For the Record 02.26.14

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE NO. 34 FEB. 26 - MARCH 4, 2014

WHERE SHOULD YOU LIVE? BEST NEIGHBORHOODS PG 3 RESIDENCE HALLS PG 6 CRIME WHERE YOU ARE PG 7

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 2

Kara Driscoll @kardadri @Pdidion

MANAGING EDITOR

Katie Griffith @NewsRecord_UC Jake Grieco @Rosewater_Eliot

ARTS EDITOR NEWS EDITOR

Ryan Hoffman @ryanhoffman3 Becky Butts @rebelee_92

ONLINE EDITOR PHOTO EDITOR

Phil Didion

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE

ASK

EDITORS

WHAT IS THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD TO LIVE IN AROUND CAMPUS?

WHAT IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD WITH A LANDLORD, PROPERTY OR LIVING ON YOUR OWN?

HOUSE OR APARTMENT?

WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT LIVING AT HOME?

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A BAD ROOMMATE?

Butts got it right.

I live in a hell hole.

Somehow, the roof leaks but I still might die in a fire before the end of the year.

PRAY FOR ME.

I agree with Katie.

i don’t exactly have food, clean clothes or a working stove at my apartment. So I miss living like a real human sometimes.

Well ... I had a habit of eating my roommate’s Hot Pockets on the weekend. Apparently that isn’t “polite,” so I think I’m the bad one?

The Gaslight District.

Losing all my money to rent and having nothing to eat. Oh and my house didn’t have gutters or siding the entire time I lived there, no big deal.

Apartment, there’s less to take care of.

I’ve moved back (hence the no money thing). But I missed my mom’s food and not having to pay to do my laundry.

Can’t say that I have.

I really like living on the west side of campus.

It has the most active student night life.

A lot of the landlords down here take advantage of people renting their property.

I’ve had a few unhappy expriences with my landlord.

I say both. I think it’s a great experience to live in a house at least for a year, and it’s cheap.

I miss having someone cook for me and not having to spend money all the time.

My freshman year roommate’s favorite band was Lincoln Park and he REALLY loved Jesus...so...

I really loved living on Ada Street, but that was probably because I had a house with two decks and a view of the city skyline. God I miss that place.

Every time it rained when I lived on Probasco, gallons of water would pour into my living room.

The landlords did nothing and kept my security deposit.

I’d recommend a house if you’re a first-or-secondyear student. If you’re near the end of your college career, get an apartment. Face it, you’re too old for house parties.

I live at home now, so what I miss most about living near campus is smoking inside. Figures I move back home the year we have the coldest winter ever.

I’ve had five differnt roommates. I found one of them on Craig’s List and he ended up shooting himself in his hand with a 9 mm on our living room couch. Crazy times.

Northside, it’s a great community with lots do to.

My parents were pretty tough landlords. They had trouble accepting I’m not a kid anymore.

Apartment for sure. They are easier to maintain and right now a house would just be too much.

The food and the free rent.

Nope.

Live in the Majestic, the real parties happen on the street outside at 2 a.m., see “violence in Clifton.”

My parents told me that although it was my party, I couldn’t cry even if I wanted to.

Apartment’s are easier to clean, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Great room service.

Never.

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 3

Where to live after college; how to stay out of suburbs

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

There are all different kinds of people that live in Northside. The community has something for everyone and anything residents could ever want is within walking distance. The only thing missing is a McDonalds, but luckily there is a Kentucky Fried Chicken.

When there’s no other option besides staying in same area code, where to live while young in cincy JAKE GRIECO ARTS EDITOR

Cincinnatians are known for staying in Cincinnati.

It seems like everyone either wants to get the hell out or stay forever.

Even if it has always been a goal to leave this corner of Ohio, Cincinnati grows on its citizens like a mold.

If students of the University of Cincinnati decided they want to stay here after graduation, then there are a few culturally rich areas that will satisfy the restless souls waiting for a taste of big-city life.

For those who aren’t ready to move out to the suburbs, there are two locations that still have an active nightlife.

