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Ok, that got a chuckle. I didn't think anyone outside a 50 mile radius knew about that. They even have cookbooks with that emblazoned on the cover.
Art1979, there's a HUGE sign with that slogan on it attached to a warehouse (Wanamaker?) that faces I-75 (on the West side) I pass it on an infrequent basis and still smile every time I see it!
Don't bother. I mean no disrespect to the older folks that live there, remembering the town in all its grandeur, my grandparents were the same way and they still hold a piece of the old town in their hearts, truely dear to them. But when it comes to advising you to move your family there, I can't advise it, the crime rate speaks for itself. You'll see sporadically spaced out, where elderly families live who still keep their yard nice, it must pain them, seeing what has become of their city and neighborhoods.
What job could entice you to go there? I heard they're getting some new chemical plant, probably 90% unskilled labor, and there's the hospitals.
The hospitals are there because the cancer rates are so high.
Allen, the county Lima is in, is one of the toppers of the EPA's most polluted county list for the entire US nation (particle pollution) (check w/ the American Lung Association). The water dept is now under forced contract to notify residents of contaminate levels on a yearly basis. Unemployment is higher than the states average, crime rate is unbelieveably high, sitting at a rate only equalled by cities 4 or 5 times larger and more densely populated. Compare Lima crime rates to that of NYC or Los Angeles and you'll quickly realize despite what a lot of people are telling you here, you probably don't want to move your family into that.
I left to go to grad school and was surprised Lima was actually well known in the medical fields because of their astounding respiratory illness rates. Shawnee is the area to live, and is the area's only 1/2 way decent school that isn't private (and the only private schools are catholic). And I should have mentioned Shawnee while in the Lima area is outside the city limits.
You don't want to be within the city limits of Lima. The entire city is ghetto. People here are pointing out parts of the city that are nice, listing the "pros" and "cons", but you need to really concentrate here if you're moving your family. The "pros" are all basic things you'd find in any town in America.
Places to eat, shop, spend your money. What town of this size wouldn't have an Applebees and a mall? Those "pros" are all things common to any city, not Lima in particular. Findlay, a town 20 miles further north has all those things and more with a smaller population, because their economy is doing much better than Lima's. They have an Outback, a better selection of stores, a lower crime rate, etc. So if you must move to the area, I'd check out Findlay. Or somewhere in a different area with a better educational system.
The "nice" and "clean" downtown Lima area has been dead for 25 years, isn't nice, and isn't clean. The only time safe to, or there even is a reason congregate there is during city-sponsored (read: policed) events like square-fair. I think the only business in the last 15 years that has opened in the downtown area is a headshop, the 4:20 clinic.. go figure. I can understand how some people like to reminisce about how it used to be a booming shopping, banking, and office district, Greg's, etc. That's fine, but it's certainly not that any longer, make a trip there and see for yourself. The downtown area is horrid. The majority of buildings are empty, old brick structures from the 1930's that are now empty and falling down. Sad. Not being torn down, just falling. There is a bank or two left downtown, maybe an insurance agency and a few pawn shops and bars. The Veteran's Memorial Civic and Convention Center is nice inside, but you wouldn't want to walk around the area at night.. The city, knowing this, connected a parking garage directly to it. The building is beautiful and it was a great way to honor local veterans, but unfortunately, city publications often, if not always, left out the "Veteran's Memorial" part of the name, further detracting from venue.
Other than that, there's just the downtown Kewpee (Kewpee burgers being the only good thing in Lima) a low-security insane asylum called the "Argon" which used to be a beautiful hotel in its day, then went on to house the well-off elderly, is now mainly used to house those who can't function normally, but aren't criminal. Drive through the downtown area and they're everywhere during the day, sitting on benches, wandering around the area.
The mayor was always talking big about enticing new businesses but could never quite land them because the state of the economy. They look at the numbers, look at the streets in need of repavement, the railroad crossings in shambles, the state of the water and sewage systems, and leave as soon as they can because they know they're being setup for a trap, taxes would be raised almost the instant they moved their business in because the city is in such desperate need of tax dollars.
Crime? I won't really get into it much. The crime rates speak for themselves for the most part, but keep in mind small town cops don't have to report everything as there's no oversight, it's probably higher than reported. Crack heads (yeah, you thought the crack epidemic ended in the 80's? Not in Lima), thieves, thugs, you name it. Look at the instances of rape. The local police would rather issue parking citations than deal with the real crime problems. Gangs openly deal drugs in broad daylight, at the same locations every day and have for years (Hello? What do you think goes on in front of Cappis pizza on Elm St?) and the cops do nothing. You'll hear of small busts here and there, with a meager few ounces of this or that confiscated but nothing large. Others have spoken that drugs come from Detroit, which isn't true. Drug trade in the US moves from South to North, Lima just happens to be on the way to Detroit along I-75, and has plenty of thugs willing to take minimal risk meeting up with other drug dealing thugs who've come down from Detroit to score. There was a week a few months back that had 4 or 5 shootings in a week.. yes a single week. Completely unrelated to each other as the cops stated, and I'm sure none of them had anything to do with drugs or perhaps maybe a drug shipment that had a layover in Lima. Nope, I'm sure the cops would have solved that and notified everyone if that were the case. Frank Catlett, the old chief of police was a great cop, and kept Lima clean. But he retired, and the city is suffering.
