Posted December 6, 200717 yr Exactly five yrs ago I left Cleveland to move out to Seattle. I was 25 at the time and decided it was time for a change. Things I miss in Cleveland West Side Market (I think the best thing Cleveland has going for it) Housing prices Snow Old city feel Browns and Indians Good chicken wings Light traffic for a decent sized city Fall Lakewood bars How cheap everything is Blue collarness 24 hour Hot dog places Its a sports town Things I don't miss about Cleveland Job market - absolutely horrible Friends always moving away to "greener" pastures Economy Dead downtown Humid summers Not easy for bikers Not many immigrants, at least compared to other big cities in the country No real outdoor recreation Gradual decline Shopping stinks Things I like about Seattle Economy and job market Natural beauty Asian culture Polite drivers Walkabe, people always out and about Food Educated Alot of development going on Happenin downtown Bike lanes everywhere Skinny people Skiing City parks The feeling that the city's best days are still ahead National parks with just a few hours Outdoor recreation No state or city income tax Overall, I really enjoy Seattle and am glad I made the move. However, I do miss a lot about Cleveland. It's home and I'll always feel more of a Clevelander than a Seattlite. So for those that have moved away from your city? What do you miss and not miss about it?
December 6, 200717 yr A lot has changed in 5 years. And I am guessing you are in IT? What's changed? Yup. :)
December 6, 200717 yr Things I enjoy about Cleveland: Sunshine. I don't remember there being more sunshine in Cleveland than Seattle. I'd rather have the snow than the rain though.
December 6, 200717 yr A lot has changed in 5 years. And I am guessing you are in IT? What's changed? Yup. :) Downtown is certainly constantly on the rise up and becoming livelier. Far from perfect or where we want it, but everyday it gets better. And just personally I don't think shopping stinks nor do the recreational opportunities fail if you look regionally (Metroparks, Cuyahoga Vally National Park) Where in Cleveland were you from?
December 6, 200717 yr This is an interesting thread, and I like that it's not mean-spirited. I myself have been contemplating my future. I like living in Cleveland and having a sweet apartment, but I'm concerned about future prospects, and the job market here while not impossible to penetrate is certainly not as robust as other areas -- like Seattle. Things that scare me here include getting laid off and not being able to find a new job. I have some big goals, and realistically they are not attainable in Cleveland. Right now I have an Excel spreadsheet open and I'm trying to determine if I can afford to join the YMCA. It'd be my one "splurge." I don't even have cable! I'm going to do it because the YMCA, thank God, doesn't require you sign a contract haha :) Sorry, I took this off topic slightly....
December 7, 200717 yr This is an interesting thread, and I like that it's not mean-spirited. I myself have been contemplating my future. I like living in Cleveland and having a sweet apartment, but I'm concerned about future prospects, and the job market here while not impossible to penetrate is certainly not as robust as other areas -- like Seattle. Things that scare me here include getting laid off and not being able to find a new job. I have some big goals, and realistically they are not attainable in Cleveland. Sorry, I took this off topic slightly.... Oh no, it's not off topic. Those are pretty much the same reasons I moved out here. I came out here for the jobs. In five yrs I've made enought to go back and buy a place in Cleveland for cash. If Cleveland only had the economic opportunity as they did out here... :(
December 7, 200717 yr Downtown is certainly constantly on the rise up and becoming livelier. Far from perfect or where we want it, but everyday it gets better. And just personally I don't think shopping stinks nor do the recreational opportunities fail if you look regionally (Metroparks, Cuyahoga Vally National Park) Where in Cleveland were you from? I was probably more mean spirited towards Cleveland when I was actually living there. I've come to appreciate things about it once I had them taken away. Grew up in the near west side. I liked the metroparks and Cuyahoga Valley NP, but while they are fun for a few hours, you can't spend multiple days in them. I love being able to throw on a backpack and go out hiking for three days. I look forward to seeing how downtown has changed and checking out house of blues. I remember it being the Woolsworth and checking out the poor birds they were selling. :(
December 7, 200717 yr Welcome to UrbanOhio I Went West. I did the Cleveland to Seattle thing, too. I moved there in 2000 to go to school at UW, and lived in the U. District for that time. I came back after school in 2003. Your list of likes/dislikes seems pretty spot on for the most part, though you aren't giving Cleveland enough credit for some of the improvements that have happened, and the ambition that many here have to make this a thriving, cutting edge city again.
