Yes, that's fine to post - we always ask people to disclose their 'affiliation' if they advertise a business or service, in this case you've stated you're the homeowner. Obviously UrbanOhio.com is not liable or representing #legaleseindemnifyingyaddayadda

Hello friends.

 

After being moved around by the military for 23 years my family and I are finally coming back home. I was born in Parma but also lived in Lakewood (my favorite place in Ohio), East Cleveland (Kinsman area) and Lorain. My wife is a Lorain native.

 

I've only been back to Ohio 3 times over the years with my last visit being in 2010. My wife has been offered a job at the Louis Stokes VA and we're looking at renting for about a year while we acclimate to civilian life. At the moment we're looking at Cleveland Heights for a rental as it seems there are more rental properties there than anywhere else in the city. Once we get our feet on the ground we'll be looking at Lakewood to buy a home.

 

We've got two younger children (elementary and middle school age) so of course safety and good schools are our priority. So I just wanted to touch bases with folks who might be able to let me in on the crime and education situation in Cleveland Hts. From what I've been reading it's pretty good for the most part but some folks seem to think that education is declining and crime is in the rise in CH.

 

My family and I have lived in some sketchy areas throughout or travels so as long as there's no drive bys or home invasions on a daily basis we should be happy.

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

Welcome home, Tommy!

 

The dynamics probably remain largely the same as when you left.  The south side of Cleveland Heights is more desirable than the north side, just as the west side of Lakewood is more desirable than the east.  That is mostly the result of neighboring communities.  Better elementary schools and lesser crime in those parts of the respective cities.  Both are still very safe places to live on the scale of walkable, urban areas. Neither is free of crime. Schools are not top-of-the-line, but not bottom of the barrel either.  Cleveland Heights is more diverse in terms of having more black people and Jews, and Lakewood is more diverse with its latino population

Thank you very much for the information Hts!

 

Welcome home, Tommy!

 

The dynamics probably remain largely the same as when you left.  The south side of Cleveland Heights is more desirable than the north side, just as the west side of Lakewood is more desirable than the east.  That is mostly the result of neighboring communities.  Better elementary schools and lesser crime in those parts of the respective cities.  Both are still very safe places to live on the scale of walkable, urban areas. Neither is free of crime. Schools are not top-of-the-line, but not bottom of the barrel either.  Cleveland Heights is more diverse in terms of having more black people and Jews, and Lakewood is more diverse with its latino population

 

Lakewood has numerous other populations, as there are some 40+ languages spoken by children in the school system. Five years ago, the fastest growing populations were Latinos, Albanians and Middle Easterners. Now it is Middle Eastern and Nepalese/Bhutanese immigrants due to unrest in their respective homelands. Lakewood schools underwent a major capital improvement campaign in recent years, but their educational scores remain only slightly better than average. You might consider renting in Lakewood from the outset to avoid having to move your kids into another school system. There are many, many rental options in Lakewood -- where I've lived (Gold Coast area) for 18 years and counting. There has actually been in an uptick in non-violent crimes (shopliftings, car break-ins, burglaries) in Lakewood in the last couple years along the Cleveland line as gentrification in neighborhoods near downtown appears to be pushing lower-income residents farther west. So the old rule still applies -- fewer safety concerns the farther west you go or as you stay closer to the lake. Use zillow.com, rent.com or craigslist to find rentals -- most of which are in houses (duplexes, etc). See the other recent thread by another person relocating to Cleveland for suggestions regarding ways to judge renting a duplex.

Thank you for the additional information KJP.

 

When we learned that we would be returning to Cleveland my first choice was Lakewood. However, we've found that renal properties are few and far between. Which is what pushed us into the Cleveland Heights area.

 

Ideally we can rent in the same area we are looking to buy so, as you said, we can keep our kids in the same schools. Being a military family my children are used to moving and they adapt very quickly to new environments. We would like for them to have roots and be able to make life long friends of course.

