Hi,

 

am a newbie here, been to the other forum (city-data) and would just like to get more inputs from people in cleveland.  I was offered a job at Cleveland Clinic and this thread aims to seek to find answers about relocation.  Suggestions were made in the other forum to have a look at shaker heights and cleveland heights where I can look for apartment to rent, however, in the same forum, I was told to avoid cleveland heights due to some safety issues.  Ok, my priorities are: Safety, less travel time to CCF (30 minutes is fine), and I might be looking at a $450 per month budget for my apartment until my husband can find a job on his own.  As to travel time, since we are just about to relocate, we are more concerned of the public transportation since for now, we still dont have a car though we will definitely buy once we are there.  Any suggestions and inputs are highly appreciated. . . .

Avoid Cleveland Heights due to safety concerns?? I think that you received some poor advice. Like any city, there is some crime, but you'd be fine in CH.

ccenthusiasts, welcome to the forum and Cleveland. :wave:

 

I agree with 3231, there are no safety issues that I can think of in Cleveland Heights.  Its a beautiful suburb with lots to see and do.

 

City-data is the worst, I cannot tell you how many people have come here after reading that garbage and gotten the REAL DEAL.

 

So can you tell use where you're relocated from and what some of your outside interest are, this will give us an indication as to what area near Cleveland Clinic might be the best for your needs.  $450?  Is that reasonable in the Heights??

 

Some area's to look at without knowing more detailed information are:

Cleveland Heights - Cedar Fairmont

Cleveland Heights - Coventry

Shaker Square

Little Italy

University Circle

Shaker Heights

 

Little Italy and University Circle are adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic Campus and the other communites I listed are within a 20 -35 (i stretch this out because during rush hour the UC area can be somewhat slow) minute commute to Cleveland Clinic (or "the clinic" as its known locally)

 

Also, I would suggest reviewing this forum for advise we have given to others relocating and working at the clinic and reviewing the photo thread (Ohio) and looking at pictures of the various neighborhoods listed above.  I would also suggest reviewing the UrbanOhio "navigation" page and view the Cleveland neighborhoods and suburbs and their associated links.

 

Personally, I say move to Shaker Square, its Clevelands best and most beautiful neighborhood!  :-D

and AGAIN...Check out Ohio City, Tremont, Edgewater Park area, and Lakewood.  These are more on the West side of the city but all WELL within a 30 min commute and there are bus and train options in these areas as well...

 

Just curious...where are you coming from and when were you looking to come if you do?

She's from London, England (I referred her here)

She's from London, England (I referred her here)

 

Well thats one strike against her!  :wink: :laugh: :|  I kid  I kid!

 

 

Well since she's from London, make sure to bring something from Harvey Nicks.  By doing that the information and help and information from us folks here on UO will get better!

Wow, thanks for the detailed replies...yeah, I am currently here in London, United Kingdom and once the retrogression be lifted up, I am on my way to the Clinic. . .I will be reviewing the site and explore as I see there are different sections to get information from . . .thanks again . . and about cleveland heights? well, at least it is clear, not that unsafe as I initially thought then. . .

Since you'll be renting initially, and dependent upon transportation your best bet would be either Little Italy (within the city limits and almost walking distance to the Clinic), or Coventry or Cedar-Fairmount in Cleveland Heights. There are areas of Cleveland Heights that aren't completely crime-free but they're not what anyone would consider dangerous.

