Hello all! I am a 22 year old female moving to the Cleveland area from New York in May for my first job and have done significant research on many apartment buildings already. I’m going to visit some apartments in one week, but I was wondering if anyone had specific suggestions of places to go see while I am there (it will be my only chance to visit before move-in day!). I have appointments with the 668, East 4th apartments, and some locations in the suburbs. If I am downtown, it would be preferable to be in walking distance to my work. As for the suburbs, I’ve really liked what I’ve seen in Rocky River, Westlake, and some Lakewood locations. In general, I’ve found that I’d like to stay on the west side of Cleveland if I do not live downtown and a 20 something minute commute would be the farthest I’d like to go.

 

I’m planning to pay around 700-1000 before utilities and such for a 1 bedroom.

 

Here’s what I’m looking for:

A “safe” area and a secure building.

A newer or recently updated building.

A garage/off-street parking, preferably covered and attached to the building.

Air conditioning/Heat.

Internet capabilities (I found some that had this included!)

 

Incredibly lovely things that I’m not expecting to find in the same place that has the above:

In-suite laundry or hook-ups

Hardwood floors

Very up-to-date kitchen.

Larger floor plan.

 

I am incredibly grateful for any help or advice you could give me on living downtown or any of the western suburbs… even advice on finding your first apartment as I’ve never done this before! Thank you so much for your time!

I live on East 4th St, and the buildings you are looking for would qualify in most of those regards, depending somewhat on the unit.  You may also check out some of the buildings in the Warehouse District, and the Statler, a little further down Euclid.  "Safe" is a vague, relative term, but a lot of single women live Downtown, so it certainly isn't out of the bounds of reason.  What kind of neighborhood do you live in currently/have you lived in?

Hi dearie and welcome to the board from one of the select/few females. I work downtown and just wanted to offer to help in any way I can if you need orientation in and around downtown, like where to go for x, y, z, good places to eat, etc.

 

I'm not as educated on the costs as some of our other UOs here, but I think you will need to either factor in more money to account for your parking space (it's extra downtown) or look to Lakewood or other parts west for that range. But lakewood has a lot older buildings generally speaking. I would rank your priorities in order of importance to make it clearer which ones are MOST important to you, and then in descending order which ones are less, just in case you can't find a place that meets all your needs. Like if staying in that price range for total rent/parking is a must, put that first.

 

I had 5 different apartments in the Lakewood/west cleveland area and have also lived in north olmsted and westlake, so happy to help out if you have questions about those areas. If you haven't looked at N Olmsted, you might want to consider it as there are a TON of apartments there and they are a little cheaper than westlake, but it's a nice community. More modern buildings than lakewood and most include a designated carport or garage, whereas most lakewood places have street parking or a shared driveway as it's part of a split/double, which can be a PITA in my opinion.

 

In westlake, you might want to look at Village in the Park or Timber Ridge. I actually lived in Timber Ridge, they give you an actual garage, which was a big plus and the apartments were very spacious and clean, but not cheap. Timber Ridge is a little less expensive but still nice.

Thanks for the quick response! I think I've ruled out Statler because of reviews that I've read and (someone tell me if this isn't true) their parking is $120-180 extra per month. By safe I guess I mean I wouldn't worry too much about leaving my car in the parking lot... :-) This is my first time living on my own, as I go to a residential college.

Thanks so much for your quick response! To clarify, I'm willing to pay 700-1000 for rent, not including things like some utilities or parking. I'll look into North Olmsted now though!

Things do get stolen out of cars, and cars do get stolen, but it isn't frequent enough that it should dissuade you from living Downtown, especially if you have indoor parking.  Observe common sense, park your car someplace well lit, and "put your junk in your trunk"! 

Merged topics together, continue!

Thanks for merging the posts! I posted in the 'city discussion' before I saw more about renting/apts in 'city life.'

 

I grew up near Syracuse, NY, one of the more crime ridden cities in America, so I thankfully have been brought up with basic common sense when it comes to city living. When I say safe, there ARE places that just have a higher crime rate, and that is what I am trying to avoid.

