Hey everybody, hope you can help me in finding the right place!

 

I am currently living in Amsterdam (i am dutch) and i got a job offer in Wellington,OH. 30 yrs old, male and being single, that doesnt really sound exciting so i want to move to Cleveland.

 

Any suggestions on neighborhood? i am looking for a nice apartment to rent. Downtown looks like it has some nice apartments but i was also in westlake. nice as well but a little far from where the bars, clubs etc are right?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

Wow, Wellington. That's a farming community it's and a long drive from the city. It's about 35 miles from downtown Cleveland (56 km).

 

What's up with these new jobs opening up in the hinterlands? Last week someone inquires about Middlefield. Now Wellington. The good news is, most of the drive to Wellington from Cleveland is via Interstate 480 (and farther out, via an interstate-quality State Route 10) - think motorway. Westlake is about 25-30 miles from Wellington, and will be a quicker drive with the late-2008 opening of a four-lane road (Crocker-Stearns) linking Westlake to Interstate 480/State Route 10.

 

If you live in Westlake, you will probably have to drive a lot more than you're used to, even to do the smallest of errands. There is very little transit and most housing is separated by distance, lack of pedestrian facilities, etc. from shopping, restaurants and bars. But if you want to cut down on your driving and do a little walking, you at least have Crocker Park (a newly built "lifestyle center" with apartments, townhouses, shops, bars, weekly farmers market and grocery stores). See:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2710.msg6577#msg6577

 

As you can see from that forum (amongst the articles and diagrams), a lot of us urban purists don't care for Crocker Park. But, not everyone is an urban purist!

 

For the official site, see: www.crockerpark.com/

 

Here's some photos of Crocker Park:

 

 

 

Wellington...that is about an hour or more from Cleveland.  I had to look it up on Google maps because I was not familiar.

 

You may want to look into the city of Oberlin.  It is a smaller city, but it home to one of the most liberal colleges in the nation.  There is a small college town feel to the place.  It is worth a look, since it is close to where you will work.

 

If you are willing to make the commute, please check out the other threads on this page to learn more about areas of the city.  If you still have questions, please post them here and we will be happy to assist.  :)

 

Also, what brings you to the Cleveland area? 

depending on your budget, work hours, weighting of commute vs. going out,

 

you might consider renting a place near wellington, or your job.  rents are generally very affordable (esp. compared to AMS). 

 

then, you could rent a room in a house or apartment downtown cleveland or near downtown cleveland, and you could plan on spending the weekends at that house/apt.  you'd probably be able to share a house or apartment for a few hundred a month for something pretty nice.  this might end up being cheaper in the end in saved gas, wear on your car, etc.  and as long as you weren't set on going out on tuesday nights for instance, it would put you close to work during the week and close to entertainment on the weekends (or occassionally during the week).

 

if you signed 6 month leases, you could re evaluate which area you like best, how bad the drive is, etc. and ultimately could choose 1 area.

 

there is a fragmented dutch community, but it primarily seems to focus on events in eastern cuyahoga and summit counties for events (not very close to wellington).  there seem to be more dutch companies / affiliated companies out that way (philips, some rubber company, manufacturing, etc.).

West Side Market sells stroopwafels!!!  That's all you need to know!

^ west side market also sells komijnekaas, kruidenmix and sambal oelek.

West Side Market sells stroopwafels!!!  That's all you need to know!

 

I think I just got a cavity thinking about those!  Although I LOVE the WSM, IMO, the best stroopwafels are to be found at Schiphol airport!

 

A stroopwafel and cup of strong black coffee...um, um good!

 

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm [insert MayDay's Homer picture ]

yes the best stroopwafesl are definetly located on the other side of the atlantic!  I would eat a pack of them for my meals!  SOOOO GOOD AND ADDICTING! 

yes the best stroopwafesl are definetly located on the other side of the atlantic!  I would eat a pack of them for my meals!  SOOOO GOOD AND ADDICTING! 

 

Cle2032 couldn't agree more....now back to the obesity thread!

