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That's awesome... I've heard there's a dog park in Tremont, but I haven't checked it out yet. Is it at Clark Fields? Did it seem like the owners did a pretty good job (i.e., didn't let their dogs get out of control & kept an eye on them at all times)? I'll have to take my pug Stan to sniff it out.

I LOVE DOGS! :-) I have a pug named Stanley who's going to be 3 this year. I've seen a lot of other people in Tremont walking dogs and I've always thought that's a good sign.

Wow, thanks! That is definitely something I hadn't thought about, but that I am definitely going to take into consideration when I make my decision!

I'm breaking up with my significant other & moving back to Cleveland. I'm tired of commuting & of suburban sprawl (i.e., having to drive EVERYWHERE to do ANYTHING). But part of me is also reluctant to leave the inherently "safe" feeling of the suburbs, even though it also makes one feel isolated & less a part of a community. I've found two houses that I love that are both very similar to each other. But one is in West Park, one is in Tremont. I know that crime is much higher in Tremont, but then again, home values have been rising more steadily there since the mid-1990s, and it's the trendier "hot spot". It's also VERY close to where I work—1.2 miles in fact; I'd be able to bike to work in good weather! I'm also excited to be close to the West Side Market, lots of antique shops on Lorain, and within walking distance of many upscale bars & restaurants. West Park (at least the part that the home I found is in) is beautiful, and the homes are ALL well-kept. It's so convenient to multiple highways (I-90, 480, 71), nice shopping at Westgate, and close to Lakewood and the Metroparks. But it's also further from work (8 miles), which means I couldn't bike to work, and it's also a location that will continue to force me to use my car all the time for basic tasks (like grocery shopping, going out to eat, to bars, etc.), even though the distances may not be as far as where I'm at now. I'm a born & raised Clevelander, grew up on the west side (West Park, Bay Village), have lived most of my adult life on the east side (Cleveland Heights, Hudson), and will probably be living in this home, whether it's in West Park or Tremont, for at least 10-15 years I hope, so I'm in it for the long haul. Was wondering if you guys could offer advice about what your opinions are on the two areas that I'm thinking about moving into--both positive & negative. Thanks! :-)