I don't mean to dissuade you from considering downtown. There are a lot of exciting things going on downtown and not having a commute cannot be downplayed in its significance, that would truly be lovely. But for ME, as a female, there are enough things lacking that I never made the move. No major, full service grocery store in downtown proper (yes, there is a grocery 1 rapid stop away, but I don't love that store so much, and there is a gourmet/small grocery downtown). Many businesses close at 5 or 6 (excepting restaurants/bars), and the additional cost of parking, which is standard anywhere downtown where you will have a garage.

Hello all! I am a 22 year old female moving to the Cleveland area from New York in May for my first job and have done significant research on many apartment buildings already. I’m going to visit some apartments in one week, but I was wondering if anyone had specific suggestions of places to go see while I am there (it will be my only chance to visit before move-in day!). I have appointments with the 668, East 4th apartments, and some locations in the suburbs. If I am downtown, it would be preferable to be in walking distance to my work. As for the suburbs, I’ve really liked what I’ve seen in Rocky River, Westlake, and some Lakewood locations. In general, I’ve found that I’d like to stay on the west side of Cleveland if I do not live downtown and a 20 something minute commute would be the farthest I’d like to go.

 

I’m planning to pay around 700-1000 before utilities and such for a 1 bedroom.

 

Here’s what I’m looking for:

A “safe” area and a secure building.

A newer or recently updated building.

A garage/off-street parking, preferably covered and attached to the building.

Air conditioning/Heat.

Internet capabilities (I found some that had this included!)

 

Incredibly lovely things that I’m not expecting to find in the same place that has the above:

In-suite laundry or hook-ups

Hardwood floors

Very up-to-date kitchen.

Larger floor plan.

 

I am incredibly grateful for any help or advice you could give me on living downtown or any of the western suburbs… even advice on finding your first apartment as I’ve never done this before! Thank you so much for your time!

 

Welcome.  Have you been to Cleveland before?  I'm interested in knowing why you've ruled out the eastside,  considering your young?  but would consider Rocky River?  :wtf:

Hmm. Yes, I'm still 50/50 on downtown vs. the suburbs. Either way I will have a car, and if I live downtown, I hope to plan ahead and make at most one grocery shopping trip per week outside of the city. For the suburbs, the biggest turnoff is the most likely 20-30 minute commute when there are apartments literally across the street from my future workplace. Also, if I live in an apartment complex in the suburbs that charges me monthly for parking, I will pay that, the gas to get to downtown, AND for the downtown garage. There is also the factor of time and weather (again, I'm from Syracuse, usually ranked #1 for snowiest city) and if I don't have to deal with that, that would be swell. :-) Please let me know your thoughts on this!

@MyTwoSense: I decided I didn't want to live in a younger neighborhood or among undergrads as I'm trying to make the transition OUT of college life. Nightlife isn't incredibly important to me as other things I've listed, too. I've visited Cleveland before, and have actually stayed with some friends in the East 4th area.

As a man twice your age, I will have different thoughts about moving to apartments than you. But since since I live near the lake in the Lakewood, and have much experience in researching apartments in this area, I thought I'd share some thoughts with you. I will let others answer with downtown suggestions.

 

You will have many, many apartment options to consider in the area, but they are often older apartments. Some are in houses, as duplex, triplex or quadplex houses are in great abundance in this area. There are also many apartment buildings with the largest buildings typically within a couple of blocks of the lakeshore.

