Columbus_girl

usualfire, Have you ever heard of middle-class poverty....or even, living above and beyond your means? I have been on the insides of these unfurnished, empty pantry, 2 SUV's in the 2 car garage homes. I will say it again, Atlanta is a very pretentious place. People base their existence around what they do (having a fancy title and low pay--which is the reality--while claiming to have it all). I personally know people that work in these fancy law firms and are only pulling in 7-8 dollars an hour as receptionists, clerks, researchers and the like. Yet, because they work at a law firm, they put on airs of success. It is an illusion and I naively fell for it at one time. For three exhausting years, I lived with the flow of Atlanta and all of its allure. Now that I am in slow-paced Ohio (with my competitive salary and low cost of living) I can't see myself going back to Georgia and working like a mule to keep up an image. Trust me, I know plenty of people (I worked with them) that had 200K+ homes and were only making 30K a year. That is considered a "good" salary in a place where the rent for a decent apartment starts at 750+ a month (and that's not even rent for a luxury apartment which would fetch a whole lot more). Also, I am sure that you have heard of "interest only mortgages" which is why metro-Atlanta (and Atlanta) has one of the worst foreclosure rates in the country. Just go and see for yourself. It is a very peculiar place and one that I am happy to have exited. I only need one job to make it in Ohio. Just ONE. Not two...three...plus four or five hustles. Just ONE. That means a whole lot more to me than living in HOTlanta.

Having come from the South, I would like to offer up an observation regarding "job growth." From what I was able to gather from the 3 years that I lived in metro-Atlanta, a lot of this "job growth" was in the form of low-wage service sector job (retail, restaurants, hospitality, etc.). It was astonishing the number of fast food restaurants and strip malls that were going up. Also, houses are going up left and right and this is further driving the economy in metro-Atlanta. At this time, metro-Atlanta is reeling from varying factors: 1) The tentative closures of military bases (if I am not mistaken, all of the bases proposed for closing in the metro-area will indeed close--I think); 2) Georgia Pacific was bought out in a merger and has left the state of Georgia (though I am not sure if this was a metro-Atlanta company) 3) The merger of BellSouth and AT&T. The headquarters will remain in San Antonio, TX. BellSouth was Atlanta's largest corporation. 4) The State Department of Corrections will be moving out of Atlanta to Forsyth, Georgia (central Georgia region). The reasoning behind this move is that most of the 128 state prisons are in South Georgia and that it makes sense from a fiscal standpoint to place this headquarters in Forsyth rather than in the city. This move should create 200 new positions and save millions of dollars a year. Atlanta (metro-Atlanta) will lose a lot of white-collar jobs. 5) The closure of the Hapeville Ford Motor Assembly plant and the closure of the Doraville GM plant. Besides the occasional economic coup, the new Kia plant, Georgia is really in a tailspin. The metro-area is oversaturated with college-educated individuals and a limited number of decent paying jobs. When I left in July 2008 (even before the loss or potential loss, of professional white collar jobs) the competition for jobs were fierce. I can only imagine the circus-like atmosphere that has been created due to such substantial job losses.

Thanks for your reply (and honesty). It will certainly be the area's loss (not that all of the citizens within this area are to blame for its plight--there's simply a sub-culture element that possess a socially-deviant mentality that has virtually crippled the area economically). From what you stated, the area is at the mercy of these deeply-rooted social ills that appear almost insurmountable. I plan to visit Cincinnati in the coming weeks so that I can physically view and photograph this area up close and personal. My hope is to capture the good and the indifferent within the city.

