How should I find an apartment in Columbus, OH?

December 27, 2004 1:08 PM

Columbus (OH) filter...

I just arrived a a hotel and rented for a week; I'm starting work at my new job on Wednesday. Any MeFi'ers from around here? Where and how should I go about nailing down an apartment?
posted by alumshubby to travel & transportation (6 comments total)

I grew up a little north of Columbus.

German Village is trendy, snooty, and beautiful. The Short North (Italian Village, Victorian Village, and the High Street Commercial District) is trendy but slightly more alternative. Both neighborhoods are heavily populated by gays and lesbians, (as are many nicer urban neighborhoods) if that matters to you. The suburbs of Columbus really suck. Craigslist has a few listings per day, but it wouldn't surprise me if the newspaper was your best bet.
posted by Kwantsar at 2:35 PM on December 27, 2004

Welcome, alumshubby! I live in the Short North / Victorian Village area. The two alternative weeklies don't have very good listings, so I think the best would be the Columbus Dispatch. Also, at least in these neighborhoods, driving around and getting numbers from signs in yards is a good idea. Clintonville (north of campus) is also a decent area. Email me if you want a pal.
posted by naturesgreatestmiracle at 3:45 PM on December 27, 2004

I'll second naturesgreatmiracle's suggestions - especially Clintonville (which is sometimes overlooked.) I haven't lived there for a while, but I think it's still good advice to not live near campus if you want to avoid drunk people throwing bottles, rioting, and really shitty apartments. I think the danger region stretches from 7th and N. High to around 25th and N. High.
posted by sophie at 6:29 PM on December 27, 2004

Alot of it depends on where you're working, and how far you want to be from there. But really, with 270, 70, and 71 you can get anywhere in about 20 minutes. Columbus isn't so much a city as it is a collection of small towns surrounded by 270. I'll agree that picking up a copy of the Dispatch will be a good start, as will driving around the neighborhoods you're interested in. This advice was given to me when I moved here: you want to live north of 70, whether you go east or west is personal preference. I live in the North Campus (Clintonville) area and like it, but there are plenty of other sections worth checking out. Please keep us updated, and if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to post, or email.
posted by ecrivain at 6:36 PM on December 27, 2004

A couple of my conservative friends would have a good chuckle at "Clintonville"!

I appreciate the steers, folx. Will email w/ good news, I hope.
posted by alumshubby at 6:33 AM on December 28, 2004

Welcome to the city, alumshubby.

I lived in a decent enough place/community called The Heritage west of Campus (and a stone's throw from the West OSU Campus) that was quiet enough during any rioting and near enough for my wife to walk to classes. The rooms were affordable but not spectacular: I'd priced out the Jefferson and the Meridian before settling on the Heritage for about half the price.

I found a lot of good information on Rent.com back then (a couple years ago) and made up for the rest with tire treads and shoe leather.

Now I live way up on the Northeast side in Forest Park, and there are apartments up here but I don't know anybody who lives in them and the ones near Cleveland Avenue seem to have higher crime than the ones around Tamarack Circle.

....

And for a bit of self-promotion, I'm the local Metafilter Meetup organizer though I've never successfully organized a meetup. How about we all come over to your new place when you find one?
posted by codger at 7:17 AM on December 28, 2004