Posted August 21, 20231 yr Hi Everyone - I'm doing a little pet project, and would like everyone's input. Please use this thread to nominate your favorite downtown of a non-metro (Three C's, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, Y'Town). I'll start off: - Chagrin Falls - Lebanon - Cuyahoga Falls - Medina
August 21, 20231 yr -Yellow Springs -Lakewood (though really their entire commercial corridors is what makes it) -Oberlin -Sandusky has improved enough to be on this list.
August 21, 20231 yr NW Ohio/Toledo: Perrysburg - bougie Maumee - grungy Bowling Green - college town Tiffin - college and some old money Findlay - oil money Fremont has improved significantly in the last decade Napoleon is in pretty good shape too
August 21, 20231 yr 3 minutes ago, YABO713 said: Hi Everyone - I'm doing a little pet project, and would like everyone's input. Please use this thread to nominate your favorite downtown of a non-metro (Three C's, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, Y'Town). I'll start off: - Chagrin Falls - Lebanon - Cuyahoga Falls - Medina Cuyahoga Falls is a good one. Another one well off the beaten bath is Mount Vernon: And closer to "on the beaten path" considering how close it is to the core of the new Silicon Heartland developments going in east of Columbus is Granville: Granville is arguably more scenic but also more well-known, so if your goal is to expose Ohioans to new exurban and rural downtowns and main streets, I'd feature Mt. Vernon. If your audience is more likely to be national, though, so they won't even have heard of Granville, roll with that. And there's a little hamlet just east of Mt. Vernon that gets even less attention, but Gambier (home of Kenyon College, and the one main street may as well just be an extension of the college) is downright gorgeous, but so small that I'd barely even call it a "downtown." Worth at least a sidenote in a story about Mt. Vernon, though.
August 21, 20231 yr Author Thanks! I played football at Hiram College so visited Granville and Gambier frequently! @Gramarye
August 21, 20231 yr 12 minutes ago, westerninterloper said: NW Ohio/Toledo: Perrysburg - bougie Maumee - grungy Bowling Green - college town Tiffin - college and some old money Findlay - oil money Fremont has improved significantly in the last decade Napoleon is in pretty good shape too Bryan also has a pretty nice downtown area. Haven’t been in years, but remember then having some decent stuff in their square.
August 21, 20231 yr @YABO713Graduated from Hiram too and was in Lebanon a couple of weeks ago for their Blues fest. Never been there before and loved it.
August 21, 20231 yr I'll throw Kent into the mix since it has improved so much in the last 10 years or so.
August 21, 20231 yr I honestly think Willoughby is getting there. Place isn’t what it used to be in my 20’s, way more than just bars now. New apartments buildings and businesses that include clothing.
August 21, 20231 yr If you're just looking for our one favorite, I'd be hard pressed to pick If you're looking for a comprehensive list of nice little Ohio Downtowns then I'd add these to the above: Amherst Vermillion Wooster Mantua Conneaut Geneva New Philadelphia Milan Minerva Lisbon Millersburg Loudenville
August 21, 20231 yr I'd say Bellefontaine, Canal Fulton, Findlay, Port Clinton. Honorable mention, poor Mansfield
August 22, 20231 yr Chillicothe, Coshocton, Lancaster is pretty good and -- for having only 500 people -- Stockport.
