Hi All -

 

I have spent endless hours researching homes/crime/commutes to downtown Cleveland from Cleveland Heights and South Euclid. I currently live in Los Angeles and find the cost of living and culture to be a much better fit in Cleveland. The cost of housing in CH and SE just blows me away! I'm hoping to get current thoughts on living in both communities with a focus on safety and recommended neighborhoods as I'm planning a move to your area in April 2015, which will be here in a blink of an eye. I'm more than aware of East Cleveland and it's problems and do not necessarily need education on that area, just life in Cleveland Heights and South Euclid. I've looked at other neighborhoods on the west side and keep being drawn back to the housing stock of CH and SE, both the beauty of the neighborhoods and the cost of housing. I'm finding incredible homes in the 75k - 100k range, especially in SE. All views and opinions are appreciated!

 

Schools are not an issue as I do not have children. Safety is important, I would think to everyone, but I like riding my bike early mornings. There is also what looks like a pretty nice dog park in SE.

I think that they are pretty comparable overall, but as a broad over generalization, South of Mayfield Rd is safer than North of Mayfield Rd, in both CH and SE. See what everyone else thinks because I don't live nearby anymore.

 

Anecdotally, my grandma lives in SE on a quiet street between Green, Belvoir, Mayfield, and Cedar and I've never felt unsafe. I've been playing around with the idea of buying the place off of her in a few years and moving back home. At around $80k, the price is certainly right.

 

There is some blight in those cities though, like I said mostly in the northern parts, and unfortunately their once top-notch school districts are struggling a little bit, if that's of concern.

I think that they are pretty comparable overall, but as a broad over generalization, South of Mayfield Rd is safer than North of Mayfield Rd, in both CH and SE. See what everyone else thinks because I don't live nearby anymore.

 

Anecdotally, my grandma lives in SE on a quiet street between Green, Belvoir, Mayfield, and Cedar and I've never felt unsafe. I've been playing around with the idea of buying the place off of her in a few years and moving back home. At around $80k, the price is certainly right.

 

There is some blight in those cities though, like I said mostly in the northern parts, and unfortunately their once top-notch school districts are struggling a little bit, if that's of concern.

 

Thank you, Mu2010. I'm familiar with that area and have looked at the streets there many times on google. I should have mentioned that schools are not a concern as I don't have any kids.

Welcome LAExodus! 

 

I don't know South Euclid well, but Cleveland Hts is large enough that things like safety and practical walkability vary quite a bit from neighborhood to neighborhood.  Depending on what attracts you to these cities, you might think about proximity to the major commercial clusters as a way to organize your search and, if you are interested in commuting via transit, proximity to key bus lines.  The best commercial areas in Cleveland Hits, IMHO, are Coventry Village (Coventry Rd south of Mayfield), Cedar-Fairmount, and Lee Road, south of Cedar. The best bus lines run on Cedar and Mayfield, but both will require a transfer at University Circle to get you all the way downtown.

 

Also, depending on what attracted you to these two suburbs in the first place, you might also want to check out Shaker Heights, which has a number of moderately-priced houses in a couple of its neighborhoods, and probably the best transit commute to downtown of any suburb in the area.

Each suburb has its own little neighborhoods so it really depends. In general I'd stay away from the northern parts of each city.

Welcome LAExodus! 

 

I don't know South Euclid well, but Cleveland Hts is large enough that things like safety and practical walkability vary quite a bit from neighborhood to neighborhood.  Depending on what attracts you to these cities, you might think about proximity to the major commercial clusters as a way to organize your search and, if you are interested in commuting via transit, proximity to key bus lines.  The best commercial areas in Cleveland Hits, IMHO, are Coventry Village (Coventry Rd south of Mayfield), Cedar-Fairmount, and Lee Road, south of Cedar. The best bus lines run on Cedar and Mayfield, but both will require a transfer at University Circle to get you all the way downtown.

 

Also, depending on what attracted you to these two suburbs in the first place, you might also want to check out Shaker Heights, which has a number of moderately-priced houses in a couple of its neighborhoods, and probably the best transit commute to downtown of any suburb in the area.

 

Likewise, University Heights may also be an option for the OP, as well. Any further east and the suburbs start losing what I believe this person seems to be looking for.

Welcome LAExodus! 

