I was walking to Barcelona to meet a friend for a cocktail on Sunday when I heard a car slowing behind me. Nice couple, late 20s, kid in the back seat. Their windows were rolled down and the daddy/driver was leaning toward me ready to ask a question.
I almost started giving directions to Schmidts before their wheels even stopped rolling (since THAT is the usual question), but this was something a little stickier:
Where should we live in Columbus?
Ok, here's the situation:
- Husband is college bound (deciding between Columbus and Ann Arbor)
- They have a young child (you'll have to forgive me for not noting the gender or age - this is still ME, remember?)
- They want to be near to campus and feel safe
- And, they have an urban/neighborhoody ethic
Off the cuff, I recommended Short North and its surrounding neighbors or Grandview. But, I also gave them my number to follow up. So, what do you think, Columbus? What's the ideal neighborhood for this growing, brainy family?
Leigh,
I would also suggest Westgate. Especially if you are going to throw Franklinton in the mix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westgate,_Columbus,_Ohio
/a
Posted by: Amanda Yee | 05/20/2009 at 03:12 PM
Leigh, I suggest Ann Arbor.
Posted by: Alvin | 05/20/2009 at 03:42 PM
you cracked me up w/that comment about giving them directions to schmidt's!
my only qualm with the poll is my answers would be different if they were renting as opposed to buying.
Renting: Grandview
Buying: Merion Village
Interesting post! Can't wait to look back in a couple days to see if the results have changed at all!
Posted by: mycolumbusohioblog | 05/20/2009 at 04:00 PM
Heh. I recall giving Schmidt's directions at least once a month back during my time in GV. ;) I always got thrown for a loop when someone occasionally was asking how to get to Lindey's or Max & Erma's. ;)
My vote was for VV/SN/IV if they want to be close to campus and have an urban living arrangement. Clintonville would be a very close second, as it's just a little further from campus and slightly less "urban".
I do appreciate adding KLD to the list (just for me! yay!), but I think it might be outside of what they're considering as close to campus, even though it's about a 10 minute drive. And I really don't know enough about the available rental stock in this neighborhood to even recommend it as something worth considering for the short term.
This is a pretty complex question though, and I agree with mycolumbusohioblog that it could vary quite a bit on if they're looking to rent or buy. I'm assuming rent as the guy wasn't even sure what school he was looking to attend.
There's an interesting discussion that's been going on at CU the last few days about Which Neighborhoods are Best for Real Estate Appreciation which throws a completely different set of factors and considerations into the mix when it comes to picking a place to live in Columbus.
Either way, it makes for a very strange question to ask a stranger on the street. But it sounds like they picked a good stranger to ask. ;)
Posted by: Walker Evans | 05/20/2009 at 07:28 PM
Victorian Village! And it's by gooddale park, so great!
Posted by: nalene | 06/10/2009 at 01:35 PM