August 22, 20231 yr Hudson is a small but nice downtown...other than the lifestyle center they tried to build behind downtown. Chardon isn't bad, either. Edited August 22, 20231 yr by jam40jeff
August 22, 20231 yr Well, I've basically been to every town in this state (like 95% of them) and here's my take in no order: 25 of Southern Ohio Chillicothe Marietta McConnelsville Athens Nelsonville Pomeroy St. Clairsville Cambridge Gallipolis Lebanon Yellow Springs Hamilton Oxford Mariemont Loveland Miamisburg Troy Piqua Urbana Milford / Montgomery (gotta tie them for linear NBD reasons) Germantown Ripley Glendale Greenville Waynesville Central Ohio Delaware Mt. Vernon Granville Somerset Bexley Westerville Grandview Heights Lancaster Dublin (most improved of any "small" downtown in Ohio in the past 5 years) Gahanna Worthington Bellefontaine Upper Arlington (Old Arlington is adorable) 25 of Northern Ohio Wooster Bowling Green Sandusky Findlay Perrysburg Maumee Tiffin Fremont Napoleon Norwalk Oberlin Millersburg Willoughby Van Wert Wapakoneta Medina Chagrin Falls Cuyahoga Falls Cleveland Heights / Lakewood (gotta tie them as they both have great numerous NBDs) Hudson Canal Fulton Vermillion Geneva Milan Salem Now I think there are some cities/towns/suburbs with loads more potential to "make the list" once they get a little TLC like Middletown, Lorain, Barberton, Norwood, etc but they aren't quite there yet, for me. Then there are places with fantastic residential but downtowns I don't care for such as Oakwood, Shaker Heights, Wyoming, and Ottawa Hills. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 22, 20231 yr How about Berea? It reminds me of Chagrin Falls, but on a smaller scale. I wish they would have put some retail on the west side of Front/Riverside instead of those townhouses. Edited August 22, 20231 yr by LibertyBlvd
August 22, 20231 yr • Seconding Granville, somewhat biased since I live two blocks from downtown. That said, it's truly like urban living but on a small scale - we can walk to most everything we need. • Mt Vernon is a great suggestion, always impressed how intact (and unique) it feels. • Something about Bellville makes it feel like it's a small healthy village in rural New England. • I loved it when I used to work in downtown Athens. • Lancaster looks better every time I drive through. • Grew up in Milford, also biased about that one. It was never bad, but its was nicer than when I was a kid.
August 22, 20231 yr 32 minutes ago, ColDayMan said: Well, I've basically been to every town in this state (like 95% of them) and here's my take in no order: 25 of Southern Ohio Chillicothe Marietta McConnelsville Athens Nelsonville Pomeroy St. Clairsville Cambridge Gallipolis Lebanon Yellow Springs Hamilton Oxford Mariemont Loveland Miamisburg Troy Piqua Urbana Milford / Montgomery (gotta tie them for linear NBD reasons) Germantown Ripley Glendale Greenville Waynesville Central Ohio Delaware Mt. Vernon Granville Somerset Bexley Westerville Grandview Heights Lancaster Dublin (most improved of any "small" downtown in Ohio in the past 5 years) Gahanna Worthington Bellefontaine Upper Arlington (Old Arlington is adorable) 25 of Northern Ohio Wooster Bowling Green Sandusky Findlay Perrysburg Maumee Tiffin Fremont Napoleon Norwalk Oberlin Millersburg Willoughby Van Wert Wapakoneta Medina Chagrin Falls Cuyahoga Falls Cleveland Heights / Lakewood (gotta tie them as they both have great numerous NBDs) Hudson Canal Fulton Vermillion Geneva Milan Salem Now I think there are some cities/towns/suburbs with loads more potential to "make the list" once they get a little TLC like Middletown, Lorain, Barberton, Norwood, etc but they aren't quite there yet, for me. Then there are places with fantastic residential but downtowns I don't care for such as Oakwood, Shaker Heights, Wyoming, and Ottawa Hills. whoa lorain makes a nice list, err, almost! 😂
August 22, 20231 yr Author 12 hours ago, GCrites said: Chillicothe, Coshocton, Lancaster is pretty good and -- for having only 500 people -- Stockport. Coshocton's historical downtown is really cool
August 22, 20231 yr 17 hours ago, Gramarye said: Cuyahoga Falls is a good one. Another one well off the beaten bath is Mount Vernon: And closer to "on the beaten path" considering how close it is to the core of the new Silicon Heartland developments going in east of Columbus is Granville: Granville is arguably more scenic but also more well-known, so if your goal is to expose Ohioans to new exurban and rural downtowns and main streets, I'd feature Mt. Vernon. If your audience is more likely to be national, though, so they won't even have heard of Granville, roll with that. And there's a little hamlet just east of Mt. Vernon that gets even less attention, but Gambier (home of Kenyon College, and the one main street may as well just be an extension of the college) is downright gorgeous, but so small that I'd barely even call it a "downtown." Worth at least a sidenote in a story about Mt. Vernon, though. aww yeah boyee, money earnin mount vernon -- such a classic town. it's cold up there, but mt. vernon is HOT! 👍
August 22, 20231 yr I always thought Ravenna was nice, and I don't think I saw anyone mention it? It always seems to get lumped in with Kent. Also Wellington was very lively for it's size.
