My wife and I are likely moving back to Cleveland this year from NYC, and have been considering moving to Tremont, Ohio City, Gordon Square, Little Italy.

 

We are hoping to have children soon.

 

Do any families with young children live in these neighborhoods?  How do the city neighborhoods compare when it comes to having children? 

 

Thanks.

My wife and I currently living downtown with our three year old. It's still adjusting to families. I have several friends with children living in the Tremont area with children and they love it. I also have several friends who live in the Detroit Shoreway area (Gordon Square) who have had a very positive experience as well. The Gordon Square area is a few years behind Tremont as far as development and amenities are concerned. I know if we decide to leave downtown, Tremont would be our first choice. I cannot comment on Ohio City or Little Italy. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

I know Lakewood is teeming with families...and also quite urban.

Welcome back to Cleveland!

 

Little Italy definitely has families.  Recently, many Asian families have been moving in as well. 

My wife and I are likely moving back to Cleveland this year from NYC, and have been considering moving to Tremont, Ohio City, Gordon Square, Little Italy.

 

We are hoping to have children soon.

 

Do any families with young children live in these neighborhoods?  How do the city neighborhoods compare when it comes to having children? 

 

Thanks.

 

There are children in many of these areas.  What neighborhood in NYC do you currently live in?  Are you only looking to live in the above areas?  Are you renting first?

I moved back to Cleveland from NYC about three years ago (after more than a decade in the city).  We lived in Tremont first, and enjoyed our time there.  But we didn't feel like the neighborhood has matured to the point where it offers a lot of amenities for families, and it was very difficult to find a home that we could grow into...

 

Fortunately, we ended up on an Ohio City Home Tour and fell in love (OK, I already knew it was a great neighborhood, but my wife had never ventured east of Lakewood before we went to Tremont, and needed some convincing).  Lots of big, historic homes at reasonable prices.  And if you are within walking distance of some great parks (including a great water park for kids off W.38th), the West Side Market, lots of amazing restaurants, the theaters (and movie theater) in Gordon Square, and Edgewater Park.  We live off W.45th, and I go running along the lake all the time with the stroller. 

 

We've been here two years, and in that time I've witnessed at least a dozen home rehabs within a 10-block radius of our home, and I suspect that this is the case across the neighborhood.  Lots of young families snapping up these houses, and the demand has even led to a well-regarded Charter School opening in the heart of the neighborhood.  You won't go wrong with the other neighborhoods you listed, but we're very happy in Ohio City, and there is just enough happening to keep your mind off what you're leaving behind in NYC...

*Paging 3231

 

He has been involved in getting a very successful east side charter school, the intervene rational school, opened in Ohio City.

At least that is what I gathered from posts here :)

I know Lakewood is teeming with families...and also quite urban.

 

Lakewood is a very good option for young families while still offering an urban setting. The areas around the east ends of Detroit and Madison avenues are a little more edgy and in need of rehab. So the farther west you go along those commercial thoroughfares, you'll find the better/larger housing stock for families. With the exception of Madison Park, the amenities along Detroit Avenue tend to favor it over Madison.

 

*Paging 3231

 

He has been involved in getting a very successful east side charter school, the intervene rational school, opened in Ohio City.

At least that is what I gathered from posts here :)

 

Agreed. He can tell you a lot about Ohio City from a parents' perspective, and from someone who is very involved in making the neighborhood more family friendly.

My wife and I are likely moving back to Cleveland this year from NYC, and have been considering moving to Tremont, Ohio City, Gordon Square, Little Italy.

 

We are hoping to have children soon.

 

Do any families with young children live in these neighborhoods?  How do the city neighborhoods compare when it comes to having children? 

 

Thanks.

 

Gordon Square area is very family friendly.  Nice single family homes on Clinton, also many homes North of Detroit.  Great little private school in the area is Our Lady of Mt Carmel.  We have neighborhood meetings there and there's always kids around.  Ethnically diverse and seems like a quality private education for not a lot of money

 

Quote from: CleveChiNola on Yesterday at 11:42:49 PM

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He has been involved in getting a very successful east side charter school, the intervene rational school, opened in Ohio City.

