Hey everyone,

 

I just wanted to get opinions of people living in Cleveland. I'm a 25 year old, young professional  who will be moving from DC to Cleveland this summer for a new job. Prior to DC, I've lived in St. Louis and around Chicago. I'm currently looking online at areas/apartments I want to live in. Things I'm looking at when considering areas are proximity to bars (not so much the club scene) and restaurants, ratio of young professionals to families/elderly since I won't know anyone when I move and would love to meet people my age, and safety of the area for a single woman.

 

Areas I've begun to look into are east 4th (high on my list), Warehouse district, tremont, ohio city?, and lakewood. How safe are these areas for a single girl who doesn't know anyone?

 

I just wanted to get opinions from people who lived in these areas or in cleveland in general about the different areas. My price range is to preferably stay under $1200 a month (w/ or w/o factoring utilities/parking)

 

Also, VERY high on my list is the residences at 668. Does anyone live there and have comments. All I see is great things, but since it's new there doesn't seem to be a review site set up for it, so if there are negatives, I'd love to hear them!

 

Other things I want: updated look/feel to the apartment- granite, stainless steel, etc.; w/d in unit preferred; covered parking a MUST (I'm a bit nervous of the amount of snow Cleveland will get and would rather not dig my car out)

 

Thanks so much in advance for everyones help

Hey everyone,

 

I'm moving to Cleveland soon and since there aren't and review sites of residences at 668, I just wanted to see what people thought were the pros/cons of living there.

 

Thanks!

Hello!

 

So glad you are here.  The people on this forum are about as knowledgeable as they come for the city and we are here to help you out.  I, for one can speak to three areas.

 

I lived in Lakewood for 3 years.  Lakewood is alot of fun and is a poor mans Chicago in my opinion.  Lots of great places to eat, drink, families, green space.  Missing the shopping, but still plenty of local establishments.  The thing about Lakewood is many units are old and some are kept up with, others are not.  Unless you are on the gold cost, you probably wont be near $1200 per month in rent in Lakewood.  Lots of fun.

 

I lived in Little Italy, which is another great option.  Check out University Circle/Little Italy if you havent yet.  PM me and I can give you the name of a great landlord in Little Italy, or you can check out the Schoolhouse condos, very nice.  Lots of restaurants and near plenty of nightlife.

 

I currently live in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood.  A gentrifying neighborhood.  Lots of good establishments, theatre and arts.  Check out Battery Park, there is some renting going on and that has the high end finishes you are looking for.  I know many single women who live in Battery Park and Detroit Shoreway.

 

Ohio City is bustling with fun/nightlife/culture and food. Its my favorite neighborhood and borders Tremont and Detroit Shoreway.  I would recommend that too.

 

East 4th & 668 are probably your best bets downtown.  Warehouse District is safe and the units are nice, but its a louder crowd (in my opinion).

 

One last ?, in what area of town are you working?

 

Welcome to town!

Thanks for all of the info :) I will be at the Cleveland Clinic. I think I'm leaning most towards east 4th/gateway. Definitely seems like an ideal area for me. In terms of safety (and getting off topic), I keep reading that there are people who will walk you home if you don't feel safe walking yourself? Who are these people and do people use them often?

Hey everyone,

 

I'm moving to Cleveland soon and since there aren't and review sites of residences at 668, I just wanted to see what people thought were the pros/cons of living there.

 

Thanks!

 

I don't live there, but I live around the corner, so I can say the area is great, and access to jobs is as good as you can get.  Also, Titan's Gym and Nexus Coffeeshop are right downstairs, which would be great.

I think that is the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.  They are a great organization.  They are on bikes, and they keep downtown straight and clean, good people.

 

East 4th is great and if you live there, you wont need a car as there will be a bus that goes from your front door to the front door of the clinic.  The only recommendation I have is to definitely check out the neighborhoods and talk to more people before finalizing your decision.  University Circle is a gorgeous neighborhood and it right next to the Clinic (again wont need a car).  Downtown is fun, but its not Chicagos downtown.  Its a growing neighborhood and is uniwue in its own way. Casino opens in May and that will change things and increase the traffic.  Something to consider.

The people you are referring to are the DCA ambassadors.  They are basically a hired cleaning/greeting/neighborhood watch for Downtown.  There is a group in Ohio City now as well, and I believe in University Circle, the area just to the east of the Clinic.  I don't know if they cover the clinic or not.  I don't know how many people use the service. 