August 22, 20231 yr 42 minutes ago, WhatUp said: I always thought Ravenna was nice, and I don't think I saw anyone mention it? It always seems to get lumped in with Kent. Also Wellington was very lively for it's size. My friend who has lived in Ravenna for 40 years fully believes that the city officials are purposely trying to NOT make downtown Ravenna more attractive. Sounds ridiculous but he actually works for the city, so.....
August 22, 20231 yr 2 minutes ago, surfohio said: My friend who has lived in Ravenna for 40 years fully believes that the city officials are purposely trying to NOT make downtown Ravenna more attractive. Sounds ridiculous but he actually works for the city, so..... That isn’t a shock at all. Many places lack the vision to help themselves. I grew up in wauseon and they are set up perfectly for an amazing downtown area, but would rather focus on building more fast food along the strip that cut around the downtown area.
August 22, 20231 yr 14 hours ago, GCrites said: Lancaster 13 hours ago, mrCharlie said: • Lancaster looks better every time I drive through. 13 hours ago, ColDayMan said: Central Ohio Lancaster Wow. This is likely to be my biggest surprise of the day. Then again, my most recent experience actually stopping anywhere near what might be "downtown" was probably stopping at the River Valley Mall after the Lancaster Invitational at OU-Lancaster in 1999. I'll have make a side trip there next time I'm back in my old high school haunts.
August 22, 20231 yr 17 hours ago, JB said: I honestly think Willoughby is getting there. Place isn’t what it used to be in my 20’s, way more than just bars now. New apartments buildings and businesses that include clothing. I was about to mention Willoughby. Chardon is another one, of course. Bedford has potential, but needs to be more proactive.
August 22, 20231 yr 36 minutes ago, surfohio said: My friend who has lived in Ravenna for 40 years fully believes that the city officials are purposely trying to NOT make downtown Ravenna more attractive. Sounds ridiculous but he actually works for the city, so..... I used to work in Ravenna and a friend of mine has lived there for like 17 years, and this makes sense.
August 22, 20231 yr Ashland has come a long way in the last 4-5 yrs with more infill development proposed. Mt Vernon Millersburg Love Sandusky! Port Clinton Delaware
August 22, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, surfohio said: My friend who has lived in Ravenna for 40 years fully believes that the city officials are purposely trying to NOT make downtown Ravenna more attractive. Sounds ridiculous but he actually works for the city, so..... Not too surprising. Some towns seem to think the answer to Downtown problems is to tear it down. That is why I left Elyria off my list. It has good bones, but the City has no vision for it, and seems to be pushing to demolish what they can.
August 22, 20231 yr Ooh, nice thread. I'm going to start with my most familiar (biased) downtowns in the Columbus area. My favorites here are: (Edit for reasoning) Bexley: Beautiful, classically urban storefronts & restaurants facing Capital University. Gahanna: A compact Creekside, but with the triple ensemble of apartments, restaurants/bars, and plaza park-space, it marries together so nicely! Dublin: The most urban suburban downtown the Columbus area has to offer now that classic downtown Dublin links with Bridge Park along the Scioto. Canal Winchester: Lots of shade and greenery, with a pleasant mix of residential, civic and commercial buildings, with hills right around the corner. Pickerington: Unlike the taller-flat-topped buildings, Pick's downtown is mostly lined with small charming houses converted into small businesses and galleries, and it backing to the Victory and Sycamore Parks make for nice event space. And I'll give a shoutout to London: Charming, clean, nice architecture. New Philadelphia: Interesting topography nearby and feels spread out. Celina: Pretty unknown town with a nice stretch of buildings abutting a lake. I know Portsmouth is known for being a depressed area and I only drove through it but I thought it was scenic! Edited August 22, 20231 yr by PrestoKinetic
August 22, 20231 yr since no one else put in much for nw ohio, shoutout to wauseon lol, i will add river road in maumee west to waterville to grand rapids. i really loved driving along the maumee and the canal there. its was very pretty and interesting with quiet river scenery and like fallen timbers and you can pull off, plus waterville and grand rapids are kind of lowkey charming. great for biking too. also, in maumee by the river its interesting as there are still a few towpath keeper houses behind the main houses and i knew somebody who lived in one for awhile, which i found was very cool to hang out there right along the maumee. https://ridewithgps.com/ambassador_routes/1746-riding-the-towpath-waterville-to-grand-r?lang=en
August 22, 20231 yr 4 minutes ago, mrnyc said: shoutout to wauseon lol Wauseon is awful, grew up there and the downtown is basically a ghost town. One restaurant and then some crappy bars and a gun shop. Archbold has a better downtown. Edited August 22, 20231 yr by VintageLife
August 22, 20231 yr 7 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Wauseon is awful, grew up there and the downtown is basically a ghost town. One restaurant and then some crappy bars and a gun shop. Archbold has a better downtown. oh i know that, i just wasn't going to say it. 😂 just that this thread is full of the usual suspects, and yes a few surprizes, but you had the only nw ohio mention here really so i wanted to put another up because there are a few charms to be found around there amongst the endless maize.