By the time students have earned enough credits

to graduate, they’ve probably spent eight times the amount of money at various bars.

A 10-minute drive at most, Over-the-Rhine is a thriving community for young professionals.

The neighborhood is trying very hard to rebrand itself. For years, Over-the-Rhine was a place that everyone avoided and only heard about on the news because of rampant crime.

In the past decade, there has been a drastic change.

Small businesses seemingly open up every day in the once-avoided area and some of the best bars in Cincinnati have opened on Main Street.

There are great musical acts that frequent MOTR Pub, and Japp’s is becoming more popular everyday.

If eating is more your thing, not to worry Over-theRhine has plenty of tempting choices.

The Eagle has just-as-good-as-home-cooked-butantibiotic-free-all-natural-fried chicken and around 100 different beers on tap.

The night owls will love Over-the-Rhine, but

morning people might feel a bit uncomfortable.

The whole area becomes a ghost town until around dinnertime, but makes up for it by being a social hive once the sun goes down.

If Over-the-Rhine doesn’t seem appealing and the suburbs are too boring, there is another option for students after graduation.

Northside offers almost everything Over-the-Rhine has to offer, without the ghost-town mornings.

The little town has gathered quite an unusual catalogue of residents and business owners.

The many bars are one of the best aspects of Northside.

The atmosphere is exciting because it feels like everyone is working together to make the area function.

That’s what makes Over-the-Rhine and Northside so similar. They are both areas where residents can play a vital role in changing or helping the town.

Northside has some of the best food in the whole tri-state area.

Places like Melt and Django Western Taco become addicting the more they are visited and they have options for everyone from vegans to carnivores.

The little community has quality bars that are just as good as the bars downtown, but are more laid back.

The Listing Loon is a craft beer and wine bar that has as many options for alcohol as Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory does for candy.

Northside is also home to the best record store in Cincinnati: Shake It Records. There is a place for anyone who love peace and poetry in Northside.

The community is loving and willing to give back to others. The only draw back is residents might eat way too much and spend too much money.

Being an adult in Cincinnati doesn’t have to mean going to the mall and the occasional church festival.

Over-the-Rhine and Northside are the best places to live if being young in Cincinnati is how your life is playing out.

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

Main Street looks a lot different than it did a decade ago. There really is a night and day difference between the night and day life of the street.

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 4

HURRY, SPACES ARE FILLING FAST! Come let us show you why University Park is THE RIGHT CHOICE for housing!

• FULLY FURNISHED

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• ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED

• FULL KITCHENS

• WIRELESS INTERNET

• ROOMMATE MATCHING

• CLOSE TO RETAIL & DINING

• WORKOUT CENTER

UPACincinnati.com | 2545 Dennis Street | Cincinnati, OH 45219 | 513.558.3000

N O W R E N T I N G F O R FA L L !

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US THE

BEST RENTAL COMPANY! This is why we’re #1: LOCATION:

Many different locations surrounding the University and specializing in the Gaslight District.

VARIETY:

From houses to efficiencies in historic buildings to recently remodeled units, we have all types of apartments near campus.

FAMILY OWNED:

We are the opposite of the absentee landlord... we grew up and still live proudly in Clifton.

SERVICE: Quick, friendly service. Ask your friends and neighbors.

Tired of communal living on or off campus? Get your own apartment.

www.GaslightProperty.com

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 5

CLASSES OFFERED Concealed Carry Classes Our one day certification course is taught by active duty Police Officers.

Call 513-237-9423 or email anamericanlawman@yahoo.com for more info.

FOR RENT Looking for an apartment? www.ucapartments.com

FOR RENT Now Renting for August 2014!

See a video tour at UC4RENT.COM. 513-621-7032

NOW HIRING NOW HIRING: HangOverEasy, 13 West Charleton HangOverEasy is a new Bar and Restaurant opening soon next to UC, immediately behind Bogart’s.

