We had been looking to live in  a house in Asia town but gave up on finding anything for sale in our price range.

We have rented now in Shaker and want to buy a small energy efficient house. My husband does not have a driver's license so it is important to have good transit.

 

Thanks to all your feedback we have steered clear of certain areas. We were advised on this board to stay within the boundaries of W. 54th, Bridge, the Lake and 75th. Well, we found two homes that would work for us but they are right on the edges. One is on W. 54th near Franklin and one is on Bridge between W. 62nd and W. 65th.

 

In Edgewater, we have found homes we can afford between Detroit and Clifton and between W. 91st and W. 93rd.

 

In Old Brooklyn, we have found homes we can afford near the intersection of Broadview, Pearl, State just south of the Metro Park and just West of State and Pearl.

 

Please advise on these areas. All the homes we have found are the same in terms of price and what we are looking for. All seem the same in terms of transit.  We are wondering what you think in terms of livability and prospect for the future. Are they on the way up or down?

 

 

If you're in Shaker now, where in Shaker are you?  If your hubby doesn't drive, I'm going to assume you're near a train station.

 

KJP gave a good list of locations with excellent transportation options, do any of those areas fit your needs?

 

I'm asking because I don't want you to pass on an area which may fit your needs.

Hey Justine, I'm glad to tell you I know about the Old Brooklyn streets if you give me specific ones.

Yes, MyTwoSense, I have looked over all the suggestions given by KJP and in fact this helped us explore this part of Old Brooklyn. We have narrowed down to these three specific street areas because we found specific houses that fit our budget and our desire for sustainability (small footprint, good insulation) and wanting to walk to a large park. We had to eliminate some of the areas that KJP gave us due to cost and our need to walk to a large park. By the way, MyTwoSense, we love Shaker Square and will always visit there, it just doesn't fit our needs for housing right now.

 

cd-Cleveland, Muriel is one street in Old Brooklyn and so is Ralph and Mayview. They are all fine for transit just don't know how these streets are holding up as far as safety and empty homes due to the foreclosure crisis.

OT, I just couldn't live on a street named Ralph... every time I wanted a pizza delivered, they'd probably laugh at me.

 

(I used the same excuse for not buying a house on Egg Harbor Court a few years back...)

cd-Cleveland, Muriel is one street in Old Brooklyn and so is Ralph and Mayview. They are all fine for transit just don't know how these streets are holding up as far as safety and empty homes due to the foreclosure crisis.

 

Ralph is a great street, especially the part near Loew Park.  I've spent a lot of time out there, and have actually considered living there and on Oak Park (a few blocks over).  I think that area is one of the best in Old Brooklyn and in Cleveland.  Here's a photo thread that I created a few years ago.

 

Muriel and the surrounding area is a little rough, from my perspective.  But I know a few individuals who live around there that have not had any issues and like living there.

 

Mayview is not a bad street at all.  Again, off the top of my head, I know probably about five families that live in that general vicinity and enjoy it a lot.   

 

You might want to check out crimereports.com if you're concerned about safety.  You should be able to display crimes that happened as long as a few years ago.

Yes, MyTwoSense, I have looked over all the suggestions given by KJP and in fact this helped us explore this part of Old Brooklyn. We have narrowed down to these three specific street areas because we found specific houses that fit our budget and our desire for sustainability (small footprint, good insulation) and wanting to walk to a large park. We had to eliminate some of the areas that KJP gave us due to cost and our need to walk to a large park. By the way, MyTwoSense, we love Shaker Square and will always visit there, it just doesn't fit our needs for housing right now.

 

cd-Cleveland, Muriel is one street in Old Brooklyn and so is Ralph and Mayview. They are all fine for transit just don't know how these streets are holding up as far as safety and empty homes due to the foreclosure crisis.

 

OK cool.  Good Luck and let us know how things work out.  You can always come back.

Thanks for the tips on the streets in Old Brooklyn. I have looked at the crime maps and there were a fair amount of "B"s for burglaries which I am concerned about.

 

Does anyone know much about the streets in Edgewater around 93rd and Clifton? I realize it is right on the border of Edgewater and Detroit Shoreway. The burglaries look to be somewhat less in that area but it may be less densely populated which can distort the picture.

I live at W 70th as far north as you can go.

 

there are a few places for sale in my hood.  what kind of budget and/or house (beds baths) etc are you looking for?