December 7, 200717 yr Interesting topic and certainty one I can relate to: Things I miss about Cleveland Family History/Architecture Cost of Living Downtown actually being a “Downtown” Spring/Summer/Fall Transportation System/Infrastructure Museums/Art/Culture Things I don't miss about Cleveland The Economy Winter/Cold/Snow The negativity of its residents “Black Monday” after a Browns loss :laugh: Things I like about South Florida The Economy The Ocean Green 24/7 The Weather
December 7, 200717 yr Oh and one more thing... Things I don't like about South Florida See Things I miss about Cleveland :-)
December 7, 200717 yr What's changed? I Went West, Welcome! Off the top of my head, here are some of the things you have missed Downtown: 1) Rise of E. 4th Street. http://www.east4thstreet.com/ 2) Incredible increase of downtown population (4,500 in 2002 about 8,000-8,500 in 2007 -- rise of about 20%-30% per year) 3) East bank of the Flats gone! -- but coming back soon as more of a residental neighborhood. 4) Possibly the addition of the Federal Court House Tower (built 5-6 years ago) 5) Numerous building and facade renovations. (Ex: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2055.690 .. scroll halfway down) Other: 1) Lebron James as a religion 2) Billions of dollars of new construction in University Circle I'm sure there is much more -- but I would say come back and visit again soon!
December 7, 200717 yr I guessed IT because that is the only industry I think of when I think of Seattle (right or wrong). Now if you were in the medical field, CLE would be the place to be. Actually, as a manufacturing engineer, there are a lot of opportunities in Cleveland.
December 7, 200717 yr Interesting thread. I appreciate critiques of Cleveland when they are based on something (facts, personal experiences, preferences, etc) and aren't mean-spirited. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 7, 200717 yr BTW, I Went West, here's a column I wrote last spring.... April 26, 2007 New campaign to market a dynamic city Write of Way Ken Prendergast A new marketing campaign will be launched today to draw people to a city where businesses specializing in finance, insurance, filmmaking, graphic and product design, information technology, biotechnology, health care, machinery, renewable energy and other sectors are growing by leaps and bounds. That city has so many job openings in those fields that they can’t be filled by people from that city alone. What city, you ask? It’s — Cleveland, of course. If you scoff, then you just proved why the campaign by the Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance is needed. It’s aimed not only to draw people to Cleveland, but to remind ourselves of the many wonderful assets we possess and take for granted. After 11:30 a.m. today, an Internet link to the campaign will go live on the Web site of the Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance. There will be a link to the Web site at www.gcpartnership.com. “Over the past 18 months, we’ve worked with hundreds of volunteers across the region to develop a brand to promote our region for business and tourist attraction,” said GCMA officials in a written statement. “The brand is also aimed at ourselves. As some people have said, it’s time we got the chip off our shoulder.” Development organizations BioEnterprise and NorTech say about 5,000 health care and information technology jobs are unfilled in Greater Cleveland. EmployOn found 8,105 total job openings, but don’t include roughly 1,300 openings posted on individual company Web sites. By that accounting, there are nearly 10,000 available jobs in Greater Cleveland. Web-based job posting site Monster.com says Cleveland is fourth in the nation in the annual growth of online job postings. Sounds pretty dynamic to me. Some local firms say the biggest challenge to their continued growth is finding trained candidates. NorTech is striving to address that with a job matchmaking Web site, mwww.neotechjobs.com, it launched April 15. Sources of that growth include OneCleveland, an extension of an advanced Internet provider network developed for Case Western Reserve University. Another is a high-capacity, transcontinental fiber optic cable running below Euclid Avenue, which has caused technology firms to relocate to the new Idea Center at Playhouse Square. Oh, and did you know Playhouse Square is one of the nation’s largest theater districts? Or that the Cleveland International Film Festival has grown to become one of the largest film festivals in the country, drawing more than 200 films and nearly 60,000 visitors from 50 nations? And who would have known Cleveland is a growing filmmaking city? The New York Times does, after it published an article about it Sept. 10, 2006. Filmmakers are relocating here from New York City and Los Angeles, and new developments like the $20 million Hyacinth Lofts live-work campus on East 63rd Street. Cleveland’s prowess in the arts shouldn’t be a surprise, not with the well-earned reputations of the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Lakewood’s Virginia Marti College, Beck Center, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Playhouse and, of course, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Growing in stature is the three-theater Gordon Square Arts District at West 65th Street and Detroit Avenue. These and other efforts will be buoyed by a countywide arts tax which voters passed in November. Perhaps you don’t see yourself in a technology, medical or arts career. There’s jobs in other fields, too. The Regional Economics Application Laboratory and Environmental Law and Policy Center estimates Ohio could secure 26,000 jobs in developing renewable energy and alternative fuels. NASA Glenn Research Center’s focus on high-efficiency power systems is creating spin-off jobs in the private sector here. It’s the only NASA research facility in the northern half of the U.S. Machinist jobs are in high demand, and financial/insurance companies like Progressive Insurance and Quicken Loans can’t seem to hire people fast enough. Local developer Nathan Zaremba says 100 people start new jobs every Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. University Hospitals is in the midst of a $1 billion expansion just at its University Circle campus. Nothing creates a cool city like a hot job market. Networking helps, like getting a job coach. Other networking resources for young people include the Cleveland 20/30 Club. Or check out www.UrbanOhio.com where you can also learn about the next hot urban neighborhood or facts like downtown Cleveland having the fastest growing downtown population of any major city in the Midwest. There’s reason for Clevelanders to be proud and hopeful. While we may hear of more local factories closing or other bad news, it’s part of the challenging and sometimes painful transition this region is going through. “Northeast Ohio is a powerful, dynamic region with more to offer than many people imagine,” said officials at the Greater Cleveland Marketing Alliance. “Everyone who lives here should be proud to be a resident of Northeast Ohio and we want them to say that when they talk to people who come here for business, tourism or who think about relocating here.” Here’s hoping they’re successful at spreading the word. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 7, 200717 yr I moved to Memphis and Nashville for 5 years. Things I like and miss about the south: Nothing! I'm very glad to be back home.
