Middletown South

What are your views on South Main Street? My wife and I are originally from Hamilton and Fairfield and we now reside in Georgia. We are looking to move back. We love the houses in the Middletown South area but we hear many conflicting opinions from friends and family. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.

     Ok, I'm not looking for a realtor to find me a home. Obviously, I'm already looking at houses in the area or I wouldn't have posted this. I'm just looking for some opinions from residents, not suggestions for houses. Thanks.

beautiful home

Spider what do you mean no shopping or dining in the area.  Didn't you read the Sibcy Cline Propaganda on this joint and I quote:

Hey Dave please enlighten us as to the "Scenic Downtown" and the "Popular Towne Mall".  Sometimes the truth hurts and some people just like walking around with blinders on, ignoring the facts.

Wasteful,  I am assuming you can read, I never said that Middletown had a scenic downtown or that theTown Mall was a popular place. I asked why you and everyone else have to focus on the negative all the time. Why not tell this person that South Main is close to Smith Park, which is a nice park. why not tell them that Middletown is going through some changes and we are hopeful that things will get better here and we would welcome some new people to town. Instead you post a pic that says just the opposite. Dont you grow tired of being such a negative person?

WOW - what a sells job on the demographics.  My sides are hurting so bad from laughing at that.  Seriously, I know of someone that was interested in this paticular home and they said there were a lot of updates that needed to be done.  just check it out for yourself to make sure that is what you are wanting to do.  Also have your realtor give you the list of what can and can not be done to this house as it is in a historical district (there are restrictions).  Since you live in Georgia - you need to come see the area for yourself, everyone will have there own opinions on what they consider to be a good area or not. 

[QUOTE=lrisner]Mr Dave, I am sorry to have to say this, but you MUST be a Realtor or have some other Business Interest in promoting Middletown.

Kujani1840 wrote:       Ok, I'm not looking for a realtor to find me a home. Obviously, I'm already looking at houses in the area or I wouldn't have posted this. I'm just looking for some opinions from residents, not suggestions for houses. Thanks.

Gotcha. I am not a realtor btw.

Purchasing a home in the South Main Historical District is risky. If you do purchase, I would not consider it an investment for long-time financial growth, but rather as a place to live.

If you are going to purchase, now is probably the right time with values where they are at. I agree with those who say that you should consider homes closer to First Avenue--and I will add those that back up to Forest Hills Country Club.

PRISM seems to be a strong neighborhood association, so that is a big plus. Recent zoning changes in the area are also positive for homeowners in the District. Makes it more difficult to sub-divide the larger homes into rentals.

Should downtown see revitalization (and we are talking 15-20 years in the making), it could (and that's a very big could) pay off for you in the long-run. If you are willing to make that kind of commitment. Personally, I believe downtown will eventual turn around, but it is going to take some time. It will never be the commercial/office district it was in its heyday though.

It takes a certain kind of person to own, restore and maintain a historical home. You need to ask yourself if you are up to it.

There are also plenty of older homes in Middletown. The new Highlands Historic District around the hospital. The Sunset area and Park Place just east of downtown. The homes may not be as large and may not have as much character, but you don't see a lot of cookie cutter like you would in new subdivisions.

As I said, I am not a realtor, but here are a few other options to consider:

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1199796&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=1-McKnight-Dr-Middletown-South-OH-45044

My personal favorite at the moment on the market:

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1183643&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=615-Stanley-St-Middletown-South-OH-45044

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1184419&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=2709-Flemming-Rd-Middletown-South-OH-45042

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1199330&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=107-Ardmore-Dr-Middletown-North-OH-45042

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1171762&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=2606-Flemming-Rd-Middletown-North-OH-45042

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1182431&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=117-Kenwood-Dr-Middletown-North-OH-45042

http://www.sibcycline.com/viewlisting.asp?mls=1191323&b=CIN&p=RESI&s=SFRD&m=1&sender=SearchResults&a=3201-McGee-Ave-Middletown-South-OH-45044

Not sure what your price range is, but there are a variety of options above. I have also heard that Hook Mansion on Alameda Circle is on the market for sale by own with a price of around $600k. Heard it may end up in foreclosure.

Happy House hunting. And hopefully a welcome to Middletown.

wow Mr.Dave

Mr. Dave wrote: Spider, I was not talking about you, I do know who you are and I know all that you have done and do in this town. It does get old though watching all these people here talk so negatively about the city I have lived in for more than 30 years.

Wow, 30 years! Well, I have been here for 53 years. Does that trump you? I gave up on "Community Involvement"  a long time ago. To have them listen to you, you first have to join the Club. In order to "jion" the Club, you have to give up your own ideas and just embrace those that they give you. If you say you have never experience that, then you are naturally in line with them already. Try bringing up something they do not want to hear and see how welcome you feel.

There is a "Cliche" Group that runs things and if you are outside that Group, you had better be a Member of some protected Class or have lots of Money, because short of those things you will not be listened to. I saw it many times, including some that involved Spider, so I certainly know where He is coming from.

I just bought a house on Yankee and it isn't bad there... as long as you don't go past south park. Between the other far end of South park... towards 8th ave, the area between Yankee and S Main becomes kind of iffy. The whole reason why I moved there was to fix up and old house. At the time, there were no houses for sale on South Main, otherwise I would have most likely bought one there, but I am happy on Yankee. Nobody bothers us and our neighbors have been really nice. House is in solid shape too..