At least that is what I gathered from posts here

 

 

Read more: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,28284.0.html#ixzz2JHuXh2uy

 

That would be the intergenerational school. 

(I have been working a lot and my iphone spell check has been working against me)

We own in Edgewater with a 2 year old.  It's still very close to all the neighborhoods but you may need to drive or bike.  The K-5 school in the area is one of the best in the city and recently has been rehabbed and expanded.  To the West we spend time in Lakewood using amenities there as well as Bay and Rocky River.  To the East we go downtown, Detroit Shoreway, Tremont and Ohio city.  There is a convenient bus line and light train (rapid) depending on where you live in the area.  There is also easy access to I90 as well.

 

I went for my pretty usual Sunday breakfast at XYZ Sunday with my friends and my 2 year old.  When we got there there were some infants and one 3 year old.  In the 1.5hrs we were there had to be 8 infants through that place easy.  It kinda surprised me as I usually see kids there but man, it just exploded yesterday. 

We own in Edgewater with a 2 year old.  It's still very close to all the neighborhoods but you may need to drive or bike.  The K-5 school in the area is one of the best in the city and recently has been rehabbed and expanded.  To the West we spend time in Lakewood using amenities there as well as Bay and Rocky River.  To the East we go downtown, Detroit Shoreway, Tremont and Ohio city.  There is a convenient bus line and light train (rapid) depending on where you live in the area.  There is also easy access to I90 as well.

 

I went for my pretty usual Sunday breakfast at XYZ Sunday with my friends and my 2 year old.  When we got there there were some infants and one 3 year old.  In the 1.5hrs we were there had to be 8 infants through that place easy.  It kinda surprised me as I usually see kids there but man, it just exploded yesterday. 

 

Question, where is there light rail on the Westside?  Do you mean the Cleveland Rapid, which is heavy rail?

MTS, most people don't know or care what the difference is. It's not a big enough issue for all but the biggest rail geeks like us to worry about.

MTS, most people don't know or care what the difference is. It's not a big enough issue for all but the biggest rail geeks like us to worry about.

 

Point taken, but I was just asking.

Thanks for all of the responses!  This forum is fantastic.

 

MTS: We currently live on the upper east side in the midst of the richest blocks of Manhattan (happens to be the location of the married-people-housing provided by my wife's school).  We don't expect to find a Cleveland-equivalent.  I would prefer to rent for a year or so after moving to Ohio, to become more familiar with all of the options, but I'm not sure if this will be possible-- my wife is anxious to buy a house as soon as possible. (hence, why I am turning to this forum!).

 

CleveChiNola: thanks for the recommendation, but the "Intervene Rational" School seems a bit too experimental for our future and hypothetical children.  :)

 

joerunnin13: from the time we spent there, and based on my wife's online real estate research, I was getting a similar feeling about Tremont.  There doesn't seem to be as many solid, several-roomed houses that a family can grow into.  But if somebody else has contrary information, I'm all ears, because we love it there.

 

I appreciate the Lakewood recommendations, but my wife would be working in university circle and I'd probably also work there or elsewhere on the east side.  We want to minimize commuting time to some extent, meaning Detroit-Shoreway is the furthest west we'd go.  We'd also like a single-family house that could potentially be for the long-term (we hope to have several children).  We are probably not cut out to be true urban pioneers-- we need to find a neighborhood with other families that feels safe, and is safe.

 

I realize Cleveland Heights is probably the obvious choice (right?).  But we're exploring these other neighborhoods because (i) we've loved Tremont the few times we've visited, (ii) we are active in our church, and there are excellent churches in Tremont and Detroit-Shoreway that would be great to live near, and (iii) I grew up in a west-side suburb so it is difficult for me to imagine living on the east side with all of those east-siders. (joking).

 

Thanks again for all of the information so far.

 

 

Ohio City is a wonderful area, and the main drag (West 25th near the West Side Market) is a very active area, especially on market days (M-W-F-Sa). Expect more housing coming to this area, although it will likely be apartments. The neighborhood has more condos, lofts, townhouses and historic houses, but its dearth of rental housing will soon be addressed and possibly quite dramatically.

