Mount Airy

Mount Airy is a small neighborhood to the northwest of Downtown Cincinnati and west of the Northside and College Hill neighborhoods. It is accessed via I-74. Overall, Mount Airy is fairly close to all the major interstates and other major roads. It is near I-75 at the south end and at the north end is very close to the Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway and beyond that I-275. Colerain Avenue cuts through the heart of Mount Airy and is US Route 27, while Hamilton Avenue slightly to the east of Mount Airy is US Route 127.

About half of the neighborhood is taken up by Mount Airy Forest, which covers a total of 1471 heavily wooded acres. The park lies in both Mt. Airy and Westwood and was established in 1911 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. Mount Airy forest is really the centerpiece of the Mount Airy community as it offers 23 picnic areas, three lodges, 14 miles of hiking trails and 16 miles of bridle trails among other amenities and activities, including a large and popular dog park (located on the Westwood side).

Mount Airy is a fairly quiet community with a moderate amount of crime. Housing in the neighborhood is fairly affordable typically ranging, on average, from just under $100K to around $150K. Traffic along Colerain Avenue can be very heavy, especially during rush hour times as it is a main access road to the interstates.

At the far end of the community is the Mt. Airy Hospital, part of the Mercy Health system. Mt. Airy Hospital has served the community since 1971 and provides a wide range of services on their large campus.

The Cincinnati Waldorf School is a independent school that provides high quality education for children from preschool through the 8th grade. Cincinnati Waldorf School has been providing education since 1973. Also located in Mount Airy is the Mt. Airy School, part of Cincinnati Public schools. It, too, provides preschool through 8th grade education.

There are a number of businesses, including some restaurants, along Colerain avenue, especially in the area to the north of Blue Rock Road/Kipling Avenue. While this area is not actually in Mount Airy, it is just immediately north of the community. Head a little further up Colerain Avenue and you will hit the Northgate shopping area, where you can find just about everything you need.

Mt. Airy is a neighborhood in the northwest of Cincinnati, past Northside and neighboring College Hill. As far as I’m concerned, Mt. Airy doesn’t get enough credit among Cincinnatians! It may not be the most beautiful or conventional neighborhood, but its convenient location, its notable seclusion, the diversity of its properties, and its local attractions make it somewhat of a Cincinnati gem.

Mt. Airy’s location near major highways--I-74 and I-75--and its proximity to downtown (I’d say it’d take about 10-20 minutes by car) make it a hot spot for those who work in the city or want a nearby urban environment. At the same time, though, its relative solitude is ideal for those looking for a bit of privacy in their home lives.

Part of what gives Mt. Airy this feel of privacy is the Mt. Airy Forest, a beautiful prk that has a whole lot to offer. They have hiking trails, trails for horseback riding, beautiful gardens and picnic areas, and a dog park. Mt. Airy Forest is truly beautiful and a great place to take a run, ride your horse, or bring your family for a picnic or even a camping trip. The green space by the lake is also beautiful; you can reserve it for weddings or other special occasions.

Properties in Mt. Airy are incredibly diverse. You can find anything from an old Tudor to a newly renovated apartment. It’s an eclectic mix but one that I find charming. Prices on properties in Mt. Airy range pretty drastically, but are generally affordable.

Though Mt. Airy is relatively family-oriented, it does have its fair share of reported crimes. Its crime rate isn’t as high as some downtown areas, but it’s definitely something to look into if you’re thinking of moving here.

Another thing to consider if you have children is, of course, schooling. Mt. Airy Elementary is a good Cincinnati Public School whose test scores have improved steadily over the last few years. You’ll find Mt. Airy Middle School and High School nearby for older children. Additionally, the Cincinnati Waldorf School is located off Colerain on Little Flower Ave. They provide a traditional Waldorf education for infants through grade 8 and also offer summer nature camps and other childcare programs.

All in all, Mt. Airy is a pretty unique neighborhood that doesn’t get enough attention. I recommend a visit to at least check out some of the available properties. The neighborhood has a lot to offer to people of various walks of life, so check it out!

The most distinctive feature of Mount Airy is the water tower at the top of Colerain Ave. and just beyond the corner at North Bend. It's a large well-preserved cluster of brick and mortar tanks configured to look like a little castle. They call this hilltop section the “Water Tower area." There are a variety of home styles and lots of rental communities nearby.

Colerain Ave cuts a swath down the middle of Mt. Airy. It allows easy access from the I-75 entrance at the bottom of the hill. It's also the source of all those cars zipping through on their way to the Northgate shopping area.

Transportation
Mt. Airy is not strong on walkability, but it's streets are quiet for the most part and well maintained. Two bus routes travel Colerain all the way to Northgate Mall. They make a few trips to side streets, but you'll drive to most of the services you need.

Business District
An ever-transitioning Colerain Ave. business district begins at North Bend and is on City of Cincinnati's 2012 Neighborhood Business District Funding List. It's slated for Capital Investment Program funds, but the area will always be upstaged by the huge Northgate area to the north.

-Thornton's: Is a huge gas/convenience store at Colerain and North Bend.
-City Limits Laundry & Tanning, at Kipling and Colerain is a large laundromat with TVs, video games and tanning booths.

Restaurants and Bars
-Taco Bell, corner of Colerain and North Bend.
-Envy Bar 5800 Colerain Ave., live bands and D.J.s

Parks and Recreation
Mount Airy Forest: This large city park along Colerain Ave. is one of my personal favorite green spaces. It's got hiking and horseback riding trails and lodges. Enter the park's main gate and take the first right. Drive... or walk.. a short distance and you'll find a surprisingly beautiful little man-made lake. Further back there's an arboretum with a variety of plant life, a paved walking path, and sometimes a family of deer.

Hospital
Mercy Hospital, Mt. Airy Campus is a full service hospital at Kipling and Banning Roads.

Churches
There are a variety of church congregations. St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Parish, 5560 Kirby Rd, is one of the most well known, primarily because of their annual festival: littleflower-church.org

Schools
Mt. Airy Elementary School on Colerain Ave is a Cincinnati Public School. It's one of the schools that was completely rebuilt in recent years.

Mount Airy is peaceful on the surface, but there is a lot of crime reported, so it's got somewhat of a bad reputation. Just be careful.