Posted May 18, 201015 yr Hi all. My biologist friend (now in Baltimore) came to me with this question. Before I selfishly force him to move near me in Lakewood, I figured I would present it for the wisdom of the forum.... Scott, My company has an opening in the Cleveland office (It’s in Little Italy), and they want me to consider taking it. Our maximum distance we’d like to live from the office is about 10 miles. Let us know if you have some ideas of good neighborhoods we should visit. We’re interested in… Walkability/access to restaurants/farmers markets/grocery stores Family friendliness Access to transportation (RTA/rail) Access to parks/trails Low crime (this should be easy to find compared to Baltimore) …not necessarily in that order. Please give is some ideas so we can do more homework!!! Thanks,
May 18, 201015 yr It would be helpful to know what neighborhood he lives in (or likes) in Baltimore. Given what he's looking for (and the clincher is that the office is in Little Italy), I think that he belongs either in Cedar-Fairmount or Shaker Square/Larchmere.
May 18, 201015 yr Also...price range, buying or renting, single family house or apartments or condo, transportation needs and are schools an issue. That would help.
May 18, 201015 yr Also matters if he has kids (which presumably would mean school quality matters) and whether the interest in RTA is for work commuting. If he lives up the hill in Cleveland Heights, he could walk/bike to work and not even worry about RTA.
May 18, 201015 yr There are lots of opinions of the commute between Lakewood and University Circle/Little Italy...I think it depends on whether they would find that daily commute OK or not OK. If OK, Lakewood would be an option. If not OK, the Heights area is probably the way to go.
May 18, 201015 yr If commute is not a huge issue, I'd suggest Old Brooklyn in place of Lakewood. It's like Lakewood, but with a 40% off sale. My street is lined big old doubles with the occasional single family house. It's all fairly well kept up, and the major roads (Fulton and Pearl) both have somewhat regular busses that run up to either tower city or the w25th rapid. If you prefer to drive its a fairly central neighborhood 10 minutes from downtown, 15 minutes drive to UC (13 minutes when the opportunity corridor gets built), and close enough to I-480 that the far east and westside aren't that too bad of a drive. Being a single male in his 20's, not too sure on the schools over here but I think there are a few charter schools and of course catholic schools.
May 18, 201015 yr Um, what about suggesting he live in Little Italy? All of the things he mentioned are in/near Little Italy.... Walkability/access to restaurants/farmers markets/grocery stores: Can't beat the restaurants in that area. The Cleveland Food Co-Op is on the other side of the tracks. Access to transportation (RTA/rail): Can't beat the Red Line, the HealthLine, or the #9. I didn't want to relate the #48 to Shaker Square on this date because it didn't rhyme, at least not this time... Access to parks/trails: Not as obvious, but the 4-mile-long Harrison-Dillard Bikeway runs through Rockefeller Park to the Lakefront Bikeway. And there's the bike lanes on Euclid to downtown. Plus the sidestreets up the hill in Cleveland Heights are great to bike (not so great biking up the hill!). Low crime (this should be easy to find compared to Baltimore): I think Little Italy qualifies as a low-crime city neighborhood. Family friendliness: hey, "The Family" in Little Italy is real friendly when you don't owe them anything or otherwise piss them off. Just kidding. The recently renovated park at Mayfield and Random is a great place for kids. My friend takes his son to the playground there all the time. There is also a ballfield there. The Montessori School at Holy Rosary across the street is well run, as is the Cleveland School of the Arts High School nearby. Even though it's a city school, it's one of the best in NE Ohio, drawing suburban kids to the city for a change. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 18, 201015 yr I am a big advocate of little/no commuting-it is friendly to the enviroment and quality of life. Given all the great choices near his office I cannot imagine picking anything more than 3-4 miles away (and I would pick a place even closer than that!). Not to say there are not great areas elsewhere, but why?
May 18, 201015 yr I agree. Little Italy itself is perfect. UC is a bit expensive, but if that is not a concern, high quality of life there and it meets all the stated desires. I am an urban snob and prefer not to live in the burbs, but up the hill in the Heights also meets those requirements in a very urban (just not Cleveland) environment. I could recommend other good neighborhoods, but like peabody said, why look any farther away?