 

House apartments:  These are often inexpensive, have wooden floors and can offer some large spaces. Most date from the 1850s-1920s -- they get newer the farther west from downtown you go. Best bet is to get the top floor so you don't hear footsteps all day, but the top floor can be hot in the summer or result in higher air conditioning costs. Your neighbors can make or break your living experience. If you are interested in home apartments, ask around about the neighbors and if there are any problematic ones. Two tips: 1. many duplexes are owned by someone who lives there and rents out the second unit. This is better than an absentee landlord, who may be hard to find if an emergency repair is needed. An on-site landlord has an incentive to keep the house in good condition for his own self-interest. 2. A quick way to check the condition of an apartment is the "bathroom test" -- check the condition of the bathroom as it is the most difficult room to maintain. If the apartment has any problems, they will be noticed here first, and then in the kitchen. One last suggestion -- try to north of Detroit Avenue in Cleveland, and even in Lakewood, although there are many good homes south of Detroit in Lakewood, especially as you get closer to downtown Lakewood and points west.

 

Multi-unit apartment buildings: as I said, most of these buildings are near the lake shore. The area with the most apartments is an area called the Gold Coast in Lakewood. It is along Edgewater Drive between West 117th Street and Cove Avenue. Here you will find well-kept high-rises built in the 1940s-1970s, and many have been modernized.  But you will also find many smaller apartment buildings built over stores along Madison and Detroit roads in Lakewood, especially around downtown Lakewood (centered at Detroit and Warren roads) where there are lots of shops, restaurants, coffee shops, a library and more. There are probably more young people in this area than just about any other spot on Cleveland's west side except for perhaps Ohio City or Tremont. There are also sturdy, well-kept apartment buildings in Cleveland along Lake Road and Clifton Boulevard, west of Edgewater Park. Most of these date from the 1910s and 20s. In Rocky River, the availability of apartments isn't as good, but you will find some atop the Rocky River valley along Wooster Road, and some along Detroit Road.

 

Summary -- Rocky River is probably the safest but perhaps the most boring area for a young person (those often go hand-in-hand). Lakewood, especially the area near downtown or the Gold Coast, is one of the most active areas and is still relatively safe -- the Lakewood police are very responsive. And Cleveland, is the least safe of the three, but usually most crimes occur between people who know each other. But except for downtown Lakewood, you will probably not find more active and interesting places to go on the west side than Ohio City, Tremont or the Gordon Square area (Detroit & West 65th).

 

Just remember -- you don't have to find the perfect place right away. And you probably won't since you have so little time to look. Consider a month-to-month lease while you get to know Cleveland and then you can find a neighborhood and home you can fall in love with!

 

Happy hunting!!

Don't let MTS bother you, he's the unofficial mayor of shaker square and tries to get everyone to live there :)

 

I have not run into a suburban apartment that charges you for your parking space, though I think there probably are a few. Just FYI.

 

The I-90 commute is not bad, for real. When I lived in N Olmsted, I would drive down columbia or clague to get to 90 to take that in. Many people here commute, it's not that bad.

 

I think it really comes down to what you want most out of where you live. Sure, the promixity to work and no commute would be nice downtown, but what do you want it to BE LIKE when you are home at night? What do you want to DO when you are not at work. The neighborhood and offerings of where you live are in my mind of equal importance than a commute and/or parking being included.

Also, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Pick a place that seems what you want and sign the lease, you don't have a lot of time to dick around with such a short window to visit. You can move in a year if you hate it, and will be better acclimated overall by then and can make a more informed decision. Like I said, I lived in FIVE apartments in lakewood. I kept moving further south and west each time til I finally went to N Olmsted (2 apartments there) and then to Westlake. I now live on the SW side of town, by the airport. I don't recommend the area to most people, there's just not a lot of wonderful things happening here. I live here because our apartment borders a beautiful woods, the heat is free and maintenance is generally very responsive.

@MyTwoSense: I decided I didn't want to live in a younger neighborhood or among undergrads as I'm trying to make the transition OUT of college life. Nightlife isn't incredibly important to me as other things I've listed, too. I've visited Cleveland before, and have actually stayed with some friends in the East 4th area.

 

I was just asking as I didn't want you to miss out on anything.