It appears that Vine Street is a very important Cincinnati street. There appears to be a huge "fight" of sorts over protecting the interests of the less fortunate that primarily inhabit the area. Moreover, there is another side of the coin in which individuals feel that an economic rennaissance within Cincinnati could very well depend on this important stretch within the city. My question is this: Is there any other area within the city proper in which the present vision for Vine Street can be brought to fruition? Can the city leaders simply use eminent domain and get this whole tug-o-war over with so possible development can go forth? In Atlanta, the notorious "Bankhead Highway" (now known as Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway) is in the cusp of revitalization. The city put out bids for the redevelopment of this crime-infested, drug-infested, poverty-stricken area. After the proposals came in, a developer was chosen, and the vision for the area is currently being implemented. All of this wrestling, going back and forth, and around and around in circles is merely leaving Vine Street to rot. If this street is so important to the overall socio-economic health of the city proper, then "get'r done." Mixed-income housing, a mixture of public and private businesses, and a diverse populace will make the area eclectic and quite interesting. The fairness issue regarding the current inhabitants can only be discussed and addressed to a reasonable, sane extent. You can only defend the plight of the poor to a point before you have to bring it full cirle and place the responsibility squarely at their feet. There are a lot of housing programs available to the poor and working poor. However, it does not make economic sense to revitalize an entire area then turn around and re-populate it with individuals that cannot ensure a return on your investment. We must stop giving handouts to the poor when it is to the detriment of the greater good. If development will help the area and a limited amount of poor will be able to reside in that area, then so be it. A city with a dwindling tax base cannot reasonably and responsibly address crime, poverty, and blight. It is time for society to stop enabling those adults who have made poor choices as well as continue to make poor choices. I don't think that the majority of people getting displaced by urban renewal projects are a victim of circumstance or greedy developers. All business must look at the bottom line--even public businesses. A good number of our "less fortunate" have a diagnosis of extreme entitlement syndrome. Even the Bible teaches us that "He who does not work shall not eat." There is an interest and a market for living in and around Vine Street from what I have gathered from this forum as well as talked to people from Cincinnati. Yet, crime, fear, and discrimination are working together to keep the area socially and economically depressed. I would like to see the debate over apparent "ownership" and "entitlement" of an obviously distressed urban area simply go away. Give the area two strong legs to stand on by welcoming economic and social diversity. Stop playing politics in a city that really can't afford it at this time.

No state has as many major, high-quality zoos as OHIO!!!! ...and at the end of the day, that is all that matters. As a newly transplanted Ohioan, I am proud of any new development, accomplishment, etc. that the state lands--regardless of location. I don't understand all of this "my city is better than your city" mantra when we all live, breathe, and sleep in Ohio. On this board, I notice that Columbus gets picked on and beat up on a lot (verbally). Even though I currently live in Columbus, my heart fills with joy whenever I read about an accomplishment in other Ohio cities. On the flipside of that same coin, I get saddened by any news of job losses, crime, etc. that happens in Ohio. Ohio is a beautiful state and there is so much to love, so much to do, so much to hope for here. If Columbus will one day soon be able to claim the "largest zoo in North America," then so be it. That will merely raise the profile of Ohio's capital city, thus having a positive impact on the state overall. Perhaps people across America will become fascinated with the "largest zoo in North America" and bring revenue into the state that will benefit us all via tourism. Over at Urbanplanet.org, I was reading the riverfront plan for Cleveland. I was simply amazed and began to hope and pray that the redevelopment of the riverfront comes to fruition. I want to see every major city in Ohio make it because that will only benefit us all as Ohioans. Most states have only one (perhaps two) major cities. Think about New York. Outside of NYC, does anyone really care? If not for Atlanta, where would Georgia rank? Right now, I can't name another Louisiana city besides NO and Baton Rouge. California is synonymous with LA while Seattle is synonymous with Washington state. What about the "Great State of Chicago" (and then you have the rest of the State of Illinois--LOL)? I pointed that out just to say that Ohio has eight recognizable metro-areas (even some recognizable smaller cities and towns). That says a lot about the Great State of Ohio. I can only speak for myself and say that I am very proud to live in Ohio--regardless of the location.

