Vulpster03

I currently live in Lakewood and like it, but if I were working at the Clinic or University Circle - I'd be looking at living downtown, Little Italy or Cleveland Heights.

Looking to try these places - Stone Mad, Reddstone, Cheddars, Latitude 41. I don't know where to start. Any opinions on the food, value or atmosphere?

I think when we were talking about residential or mixed-use potential in the site, it was more opinion. I still feel that the site is unattractive for any residential component with ISG in plain view.

The vaccancies in the strip plaza on the south side of Detroit Avenue near W.117th in Lakewood. It is a really vintage strip plaza with some interesting architecural ornamentation. Diverse Universe and the Shores Restaurant occupy two spaces in it, but I think there are several vacancies.

Lakewood, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights are pretty similiar in that they're all suburbs directly bordering Cleveland and developed around the same time. However, Cleveland Heights and Lakewood are more similiar, because they are more diverse, more dense, and have more rentals and commercial areas than Shaker Heights. Shaker Heights has considerably more taxes and a considerably better school system than Lakewood or Cleveland Heights. I'm from the outer west side burbs, but I've graduated from college and I've been living in Lakewood for the past several months. I'll compare Lakewood and Cleveland Heights directly, because they are more similiar. I wouldn't say there are necessarily nicer homes or larger lots in Cleveland Heights compared to Lakewood. They offer very similiar options in terms of housing, (although Lakewood includes high-rises while Cleveland Heights does not). Public transit may be better in Lakewood than Cleveland Heights, as KJP Mentioned. Frequent routes between downtown and Lakewood include #55 along Clifton and #326 along Detroit. The W.117th and Trisket Rapid stations on the Red Line make it easy to get to the Airport, Ohio City, Downtown and University Circle. Those stations also include free parking. Shopping and finding other amenities in and around Lakewood is not a problem. I walk to run most of my errands (grocery, bank, dry cleaners, post office, drug store, etc.) For specialty items or higher end goods and services you only need to cross the border into Rocky River, or hop on I-90 to get to Crocker Park in Westlake. Cleveland Heights is closer and more convenient to get to University Circle institutions. However, Lakewood is maybe a little closer and a lot more convenient to get to downtown for nightlife, dining, special events and Playhouse Square. Lakewood includes the Beck Center and is also near these Near West Side arts and cultural neighborhoods (all of which are up-and-coming); www.restoretremont.com, www.ohiocity.com, www.gordonsquare.org. Lakewood has a nice park on the Lake and the Rocky River Reservation of the Metroparks and is great for every kind of recreation (including a dog park). If you want to live closer to the Lake and have easier access downtown and the near west side, than pick Lakewood. If you want to live closer to University Circle and the shopping centers in the outer east side, than pick Cleveland Heights or Shaker Heights.

This project definately sounds more realistic and doable, but I'm still not too happy about it. I forsee a lot of wealthy people from western Cuyahoga who might want to retire there. Its just more sprawl.

You'd probably like living in Ohio City or Tremont more so than downtown, but I won't deter you from living downtown. It is really nice to live near your work. I work and live in Lakewood, although I would probably rather live in Ohio City or Tremont. E. 4th and W.6th are definately the hubs of activity. Not that everything is located on those two streets, but there are no areas (as of yet) that stick out. Although you might consider living near Cleveland State, but I think I'd stick to the Warehouse District. Constantino's is a huge asset. Even though the Warehouse District is a little bit of a specticle at places like Tequila Ranch on a Friday night, there are still some more chill bars there. The Little Bar, House of Cues and Map Room come to my mind as being off the beaten path.

One of those buses was tailgating me the other day on I-90. I didnt like it at all

I spent a summer in Vienna, and miss it very much. I can see how Vienna seems expensive if you are on a Eastern European circuit, but it could seem inexpensive if you are making a stop on a Western European circuit.

Apartments in Detroit Shoreway are pretty reasonable. Plus, the #326 Detroit-Superior bus line is great (well I guess now it is the #26 Detroit). It runs frequently, very late, and its a straight shot into central lakewood or downtown Cleveland.

RR Freestyle is moving out of Crocker Park to Rocky River due to high rent.

What and where is El Jalepeno's?

