6 month review as a newcomer to life in Dayton
Hi. We've now lived in Dayton for 6 months as transplants from Louisville, Ky. Here's my honest review.
The good:
The parks are phenomenal. And we come from a place where Olmstead (pssst, that's the guy who did the gardens at Biltmore and Central Park in Manhattan so those stakes are high) designed most of the city parks there. Wesgerzyn? Cox Arboretum? The Grotto? (Still to come, Carillon...)Heck yeah!
We have yet to meet an openly over the top rude person, anywhere. Everybody has been friendly, engaging and open. Everybody.
Multiculturalism. We are pasty older white folk and I (not my husband) grew up in an environment that was pretty monotoned but we prefer environments that aren't. We love that this city is diverse. See the note above about how we've felt welcomed everywhere we've been by everyone.
Affordability. Yep things are hard everywhere and it's not possible to escape that life is hard for many here too, but housing is more affordable here than where we came from as are utilities, etc.
Boonshoft and the AFM were both incredible. We need to see more, like the art museum. (And? )
The architecture. It's impossible to not see the effect that hard times have had in this city but it's also very clear to see how lovely some of these older homes are or could be. Our normal travel routes take us through 5 Oaks and University Row and Riverside. We also looked very hard at Residence Park. As a fan of everything from Art Nouveau to Craftsman/Prairie Arts and MCM (especially MCM) architecture, it's fun to see how and when the city spread.
The libraries. Nuff said.
The Bad:
- The drivers. There are only 2 types, those who go 35 no matter what and the ones that gotta go 75 no matter what.
And what we are calling "the Dayton yellow" which is the first 5 seconds after a light turns red.
Things that just confuse us:
The 4 lane double highways separated by a full median where nothing exists that would justify a whole ass 4 lane double highway because there's nothing but big fields on both sides. Looking at you Turner and Free Pike and Shoup Mill.
Whole empty but still standing former retail stripmalls. Especially the one at Siebenthaler near Philadelphia and I think what may have been the Trotwood Mall.
The golf course off Philadelphia. Does anyone golf there and what's with the "Hook Estates" across the street?
See also that parking garage at Philadelphia and Salem near the YMCA. Um, what is that even?
The Buy Nothing Group on Facebook where people still offer or ask for money.
Things we acknowledge as big:
Redlining. We had that in Louisville too. Horrid stuff, that.
WFABP, NCR, GM and GE etc.
Patterson.
white squirrels.
Dorothy Lane Market and Gem City market.
The Wheelchair guy on Salem. Would love to know more about him as well as the one who frequents the 75 exit there.
The 2019 tornado. Yikes!
How did we do add as newcomers and what are the next logical steps for us?