A friend is relocating to Cincinnati

[Alizaryn]

He wants to live within the urban enviroment. He's looked at some beautiful lofts on-line but isn't sure of the enviroment. Does anyone have any advice as to decent areas before he gets the chance to get there to look?

[femrap]

1. Clifton area which is around

the Univ. of Cincy area. Stay away from the west side of town...horribly conservative. The east side is good...There is the Over the Rhine area which is very close to downtown and a up and coming arty area.

Hope that helps.

[VolcanoJen]

2. Actually, if he wants to be urban...

... I'd check out Covington, in Kentucky, just across the river.

The old-town area is gorgeous, very southern and gentile and invokes the riverboat age, with cheap rentals and easy, breezy shuttle bus access to downtown.

[mtnester]

3. Cincinnati is VERY red - however, if he wants to be urban he can try Hyde Park

pricey, but loaded with Dems. My son lived right on the main drag in a "charming" 4th floor apartment for two years. The houses around are older, but wonderful. Not quite downtown Cincy. My son also lived right near the old music hall and the main police station in a neat brownstone complex that had been turned into apartments, but is now going condo...they have gutted about 8 city blocks in that area and are putting in more upscale condos. The crime in that area is iffy as of yet.

And the cost of living just over the river in Covington or Erlanger is better. But you still have to be careful in some of the Over the Rhine areas.

Stay away from the Kenwood area, good for shopping but VERY VERY VERY red.

[Alizaryn]

4. Thanks for you advice everyone!

I'll pass it along.

[rucky]

5. There's some lofts renting on 5th across from Duke Energy Center.

They look groovy. Lots of nightlife in the neighborhood, some great restaurants, and a fantastic jazz venue at the Hilton.

[Eurobabe]

6. don't live in the suburbs

tell him to look in the city itself, it's blue.