Livingston Park

Just a couple miles southeast of downtown Columbus and south of the intersection of Interstates 70 and 71 is the historic Livingston Park neighborhood. “It’s the best of everything,” says Miles Hartley, a Realtor with Delicious Real Estate Group. “You’re as central as you can get in the city, you still get affordable housing, and, at the same time, you get the charm you don’t necessarily get in the suburbs.”

You’ll immediately notice that charm with homes as much as 120 years old that line the streets here. “The home stock in Livingston Park is not as grand as the neighborhood just to the north in Olde Towne East,” Hartley says. “For a home that’s in the same era, the price range of the homes is between $225,000 and $550,000.” For about 15 years, Livingston Park was in a tax abatement area from the City of Columbus. “That allowed the property taxes to freeze, so people are paying the tax value on the pre-flipped house,” he says. That’s because the city had targeted this neighborhood as part of a community reinvestment area. The most notable architectural style in the area is Foursquare, with some Colonial Revival and Craftsman. While most homes are between 1500 and 2000 square feet, a few can have up to 2500 square feet of space with a large front porch.

The Old Oaks Historic District is in the eastern half of Livingston Park. The neighborhood consists of Holy Rosary and St. John Catholic Church, which has two prominent steeples and was built in 1898. The church is built in Gothic Revival architecture. The section stretches from Livingston Avenue to the south and Mooberry Street to the north. West to east, it includes everything from Ohio Avenue to Kimball Place. In the middle is Wilson Avenue, a divided north-south road with a grassy median. Both sides of Wilson have large historic homes.

For 10 consecutive years, US News & World Report has ranked Nationwide Children’s Hospital among the best in the country. In the latest rankings, the hospital is ranked sixth. They're ranked in the top five for treating lung and heart disorders and diagnosing and treating kidney failure. “Intertwined in some of these neighborhoods, there’s a lot of short-term hospital staff housing. Instead of an Airbnb, they’ll rent it out to a doctor or nurse,” Hartley says. Next to the hospital is the eight-acre Livingston Park, the oldest park property in Columbus. The original use of the land in 1839 was for a gravesite. It didn’t become a park until 1885. Today, it has a playground, basketball courts, an open-air shelter and picnicking opportunities.

Head to The Fitness Loft and 25,000 square feet of workout space for a unique indoor exercise option. You’ll know it’s an experience as you walk in the door. In the lobby, there’s the Alchemy Café, a smoothie bar that also offers healthy snacks to members and the neighborhood. As a member, you can customize a workout with a gym employee. This is determined through a wellness screening that includes various metrics. If you want to indulge, head to the nearby Mercury Diner. The space theme is evident when you see the mural on the wall. You can get The Big Bang, a split biscuit with sausage gravy, sunny-side-up eggs, home fries, and maple sausage or bacon for breakfast. For lunch, pick out your favorite sandwich or salad, and don’t forget the Disco Fries, a mix of shoestring fries and tater tots covered in a combination of gravy and white cheddar.

Livingston Park is part of the Columbus City School District, with Livingston Elementary School enjoying a cozy 15-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, according to the Niche website. Champion Middle School is designated a Health Science Academy, meaning it focuses on health information and practices—the school even partners with science professionals for occasional hands-on learning opportunities. East High School was initially constructed in 1922, and Niche says the school has a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Some students also attend South High School.

Long before the bus became the method of public transportation, there was the trolley system in Columbus. Livingston Avenue in this area was the first to have an electrified trolley in the 1890s, which made it easy to commute to work. “Because of that, this area is known as Columbus’ first suburb,” Hartley says. “Back in the day, you could just hop on a trolley and ride down Livingston.” Today, multiple Central Ohio Transit Authority, or COTA, bus stops are along Livingston.

Written By

Jeff Stapleton

Photography Contributed By

Lyuda Dehlendorf

Video By

TJ Wengert