 

As for the ethnic diversity that isn't really a problem for us at all. My wife his Hispanic and having lived in several countries around the world and of course being a member of an ethnically diverse military we are always open minded to other cultures. So long as other cultures are open minded and respectful.

 

 

Thank you for the additional information KJP.

 

When we learned that we would be returning to Cleveland my first choice was Lakewood. However, we've found that renal properties are few and far between. Which is what pushed us into the Cleveland Heights area.

 

Ideally we can rent in the same area we are looking to buy so, as you said, we can keep our kids in the same schools. Being a military family my children are used to moving and they adapt very quickly to new environments. We would like for them to have roots and be able to make life long friends of course.

 

As for the ethnic diversity that isn't really a problem for us at all. My wife his Latino Hispanic and having lived in several countries around the world and of course being a member of an ethnically diverse military we are always open minded to other cultures. So long as other cultures are open minded and respectful.

 

Have you also thought of OC and Tremont?  Those are extremely diverse communities and have several Latin businesses near by.

Thank you for the additional information KJP.

 

When we learned that we would be returning to Cleveland my first choice was Lakewood. However, we've found that renal properties are few and far between. Which is what pushed us into the Cleveland Heights area.

 

Ideally we can rent in the same area we are looking to buy so, as you said, we can keep our kids in the same schools. Being a military family my children are used to moving and they adapt very quickly to new environments. We would like for them to have roots and be able to make life long friends of course.

 

As for the ethnic diversity that isn't really a problem for us at all. My wife is Latino Hispanic and having lived in several countries around the world and of course being a member of an ethnically diverse military we are always open minded to other cultures. So long as other cultures are open minded and respectful.

 

Have you also thought of OC and Tremont?  Those are extremely diverse communities and have several Latin businesses near by.

 

Thank you very much for the information MTS. I have been looking into Treemont. "OC" I am unfamiliar with. Since my wife is Hispanic I'm sure she will appreciate visiting the Latin businesses especially any Latin food markets.

Welcome home, Tommy!

 

The dynamics probably remain largely the same as when you left.  The south side of Cleveland Heights is more desirable than the north side, just as the west side of Lakewood is more desirable than the east.  That is mostly the result of neighboring communities.  Better elementary schools and lesser crime in those parts of the respective cities.  Both are still very safe places to live on the scale of walkable, urban areas. Neither is free of crime. Schools are not top-of-the-line, but not bottom of the barrel either.  Cleveland Heights is more diverse in terms of having more black people and Jews, and Lakewood is more diverse with its latino population

 

Lakewood has numerous other populations, as there are some 40+ languages spoken by children in the school system. Five years ago, the fastest growing populations were Latinos, Albanians and Middle Easterners. Now it is Middle Eastern and Nepalese/Bhutanese immigrants due to unrest in their respective homelands.

 

I was speaking more to the diversity factors which differentiate the cities.  Both are extremely diverse.  Not just racially, either..... but economically and ethnically.  Both have seen a large influx of those immigrant groups, particularly the refugees from Nepal/Bhutan.  Heights just does not have a significant latino population, and Lakewood certainly has a much smaller population of blacks than CH.

I'm in the Bird Town section of Lakewood, right across from Harrison Elementary. I'd recommend it, and yes I'm biased. Cheaper homes to rent or buy. And you're still within a short walk of Madison Park, RTA, Madison Library, school and about ten cool restaurants....well, eleven with the micro brewery/pizza parlor that's opening on Robin!!

 

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2014/06/lakewood_commission_grants_its.html

 

Anyhow I also like Cleveland Hts and Tremont quite a bit. Good luck in the search!

Thank you all very much for the information. I can't tell you how much my family and I appreciate it. It's not easy transitioning from military to civilian life after two decades.

 

Surf I'm also kind of biased when it comes to Lakewood. When I was a kid we lived in Lake House apartments then we had a house near the lake. A huge duplex with a terrifying attic....that I would play in ever chance I got.  :wink: We used to eat at Tick Tock Tavern which arguable has the best ribs and rolls on the planet. I bought my first comic there and in general had a blast for the few years I lived there. As an adult when I would come back to visit there are several cafes and stores in Lakewood that I really enjoyed. B-Ware video is among my favorites. Not sure if it's still there.