December 7, 200717 yr Good thread. It's neat to compare the lists for people who now live in different regions. For me, from NYC: Things I miss in Cleveland West Side Market Housing prices Food/beer prices Indians Light traffic/ease of getting out of town Air traffic space Accessibility/breathing room in cultural institutions Shaker Square Farmers Market Relatively comfortable summers Polite drivers Open seats, or at least standing room, on mass transit vehicles Decent grocery stores that don't require half hour waits in line and cost an arm and a leg Things I don't miss about Cleveland Lack of urban development Conservative architectural tastes Economy Gray winter skies Empty sidewalks and public spaces Crime Not many immigrants and, relatedly, not so many retail entrepreneurs and ethnic food options Neighborhood decline Demolition of old stuff Having to drive to the mall to buy clothes Lack of convenient rail service to other cities Dick Feagler
December 7, 200717 yr ^ :laugh: Dick Feagler I would like to add the PD to Things I don't miss about Cleveland.
December 7, 200717 yr There seems to be some common themes here... Things I miss about CLE Warehouse District/East 4th/Tremont/Ohio City restaurants/bars Living/working downtown Affordable downtown housing Constantino's Buildings more than a few stories tall Young people (you'd be surprised) Things I don't miss Overly self-deprecating people Gloomy winters Things I like about Charleston Historic district Walkable downtown The beach Restaurants Things I hate General slowness Hatred towards "yankees" Gloomy summers Expensive downtown housing Life revolving around social status Where are the young people?
December 7, 200717 yr I would like to add the PD to Things I don't miss about Cleveland. Move to Dayton and read that rag called the Dayton Daily News and you'll be begging for the PD.
December 7, 200717 yr I would like to add the PD to Things I don't miss about Cleveland. Move to Dayton and read that rag called the Dayton Daily News and you'll be begging for the PD. No offense but the Plain Dealer is just as bad (or good, take it for what you will) as the Dayton Daily News. Meaning, both are nothing to write home about (no pun intended). "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 8, 200817 yr I grew up here in Cleveland. I moved to NC for approx. 7 years. Moved back to Cleveland about 5 years ago. Difficult decision to make the move back but I am glad I did. Here is my list: Things I missed about Cleveland when I was gone (in order of importance) 1. Family (by far the most important) 2. Friends 3. MY sports teams 4. Liberal sway 5. Summer/Fall Things I did not miss about Cleveland when I was gone 1. Winter/Spring 2. Negativity 3. Grime 4. Faster pace 5. Salt 6. Skunks/Racoons Things I miss about NC 1. Winter/Spring 2. Complacency 3. Slower pace/laid back people 4. Natural beauty (beach/mountains/foliage) 5. Cleanliness (buildings, cars, sidewalks, everything) Things I do not miss about NC 1. Bible belt social conservatism 2. Artificialness (is that a word?) 3. Humidity 4. Accents (depending on how deep) 5. Eastern diamondbacks 6. Crazy nascar wannabe drivers Overall, NC will always have a special place in my heart but CLE is my home and it was calling me back. I admittedly still have thoughts of regret from time to time and some sense of nostalgia for the past, but overall I am happy with my decision.