 

Oh, and if you happen to know or see Joanna Lumley, tell her I send my undying love ;-)

$450 is going to be real tight in any of the mentioned neighborhoods on the Eastside.  You guys might need to look for someone looking for a roommate short term, or your husband might have to find a job (any job) real quick.  The other option would be to check the westside- Lakewood/Edgewater has alot of inexpensive rentals in a decent setting, with decent access to CC via the Shoreway to MLK.  Public transit would be a little slower, though you could take the Redline (rail transit) for a good chunk of the trip.  Even then your choices will be a little limited by your budget.

i dont know what your income will be but this may be an option. its downtown in the warehouse district. its a nice building. i know cause i used to work there.

http://dominiumapartments.com/property.php?propertyID=190&state=OH&rid=&cid=

If your finances are that tight, and you have an interest in downtown living, and you don't mind a mostly student population, I would check out the Heritage Suites near Cleveland State's campus on Prospect Avenue.  The apartments are pretty small but functional, furnished, and definitely affordable - utilities all included I believe for around $500-600 for 1 or 2 bedroom, in the $400s for a studio flat.  It's a historic building owned by the YMCA which was converted to rental apartments about 10 years ago.  In Cedar-Fairmount in Cleve Hts, the Hotel Alcazar offers short-term housing, very convenient to University Circle and the Clinic, but it's been twelve years since I stayed there, so I have no idea of the rent.  I would also check the off-campus housing offices as CSU and Case for rentals/shared housing.

thanks again for your replies, the $450 budget I mentioned is just for a start coz I dont know how much is the cost of living in Cleveland, but I think I will be getting more with my job in the Clinic,  I was offered a $27 per hour in the Clinic as a RN, but yet, I couldn't figure out how much would be my take home pay at that rate, by then, once I can identify my take home pay and knowing some bits of information about the cost of living, then I could finally say how much would be my budget for an apartment rental once am there.....if my husband could get a job quick, then it would help too as well, I dont have a clue too as to the employment / unemployment rate in cleveland if it's easier to get a job or not (for my husband). .

If you're getting a full 40 hours at the rate you mentioned, you could afford alot more than the $450 you are budgeting.  You should do your own math according your personal circumstances, of course, but as a general rule of thumb you can figure that you can safely budget up to 30% of your gross income towards housing expenses.  Depending on your other bills, you may find that you have alot more to work with and can pretty comfortably pick and choose where you want to go.

The cost of living is relatively low in Ohio especially to London.  I usually figure on paying approximately 30% in taxes if I'm guesstimating takehome.  I can't imagine getting a decent place close to the CC or UC under $500.  Typical Americans spend almost or sometimes more on their automobiles as they do on their living space.  If you determine you can get by without a vehicle for a period of time you will definitely be saving a lot of money.

 

The employment market is pretty decent right now especially in technology or obviously healthcare. Many industries in Cleveland that  seem to be doing well and hiring. 

ccenthusiasts, I've lived in London and trust me, the cost of housing in the majority of Cleveland is about 1/4 the cost of housing in London proper. 

 

What part of London are you currently living in?

At $27 an hour, you're looking at an annual income in the mid $50K range.  Taking 25-30% away for taxes leaves around $37-40,000 in net income.  Taking a conservative 25-30% of that for housing would leave you looking at housing costs from around $800-1000 a month, which opens up a heck of a lot of opportunities in most areas of Cleveland.  I don't think you'll have a problem finding something you like in that range, whether it's a newer high-rise property downtown, an older or historic building in the Heights, or a suburban neighborhood (ack!) like Mayfield/Lyndhurst, etc.

Use this calculator from the IRS, it will tell you exactly what your take home pay will be:

 

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/page/0,,id=14806,00.html

ccenthusiasts, I've lived in London and trust me, the cost of housing in the majority of Cleveland is about 1/4 the cost of housing in London proper. 

 

What part of London are you currently living in?

 

I am at the heart of London and true enough, the flat we are staying right now is eating up our monthly budget since it's a hefty £600 per month, and for a studio flat, it's really ridiculous but what else can we do, that is why, am getting excited now to be in cleveland soon, so as to avoid the costly living here in London and live a life in Cleveland, my future home . . .

ccenthusiasts, I've lived in London and trust me, the cost of housing in the majority of Cleveland is about 1/4 the cost of housing in London proper. 

 

What part of London are you currently living in?