 

Unfortunately I just can't seem to find any rentals there. I'm looking on a few different rental sites but I'm sure we'll be able to find more properties once we get boots on the ground and are actually able to scout the area ourselves. Our online search keeps pulling us to CH as it has the higest concentration of rental properties in our price range but I'm holding out hope that something will pop up in Lakewood.

There are signs for rentals in front of buildings all around the neighborhood, where I take 30-minute walks most mornings. You can see my pics in the Cleveland Random photos thread in the Ohio Photos section.

 

While Tick Tock Tavern still exists, the ribs aren't as good as they used to be. Otherwise it hasn't changed one bit since the 1970s!

 

So you've had no luck with rent.com? Most of the Gold Coast buildings are owned by decent-sized real estate holding companies which use realtors to market their rentals.

Lakewood doesn't seem to have the diversity he is looking for.

 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3941664.html

Lakewood doesn't seem to have the diversity he is looking for.

 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3941664.html

 

Well thank goodness they will be renting first which will give his family an opportunity to learn/relearn Cleveland and see what neighborhood / suburb is right for his family.

Lakewood doesn't seem to have the diversity he is looking for.

 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3941664.html

 

It has double the ratio of foreign-born citizens as the rest of Ohio. And many foreigners (including second-generation) are white. For example, my neighbors from Belarus, Hungary, Serbia and Albania. To me they are more diverse than the African-American family across the hall whose ancestors have been in the USA for centuries.

Thank you all very much for the information. I can't tell you how much my family and I appreciate it. It's not easy transitioning from military to civilian life after two decades.

 

Surf I'm also kind of biased when it comes to Lakewood. When I was a kid we lived in Lake House apartments then we had a house near the lake. A huge duplex with a terrifying attic....that I would play in ever chance I got.  :wink: We used to eat at Tick Tock Tavern which arguable has the best ribs and rolls on the planet. I bought my first comic there and in general had a blast for the few years I lived there. As an adult when I would come back to visit there are several cafes and stores in Lakewood that I really enjoyed. B-Ware video is among my favorites. Not sure if it's still there.

 

Unfortunately I just can't seem to find any rentals there. I'm looking on a few different rental sites but I'm sure we'll be able to find more properties once we get boots on the ground and are actually able to scout the area ourselves. Our online search keeps pulling us to CH as it has the higest concentration of rental properties in our price range but I'm holding out hope that something will pop up in Lakewood.

My neighbor across the street, Polish Joe, has been working on his rental house for ages. Too bad that's not ready yet - it's huge and right next to the school.

 

Wow I have not been to Tick Tock in ages, but it seems pretty lively on the weekends. Seems like an old school crowd. Sadly, B-Ware and many of the cool, edgy shops from when the hood was called the "Village on Madison" are gone. But there have been some great replacements with Thai Kitchen, Barrocco (Central American), Flying Rib (ribs!), Taco Tontos, Mahalls Bowling, Thai Hut, Khiems Vietnamese, etc.

 

Sorry you're not finding the rentals, but like I said, Cleveland Hts has lots of positives too.

 

 

I googled "Lakewood, Ohio rentals" and this was the first result. Lots of rentals are displayed......

 

http://www.trulia.com/for_rent/Lakewood,OH

 

BTW: avoid AIY Properties.

Lakewood doesn't seem to have the diversity he is looking for.

 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3941664.html

 

Actually diversity isn't even a factor for my family and I. We're looking for a safe neighborhood, good schools, relatively short commute to work, affordable property, local amenities. In that order.

 

If my kids can ride their bikes to the park without being offered drugs and without getting shot then I could care less about the racial/ethnic mix of the neighborhood. Nostalgia is pulling me toward Lakewood but ultimately we're going to live somewhere that is best for our kids.