 

Have you looked in and near University Circle's Uptown area and Little Italy? I think you may like this neighborhood which is growing with new grocers and markets, clothing stores, and other shops. Plus there's the recently upgraded Tony Brush Park at Mayfield and Random roads. There is also a Montessori school for primary and elementary education in Little Italy at Holy Rosary. UC and its Uptown area is one of, if not the fastest growing urban communities in Ohio. Its daytime population is already half as large as downtown Cleveland's and is forecast to grow to 70,000 by 2017. So there will be more to enjoy here soon.

 

While there is no comparison to the Upper East Side in Cleveland, the two closest areas might be University Circle's Uptown and of course downtown Cleveland. There are four downtown towers (three office buildings and one hotel) that are converting to apartments. Each are in the 20-30 story range, so they'll offer some decent views. If you'd like to get an idea of what these might be like, check out the first of these to open, the Lofts at Rosetta Center http://www.east4thstreet.com/live/new-the-lofts-at-rosetta-center

 

My advice is, rent first, walk around neighborhoods that you think you might like and see if you do. If you like one best, then try to find a place to live in it.

Thanks for all of the responses!  This forum is fantastic.

 

MTS: We currently live on the upper east side in the midst of the richest blocks of Manhattan (happens to be the location of the married-people-housing provided by my wife's school).  We don't expect to find a Cleveland-equivalent.  I would prefer to rent for a year or so after moving to Ohio, to become more familiar with all of the options, but I'm not sure if this will be possible-- my wife is anxious to buy a house as soon as possible. (hence, why I am turning to this forum!).

 

CleveChiNola: thanks for the recommendation, but the "Intervene Rational" School seems a bit too experimental for our future and hypothetical children.  :)

 

joerunnin13: from the time we spent there, and based on my wife's online real estate research, I was getting a similar feeling about Tremont.  There doesn't seem to be as many solid, several-roomed houses that a family can grow into.  But if somebody else has contrary information, I'm all ears, because we love it there.

 

I appreciate the Lakewood recommendations, but my wife would be working in university circle and I'd probably also work there or elsewhere on the east side.  We want to minimize commuting time to some extent, meaning Detroit-Shoreway is the furthest west we'd go.  We'd also like a single-family house that could potentially be for the long-term (we hope to have several children).  We are probably not cut out to be true urban pioneers-- we need to find a neighborhood with other families that feels safe, and is safe.

 

I realize Cleveland Heights is probably the obvious choice (right?).  But we're exploring these other neighborhoods because (i) we've loved Tremont the few times we've visited, (ii) we are active in our church, and there are excellent churches in Tremont and Detroit-Shoreway that would be great to live near, and (iii) I grew up in a west-side suburb so it is difficult for me to imagine living on the east side with all of those east-siders. (joking).

 

Thanks again for all of the information so far.

 

 

 

Well being born and raised in Cleveland and also living in NYC, don't be shocked to find great housing, minus the price in Cleveland.  Are you set  on staying with the neighborhoods mentioned?  Where in the city will you and your wife be working?  What do you do for entertainment/fun?  The more information you give us the more we can help, even if the neighborhood suggested isn't one you've listed.

 

I always suggest renting to get the feel of the city first.

My wife moved here from the UES  63rd and first.  Started out in tremont now live in Detroit Shoreway (Gordon Square area).  We do not have Children.  Friends in Tremont and OC did/do though.

 

Urban Community shcool..

 

http://urbancommunityschool.org/

 

if you do end up in Tremont/OC/DS..

 

 

If you choose Ohio City, note of caution, The Arts and Sciences Preparatory Academy is not an attractive option for school. The staff there are inundated with students that are out of control.

A good story (although it understates how much things have changed family-wise over the past 5 years) about burgeoning family scene in Ohio City:

 

In Ohio City, residents are growing their own youth sports league: Margaret Bernstein

 

http://www.cleveland.com/bernstein/index.ssf/2013/02/in_ohio_city_residents_are_gro.html

 

 

Good for them.  Us parents run our own rec leagues in South Euclid - Lyndhurst.  It is a great community bonding experience.  We even have travel teams and practices indoors during the winter (at the Euclid Sports Complex)