So, well over a year ago I made a name on here FloridaBound or something.  Anyway, I did not remember the password, and since I am leaving this big retirement community/lifeless suburban sprawl/swamp, and proudly heading back home, I switched my name and made a new account.

 

On that note, I decided to join to say how happy I am to be returning home and finishing my education in Ohio.  In 2009 I went to Cleveland State and finished out my freshman year, and an oppurtunity arouse for me to move to Florida... I took it.  I definatly went in with the "grass is greener" mentality.  It took living away for a year to realize what I had in Ohio, and what Ohio offered.  I live in Archer, Florida outside of Gainesville.  Quite the pathetic college town to be honest, and living in Cleveland going to Cleveland State and having everything right there for me and my friends to do, I have been bored out of my mind here in Florida.  Plus, if you know what the major cities are like in this state, you will see that suburban style development is built all over the downtowns here, and suburban sprawl is endless.  I am originally from a small town, Columbiana, Ohio south of Youngstown... but this has been a whole new experience for me.  I am really out in the country, and get a deliverance vibe here in Levy County... hear the music playing as I type this  :roll:

 

I don't want to say I regret moving to Florida, it has been an experience that I learned from.  Florida sounds nice in the winter time, but I guess I miss the change of seasons.  Summer in Florida is worse than winter back north.  The scorpions, snakes, and miles of dirt roads I can live without.  And moving down here has given me an even greater appreciation of where I have come from.  I have realized Ohio has a lot more to offer than most states, and it takes living away to see that.  I see why so many former Ohioans move back; I know they all don't, but it takes leaving to realize what you had.  I plan on attending YSU and finishing up my degree in Geography there.  I really want to get involved with urban organizations, volunteer work, etc in-and-around the Youngstown area where I grew up.  I got involved with some stuff in Cleveland because several of my friends were in the urban program there, and I wouldn't mind getting in touch with people up there as well.  Cleveland is such an underrated place, I miss it really bad.  But moving back to Cleveland really isn't in my best interest right now, but I plan to return someday.  Visiting friends on the weekends when I move back will become a habit though.  Once I am finished with college I plan to stay in the area, either staying in Ohio or Pennslyvania.  Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Philly are all cities I am looking to move to after college.  Since I have lived in the south for a year now, I guess it was the weather that really attacted me down here.... that's about it.  The job market sucks down here, summers are like living in an oven with humidity, and it's not what I expected.

 

Finally, I guess I just got back on to let people on here know that I am just another Ohioan who didn't realize how good I had it back in Buckeye Nation, and that leaving with the grass is greener mentality never works.  Ohio has a really bright future ahead of it, and I want to be a part of that, especially in some of the nation's most underrated cities.  I was leaving Ohio in August before school was to start here in Florida, and stopped in Cincinnati on my way down 75.  Holy sh## what an awesome city.  When I move back in December I plan to go out of my way AGAIN (I should take I-77 north since I am from NE Ohio, but Cincinnati is just that bada$$) and hit up Cincy.  Before that I will probaly get on and ask for ideas and neighborhoods to check out.  I only explored downtown Cincy and was impressed by the density downtown, and the architecture. 

 

If anyone can give me ideas, especially some of the Youngstown forumers on here and even some of the Cleveland forumers, of places to get involved in, urban organizations, etc please let me know.  I wish I would have done more when I was living in Cleveland.  Thanks for any advice everyone, and thanks for reading my story.  If this isn't the right place for it, please move it.

Welcome back to Ohio, and UrbanOhio!

Summer in Florida is worse than winter back north. 

 

Yep.  That and the bible thumping were the two things that I could never get used to living in the south.

 

Welcome home.

Welcome back!

Good news, very cool perspective

Let me welcome you back to Ohio....

 

My parents spent winters in Orlando and sold their townhouse for twice what they paid for it -- they sold in 2006 before the real estate crash -- and moved back to Cleveland. I spent Christmases/New Years and March/spring vacations in Orlando every year for 10 years. There were some parts of Orlando I liked (Winter Park, College Park, and the near-south side of downtown). We also visited family over in Tampa and near Clearwater (the traffic on I-4 is unreal -- yet the Gov. killed the high-speed rail project....). To me, Florida's land use patterns are about as cold, unfriendly and impersonal as anyone could intentionally make them. And Florida has no soul. I like walking into historic buildings that "talk to you" with their aura, like they want to tell you something but can't. So you have to look up their histories to find out why it has "that feeling" to it. I felt that only once in Florida (it was in a mansion near Sarasota).

 

Anyway.... I live in Cleveland but am very familiar with Youngstown. I am the executive director of a nonprofit association called All Aboard Ohio (www.allaboardohio.org) which has projects and proposals emerging in the Youngstown area. We could always use more volunteers, especially to help reach out to more college students. YSU is one place where we could more visibility!

 

Let me encourage you to look into the Erie Terminal building -- not because it was one of the city's former railroad stations and the Erie Railroad's regional office buildings. But it is a new apartment development that is in a good location -- between YSU and the downtown area. And there are new restaurants and stores opening downtown that has given it some life that it had lost over the past 30 years. Indeed, just 3-6 years ago downtown Youngstown may have been at its lowest point. But downtown Youngstown still isn't anywhere near Cleveland's, Pittsburgh's or Cincinnati's downtowns. In fact, among those three, I think Pittsburgh has the most vibrant downtown, followed by Cleveland's and then Cincinnati's. That's just my opinion.

 

If you are interested in All Aboard Ohio's mission, let me know. We could use help in advocating better bus linkages to Pittsburgh and Cleveland as an interim step, and better rail linkages to those cities plus Chicago and the East Coast in the coming years. That's just some of what we're working on.

 

Perhaps you are interested in something else. Either way, I hope your move goes well. And I welcome you back to Ohio!

Glad you are on your way back!

Let me welcome you back to Ohio....

 

My parents spent winters in Orlando and sold their townhouse for twice what they paid for it -- they sold in 2006 before the real estate crash -- and moved back to Cleveland. I spent Christmases/New Years and March/spring vacations in Orlando every year for 10 years. There were some parts of Orlando I liked (Winter Park, College Park, and the near-south side of downtown). We also visited family over in Tampa and near Clearwater (the traffic on I-4 is unreal -- yet the Gov. killed the high-speed rail project....). To me, Florida's land use patterns are about as cold, unfriendly and impersonal as anyone could intentionally make them. And Florida has no soul. I like walking into historic buildings that "talk to you" with their aura, like they want to tell you something but can't. So you have to look up their histories to find out why it has "that feeling" to it. I felt that only once in Florida (it was in a mansion near Sarasota).

 

Anyway.... I live in Cleveland but am very familiar with Youngstown. I am the executive director of a nonprofit association called All Aboard Ohio (www.allaboardohio.org) which has projects and proposals emerging in the Youngstown area. We could always use more volunteers, especially to help reach out to more college students. YSU is one place where we could more visibility!

 

Let me encourage you to look into the Erie Terminal building -- not because it was one of the city's former railroad stations and the Erie Railroad's regional office buildings. But it is a new apartment development that is in a good location -- between YSU and the downtown area. And there are new restaurants and stores opening downtown that has given it some life that it had lost over the past 30 years. Indeed, just 3-6 years ago downtown Youngstown may have been at its lowest point. But downtown Youngstown still isn't anywhere near Cleveland's, Pittsburgh's or Cincinnati's downtowns. In fact, among those three, I think Pittsburgh has the most vibrant downtown, followed by Cleveland's and then Cincinnati's. That's just my opinion.

 

If you are interested in All Aboard Ohio's mission, let me know. We could use help in advocating better bus linkages to Pittsburgh and Cleveland as an interim step, and better rail linkages to those cities plus Chicago and the East Coast in the coming years. That's just some of what we're working on.

 

Perhaps you are interested in something else. Either way, I hope your move goes well. And I welcome you back to Ohio!

 

Thanks, KJP!

 

I am looking forward to moving back home, and I do lurk the site quite a few times throughout the week.  I am pretty excited about some of the happenings going on in Downtown Youngstown... it is really worth getting excited about, and I see a really bright future ahead of downtown Ytown.  The thing Youngstown has do now is promote itself to all the folks in Boardman, Poland, etc and let them know great things are happening down there.  People do not realize the great cultural attractions a city the size of Youngstown has.  From the Buter Art Museum, Mill Creek Park, the collection of historic buildings, the Youngstown Symphony, etc.  Most people in Youngstown can tell you about the newest store going into the Southern Park Mall over a huge new residential conversion happening in downtown or a nice new restaurant.

 

I am an urban geek, lol I have no problem admitting that.  I would take strolls downtown into Cleveland all the time when I lived there.. by myself with no worries of safety.  Downtown Cleveland is a very safe place.  Me and a few of my friends would walk all the way over to Ohio City from CSU just to check out a new neighborhood.  Unlike most Clevelanders, we had no problem walking.  Cleveland can be a pretty walkable city with nice walkable neighborhoods, but the car is an addiction there.  I can't wait to get back up there and just spend some of my weekends in the city.

 

I am looking forward to being able to check out downtown Youngstown now that I plan to go to school at YSU.  Growing up in the area, downtown Youngstown was a place no one ever went to unless it was a field trip to a museum or something.  I wouldn't have got back on here if I didn't believe in Ohio and especially Youngstown.  I appreciate the help, KJP.  I will keep in contact with you over time.  I really want to get involved with many aspects of how I can make Ohio better because unlike so many negative people back there, I have seen what Ohio offers and I know that it can do so much more.

Summer in Florida is worse than winter back north. 

 

Yep.  That and the bible thumping were the two things that I could never get used to living in the south.

 

Welcome home.

 

I think the poverty aspect of it all, too.  I never really threw Florida into the "traditional south" hilljack and poverty culture, but here in north Florida, it's just like Alabama, Georgia, etc.

Before you graduate:

1. Learn a foreign language

2. Take courses in personal computers and network concepts (ethernet)

3. I think industrial management courses are ideal if you are going to stay in this area.  There still is a lot of manufacturing and companies who manage global manufacturing in Ohio.  Our company's CEO laments the lack of people trained in product manufacturing concepts.

 

It's great having you back.

I am a YSU graduate!

Glad to hear you'll be coming back to the area. I grew up in Cortland, and after stints in Niles and Warren I'm back in my hometown. I love the Mahoning Valley and if possible i plan on living here until the day i die. I love my little walkable hometown and the history of this area. I hope that you too will be able to secure employment in the Valley. We need more young people to stay here. Welcome back!

Before you graduate:

1. Learn a foreign language

2. Take courses in personal computers and network concepts (ethernet)

3. I think industrial management courses are ideal if you are going to stay in this area.  There still is a lot of manufacturing and companies who manage global manufacturing in Ohio.  Our company's CEO laments the lack of people trained in product manufacturing concepts.

 

It's great having you back.

I am a YSU graduate!

 

Thanks for the suggestions!  I am looking forward to getting back to a state that has "real" cities.

Glad to hear you'll be coming back to the area. I grew up in Cortland, and after stints in Niles and Warren I'm back in my hometown. I love the Mahoning Valley and if possible i plan on living here until the day i die. I love my little walkable hometown and the history of this area. I hope that you too will be able to secure employment in the Valley. We need more young people to stay here. Welcome back!

 

Thanks for the welcome!  I have seen you on city data before.  I have never joined because the people on there are too crazy in my opinion.  I am looking forward to getting back in the Youngstown area and help out with this new momentum it has.  Whatever I can do to help out, I will do it.  I know I am only one person, but every bit helps.  I have yet to visit Cortland, but I have heard good things about it. 

^Where are you from originally?

 

^Where are you from originally?

 

Sorry I am taking so long to respond back.  I'm from Columbiana down in Columbiana County.  A town of a little over 6,000, growing, and a good place to grow up.

^Where are you from originally?

 

Sorry I am taking so long to respond back.  I'm from Columbiana down in Columbiana County.  A town of a little over 6,000, growing, and a good place to grow up.

 

I think the HBIC is from those parts.

^Yes, yes I am. Salem, to be exact.

^Yes, yes I am. Salem, to be exact.

 

I thought so.  Looks like the kids are following you into Cleveland.

^Yes, yes I am. Salem, to be exact.

 

Ya, my mom is actually a nurse at Salem Community Hospital.

I was just in Columbiana for a memorial service the other day. Small world. I work in Poland/Springfield Twp right now, but live in Trumbull Co. Glad you're coming back to northeast Ohio. :)

I only skimmed your post, but it sounds like you had the same experience with Florida that I had with Arizona a few years ago.  Welcome back!

I only skimmed your post, but it sounds like you had the same experience with Florida that I had with Arizona a few years ago.  Welcome back!

Florida and Arizona AKA Gods waiting room East and West

I guess I'm late to this thread as I rarely visit this part of the forum.  Welcome back!

 

Just to cover the basics, you are familiar with Defend Youngstown, right? (http://www.defendyoungstown.blogspot.com/)  That's a good way to keep in touch with what's happening in the area.  Also, on many days, he will have a "meeting calendar" or "volunteer opportunities" area at the bottom of that day's post.  You can also connect with Defend Youngstown and Phil Kidd (the creator of DY) on Facebook.

Before you graduate:

1. Learn a foreign language

2. Take courses in personal computers and network concepts (ethernet)

3. I think industrial management courses are ideal if you are going to stay in this area.  There still is a lot of manufacturing and companies who manage global manufacturing in Ohio.  Our company's CEO laments the lack of people trained in product manufacturing concepts.

 

It's great having you back.

I am a YSU graduate!

 

Do a semester of co-op too, if you can.  That's the one thing I regret not doing in college.  It gives you a certain perspective when taking your upper level classes.