May 19, 201015 yr Little Italy is perfect, no better alternative. Urban, safe, close to massive culture and transit.
May 19, 201015 yr Sounds like he needs to be an eastsider. Little Italy, Cleveland Hts, Shaker Square, and Shaker Hts are all his best options. Does he have any kids??
May 19, 201015 yr I'm conINsistent! :P Fixed! I'm conPERsistent! :P Fixed Again! I don't normally say this to people who aren't me, but you both, really need to calm down!
May 19, 201015 yr Wow, thanks everybody! Some more info. He wants to buy, but I couldn't get a price range out of him. Lets just say he's middle-upper middle class. And kids are likely in the near future. So far a pretty convincing argument for East side lol. Love it. I wish I could get over there more...but that would mean crossing the river 8-)
May 19, 201015 yr Wow, thanks everybody! Some more info. He wants to buy, but I couldn't get a price range out of him. Lets just say he's middle-upper middle class. And kids are likely in the near future. So far a pretty convincing argument for East side lol. Love it. I wish I could get over there more...but that would mean crossing the river 8) Would be a pefect addition to my kingdom, I mean neighborhood!
May 19, 201015 yr I don't think that Ohio City is considered family-friendly by many, but I believe that thought is out dated. I live in the OC with the wife and two kids things and have changed greatly over the past 4 years. There has been a major baby boom and that has coincided with a growing group of parents that want to stay in the City. With the proposed Near West School (charter run by the renowed TIS), the new CSU public school, Tremont Montessori and Urban Community, the school options look as if they are better than the suburban alternative. The sidewalks are being filled with more and more running strollers each year. Its a different place and it is story that is not being told amidst all the shrinking doom and gloom press.
May 19, 201015 yr I agree OC is getting more kid friendly thanks to proactive families. That said I still think the little ones and the wife would like an extra 45 min-1hour of dads time that would get sucked up by a commute. You can't put a price on face time when it comes to child rearing. So I still vote for eastside, although there may be more kids in Cleveland hgts/Shaker Heights than UC.
May 19, 201015 yr He wants to buy, but I couldn't get a price range out of him. Lets just say he's middle-upper middle class. And kids are likely in the near future. Luckily he can find higher-end housing in Little Italy! 27 Coltman Townhomes http://www.27coltman.com/ http://www.27coltman.com/Upload/Pricing.pdf Villa Carabelli Townhouses http://realestate.cleveland.com/?classification=real+estate&temp_type=detail&tp=RE_cleve&property=cleveland.com&finder=buy&ad_id=384936536 Random Road Lofts http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2079-Random-Rd-Unit-314_Cleveland_OH_44106_1116693696?source=web "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 19, 201015 yr He wants to buy, but I couldn't get a price range out of him. Lets just say he's middle-upper middle class. And kids are likely in the near future. Luckily he can find higher-end housing in Little Italy! 27 Coltman Townhomes http://www.27coltman.com/ http://www.27coltman.com/Upload/Pricing.pdf Villa Carabelli Townhouses http://realestate.cleveland.com/?classification=real+estate&temp_type=detail&tp=RE_cleve&property=cleveland.com&finder=buy&ad_id=384936536 Random Road Lofts http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2079-Random-Rd-Unit-314_Cleveland_OH_44106_1116693696?source=web But who wants to live in a bland townhouse with no character, charm, attention to detail, etc.?
