My 21 year old son just secured a 12 week summer internship in Cuyahoga Hts., Ohio.  We live in Tennessee and can't travel to OH in time to help him find an apartment. He starts work May 17th.  We will be conducting this search long distance, although I have a family member who may be able to take a look at a few places.

 

We have no idea which neighborhoods to try to find a place in...or what to avoid.  We want something safe and not terribly far from where he'll be working (or at least with easy highway access). I lived in Cleveland Hts many years ago, but I'm sure that would be inconvenient, though perhaps nice for a young single person who has no friends in town.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Will he have a car?  If he doesn't downtown (ten minutes away) would be a good bet as an easy commute by bus (in fact, a 21 year old kid...I would do downtown even if I had a car...your are right about the Hts...a slightly difficult commute to Cuy Hts.)

 

I would imagine a 12 week lease might be hard to come by, although who knows in these economic times.  I know many of the large law firms find short term leases for their out of town summer assoicates and they might have some leads (I would call an office manager at one of the big firms and see if they have leads...I would imagine they would be helpful...at least I hope so).

 

Short term corporate housing may be an idea, but possibly expensive.  I don't know if this is still the case but  a number of years ago a corporate housing firm rented units in the Grand Arcade in the Warehouse District and then sub-leased them for short term corporate housing (W. 6th and St. Clair).  This would be a great place to be for a 21 year old.  I would imagine that housing firms still do this in other buildings if not the Grand Arcade.  Again may be expensive since they usually rent to those on an expense account but the digs would probably be pretty well kept and may offer a cleaning service.

First things that come to mind for me are:

 

University Studios - adjacent to Cleveland State on Euclid Avenue - good spot for a college aged guy, essentially these are like studio hotel rooms with a mini-kitchen, living area and bedroom separated by a room divider.  According to apartmentguide.com they do month-to-month rents, not sure if there are furnished suites available.  This building was just renovated a year ago and the photos on their website look pretty nice.  Outdoor parking available.

http://www.niederstmanagement.com/detail?property_id=26&city_search=Search

 

YMCA Heritage Suites - renovated apartments/dorm studios also near CSU on Prospect.  May be furnished suites available, but the furnishings are definitely dorm-quality.  Not sure about the parking situation or if there's air conditioning.  http://www.mjmmanagement.com/property.cfm?PID=30

 

The Alcazar Hotel - in Cleveland Heights at Cedar and Fairmount.  This old hotel has furnished suites available for short-term housing needs, and serves students/residents rotating at CCF or UH as well as housing seniors - believe it's affiliated with the Christian Science church.  It's an old building, definitely with historic character, but hasn't been renovated in a long time (check out photos of the kitchens/baths and "old people-style" furnishings under the corporate housing tab).  Definitely a quiet building because of the senior housing.  Neighborhood is definitely safe, walkable to the grocery, Jillian's Billiards, Starbucks, and a couple of restaurants.  Parking is available in the underground garage.  I don't remember if the building has central air or window units.  http://www.thealcazar.com/index.php

 

EDITED TO ADD:

Also, check cleveland.craigslist.org for summer subleases, especially from Case students in Cleveland Hts/Little Italy.

 

I also found this sublease downtown in Crittenden Court, a newer highrise adjacent to the Warehouse District nightlife:  http://cleveland.craigslist.org/sub/1690811093.html  Looks promising...

There are a ton of signs around Shaker Square. Students moving out for Summer. Contact some of those and see if they can do a short term lease.

The short term housing thing could indeed be tough; maybe his employer has suggestions of what they usually suggest to interns?

 

Another option would be to find an extended stay hotel.  Say, in Independence, which is only about 10 minutes away (I don't think there are any extended stay hotels downtown).  Then he wouldn't have to worry about furnishings, etc.  I'm not sure if any of the hotels there are extended stay, but if he will have a car he could stay somewhere besides Independence.  I have personally stayed at and have had family stay at the Candlewood in Independence and it's nice.

 

 

Extended Stay America Hotel Cleveland - Brooklyn

www.extendedstayamerica.com - (216) 267-7799

 

 

Candlewood Suites Extended Stay Hotel Cleveland N. Olmsted

www.candlewoodsuites.com - (440) 716-0584

In my experience, suburban places are better for short term leases. You may have better luck in Independence, Seven Hills, Parma, etc.

