mfrazier

Hi folks, I can't tell you how much I appreciated your last posts to my questions on neighborhoods in Cleveland. As I mentioned in my last post, I'll be moving to Cleveland soon and will be trying to make it all work without a car. Obviously this will mean that me and the RTA will soon become best friends. I'm wondering what people's general impressions are of the system as well as how safe it is to use at night. 1. Would walking near the Rapid stops in Ohio City, E. 9th Street, or Tower City be safe at night? It all seemed very desolate when I was there during the day, and I was wondering if safety was a concern once it got dark. 2. In general, what is safety like downtown during the evening hours? I'm planning on walking through downtown and Ohio City after dark every evening. Would this be advisable, or do I need to get a car? Thanks again and let me know if you need any New York advice!

Thanks for asking a great question, JRosen. Speaking of rentals, I'd love to know if anyone has had any experience with the Metzner or Merrell buildings in Ohio City. I love their location and will be going in to visit soon, but I have some reservations about living in a managed building. Any thoughts? Thanks for the continued feedback. It's too bad there's nothing like this yet in Cleveland: www.sustainableca.com. It seems like those folks really know what they're doing!

You have all been so helpful! I really appreciate the feedback and can see that I'll certainly be moving to a friendlier part of the country. I think OC is in the lead at the moment based on the transportation issue, but I will be checking out spots in Tremont as well. Do a lot of people bike in Cleveland? I'm 6'4 with a center of balance somewhere between my knees and my ankles, so I'm a bit scared to hop on and ride. It looks like it might just be the easiest way to get around though. Thanks again for the great welcome.

I'm currently living in Brooklyn, NY, and will be moving to Cleveland this summer. As a native Ohioan, I'm looking forward to getting back to my buckeye roots, though at the moment I'm not sure where I should plant them. I've been to Cleveland frequently and have enjoyed places like Lolita, Bar Cento, VTR, Lava Lounge, and other (dare I use the word "hip") establishments. As those locales might reveal, I'm presently caught in the great Ohio City vs.Tremont debate. Please help me decide which hood will best suit me based on these qualifications. 1. I have a dog. I want a neighborhood with great places to walk my pooch. Parks and grass need to be accessible. 2. I have a boyfriend. I know that both neighborhoods are on the liberal side, but is one particularly gay friendly? 3. I have no car. In true New Yorker fashion, I will be moving to Cleveland with nothing but a backpack and an RTA ticket. Is there a neighborhood especially well equipped to handle me? I will be working downtown. 4. I have no self defense skills. I have heard a great deal about safety concerns in the Cleveland area. I consider myself street smart, but I want to be able to walk at night (see point #1), and I'd like to live in a neighborhood where crime doesn't threaten quality of life to a sizable degree. If you're able to help me determine where to hang my Cavs hat, consider a round of drinks at my new neighborhood bar on me. I appreciate your help and am looking forward to finally settling this dispute once and for all.