Another article about depressingly short-sighted and parochial exurban leaders who regard sprawl as growth. Similar to the one we saw about North Ridgeville a few weeks back. I can't believe this article doesn't even challenge the rosy picture that city officials paint of the town's development.

 

Well-placed city's star rising

 

www.cleveland.com

 

Monday, May 14, 2007

Rena A. Koontz

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Brunswick -- Been to Brunswick lately?

 

In a handful of years, a town derided as Brunstucky -- known for chronic flooding and denigrated as a magnet for mobile homes and shotgun-toting natives -- has morphed into a go-to retail hub for the fastest-growing section of Northeast Ohio.

 

For more information, click above link.

This article makes me F*CKING sick!!! 

 

Brunswick is absolutely disgusting and the words Mecca and shopping do not belong in the same sentence unless you're talking about dollar stores.  What boutiques draw people from 150 miles away?  And who in their right mind would drive 150 miles to Brunswick, but not the extra 20 to Cleveland where one may find some worthwhile shops?!  Dozens of identical, poorly constructed, run-of-the-mill homes are sprouting up--over saturating the market.  My mom has been trying to sell here 5 year old house in Brunswick for 1.5 years already and has had no luck at all.  The new town center is a sorry excuse for a "new urbanism" approach to city planning.  There are houses with lots and driveways smaller than Battery Park with the Chicago alley, yet you have to walk through large parking lots to get to a Giant Eagle, Home Depot, Applebee's, and Fashion Bug.  It is an embarrassment to the community to place such a hefty title of "Town Center" on this location.  And what's with this Murray McDade, Chamber of Commerce guy talking about Brunswick as this prime location?  As much as we'd like to see more investment in Cleveland proper, there are a ton of establishments that could do well in Brunswick; however, with the new Marc's that's gone into the Kmart Plaza, it looks like the city's biggest eyesore will be around for a LONG time!  AND, just for some clarification, I think quite a few Brunstuckians, I mean Brunswickians, missed the memo that they need to put their shotguns and moonshine away.  It's like a time warp there. 

 

I'm a graduate of BHS '02 and nothing has truly changed.  Some new banks, crappy chain restaurants, homes, more abandoned plazas, and colorful banners on lightpoles on 303.  That's it!  I can't believe they mentioned that Creative Cuts in the article too!  It's a pathetic building on 303-across from Aldi's and a 1st year architecture student could have designed something better than what's there now.  Oh, I can't forget the new Third Federal, too :wtf:!  Another isolated building on 303 and there's not even drive thru access.  Wow things are definitely looking "bright" in Brunswick!!!!  :roll:  GIVE ME A BREAK  :shoot:  God I can't wait until my mom sells her house and my sister graduates from BHS so they can get the hell out of there! 

 

This article shows how f*cked up the PD truly is!  I cannot believe that they praise Brunswick like it's going to replace Vegas as the fastest growing city in the country, yet talk sh*t about the region's most important city.  In my opinion, if Brunswick were to really turn things around and function as something that would complement Cleveland and NEO, and IKEA could have gone in the KMart Plaza and this could have been the region's southwest gateway.  The leaders of Brunswick (and I guess the same goes for MOST of the leaders in their respective suburbs) don't care or know of anything but Brunswick.  Sure, I guess things have changed and will change, but with respect to Brunswick.  If the idea of the new town center, library, Clinic, and college campus are considered change, then fine.  Kudos to B'wick.  But I really cannot forsee "change" in the true sense of the word as Brunswick is its own enigma.

 

I'm sorry if this rant is confusing, annoying, immature, or whatever.  Like I said earlier, my family moved from Parma Hts. to B'wick in 1998 and we've been there since.  I wasn't fond of it during high school but especially after living in Chicago for 5 years, anytime I'm back home it makes me want to vomit.  Not to mention the PD makes it sound like this utopia.  AHHH!  What's wrong with some people!  It would be a quesion of morals for me to right a positive article like this about B'wick for $1,000,000!!!  I can't wait to see what negative article about Cleveland the PD comes up with tomorrow! 

cle2032, why don't you tell us how you really feel?  Don't beat around the bush, let it all out! :laugh:

Did I beat around the bush?  I REALLY HATE BRUNSWICK AND I WISH IT CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE CHICAGO! :clap:  :wink:

Did I beat around the bush?  I REALLY HATE BRUNSWICK AND I WISH IT CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE CHICAGO! :clap:  :wink:

 

(I know this is horrible to say, but what the hell!) I think Stefan Prince was think along the same lines are you!  but I say, why stop there.....tear down all the tacky west side 'burbs!  HA!   8-)

Did I beat around the bush?  I REALLY HATE BRUNSWICK AND I WISH IT CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE CHICAGO! :clap:  :wink:

 

See, the problem is that they rebuilt Chicago.  Do we really want that for Brunswick?  :-D

But guys, they have a Steak & Shake now.  It's really very cosmopolitan. :roll:

But guys, they have a Steak & Shake now.  It's really very cosmopolitan. :roll:

 

Did you mean to say, "I need a cosmopolitan"?

HAHA!  Yes! After reading that horrible article, I need about one cosmo for every dollar store in B'wick!  I don't think I have enough fingers to count all of the stores!  Ok, well I think there are 4 but Kmart and Marc's aren't too far behind in terms of "quality"...

cle2032--- Even with all of your complaints regarding Brunswick, it would only take me about,,,,, oh,,,,, 1 second to switch my Cleveland house for your mom's Brunswick house.... I would love to only complain about such trivial things..... I failed to hear you complain about shootings, robberies, car theft, the lovely section 8 neighbors, a pathetic school system, litter almost everywhere, pollution, stripped houses,,,, I'm going to stop. As a matter of fact, we have been looking to buy in Brunswick. If your mom's house has 3+ bdrms, 2+ baths, and a full basement, I would love to check it out. Who knows, maybe both of us will get what we want.

HAHA!  Yes! After reading that horrible article, I need about one cosmo for every dollar store in B'wick!  I don't think I have enough fingers to count all of the stores!  Ok, well I think there are 4 but Kmart and Marc's aren't too far behind in terms of "quality"...

 

I love Marcs!!

 

 

cle2032--- Even with all of your complaints regarding Brunswick, it would only take me about,,,,, oh,,,,, 1 second to switch my Cleveland house for your mom's Brunswick house.... I would love to only complain about such trivial things..... I failed to hear you complain about shootings, robberies, car theft, the lovely section 8 neighbors, a pathetic school system, litter almost everywhere, pollution, stripped houses,,,, I'm going to stop. As a matter of fact, we have been looking to buy in Brunswick. If your mom's house has 3+ bdrms, 2+ baths, and a full basement, I would love to check it out. Who knows, maybe both of us will get what we want.

 

Spoken like someone who bitches and moans, but doesn't get involved.  I'm shootings can happen anywhere, along with robberies, carthefts etc., but in a different light.  the school system isn't all that and apparently needs to be remodeled!  :wink:  with increased population, will come more traffic, pollution, low income housing and a strain on city/county services.

 

So if Cleveland loses a resident like you.....good riddance and here's the number to uhaul, (216)651-0194!

 

If this is considered progress, Northeast Ohio is out of its damn mind.

 

Spoken like someone who bitches and moans, but doesn't get involved.  I'm shootings can happen anywhere, along with robberies, carthefts etc., but in a different light.  the school system isn't all that and apparently needs to be remodeled!  :wink:  with increased population, will come more traffic, pollution, low income housing and a strain on city/county services.

 

So if Cleveland loses a resident like you.....good riddance and here's the number to uhaul, (216)651-0194!

 

 

As much as most of us on this board loath Brunswick and its ilk, unless we can really address the kinds of issues that KTM raised we will continue to see Cleveland lose population to the burbs.  Murders and car theft and stripped houses can and do happen everywhere, but it requires a serious detachment from reality at some level to not be able to admit that they DO happen in Cleveland with much greater frequency.  Hopefully Jackson's crackdown will help, but of course the real issues go much deeper than anything that can be addressed with tougher policing.

i think it is dangerous to unilaterly dismiss any city in ohio.  they all have pluses and minuses and appeal to people with different needs, skills, or ambitions. 

 

although i don't particularly identify with this article or brunswick in general, it is a city in northeast ohio with reasonably priced homes, a decent school system, little violent crime, and is relatively convenient to amenties that many people use for work or pleasure - cleveland, akron, airport, other suburbs.

