Southern Orchards is definitely rougher and that's not just around the edges. This one has a ways to go, sad to say, but it's clear from the houses alone that there are residents who are sticking it out and provide a semblance of stability with their tidy homes.

 

MAP

 

I got these first two pics awhile ago, but after two unpleasant encounters with locals (angry motorist and angry drunk) I decided it was best not to push my luck.

 

 

 

So I went back today to photograph the neighborhood and it started off innocently enough: a park.

 

 

a quiet residential street

 

 

 

 

A guy asked about me taking pictures of houses and I explained what I was doing. He said he didn't now there was a name for this neighborhood, but he did know about Ganther's Place. Looks like the Southern Orchards Civic Association could take note to at least make residents aware of the neighborhood in which they reside.

 

 

 

So far, so good.

 

And then this. (Might have to turn up the volume)

 

 

You know you're in a troubled neighborhood when there's a police car down the street, lights flashing, gunshots, and an officer on the megaphone yelling, "Get down on the ground!" (before I switched to video mode).

 

Obviously, I headed away from that direction which was luckily how I had already planned the route.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just down the street at the corner of Whittier appears to be a dispute between a guy and his ho. I head up in the opposite direction. Out of all the neighborhoods I've been in I was most uneasy in this one.

 

 

Wilson is covered with traffic circles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A proud resident. I got the OK before snapping the shot, since I've been asked more than once here if I got the homeowners permission before taking a picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First neon house I've seen.

 

 

I forgot to also take a picture of some shoes hanging from an overhead wire. It means something entirely different here than it does at OSU.

 

 

 

On some streets litter like this was a common sight.

 

 

 

Hey, a couple of rehabs. Here was where a couple of thug teens asked if I was told it OK to take pictures of the homes and replied that I don't think anyone owns them yet since they're rehabbing. Aren't there more important things to worry about here than some quasi-hipster taking pictures?

 

 

 

I like this one.

 

 

To end on a high note...

 

The elementary school.

 

 

The new high school.

 

That new high school looks great!

I have always liked that neighborhood. It feels too much off the radar, however.

And Columbus has an Over-the-Rhine? Wow.

 

And by new high school, you mean one that's been refurbished?

Even if the neighborhood is rough, the fact that people questioned you seems like a positive sign.  Also, the housing stock seems solid, lots of brick.

You're playing in some fun parts of town!

Yes, well, I might be on hiatus from this part of town for a bit. East Livingston is, well,...and Driving Park is another neighborhood with quality housing stock and a good share of crime. Hopefully I can time the visit for when there's not a shootout between gangsters and :police:.

Not bad...  Most of the housing is in fairly good shape.

 

And by new high school, you mean one that's been refurbished?

 

That's right.  That last picture shows South High School.  Built in 1900 and newly renovated and reopened for Fall 2009.  There's more about it here in the Columbus Public Schools thread.

 

  One of those roundabout signs is upside-down.

Hmm... So it's called Southern Orchards, huh? I always just called it the hood. You're a brave man to roam those streets.

Rough, but solid looking area. 

 

That short video is unbelievable. I give you a lot of credit.

It's axiomatic that you are one of the most dedicated photographers on this site. There are many too.

At the beginning of the thread as I was starting to judge the neighborhood, I took time to note the absence of litter.

 

Then you showed it.

 

:(

I really couldn't tell you for sure, but these pop up right next to stately homes in a number of the city's neighborhoods. I'm guessing the basic design meant it served as affordable housing for those who couldn't afford one of the single-family brick homes. Whatever the reasons, developers here must have loved them because they are everywhere.

:applause: for Columbusite because I have a few family members who live over in the area and I don't even like going to visit because there is always 'something' going on. I hope you carry a gun and a vest when you venture into those areas of C.O. :lol:

I find it kind of funny that so many on UrbanOhio.com are timid about roaming this neighborhood.

 

I guess, compared to other cities, I see this as a rough but not scary place.  I was a political canvasser and loved walking around this area for voter registration.  Lots of interesting people.  I also have a quite a few gay friends that have moved into the area.

 

Also, I never knew this neighborhoods name, I always called it "the place south of Olde Town East and east of German Village"  Nice to know its name. 

 

Also, this area does have lots of potential and Parsons Ave retail corridor has lots of existing buildings that could be renovated.  I really think the most potential for a great retail corridor is Parsons Ave, just too bad its not near any sizable institutions that would help fuel such a gentrification.  Its cut off from downtown by highways and sits off the beaten path of most of the large employers, once it was a booming area due to blue collar manufacturing jobs at plants south of the neighborhood.

I think its other name is "The Other Side of Parsons."

Pretty much. It's easier than listing off Livingston Park, Southern Orchards, Ganther's Place, unnamed area from Thurman to Frebis Ave, & Vassor Village.

 

Seanguy, you forgot about Nationwide Childrens' Hospital up north on Parsons and the impact that that and Plank's and Hal & Al's has should not be underestimated. They both show that, yes, you can attract residents from all over the city to Parsons (and at night!). I hope the right people notice that and yes this neighborhood's portion of Parsons is intact and could easily be a destination. Problem is going to be criminals in the neighborhoods east and south of here. Incentives to have NCH employees live in the area would help and probably get the city more active in cleaning it up. Fact of the matter is that they listen to people who have money and they have money. It sounds like you've had better first-hand experience. I chose two random days and neither was good.