 

I live on East 4th St, and while as a guy I can't really tell you how safe you should feel as a woman, I will tell you that I know quite a few single women who live throughout Downtown.  Take that for what it's worth.  If you live on East 4th/ or in the 668 Euclid building, you can hop on the Healthline 24/7 to get to the Clinic, so it is a great location for you.

 

Units on East 4th St. can varie quite a bit in finishes, even more so than the prices would lead you to believe, as I found out when seeing my friend's newly renovated apt compared to my not-updated-in-at-least-a-decade apartment.  It also included w/d in unit, which mine didn't.  I'm jealous!  Point is, the newer units have great finishes, and older units get at least some of those updates when someone moves out.  Parking is underground, but may not be in your building.  Underground parking is even better than just plain covered, as the snow stays off and the car stays warm in winter and cool in summer.

 

Also, just so you know, I'm going to merge your 668 Euclid thread into this one.

Here's a little background from the Cleveland Downtown Alliance's website on the ambassador's program:

 

http://www.downtownclevelandalliance.com/ambassadors.aspx

 

Contact page for the  Downtown Cleveland Alliance:

 

http://downtownclevelandalliance.com/contact-us.aspx

 

These are some more pricey options, but just so you know....

 

Uptown - http://www.uptowncleveland.com/ - not sure if the units will be ready in time.  But you would be within walking distance of the Clinic.

 

Park Lane Villa - http://www.parklanevilla.com/ - also within walking distance of the Clinic

 

Those are both in University Circle, our most culture filled neighborhood which the Clinic borders on its western edge

 

I also have to put in my usual plug for Cleveland Hts., which is much closer to the Clinic than Lakewood.  Cleveland Hts. has several neighborhoods you might want to look into - Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee, and Coventry.  Newer finishes and covered parking might be harder to come by, but you can find both if you look 

People at 668 seem to like it very much. It is one of the newest apartment building (conversions) downtown at the moment and very hot. I believe there is lengthy waiting list. Statler Arms and East Fourth Street Apartments are also in the same neighborhood and worth a try. I'd say this district and the Warehouse District downtown are very safe. Some Warehouse District buildings to check out are the Bingham, Bridgeview and Perry-Payne.

 

As mentioned, The Healthline is Bus Rapid Transit line and operates like a streetcar. It will take you straight down Euclid to the Cleveland Clinic's main campus, so living downtown is great for your commute.

 

I'm a huge advocate of the West Side (Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit-Shoreway, Edgewater and Lakewood) and it is great, but I think for what you are looking for - you'd be better off downtown.

I found my place downtown on Craigslist and see occasional downtown properties on there still...maybe a good place to look.  I love living downtown and it will only get better over the next couple years.  Downtown is one of Cleveland's safest areas and the ambassador's give you even more of a safe feeling.  I've walked around at all hours of the day and night and have never felt unsafe. 668 does have a 300 person deep waiting list.  There are multiple conversions coming online next year, which won't necessarily help you out this summer, but something to remember if you can't find exactly what you want right now.  I pay around 1200 a month for parking, rent and all utilities, so you're range is definitely doable. The problem downtown is as soon as you find a place that actually is available, you have to move very quickly. I saw my place the first day it was posted and moved in a week later. I was the only person who got to look at it.  Lucky for me, but not everyone else :) I'm sure any of us would be willing to help out and give advice if you find a place you like.

+ 1 on craigslist. Even large apartment buildings with leasing staff post on craigslist.

I pretty much agree with the rest of the posters.  I also sent you a PM, check your inbox.

As one of the board's few females, I can tell you I have used the DCA ambassador service many times, just plug the number into your phone and call. They are usually there in 5-10 minutes and they walk with you to your car or wherever you are headed. Pleasant and nice and prompt.

Thank you guys so much for all of the wonderful information! The DCA ambassadors seem great! (rockandroller- what is the number? so I can put it in my phone - before I even move haha).

 

I have been checking out craigslist, but most of what I've been seeing has been either duplex buildings or houses. But, I check daily so maybe something like a condo downtown will pop up? :) But, like you said, I feel like especially craigslist listings are more the "act now" type - which for me, may not work since I won't even make it to Cleveland to check out buildings until the end of May!

 

I think Tremont looks like a cute little area so I'm looking forward to visiting it too. But, after talking to some people, my radar keeps going back to the east 4th/ gateway district. So hopefully there will be some openings that fit what I'm looking for soon! I've been also talking to the Huron/Osborne and it looks like they will have an opening for when I'm looking to move. I still have my hopes set on 668 though!! - but from what everyone is saying, there may need to be a miracle for that to happen!