 

if your job was on 303, would it be better to live within walking distance or a short commute or drive 25 minutes from the westside of cleveland to get there?

Is there a walking distance along 303?

I would never unilaterally dismiss any city in Ohio, either. But, my God -- how many cities in Northeast Ohio DON'T have reasonably priced homes, a decent school system, little violent crime, and relative convenience to amenities? The last one, especially -- Cleveland is probably the least congested major urban area in the NATION, and being THIRTY minutes from downtown is a GOOD thing? On the West Side, especially, there are really nice areas, even for families, that are a ten-minute drive from downtown and cheap. Not a ton, but there are some. Go out five more minutes and you get WAY more.

 

You know, take away the Chamber of Commerce boosterism crap and this isn't such a bad article. That Brunswick used to flood a lot and was difficult for developers to work with were both somewhat interesting facts that I didn't know. But, come on -- "a shopping Mecca?" Even ignoring the fact that the writer CAPITALIZED mecca, this is a bit much.

KTM, you can look on pluggedincleveland.com and look at the house for sale in Brunswick on Gallo Drive.  4 beds, 2.5 baths, big yard=QUITE THE DEAL! 

 

Anyways, I'm not wasting my time arguing in defense of Cleveland vs. Brunswick.  Not EVERY square mile of Cleveland is as dilapidated and crime-ridden as you have previously mentioned.  Also, not every square mile of Brunswick has the nicely manicured lawn and a 3/4 cream vinyl siding, 1/4 brick home with attached garage.  Brunswick, in the slightest mention of the word, is FAR from progressive.    As Jamiec said, it's pathetic and embarrassing that an article was written about Brunswick in the manner.  Absolutely disgusting.  I'm not saying it's a bad place.  Whether or not you like what I'm saying, if you want mediocre schools, dollar stores galore, and all the fast food joints you could imagine, move on down!  And it's the truth--drive down 303 and 42 and it's obvious.  I'm pissed because it's people like you that think they can move to Brunswick and ignore everything that's going on in the inner-city.  Moving to places like Brunswick does NOT solve the problem.  It only makes it worse .  Worse for Cleveland and worse for the metropolitan region.  Suburbs owe their existence to the central city and it's annoying when they think they can move on and prosper when the core city decays. I think that's the real issue here.  Of course we can talk about the "vanilla" nature of suburbs, their dependency on automobiles, the waste of space, etc., but the real issue is how some people feel an article revealing the "vibrancy" of a certain city is warranted in order to entice more people to move there.  B*tch about how horrible Cleveland is to raise a family, complain about the poor schools, homicides, robberies, shootings, unemployment, lack of shopping, etc., and see where precious Brunswick-or Strongsville for that matter-is in a few years when things really go into a tail spin because we all ignore the "problems" of Cleveland and move to these bunkers where we can all have stable lifestyles. 

 

Oh, by the way, the house is still for sale!  :wink:

 

 

I can't slight someone for wanting to move to an area where violent crime happens less frequently , but why all the way out in Brunswick? Why not Shaker or parma or Lakewood?

 

Moving out is not going to solve anything, moving in will. More eyes on the street is a deterrent to crime. In addition to the mayor's sweeps, residents need to be more proactive like calling the police to report crimes.

 

For example, I was listening to Art maccoy's show on WTAM yesterday and a caller who said he is a parapalegic claimed the following happened to him: he got off the bus @ Chester & E.105th and a man came up to him and started going in his pockets. He screamed for help and the thug said "Ain't nobody going to help you." and took the 2 dollars the man had. Art asked the guy did he call the police and the man said no. When asked why he said he didn't think it would do any good. There's a disconnect between the cops and the citizens and this is a serious issue that needs to change with the quickness.

Parma???? PARMA???? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA....... 

 

J/K!  Well not really, but nothing personal!  :-D

Parma???? PARMA???? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA.......  

 

J/K!  Well not really, but nothing personal!  :-D

 

No offense taken, I would probably never live in Parma myself. I was just noting the options available. KTM could move to one of the inner suburbs not skip about three rings of 'burbs out to Brunswick.