We are taking applications for bartenders, food servers, kitchen staff, utility, and managers. We will be holding open interviews for all positions starting on Saturday, the 8th of February @ 11 a.m. Please apply in person @ 13 West Charleton, one block from UC. Part-time and full-time positions available. Pay based on experience. Call with any questions (513) 304-1970.

www.uc4rent.com 2313 Ravine St., Clifton Cincinnati, Ohio 45219 Call for an appointment today:

(513)-621-7032

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 6

University residence halls provide home away from home UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI UPTOWN WEST CAMPUS

Morgens Hall

All rooms include air conditioning, heat, cable TV service and high-speed Internet access and are fully furnished for each person.

Halls also feature a study lounge, laundry room, snack vending machines, full fire protection systems and 24hour security.

8

Analyzing range of pros, woes that stem from on-campus living PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

Turner Hall

7

Schneider Hall

6

Stratford Heights

Dabney Hall

1

5

4 Daniels Hall

2

Siddall Hall

3

Calhoun Hall

1 Stratford Heights 3 Calhoun Hall 5 Dabney Hall

Houses: 693 (suite style) Features: Living facilities for fraternities/sororities, organizations, groups and non-group affiliated housing

2 Siddall Hall

Houses: 450 (11 stories) Features: Double/single rooms, kitchenette (each floor), two large lobby lounges

Houses: 680 (12 stories) Features: Elevators, kitchenettes, study floor

Houses: 300 (five stories) Features: Freight elevator, kitchenette, lobby with flat screen TV

7 Turner Hall

Houses: 419 (suite style) Features: Bathroom facilities/ common lounge per suite, large lounge with TV, various study lounges

4 Daniels Hall 6 Schneider Hall 8 Morgens Hall

Houses: 700 (12 stories) Features: Elevators, kitchenettes (each floor), two laundry rooms, lobby lounge with flat screen TV

Houses: 168 (suite style) Features: Four people per suite with individual bedrooms, bathroom facilities per suite, elevator

Houses: 456 (apartment style) Features: New renovations offer students fresh living spaces

Residence halls: close-to-campus partying paradise or the epitome of an early college-living slump? Having been a commuter, a dormer and a proud apartment-renting student, I’ve come to some conclusions in my college career.

Experiencing the change of atmosphere in Calhoun Hall from the preparatory Hall Opening Team Week to the freshmen move-in day was the equivalent of the city of Pamplona before and after the running of the bulls — bodies and bullshit everywhere. The sink was broken, the air was filled with a pungent scent of vomit, and bike tracks lined the walls.

It was a wonderful first day.

Being so close to campus has many perks, especially when combined with a meal plan. Food and classes are always close and if you’re bored, a new friend is only a few open doors down.

When you’re having trouble getting out of your room, drunken packs of wild students will be more than willing to break in and dig you out at any time of the day or night.

Let’s also remember the first roommate experience. This is a special opportunity to play the forever-a-friend or eternal-nemesis game.

When randomized, this is usually determined by a coin toss of fate.

Earplugs and patience might be the difference in making this relationship work.

The biggest problem with living in a residence hall is the lack of adventure one might face when not standing up against the consistent public safety notices and braving latenight Clifton. Granted, that’s where the drunken packs of wild students roam, unhindered by locked doors and student I.D. card checks. It’s great fun.

What it comes down to is, at the end of a long night studying or partying, there is nothing better than knowing that your bed is only a short walk away, and warm food and coffee will be available in a few hours.

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 7

Which regions around campus are safest?

Public safety, student affairs officials weigh in on how to find safe housing off campus RYAN HOFFMAN NEWS EDITOR

Students at the University of Cincinnati are accustomed to receiving emails detailing the most recent robberies and assaults around main campus. But when it comes time to find off-campus housing, crime isn’t always taken into account.

There are many factors that go in to choosing where to live, said Erica Forrest, assistant director of Student Affairs. Things like proximity to campus and space impact each individual’s decision.

For most students though, at the end of the day it comes down to price.

“When you’re on a tight budget and you have lots of conflicting demands it’s easy to fall into the thought of ‘rents a lot cheaper here,’” said Jeff Corcoran, interim UC police chief. “And yeah, it’s a problem.”

