I just toured an industrial loft that I absolutely loved but I had concerns about the "South Tremont" area between Metro and I-90. I thought I knew the westside pretty well but never heard of "South Tremont" going all the way down to 71. Is this just a euphemism for Clark-Fulton (could Akron be "South Tremont" too?)

 

I will say the area didn't seem bad at all, kind of a nice little pocket surrounded by...Clark-Fulton. It would also be convenient to my work (in downtown Akron) and also my friends and play in Cleveland that I'm not willing to start anew we in Akron. Beats my current commute from Lakewood which is kind of a Grand Tour of NE Ohio...!

My sister worked at an industrial supplier on West 25th in the 1990s. And I covered that area for the newspaper, including the police beat, from 2005-09. I doubt much has changed since I left the paper. Some say there are two Tremonts (north-south). I think there's four....

 

1. NE -- North of I-490 and east of I-90.

2. SE -- South of I-490 and east of I-71.

3. NW -- North/west of I-90.

4. SW -- South of I-90, west of I-71.

 

Tremont extends south to Valentine Ave and west to West 25th/Columbus, according to the city's GIS.

 

I've listed the above areas in a non-scientific order of attractiveness, based on my own opinions and experiences. But here's the kicker -- even though I listed SW Tremont last, there's something about Scranton Avenue I really like. And I think this area has been improving in recent years. There were a number of housing improvements starting in that area when I covered it for the paper. And the area was not hard hit with abandonments wrought by the foreclosure crisis. There are some vacant lots, but they are individual and isolated -- not multiple, contiguous vacant lots. The proximity of Metro Hospital, Steelyard Commons, light industrial development (ie: Nestle expansion), highway access and a spillover from NE Tremont should continue to positively influence this neighborhood.

 

EDIT: the roughest areas of Clark-Metro are west of West 25th, especially along Clark and in the vicinity of Storer and the West 40s/Fulton.

Good to know, thanks KJP as always. I am going to start checking the area out every night just to get a good feel.. But I will say Scranton is quite the dividing line. South of Clark I was driving side streets and saw a house that literally had windows punched out, doors boarded up. I was staring at it and looked further down the street and noticed dry wall for a new infill home being built across Scranton.

 

Sounds like the worst part of CF is very, very nearby - considering W25th is the next street over.

I have relatives in this area and I don't think it's that bad.  My cousins grew up athere nd went to Lincoln-West.  Once you go west of Fulton and in the Cuban & Mexican areas, it changes.

 

Having said that, I think anything going East of Fulton will stabilize as Tremont is at or close to saturation.

"I thought I knew the westside pretty well but never heard of "South Tremont" going all the way down to 71. Is this just a euphemism for Clark-Fulton"

 

West 25th serves as the western dividing line between the service areas of the Tremont West CDC and Clark-Fulton. Tremont West covers everything east of I-71 and from the Cuyahoga River south to Steelyard Commons. From what I know about Metro Lofts - they're well kept and spacious but they're a bit of an "island"; not many amenities are in immediate walking distance. As KJP mentioned, the southwestern areas of Tremont west of I-71and spillover into Clark-Fulton hits some rough neighborhoods. As the NE and SE areas of Tremont have gentrified, the rough element has been migrating west and south. Most of the crime in NE and SE Tremont is property crime (car break-ins, the occasional burglary, etc.). I live in the SE portion which is more mixed but I don't know how comfortable I would be walking from Metro Lofts to NE Tremont at night. That said, Metro Lofts offers gated off-street parking (always a plus in Tremont) so I guess it depends on your comfort level.

Yeah, I saw some unsavory reviews of the property online so I may keep looking. I want Tremont Terraces so bad but I'm on a waiting list for a unit that they won't tell me anything about (for likely a very long time). I wish I could figure out who I gotta pay off to get a unit in that building...

 

Yesterday I also checked out a 1br down near Starkweather that was a huge bust - in the middle of the showing the leasing agent announced "Charlie," the new tenant had just signed. I guess all these experiences put me pretty deep in the 7th circle of hell that is Tremont real estate these days..

If you could give us an idea of your budget, that might help us with giving you suggestions.

500-700...I don't think my budget limits many options, besides Tremont Place or buying (I will never buy unless I'm developing)...

 

I could maybe go over 700, just don't really want to.

By the way anyone reading this w a similar price range should seriously check out the Rosetta downtown - I however need a 30 min commute to Akron :/

That part of Tremont has a really strong block club called Metro North. You should go to one of their meetings if you're considering moving there. It's definitely trending in the right direction. One of the block club members, Eric Lutzo, has done at least a dozen renovations on and around Scranton. I wouldn't do a lot of walking around there at night, but I also wouldn't worry about too much random crime since you would have off-street parking and be in an apartment building. The apartments there are really nice.

By the way anyone reading this w a similar price range should seriously check out the Rosetta downtown - I however need a 30 min commute to Akron :/

 

Have you thought about living in Akron? What you save on commuting could be used to afford a nicer apartment, and housing can be less expensive in Akron. The Highland Square area along West Market near Portage Path is very nice, walkable, bike- and transit-friendly. Also the south side of downtown is developing rapidly with new apartments, shops and restaurants. There are lots of hiking-biking trails, and you're closer the national park from downtown Akron than you are from downtown/central Cleveland.

^His original post states he is not interested in "starting over" in Akron since all his "friends" and  "play" are in Cleveland.

^His original post states he is not interested in "starting over" in Akron since all his "friends" and  "play" are in Cleveland.

 

Are you his attorney?