 

I don't know South Euclid well, but Cleveland Hts is large enough that things like safety and practical walkability vary quite a bit from neighborhood to neighborhood.  Depending on what attracts you to these cities, you might think about proximity to the major commercial clusters as a way to organize your search and, if you are interested in commuting via transit, proximity to key bus lines.  The best commercial areas in Cleveland Hits, IMHO, are Coventry Village (Coventry Rd south of Mayfield), Cedar-Fairmount, and Lee Road, south of Cedar. The best bus lines run on Cedar and Mayfield, but both will require a transfer at University Circle to get you all the way downtown.

 

Also, depending on what attracted you to these two suburbs in the first place, you might also want to check out Shaker Heights, which has a number of moderately-priced houses in a couple of its neighborhoods, and probably the best transit commute to downtown of any suburb in the area.

 

Thank you, StrapHanger. I've checked out SH many times, the taxes seem much higher than CH or SE. All 3 do have the housing types/prices I'm interested in as well as the diversity of community. I'll keep the transit times in mind as well, though nothing could possibly be worse than commuting here in Los Angeles. Just horrible!

I would echo the sentiments of previous posters, with the caveat of extreme northern Cleveland Heights and extreme north western South Euclid. (Streets Runnymede, fenley, Princeton or Bridgeview.) This neighborhood is secluded from the blight that affects the areas to the south of it in Cleveland Heights' case (Along Noble Road) and east of it in South Euclid's case (along North Green Road).

 

Homes in the area were built between the mid 1950s to mid 1960s and range from 1200 to over 2,000 square feet.

 

Even further north of this neighborhood is a 12ish year old cluster home development that's actually in the City of Cleveland. Newer houses with Cleveland taxes with the quietness of these South Euclid and CH neighborhoods.

I would echo the sentiments of previous posters, with the caveat of extreme northern Cleveland Heights and extreme north western South Euclid. (Streets Runnymede, fenley, Princeton or Bridgeview.) This neighborhood is secluded from the blight that affects the areas to the south of it in Cleveland Heights' case (Along Noble Road) and east of it in South Euclid's case (along North Green Road).

 

Homes in the area were built between the mid 1950s to mid 1960s and range from 1200 to over 2,000 square feet.

 

Even further north of this neighborhood is a 12ish year old cluster home development that's actually in the City of Cleveland. Newer houses with Cleveland taxes with the quietness of these South Euclid and CH neighborhoods.

 

Perfect! Thank you so much.

LAexodus, welcome to the forum and best of luck in your search.

Hi All -

 

I have spent endless hours researching homes/crime/commutes to downtown Cleveland from Cleveland Heights and South Euclid. I currently live in Los Angeles and find the cost of living and culture to be a much better fit in Cleveland. The cost of housing in CH and SE just blows me away! I'm hoping to get current thoughts on living in both communities with a focus on safety and recommended neighborhoods as I'm planning a move to your area in April 2016, which will be here in a blink of an eye. I'm more than aware of East Cleveland and it's problems and do not necessarily need education on that area, just life in Cleveland Heights and South Euclid. I've looked at other neighborhoods on the west side and keep being drawn back to the housing stock of CH and SE, both the beauty of the neighborhoods and the cost of housing. I'm finding incredible homes in the 75k - 100k range, especially in SE. All views and opinions are appreciated!

 

Schools are not an issue as I do not have children. Safety is important, I would think to everyone, but I like riding my bike early mornings. There is also what looks like a pretty nice dog park in SE.

 

Right now, they are about the same.

 

In five to ten years, that may change.  If so, Cleveland Heights will be safer, perhaps much safer.

 

Cleveland Heights is what it is and has been pretty much stable for at least twenty years.  Perhaps thirty.

 

South Euclid is still transitioning. It may end being like a less expensive CH.  It may end up being generally blighted.

 

All other things being equal and assuming you don't mind a police force/city government than can be more than a little bit nitpicky, I'd recommend Cleveland Heights.

