Posted March 25, 201510 yr Hi all, I am contemplating a relocation to Cleveland if everything works out in the end. As much as I really, really love the more gritty nature of the city, I am looking to move into a more quiet part of the city - possibly the west side as that is where most of the action is happening. My lease is $900/month currently for a 1,200 SF apartment, but I am wasting about 40% of the space right now. My ideal space is somewhere around 1,000 SF; less is manageable if it's a well thought out space. I think I am going to be renting for the foreseeable future as my home receipt is locked up for a good while. I think my only requirement is a workshop for my woodworking business (building frames), or a flex space where I can move my equipment into. Is it within expectations to find something under $900 on the west side in some walkable neighborhood? Preferably with a garage or flex space? I am looking at Ohio City and Tremont, but I'm thinking that Ohio City may be a bit too "bustling" for my tastes - and too crowded. Detroit-Shoreway seems to be a fairly solid neighborhood as well, but is Edgewater too pricey? It's hard to tell with some of the units posted up on Craiglist.
March 25, 201510 yr Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Hell Yeah! Welcome aboard! Seriously, I'm glad we could recruit you up. (I've been drinking).
March 25, 201510 yr Look in west park, some solid neighborhoods where you can rent a house and garage for your tools for that price
March 25, 201510 yr I might need more details but I'll check with my contacts. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
March 25, 201510 yr Yeah, I am hoping for a workshop space. We are getting space for free at the current time but wood dust is very hard to manage. I know that some cities (Lexington, Louisville in Kentucky) have rentable spaces to work out of, and those are around $1/SF typically. MayDay[/member]: Here is what I know: * Two positions that I have "final" interviews for are in Westlake and on the east side of the city, so commuting to those looks to be via car. No big deal, I've been doing that for years and it doesn't bother me that much anymore (although something by transit or bike is preferable). Of course, I've had three "final" interviews so far and those didn't go anywhere, so who knows. I would rather be prepared than not, but Cleveland is one of the areas I've been strongly considered moving to in the past. * I pay $900 for 1,200 SF, or around .75/SF. That's pretty unrealistic to find in most markets. I lucked out because it's a bank owned building and they were practically giving them away at the time. I've had houses and lofts in the past, so either styles appeals to me, but I know I'll get more SF for my dollar in a house. * I'm not looking to buy for at least 5 years. * Crime is a factor. I lived next to a pimp/drug dealer for 3 years in Cincinnati who ended up murdering someone while I was out of town (body in front of my house, no less). I think in the past I was more hardened against that and hoped for the broken windows theory to take effect, but reality caught up. gottaplan[/member] : Thanks! I'll take a peek down that way. I've found some solid leads so far.
March 25, 201510 yr There are a lot of split levels and doubles in Lakewood. I would look to the west end of Lakewood. There, you might get someone who will give you garage for your woodworking stuff, or a shed in the back or whatever. It's also the best for walk ability outside of the urban core IMO. The big problem is a lot of those properties are still advertised via a sign in the yard or on the building, and may be harder to find if searching from another town.
March 25, 201510 yr While Ohio City and Tremont have a rep for being busy, noisy, hectic, happening places, many of the residential side streets are very quiet. Same deal with Detroit-Shoreway. However, a woodworking business may not mesh with other neighbors' ideas of a quiet setting. So if you can rent a small house with a garage in the back, that might work. I'm also very surprised at how many live-work places are out there in some very hidden settings. For example, consider something in the West 31st Place and Mabel Court area of Ohio City: http://tinyurl.com/o25oksf Herman Avenue in the West 50s might also offer some affordable housing where a workshop space/garage might be available. And I would also suggest looking for places in Birdtown in Lakewood. Many places have garages or can be operated as live-work places, such as a few buildings along the south side of Plover Street -- although that means living next to the busiest railroad/transit corridor in Ohio. But at least they don't blow their horns here, and the trains go by so often, you won't even notice them after a few days (I know, because I lived next to this line in Berea). But otherwise it's a quiet neighborhood. However, I do not know if any places are for rent. But I'll keep my eye for some for-rent signs during my exercise walks around the Gold Coast/Edgewater area. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 25, 201510 yr I live only 10 feet from the Cincinnati Southern line and trains rumble by every 10 minutes :) I also grew up just up the hill from the Russell, Ky. yard. I got used to it early on - but having people scream out in the street, that still keeps me awake surprisingly.
June 8, 201510 yr Very hectic last few weeks but I'm moved in and happy in Cleveland! I found a spot in Edgewater at West 115 and Clifton, and traded my two hour round-trip commute by car with a 20 minute round-trip commute by bus. I used to spend at least $60 a week in gas; now it's $87 or so for an entire month, and the stop is practically in front of my front door! The folks in the city have been very welcoming and helpful. My new employer in downtown is also great and it's nice to be central to everything again. Thanks to everyone for the help :-)
June 8, 201510 yr Welcome to the neighborhood! I take 30-minute walks almost every day and I often go east on Clifton to West 110th and back (among many of my routes). I often post pictures on Facebook during my walks, and I've posted quite a few of them here on . Keep an eye out for the guy rocking the headphones! Check out the pics at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,27241.140.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 10, 201510 yr Very hectic last few weeks but I'm moved in and happy in Cleveland! I found a spot in Edgewater at West 115 and Clifton, and traded my two hour round-trip commute by car with a 20 minute round-trip commute by bus. I used to spend at least $60 a week in gas; now it's $87 or so for an entire month, and the stop is practically in front of my front door! The folks in the city have been very welcoming and helpful. My new employer in downtown is also great and it's nice to be central to everything again. Thanks to everyone for the help :-) Welcome!
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