 

in that general area further away from 80th and further away from Detroit (to the north) the better.

 

I used to live at 104th and Lake rd.  the area is pretty decent.

Hi, our budget is $65,000 max. We are looking for  a home on the smallish size, about 1000 to 1400 square feet that doesn't need work and is move in ready. We have found some that are two to three bedrooms but they are not north of Detroit generally, or even north of Franklin in that area. The ones north of Detroit around 70th Street or so tend to be out of our price range.

 

We want to be within a block or two of a 24 hour bus and walking distance to a rapid.

sent you a PM..

 

as far as on the way up/down.  We are talking Cleveland here so the bands are fairly narrow......

 

But DS/Edgewater up,  old brooklyn down.......but minor movements.

 

The houses in that area of Brooklyn will be more energy efficient, in general they are slightly smaller and newer built  40's 50's 60's

 

as opposed to the 10's 20's 30's

 

 

you might also look at Ohio city just south of Lorain...but not that far south, a couple of blocks, just south of where St. ignatius is.

 

and/or Duck Island.... Peninsula between Ohio City and Tremont.

Here's an update of our search for a house or condo.  We looked at some places on Fry between Detroit and Clifton which are about 8-12 houses north of the railroad in Lakewood.  We also looked at some places south of Detroit on Coutant and one on Plover in Birdtown.  We are really aiming to be close to the red line since it goes to University Circle in one trip. 

 

We had been looking for something in the University District and just inside the Cleveland Heights border but have not found anything in our budget so we  have had to give up on the east side.

 

When I lived totally car free for twelve years in Minneapolis St. Paul, I always chose neighborhoods with two or three major buses with a crosstown bus. (They didn't have rail then).

 

Also we found a home on Pear and on Bridge that fits our price range near 65th. So many people we have talked to in that area and on this board have recommended that we stay north of Bridge. Also, it's really a shame, but some of the people I've talked to that live in the Shoreway area say that they don't ride the 65th Madison Rapid at night since it is a little unpopulated and deserted. What is the point of living near a Rapid stop if it is not a good idea to ride it at night? Or are they offbase with this?

 

Since Cleveland expands from east to west along the lake, and there is no north and south running rail, I think Old Brooklyn is out for us.  The buses are great for getting downtown but then it involves transfers from there. I could be wrong but I think that the car free life style is more compatible for renting than buying a house, simply because there are so many apartment buildings clustered near the major transit.  There are also condos at Shaker Square for example.  We really would like to be closer in to the center core, but being on a budget, it looks like we need to be further out.  Are the central cities becoming places for the affluent and the poor only?  What I mean is we are finding the more moderately priced homes that are on the rapid line to be further out. For example, you can find lots of brick homes near the West Park Rapid for inder $60,000 but to find something in Edgewater or Ohio City within one quarter of a mile to the Rapid and within a block or two to a major bus line is hard (unless it is a fixer upper)

 

So now we are looking in Lakewood near the W.117th and Detroit area (thanks KTP for your help with this). Could those of you that know lakewood please comment on the addresses on Fry, Plover and Coutant that I mentioned? 

Coutant has had some troubles lately. There was a drug-related shooting (non-fatal) there this summer and Lakewood demolished an apartment building off W.117th (behind Coutant) where some other troubles were occurring. The city has been trying to focus extra attention on this area. Best thing to do when checking out the Coutant house is to ask neighbors about the immediate area.

 

That's probably the best advice for any part of Lakewood. Don't be afraid to ask questions of the existing neighbors. They can make or break your experience within just a few houses in either direction.

 

I think if you're a single woman, then the West 65th-Ecovillage can certainly be intimidating at night. But some of that is based on old reputation. It used to be that no one got on or off there. But today when I ride the Red Line through there, even at night, I see 3-6 people getting on or off there each time.

 

I love Fry Avenue (it's a block from me) and 8-12 houses from the tracks is probably far enough away to limit the loudest train horns, except when the wind is strong from the south. But it's a pretty far walk to the Rapid. You'll find it's an easy walk to the #55 which connects to the HealthLine or the Rapid at Public Square. The #55 is great during rush hours, but sucks as an off-peak transit service (hourly, with no weekend service).

 

You may also want to check out rentals in/near Ohio City's Market District, which is a relatively short walk to the Ohio City rapid station.