Very high crime, urban decay, time to leave.
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9/18/2020
As a pharmaceutical sales rep I traveled frequently to OSU and associated health care systems in Columbus, in 2005 we decided to make the move here from Houston. During the mid-2000's, Columbus experienced decent growth mainly in retail and distribution sectors that now occupy the south side of town. However, the last several years have brought huge increases in crime (with 2020 on track to be the highest in homicides ever) as well as urban decay which the city is in my opinion giving up on. Just recently a Ohio State University football player was shot in the face while attending a campus party. There are a number of decent size metro parks here, but most are often overcrowded even on weekdays. To access a quiet wooded area with decent hiking or biking, a 30 minute to 1 hour drive outside of town is required. Downtown Columbus has struggled with panhandlers, murders, and serious crimes which have in turn deterred many businesses from remaining open there. Housing continues to appreciate, but in very select areas. The culture here is very blue collar and sports dominated, (think about going to a cheap dinner in a Chevy Malibu in white tennis shoes with cheap blue jeans). The "Buckeye" religion will seem odd and almost insane to outsiders, as many here live and breath Football. This city would greatly benefit from smart urban planning. Even cities half the size of Columbus in the south and Midwest have invested in light rail, green zones and forest management. While our time in Columbus hasn't been "bad", the seriousness of how much crime has increased here can't be understated and is one of the main reasons we are looking to relocate. If you are considering moving here, I would suggest looking at other areas in the Midwest that are much more modern, safe and eco-family friendly.
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