I have lived in both cities.  They are very different but very similar at the same time.  Cleveland Hts is much more diverse in terms of socio-economic status as well as religiously, culturally, etc.  Both are racially diverse cities.  South Euclid is much much more blah in terms of the housing stock, so its sustainability over the long run is more questionable.  The housing stock is pretty much out of style and not very popular.... mostly all aluminum siding, post-war houses.  CH, on the other hand, has an older, more timeless housing stock..... although many of the houses won't have a forced air system and are not as efficient in terms of maintaining the costs on monthly bills for heat, etc.  CH definitely has the 'hipper' neighborhoods which were mentioned above.  SE is more transient in terms of the people who own homes in the City.  The schools are comparable on the overall scale, but Heights probably offers a better chance to excel in the school system (I would venture to guess that significantly more National Merit Scholars come out of Heights High than Brush).  Speaking of the school system, be aware that there are slivers of CH which are actually in the EC school system, which will be reflected in the home value.  If you think you are getting a steal on the price of the home, that might be one of the reasons.  There are also parts of SE which are in the CH-UH school system.  Crime/safety is comparable.  Most of the more serious crimes in those cities are committed by people who don't live in those cities.  Overall, quality of life is very similar in both cities.  I'd say one huge difference is the sense of community which is monumentally stronger in CH.... IMNSHO.

I have lived in both cities.  They are very different but very similar at the same time.  Cleveland Hts is much more diverse in terms of socio-economic status as well as religiously, culturally, etc.  Both are racially diverse cities.  South Euclid is much much more blah in terms of the housing stock, so its sustainability over the long run is more questionable.  The housing stock is pretty much out of style and not very popular.... mostly all aluminum siding, post-war houses.  CH, on the other hand, has an older, more timeless housing stock..... although many of the houses won't have a forced air system and are not as efficient in terms of maintaining the costs on monthly bills for heat, etc.  CH definitely has the 'hipper' neighborhoods which were mentioned above.  SE is more transient in terms of the people who own homes in the City.  The schools are comparable on the overall scale, but Heights probably offers a better chance to excel in the school system (I would venture to guess that significantly more National Merit Scholars come out of Heights High than Brush).  Speaking of the school system, be aware that there are slivers of CH which are actually in the EC school system, which will be reflected in the home value.  If you think you are getting a steal on the price of the home, that might be one of the reasons.  There are also parts of SE which are in the CH-UH school system.  Crime/safety is comparable.  Most of the more serious crimes in those cities are committed by people who don't live in those cities.  Overall, quality of life is very similar in both cities.  I'd say one huge difference is the sense of community which is monumentally stronger in CH.... IMNSHO.

 

Except for the part about the schools, ten to fifteen years ago you could have plugged in Maple Heights for South Euclid.  Now there's no contest at all which one a newcomer should look at.  SE would be cheaper, but is far more risky (in terms of your investment).

LAexodus, welcome to UrbanOhio and Cleveland! Since schools are not an issue for you (except perhaps in terms of housing conditions/values), would you consider the University Circle/Little Italy areas of Cleveland? You might want to consider these areas because the economic growth prognosis for this area is very good and would be a good investment for you in terms of housing stock. The nearby health care employment is strong and growing at the massive Cleveland Clinic and University Health System, and Case Western Reserve University can't keep up with its fast-rising enrollment, especially among Asians and Indians.

 

The question is, what kind of housing/neighborhood do you want? University Circle has some homes with yards, but this is truly an urban setting that is more reminiscent of an East Coast urban cluster than a Midwestern streetcar suburb. It has more high-rises, small apartment blocks and homes-above-the-stores mixed use. UC/LI also has one-seat rides on BRT and heavy rail to downtown, only 15-20 minutes away. Euclid Avenue has bike lanes to downtown and there is are the bikeway through Rockefeller Park which has some very elegant cultural gardens for the various ethnic groups that have settled in Greater Cleveland over the last 200+ years.

 

By contrast, Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and Shaker Heights all have much more single-family homes with yards, though some are small. And each has commercial districts, some of which are quite vibrant and urban like Coventry Village, Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee, etc. And while Shaker Square and Larchmere to the north are in Cleveland, they also have a mix of single-family and multi-family housing. But if you were considering an apartment-style condo near Shaker Square, the only ones worth considering (IMHO) are the luxurious Moreland Courts condos. There are 24-hour shops, restaurants and a first-run movie theater at Shaker Square. A large farmer's market is set up on the square on Saturdays during the summer and fall. There's frequent trains that take you downtown in only 15 minutes. The Shaker Lakes park is a short walk to the north.