Thanks, everyone.

 

I wrote to the ad for the sublease in the warehouse district.  No response yet.  What is the warehouse district like? Is it safe? Is it noisy? Would there be any place around there to jog?

 

I think Shaker Square, Cleveland Hts, etc. would be too much of a drive to Cuyahoga Hts.

 

Some people have suggested that we look in Independence or Valley View, but I can't find any available apartments in those places.  What other suburbs would you recommend and what suburbs should we avoid?

 

Thanks for your advice.

What are Ohio City and Tremont like? Would they be good places to live?

Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (at Rockside/480/77) put together this listing of apartment complexes for prospective students - there are some that have short term lease options... on the other hand, North Olmsted and Aurora are ridiculously far out from Cuy. Hts.  I can't think of a single apartment complex in Valley View or Brooklyn Hts, which would be the closest suburbs.

 

http://www.ocpm.edu/pdf/2010-OCPM-housing-list-side-by-side.pdf

 

Putting my old address in Cedar-Fairmount (across from the Alcazar) into mapquest, the distance to the Grant/I-77 interchange (Cuyahoga Hts)is just under 8 miles - traffic flow should be light once you get to 77 as it is opposite the rush hour flow. 

It's 25 minutes from N. Olmsted to Cuy Hts.  Many people drive that far every day for work, and much further distances.

 

Thanks, buckeye1 for the very helpful pdf.  I've printed it out and will begin investigating. 

 

It's so hard to have to search for an apartment long-distance, especially considering that we need something right away and we don't know anything about the areas.

 

 

It's 25 minutes from N. Olmsted to Cuy Hts.

 

 

If that. The slowest section would be on I-77 from I-480 up to Grant Avenue which is only 1-2 miles of stop-and-go traffic.

 

If I'm were a young person and wanting to enjoy my stay in the city, the suggestions buckeye1 offered earlier are worth investigating, the ones at:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,22971.msg482413.html#msg482413

 

If I was a 21-year-old man (of course, part of me always will be :) ), I think I would love Crittenden Court or University Studios in downtown Cleveland.

It's 25 minutes from N. Olmsted to Cuy Hts. Many people drive that far every day for work, and much further distances.

 

 

Sorry, I'm spoiled by my 1.3 mile daily commute.  When I hit both red lights, it feels like my day is already ruined... :P  On nice days it's an easy walk.  I have done the hellish commutes (Lorain to North Canton) before - never again.

Does WT Grant still do month to month?

I wrote to the ad for the sublease in the warehouse district. No response yet. What is the warehouse district like? Is it safe? Is it noisy? Would there be any place around there to jog?

I've lived in Crittenden Court for about a year and a half (my fiance's been there for over 2) and we love it.  The Warehouse District is the most populous area downtown with several large and a number of small apartment and condo buildings between Superior and Lakeside and W9th and W3rd.  There is a nice park by the river just West of Crittenden Court where you'll see tons of dogs (including my big Bullmastiff!) and people lounging around.  There are a ton of restaurants and bars in the district and it's really a very safe place to live.  It can be noisy if you have your windows open (especially when the motorcycles roar up St. Clair), but you quickly get used to it. 

 

In general the Warehouse District is a great place to live.  And parking is conveniently connected and costs $80 a month (good price for downtown). 

^I lived in Bridgeview on the St. Clair side right at street level.  Those motorcycles racing up the St. Clair hill were always a joy.  Especially at 2 in the morning.

 

The warehouse district is safe and where I would go if I were 21.

^I lived in Bridgeview on the St. Clair side right at street level. Those motorcycles racing up the St. Clair hill were always a joy. Especially at 2 in the morning.

 

 

I get them here in Lakewood along Clifton at all hours too (along with an ambulance about 30 minutes). I keep forgetting how loud my neighborhood is until I open up the windows around this time and rediscover it. And by July, I don't notice it anymore as I forget how quiet my neighborhood when the windows are closed in winter. :)

Do you have air-conditioning there? We live in Memphis, and need air-conditioning all summer.

