There is a surprisingly large collection of abandoned sites in Ohio: buildings, homes, and entire towns. Today's feature destination is yet another eerie example of a neighborhood that was once thriving but today sits completely empty. Perhaps what's most captivating of all is the fact that this town hasn't been long abandoned. In fact, as recently as 2019, some of the homes here were still occupied. The following photographs, captured by photographer Johnny Joo, showcase the hauntingly lonely neighborhood of Woodcliff, Ohio.
Editor’s Note: Due to the nature of abandoned destinations, many of the places featured in this series are off-limits to visitors or have actually been demolished. We do not condone trespassing and other illegal activity but rather encourage readers to enjoy learning about these fascinating destinations.
With nearly 100 abandoned homes, the neighborhood of Woodcliff in Ohio is one of the most unusual in the state.
This site spans 36 acres and has been completely abandoned since 2019. Most of the homes, however, were abandoned long before then. So what exactly is the story behind this abandoned neighborhood in Ohio?
In 1953, Woodcliff was established as a very desirable place to live and work. A suburb of Columbus, the neighborhood quickly gained a reputation for being a peaceful place to live.
By the late 1980s, however, the quality of the homes began to deteriorate. Tensions also began to arise among residents.
It was 2007 when things finally took a turn for the worse. The city and county both filed a health complaint after learning that condo association management was dumping trash in the swimming pool and then hiring contractors to clean it out on a monthly basis. The property was thus declared a public nuisance the following year.
Over the course of the next decade and a half, many property-code-violation complaints would be made about issues such as sewer back-ups, mold, and structural damage.
Finally, in August of 2018, a court order was issued for the property to be sold. It was purchased by the city for approximately 10 million dollars.
The 20 or so residents that still inhabited the neighborhood were given one year to leave.
Demolition of the neighborhood has slowly begun, and according to the city, redevelopment won't be finished until 2030.
Don't these photos provide a fascinatingly eerie insight into a once-thriving neighborhood that fell victim to neglect?
For more images of these abandoned homes in Ohio, you can check out Johnny Joo's website, Architectural Afterlife. What are your thoughts on this abandoned neighborhood in Ohio? Have you ever visited Woodcliff? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below - we'd love to hear from you!
To learn about even more spooky places and abandoned houses in Ohio, check out some of our state's most unique ghost towns. These abandoned places are living museums of Ohio's past, and are absolutely fascinating! However, if some literal ghosts are to your liking, these ghost tours in Ohio are sure to spook.
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