 

I am at the heart of London and true enough, the flat we are staying right now is eating up our monthly budget since it's a hefty £600 per month, and for a studio flat, it's really ridiculous but what else can we do, that is why, am getting excited now to be in cleveland soon, so as to avoid the costly living here in London and live a life in Cleveland, my future home . . .

 

Yeah, its expensive, when I was there, I was so broke.  Between rent and Harvey Nic's...I couldn't save a dime!

I can get you in touch with some great slum landlords in Little Italy....

I have my little issues as a result of my past experience in cleveland heights, but high crime sure is not one of them. except for a couple pf streets (literally) CH is  very safe.  Shaker Square is an excellent location. check it out...maybe MyTwoSense has some details. Hotel Alcazar is a good idea surely more than $450, but worth it to get here at get the lay of the land for a few months 

ccenthusiasts, check out Park Lane Villas.  This is a rehabbed historic building.  This building will serve a residential anchor in University Circle as the area starts to bring in more residential units and retail options.

 

www.parklanevilla.com

thanks for the links, will definitely have a look at them. . . . .

Hi, I was browsing the different options of apartments near shaker square area,  I noticed some of them are not furnished, is it really the case there? any from that area can give me some options to choose from? at least I can start to narrow my search . . .probably, I could go for a ceiling of $600-$800 per month.  THanks again . . .

Hi, I was browsing the different options of apartments near shaker square area,  I noticed some of them are not furnished, is it really the case there? any from that area can give me some options to choose from? at least I can start to narrow my search . . .probably, I could go for a ceiling of $600-$800 per month.  THanks again . . .

most are not furnished.  The arpartments are huge and its an 15 - 20 min max bus ride to euclid/105 st.

 

The range you state is probably reasonable.  I'm not a renter so I cannot be sure, maybe clvndr, eightshades or the pope can respond about rental ranges.

A lot of the older buildings in the Heights will be rented with heat and water included, so that's a big factor in rent sounding expensive, but it beats a $200 a month heating bill in some new complex with lousy insulation and paper thin walls.

I'm a 40 year old native Clevelander and will be in London this Monday to Thursday. Will be staying in the Kensington Gardens/Hyde Park area. I can give you all sorts of details and tips on living in Cleveland. If you and your husband would  like to learn more without the awkwardness of the Internet, give me a yell in the next two days. I'm in York now. Send me a note via the private messaging function in this forum and I'll give you my cell phone number. Good luck in your search.

and AGAIN...Check out Ohio City, Tremont, Edgewater Park area, and Lakewood.  These are more on the West side of the city but all WELL within a 30 min commute and there are bus and train options in these areas as well...

 

I disagree, at least for someone coming from across the pond. Ohio City and all those places have unique and endearing qualities, but they're too far away for an European. Their cities aren't designed to be as automotive-centric as ours and the residents aren't used to spending a half an hour on the highway each way to work & back. And the London Underground is far more utilized and more convenient than our transit system, even though Cleveland's is better than most American cities.

 

And let's not forget that the Clinic area is somewhat landlocked......

 

I would recommend the Shaker area. There's some good quality and affordably priced apartments there. I wouldn't recommend Coventry to an out-of-towner because some parts of it are failing, and how would they know where they are. Most of Shaker is right out up front and hard to miss, just stick to the myriad of apartments along the Square.

there's parts of Coventry failing?

 

that's new to me.

I think subclavius is really MTS in disguise!!!  again with the Shaker Square thing... :roll:..lol

^now, now, it's not as if only one person can possibly pimp Shaker Square. Allthough a disguise-that is a good idea. Create an alias now and wait to use it in 6 months at just the right moment.

 

Coventry failing? Whah?

Hi, I was browsing the different options of apartments near shaker square area,  I noticed some of them are not furnished, is it really the case there? any from that area can give me some options to choose from? at least I can start to narrow my search . . .probably, I could go for a ceiling of $600-$800 per month.  THanks again . . .

most are not furnished.  The arpartments are huge and its an 15 - 20 min max bus ride to euclid/105 st.