Thanks for all your suggestions! I really dont mind the commute. In my current job here in Holland i do a lot more travelling and Wellington is not really a happening place. Good to see that such a small country can make you people go crazy over our local food! stroopwafels are indeed the best ever!

 

on topic: how big would the difference in commute be between living in Westlake and Downtown? I am a urban purist as well therefore i feel that i would feel much more "at home" downtown than i would for example in Westlake..

 

Thanks!

Dutch, your commute from Westlake to Wellington would be about 45km. A commute from downtown Cleveland to Wellington would be approximately 65km.

 

If you don't mind my asking, what is your profession/industry? If you find the job in Wellington isn't appealing after a few months, there may be options that are closer to the city.

 

This is a perfect example of why it's foolish for companies to locate far, far away from public transit routes. 

I am a Financial controller and auditor. working for an American manufacturing company. Wellington is only one of the subsidiaries.. The job in Wellington is very appealling and a great career move. but i need a bigger city than Wellington or Oberlin to live in.. that's why i wouldn't mind the commute. I was in Cleveland a few weeks ago and downtown seems like a much nicer (real urban) place to live than Westlake (all the new stuff like Crocker Park which i don't really like).. are there any other neighborhoods that you would advice me to look into?

 

Thanks.

Since you won't mind the commute, and you'll need easy access to the highways (specifically I-71 and I-480 which will take you out toward the Wellington area), you'll want to look in areas that are no further east than downtown Cleveland. I say that because the Innerbelt (I-71/I-90 near downtown) has bad traffic during rush hour. If you locate somewhere west, you'll not only be "reverse commuting" (everyone else is driving toward Cleveland, you'll be driving away), but you'll miss the traffic jams on the Innerbelt entirely. Anyone who recommends anywhere east of downtown for your circumstances doesn't know what they're talking about.

 

I can recommend downtown, Ohio City, and possibly Tremont. Downtown is the most "built up" area of the three, Ohio City is a good balance of "built up" with a neighborhood feel, and Tremont is probably the most neighborhood feeling of the three. I live in Tremont, and I love it but if you're looking for a more densely built environment, I'd suggest Ohio City or the western areas of downtown (the West Bank of the Flats; Warehouse District; Stonebridge Apartments, etc.).

 

Here's a map to give you some perspective - the red line represents the Innerbelt (the rush hour traffic jams); the blue areas show each of the areas I'd recommend; and the green dots represent where you would access I-71. Note that in Tremont and Downtown, you can probably be on the highway within a few minutes (or less). In Ohio City, you'll have to spend a few more minutes on the surface streets to get to the highway.

Welcome, Dutch. You are our new best friend ... we love it when people prioritize real urban living over short commute times :-)

 

As for an ideal location, I think you would need to provide a little more information about what amenities you would value most ... what would your ideal neighborhood be like? Cleveland is a city of tiny, happening and very distinct districts, so the living experience of Detroit Shoreway, downtown and Little Italy would be very different, despite the fact that all three neighborhoods would have an urban feel and access to bars, etc. I know commute length is not as much a factor for you, but I would imagine your best bets would still probably be neighborhood on the West Side or in central Cleveland ... namely, Edgewater, Detroit Shoreway, Old Brooklyn, Ohio City, Tremont, downtown or possibly Asiatown (from west to east). You can get more information about individual neighborhoods by visiting this interactive map: http://livingincleveland.nhlink.net/neighborhoodtours.htm (the website is currently being redeveloped, so sorry for the shoddy design ... the neighborhood pictures in the "neighborhood tour" section aren't the best and don't always do the neighborhoods justice; you might want to check out the corresponding brochures for each neighborhood).

 

Keep in mind that the seven neighborhoods I mentioned are just a sampling of Cleveland's several dozen. Other popular neighborhoods among members on the board include Shaker Square, Little Italy and University Circle  (these are all on the east side, however, and will lead to added drive time to Wellington), and there are many, many more. Give us a little more detail and we can narrow it down for you.

