Victorian Village
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Victorian Village is surrounded by Goodale Avenue to the south, North High Street to the east, West Fifth Avenue to the north, and Harrison and Neil Avenues to the west. This quaint neighborhood is situated in a way that allows residents easy access to other trendy areas.
That Was Then
The tree-lined streets of Neil Avenue just north of downtown, holds a key to the past with rows of 20th century Victorian-style houses, meticulously preserved to evoke a time in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when streetcars operated a north-south line in that part of town. Reminiscent of St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, the Neil Avenue streetcar line attracted a wealthier set of citizens who built homes around the convenient mode of transportation. This also placed residents near a burgeoning High Street.
With the advent of the automobile, the development of the suburbs and a desire for more open spaces away from industrial pollution and crowding, Victorian Village residents headed for the expanding suburbs in the northwest.
As the Short North was being revitalized in the 1970s, Victorian Village got a makeover as well. Today, more than 85 percent of residential and commercial buildings in Victorian Village have been renovated.
This Is Now
Well-preserved historical, Victorian-style homes intermingle with newer condominiums and homes sporting the same Victorian architectural elements that have been split into rented apartments creating a neighborhood consisting of everyone from students and young professionals, to well-established residents and affluent retirees.
Close to the Short North, the Arena District and The Ohio State University, Victorian Village residents can take their pick of many restaurants, shops, galleries, parks and boutiques. While Victorian Village is a quiet, serene neighborhood with ample sidewalk space for taking leisurely strolls with Goodale Park nearby, peppered throughout the neighborhood, residents will find quaint coffee shops, sidewalk cafés, grocery stores (international and chain), neighborhood pubs, yoga studios and even a tattoo and piercing parlor.
Annual Events
Each June, residents participate in the Victorian Village Yard Sale. People come from all over to find unique treasures. In July, the Doo Dah Parade winds its way down Neil Avenue. Many homeowners celebrate the festive event and cheer parade participants on with large parties on their spacious porches and in their front yards.
While the historic facades of many of the area homes are works of art, in the fall, the community presents the Victorian Village Tour of Homes and Gardens for a glimpse inside. Several homes extend an invitation to the public for a look at the interiors of these historic landmarks. The night before, an additional "bonus" house, not on the general public's list, is toured as part of a fundraiser for the area.
Visit the Victorian Village Society for more information.