I can't really help you with west side recommendations, but I do think ruling out the east side is a bit arbitrary at this point.  Most of the instances where I have run into a newcomer who came to that decision were based on really bad misinformation they recieved prior to moving.  Several of the Cleveland Heights neighborhoods, such as Cedar-Fairmount and Cedar-Lee, will give you a more 'mature' atmosphere than downtown, perhaps even Lakewood, IMHO.  Same goes for Little Italy and University Circle, both of which offer perhaps the most 'culture' in the City.  Based on your desires, I would avoid Coventry which is often a popular recommendation on here but is a favorite of the undergrad crowd.  And there is no place 'rowdier' than downtown (particularly the Warehouse District), which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your tastes.  Based on your stated preferences, I would probably recommend Tremont or Ohio City over Downtown if you want to live closer to work.  All of these neighborhoods are within your commute range.

I agree with rockandroller. Find a neighborhood you love, then find a place to live in it.

 

And I don't know if you'd consider it, but the #55 transit service along Clifton to downtown is very good during rush hours. You will get a lot professional people commuting with you. The buses run every few minutes during rush hours (but only hourly outside of rush hours) and its a fast run since the bus hops on the Shoreway into downtown rather than take city streets all the way into downtown. From the Gold Coast area of Lakewood, I can get to Public Square in 15 minutes or less on the #55.

 

Transit service is also very good on Detroit Road (#26) but is slow. It does feed into the Red Line rail service at West Boulevard. Or you can use one of the park-n-ride stations for the Red Line trains, such as Triskett/I-90, West 117th or the less attractive West Boulevard station. The trains are pretty safe and there are usually transit police around. But it's not for everyone. They can be a culture shock for someone who isn't used to an urban lifestyle.

Hi!  Welcome to Cleveland.

 

I just want to give my little pitch for downtown.  I've lived downtown with my girlfriend (now wife) since graduating from college in December 2008.  We live in Crittenden Court in the Warehouse District.  It's not a luxury apartment by any means, but it does the job and it's in a great location at a great price.  Great views too.  And there is attached, covered parking for about $85 a month.  You may like some of the lofts at the Bridgeview or Bingham so I would give those a look.  I've heard their parking is a bit pricey, but many of the Bridgeview residents park in the Crittenden garage since it's right across the street.  There are also quite a few smaller apartments in the district that may fit your wish list.  And while the district has a reputation as a bar/nightclub district that's not all it has to offer. 

 

Anyway, we've lived here for over 3 years and we absolutely love it.  We've never had a car break in or been the victim of any crime.  The ability to walk to the entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants as well as the library, tower city, work, etc... is really a huge benefit to us.  You're also a quick drive or bus ride from Tremont, Ohio City, and Gordon Square.

 

Oh, and all of your weekly shopping needs can likely be met in Steelyard Commons.  They have a Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and lots of other small stores.  There is also a great grocer downtown called Canstantino's that specializes in premade food, deserts, hot foods, etc.  Perfect for a single lady looking for some food after work!  Dave's Market is a full service grocery store located in Ohio City or on Payne Ave (5 minute drive).

 

I think RnR said it earlier, but she's right.  Find a neighborhood you like then find a place to live in that neighborhood.

Consider Battery Park. There are some rentals or if you want to buy - affordable.

Thank you everyone for posting your thoughts, they've been very helpful!

 

@MyTwoSense: I appreciate it, really, and don't worry, I haven't completely ruled out downtown!

 

@KJP: Thanks for a lot of helpful info. If I live on my own, I think I've ruled out living in a duplex just for safety/peace of mind reasons if I live by myself. I looked into the Gold Coast area in Lakewood, and will be visiting some of those this week. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond!

 

@RnR: Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping when I go visit these places I'll get a feel for the community but it's hard when you're there for only an hour. I guess I'm not too worried about having nightlife and such because I'll be working downtown and feel I'll be downtown plenty. :-) I'm accepting the fact I'll probably end up moving a lot as people have told me. Anyways, truly, thanks for the input!

 

@Hts121: I felt like I had to rule out an area because looking at both suburbs AND downtown got to be overwhelming with all the options and my timeframe. Thanks for giving me specific recommendations though, I'll be sure to visit the Cedar areas you mentioned next week!

