Quote:
Originally Posted by Steely Dan
^ well, to this outsider, nothing in cincy came close to impressing me as much as OTR from an architecture standpoint. OTR is a nationally significant architectural district in a way that very few other places in the midwest are. nothing else in cincy that i saw is at that same level.
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Sure, and I can totally see where an outsider can look at Over-the-Rhine and say "WOW, this is awesome!" I mean, it IS an awesome neighborhood with fantastic architecture. But for a local, Cincinnati has so many architecturally diverse neighborhoods that it becomes a more "who has the best quality/variety" versus "which will wow the out-of-towner the best." The former can be found in Walnut Hills, Avondale, etc. The latter can be found in Over-the-Rhine and Mt. Adams. I've heard visitors say Mt. Adams was Cincinnati's best neighborhood. Even folks in Mt. Adams don't believe that bullshit but it's a popular outside opinion. It's hilly, walkable, great views, great food, great nightlife, blah blah blah and thus it gives a positive impression moreso than an
endlessly more interesting Mt. Auburn where 99% of visitors
never see. The
scale of Over-the-Rhine and neighboring Pendleton and Mohawk (which are two neighborhoods folks usually throw in as "Over-the-Rhine" much to locals irks; much like "Clifton" is used for the University of Cincinnati area even though UC doesn't even touch Clifton proper...another rant, another day) is what sets it apart from a Walnut Hills or even a West End (which is equally as dense as OTR, though 2-3 story). Both Walnut Hills and West End have better architecture, quality, blah blah than Over-the-Rhine but due to the
scale of OTR's structures, the density, the colors, etc, many first-impressions can leave a person with "best architecture in Cincy!"
I mean, I
get it. Trust me. But as a local, Cincinnati has
way more context and layers than simple 3-5 story Italianate structures (which again, are undeniably awesome).