 

Thanks for all of the advice an input everyone. It is very much appreciated!

 

Trulia is a new one for me! Mostly I've been using ClevlandHomeFinder. com as well as Homes.com, realtor.com, and Zillow. Even Craigslist (which I am very nervous about using) But I'm expanding my search every day and am definitely heading the good advice from the members here on the forums.

 

I'm looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in the $1100 a moth ballpark. That number could change once the salary negotiation is settled. We'll know more on Thursday.

 

Lakewood doesn't seem to have the diversity he is looking for.

 

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/3941664.html

 

I know these are the numbers, but if you want to see what America looks like, or perhaps even the world, go to Lakewood Park on July 4th. It's by far the most diverse crowd I've ever witnessed. Every day in my small neighborhood you'll see white kids and black kids playing together, and it's really cool to see. All of my new neighbors are from Nepal. Freaking Nepal!!!!

Sorry TommyD, I thought you said you were looking for a diverse neighborhood.

 

KGP and Surfohio, I was just going by the census numbers.  I'm happy to see the diversity.  I don't care where someone's from as long as they are good people.  I don't know anyone from Nepal, so I'm not sure what you mean, other than they are good people.

 

I guess my all while neighborhood of Cleveland that I grew up in was more diverse than I thought, Germans, Italians, Poles, Ukrainian, Chech, etc etc.

Sorry TommyD, I thought you said you were looking for a diverse neighborhood.

 

KGP and Surfohio, I was just going by the census numbers.  I'm happy to see the diversity.  I don't care where someone's from as long as they are good people.  I don't know anyone from Nepal, so I'm not sure what you mean, other than they are good people.

 

No worries Bosco. For the record I'm not disagreeing with the numbers, only that based on my perception Lakewood, particularly my hood, feels very diverse to me.

 

Oh - regarding Nepal, I am just kinda excited to have neighbors from so far away. The adults still wear the traditional clothing, but the kids dress and run around like run of the mill American kids.

That will be good for everybody!  In general, the US can be very welcoming, and much more tolerant than other locales. 

The search for a rental continues. I've seen a few properties that look promising.

 

We're looking at getting a 3 bedroom home so I was wondering approximately what the utility bills might look like. Obviously bills will change from family to family, house to house, and depend on how much gas is used. Just trying to get a ballpark figure. I was also reading about snow removal fees being as high as $100 a month!

 

As always thanks for any and all assistance.

Snow removal fees? Never heard of them. In what context do you see these? They should be part of your rent unless you rent an entire house. Then get a neighborhood kid to shovel your drive/walkway.

 

But I can proudly say I haven't shoveled snow or cut grass in 21 years -- the benefit of living in an apartment building for three years and then a mid-rise condo for 18.

 

BTW, your utility bills will be less in an apartment building because you share walls, floors, ceilings with others. My electric bill for a 900-square-foot apartment-style condo is $80-$160 per month (more in summer for AC and in winter because I have electric panel heaters). I rarely use my furnace but I do have a gas stove I use several times a week, so my gas charges are $20-$40 per month.

I've heard of snow removal fees being part of HOA dues.  Never heard of them being charged separately to rental tenants.  That said, despite the common misconception, a rental landlord has no duty to clear the steps, sidewalks, etc. of natural accumulations of snow/ice.  I suppose the landlord could very well choose to charge a fee for it.  Makes more sense just to roll it into the rent, I would think.  It might be for psychological effect..... trying to keep the cheapskates away.

There are hundreds of rentals in lakewood but most are not advertised online. You find them by driving up and down the streets and writing down phone numbers, unfortunately. But I echo a lot of what KJP has said. I would encourage you to consider looking towards the western part of Lakewood and would even suggest you look at rentals in Rocky River, which will be far fewer but the schools are a step above Lakewood's. As people have said, the Lakewood schools aren't bad, but neither are they fantastic. I lived all over Lakewood for many years and my Mom has lived there for more than 20 years. KJP's assessment about uptick in non-violent crime is accurate, but there are a lot more stores and restaurants now and it's a more vibrant city.

