Whitehall

Any golfer knows that hitting that first shot off the tee firmly onto the fairway is a good feeling. Renters and buyers living in The Fairway, a neighborhood east of Downtown Columbus tucked behind the Whitehall area, know that feeling all too well. Located next to the expansive Columbus Country Club, the area's abundance of trees and proximity to Big Walnut Creek provides an attractive landscape. While the area is strictly residential, schools are just outside the neighborhood, and restaurants are within 1 mile. The Fairway's roads were made for leisurely drives through the trees. Wide, two-way roads stretch past sprawling grass lawns lined with neat shrubbery and the occasional sidewalk. Homes are from the 1960s and 1970s and "were built for sergeants and personnel from the nearby Defense Supply Center Columbus," says Craig Curry, a Realtor with e-Merge Real Estate who's sold in the area. The primary styles are two-story brick homes, split-levels, ranch and some half-timbered and stucco-sided properties. Depending on location, prices can vary quite a bit. "Fairway Boulevard is the main road that runs by the course, and on one side of that street, there are million-dollar homes, while on the other side, the price is more around $300,000," Curry says. The exact range is between $240,000 and $400,000, while the larger homes off Fairway Boulevard sit between $560,000 and $800,000. Regardless of a home's price or style, Curry says, "More often than not, you're going to get at least a partial basement and a two-car garage." The neighborhood has a CAP Index crime score of 6, versus the national average of 4. This is due to above-average scores for property crime, with an 8 score for burglary. The Whitehall Police Department, located only 1-1/2 miles from The Fairway, is working to mitigate break-ins. Outdoor recreation is close by in two directions. Two the north, Columbus Country Club is accepting new memberships. Golf balls fly on the 18-hole championship course and beginner-friendly Par 3 course. The club also has tennis and aquatic programming, as well as a vibrant social calendar that includes speakeasy nights, wine dinners and an end-of-summer Dog Swim. Just south of The Fairway are walking paths, sports fields and a playground at John Bishop Park on Etna Road. When the summer's sweltering heat arrives, the park's splash pad features multiple geysers, spray jets and misters guaranteed to keep kids cool. A partnership between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the City of Whitehall Parks and Recreation Department brought a new space in 2023; skaters of all ages can join clinics at the John Bishop Park Roller Hockey Rink throughout August and September. Residents travel about 1 mile for dining along South Hamilton Road and East Main Street. Flavor 91 Bistro is a family-owned restaurant that brings healthy meals to the community. "A woman runs the restaurant along with her daughter and son. They focus on farm-to-food options," says Byron Diaz, a Realtor with Nexthome Experience with sales in the area. "It's one of the more unique restaurants in that area." For example, their 91 Chili is made with grass-fed beef sourced from Ohio farms and cooked with spices from Ethiopian cuisine. For more relaxed fare, Roosters is a highly rated chain serving crispy fried chicken wings and American comfort food. Mark Khatman, a real estate agent at Mainstream Realty Pros who's sold in the area, shares another local favorite about 2 miles away on East Broad Street: "It's called The Mad Greek. It's a local, family-owned business, and I hear a lot from people that they like it there." The restaurant's cool blue exterior and Grecian-style columns transport diners to the Mediterranean, and its lengthy menu covers the whole of Greek cuisine. A Kroger and a Roses Discount Store are 1-1/2 miles southwest of the neighborhood for groceries and retail shopping. Students are zoned to the Whitehall City School District. Kids can begin their educational journey at Kae Avenue Elementary School, which has a C-plus Niche rating and serves kindergarten through first grade students. The C-rated Etna Road Elementary School teaches students in grades two through five. At Rosemore Middle School, which has a C-minus rating, students can receive individualized coaching, exposure to career opportunities and tuition toward higher education through The Legacy Project. Whitehall-Yearling High School has a score of C and offers College Credit Plus, Ohio's dual enrollment program. The Fairway neighborhood is slightly south of John Glenn Columbus International Airport, so leaving for vacation is only about a 5-mile drive. Those who work downtown have a 12-mile commute via Interstate 270, which is roughly 3 miles away and connects to I-70. Bus stops are along South Hamilton Road and U.S. State Route 40. For medical services, locals are 1 mile from OhioHealth Eastside Health Center and 3 miles from Mount Carmel East.