Parma???? PARMA???? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA.......  

 

J/K!  Well not really, but nothing personal!  :-D

 

Parma is like Manhattan compared to Brunswick. J/K! Well not really either. ;)

i think anyone of us who were born and raised a certain place has every right to rip on it. in fact i thought cle's rant was downright healthy. i think cathartic is a better word.

 

we really need to try harder to stop supporting newspapers/media and politicians that cater to schlocky suburban developers. hell the state will build'em more roads and highways when they get enough developments tucked in. so the fact is we allow the brunswicks of the world to eat up our resources and farmland, we even make it easy for them to exist. well thats my own rant. ugh.

 

 

Parma???? PARMA???? HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA.......  

 

J/K!  Well not really, but nothing personal!  :-D

 

Parma is like Manhattan compared to Brunswick. J/K! Well not really either. ;)

 

....and they are both Staten Island compared to Shaker...so there! :-P

Well, here is my reasoning. Between my wife and I, we have given the City of Cleveland more than it's chance. We have lived in Payne/Superior neighborhood, Slavic Village, Collinwood, and now 3 different houses in the Old Brooklyn area. This is over a span of 40 years. I have never lived on the far west side to be fair.  I have seen EVERY neighborhood I've lived in (again, lived in, not heard about) go down hill. My neighborhood now is on the verge---- I know this from experience. I've had enough. I, nor my wife, has ever been robbed. I have had numerous car break ins, twice my cars were nearly to be stolen, 2 motorcycles were stolen, one car was shot through the side, one car had a window shot out, my garage was vandalized (to say the least), I clean trash from my tree lawn almost daily,,,, and I pay to live hear---- not like the section 8 neighbors who live a few houses down. These complaints are just from my last 2 houses. I will leave the other neighborhoods out. I can't send my kids to public school. I now pay $11,000 a year just for their education. And to MyTwoSense: Thanks to the number for Uhaul, but I already have my own box truck. But, keep the number for yourself for the day you wake up and pull your head out of your 4th point of contact (I'm sure you weren't in the military, so ask someone, other than me, who served this country proudly what your 4th point of contact is).

 

All of the other cities are still open for my family. My point regarding Brunstucky is I want to hear the faults of cities. An agent will not tell the truth. But, those are complaints that are far less than I have right now. So thanks to cle2032 for posting them.

Well, here is my reasoning. Between my wife and I, we have given the City of Cleveland more than it's chance. We have lived in Payne/Superior neighborhood, Slavic Village, Collinwood, and now 3 different houses in the Old Brooklyn area. This is over a span of 40 years. I have never lived on the far west side to be fair.  I have seen EVERY neighborhood I've lived in (again, lived in, not heard about) go down hill. My neighborhood now is on the verge---- I know this from experience. I've had enough. I, nor my wife, has ever been robbed. I have had numerous car break ins, twice my cars were nearly to be stolen, 2 motorcycles were stolen, one car was shot through the side, one car had a window shot out, my garage was vandalized (to say the least), I clean trash from my tree lawn almost daily,,,, and I pay to live hear---- not like the section 8 neighbors who live a few houses down. These complaints are just from my last 2 houses. I will leave the other neighborhoods out. I can't send my kids to public school. I now pay $11,000 a year just for their education. And to MyTwoSense: Thanks to the number for Uhaul, but I already have my own box truck. But, keep the number for yourself for the day you wake up and pull your head out of your 4th point of contact (I'm sure you weren't in the military, so ask someone, other than me, who served this country proudly what your 4th point of contact is).

 

All of the other cities are still open for my family. My point regarding Brunstucky is I want to hear the faults of cities. An agent will not tell the truth. But, those are complaints that are far less than I have right now. So thanks to cle2032 for posting them.

 

I know what "fourth point of contact" is.  You don't have to be in the military to know such terms, but you can kiss mine!  How 'bout that? :-D

 

I love my Cleveland, so I'll never have to use that number!

I didn't think a fella like you would serve this country. And for the awkward pass at me, no thanks.

cle2032-- Thanks. I looked up you mom's house. After what you wrote, I'm almost embarrassed to tell you that your mom's house is exactly what we are looking for. Although I do see it's very close to I-71. I am going to check it out during my next days off. We are scheduled to look at a house on Ken Dr. as well so we will be in the neighborhood.