 

I've never been charged for snow removal in any apartment, ever. But I have never rented a duplex or house, so maybe that's a different story.

 

 

Thanks Rock

 

I'm out of the country at the moment so driving around town looking for properties really isn't an option at the moment.  :-D

 

I wasn't sure if the snow removal thing was something that the city charged or not. I'd rather not pay for snow removal seeing as how I have perfectly healthy children who will do it in exchange for food and shelter.  :whip:

Yeah, I get that. More formal apartment complexes like the places on the Gold Coast will have a presence online, but it's hard to look for a rental in Lakewood without the physical presence. There are hundreds and hundreds of rentals but even in this day and age, a lot of them are not advertised online.

 

There are a number of us on here who are parents and a much smaller number who are female; I am both. If I can be of help to your wife in any way in terms of things she might be wondering about in terms of Mom-think, please let me know. Moms kind of think about things differently than other people sometimes, I think.

Thanks Rock. Much appreciated! I'll pass it along to the Boss.

 

My wife will start work the first week of November. She and I will be flying to Cleveland in a week or two so we can find a place to live and I can find work. Once we're set up we'll send for the munchkins.

 

It looks like we're going to have to go for Cleveland Hts. after all. Between rent prices and proximity to her job we don't really have much choice at the moment.

Global Cleveland ‏@GlobalCleveland  6m6 minutes ago

December 27, Discover Cleveland with a Cleveland City Life Bus Tour @CLEProgress http://ow.ly/FSPzF

Thinking of moving into the city of CLE? Here are tours that will look at different neighborhoods & housing options. http://t.co/K9EviOBGTg

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet but "Live! Cleveland" is an organization that aims to give information about living in Cleveland neighborhoods.  Anyone looking to relocated should check it out for more information.

 

http://www.livecleveland.org/

 

I heard the website is going through a major relaunch so it should look different pretty soon.

Sometimes I just like looking at how the upper echelon lives. When their homes go on the market, we get a peak at it. While this isn't the penthouse for a 1-percenter (which is a huge, high-ceiling, multi-floor home), try this $1 million upper-floor suite at Pinnacle:

 

http://listings.citiroc.com/idx/photogallery/b230/3645866

Sometimes I just like looking at how the upper echelon lives. When their homes go on the market, we get a peak at it. While this isn't the penthouse for a 1-percenter (which is a huge, high-ceiling, multi-floor home), try this $1 million upper-floor suite at Pinnacle:

 

http://listings.citiroc.com/idx/photogallery/b230/3645866

 

That furniture leave a lot to be desired.  Money does not equal taste!

 

That furniture leave a lot to be desired.  Money does not equal taste!

 

Opinion = taste = many flavors (at least 31 of them!).

 

That furniture leave a lot to be desired.  Money does not equal taste!

 

Opinion = taste = many flavors (at least 31 of them!).

That furniture is hideous and doesn't fit in with the design of the apartment. 

Whatev....

The status of Quo? It’s a go

May 16, 2015 UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO

By CHUCK SODER

 

Amit Patel and Naman Desai are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to move to Cleveland.

 

Their new company, Quo, aims to help people quickly find the right apartment, in the right neighborhood.

 

It’s designed to be a white glove service, but Quo’s concierges get their hands dirty. First, the company gathers some basic information (price range, how many bedrooms do you want, etc.) and some non-basic information (what type of music do you like, what’s your favorite clothing store) through a questionnaire on its website.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150516/NEWS/150519851/the-status-of-quo-it-s-a-go

Well, this is interesting, despite the typo in the article "were to look." This is sort of what we do here, but a less formalized program and we of course don't charge anyone. I wonder if they are really only using their own two experiences as a base of knowledge for people? Seems it would be limited in a lot of ways.

 

I'd also be interested to know if either party is a cleveland native and knows history, urban development stuff, etc. I mean, the people here can tell you a lot about a neighborhood from street to street, amenities nearby, bars and restaurants, etc. This seems pretty limited to the apartments themselves, but of course I'm not on the site so who knows.