May 20, 201015 yr That's one person's opinion. I kinda like the modern townhouses in Little Italy, epsecially the Villa Carabelli Townhouses. I like old townhouses too, but if someone is looking for middle- to upper-class for-sale housing in Little Italy, the three listings I posted offer that. If they want to live up the hill in Shaker Square, then the historic Moreland Courts or the more modern townhouses on Larchmere At North Moreland might be worth considering... http://www.morelandcourts.org/sales.shtml (does your building have a huge special assessment against it, MTS? If not, why the bargain-basement prices?) http://www.howardhanna.com/property/property.asp?VAR_ClearAllRVP=1&PRM_MLSName=NorthernOH&PRM_MLSNumber=3102078 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 20, 201015 yr That's one person's opinion. I kinda like the modern townhouses in Little Italy, especially the Villa Carabelli Townhouses. I like old townhouses too, but if someone is looking for middle- to upper-class for-sale housing in Little Italy, the three listings I posted offer that. If they want to live up the hill in Shaker Square, then the historic Moreland Courts or the more modern townhouses on Larchmere At North Moreland might be worth considering... http://www.morelandcourts.org/sales.shtml (does your building have a huge special assessment against it, MTS? If not, why the bargain-basement prices?) http://www.howardhanna.com/property/property.asp?VAR_ClearAllRVP=1&PRM_MLSName=NorthernOH&PRM_MLSNumber=3102078 It is personal taste, but a house built with no character, is boring to me. Then to add character a la carte, cost an arm and a leg. It's like putting lipstick on a republican pig. Lots of people here, list their units privately/exclusive broker. If I hadn't done so much work in my apartment I would buy in the point building. However, that unit, in my assesment, needs $100-125k worth of work to bring it up to the $800k all the other units, in that building, are valued at. I'm trying to convince my grand parents to buy. Plus the monthly fees are astronomical.
May 20, 201015 yr But who wants to live in a bland townhouse with no character, charm, attention to detail, etc.? I think Via Carabelli sold out at prices between $300k and $700k, so to answer your question- plenty of people. Sheesh, not everyone wants live with grandma in the "Morbid Corpse". Anyway, the nice thing about Little Italy, University Circle, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights (thrown in there because of the possibility of kids) is the incredible variety of housing types and price points. I'm sure Surf's biologist friend will have no trouble finding something nearby.
May 20, 201015 yr Yeah, while there is a lot of great energy on both the Near West Side and further into the Heights, I can't imagine steering him outside of that area. Little Italy sounds perfect, and there is a ton of housing stock there, not just the infill new construction. Shaker Square is another no-brainer to me, as is Larchmere; the proximity to the Shaker Lakes and Parklands would be a big selling point, I would think. And if none of that works, I would think Cedar-Fairmount or the Coventry area would provide him some other options (although commuting via public transit would be a little trickier since the route cuts; the #9 would still be okay but wouldn't be great for Cedar-Fairmount. With Cedar Fairmount, his most direct route would prob be walking or biking ... I like the Case Western stairs that cut behind Cedar Hill). Personally, I'd start by renting in Little Italy for a year (maybe the Schoolhouse, if he can afford it), having an easy commute and taking some time to feel out the neighborhoods. The Market District in Ohio City might be another good place to check out (given the straight-shot Red Line service back over to Little Italy), but any further west or further away from rail and your public transit commute starts to get a little long. Not so bad when you're exploring in June ... quite a bit worse when you're settled into your job and waiting for a bus in February.
May 20, 201015 yr But who wants to live in a bland townhouse with no character, charm, attention to detail, etc.? I think Via Carabelli sold out at prices between $300k and $700k, so to answer your question- plenty of people. Sheesh, not everyone wants live with grandma in the "Morbid Corpse". Anyway, the nice thing about Little Italy, University Circle, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights (thrown in there because of the possibility of kids) is the incredible variety of housing types and price points. I'm sure Surf's biologist friend will have no trouble finding something nearby. I'm talking bland townhouses in general. No offense to anyone, as said by both KJP and I it's a personal choice. I feel those non descriptive boxes will date themselves in 20 years. In regard to everything else you've said, I agree. Plenty of housing options in the areas surrounding. Also, lets not forget the Wade Park Glenville area.
May 20, 201015 yr I agree with 8shades, He should rent before buying.I think anyone should, esp in Cleveland where it would be difficult to sell if he decides there is an areas that he likes better. It is a huge PITA to move, but worse to have a place you cannot sell. the schoolhouse is awesome-safe and located right in LI.
May 20, 201015 yr "Rent before buying.I think anyone should, esp in Cleveland ..." Agreed. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
May 21, 201015 yr "Rent before buying.I think anyone should, esp in Cleveland ..." Agreed. well the upside not being able to sell anchors one from leaving the area for at least a while...
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