Downtown Apartments: Whew! (Cincinnati, Findlay, Green: real estate, rental, lofts)

[enofile]

I wish I could take a pinch from one apartment, a shake from another apartment, and a pour from a third apartment and create my perfect living space. But alas, that isn't going to happen and I'm not creating dinner. Finally, after a two year state of limbo, I am moving to downtown Cincinnati. As an older gentleman,(some folks would refute the gentleman and have some other less pleasant description,) I felt the downtown area rather then Mt. Adams, OTR, or Newport would offer me the best urbane experience I am looking for. Having a small dog proved to be a bit of a handicap, as many buildings are not doggie friendly. My searched for a rental went as such:
GRAMERCY ON GARFIELD TOWNHOME - I loved the street, concept of a townhome with a private entrance, and the relatively large rooms and storage. However, the finishes were rather poor and it reeked of a builder's grade mentality with no style or panache. Although hook ups for washer and dryer are installed, it requires the tenants to purchase their own washer and dryer.
SYCAMORE PLACE - The design and architecture were fabulous. The two bedroom, with its majestic high ceilings and expansive windows, gave an impression of space and openness. However, one of the bedrooms has that half wall and is open to the entire apartment. I want anyone who stays in that bedroom to have some semblance of privacy and to feel comfortable making whatever noises comes naturally. I don't care about artificial noises. In addition, some of the finishes were not the best and some folks might question the location.
THE RESERVE - This conversion was done very well and the respect for the integrity of the original building is apparent throughout. However, the bedrooms are tiny and there was no architectural allowance for closets. The designers went the European route and placed free-standing bureaus in the room to substitute for closets. These ersatz armoires simply do not have enough storage and make the rooms even smaller. While these units are good looking, there is little substance or a utilitarian concept. The Reserve is more for fun then for comfort.
550 EAST 4TH STREET - The location, kitty corner to the Taft Museum, provides a respite from urban grit, but still allows a short walk to the "big city lights." The building is built like a Sherman tank, and noise is minimal. While the two bedroom apartment seems small and the bathrooms and kitchen minuscule, the balcony and sliding door egress provide a great expanse of light. The finishes are excellent, and the high prices reflect that. However, laundry must be done in the community "wash room," and there is no space to put in your own washer and dryer.

This are my subjective opinions and I was wondering if anyone has some further ideas or suggestions to pass on. By the way, I think "The Banks," may cater to a younger and hipper demographic that I can't relate to, but would also remind me of the deterioration of old age. I don't want to seem like a voyeur, "looking in the window, but not being allowed in."

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks much.
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[TomJones123]

Have you considered Prospect Hill? It's a great neighborhood with very friendly people of all ages, and walks of life. Most places you will find here are dog friendly as well. As for downtown try:

DownTowne Living | Lofts at Shillito

DownTowne Living | Groton Lofts

DownTowne Living | Greenwich

[enofile]

Thanks TJ,

The three places you mentioned do not accept dogs. They are all managed by Towne Properties which also manages Gramercy on Garfield.
I want to be able to walk to restaurants, bars, shops, coffee shops etc., Prospect Hill will not allow me to do that. Only downtown, at this point, allows an urbane lifestyle in Cincinnati. Even Mt. Adams, with its ridiculously expensive real estate, does not have the walkability of the Central Business District. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by enofile

Thanks TJ,

The three places you mentioned do not accept dogs. They are all managed by Towne Properties which also manages Gramercy on Garfield.
I want to be able to walk to restaurants, bars, shops, coffee shops etc., Prospect Hill will not allow me to do that. Only downtown, at this point, allows an urbane lifestyle in Cincinnati. Even Mt. Adams, with its ridiculously expensive real estate, does not have the walkability of the Central Business District. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I walk from Prospect Hill to bars, shops, coffee shops, etc all the time. But I understand where you are coming from. You want to be as close as possible. The CBD is somewhat limited at this point until new options are available. Best of luck.

[enofile]

TJ,
I guess Prospect Hill allows you to walk to OTR in about 15 minutes, but I want to be right there! I want to get my rear off of the couch with no excuses such as bad weather, not wanting to drive, possible DUI, etc. Even 15 minutes is a good enough rationale for plopping my rear in front of the TV and watching some movie or sporting event. If a restaurant or bar is two blocks away, the only excuse I have is laziness, and then if I still remain prone, I can wallow in my own innocuous existence since I am the sole architect of this vacuum.

[TomJones123]

Originally Posted by enofile

TJ,
I guess Prospect Hill allows you to walk to OTR in about 15 minutes, but I want to be right there! I want to get my rear off of the couch with no excuses such as bad weather, not wanting to drive, possible DUI, etc.

Where I live, I am on Main Street in 5 minutes and at Milton's in less time than that. As a former New Yorker I totally understand why you want to live where you do. For me, PH is a good balance between an urban neighborhood, cool neighbors, decent smattering of families with kids for my kid to play with, cool neighborhood bar, and being able to cross Liberty and be in OTR. I rarely go to the CBD. Just not enough draw for me to make it past places like Japps and The Drinkery. Now, if someone lived further up the hill I could see it taking longer to get to OTR. I'm close to Sycamore, so it's a pretty easy walk, and easy stagger for return trips after a night bar hopping.