 

@Hootenany: Thanks for the specific advice and the downtown pitch. :-) I have an appointment with Bridegview and Crittenden next week. Do you have any more specific thoughts about what you like/dislike about Crittenden?

 

@jmjr: Thanks for the recommendation; I'll look into Battery Park!

 

Good luck! Keep us posted on what you find and if you have any questions. This site is a wealth of information for newcomers and lifers alike on restaurants, things to do, cultural attractions, getting know Cleveland and Clevelanders, etc.

^^Specifically on the Crittenden, I love the value and the construction.  There are some issues with some of the windows leaking that they've been trying to fix, but it's really not a huge deal.  The price per SF is really good for downtown.  We're under $1 per SF, live near the top, and have views of downtown and the lake.  The building was constructed as an apartment so the noise insulation is very good between units.  The attached 24 hour parking is very convenient and really well priced for downtown ($85 per month).  This building is also the only one I know of downtown that has no pet size limits.  Many apartments have a 50 lb limit of something similar, but that doesn't exist at the Crittenden so you can have a 130 lb dog like we do if you so choose!  Oh, there are also washer/dryer hookups in every unit and a nice common laundry room on the 2nd floor.  There's a newish/expanded fitness room as well.  And for your security concerns, the lobby is staffed by a security guard overnight, but like I said we've never had any issues downtown.

 

Some of the negatives are the very standard interiors and older appliances.  The building also has relatively low popcorn ceilings, which for some reason has been annoying me lately.

 

Give it a tour and you'll know right away if it fits your bill.  Good luck!

I don't know how much I can help you due to the fact that I am still a college student and have that college student mindset.  But there are several apartment options like Statler and Reserve Square that are very oriented towards the CSU student.  There are also several conversions across the street  (Euclid Avenue) from Cleveland State's campus that have great looking apartments, but once again, student oriented.  If you are looking downtown, I would suggest something west of East 9th.  Although when I was looking at apartments downtown, I found some nice ones away from campus on Huron over by Playhouse Square.  These were nice, and had a better mixture of professionals versus students.  The one building looked like a miniature flatiron building.

 

Is 668 Euclid have available units?  Last I heard they were sold out.  I had a friend who lived there, and they looked awesome, and quality seemed really good.

 

I know you are really leaning towards the west side, but Cleveland has some awesome areas on the east side, too.  Cleveland Heights has a plethora of neighborhoods to check out.  And it's good that you will have a car.  I always usually left my car in the garage, and was easily able to walk to whatever I needed.  Grocers on the west side and Steel Yard Commons were a quick drive away, and I really mean easy, quick drive.  I really miss the atmosphere of downtown Cleveland and the city as a whole.  I moved to Florida for over a year and realized I wanted to be back in a state with "real" cities again lol.  I miss and think about Cleveland all the time.  You're moving at a good time with so much transformation going on. 

 

But I agree with what others have said, find a neighborhood you like, and find something within that neighborhood.  You sound like you would enjoy the west side or downtown the most.  I think you would do best somewhere in the Warehouse District, Ohio City, or Tremont.  Good luck!

Any update?

Alright, here goes my update. I'm still looking, not for lack of finding options I liked, but for fear that none will be available the time I need it to be, so I'm making back up plans :-)

 

After two trips to Cleveland in the last month, I've decided I'd really like to live downtown simply because I will be working downtown and even on off peak hours, I didn't enjoy the commute when visiting areas in the suburbs. I'm used to traffic like that, I would just like to avoid it if possible.

 

For the price range, I found a few that I really liked: 668, Euclid Block (part of East 4th apts), Huron Square, and W.T. Grant Lofts. They all pretty much had what I was looking for and are close to work. ALL of these places however had a waiting list and they either weren't sure what they had available yet or they offered to give me an apartment two months in advance if I paid for it which I'm definitely not willing to do if I'm not even living there.