 

Anyways, thanks again to those who have responded! If everyone in Cleveland is as friendly as all of you, I think I'll definitely love living in Cleveland :)

216-621-6000

 

Hey, I think I've seen that number on a few walls!

Thank you guys so much for all of the wonderful information! The DCA ambassadors seem great! (rockandroller- what is the number? so I can put it in my phone - before I even move haha).

 

I have been checking out craigslist, but most of what I've been seeing has been either duplex buildings or houses. But, I check daily so maybe something like a condo downtown will pop up? :) But, like you said, I feel like especially craigslist listings are more the "act now" type - which for me, may not work since I won't even make it to Cleveland to check out buildings until the end of May!

 

I think Tremont looks like a cute little area so I'm looking forward to visiting it too. But, after talking to some people, my radar keeps going back to the east 4th/ gateway district. So hopefully there will be some openings that fit what I'm looking for soon! I've been also talking to the Huron/Osborne and it looks like they will have an opening for when I'm looking to move. I still have my hopes set on 668 though!! - but from what everyone is saying, there may need to be a miracle for that to happen!

 

Anyways, thanks again to those who have responded! If everyone in Cleveland is as friendly as all of you, I think I'll definitely love living in Cleveland :)

 

Are you dead set on living downtown?  Not knowing Cleveland you might find something elsewhere that fits you/your lifestyle.    What neighborhood in DC do you currently live in?

Are you familiar with padmapper?  It aggregates a lot of craigslist postings.  Just enter a downtown zip code (44113 or 44114, for example.)

 

http://www.padmapper.com/

I love the Ohio City neighborhood, but if I were working at the Clinic, I'd definitely opt to live in University Circle. There is a lot of great development going on over there, beautiful architecture and parks, a few good restaurants, a decent coffee shop...Easy bike trip from home to the clinic (or bus, or a little bit of a longer walk depending on where you choose).

@MyTwoSense: I would like to live downtown. Originally, I wanted to live in Lakewood, but I wasn't finding many buildings online that I really really liked... I may just be picky? But, I'm still looking at some other areas... what areas were you thinking to suggest that aren't downtown?

 

@Confiteordeo: I had actually never heard of padmapper!Thanks! I'll def be checking that out. There seems to be a unit at a condo in the WHD - but it's furnished (nicely!), but I'm at the point where I want to get some good furniture of my own! But, I'll def keep looking at it, Thanks!!

 

@kwells: around what street of Ohio City do people live/ would be most convenient to walk places... Anytime I type in Ohio city, it gives me apartments in different parts of cleveland, so i think if I put a street, it may narrow it down more? And, I'll look into University Circle! Thanks!

 

 

Off topic, ONCE AGAIN! Sorry!, but does anyone know where some good furniture stores are in the area? I was hoping to check out furtniture stores when I came into town to look for apartments, too! With the assumption that they'd be open on a holiday weekend!

Your last question depends a lot on your budget.  We have anything from the budget brands (Value City) to something a little more quality (Levin) to stuff that will outlive you (large Amish community to our east).

 

@MyTwoSense: I would like to live downtown. Originally, I wanted to live in Lakewood, but I wasn't finding many buildings online that I really really liked... I may just be picky? But, I'm still looking at some other areas... what areas were you thinking to suggest that aren't downtown?

 

There are several ieast side neighborhoods which would be much more convenient in terms of communiting to the Clinic than Lakewood and offer a comparable living experience.  MTS would point you to Shaker Square.  I mentioned a few upthread.  Whatever drove you to look at Lakewood, should cause you to give some consideration to its east side counterparts.

Hi, I used to live in Chicago, Roscoe Village, Southport, then south loop.  What neighborhood would be your ideal in Chicago, and we can try to match that with a neighborhood in the Cleve.

 

About furniture....anyone on this board ever buy from antique stores on Lorain?  When I move back, I will definitely check that out, since that has been my best anywhere I have lived.

kwells54, welcome to the forum. I hope you post more.

 

cubbyrx05, Ohio City streets to consider are West 25th (from 1800 W 25th to 2000 W 25th), Jay Ave, Bridge (from 2500 to about 5000 or maybe even 6500), Franklin (from 2800 to 5000 or maybe 6500), Clinton (same as Franklin), Vine Court (ditto), Woodbine, John Ave, John Court, Whitman, Carroll Ave, Waco Court, and maybe a few others.