Originally Posted by enofile

Even 15 minutes is a good enough rationale for plopping my rear in front of the TV and watching some movie or sporting event. If a restaurant or bar is two blocks away, the only excuse I have is laziness, and then if I still remain prone, I can wallow in my own innocuous existence since I am the sole architect of this vacuum.

ROFLMAO!!! I TOTALLY understand.

[ProkNo5]

I definitely think that OTR is more dog friendly than the CBD, but the apartments are smaller and more loft like. Still, there are exceptions around every corner. Have you looked at AT580? I'm not sure what to expect from that development. Also, some of the places on Central Parkway are a bit more spacious. Jackson Lofts, American Building, and Emery Center Apartments. I also would punt rule out some smaller complexes.

[CarpathianPeasant]

I had an apartment in downtown Cincinnati for several years. It was almost exactly one and a half blocks from the grounds of the public library, and the one block was the sides of two buildings that were back to back (that's important). Someone bought a building a few doors from the apartment building and started converting it to rather expensive small condominiums one of which was apparently sold before I left, although I don't think the conversion was finished yet.

Anyway....

I used to go to the library every day (free internet access). One evening I saw an older man trying to walk an absolutely terrified tiny white poodle likewise to the library grounds. I started kind of watching for him to maybe help if need be. Sometimes he looked just as misplaced as the dog. The guess was: his wife was not too well so they sold their rather expensive house and bought one of the condos thinking the Central Business District was sort of a retirement place to live.

Old people do live downtown -- I'm one a that did, and I not only did okay I was happy; but, I didn't expect something like a retirement community. Now, I'd pet any dog of reasonable size that would let me pet it. The only dog that I ever saw that was comfortable in the half of block to the two buildings back to back was a rather gigantic German Shepherd that was every bit six feet long. Me and the dog had a joyful petting session one day while the owner sat on the other side of a little fence enjoying a high end restaurant dinner with family (or friends).

The Central Business District is NOT an easy going retirement community. And, I don't think Over-The-Rhine will fit your bill at all. If your dog is small enough (one foot from the ground at the shoulder), HUD properties have to allow them, and, believe me, both the government and the management will allow you to pay the full rental amount, some people do. Leases run one year and thereafter generally month to month -- you can pretty much clear out any time things aren't working to suit you. If your dog is bigger than that, you will probably have to do some nit-picking to find a place.

[enofile]

Thanks for all the help. I am staying in Cincinnati now @ 21C and spent Saturday looking at apartments.

Although Garfield Place at Elm is beautiful, Garfield one block East made me nervous. Am I just being paranoid?

550 East 4th Street was very nice, but quite expensive and a bit removed. However, I love being near the Taft Museum and the park across the street would be great for my small dog. Are there coffee shops and places to go close by?

I'm not crazy about the area around Sycamore and 7th, except for Arnold's. The Casino is not attracting a salubrious population to East 7th Street in my opinion.

I looked at "The Banks," but I was turned off by its corporate nature and the "frat boy" aspect of the ambiance.

OTR has very few apartments and isn't the area a few blocks off of Vine very sketchy?

It's Cincinnati or bust, but where can I live? I'm more confused then the President's Middle East advisors! Does anyone have more help please? Thanks much.

PS: Had a great meal at Local 127 and heard Jeff Lorber at the Blue Wisp - Amazing!
By the way, I may be old, but I am very immature.

[natininja]

Totally agree with you about the Banks. It's a frat boy type scene. Good for introducing suburbanites to city living, and good for getting wasted on game days, but it's not really my type of place. Only reason I'd consider living there is for a view and to have the riverfront park for a front yard. But those things wouldn't really be enough to sway me.

Little anecdote: they put out construction update videos for the riverfront park on youtube, and in one of them they were showing a surface parking lot they're going to build by Paul Brown Stadium for tailgating. I think it's absolutely hilarious, as North America's largest underground parking garage was built as part of the Banks development, and nearly every establishment there serves alcohol. But the football fans (I am a Bengals fan, myself) just need to have a surface lot built in the park! Cracks me up. A nice picnic grove which allows BYOB would be far superior, IMO. Have some public grills, some electric outlets, a cooling mist station, maybe even some of those "sprayground" fountains you can get wet in. It'd be like tailgating 2.0, but people want an ugly parking lot.

Garfield Place & Race is not sketchy IMO. As for Over-the-Rhine, it depends on what you can handle in terms of "pioneering," but I wouldn't rule it out. The main streets (especially Vine & Main) south of Liberty should be fine any time of day. You might find somewhere dog-friendly. The main reason I would look at OTR, personally, is to have easy-walking proximity to Kroger and Findlay Market. Being able to get to the grocery store quickly is serious luxury living. If you're close enough (like within a block of Kroger), buying some stuff for dinner feels almost like walking to the cupboard to get your food out & ready to cook.