Hi everybody, I had the chance to visit the lakefront yesterday and now I am looking at rental properties on the lakefront. 

 

There's one that I can think of- quay 55. 

But then doing some research, it seems like there is a bunch of nasty behind the scenes fights between the developer and the board.

 

I'm in no rush- I just resigned my lease a few weeks ago so I have time to look around and see what's available. 

Friends of mine have enjoyed living at Quay 55, but yeah, I've heard about those conflicts too.  What kind of rental are you looking for?  Quay 55 is somewhat unique as a rehab/conversion right on the lake.  There are a few buildings in the warehouse dist downtown that aren't exactly "on" the lake but may be close enough for your purposes.  Beyond that, there are several waterfront high rises in Lakewood and Euclid.

The Gold Coast in Lakewood sounds like what you are looking for.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakewood_Gold_Coast

 

Quay 55 is too isolated for my tastes, but probably has more of a Lakefront feel than any other place..... it technically extends into the lake I believe.

you didn't specify Cleveland so I am going to go ahead and agree with Gold Coast  :-D

 

They're not on the lakefront, but if you can get a (north) end unit at Reserve Square they have balcony's with absolutely gorgeous lake views.

I know a number of the condos in the Lakewood highrises are available to rent, check out craigslist.  Some other neat older buildings that are BY the lake across from Edgewater park, 4 stories, some have lakefront views...

My first reaction is, of course, Lakewood's Gold Coast. But that's my needs. What are your needs? Does your apartment need to overlook the lake or does it need to be very close to a place on the lake that you can walk down to the water's edge? I ask because the Gold Coast is actually perched on a cliff overlooking the lake, and none of the buildings with for-rent apartments offer easy access to the water. In fact, the only building with access to the water is the Carlyle, which is a condo building.

 

So if you want to live near the lake and have easy access to the water's edge, then I suggest the Edgewater neighborhood, especially the 1920s-era apartment buildings along Lake and to a lesser extent Clifton (there are more rental units in homes along Clifton) at/near West Boulevard. All are very close to Edgewater Park which has piers, beaches, picnic pavilions and you can drive, bike or take a long walk down to Wendy Park with its Sunset Grille, volleyball courts and more. It may be one of the best places to enjoy a summer sunset in Cleveland.

 

In other areas, there are rental homes and some apartments in the area between Gordon Square and Battery Park. And that area will have improved access to Edgewater Park once the West Shoreway reconstruction is complete -- perhaps about the time your current lease will expire. The access isn't bad now, but it will soon be better.

 

Back to Lakewood, there are a number of apartment buildings along Lake and Clifton between Belle and French avenues, which are very close to Lakewood Park which has a new lakeside boardwalk. It also has ballfields, biking and jogging tracks, and the Lakewood Women's Pavilion.

 

In Rocky River, check out the apartments on Smith Court. They are quick bike ride or a nice walk through beautiful neighborhoods to Rocky River Park. It has a scenic overlook, beach, picnic areas, playground and more.

 

Also in Rocky River, there are several apartment complexes across Lake Road from Bradstreet's Landing, a park and fishing pier that extends very far out in to the lake. And if you love history, read about the British General Bradstreet for whom this site is named.

 

Those are the options I'm aware of on the west side.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Yeah I'd be looking in Cleveland.  As long as I have a lakefront view, I'd be happy with it.  I have some time off of work, I think I'll go check out those places the next couple of weeks. 

Then the high-rise apartment buildings on Lakewood's Gold Coast and along Lakeshore Boulevard in Euclid might suit you best.

 

Euclid has:

+ North Pointe Apartments (22 stories), 26151 Lakeshore (Euclid's tallest, formerly the Watergate)

+ Harborcrest at Harbortown (17 stories), 24453 Lakeshore (was formerly the Americana)

+ Water's Edge at Harbortown (15 stories), 23951 Lakeshore

+ Normandy Towers (10 stories), 24801 Lakeshore

+ The Rivieria (8 stories), 26011 Lakeshore (only the west side of the building has a partial view because the North Pointe is just east of it and the Bonneville condos are just west of it);

 

And just over the county line from Euclid is Willowick which has:

 

Shoregate Towers (12 stories), 30901 Lake Shore

 

Most of these places have limited access to the water from the apartment buildings, but Sims Park (23000 block of Lakeshore Boulevard has a public beach, Henn Mansion, playground, picnic areas, etc). BTW, the Riviera and the Normandy seemed to get good reviews at http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/OH-Euclid.html

 

 

Lakewood's Gold Coast is more than 100 city blocks closer to downtown Cleveland. It has:

 

+ Marine Towers West (17 stories), 12540 Edgewater (Marine Towers East are condos, as are more than half of the lakeside high-rises on the Gold Coast)

+ Twelve Thousand Edgewater (16 stories), 12000 Edgewater (good views in half the units!)

+ Imperial House (13 stories), 11900 Edgewater (good views in half the units!)

+ The Shoreham (11 stories), 11800 Edgewater (closest rental building to W117th commercial district)

+ Lake Shore Towers (10 stories), 12506 Edgewater Drive (built in 1930 -- the first high-rise on the Gold Coast, but is mostly senior/subsidized apartments today)

 

FYI... because of a bend in Edgewater Drive (and the placement of buildings between it and the lake), some units in some of the buildings have better views than others. And if you can't find a good apartment with a lake view on the north side of Edgewater, try a couple of the mid-rise buildings on the south side such as the Adriana Apartments (5 stories), 11733 Edgewater, or the Edgewater (4 stories), 12505 Edgewater. These might give you views of the lake between the larger buildings on the north side of Edgewater.