Question about OWE

Absolutely.
If you stick to the core of the neighborhood, you'll be perfectly fine.

Have her walk around near the museum. Lots of big houses and very low crime.

No young woman should walk ANYWHERE in Toledo alone. Mace/pepper spray as a bare minimum, really should have a pistol though.

Although I don't live in the OWE, I work on the outskirts of it and do take walks on my lunch break. (Weather permitting.)

I've never felt unsafe during normal working hours on weekdays. Can't comment on any other times, as I don't have personal experience with that.

If she had someone available to walk with her, it couldn't hurt. But I don't think it's an absolute necessity.

Upso, my "core," do you mean wood streets between Delaware/Monroe? And thanks, Mom2, for the input. I did say how glad I would be to go with her, but she's young and invincible and, well, you know.

Not sure if serious, or just trollin.

Good advice for anyone at anytime is to "be smart" about it. If you load yourself up with jewelry and have a wad of cash hanging out of your pocket/purse, then you are just asking for trouble.
If you truly want to just take a walk, then do so. Be aware of what's going on around you. Avoid dark corners/alleys/spots that can't be seen by others. Avoid people or situations that give you that "eerie" feeling. And while walking, note any public places that could be a safe haven if you feel scared or threatened.
Other than that, they should be fine.

There is a ton of great neighborhoods with fantastic house. I know OWE is most well known - but Old Orchard/Ottawa Park area also has some great houses. What's the neighborhood by StV's/Central Catholic that is gated? The road is a little rough - but lots of history of big money back in the hay day.

Anyone have a big dog they can loan her to walk along? JK.

I think she is ok walking the wood streets, South of Bancroft, and closer to the art museum. She needs to be diligent about where she parks her car as well.

I definitely wouldn't walk alone in the Delaware part of OWE, day or night, but that's just my opinion. Frankly, I wouldn't walk alone much farther North of Virginia.

If she likes architecture, and she's already going to be in OWE, have her look at West Moreland, too. However, that's driving only territory in my opinion. While not as historic as OWE, the area does have many very nice older homes.

The area near STV/CCHS is Birckhead Place, and yes, the road through that gated area still is BRUTAL!

I would agree it's pretty quiet and peaceful in the area between TMA and Bancroft. Because she doesn't know the area, I wouldn't advise walking alone. I would also recommend her going between 11am and 3pm. Don't leave any valuables in view in the car either.

The Old West End is one of the safest neighborhoods in Toledo.

There's a PDF of the historic district map here:
http://toledooldwestend.com/about/location/

It's best to stay within the Glenwood - Collingwood, North of the musuem to Islington. Most of the neighbors are home and walking around late afternoon during the week... and the area is pretty bustling during weekends depending on the weather.

We keep a pretty tight ship over here and while it's not perfect, we are certainly safe within the neighborhood. And our historic district is one of the largest in the country.

From the OWE Association site: "Welcome to the Historic Old West End of Toledo, Ohio. This neighborhood remains one of the best kept secrets in the country. Twenty-five city blocks making up one of the largest collections of late Victorian houses left standing in the United States. Frank Lloyd Wright studied this area in his planning of his Oak Park Project in Illinois. Pristine examples of Colonial, Georgian, Italian Renaissance, Queen Ann, Dutch Colonial, French Second Empire and Arts and Crafts homes fill our streets. We invite you to experience our rich and glorious history and architecture."

I jog up robinwood around the museum down scottwood or parkwood 3 nights a week after 10pm and never had anything besides friendly hellos. Only people you see are folks walking their dogs.

i would call toledo aia - there is a young architects group - or the design school at the museum and find someone local to walk with her - she will be safer and will get more out of it with a guide.

River Road in P-burg has some spectacularr historical homes. So does Fosteria, Ohio. Those are on the main drag. They are awesome.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/historical-buildings-fostoria-oh-101688.html

Following along the links, I discovered the Old West End Security company. I haven't found a similar company for Sylvania, Perrysburg, Maumee or Ottawa Hills, but maybe I didn't look hard enough.

For a security company to prosper, there has to be a demand. Yeah, I know - obvious. No, the Old West End isn't safe. If it were, why would a company like this even exist?

you've got it wrong madjack. it's safe in part because of old west end security. the neighborhood works together to make this a safe place. i know it's hard to believe, but the OWE accounted for less crime than pretty much anywhere else in the city last year (see above ad)

The Old West End homeowners group contracts with them to keep the neighborhood safe.

Given that TPD's resources are overwhelmed and they are likely to respond slowly (if at all) to property crimes, it sounds like a proactive move on the OWE's part.

We don't need a similar private security firm in Sylvania Twp, because we can be reasonably confident that Sylvania Twp police will respond promptly when we need them.

(I'm not slamming TPD officers, just saying that their resources are overwhelmed in a way that other departments aren't.)

that's absolutely the truth. other neighborhoods in toledo are talking about hiring the security patrols we hire due to their success. the times they are a changin

new-ish Toledo (and OWE) resident, chiming in:

as long as she's got some street smarts as described in posts above, she'll be absolutely fine. I live on the north side of what's considered the main section of the neighborhood, and I have yet to encounter anything to make me feel unsafe.

Is there a style of house that she's particularly interested in? My block has some amazing Craftsman and Foursquare homes.

I'm not slamming TPD officers, just saying that their resources are overwhelmed in a way that other departments aren't.

TPD has many more square miles to cover than Sylvania, Perrysburgh, Ottawa Hills, or Maumee, and (let's face it) a lot more of the crazy/violent criminals too.

And if any area wants to pony up some money for extra security beyond a police force...hey, it's your money. Considering some of the threads we've had on here concerning crime (especially the increases in South Toledo), more power to you if you can organize a neighborhood to put up cash for extra help combating criminals.

as a neighbor that is in tuned with OWES and the neighborhood as a whole, i can say our biggest problem by far is kids breaking in cars on the streets to steal change... and burglaries for x-boxes/playstations/tv's/etc.

that's our crime.

our 1.4% of the city crime.

we might have one or two incidents in the entire neighborhood a week on a BAD week.

we will always have crime. that's a given. but the OWE as a whole works hard to make sure it's at a minimum and every year it gets better. homeowners and renters subscribe because with even the littlest issue, we are likely to have an OWES patrol SUV show up before the TPD. residents like that extra comfort.

And the reason for OWES being faster is exactly what mom2 said, TPD is busy in other areas with more pressing crime. nobody in the OWE is getting shot/murdered while it's happening practically everywhere else right now. knock on wood

OWES is not meant to be a replacement for TPD... it's just an added bonus thing that subscribers enjoy supporting. and the patrols benefit the entire neighborhood. the toledo museum of art is our largest subscriber, and they have their own security force.

Len, do you know how many total residents owe were recorded during the 2010 census? It's certainly a unique neighborhood with many active and aware citizens.