 

 

 

:roll:  :roll:  :-P

 

I'm sorry but given some peoples' history (and provincialism) in threads like these, I felt it best to directly address it. Dutch is going to be commuting to Wellington which is 35 miles from downtown - and that's just as the crow flies. Add on the time it takes to get to the highway, and then the time to get past any traffic trouble spots, and it would be absurd to suggest somewhere like Shaker Square, etc. They're beautiful, gorgeous areas of the city but in this case they're simply not practical. Would you prefer I suggest North Olmsted? :-P

^ Point well taken, MayDay ... I actually thought twice when mentioning my perennial province of Asiatown, but it didn't seem like the extra 3 mins. would kill anyone already thinking about downtown.  :wink: And I agree that Shaker Square would be well off the beaten path (sorry MTS).

 

But my point above was that we really need more information from Dutch before making specific recommendations. He has already expressed that commute time is not his top priority. So if he were to specifically describe amenities inherent to Shaker Square, then it might be worth his while to check them out, as long as he was operating with the full understanding that it would lengthen his drive time. I do think OC, Tremont and downtown are probably spatially the best options but with the detail we have, I think we should probably be casting a wider net to make sure he lands in a neighborhood that is tailored to his preferences.

8ShadesofGray, very well said.

It'll be a long drive, but definitely worth it. I lived in a small town 60 miles outside of Detroit right out of college, and although the job was a great learning experience, it was socially the year from hell. All I did was ride my bike and watch my DVDs. I can only imagine what it'd be like moving to a new country and living in a small town.

 

I think everyone has given good advice so far. I like Ohio City a lot.

 

 

8Shades, fwiw, I wasn't directing my comments at you. And not that it should need to be restated, but I love and adore many of the hoods east of downtown. I had thought seriously about suggesting Asiatown as well - but let's face it, it's not always just three minutes to hop on the Innerbelt and away you go. With the current (and upcoming) construction projects slated for that stretch, there could be some serious headaches for anyone hoping to use the Innerbelt as their primary commuting route, and especially if that's how they'll be starting their day.

 

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir but I spent six months commuting from Hudson to Cleveland (about the same distance, albeit with better highway access - on a bad day it was 1.5 hours) and as jamiec said, even if driving doesn't phase you - a lengthy commute seriously detracts from your quality of life.

 

 

 

How long will your company put you up in temporary living?  Just as a practical matter, I would try to take as much time and try to spend a day or evening in some of the areas mentioned.  My personal favorite is the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, just west to Ohio City along the lake.  (you can look up treads containing W. 65th, Battery Park or Gordon Square as they are sub neighborhoods of Detroit Shoreway to get the vibe of the area)

 

I agree with you about commuting to work.  Currently I live in Chicago, I recently moved from a north side neighborhood to downtown and shaved 40 minutes from my hour and a half commute.  But, I have to say it was a mistake, I would rather drive the extra time and live in a place I love.  (KJP, I tried commuting via transit, due to the particular location of this plant it is a 3+hour travel time)

Dutch, here are some photos of the different neighborhoods mentioned so far:

 

Ohio City: http://urbanohio.com/ClevOhiocity.htm

Tremont: http://www.urbanohio.com/ClevTremont.htm

Downtown: http://urbanohio.com/ClevDT.htm

 

These aren't comprehensive, but they'll give you a good feel for the overall vibe of each area.

 

8Shades, fwiw, I wasn't directing my comments at you. And not that it should need to be restated, but I love and adore many of the hoods east of downtown. I had thought seriously about suggesting Asiatown as well - but let's face it, it's not always just three minutes to hop on the Innerbelt and away you go.

 

Sorry if I gave that impression. I totally agree ... best bets probably are Tremont or the OC (downtown exits, even south of downtown can cause headaches, too, particularly if you're commuting into downtown opposite a sporting event). These would definitely be the first I'd look at, Dutch, but if nothing resonates with you, just know that there are additional options out there, albeit with the price of spending more time in the car everyday.

 

There are also a number of neighborhoods on the southwest side of town that would cut your commute even further, but while they are in the city proper, they might not give you the access to a cosmopolitan feel ... still plenty of proximity to bars (mostly of the speakeasy/pub/neighborhood watering holes) but not so much of a club scene. Still, might be worth checking out, depending on what kind of atmosphere you're looking for.