 

One thing these areas all have in common is that they don't have any freeways, so coming from LA, it seems that a freeway is not important to you? Knowing others from LA who moved here, they were surprised at how few freeways we have and how seldom we use what we do have. They noticed that Clevelanders tend to rely more on city thoroughfares than Los Angelinos do.

 

Friends around the country are amazed at what you can get in Cleveland for the price, and not just in terms of housing. Greater Cleveland retained most of its big-city amenities even though the region hasn't grown in 50 years. You may be surprised to learn that LA only passed Cleveland in population in my father's lifetime (with the 1940 census). Cleveland's boom years were 1860-1930 and that era's construction craftsmanship is old-world European and irreplaceable. So you can get a lot of craftsmanship for your money. But the secret is going to get out soon!

 

If you need more help finding a place, let us know. As you can tell, we love to help people relocate here! (BTW, this thread may be moved into the City Life section so if you don't find it right away, search for it there).

LAexodus, welcome to UrbanOhio and Cleveland! Since schools are not an issue for you (except perhaps in terms of housing conditions/values), would you consider the University Circle/Little Italy areas of Cleveland? You might want to consider these areas because the economic growth prognosis for this area is very good and would be a good investment for you in terms of housing stock. The nearby health care employment is strong and growing at the massive Cleveland Clinic and University Health System, and Case Western Reserve University can't keep up with its fast-rising enrollment, especially among Asians and Indians.

 

The question is, what kind of housing/neighborhood do you want? University Circle has some homes with yards, but this is truly an urban setting that is more reminiscent of an East Coast urban cluster than a Midwestern streetcar suburb. It has more high-rises, small apartment blocks and homes-above-the-stores mixed use. UC/LI also has one-seat rides on BRT and heavy rail to downtown, only 15-20 minutes away. Euclid Avenue has bike lanes to downtown and there is are the bikeway through Rockefeller Park which has some very elegant cultural gardens for the various ethnic groups that have settled in Greater Cleveland over the last 200+ years.

 

By contrast, Cleveland Heights, South Euclid and Shaker Heights all have much more single-family homes with yards, though some are small. And each has commercial districts, some of which are quite vibrant and urban like Coventry Village, Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee, etc. And while Shaker Square and Larchmere to the north are in Cleveland, they also have a mix of single-family and multi-family housing. But if you were considering an apartment-style condo near Shaker Square, the only ones worth considering (IMHO) are the luxurious Moreland Courts condos. There are 24-hour shops, restaurants and a first-run movie theater at Shaker Square. A large farmer's market is set up on the square on Saturdays during the summer and fall. There's frequent trains that take you downtown in only 15 minutes. The Shaker Lakes park is a short walk to the north.

 

One thing these areas all have in common is that they don't have any freeways, so coming from LA, it seems that a freeway is not important to you? Knowing others from LA who moved here, they were surprised at how few freeways we have and how seldom we use what we do have. They noticed that Clevelanders tend to rely more on city thoroughfares than Los Angelinos do.

 

Friends around the country are amazed at what you can get in Cleveland for the price, and not just in terms of housing. Greater Cleveland retained most of its big-city amenities even though the region hasn't grown in 50 years. You may be surprised to learn that LA only passed Cleveland in population in my father's lifetime (with the 1940 census). Cleveland's boom years were 1860-1930 and that era's construction craftsmanship is old-world European and irreplaceable. So you can get a lot of craftsmanship for your money. But the secret is going to get out soon!

 

If you need more help finding a place, let us know. As you can tell, we love to help people relocate here! (BTW, this thread may be moved into the City Life section so if you don't find it right away, search for it there).

 

I'd second Ken's recommendation to take another look at Little Italy. It's also in transition, but in a positive way.  Even so, it has never seen the severe issues that EC and most eastern Cleveland neighborhoods have, so it retains a lot of its old character. 

Little Italy has nice restaurants and is a cool neighborhood wander aimlessly through. That being said, IMO the vast majority of the houses there are in dumpy shape.

Little Italy has nice restaurants and is a cool neighborhood wander aimlessly through. That being said, IMO the vast majority of the houses there are in dumpy shape.