January 8, 200817 yr And possums (or is opossums?) "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 10, 200817 yr I lived in Greensboro and Charlotte.... did not see or smell one Skunk the entire time I was there (7 years). Maybe I was just lucky. Moved back to Cleveland and my dog got sprayed twice in the first month. BTW, if you are still in the dark ages of using tomato juice you really need to look into the homemade mix of dawn dish detergent - hydrogen peroxide - baking soda...... note: it has to be dawn for some reason. Same thing with Racoons.... never really saw them. When I moved back here, I learned really quickly to make sure my trash was secure. Not saying that they aren't there, but they are nowhere near as common from what I could tell. Perhaps the overall cleanliness of the Cities down there does not draw their interest as much as up here. Possums were all over the place down there though.
January 11, 200817 yr You live in the height, with forest hills, cumberland and cain park along with the Shaker Lakes. There are bound to be those types of things.
January 12, 200817 yr If you lived in nc & didn't see racoons & skunks then you didn't get out enough. I lived there for almost six years, I've seen all those & more, Even bears climbing in dumpsters, Almost hit a bear on nc 24.
January 12, 200817 yr If you lived in nc & didn't see racoons & skunks then you didn't get out enough. I lived there for almost six years, I've seen all those & more, Even bears climbing in dumpsters, Almost hit a bear on nc 24. Yeah, those types of animals are everywhere except maybe the desert SW. I'm sure the "filth" of Cleveland Heights is not the reason for seeing those types of animals. Woods, streams, ravines, hmm sounds like their ideal habitat to me.
January 13, 200817 yr Sorry to steer this conversation away from urban animals... I lived in Cincinnati (college) for 4 years, Portland, OR for 1 and Brooklyn, NY for 4 years before coming back to Cle in 2005. I'm only going to talk about the latter 5 years, as those are most relevant to this thread. I'll probably update this as I remember more stuff! Things I missed about (Greater) Cleveland while I was away: 1. The indescribable feeling of "home" 2. The neighborhoods that I knew well - Ohio City, Shaker Square, University Circle, Little Italy, Tremont, Coventry, Cedar-Lee 3. The history of the city/region 4. The thought that the city had so much potential that had yet to be tapped 5. The fact that both of the above are relatively unknown outside of Ohio (see more below) 6. Being the underdog 7. My sports teams and being surrounded by other people whose moods shifted with the teams' success/failure 8. The feeling that I could make a difference (politically, professionally, etc.) 9. Affordability 10. Great bars & restaurants that were not constantly overcrowded 11. Dramatic change between seasons 12. Lake Erie Things I didn't miss about (Greater) Cleveland while I was away: 1. The slow pace of development 2. The lack of neighborhood shopping/retail 3. Much more need for a car 4. Winters that go on a bit too long! 5. Sprawl 6. Trend towards conservatism in state politics 7. Declining economy 8. Sad local music scene Now, the kicker... Things I was delighted to find upon returning to Cleveland that I didn't know about before: 1. Neighborhoods - Detroit-Shoreway & St. Clair-Superior - their history, architecture, and growth 2. I could afford to live on my favorite street in Ohio City for half of what I paid for rent in Brooklyn 3. Living without a car wasn't difficult 4. Many of my friends had begun to move back to Cleveland; new friends had followed similar paths 5. The local music & arts scene had vitality and was accessible 6. Connecting with the big names (political leaders, developers, etc.) was easy 7. Lots of young families on the Near-West Side 8. Young, civic-minded entrepreneurs were opening shops, starting non-profits, joining boards Basically, the big thing for me was that while I lived in Portland and NYC and it was very clear why young people from all over the world wanted to live in these places, I was still unsatisfied. Development was everywhere. Shopping, dining, recreation, and like-minded people were all around. I didn't find work in my profession (urban planning) very easily, but enjoyed working in more social professions - retail, cafes, etc. The difficult entry into the professional world definitely turned me off, but I think that part of why it was difficult, though, was that I didn't invest myself in these communities the way that I knew I would if I came back home. A lot of this had to do with the belief that there really wasn't a place in Portland or NYC that I could find that had yet to be "discovered" and exploited commercially. In Cleveland, I believed that places like Ohio City, while well-known and established as a place to visit and live, still hadn't reached its modern-day nexus yet. And then there were places like Detroit-Shoreway and St. Clair-Superior that were just beginning their renaissance. Downtown still has dramatic opportunities for growth and University Circle can develop into an even greater center for jobs, health care, culture, education, and a place to live. In Cleveland, I can help make that happen. Right or wrong, I didn't think I'd make a bit of difference in these other cities. There were too many people like me, if that's possible! So, I came home, got my masters degree, got married, bought a house, had a kid, and am delighted time and time again by this city, its neighborhoods, and what I am capable of here. Sure, there have been disappointments, but they're things that I can work to change. In Cleveland, I care enough to try.
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