This post is part of a series. If you want reasons to live in Victorian Village, be sure to check out our other blogs!
If you’re new to Columbus (or even if you’ve lived here for awhile), it can be hard to figure out which neighborhood is for you. When we think of the Short North, we tend to imagine the section just—you guessed it—north of Columbus’s downtown; however, you might not be aware that within the greater Short North there exist two subsections, two neighborhoods, to High Street’s east and west. These neighborhoods, you may already know, are Victorian Village and Italian Village.
They’re both historic in their own right. They’re both close together. And the Short North wouldn’t be, well, the Short North without both of them here. But—and this is a big but—both Italian Village and Victorian Village are incredibly different from one another in look, in culture, and in living experiences.
For those who aren’t quite familiar with either of these neighborhoods, but want to experience living in the Short North (good decision, by the way), Lykens Companies thought it would share what makes each of these neighborhoods great. Hopefully our insight is helpful. Even if you have lived in Columbus for awhile and are familiar with both Villages, we have decades of experience watching these neighborhoods grow, so maybe our insights will be unique and helpful.
Finding the right apartment or rental might not be permanent, but Lykens Companies believes that it should always be a decision that fits who you are and what you want in a home, whether renting or buying.
So which will you pick?
Picturesque classic or reinvented industrial?
First and foremost, you need to understand that many years ago, the choice between Victorian Village and Italian Village might have been a lot easier. One, Italian Village, consisted of factories, warehouses, and shotgun houses. The other, Victorian Village, had massive homes in a variety of architectural flavors.
One had trees. One had smoke. We’ll let you figure out which was which.
Now, things are much, much different. The Short North has blossomed into one of the most desirable neighborhoods and booming Arts Districts in the nation. Italian Village and Victorian Village, therefore, have people lined up to live in them. Both of these neighborhoods are great and, yes, they both have safe air quality. Here are a few reasons to side with Italian Village.
Inside Italian Village
Italian Village is rich with history. The neighborhood once centered around the factories therein, like our famed Wonder Bread Loft, a reworked bread factory which now houses 66 unique lofts. In Italian Village, workers lived cheaply and within walking distance of their jobs, evidenced by the neighborhood’s remaining shotgun houses.
Now, the Italian Village has transformed from blue collar into industrial-chic. Its factories are reimagined and revitalized into lofts, food halls, offices, and more. Its garages became coffeeshops and breweries.
The Wonder Bread Lofts and all of our other Italian Village apartments and rentals find themselves a quick walk away from the forthcoming Budd Dairy Food Hall and the lofts in the renovated EJ Thomas factory. Additionally, some of Columbus’s most popular and established spots are right around the corner. Residents will love Fox in the Snow Café, Seventh Son Brewery, The Market, and many more local favorites.
The Italian Village, we think, is great for anyone who appreciates the preservation and reinvention of historical sites. This neighborhood isn’t what it used to be. It’s safe, walkable, and full of culture. Yet, it’s still maintained an industrial exterior. Old brick and mortar factories line the streets and, due to past city planning, there isn’t as much green space as other neighborhoods. However, Italian Village offers a stylized take on urban living. It has one foot in the future—new breweries, coffeehouses, and developments—while its other foot is planted squarely in its past—its history, its buildings, and their restoration.
It’s a truly unique living experience and one that, so far, we’ve never heard anyone regret.
Some of our Italian Village favorites…
Wonder Bread Loft #130
From sky high ceilings to the biggest bathroom ever, this 1BR/1BA Wonder Bread Loft has it all. A polished concrete floor pairs with the factory’s original exposed brick wall, just one way that we’ve engineered the Wonder Bread factory’s history into its modern design. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve installed a state-of-the-art kitchen that looks as good as it operates: stainless steel appliances, plenty of counter space, and (of course) top-quality granite from Distinctive Marble & Granite. And because it’s in the Wonder Bread, this awesome loft even enjoys a location in the heart of Italian Village. Check out its availability.
1000 N. Fourth Street
This 2BR/1BA home sits next to Red Tree Tattoo Gallery and a minute’s walk away from Seventh Son Brewery, Fox in the Snow Café, the forthcoming Budd Dairy Food Hall, and so much more. Better yet, its interior is packed with wall to wall exposed brick, hardwood flooring, and high ceilings. Years ago, people wouldn’t have wanted a home like this—next to factories and warehouses and just east of Fourth Street. Oh, how time changes everything… Now, this home is in one of the hottest cultural areas in town. See if it’s available.
1158 Say Avenue
This little house on a hill houses a 2BR/2.5BA paradise. Our jaws drop whenever we walk into 1158 Say Avenue—it gives us that “first look” feeling each time we see it. We don’t usually rent out full homes, but when we do, they’re special. This house features hardwood flooring with chic industrial-inspired lighting, mirroring its Italian Village roots. Its kitchen is definitively open concept. A luxurious island welcomes guests to come relax while the chef utilizes the room’s top of the line appliances, including a full gas range. This bathroom will blow your mind. Do you notice that the shower head on the ceiling? That’s a Lykens Co. kitchen and a few Lykens Co. bathrooms, too. Not a bad combo. Oh, and it’s smack in the middle of Italian Village on a peaceful side street. Don’t wait on seeing if this home is available.
But can you really go wrong?
When it comes to finding a Lykens Companies apartment or rental, we don’t think you can go wrong. It’s all about finding your fit. Whether you’re looking for an apartment in the Short North, a rental in Victorian Village, a studio in Italian Village, or a loft in Wonder Bread, our Available Rentals page will feature all that (and more). We’re constantly adding our newest properties and highlighting that month’s leasing specials. Bookmark it and check often! What if you took two minutes to browse it right now?