(In my hometown back in Georgia, there is an individual on the school board that sends his child to private school :-o). I agree Grasscat, many feel as though this individual does not represent the racial and perhaps social make-up of the CPSS. On a personal level, I don't see the need for a school board. A district Superintendent that answers directly to individuals at the State Department of Education should suffice. The school system of today is so consumed with bureaucracy that the children get lost in the mix. The school system continues to flounder and personal interest continues to prevail. The school board is a worthless bureaucracy that does more harm than good. Give the management and oversight of the school back to individuals trained, educated, and experienced in school system management.

Sounds good to me (June 10th).

Brewmaster, You are correct. The only added expense that I will have upon relocating to the inner-city is private school. Also, I absolutely love going to the Franklin County Conservatory. Now I can get there in about five minutes as opposed to twenty.

Currently, I am in the process of moving to the Berwick area of Columbus. Initially upon my relocation to Columbus, I lived in the suburb of Hilliard. Hilliard is ok. However, it is painfully boring and I miss seeing people terribly. I can say that after this experience, I have completely and utterly abandoned the idea of suburban living. I want no parts of it ever again. Overall, I am very satisfied with downtown Columbus and I see the city getting better and better daily. At first, I was unsure about Columbus. However, the city continues to grow on me. If the shopping options at Easton were a part of downtown Columbus (and not that God-awful city center crapola), I would be in hog heaven. Honestly, I don't particularly care for Easton or any warped attempt at creating a "downtown, urban-esque shopping experience." What will happen to the New Albany area once the newness and novelty of Easton wears off? I hate trying to manuever that doggoned place or any of the other malls around Columbus. Ugh! I want street-level, store front shopping options downtown now!!!! (LOL) It would be much more convenient and pleasant if I could just walk into a real (not contrived) urban storefront, make my purchase, and go about my merry way. I'm not asking for much. Easton is so darned overwhelming. I choose to just stay away. I refuse to spend so much empty time pretending that I am having some type of urban "experience" when in reality, it is nothing short of an actual friggin' headache. Also, I am tired of driving everywhere. I don't want a car--period. Yet, I feel as though car ownership is forced upon me simply because of where I choose to live. I should be able to live in Columbus with the option to have a car or to not have a car (and please don't don't mention COTA to me...I will literally scream). If there was anyway that I could get away without having a car, I would chunk mine in a heartbeat. Right now, I feel that I am at the mercy of a lifestyle that I do not want at all. However, what are my actual options (and I am not moving to NYC, Chicago, Boston, LA, Phoenix, or any other city for that matter...Columbus is it for me). Rather than going to the myriad of crappy chain restaurants that dot the suburban landscape in metro-Columbus, I have found some little seedy "hole in the wall" restaurants that actually have great food. Only problem, I have to drive to them as they are scattered about everywhere. It would be so nice for these eclectic restaurants to be downtown rather than having two Wendy's on Broad Street...yuck! Bottom line, I know that there are certain services that I will be giving up by relocating to an inner-city neighborhood. However, I am looking forward to feeling as though I am actually a part of the city and I will be able to completely revolve my life around living within the city limits. Yes the clothing, transportation, and restaurant options suck for now...oh well.

