Will Columbus become largest Ohio metro? (Cleveland, Cincinnati: general contractor, relocation, family friendly)

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Jbraybarten653

I wasn't suggesting that it would or should happen.

It is a net negative for the rest of Ohio to lose population to Columbus. I don't see the controversy here. It is happening.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by TomJones123

You make some excellent points. Personally, after having lived in L.A. and NYC I am pretty dang happy with the lack of big city congestion in Cincinnati. I mean, sure there's traffic and congestion but nothing that is remotely comparable to LA/NYC. Having more population a better city does not make.

Then theres the rose-colored booster glasses people on city data like to wear. Ive literally marvelled at the lack of actual relevant data that several posters allow in their content. Its sad really. Its like they want everyone to believe that Columbus is some super-metropolis in the making and it's nothing of the sort. More than anything Columbus has found a way to keep it's population larger within the city limits and that's likely to get more federal money for whatever they can get it for.

The difference in reality vs expectation for Columbus if you're going by population, growth numbers, and forums like this might be the starkest in the country.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by Jbraybarten653

Columbus' growth is not at the expense of the state.

Columbus didnt cause the mass job loss in Ohio's manufacturing centered cities, that I will concede. But if Columbus draws people out of other areas due to those cities failing economies then the population shift is a loss for the contriburing cities and vastly affects the health of Ohio as a whole. I get the competitive mindset where anyone could chime in and say "well, those cities should have created jobs." and I would say that is kind of like blaming the victim. Post industrial cities didn't have much of a choice in the matter, the companies left for whatever the reason may be. Perhaps take a look at East Cleveland and tell me how one cities gain is not another cities loss. Columbus is definately drawing people in from around the state for jobs thats undeniable.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

The difference in reality vs expectation for Columbus if you're going by population, growth numbers, and forums like this might be the starkest in the country.

Ne doubt, really good points. Maybe I should drink some booster-aid and pretend that Columbus is the next Tokyo.

[midwest1]

Taking a look at year-to-date housing starts and it appears that CBDMetro has pulled nearly even with CBusMetro in the first 3 months of 2023. I doubt that has happened in several decades.

https://www.census.gov/construction/...ml&c_year=2023

And considering Cincy Dayton Middletown Hamilton have a much larger inventory of abandoned homes and therefore a larger numbers of gut rehabs of such properties, it is very possible that it has pulled ahead CBus in terms of new housing. Time will tell if this will hold for the rest of the year.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by midwest1

Taking a look at year-to-date housing starts and it appears that CBDMetro has pulled nearly even with CBusMetro in the first 3 months of 2023. I doubt that has happened in several decades.

https://www.census.gov/construction/...ml&c_year=2023

And considering Cincy Dayton Middletown Hamilton have a much larger inventory of abandoned homes and therefore a larger numbers of gut rehabs of such properties, it is very possible that it has pulled ahead CBus in terms of new housing. Time will tell if this will hold for the rest of the year.

Im a project manager in residential construction as well as a lead carpenter in both rough and finish carpentry. Ive worked from Dayton to Kentucky and there is a bunch of rehabs going on with vacant homes. Moreso in Cincinnati and surrounding areas but even Middleton has kicked into high gear. There are a lot of investors both small and large. Heck, in Hamilton County you can barely get your hands on a foreclosure because they get snapped up so quickly by investors, et al. This area has been rebuilding for years and it's still gaining mometum inspite of covid and other set backs.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by TomJones123

Columbus didnt cause the mass job loss in Ohio's manufacturing centered cities, that I will concede. But if Columbus draws people out of other areas due to those cities failing economies then the population shift is a loss for the contriburing cities and vastly affects the health of Ohio as a whole. I get the competitive mindset where anyone could chime in and say "well, those cities should have created jobs." and I would say that is kind of like blaming the victim. Post industrial cities didn't have much of a choice in the matter, the companies left for whatever the reason may be. Perhaps take a look at East Cleveland and tell me how one cities gain is not another cities loss. Columbus is definately drawing people in from around the state for jobs thats undeniable.

To a large degree, it's not really anyone's "fault" that cities lose population due to a changing economy. You can point to a few bad politicians or whatever, but at the end of the day, the same general trend happened in Baltimore, St Louis, Buffalo, Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago, etc etc. There were way larger, global forces at work than just "lol your city sucks now", which is how most of these Columbus people seem to think happened. Columbus lost out big time by not being an industrial center and then benefitted from that same thing later. I personally will have no sympathy once the world starts moving away from higher education and fake white collar jobs and Columbus declines by 30-50%.

[Jbraybarten653]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

It is a net negative for the rest of Ohio to lose population to Columbus. I don't see the controversy here. It is happening.

Originally Posted by TomJones123

Columbus didnt cause the mass job loss in Ohio's manufacturing centered cities, that I will concede. But if Columbus draws people out of other areas due to those cities failing economies then the population shift is a loss for the contriburing cities and vastly affects the health of Ohio as a whole. I get the competitive mindset where anyone could chime in and say "well, those cities should have created jobs." and I would say that is kind of like blaming the victim. Post industrial cities didn't have much of a choice in the matter, the companies left for whatever the reason may be. Perhaps take a look at East Cleveland and tell me how one cities gain is not another cities loss. Columbus is definately drawing people in from around the state for jobs thats undeniable.

If you look at data of migration (in and out) of cities, you'll see that every county gains and loses to other adjacent counties, other metros, other states.


1 It's better for Ohio if at least those who leave another Ohio county that they move in state.
2 The main issue - because again, there's always a flow of in and out migration no matter what city you are - is that the struggling cities need to improve their in-migration. No, that's not easy of course, but there's no way around it.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by Jbraybarten653

If you look at data of migration (in and out) of cities, you'll see that every county gains and loses to other adjacent counties, other metros, other states.


1 It's better for Ohio if at least those who leave another Ohio county that they move in state.
2 The main issue - because again, there's always a flow of in and out migration no matter what city you are - is that the struggling cities need to improve their in-migration. No, that's not easy of course, but there's no way around it.

Your second point always seems to be the crux of the matter because all politicians can do is maket an area's amenities and existing strengths. IMO, politicians are mostly inept at prooviding amenities, it's beyond the scope of what most of them can reasonably do which at times seems isnt too much. So why do companies select an area to locate/relocate to? Rhetorical of course but if an area can't compete what are they to do. Once a city becomes deteriorated on the scale of Detroit what is a city to do to cause in-migration? It becomes a vicous cycle. I think it really comes down to an areas diversity in terms of various types of industry. Post manufacturing cities have had the hardest time in this area. But some of them have managed to turn their fortunes.

[216facts]

Looks like Google is building out more data centers in the Columbus area.
https://news.wosu.org/2023-05-03/goo...n-central-ohio

Nice to see the investment