Potential Move to Columbus - Looking for Advice (Newark, Fairfield: sales, apartment complex)

[bender2007]

Nothing firmed up yet but I'll likely be making the trip this weekend to check out a few areas prior to making a final decision on the job. From reading the comments here and talking to a few others I think I'll check out Hilliard, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville and New Albany. This should give me a good slice of different areas each with it's own advantages and disadvantages.

I'm not sure on a strategy of how to look at areas since I'll likely from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon or something like that. One thought is to look at a realtor site and pick a house or neighborhood in the different areas. If anyone else has ideas let me know!

[PerryMason614]

Originally Posted by bender2007

I have an opportunity to move to Columbus and will likely be able to make a day trip to the city before a final decision. I currently live in a suburb of Indianapolis to give you an idea of what I am used to. In order to get a taste of Columbus any recommendations on what to look for, places to visit? We have kids in grade school so we'd be looking for family friendly areas. The job would mostly require visits to the North side, West side and Downtown. As far as a house probably a 4 bedroom, ideally with a den/office, an attached garage (2+ cars) and not a fixer upper. I'm not 100% sure on budget yet as I am still awaiting details of the job but something around $300K is probably what we would be looking for. Also, any thoughts on how Columbus as a whole compares to Indianapolis (cultural, amenities, cost of living, etc)?

Which suburb?

[Rosebush1]

I don’t think you have time to look at individual houses. If you accept the job get hooked up with a buyer relocation specialist to see homes on a future visit. Many companies will hook you up.

I would use this day trip to eyeball Central Ohio communities. Do a driving tour east to west, start in New Albany. Look at each downtown area, school complex if they have one, drive through some neighborhoods. Drive by a few for sale houses, use Zillow.
This will give you a frame of reference and some idea of the budget you need for each area.

New Albany and Dublin are two of my favorites with Westerville not far behind.
Lewis Center is not a town, it is just a zip code in Delaware County. Lots of rural sprawl.

Enjoy, then come back here with questions. I think you will enjoy living here if that happens.

Consider adding Gahanna to your list, especially the Gahanna neighborhoods NE next to New Albany.

[bender2007]

I'm currently in Hendricks county on the West side of Indianapolis. I just added Gahanna to the list. I agree with Rosebush1 and wasn't really planning on going inside homes but maybe picking a home or two in each city that appears to meet our needs to see the neighborhood though if there is an open house we might just pop in. The position will come with a relocation package and I will have someone to work to better outline what we are looking for. All of this work is preliminary and will help us determine if we like the city or if we have hang-ups.

[Rosebush1]

Originally Posted by bender2007

I'm currently in Hendricks county on the West side of Indianapolis. I just added Gahanna to the list. I agree with Rosebush1 and wasn't really planning on going inside homes but maybe picking a home or two in each city that appears to meet our needs to see the neighborhood though if there is an open house we might just pop in. The position will come with a relocation package and I will have someone to work to better outline what we are looking for. All of this work is preliminary and will help us determine if we like the city or if we have hang-ups.

You are on the right path to do a preliminary trip before you decide whether to relocate.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Rosebush1]

In Gahanna pick up route 62 and drive NE into New Albany.
Look at Gahanna neighborhoods Crossing at McKenna Creek and Rose Run. Both areas are lovely although many homes are a little above you initial thoughts on the price you wanted to pay. More affordable per square foot than New Albany or Dublin. Harrison Pond is another great area but a level pricier, it is east of Johnstown Road off Morse road to the south. Self contained community with its own pool and park like areas. These three areas are Gahanna for municipal and school services.


North of Morse Road, still on Johnstown Road, is New Albany city limits.

[bender2007]

Okay, I didn't get to see everything I wanted to but first impressions were positive. We saw parts of Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Gahanna and New Albany. We also took a quick drive to downtown and the Short North area. Here are some thoughts on the suburbs we saw.

Worthington: Really liked their historic corridor and the neighborhoods around it. I also felt like it was transitioning with some areas getting better, some maybe getting worse and some kind of mixed.

Powell: Didn't see too much but some nice newer neighborhoods and definitely new construction occurring.

Lewis Center: Nice newer neighborhoods like Powell but perhaps some disconnect in it's communities (maybe because this is a zip code like someone mentioned earlier and not really a city and development is still occurring).

Westerville: Somewhat similar to Worthington in the parts we saw. Close to highways definitely a mix of apartments, neighborhoods, some industry and commercial. In Westerville and Worthington it was hard to determine if you had driven to another city at times.

Gahanna: Didn't see much of this, maybe comparable to parts of Westerville and Worthington.

New Albany: Nice community, liked the trail network, the neighborhoods we saw were nice. What I think was the downtown, on Market Street, was nice but maybe a bit too uniform. I think this community is probably one with restrictive zoning requirements to maintain a certain look which isn't really good or bad just different and yields different results compared to other communities.

I also didn't get the sense that Indianapolis and Columbus were really all that similar. Columbus seemed to have more of an East coast feel compared to Indy (row houses, more density in many places, smaller lots with smaller homes). It wasn't a huge difference and certainly wasn't like the true East coast but perhaps just different enough. Both cities also yield to farmland fairly quickly but it felt like Columbus was more dense then turned more quickly into farmland. Indy seems to gradually spread out until you hit farmland.

Anyway, just some initial thoughts.

[Rosebush1]

Hey there Bender, thanks for the feedback.
If you come again, the relocation expert can help sort out what you just saw.
IMO most of the suburban communities are good places to live.

[wrightflyer]

Glad to hear the experience was a positive one.

On a note regarding regional feel of a city. I understand completely. I have family from NYC/Hudson Valley and DC, plus with trips a number of times to City Line / Main Line of Philadelphia. I bring those up because I feel Columbus is the most "Midwestern" of the three major Ohio cities. When I have been to Cleveland, especially east suburbs of Cleveland, it feels decidedly northeast and even a little bit like New England. It certainly doesn't remind me of "Ohio"

And where as Cincinnati feels completely like a "Southern" or "Appalachian" city, with its hills, valleys and overall culture imported in the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's from Kentucky and other points in the southern hills of the US.

I grew up in Dayton, despite the remaining family being on the coast, and while Dayton feels more "Midwest" than Cincinnati, it isn't as "Midwest" as Columbus in my minds eye. But yes, Indy is even more "Midwest" than Columbus. Reminds me a little of St. Louis or maybe a larger version of Des Moines?

I kind of joke with close friends that the south doesn't stop at the Ohio River. It really goes all the way to I-70. Even Columbus has that southern feel, especially in its southern half of the metro.

[bender2007]

I have a question about Upper Arlington and Worthington. Most of the cities are traditional from what I saw, homes with sidewalks and straight streets along with main thoroughfares. Are these two cities family friendly where you could let your kids play around the neighborhood without concern? I know we would get that in many newer neighborhoods with Cul-de-Sacs and many young families.