 

The range you state is probably reasonable.  I'm not a renter so I cannot be sure, maybe clvndr, eightshades or the pope can respond about rental ranges.

 

unfurnished 600 sq ft in a good building=550 bucks a month

I'm not MTS, and I have no interest in pimping Shaker other than trying to help a Londoner working in the UH/CH area find the best place to live in Cleveland.

 

I spent about a month in London and know there are some major differences in their urban lifestyle that invalidate the stock suggestions that may be appropriate for Americans moving to Cleveland, and that are given out reflexively on this forum. Once again, although Cleveland's mass transit system is better than most American cities, it pales in comparison to the London Underground and most native Londoners won't like it. You can go all over London just by hopping a couple of trains, never waiting too long for any of them, and staying in the "tube" the whole time. In Cleveland a similar length journey may involve multiple buses with a greater variance in timeliness, while the rider waits in a kiosk outside. In this case, that'll scratch out any neighborhoods west of the river.

 

And whereas other Americans won't mind living in areas like Ohio City and making the daily commute, that can't be said for those coming from overseas where the cities aren't built around the idea of urban sprawl and two cars in every garage.

 

Coventry's troubles are well documented in Lisa Rab's article Paradise Lost, which was published in the Cleveland Scene a couple of months ago, and supported by the many editorial responses it generated.

 

I'm just a nice guy trying to use my own experience from overseas, and from living to Cleveland, to help someone in similar circumstances find a good place for them to live. One thing that has always disappointed me about Cleveland is it's lack of world view and reluctance to accept other opinions and lifestyles outside of the native Clevelander's own social caste. You know, like when someone tries to help another person on a forum and they get accused of being someone they're not, or of having a hidden agenda.

Coventry's troubles are well documented in Lisa Rab's article Paradise Lost, which was published in the Cleveland Scene a couple of months ago, and supported by the many editorial responses it generated.

 

wow, so your opinion is based on the changing demographics in the school district? Dear lord, save us now

I wouldn't recommend Coventry to an out-of-towner because some parts of it are failing, and how would they know where they are. Most of Shaker is right out up front and hard to miss, just stick to the myriad of apartments along the Square.

 

I kind of get sick of this anti-Coventry argument. Sure, its not as hip and cool as it once was for the alternative crowd, but you can't argue that its not a happening place. Just because the places that one frequented as a kid are no longer present doesn't mean that there aren't new places that still bring in the crowds. Its not like the place has gone all Flint on us.

Have you ever been to Ohio City, subclavius?  Your description of it is woefully off.  It is probably the most pedestrian friendly neighborhood in Cleveland.  It does indeed possess a rail transit line with a quicker commute to downtown than Shaker Square thereon. 

 

Anyway, you are getting a little overdefensive considering that it was clearly a joke about you being MTS, as he is known as the resident Shaker Square booster.  Relax, get to know the people on the board, and you might just enjoy hanging around UO.  We kid about things.

Even though I look extremely biased...for your situation, you should definitely take a look at the Little Italy area.  Full houses can rent for as low as $850-$1000, so I'm confident you could find a one to two bedroom place in your price range.  Unfortunitely, rentals (or almost anything) are never listed on the internet, so you would have to scout it out (I know, coming form london) or send some one to look for "for rent' signs.  Honestly, the neighborhood is safe, vibrant, and very close to work.  It may be one of you best options.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

^or have someone post the super secret directory of rentals in Little Italy and Cleveland Heights....

I have lived in Coventry and Shaker and am a big fan of both.  I am confused also on the idea of coventry going downhill.  I think the only complaint against Coventry is that it has turned into more of a strip for college kids, but even that argument I don't agree with.  Its a great neighborhood for a young professional/couple.  Having a Marc's (discount market/pharmacy/random goods) on the street is really a great addition plus there are good local restaurants.  I miss living in that area.  Then again the Chipotle is moving to Cedar/Fairmout neighborgood so that is one strike against Coventry.  If the movie theater was still there I think the neighborhood would be just about perfect.  That's my sell on Coventry.  I think you can't go wrong with Shaker Square or Cedar/Fairmount either.  All three are great for anyone working near University Circle.  In a few years there should be some more options for those that want to live right at university Circle, but those projects are in the early stages.  Good luck with your move and finding a place that meets your needs.

kal-el,

 

Chipotle is moving? Though I always advocate the local Que Tal, I'm curious why? Is Johnny Malloy's Kicking them out?

kal-el,

 

Chipotle is moving? Though I always advocate the local Que Tal, I'm curious why? Is Johnny Malloy's Kicking them out?