Traffic isn't bad, but no one can drive with a darn. If it's not some senseless kid driving crazy in a honda with his stereo too loud (remember, youth culture is a product of enviroment and environment in Lima is ghetto) then it's the same kid's senseless soccermom mother driving crazy and tailgating chitchatting on a cellphone driving nascar race style to the next stoplight or grocery store to convince herself her life has some importance. In fact, the only ones who do seem to be able to drive half ways normal is the older population, and the thugs. The older folks because they have some sense and nice cars, the thugs because they have nice cars and they're in no hurry as they have no worries about the cops. The only people whom if you're lucky will give you 1.5 carlengths behind you are the elderly and the gangsters. I think I've already mentioned the state of most railroad crossings, terrible. You'd think they hadn't been touched since the 1850's, and some of them haven't. You must slow your vehicle (carefully now, that soccer mom is 3 inches from your bumper) to about a half a mile an hour to creep over the tracks, which, if you're lucky may have a metal roadsign warning you about the dangers of trains.. and one crossing might even have flashing lights or gates.
Housing shouldn't be an issue, in any neighborhood, there are plenty of homes up for sale some of which have been unsold for quite some time. There are even entire subdivisions full of mcmansions and condos that are completely empty. Drive behind DairyKing, empty condo division. Drive down Fraunfelter, a planned subdivision that's been put on hold. Indian Brook and every other neighborhood has plenty of living space should you choose to move there.
If you want what's best for your family, I suggest instead of posting on the internet you come to the area and check it out for yourself. If you find an area you feel comfortable moving your family to then move, if not, look elsewhere.
I'm not trying to talk bad about or be mean to the people of the town, but they really need some help. People starting in the 1800's and elderly worked darn hard for what they got, and some still do to this day, and they built something nice. But their kids, and their kid's kids and their kid's kid's kids don't have the same values or now even common sense because the state of the educational system and the crap they're fed in the media. They just mimic what they see in movies, on TV, and in music. And Lima is paying the price for that, it stands as a microcosm for what can happen in a country where ignorance goes on unchecked. Expansion stops, jobs stop, education stops, crime starts. Where do you think the town will be in 20-30 years? In absolute shambles, like the worst part of Detroit or Compton is today. You go to the grocery store, everyone pays with a creditcard, you go to the gas station everyone pays with a credit card, you go to fast food restaurant everyone pays for that $1 sandwhich with a creditcard. These people live off credit, for housing, for transportation, even for the food in their mouths. This isn't going to improve anytime soon, and I suggest you stay far away from it, until the people on here saying how Lima is a good decent place to live manage to wake up and to talk to sense into their kids and grandchildren so they can turn it around and actually restore it or make something good out of it.
Maybe one of you on this forum can help me out. I own rental properties throughout Lima. I'm on my 3rd property manager and I may be getting rid of him too. The only chance he has to stay on is if I can find a reliable bookkeeper for him to report to. If he knows that everything will be questioned, he just may shape up. Any suggestions would be appreciated
wewsnu has summed up the Lima experience precisely! There are a few cultural positives for the area, but the negatives far outweigh the Encore theater, the Lima Symphony Orchestra or Kewpees. After 21 years in Lima we're retiring to a warmer, safer location....yes, it's out there. It's my hometown in the southwest.....
My significant other (SO) just moved to Lima for work. As I type this I'm here on my first visit. As I drove towards where my SO is living I thought how sorry I feel for them to have to live in this type of area. We are from a rural small college town with 4,000 citizens on paper. I really don't think 4,000 people actually live in the town. My SO moved here only because Lima was the only school district to offer them a job. Time after time my SO would apply and be told they are "over qualified." My SO won't be taking leisurely walks after dark like we did in our hometown. In order for my SO to get certain necessary documents, they have to "do time" in Lima.
I haven't seen much of the city but from the little I have seen I'm not impressed. I don't know why people live like they do? Is it because there is no industry to speak of to employ people? Is it because we have a narrow view of what a valuable education is? Not everyone is scholastically able to become a doctor, nurse or bookkeeper.
My SO tells me students arrive at school, eat breakfast then sleep through class. I can only recall my own school days. I hated the subject area that my SO teaches. I had no interest in it nor aptitude for it but I managed to pass with low grades. From what I see, students are forced to absorbe material in this subject matter in order to pass the tests. The students who aren't passing are failing. What is to become of them? Do we just declare them unteachable and relegate them to a life of poverty and drug dealing? Of course there are students who are very intelligent and they are doing well. But what of the others? The truth of the matter is you can't force a child to learn. You can't force a child to understand that going to school is their job for now and they best try to maneuver through it.