An aspect most often lost in the decision process is safety.

Both historically and statistically, the area south of main campus tends to have the most crime. From Feb. 11 to Feb. 23 there were nine breaking and entering offenses in the region south of main campus, compared to four north of main campus — one on the west side and two on the east. Typically, the region north of main campus — commonly referred to as the Gaslight District — is home to less crime.

“As a male, safety isn’t the most important thing,” said Dionne Thrweatt-Vassar, a fourth-year sports administration student. “I live in the Gaslight for reasons of affordability and quality, and there aren’t as many break ins or intruders.”

The reason for the variation in offenses is because of the dense student population south of campus and the environment, Corcoran said.

The nature of the neighborhood south of campus — narrow streets with parking on both sides, with tightly packed one-family houses perched above street level — gives perpetrators more hiding places than other areas, and consequently making it more conducive to theft and robbery.

CRIME STATISTICS 2013 BURGLARY: THEFT FROM AUTO: AUTO THEFT: ALL OTHER THEFT:

529 490 108 1011

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Corcoran, interim UC police chief, said students should look at crime data, as well as evaluate security measures such as door locks before signing a lease.

While Corcoran recommends all students look at the crime data when searching for a place to live, it shouldn’t be the ultimate, determining factor.

“Aggregate numbers are nice but it’s not a cut and dry incident,” Corcoran said. “People are unpredictable.

There’s nothing to say that next week [a perpetrator] is not going to go a couple blocks away.”

Corcoran said when looking for an apartment or house students should make sure they are comfortable with any possible roommates as well as check to make sure the doors have good locks and secure door frames.

Additionally, off-street parking is a good thing to have because of the high volume of thefts from vehicles — 490 in 2013, six of which involved a UC student — around campus. Off-street parking is increasingly important because thefts from vehicles aren’t limited to a specific region.

No matter where a student chooses to live, it’s also important to find a residence that is well exposed with good lighting on the street.

Safe housing usually becomes more of priority after a students first year, Corcoran said. The more experience a student has living in an environment the more likely they are to be conscious of safety issues and the less likely they are to be victims of crime.

“We attract a lot of students from rural areas,”

Corcoran said. “There’s this myth that we’re this big commuter school, which hasn’t been true for some time, but some of these students are coming from places where they may have never locked their door.”

More than 40 percent of all student victims are students living in the area for the first time, Corcoran said.

“I live in Hyde Park because it’s safe,” said Kim Burns, a fifth-year architectural engineering student. “I lived in Clifton off Wheeler and moved because I didn’t feel safe living by myself.”

Reaching students early and educating them about safe housing recently became a top priority for administrators at UC, Forrest said. In January, Student Affairs helped orchestrate the first safe housing fair, which brought together police, fire, housing and other officials to share safety information with students.

Student Affairs plans to host the event annually.

Additionally, Student Affairs is in the process of creating educational events to run throughout the next academic year. Forrest said students can visit the safe housing website to look up tips for evaluating a potential residence.

“The very first thing every student should do is evaluate their needs,” Forrest said. “And try to find the property that best fits their needs.”

HOUSING GUIDE ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2014 / PAGE 8

Gaslight: from one house to UC’s best rental company Family owned Gaslight Property focuses on neighborhood they know best JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

Gaslight Property, the winner of The News Record’s Best of UC Rental Company Award as voted by the student body, started as one man with a downtrodden house.

“Twenty-one years ago, [CEO Dave Taylor] bought a shell of a house in Northside for $3,000,” said Rob Taylor, Dave Taylor’s brother and the chief operating officer at Gaslight Property.

Dave Taylor and his older brother Rick Taylor, who works maintenance, renovated the house and rented it to friends for the most part. It wasn’t long before they mortgaged the house in order to buy the house next door and they haven’t stopped expanding since. Thus, the foundation for today’s Gaslight Property was laid.

The first major property the Taylors acquired was the Clifton View Apartment complex, a few blocks past Murphy’s Pub on Clifton Avenue. But Dave Taylor always planned to focus on what they knew best: Clifton.