 

My source in the burrito world says they like the cedar/fairmount location better.  I guess the coventry location is not as visible as they would like it to be.  I don't completely understand that, but oh well.  I like to support Que Tal as well and often do, but Chipotle seems to offer fewer, lets say "risks".  This is just my experience though.

where is there room at Cedar Fairmount?

where is there room at Cedar Fairmount?

 

don't know where it is going in, but the source is pretty solid.

I guess the coventry location is not as visible as they would like it to be.  I don't completely understand that, but oh well.

 

Please refresh my memory: that store is near the street corner, but set back from the road with planters or something in front of it, right?  If that's the case, maybe Chipotle thinks they aren't getting as much car traffic as they could be, but I don't think that would really matter in an area like Coventry.  That's the only reason I can think of, but it's really only speculation.

^ That makes sense to me. I think a lot of national chains and retailers evaluate traffic based on automobiles. They don't seem to have have the resources (or common sense) to evaluate traffic coming from pedestrians. I'm sure corporate offices noticed that more cars travel on Cedar than they do Coventry, hence their move; nevermind the pedestrian traffic. It's like in Oxford when Wendy's had to move from the heart of uptown a couple miles north of town just so it could have a drive-thru.  The people who make these decisions are pretty stupid.

I guess the coventry location is not as visible as they would like it to be.  I don't completely understand that, but oh well.

 

Please refresh my memory: that store is near the street corner, but set back from the road with planters or something in front of it, right?  If that's the case, maybe Chipotle thinks they aren't getting as much car traffic as they could be, but I don't think that would really matter in an area like Coventry.  That's the only reason I can think of, but it's really only speculation.

 

Yeah, its not that invisible, but it is set back from the road. Its in the curved portion of coventry inside the Centrum's Retail portion.

Coventry may be less interesting as an edgy area, but it's not "failing." I don't really go over there to hang out anymore, but if I lived in Cleveland Heights, I wouldn't come over to my neighborhood in Lakewood. Actually, I think there may be more babes over there, so maybe I'll move next May.

Coventry may be less interesting as an edgy area, but it's not "failing." I don't really go over there to hang out anymore, but if I lived in Cleveland Heights, I wouldn't come over to my neighborhood in Lakewood. Actually, I think there may be more babes over there, so maybe I'll move next May.

 

a) same deal here, i enjoy lakewood, but its just "so" far away for a night out

b) regarding babes, the grass is always greener on the other side. Trust me, the girls here get old (figuratively) after 7 years.

wow 'relocating to cleveland' has turned into "Babes'n'Chipotle"

 

i think chipotle is moving due to the fact that its too close to Que Tal and Qdoba in University Circle

wow, so your opinion is based on the changing demographics in the school district? Dear lord, save us now

 

Thanks Pope, for proving my point about the provincial mindset that many people in Cleveland have. I doubt any of the regulars on this forum think you were joking or kidding. Usually forum Mods practice a little more diplomacy than that.

 

As a former grad student I was trained to occasionally provide support for my opinions, rather than just my opinions alone. The article is something of substance that someone overseas can find online in order to help them make up their minds for themselves. It details the impact the changing demographics is having on the fabric of society and the living conditions in the area. The responses it generated unanimously agreed with the author, and included residents and public safety workers from Coventry.

 

So here I am, attacked again when only trying to help someone. Maybe I just should start telling people to stay away and cancel their transfers so they don't have to go through what I did.