 

I looked in the Warehouse District at the Bingham and Bridgeview. I liked the actual apartment, but the area didn't feel as safe to me, and I would need to rely on public transportation for work (which I'd greatly prefer not to do) unless I wanted to pay for TWO parking garages in the city.

 

As for the suburbs. The problem was... for what I was looking for, I couldn't find one that was priced right. I looked at many on the Gold Coast area in Lakewood. I understand you're paying some for the lake view, but the apartments they seemed to bragging about that had recent updates were still not as updated or well kept as the newer ones downtown AND it was more expensive AND it will involve a commute. I looked at a couple in Brook Park, but the combo of the commute and the prices being almost the same as downtown just didn't make sense to me.

 

I have one more weekend in April that I'll head out to Cleveland and possibly see a few more apartments. I guess if anyone has very specific suggestions that would be really helpful or if someone talked me into relying on public transportation in Cleveland so I could spread the web of where I'm looking downtown, that would be great, too. Thanks to everyone again for your input and advice, it's been very helpful!

Thanks for the update.

 

If you lived in University Circle/Little Italy, you could take the Red Line Train or Healthline BRT as a straight shot Downtown everyday.  I have a few friends who live there and work Downtown via Public Transportation.

 

For example:

Hessler St. http://cleveland.craigslist.org/apa/2909031435.html

Little Italy http://cleveland.craigslist.org/apa/2901362718.html

 

When do you need to move by?  I may know a place or two in Little Italy.

In what part of downtown will you be working? I ask because there are FREE RTA bus services downtown called the Trolleys. They are small buses that look like trolleys but operate on regular schedules, running every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you can get an apartment at the Bingham, Bridgeview or Crittenden Court (or any other buildings along West 9th), you will have front-door access to the E-Line trolley....

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/ELine.pdf

 

Or a short walk from West 9th to West 6th is the B-Line Trolley....

http://www.riderta.com/pdf/BLine.pdf

 

I think you'll find a different clientele riding these buses, er trolleys, even though they are free. There are security cameras on all buses and trains, and the RTA has one of the largest police forces in the county. You can also reserve a safety ambassador from the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to escort you if you have to work late and wait after dark for a bus home....

http://downtowncleveland.com/ambassadors.aspx

 

West 9th may look unsafe but I don't think that it is. It is one of the oldest parts of downtown (except for the river valley) with many buildings dating from the 19th century. An ex-girlfriend of mine lived in the Bingham and loved it, especially having Constantino's in her building. She never had crime problems except for the occasional homeless guy asking her for money or whistling at her. And no, I'm not homeless! :)

 

But if you don't want to do public transit, consider getting a bicycle. Many people who live in the central city commute by bicycle. There are a couple of very good bike shops in and near downtown. One of the best for getting a good used bicycle is the Ohio City Bike Co-Op where you can also sign up for social bike rides to meet new people and explore the city in groups....

http://www.ohiocitycycles.org/

 

Or check out:

http://www.blazingsaddlecycle.com/

http://www.fridrichs.com/

http://www.spinbikeshop.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaker-Cycle/162391030445816

 

Feel free to ask any other questions.

Still check out Battery Park on your visit.  People are renting townhomes-hardly used.  2.5 miles west of downtown in a great area.

At the Pointe at Gateway I know there's a 1BR available in the 700's.  The guy that was there moved up to a penthouse unit. 

At the Pointe at Gateway I know there's a 1BR available in the 700's.  The guy that was there moved up to a penthouse unit.

 

Thanks for the heads up!

It's actually a really nice building. Parking would be extra, but would still put you under 1k.  I just moved here a month ago and am very pleased. 

It's actually a really nice building. Parking would be extra, but would still put you under 1k.  I just moved here a month ago and am very pleased.

 

Yeah I actually looked at Pointe at Gateway, called them, and they said they didn't have any 1br's available for rent at the time :-| It seems like a nice place, I'm happy that there's something around 700 in that building though! I'm sure that apt will be gone by the time I'm moving in May, right?

Well, I can tell you they posted my apartment and same day I scooped it up:/