August 22, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, GCrites said: If someone mentions Archbold I have to mention Stryker! Oh no, Stryker! What's next, a "Party Girls Urbana" reference?
August 22, 20231 yr Lots of Granville talk here, but (unless I missed it) no love for Newark? There's a ways to go, sure, but a ton of progress made the last few years and more in the works
August 23, 20231 yr Great idea for a thread! I think most of the towns I would have suggested have been covered by now, but I’d like to take a second and point out the sheer volume of towns that forumers have claimed as “worthy additions” to your list. 20 or even 10 years ago, I think this list would have been a fraction of the size. All things considered, there has been a pretty drastic turnaround in a lot of otherwise-forgotten places across the state which is really heartening to see and I don’t think we give enough credit to these places for how far they’ve come. We’re not quite up to Michigan levels of tourism yet in these places (we don’t really have a Saugatuck or Traverse City yet) but I think it’s probably safe to say that we’re outpacing most of the rest of the Midwest when it comes to injecting a little bit of life back into our rural downtowns. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
August 23, 20231 yr I also like Bowling Green, though I haven’t been there in a while and that was when I was going there.
August 23, 20231 yr 11 minutes ago, BigDipper 80 said: Great idea for a thread! I think most of the towns I would have suggested have been covered by now, but I’d like to take a second and point out the sheer volume of towns that forumers have claimed as “worthy additions” to your list. 20 or even 10 years ago, I think this list would have been a fraction of the size. All things considered, there has been a pretty drastic turnaround in a lot of otherwise-forgotten places across the state which is really heartening to see and I don’t think we give enough credit to these places for how far they’ve come. We’re not quite up to Michigan levels of tourism yet in these places (we don’t really have a Saugatuck or Traverse City yet) but I think it’s probably safe to say that we’re outpacing most of the rest of the Midwest when it comes to injecting a little bit of life back into our rural downtowns. Sounds like you wanna add "Geneva on the Lake" but just aren't quite ready hahaha
August 23, 20231 yr 23 hours ago, ColDayMan said: Now I think there are some cities/towns/suburbs with loads more potential to "make the list" once they get a little TLC like Middletown, Lorain, Barberton, Norwood, etc but they aren't quite there yet, for me. I would lump Massillon in with the has potential but needs a little TLC group.
August 23, 20231 yr ^Agreed. 2 hours ago, NW24HX said: ...but (unless I missed it) no love for Newark? There's a ways to go, sure, but a ton of progress made the last few years and more in the works Also lumped into the has potential but needs a little TLC group. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 23, 20231 yr Ones I think in my head might be kinda cool but have never been to: Marion, Defiance, Lima and Martins Ferry
August 23, 20231 yr Defiance was pretty nice from what I could see passing though in a downpour. Lima should be in the "has potential but needs TLC" category. Marion, as I remember it, wasn't all that great. Never been to Martin's Ferry.
August 23, 20231 yr I think all three of these have already been mentioned, but when I think of nice small-town downtowns, I think of Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, and Kent. They are all within a short drive of each other, and all have their own unique feel.
August 23, 20231 yr Nothing new to add and there are a number of places I've never been to or heard of before. Chagrin Falls Willoughby Hudson Honorable mention to downtown Elyria from how many happy memories I had there visiting cousins as a kid, though I suspect things are quite a bit different today.
August 23, 20231 yr Quote If someone mentions Archbold I have to mention Stryker! STRIKER STRIKER STRIKER Edited August 23, 20231 yr by The_Cincinnati_Kid
August 23, 20231 yr 2 hours ago, BallHatGuy said: I've seen it mentioned above but I was super impressed with Wooster. Where my Italian ancestors all settled way back when. A neat little town.
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