“We grew up in Clifton, right there in Whitfield Avenue,” Rob Taylor said. “Dave wanted to do as much as he could in Clifton because he knew the neighborhood and students are always coming.You always have a good line of customers.”

Today, the rental business controls 1,500 units, 1,000 of which are within a mile of campus. Rob Taylor estimates that they have somewhere in the range of 2,200 total renters, roughly 800 of which are University of Cincinnati students.

As one would expect, renting to college students does come with challenges, the majority of which are related to tenants consuming large quantities of alcohol.

“There’s always so many stories,” Rob Taylor said.“I don’t want to get into too many of them because we are dealing with people’s homes. It’s usually during move-outs when you have a big group of students. People like to have parties and sometimes they get a little out of hand.”

However, Gaslight Property has seen a positive trend in recent years, with student tenants taking far better care of their residences than in years past.

“It’s not as much of a challenge as it was even five years ago,” Rob Taylor said. “Students are asking for more than they used to. They want nicer places and because of that, they’re taking better care of them. So it’s not quite the picture of what it was years and years ago when students would trash their places.”

Amid dealing with problems that still exist and trying to serve their more than 2,200 tenants, being honored by students brings a great deal of pride to the employees.

“It does mean a lot to us,” Rob Taylor said. “We work really hard to be good landlords. Often times we hear when something doesn’t go 100 percent right, so it’s nice to hear that people do appreciate what we do because we work hard because this is a family business.”

Gaslight Property employs 40 people; five are members

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

Brothers Dave (Right) and Rob Taylor, the CEO and chief operating officer of Gaslight Properties stand outside of their office on Howell Avenue in Clifton.

of the Taylor family, including Dave Taylor’s son and Rob Taylor’s daughter.

Both Rob and Dave Taylor’s families still live in Clifton, which they believe has been the key to their sustained success.

“Our tenants are our neighbors, not just our tenants,” Rob Taylor said. “We are the opposite of the absentee landlords. People will see us at the restaurants, or the [Esquire] or the grocery store — whenever we get a grocery store back.”

In addition to residential properties, Gaslight Property is also playing a significant role in the life of their tenants outside of their homes.

Gaslight Property owns the buildings that house Graeter’s, Proud Rooster, Ludlow Wines and most recently, has attracted Clifton Natural Foods, which is in the process of moving from its current location on Clifton Avenue to one of Gaslight’s storefronts on Ludlow Avenue.

“The reason we buy those is that we think it’s important for the retail community to do well in order to support the apartments and our tenants,” Rob Taylor said.

The retail options also help the business compete with other rental companies in the area, most notably Uptown Rentals, who have added several thousand units to the campus area in the past few years with the completion of Views on Vine, Flats on Vine and 65 West.

Although the added options to the south of the Gaslight District could potentially pull prospective renters away

from the Ludlow area, Gaslight Property has embraced the challenge.

“We don’t mind it, because the new construction helps to raise the bar across the board and to us that’s a good thing,” Rob Taylor said.“Also, we don’t have the communal living like a lot of the new places do. It’s almost like going over to a dorm without some of the rules. We’re mostly one bedrooms, efficiencies and two bedrooms.”

Nevertheless, a clear competition exists between the two.

“Well sure there’s a rivalry,” Rob Taylor said. “In any business we like to be the best, which is why we appreciate being number one in the [Best of UC poll].”

Gaslight Property tries to differentiate itself with family-based, quick and friendly service, which, along with leasing and maintenance operations, Rob Taylor oversees on a day-to-day basis. Clearly, the students at UC have taken note.

But it is apparent that the underlying reason for Gaslight Property’s success is the same reason they began buying property in the first place, a deep pride in the neighborhood they grew up in.

“Every day is different in this business, every single day,” Rob Taylor said.“We’re dealing with people’s homes. We’re not dealing with widgets or with meals at restaurants. It’s certainly not for everybody. It’s a 24-7 business, but we like to do it because we’re deep Cliftonites and we have a lot of pride in our community. I think that helps make all the difference.”