Older apartment buildings don't usually have air, more modern ones or ones out in suburbia do.  I would imagine the downtown ones would, but maybe not apartments in, say, tremont or ohio city.

Do you have air-conditioning there? We live in Memphis, and need air-conditioning all summer.

 

Every apartment I looked at when I moved to Cleveland had air conditioning.  You may find some small complexes without, but window units are usually a pretty easy fix to that problem.  I actually use our AC very infrequently during the summer since we're close to the lake, near the top of the building, with East and West facing windows so we get some really nice summer breezes off the lake that roll through our apartment.

Heritage Suites Apartments are now owned by Cleveland State and they only rent to Cleveland State students.  Boo...

 

I'm trying all of the suggestions that everyone is giving.  Thanks again.

Heritage Suites Apartments are now owned by Cleveland State and they only rent to Cleveland State students.  Boo...

 

I'm trying all of the suggestions that everyone is giving.  Thanks again.

 

Who ever gives you the best suggestion/help, make sure to reward them with a box of ribs from the Butcher Shop or Folks.  ;) ;D

Okay - deal.  Unfortunately, I'm not having a lot of luck.  Finding a short term furnished place is very difficult.

I agree.  You may have to go the extended stay hotel route if for no other reason than there aren't better choices.  Don't rule those out as possibilities.

They seem too expensive, from looking at the websites.

Maybe you could try looking for people seeking roommates.

Trying that - but it's a little scary.

Somebody mentioned University Studios upthread - have you tried them yet?

 

http://www.niederstmanagement.com/detail.php?property_id=26

I called them.  The apartments are unfurnished - and extremely small (almost claustrophobic)! They add an additional $75/month for short-term leases...bringing the cost up to the $700 (or more - I can't remember) per month range. Renting furniture will result in the total cost being quite high. 

How would you rate the different areas as far as desirability for a college student?

I did a Google search on "Furnished apartments for rent in Cleveland" and came up with these places. I ranked them from best to last based on what I would love to see as a 21-year-old man in terms of what I know about the quality of the building, surrounding neighborhood and nearby amenities....

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/The-Residences-at-668-Cleveland-OH-44114-201395

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/The-Bingham-Cleveland-OH-44113-188109

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/National-Terminal-Cleveland-OH-44113-205757

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Bridgeview-Apartments-Cleveland-OH-44113-188448

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Tremont-Place-Lofts-Cleveland-OH-44113-196553

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/The-Presidential-Apartments-Rocky-River-OH-44116-193913

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Reserve-Square-Cleveland-OH-44114-189286

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Hunters-Manor-Middleburg-Heights-OH-44130-182001

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Rockside-Park-Towers-Bedford-Heights-OH-44146-187364

 

http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-finder/Woodbury-Commons-Parma-OH-44130-182017

 

I hope these provide some guidance. If you have to, furniture can always be rented. There are two decent furniture stores downtown, and others nearby. If you want to consider this, let us and we can recommend some places.

Have you called CSU's residential services?  I have friends that have found furnished apartments through Universities during their summer internships in Cincinnati (Xavier) and NYC (Columbia). 

 

OK, I looked it up for you.  It's $203 per week and they house you in quad dorms in Fenn Tower.  http://www.csuohio.edu/services/reslife/options/

Fenn Tower = nice building.

You may also want to consider Parma which is not a bad drive to Cuyahoga Heights also.  It does not sound like he has much time to learn a neighborhood and where to go for alot of things.  The reason Parma jumps out to me is there is alot of everything nearby, and depending where he would live in Parma, very bike rideable or walkable.  In addition, Parma is a very safe community to live in with several rental options from high rise, duplex, flats, or traditional apartment complexes. 

Hey, dewitfam, I've sent to you an email about a furnished studio apartment in Tremont (over on College Avenue between Professor and W. 7th).  I stayed there for a couple of months, and it's quite nice, and should be less than $700.  It's also available at the time that you want.  Just check your email for the contact information.

Thank you, everyone.  I will follow up on your suggestions.

 

I already called CSU - Fenn tower is available, but he'd have to be in a quad (2 bedrooms, 4 people, 1 bath).  Sharing a bedroom is not too desirable, especially with a stranger.  And it rents for $200/week, which makes it quite expensive considering he won't even have his own room.