 

I haven't been inside a vast majority of the homes in Little Italy, so I couldn't say. But here's all of the homes in Little Italy currently listed for sale, and all are pretty stunning:

 

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1954-E-123rd-St-Cleveland-OH-44106/33408986_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2043-Random-Rd-APT-1-Cleveland-OH-44106/2120452752_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2043-Random-Road-UNIT-6-Cleveland-OH-44106/2103977957_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2079-Random-Rd-APT-102-Cleveland-OH-44106/71968890_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1913-E-119th-St-UNIT-26-Cleveland-OH-44106/2106303898_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1881-E-119th-St-10A-Cleveland-OH-44106/96348304_zpid/

 

I haven't been inside a vast majority of the homes in Little Italy, so I couldn't say. But here's all of the homes in Little Italy currently listed for sale, and all are pretty stunning:

 

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1954-E-123rd-St-Cleveland-OH-44106/33408986_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2043-Random-Rd-APT-1-Cleveland-OH-44106/2120452752_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2043-Random-Road-UNIT-6-Cleveland-OH-44106/2103977957_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2079-Random-Rd-APT-102-Cleveland-OH-44106/71968890_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1913-E-119th-St-UNIT-26-Cleveland-OH-44106/2106303898_zpid/

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1881-E-119th-St-10A-Cleveland-OH-44106/96348304_zpid/

 

 

Yeah I'm going to stand by my original comment. Most of those are pretty nice, and it's true that there are some nice condos/multi-units available, but most of the houses that I've seen in Little Italy aren't in great shape. In a lot of ways once you venture away from Mayfield Road into the residential portion of the neighborhood, it looks and feels like a college student neighborhood.

Those houses you apparently have been in weren't for sale and therefore not relevant. He's looking for a place to buy. Can't buy a home that isn't for sale.

Not to drag this off topic but I read on Wikipedia that in the old Italian neighborhood in St. Louis, "the Hill," homes are rarely sold on the open market, they instead use the local social network to buy and sell. I was wondering if this held true in Cleveland's Little Italy because I check occasionally and rarely see homes (other than new condos) listed for sale in the neighborhood.

 

My ancestors lived in that neighborhood 100 years ago, before migrating out to South Collinwood and then the suburbs. I would love to someday buy a place there if I move back to Cleveland. I was wondering if anyone on this board knew if that was the way real estate is transacted in the neighborhood. My family are deep-rooted Cleveland Italians but I am not exactly a part of the scene enough to know who to call to buy a house, ha ha.

Those houses you apparently have been in weren't for sale and therefore not relevant. He's looking for a place to buy. Can't buy a home that isn't for sale.

 

Good point, but you can definitely buy a place that is surrounded by old, poorly-built structures that haven't been maintained very well over the years because much of it has become student housing. Look, I like Little Italy, it's one of our regions coolest neighborhoods, but short of the condos you've presented costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, there isn't much that would probably make for a good housing investment.

Not to drag this off topic but I read on Wikipedia that in the old Italian neighborhood in St. Louis, "the Hill," homes are rarely sold on the open market, they instead use the local social network to buy and sell. I was wondering if this held true in Cleveland's Little Italy because I check occasionally and rarely see homes (other than new condos) listed for sale in the neighborhood.

 

My ancestors lived in that neighborhood 100 years ago, before migrating out to South Collinwood and then the suburbs. I would love to someday buy a place there if I move back to Cleveland. I was wondering if anyone on this board knew if that was the way real estate is transacted in the neighborhood. My family are deep-rooted Cleveland Italians but I am not exactly a part of the scene enough to know who to call to buy a house, ha ha.

 

To some degree that's true, but not entirely.  To be blunt, it was first done for ethnic reasons (very much including racial).  Cuyahoga Heights is the same way.

 

It's less prevalent than it was because of the student market.

If you want a home in Little Italy, you can buy a home in Little Italy.  There are no barriers to purchasing one other than money.  I would venture to guess that you'd get more bang for your buck up the hill.

If you want a home in Little Italy, you can buy a home in Little Italy.  There are no barriers to purchasing one other than money.  I would venture to guess that you'd get more bang for your buck up the hill.

 

Exactly. Guys, let's try to remember the title the OP gave this thread.

Exactly. Guys, let's try to remember the title the OP gave this thread.

 

Sorry -- just made a passing suggestion that got taken in a whole new direction.

 

LAexodus, let us know if you have any other questions about CH or SE. Sometimes streetviews can only tell you so much about a neighborhood or house.