I didn't think a fella like you would serve this country. And for the awkward pass at me, no thanks.

 

Sorry, I don't make passes, at men who are dumb----s.

I didn't think a fella like you would serve this country. And for the awkward pass at me, no thanks.

 

Sorry, I don't make passes, at men who are dumb----s.

 

 

Hey,,, attention,, attention!!!! Where's the Moderator???? When I called someone a name, I was threatened to be banned from this site. I realize I don't share the views of most on this site, so I may be unpopular, but fair is fair. Believe you me, I could light this dude up, but I've been warned. Where's this fellas warning of banishment?

Man these things spin out of control so fast.

 

Anyhoo, I'm with Mov2Ohio: I don't blame people for wanting to move away from serious crime issues (KTM, sounds like you've suffered through a host of annoying property crimes), but this has nothing to do with Brunswick, and how crappy it is or more on point, how Brunswick in no way demands a news article like this.

 

As others have pointed out, there are pleeenty of nice old neighborhoods within Cuyahoga county that are convenient to the city, safe and have good public schools and have a hell of a lot more to brag about than the mostly occupied (though occasionally abandoned and rotting) strip malls on 303.

^ I agree. The whole damn county is full of nice towns -- old and new. I don't understand why rural areas like Lorain and Medina are growing when Cuyahoga County suburbs are still very nice. What's wrong with Gates Mills, Rocky River, Westlake, etc.?

One issue I have with Cuyahoga County is the sewer bill. I think it is ridiculous to say they are planning to raise the bill on a THIRTY year plan. I have always thought of Brunswick as kind of "hillbillyish." I can't think of any other word. But, I guess it is changing.

 

Also, I hope the moderator and MyTwoSense realizes I'm joking. I would never want to get anyone in trouble. I'm sure it is understood I was joking. If not, I'm telling you, "I was joking."

^Interesting point. I'm not a property owner, so I don't deal with these things. But areas like Brunswick are going to have to find money somewhere for all the infrastructure that's being created, right? There's just so much duplication, and it don't make no sense to me!!!

One issue I have with Cuyahoga County is the sewer bill. I think it is ridiculous to say they are planning to raise the bill on a THIRTY year plan. I have always thought of Brunswick as kind of "hillbillyish." I can't think of any other word. But, I guess it is changing.

 

Also, I hope the moderator and MyTwoSense realizes I'm joking. I would never want to get anyone in trouble. I'm sure it is understood I was joking. If not, I'm telling you, "I was joking."

 

In the future you should use some of the smilies ( :) , ;) , :D)

 

Or use lol (laugh out loud), J/k (just kidding) or ha ha... something.

 

They help get your disposition across better.

The LOL,,,, advise taken. But the faces, I don't even know how that frown face with the 3 question marks above it even got in my last post.

  I know this is "URBAN" Ohio, but I have a few things to say about this topic.  I work and live in Cleveland, I live in a nice area of Cleveland, even though I feel there are changes happening in the area I live in for the worse.  I have lived in this area twice in the past ten years, the one move outside of this area was to South Hills.  I love living in the city, I love the closeness of shopping, bars, the lake, etc etc.  I WAS raised, however, just West of Brunswick in a small town called Valley City.  I still have family there.  I can definitely appreciate both environments and can understand why people live in either place.  It is all a personal choice.  I don't think everyone living out in that area are "rednecks" or hiding in some sort of bunker.  Some people actually ENJOY country living and owning property...and heaven forbid saying this on this site...some people even like to live on a farm!  I for one wish I had the money to have a country home, a city loft, and a cottage on the islands.....but until I hit the lotto, I can only afford what a civil servant makes.  :)   

 

I can understand why some people make choices that they do....maybe because of schools, maybe because of land ownership, property taxes, maybe age or lifestyle changes, safety issues...who knows?  I just don't find it proper for someone who loves city life, to chastise other people, who may not enjoy city life as much or who may want a change.  Believe me, my thoughts on subjects, or the way I live MY life has changed from when I was in my early 20's to my later 30's.  Yes, the article was a bit overboard about how "great" Brunswick is (Personally I think Medina is much nicer between the two), but lets not attack everyone out there as toothless, uneducated hillbillies.  Every living scenario has it's pros and cons...instead of judging what is better for everyone else....make decisions on what is best for you as an individual..listen to what others have to say, and try to understand why people make the choices they do.  Now let's all play nice on this board from here on out...thanks!  :)