I am not familiar with this area on a personal level. My knowledge of this area derives from information on this site, a general interest that led me to research the area on the website, as well as a friend who is from Cincinnati who has discussed this area with me from time to time. It is unfortunate that progress will lead to displacement. Unfortunately, the poor does not possess ownership in OTR...therefore they don't have a voice. It is a fact of life and one of the backlashes of capitalism. When poverty, illiteracy, and lack of ownership intertwine, there appears to be an increase in crime, blight, and neighborhood decay. As the US economy becomes more business and service based (as opposed to manufacturing/industrial), socio-economically thriving city centers will become necessary. Our economy is becoming more and more globalized and core cities will need to become attractive, vibrant, and flourishing enclaves. We are currently witnessing how inefficient it is for businesses and individuals to sprawl beyond its core. Tough decisions will need to be made for Cincinnati and other urban cores to reach their full development potential. We have witnessed for at least five decades now the end results of warehousing the poor in certain areas and leaving declining cores to take on the burden of the resulting social ills. In Atlanta, at one time the Virginia-Highlands area was a very desolate, run-down, and drug-crime-prostitute infested area. If one were to drive through the area with no knowledge of its past then witness the ecletic shops/boutiques, restored homes, sidewalk cafes, galleries, etc.; they would be hard-pressed to believe how far that community actually declined at one time. Now, it is simply a jewel in Atlanta as well as a premier enclave. In summation, it appears as though there is this fight over OTR. You have the visionaries like The Last Don who makes us drool over the possibilities for OTR. Then you have David who reminds us of the ethics behind "urban renewal." Moreover, you have an area of a dynamic city that, as of now, is a social, political, and economic burden to its core and metro area. Finally, you have the realities of a global economy and other cities that have adapted to such changes are sucking the life out of Middle American cities. The longer we wait to make the painful and inevitable decisions regarding OTR, the more expensive the price tag, literally and figuratively. OTR has served its purpose for the poor and the working class. Its time to move this revitalization forward.

One aspect of the Black race in Columbus that I have picked up on is the intra-racial, socio-economic segregation. The Blacks here appear to be so caught up in titles, money, connections, etc. There appears to be a very "cliquish" and pretentious mindset amongst the well to do Blacks in Columbus (and no, I haven't met them all...just enough to make an opinionated observation). In fact, this is one reason that I stopped going to a certain "old monied" church in the city. It was too much to constantly hear "this attorney went to Morehouse" or "State Senator thus and so" or "Dr. this...Dr. that." Argh...it is nauseating at best. Yes, the Columbus Black community is very progressive, educated, and well connected here for the most part and that is to be applauded. However, I don't see unity at all. I have witnessed the "crabs in a barrel" mentality more times than I would have desired. Guess I was naive to believe that this mentality only existed in Atlanta. At any rate, I can only do for the Blacks in the Columbus community (that happen to be less fortunate than myself) what I am able to do. I refuse to get caught up in a pretentious and "holier than thou" mindset.

Where Are the Best Places to Raise A Family? It depends on what's important to you By Alan Marcus TCB Solutions, a New York-based resume writing firm, researched and gathered information from their clients, travel resources, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Census, crime statistics, divorce statistics and other sources based on economic growth, diversity, crime and cost of living, and has come up with its top 20 choices of America's best places to live, play and work. 01. The Triangle Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 02. Madison, WI 03. Austin, TX 04. Minneapolis, St-Paul, MN 05. Tampa, FL 06. Tucson, AZ 07. Nashville, TN 08. San Diego, CA 09. Washington, DC 10. Salt Lake City, UT 11. Cambridge, MA 12. Louisville, KY 13. Columbus, OH 14. Huntsville, AL 15. Omaha, NE 16. Charlottesville, VA 17. Boulder, CO 18. Boston, MA 19. Dallas, TX 20. Atlanta, GA More at www.aol.com

Is it even a possibility for Columbus, Cincinnati, or Cleveland to host a Superbowl? If I had my choice, I would have to go with Cleveland mainly because of the strides the city has made over the years. Also, the entire state would benefit from a Superbowl in Cleveland as opposed to Cincinnati (IMHO). Cincinnati would have to share the benefits of a Superbowl with a tri-state region (Ohio, Indiana, and Northern Kentucky). I am wondering how willing these states would be towards working with the city during the preparations as opposed to merely reaping the financial benefits. Cincinnati is just in too strange of an area. I know that Columbus would be a long shot because the city is just not oriented towards professional sports.

Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science from Wesleyan College (first college in the world to grant degrees to women) Masters of Public Administration with a Public Health Management Emphasis from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. State government.

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No link for article KUDOS TO TOLEDO, OHIO!!! :clap:

I was born and reared in Central Georgia (Barnesville). I then moved to metro-Atlanta for three exhausting years. Now I reside in Columbus, OH (Hilliard, OH area). Love it here! :shoot:Buh-bye South... Hello Midwest.... :clap: