No idea if this is the 'right' thread, but I may be moving to Dayton for work and was wondering what people think a good place to live for a young, busy, professional is? Office is in one of the research parks in Kettering/Beaver Creek area. The Oregon District looks alright, possibly Oakwood as well? I'll rent first and then consider buying.

 

Gotta be honest, coming from Cleveland I am expecting kind of a letdown.

 

Gotta be honest, coming from Cleveland I am expecting kind of a letdown

 

 

...on the bright side, Cincy is only 45 minutes away

No idea if this is the 'right' thread, but I may be moving to Dayton for work and was wondering what people think a good place to live for a young, busy, professional is? Office is in one of the research parks in Kettering/Beaver Creek area. The Oregon District looks alright, possibly Oakwood as well? I'll rent first and then consider buying.

 

Gotta be honest, coming from Cleveland I am expecting kind of a letdown.

 

The prevailing opinion on this is that South Park (wedged between the UD area and Oakwood) is probably your best bet. Next best might be Walnut Hills neighborhood. That's where I would go.

 

I have read much anecdotal ranting on boards about how psychotic and unfair most Oregon district landlords are. I'd avoid renting there.

I don't know the quality of Dayton's bus system, but it might be worthwhile to check out the routes to see if there is a route that would connect you to your job from a desireable neighborhood. It could help you determine which neighborhood to go to. I know some of the routes run 21 hours a day, so you might be able to travel between work and home whenever you need. Depends on where you would be working and where you want to live though. Just a suggestion.

 

Gotta be honest, coming from Cleveland I am expecting kind of a letdown

 

 

...on the bright side, Cincy is only 45 minutes away

 

Yeah, but the hours I'd be working are fairly brutal and I really don't want a commute more than 20 minutes. I could visit Cinci for fun, but not much else.

 

No idea if this is the 'right' thread, but I may be moving to Dayton for work and was wondering what people think a good place to live for a young, busy, professional is? Office is in one of the research parks in Kettering/Beaver Creek area. The Oregon District looks alright, possibly Oakwood as well? I'll rent first and then consider buying.

 

Gotta be honest, coming from Cleveland I am expecting kind of a letdown.

 

The prevailing opinion on this is that South Park (wedged between the UD area and Oakwood) is probably your best bet. Next best might be Walnut Hills neighborhood. That's where I would go.

 

I have read much anecdotal ranting on boards about how psychotic and unfair most Oregon district landlords are. I'd avoid renting there.

 

Ugh, that's disappointing. I have been spoiled with a great landlord in Cleveland, too. Taking a quick look, South Park looks like a decent alternative, thanks.

 

I don't know the quality of Dayton's bus system, but it might be worthwhile to check out the routes to see if there is a route that would connect you to your job from a desireable neighborhood. It could help you determine which neighborhood to go to. I know some of the routes run 21 hours a day, so you might be able to travel between work and home whenever you need. Depends on where you would be working and where you want to live though. Just a suggestion.

 

It's in the Kettering research park, so the bus routes stop about a half mile short of that area. Maybe if I'm feeling adventurous, but I'll probably just drive.

South Park and St. Anne's Hill are two great choices.  Oregon District I've also heard has horrendous landlords but if you find the right one, that's where I'd choose.

And just to make easy from a Cleveland perspective:

 

South Park = Like a an early 90's Tremont

Oregon District = Ohio City

Oakwood = Shaker Heights

St. Anne's Hill = Detroit-Superior sans Detroit Avenue

Walnut Hills = Fairly comfortable neighborhood.  Dunno that Cleveland city equivalent.  Maybe Cleveland Heights without Cedar-Lee/Fairmont/Coventry?

I live and rent in South Park. Are you urban attuned? City living is not the suburbs.

Don't forget about Belmont area. It's next to Oakwood but out of the way of the main traffic. Still very easy to get to a dorothy lanes market or marions pizza or Kettering. The best beer store in sw ohio, if not all of ohio is in belmont. I guess it would be considered a first ring suburb. A few dingy/divey bars at its core including a rustic pool hall.

I personally wouldn't stand living in the oregon district unless it was off the main drag. The place seems to be a rollicking drunkfest on fridays and saturday nights ala the old flats.  Otherwise, its fairly low key most other nights.

there are some lofts in the warehouses downtown around canal street tavern and the dragons ballpark. maybe you could get one like that dayton girl on project runway had? might be worth a look to see. something different and fun and what the heck if yr just renting until you buy something.

 

For a busy professional who is new to town, I would recommend starting with either the Oregon District or Oakwood.  I've lived in both, and they are both pleasant, walkable, neighborhoods which are convenient to just about everything in town.  The Oregon District is more convenient to restaurants and entertainment downtown, while Oakwood is more convenient to Dorothy Lane Market (best grocery ever!) and shopping in Kettering.  Unfortunately, the Oregon District is plagued with street noise from motorcycles (5th/Wayne) and semi trucks (35), while Oakwood is very quiet.  On the other hand, Oakwood is somewhat sleepy and family-oriented, which doesn't suit everyone.

 

For what it is worth, all of my Oregon District landlords have been good, and one of them was absolutely fantastic (he lived in the building, a great neighbor AND landlord).  Also, the neighborhood part of the Oregon District is very different from the party scene on Fifth, and that didn't bother me too much while living there.

 

You might be pleasantly surprised with Dayton, if you keep an open mind.  In short, don't expect Dayton to be Cleveland, and instead look for the things that Dayton does well.  The Oregon District is the closest thing Dayton has to an active urban neighborhood, but it really doesn't compare to what Cleveland offers.  On the other hand, none of Cleveland's suburbs offer the same idyllic-yet-convenient environment that Oakwood does.

 

I don't know the quality of Dayton's bus system, but it might be worthwhile to check out the routes to see if there is a route that would connect you to your job from a desireable neighborhood. It could help you determine which neighborhood to go to. I know some of the routes run 21 hours a day, so you might be able to travel between work and home whenever you need. Depends on where you would be working and where you want to live though. Just a suggestion.

 

Ahem. He said he'll be working in the Beavercreek area. So he won't be taking transit there anytime soon.....

 

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