JDD941--- When I said "hillbillyish" (if that's even a word), I didn't mean to offend you or anyone who lives there. I myself am looking out there and I really like it. I would be very happy for my kids to have the opportunity to spend their childhood there. Like I said, I couldn't think of any other word. But, I do have to say I have looked at about 5-7 houses in Brunswick and did not get that impression at all. It's just what I have though of Brunswick while living in Cleveland and not actually seeing Brunswick for myself. I was guilty of stereotyping and I admit it. Although, maybe it was at one time, but it does not appear that way to me now. 

 

KTM-Yes, the freeway is close but look at it as a trade off for a large yard and quiet street.  You also will not have any backyard neighbors.  It's really not as obtrusive as a lot of perspective owners think it may be.  Think of I-71 to Brunswick as the waterfronts are to Cleveland.  It's the true lifeblood of the city  :wink:. 

^JDD, I generally agree with your overall point, but I note that Brunswick is not the country- it's suburbia.  Unusually bland, monochrome suburbia.  I guess you get a little more land in Brunswick than you might in Shaker, but it's hardly some serious acreage for the most part. 

 

I know this is gratuitous, but interesting none the less:  While Brunswickians are probably not "rednecks", considering the city's healthy $60k plus median income, its residents have astonishingly low levels of education.  Per city-data.com, the 19.4% of Brunswick adults over 25 with bachelors degrees, is lower than that in Lakewood and Euclid and muuuch less than that in Cleveland Hights or Shaker Heights.  Lord knows college degrees don't translate into good people, but it is pretty striking.

You know what we need? A Brunswick photo thread!

It dosent matter how they try and dress it up, it will allways be seen as brunstucky to many clevelanders.

It dosent matter how they try and dress it up, it will allways be seen as brunstucky to many clevelanders.

 

Actually this statement is the classic problem with people who live or have lived in the Cleveland region. On one hand people want Cleveland to be perceived in a different/better way than it is from how it's seen currently in other parts of the nation. On the other hand, some of these same people want turn around and tear down other places in their own backyard because they don't like 'em, or they use 'location' as way to feel better about themselves. If a visitor comes to Cleveland and sees you tear down this and that...then it just opens the door for the same type of behavior (that could very easily be directed at the city). Lord knows...I'm not innocent on this either.

Brunswick can best be described as an extension on Metropolitan Cleveland. While some years ago, the line was drawn on Cuyahoga County to the south, with Strongsville's southern border as the end of the metropolitan/suburban part of Cleveland. Nowadays, Brunswick and Strongsville fit together like Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. It's suburban, exurban, sprawl, or whatever the hell you want to call it. Like it, hate it, or care less, it's been happening for many years. In 30 years from now, we'll probably be picking fights with all of the exurban growth in Valley City, Grafton, and Wellington. And 30 years ago we were complaining how Strongsville and North Royalton were what Brunstucky is today. It's sprawl, it's growth - and it's happening everywhere.

 

As for the three people I know living in Brunswick, I have my own idea of what kind of people move there:

 

1) My brother and his wife moved to Brunswick for one reason and one reason only: CHEAP HOUSE. They were going to move to Parma or Strongsville but chose Brunswick because the house they found (for $150,000.00) would have cost ($170,000.00) in Parma. They could care less about schools, commuting, shopping, or proximity to anything. It was all about getting a bigger house for less cost. Originally from Parma and Seven Hills, they ended up in Brunswick.

 

2) My old manager moved to Brunswick for the same exact reason as my brother. He was originally from Parma. Again, another cheapo looking for a bigger house for as little dollar as possible. He works in North Royalton and previously lived in Parma.

 

3) My brother's old best friend also moved to Brunswick from Parma - AGAIN, he and his wife wanted a more for their money. He still works in Parma.

