Hey there. I'm a longtime Cuyahoga County resident who is moving into Cleveland proper. I'm currently looking at Ohio City. I'm attracted to the area mainly because of its proximity to most everything else and the mainly food and entertainment venues either here or just across the bridge. I'll be living with my fiancee (soon to be wife!) and we're looking for a smallish place with total expenses, including parking/utilities under 900. I strongly prefer a place with gated parking at the least, and a garage would be great.

 

I've already looked at a few places, specifically lofts at Federal Knitting Mills/Metzner buildings. I like them, but they're at the absolute top of my price range. Also, I'm concerned that W. 25th may be quite loud. Not warehouse district loud, certainly, but what about traffic? We aren't party animals and will likely spend a majority of our evenings at home, not out on the town. But we like having things nearby for when we do go out.  :-)

 

I am not married to lofts...I am fine with condos, houses, whatever.

 

Has there been any change in the safety of the area? It seems...decent?

 

Anyway, would love any suggestions people have. Thanks.

I'm not sure if there are any vacancies in this building, but it does have gated parking across the street from the building.

 

http://www.ocnw.org/

 

sorry, it doesn't give the specific page. go to this website, click on "your home", then click on "residential opportunities" and then click on the "historic west virginia building"

Here's a direct link:

 

http://www.ocnw.org/home/historic_west_virginia/index.html

I can only offer this insight.  A friend of mine rented an apartment in OC near Detroit Ave and regretted it (I think both his apt and car were broken into).  I would stay as close to the Westside Market as you can.  The area around there is great, but the area around the Lake is not.... neither is the area between OC and Tremont.

 

That said, I think it is a great time to be moving into OC.

I can only offer this insight.  A friend of mine rented an apartment in OC near Detroit Ave and regretted it (I think both his apt and car were broken into).  I would stay as close to the Westside Market as you can.  The area around there is great, but the area around the Lake is not.... neither is the area between OC and Tremont.

 

That said, I think it is a great time to be moving into OC.

 

I think you are making a great generalization. There are more auto break-ins near the area around Detroit & West 25th. I wouldn't say that all areas near Detroit are like that. I've lived near Detroit for 4.5 years and there are not break in issues further down Detroit (past 29th St).  If you read the police reports, the break-ins usually are because someone left their GPS or lap top on the drivers side seat. 

I once had my car broken into at the rapid station located at Warrensville and Shaker Blvd in Shaker Hts in the shadow of mansions.  It happens.

Thanks for the feedback. Anyone else have experience living in the area and care to comment on particularly good/bad buildings and the crime situation?

Have you looked at the Merrill Building? Besides the Metzner, Knitting Mills, West Virginia, Detroit Ave Lofts and the Painter Lofts, I can't think of any other apartment building that would offer gated parking.

Yeah, Merrill appears to be all full right now. I hadn't heard of Painter Lofts, I'll check that one out.

I live in Stonebridge in the Flats (not Ohio City but fairly close as I can walk there).  I've had 0 incidents in 2 years and the only thing I've heard in the area in terms of crime is someone having a bowling ball dropped on their car from the "stone" bridge.

 

I don't think you'll have issues with crime as long as you're smart about where you park and where you walk at night (I've walked from downtown to my place at night multiple times and never felt threatened).

I live in Stonebridge in the Flats (not Ohio City but fairly close as I can walk there).  I've had 0 incidents in 2 years and the only thing I've heard in the area in terms of crime is someone having a bowling ball dropped on their car from the "stone" bridge.

 

I don't think you'll have issues with crime as long as you're smart about where you park and where you walk at night (I've walked from downtown to my place at night multiple times and never felt threatened).

You seem pleased with the building, any idea why most seem to regret moving there?

 

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/OH-Cleveland-Stonebridge-Waterfront-Apartments.html

I live on the Franklin near W. 47th.  I can only say positive thinsg around the neighborhood.  I'm about half between Ohio City center and the Gordon Square Arts District. I live with my wife and our daughter in a townhome complex that includes small families, young and older couples, and singles.  From my vantage point, its a great community in a great location.  Exciting, diverse, and convenient, (and of course beautiful).  Sure, an act of vandalism happens occasionally, but as another poster noted, as long as you are smart and aware, you'll avoid a bad situation.  Best of all, the community members also look out for each other.  The block clubs are strong, and any incident of crime is immediately reported swiftly.  Its one of Cleveland's best neighborhoods (IMO). 

I can only offer this insight. A friend of mine rented an apartment in OC near Detroit Ave and regretted it (I think both his apt and car were broken into). I would stay as close to the Westside Market as you can. The area around there is great, but the area around the Lake is not.... neither is the area between OC and Tremont.

 

That said, I think it is a great time to be moving into OC.

 

I think you are making a great generalization. There are more auto break-ins near the area around Detroit & West 25th. I wouldn't say that all areas near Detroit are like that. I've lived near Detroit for 4.5 years and there are not break in issues further down Detroit (past 29th St). If you read the police reports, the break-ins usually are because someone left their GPS or lap top on the drivers side seat.

 

Sorry for my east-side ignorance of someone who tends to think of OC as smaller than what it is.  I meant Detroit and W.25th..... not all along Detroit heading towards Harp (which I believe is the OC border).  That said, my friends problems with that specific area were not limited to car break-ins... although that did happen, twice I believe.

I can only offer this insight.  A friend of mine rented an apartment in OC near Detroit Ave and regretted it (I think both his apt and car were broken into).  I would stay as close to the Westside Market as you can.  The area around there is great, but the area around the Lake is not.... neither is the area between OC and Tremont.

 

That said, I think it is a great time to be moving into OC.

 

I think you are making a great generalization. There are more auto break-ins near the area around Detroit & West 25th. I wouldn't say that all areas near Detroit are like that. I've lived near Detroit for 4.5 years and there are not break in issues further down Detroit (past 29th St).  If you read the police reports, the break-ins usually are because someone left their GPS or lap top on the drivers side seat. 

 

Sorry for my east-side ignorance of someone who tends to think of OC as smaller than what it is.  I meant Detroit and W.25th..... not all along Detroit heading towards Harp (which I believe is the OC border).  That said, my friends problems with that specific area were not limited to car break-ins... although that did happen, twice I believe.

 

Maybe your friends ran into a bad bit of luck.  I have family in the 30's just south of Detroit and they've never had a problem.

Well... 3231 did say that beyond W.29th it starts to get nicer.  But maybe he did have bad luck.  Just reporting what I heard.

Found a place, I'll let you know how it goes.