 

 

 

(KJP, I tried commuting via transit, due to the particular location of this plant it is a 3+hour travel time)

 

I absolve you of your sins, my son.

not like it sounds that you will live there, but dutch have you gotten to know wellington? it's a cute little all-american farm town. i used to drive thru it on rt58 from columbus-lorain to visit my mom. i thought you ought to know a couple things as conversation starters.

 

wellington definately has ohio's if not america's funkiest/quirkiest olde town hall:

 

 

it's famous sons include former ohio governor and statesman myron t. herrick and archibald m. willard -- painter of the iconic american "spirit of '76" painting:

 

 

and most of all every august the locals are very proud to host the lorain county fair -- info:

 

http://www.loraincountyfair.com/home01.html

 

wiilard's painting of wellington:

 

 

welcome to area. if you don't pick downtown cleveland or midtown after that i'd say tremont. after that on the westside oc and detroit-shoreway are fine too.

 

as for driving -- no worries, you'll find cleveland and ne ohio overbuilt for highways given a shrunken population, so the reverse commute will usually be a breeze compared to what you would find in much of the rest of the usa. consider it a perk of your job and commute.

 

 

Hey Dutch!  Welcome to America and Cleveland.  I studied at Groningen for a quarter, and had a great time in The Netherlands.  Stroopwafels rock, and I also miss ollie bollen (spelling?).  I haven't seen a croquette (spelling) or an automat since leaving Groningen, though, and that's a good thing! 

 

I also live in Downtown, so I definitely recommend it, though the other neighborhoods mentioned are nice, too.  They probably won't seem very "urban" by Dutch standards, though.  They are more like small towns in the middle of a major metropolis, made up almost entirely of more small towns.  If you're an urban "purist" Downtown is probably the best option.  It isn't as lively as central city Amsterdam, but it does have some nice bars and restaurants, and is on the upswing.  Let me know if you have any more questions, I'd love to help.

Hey everybody, first of all thanks for all your replies in this thread. you are giving me a lot of valuable information.

 

To X: nice to see a reply from someone who can relate to where i am coming from and can see what kind of environment i am used to now. Everybody i know who has been to Holland misses stroopwafels, oliebollen (only single l in the first part) and kroketten (which for everybody else here is the dutch version of very popular fast food.)

 

so my amenities: like a very lively neighborhood with some good bars, clubs etc nearby (preferably walking distance), some good places to get food that i am used to.. the european foods are definitely smaller in portion and usually contain less fat.. hope i am not offending anybody with this remark.. i love sitting outside drinking beer with friends so bars with a terrace are a big plus. is this the kind of information you need to help me further? i have been to the warehouse district and that felt very much like home.. nice apartments, good bars, good food shops.. the other neighborhoods feel slightly more suburban.. like X said, more town within a big city than a real "urban" feel.

 

thanks again for all your reactions!

 

 

I would definitely say downtown is your best bet, although you might also check out Tremont, Ohio City and Edgewater. All of those neighborhoods have lots of outdoor seating, restaurants and bars, although downtown is your best bet for clubs. Ohio City is home to the West Side Market, which is a world bazaar of food. As far as healthy eating, there are a number of delis, etc. that specialize in healthy fare and vegetarian fare. Dish in Tremont and Global Dish Deli in Ohio City come to mind, but there are actually a lot of places like that. For groceries, Cleveland also has several organic groceries where you could get a variety of healthier foods. Unfortunately, none of these are directly in the neighborhoods that have been recommended. Your best bet would probably be Nature's Bin in Rocky River or the Co-op in University Circle ... other options are Trader Joe's and Whole Foods but those would be a little further out for you. Most of our groceries now offer some form of organic section (some better than others), but you could certainly find healthier foods at the Dave's in Ohio City or at Constantino's in the Warehouse District.

thanks again for all your reactions!

 

If you really want to thank us, once you're settled in Cleveland MAKE some HOMEADE stroopwafels and invite us over!  LOL  :-D

 

I love your closure!  LOL