 

I've always found it ironic that 3 Parma couples moved to Brunswick but still work in the Parma area. They all moved to Brunswick because the housing stock there is less expensive. A Split-Level is worth more in Parma or anywhere in Cuyahoga County than it is in Brunswick. Eventually, the housing market will bottom out and you will be paying the same price in Brunswick as you do in Parma. At that point, nobody (at least the cheap people I know) will want to live in Brunswick, since it seems the key to drawing people there is the cheap houses.

^^ Your stories tell quite a tale too. It actually shows the polarization of the whole region I was kinda alluding too on my last post and how generalization get started. West siders keep moving further west...South siders keep moving south....East siders keep moving east. Not that there aren't exceptions to the rule...but I've always wondered why the region continues to be so divided. Not that polarization is uncommon in other metro's either, I'd just like to see Cleveland become a bit more whole again.

"Every living scenario has it's pros and cons...instead of judging what is better for everyone else....make decisions on what is best for you as an individual..listen to what others have to say, and try to understand why people make the choices they do."

 

I understand a lot of the reasons people choose to move to exurbs like Brunswick, Bainbridge, etc. That's all well and good until you factor in the issues of sustainability and subsidizing of sprawl with public funds. When the choices made result in the abandonment and decline of the city and inner suburbs, when the choices made result in funds going to widening highways in formerly rural areas (which as we all know, does NOT reduce congestion) instead of improving existing infrastructure and public transit systems... the list goes on and on, and it's exacerbated by the fact that our region's population is stagnant and thus resources are getting spread thin. Those choices are having a harmful impact on our economy, our environment, our schools and our quality of life. I'm sorry - but those choices have dire consequences and it's disingenuous to suggest that "it's all good".

"Every living scenario has it's pros and cons...instead of judging what is better for everyone else....make decisions on what is best for you as an individual..listen to what others have to say, and try to understand why people make the choices they do."

 

I understand a lot of the reasons people choose to move to exurbs like Brunswick, Bainbridge, etc. That's all well and good until you factor in the issues of sustainability and subsidizing of sprawl with public funds. When the choices made result in the abandonment and decline of the city and inner suburbs, when the choices made result in funds going to widening highways in formerly rural areas (which as we all know, does NOT reduce congestion) instead of improving existing infrastructure and public transit systems... the list goes on and on, and it's exacerbated by the fact that our region's population is stagnant and thus resources are getting spread thin. Those choices are having a harmful impact on our economy, our environment, our schools and our quality of life. I'm sorry - but those choices have dire consequences and it's disingenuous to suggest that "it's all good".

 

I agree with MayDay!

Exactly Mayday.  Cities and the choices we make about how to build and live in them aren't like going to the local ice cream shop and saying "I'll have chocolate", "I'll have vanilla", etc.  If one of us orders pralines, we all get some pralines on our urban sunday.  And I don't want pralines on my sunday.  I'd prefer to have a dense urban core with countryside within a nice afternoon bikeride, like in many European cities.  Unfortunately, because of other people's preference, that isn't available to me.  I have to somehow get (drive, actually) through 20 miles of vinyl sided crap to get to pretty countryside.

"Every living scenario has it's pros and cons...instead of judging what is better for everyone else....make decisions on what is best for you as an individual..listen to what others have to say, and try to understand why people make the choices they do."

 

I understand a lot of the reasons people choose to move to exurbs like Brunswick, Bainbridge, etc. That's all well and good until you factor in the issues of sustainability and subsidizing of sprawl with public funds. When the choices made result in the abandonment and decline of the city and inner suburbs, when the choices made result in funds going to widening highways in formerly rural areas (which as we all know, does NOT reduce congestion) instead of improving existing infrastructure and public transit systems... the list goes on and on, and it's exacerbated by the fact that our region's population is stagnant and thus resources are getting spread thin. Those choices are having a harmful impact on our economy, our environment, our schools and our quality of life. I'm sorry - but those choices have dire consequences and it's disingenuous to suggest that "it's all good".

Very well said. All though I can't fault someone for wanting to make a better life for their family, many don't realize the consequences of their choices. The sad part is that 20-30 years from now the outer burbs will suffer the same fate as Cleveland and it's inner ring sudburbs.

This is happening all over the country, too. It freaks me out.

OMG I know a lot of people in Brunswick from Parma.  It's kinda scary!!!    :-D