Hi,

I am relocating to Cleveland without much house/apt hunting time and need to make a quick decision. I found a great rental in the Scranton Rd/Corning Ave area and am bit concerned about the safety as I don't know Cleveland at all. Any input is appreciated.

 

Thanks

I guess the question is "what are you used to in terms of safety"?  I don't think that area is horrible, but it can be a bit rough.  It is off of Tremont's "beaten path" (Tremont being one of Cleveland's more gentrified neighborhoods).  I think the streets to the east of Scranton are in better shape than those to the west, though.

That area is borderline -- as in geographically near good and bad neighborhoods. Just to the west is a tough section of West 25th Street. Just to the south is MetroHealth Medical Center, the economic benefits from which haven't affected the surrounding neighborhood much. The hospital is more like a bunker than a pedestrian-friend facility that's well integrated into its urban surroundings. It's little of the latter, unfortunately. And the best section of Tremont -- north of I-490 and east of I-90/71 -- is a bit far away as X noted. But Steelyard Commons is very close -- especially by bicycle via the Buhrer Avenue pedestrian/bike bridge over I-71. Getting there by car is actually more difficult from Scranton/Corning than by bike. Scranton is a physically pretty street with historic homes and many shade trees. When I covered that area for the newspaper, I was always impressed by how much the residents of that area cared for and fought for that neighborhood.

are you going to be working at metro?

 

I know a resident who lives on Tr0wbridge (don't want her googling) in a nice house very close to the hospital, in an area deemed ghetto (west of 25th). I could chance Corning. I usually park on the street and haven't had a break in in two years *knock on wood*

It can be a pretty rough area, but there is a very strong block club in that area.  One of the leaders has renovated a number of homes in that neighborhood and there is a little bit of a push to revitalize it.  I would contact Tremont West Development (I think they still cover that area) and ask for contact info for the Metro North Block Club.  There are some really pretty streets in that area (Corning being one of them).

I agree with that, Bumsquare.  It is a beautiful neighborhood, and if you're willing to take a chance on improving it, you won't be alone.