I don't know... I have a car, but I'd say Lakewood is pretty walkable. Granted - I live in an especially convenient spot, and I can walk to work, grocery store, dry cleaners, deli, post office, bank, takeout restaurants, church and bars. I also don't think University Circle is especially walkable compared to downtown. There are some problems with the study. Cleveland not friendly to walkers, Brookings study says Monday, December 10, 2007 Laura Johnston Plain Dealer Reporter If you're going somewhere in Cleveland, you're probably driving a car. That's because the region has one truly walkable urban place - University Circle, according to a study released this week. With its hospitals and hotel, university and museums, homes and restaurants, University Circle fits the stringent criteria set by the Brookings Institution, which ranked Greater Cleveland 29th out of the 30 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Based on places per-capita, Washington, D.C., took first, boasting 20 neighborhoods with workplaces, medical facilities, stores, restaurants, entertainment, culture, schools and homes. Tampa, Fla., placed last, with none. And although Columbus and Cincinnati have just one walkable urban space each, they beat us by virtue of smaller populations. "It's no doubt that the research is depressing," said Keith Benjamin, director of community services in South Euclid. "In the last few decades, our Greater Cleveland region has not done a great job of creating a sense of 'place.' " But the news isn't all bleak. "Downtown Cleveland is certainly going to make it," said the study's author Christopher Leinberger. "It's certainly on the edge, but it's almost there." Meanwhile, we have plenty of neighborhoods that may not meet the study's criteria, but welcome walkers just the same. How about downtown? Or Coventry? Or Crocker Park? Ken Silliman, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's chief of staff, lists eight neighborhoods he argues should have made the list, including Ohio City, Tremont, the Warehouse District and Shaker Square. But those spots don't pack the regional significance or critical mass demanded by the study, said Leinberger, a University of Michigan professor who has traveled often to Cleveland. He called them local spots - residential neighborhoods that serve everyday needs with small businesses such as drugstores or dry cleaners. For critical mass, he says, a real estate development would not require government assistance to make it financially feasible. However, Crocker Park, a lifestyle center in Westlake, and downtown Cleveland nearly meet those strict standards. As for all those other neighborhoods - downtown Lakewood or Cedar-Fairmount or Little Italy - one or two of them could grow to be regionally significant, Leinberger said. But, still, the more than 2 million people in Greater Cleveland should have about eight to 10 walkable places. "You certainly have a lot of good bones, good infrastructure in place," he said. "It's just critical to continue the focus of making downtown, midtown work to make University Circle work, to make Lakewood work." How did we lose walkability? Basically, we like our cars. In the 1950s and '60s, as interstate highways stretched across the country, folks moved farther away from urban centers to ranches and colonials in bucolic, sprawling suburbs. And then there were zoning codes, which forced the separation of housing from retail and industrial uses, said Jim Kastelic, a Cleveland Metroparks planner. Also, many factories evaporated. "It's not that Clevelanders don't like to walk," said Coral Co. President Peter Rubin, who is developing a mixed-use Cedar Center in South Euclid. "But the way this city grew up over 200 years, it was in industrial spurts. It developed around industrial centers that then left the city." Why should we care? That fickle group demographers called Generation X wants to live in walkable urban places, Leinberger said. Highly educated people, too, flock to spots where they won't need a car to pick up a gallon of milk. "It's an economic development question," he said. "There are two types of cities: magnets for young people and others that are losing their young people." Silliman, Mayor Jackson's chief of staff, agrees. Mixing shopping and restaurants with homes and offices is appealing, which is why developers are creating mini-downtowns, called lifestyle centers, in the suburbs, he said. "We have the means to draw people, draw businesses, into Cleveland," he said. "It's good for the city because it's energy-conserving." So what can we do about it? In Cleveland, the city is encouraging pedestrian amenities, streetscape improvements and bike lanes in all new developments. In the inner-ring suburbs, officials are emphasizing their compact layout, with sidewalks and neighborhoods close to commercial districts. South Euclid is replacing tired strip malls with a gleaming row of retail and residential, a city park and a community center, steps from Whole Foods and the big-box stores of University Square. In the Metroparks, planners are building links from neighborhoods to the Towpath and bike and hike trails. And throughout the region, developers like Rubin and Bob Stark want to build gathering places. Call them "community cores" or lifestyle centers, but both developers - who are battling over who gets to build in Solon - are proposing offices, retail, housing, arts centers, health facilities, college classrooms, hotels and movie theaters, all in one spot. Leinberger applauds any walkable developments in suburbia, in old downtowns and in new ones. "Fifty percent of these places are in suburbs," Leinberger said. "This is not just a downtown turn-around story." To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4115

It would be really nice if new tenants will fill the vacancies left behind as a result of new construction, but I think any time a place like downtown Cleveland can keep organizations within the central business district is good. I'd rather see companies downtown stay downtown and upgrade their space rather than move out to the suburbs (or another city all together).

I'd personally like someone to address the issue of younger believing "there's nothing to do" in Cleveland, but without sounding like they're trying too hard. Cool Cleveland, Brain Gain, Come Home to Cleveland are really good honest efforts at solving problems, but I think sometimes the rhetoric they use put off some people. Out of all the websites and initiatives out there, I think this is one of the best: http://www.college360.org/. Maybe like a more simple version of College 360 geared towards teenagers would be a good idea. You could break it down into categories like Entertainment, Activism, Culture, Urban Development

Maybe Max's decided to move in across the street to Beachcliff? I heard White House Black Market was already closing there.

Marcell, RR Freestyle, Cara's, Frames Unlimited, Lee Hayden Art Gallery and Secret Closet are independent shops. Crocker Park has a number of regional chains that I wouldn't consider corporate; Indigo Nation, Liquid Planet, Dave's Cosmic Subs, Hyde Park, Aladin's and Blake's.

I agree. In my opinion, everything between Downtown and University Circle should be Midtown and it should be governed by a single CDC.

I don't know. My apartment is pretty small.

That's great news, but a 1,300 square-foot grocery store is pretty small!

hmmm... Tower City did not make the list. Maybe it isn't so bad afterall. Investigation Exposes Crime At Local Malls POSTED: 1:52 pm EST November 15, 2007 UPDATED: 11:33 am EST November 20, 2007 CLEVELAND -- A 5 On Your Side investigation reviewed hundreds of crime reports, went undercover at local malls, and ranked the safest and most dangerous malls all over Northeast Ohio. Investigator Ron Regan found everything from stolen cars to sex predators. "He was saying sexual comments to me and (I) kept saying, 'Dude, leave me alone,'" said Valerie Lasko as she described her visit to a nail salon in a local mall just before it closed. Lasko was in the salon alone with the man who was giving her a manicure. He tried to assault her. Read More...

thanks for the great idea!

I believe that to be true. There seem to be a lot of great shops with good merchandise and services, but they're interiors need to be updated/upgraded. I think it would do a lot for business. We know there is a surprising demand for Class A Office Space - and it seems like there is demand for Class A Retail Space (if there is such thing).

I'm not too worried about this retail "canibalism" in Lakewood. Of course I'd like to see new tenants, but I'd rather see retailers upgrade their space and stay in Lakewood.

Maybe they are planning on making the buses drive on the left side of the road