Getting all A's and a "good job somewhere else" isn't going to be an option for most of the at risk students. It seems to me that students need to have some sort of talent or skill that can pull them out of their despair or disillusionment with school. I was able to identify what I was good at and that has allowed me to obtain employable skills. From what I see youth aren't taught the importance of developing employable skills and a good attitude.
If your mother or father aren't around and you're a young child responsible for getting yourself to school and you decide whether or not you're going to learn it's not going to be an easy road. My SO tells me a few parents came in to school for conferences and displayed genuine concern but I'd think if your child were failing school and you were an engaged parent you'd know that well in advance of the student's teacher calling you in to tell you that.
I think we fail our students when we don't identify their strengths and encourage them to advance in that direction. We expect everyone to "study hard and get all A's in every subject" and for a whole lot of students that's no the solution to their problems.
Explain "live like they do," please. Is this just in regards to education?
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Originally Posted by Mary000
Is it because there is no industry to speak of to employ people?
At one time (believe it or not), Lima was a healthy, blue collar, Midwestern city. In the same manner as many other rust-belt cities, it invested heavily in industry. Now that we see a large outsourcing of industrial functions, Lima has been feeling the squeeze for quite some time. It is a city planning folly of people who are now long gone. Some people in Lima still have fancy for the town, as in "it's not paradise, but it's home." Being a moderately traveled man, I tell them there are worse areas than West Central Ohio.
Off the top of my head, the current industries are General Dynamics (Tank Engineers), the BP Oil refinery, The Ohio State University - Lima branch, and I believe Ford has its fingers in the city, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary000
Is it because we have a narrow view of what a valuable education is?
I can honestly say aside from reading, writing, language, and arithmetic, the rest of my public education was expendable. Why couldn't we make these the core competencies and save the rest as extra curricular? Funny enough, my general electives in college recapped my high school career. The only difference was: I WAS PAYING FOR IT! I hate redundancy. It's so inefficient.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary000
The truth of the matter is you can't force a child to learn.
Amen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mary000
I think we fail our students when we don't identify their strengths and encourage them to advance in that direction.
You know, if I had a dime for every time a person had "encouragement" for me only to turn it into a talk telling me how to live my life, I would've paid off college the day I graduated. Remind them they can seek counsel, but remember their willingness is paramount to achieving your desired outcome.
I know Lima's hurting, but am of the opinion that all the complaints in the world won't solve anything. It takes a leader with vision to solve problems. Action, not talk, is going to restore Lima to better times.
lima, i remember it well, grew up there, moved to the downriver area of mich. in 84, not much diff. between detroit and lima, other than lima is cheaper to live in. i still go back for a kewpee, and dinner at the eagles once in a while. but i wouldnt want to live in lima, although the surrounding area is nice, ada,cridersville, lakeview, elida etc.
I dont really get why the crime rate in Lima is so high. Until a few days ago I had no idea where Lima was and had only heard of it two times. Im from Elyria which is in the Cleveland/Akron area that has 3 million people and the Lima area only has 100k people. I had no idea that Lima had a high crime rate, its basically surrounded on all sides by farms and is two hours from the nearest big city. I dont see anything appealing about the city. The main thing I want to know is why do you think the crime rate is so high?
OK here's the real picture: There isn't much to do in Lima. I haven't had any trouble with crime and my parent's still don't lock their doors. The shopping is bad. The about post mentioned 2 malls that contain national chains- well the 2nd mall (the American Mall) has only 3 or 4 stores left. They have an Anderson's, Value City, BW3 (restaurant), and GNC. The "Lima Mall" has all the stores. Some of the main stores in the mall include: Macy's, Gap, Victoria's Secret, Elder-Beerman, JC Penney, American Eagle, Sears, Old Navy and so on. The mall doesn't even have a food court. You have a choice of Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Subway, some chinese place and Mrs. Field's cookies, oh and an ice cream place. The hospitals are nice. St. Rita's just added a Starbucks and Panera is coming in on both sides of town. I'm downtown is not nice at all. The only reason to go there is to go to The Meeting Place on Market, which will probably suffer once Panera opens. The building are rundown and I agree with the last reply that the Civic Center is nice...but by no means New York style. The annual fair does draw some big names but besides that there are just rides and some cheerleading competitions. As for restaurants there are some nice one, but mostly chains. There is Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday's, Bob Evan's, Ihop, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster and so on. Some other restaurants specific to this area include: Milano's (italian and yummy), Burgundy's (also Italian and also yummy), La Charreada (Mexican), Meeting Place on Market (they have great soup, sandwiches, and coffee), and more that I'm sure I am forgetting. I'm tired of writing so if you want anymore info let me know.
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I hate redundancy. It's so inefficient. 
