Grandview and downtown.

Originally Posted by Cbus76

The Quarry apartment complex is off of 5th Avenue on the other side of the Scioto River from Grandview Heights. Not sure if COTA buses run past the complex, but I think they do. It was a nice complex 15 years ago, I assume it still is. Easy access to Grandview and downtown.

Cota does indeed stop right outside of the complex.

Benefits:
+Proximity to 670, able to get downtown in 10-12 minutes, Grandview Ave/Yard, Short North and OSU
+Aesthetically pleasing i.e. big lake in center of complex, two pools, pretty decent fitness centers
+Safe (surrounded by Upper Arlington, 5th by Northwest and Grandview)
+Floor plans have decent space

Cons:
- Management isn't the brightest bunch
-More of a suburban oriented complex i.e. no sidewalks, you would want a car, not really walkable to any stores/restaurants
- There are more centrally located apartment complexes (although you'd pay a lot more_

[Buckeye614]

Originally Posted by valpofan11

I am currently a college student, but Columbus is one of my top 2 choices of where I would like to go to live & work after I graduate. I would be seeking a relatively affordable, quiet, safe apartment with access to public transportation in Columbus and/or Grandview Heights. What are the options like that would fit that criteria? I already know rents are soaring in the city, so there might be difficulties.

I'm a recent college grad as well and live in the Grandview/5th By Northwest area.

A lot of the newer complexes in 5th By Norhwest/Greater Grandview area are not exactly cheap i.e. The View on 5th, The Meridian, 600 Goodale, and the Apartments at The Yard.

The area has great access to downtown/the short north and OSU while being safe and a more quiet area. The row of restaurants on Grandview Ave is a gem in Columbus and offer excellent happy hours/food.

In my opinion the "cheaper" apartments in the area would be Heritage or Runaway Bay.

[kevinbelt]

Heritage, FWIW, has a bad reputation for being a little too cheap.

I've known people who've lived at both Runaway Bay and the Quarry. They're nice enough, I guess, but they're not really in Grandview. They're across the river from what's traditionally considered the Grandview area (actually Marble Cliff, but tomato tomato), and they are even further from the main commercial areas like Grandview Avenue. The bus does run by it, but Columbus buses are notoriously bad.

[applej3]

OP, you might want to think about Clintonville. Nice residential area, quiet, better access to buses (High St. and also Indianola Ave.) The area north of Hudson and south of Morse has quite a few very nice 1BR apts that are reasonable. Close to buses, stores, restaurants. Not 'complexes' but well-kept 4 unit apt bldgs. with low turnover.