 

I've often thought something like this should exist, so good for them.

 

What are your thoughts, UO people?

What are your thoughts, UO people?

 

Well I think we should go into business and put Quo out of business! ;)

The status of Quo? It’s a go

May 16, 2015 UPDATED 2 DAYS AGO

By CHUCK SODER

 

Amit Patel and Naman Desai are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to move to Cleveland.

 

Their new company, Quo, aims to help people quickly find the right apartment, in the right neighborhood.

 

It’s designed to be a white glove service, but Quo’s concierges get their hands dirty. First, the company gathers some basic information (price range, how many bedrooms do you want, etc.) and some non-basic information (what type of music do you like, what’s your favorite clothing store) through a questionnaire on its website.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150516/NEWS/150519851/the-status-of-quo-it-s-a-go

 

Then, within 24 hours, a Quo concierge will respond with apartment recommendations that are actually based on first-hand knowledge of the city — and the apartment buildings themselves.

I wonder if this service is strictly for the city or for all Greater Cleveland?  If this service is just for the city that's great.  We have some great neighborhoods and over the next few years they will onlly get more expensive.  Places like Clark-Fulton, Detroit-Superior (Asian Village in particular), Central, Slavic Village, Western Ohio City and Detroit-Shoreway will see interests.  Not to mention more connects to areas that are already booming like between Shaker Sq., Fairfax and University Circle; University circle and Hough; CSU and Central; The area near the Zoo and tremont and Brooklyn.

“I didn’t have a clue wear to look,” he said. “It was frustrating. I wanted to do something about it.”

I'm a horrible proof reader but damn!

I think they should contract with UOers and partner with our site. #entrepreneur

Thread bump incoming.

 

I'm going to be relocating to Cleveland soon and was hoping to get some insight on apartments from any folks here who may have experiences/recommendations. Originally from NE Ohio and visit often, so I'm pretty up to speed on the lay of the land and various neighborhoods/suburbs. I'll be working downtown.

 

Would rather purchase a place, but given the limited inventory and the headache of trying to purchase while selling in my current city, seems like it makes more sense to rent for a year. So that has led me to doing some research on apartments online, which can be a bit dubious given the amount of fake reviews or lack of reviews at all. Would probably rather be in Ohio City/Tremont/Battery Park, but the nicer apartments in these neighborhoods seem more expensive than what I'm seeing downtown (even when factoring in the added expense of garage parking).

 

Right now I'm looking into the following. Any suggestions? Recommendations? Warnings? Places I'm missing? For downtown apartments I'm looking for something with an attached garage. Also don't want to live someplace that feels completely like a post-college social scene (I'm too old for that vibe). 

 

Grosvenor Place in Tremont

Residences at the Halle

The Creswell

The Statler

Terminal Tower Apartments

55 Public Square

Euclid Grand*

Mariners Watch*

Edge 32*

 

*These have some less than stellar reviews online giving me apprehensions.

 

Some places like the Intro, Lumen, Beacon are a bit more than I want to pay for the size of apartment that I'm looking for (1,000sf +).

 

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

 

Edited June 24, 20231 yr by Rustbelter

There are a series of old (but beautiful) apartments on Lake in the Edgewater neighborhood. I lived there a long time ago but every time I drive through there l still think it's a great place to live.

@Rustbelter Right now, only one condo in my building (Coral Rock Condos, 12029 Clifton, Lakewood) is on the market. Unit #602. The penthouse may also be up for sale soon. Contact Continental Management if you'd like the inside track. Gold Coast-area condos are older and more affordable but are still nice. But I understand if you want to rent first and check out the entire area.

 

I'm familiar with some of the buildings and understand you don't want a college dorm atmosphere. To avoid that, I'd suggest the Terminal Tower, The May, Residences at the Halle, 75 Public Square, The Ivory, Scofield, and some of the other ones you've mentioned (without warning stars).