Posted February 26, 200817 yr Please help us narrow our search for neighborhoods. We haven't had much luck finding work long distance and now are looking to move first and then look for work. We are looking for neighborhood where we can walk to: (up to 1/2 mile, but preferably closer) -a basic grocery store -a CVS or basic drug store -a good bus line or rapid line -a diner for cheap breakfast on the weekend - a community feel (not too transient) If you are familiar with Detroit -we live in midtown Detroit now -we would like a neighborhood like Lafayette Park (only safer) -we don't really like Woodbridge neighborhood that much (no retail within walking distance) Our wish list for extras within walking distance: -a branch library -a coffeehouse - a movie theater (preferably one that show independent films) -a neighborhood pub or bar Within a few miles -farmers market or place to get fresh vegetables -a park or green space to walk in -a decent library (large branch or main library) Our special situation. -my husband does not drive (he is fine with walking up to two miles and taking bus, rapid. -I prefer to take transit and leave my car at home when I can -husband is artist and currently exhibits at galleries and coffeehouses Our wish list for apartment building or condo is: -a court yard or back yard or patio or porch with some green space for our cat to go out -a building that allows cats -a two bedroom apartment, preferably with a dining room -a building or street where there is parking for our friends to visit -car port available would be nice Our interests and lifestyle -we have eclectic interests, art, freecycle, organic food, lectures, independent movies, music (folk and blues) -like to have friends over to play cards,watch movies, eat (so need parking for friends to visit) -we are more diner type people frather than upscale restaurant types thanks for your help
February 26, 200817 yr Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway seem to fit your interests to a T. You'll have to wait until early 2009 for the independent theater to open up :)
February 26, 200817 yr I suggest Cleveland Heights, either in the Coventry area or Cedar-Fairmount area and Ohio City, in that order.
February 26, 200817 yr Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway seem to fit your interests to a T. You'll have to wait until early 2009 for the independent theater to open up :) Cleveland Public Theatre is an indie theater in that neighborhood, no? Or did you mean movie theater.
February 26, 200817 yr You also may want to look at the Cedar-Lee area...it has most of the things you are looking for (including THE indie movie theater in Cleveland). There is a condo building proposed, but it is on hold until they get enough presales...but there are other houses/apartments in the area. The only downside is that the rapid is a mile walk. You could take the 32 to the University rapid station, however. Lee Rd. has many restaurants (at different price points), bars, a CVS, a grocery store, Phoenix Coffee, and the main CH library (which was recently expended). If you can afford it, south of Cedar Rd. would give you a nice central location and better housing stock to choose from. Also, I think Ohio City may be your best bet to match you wish list. ^The post specifically said "movie theater", which is what made Cedar-Lee come to mind for me.
February 26, 200817 yr Edgewater, especially Clifton from the W. 110's through just into Lakewood sounds almost perfect from your description, although I don't know Detroit, so I can't say how it compares. You'd be near several bus lines, and within walking distance of the red line of the Rapid. You'd have to travel a bit to get to a movie theater or library, though (I think Walz is the nearest library branch at Detroit and W. 79.)
February 26, 200817 yr Justine, best of luck in your move. Two pieces of recurring advice ... set up opportunities to look at apartments in several neighborhoods so you can weigh the "feel" of each one. Cleveland is a patchwork of very unique, distinct neighborhoods, so it's best to shop around and one that has a personality you enjoy. Second bit of advice, check out www.livecleveland.org, where you can see brief introductions to each of Cleveland's neighborhoods. I would definitely check out Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway and potentially the adjacent neighborhoods of Tremont and Edgewater (although Tremont is rather limited in its mass transit opportunities). Based on what you've described, however, I would HIGHLY recommend checking out Shaker Square in the Shaker-Buckeye neighborhood. It is Cleveland's densest neighborhood and has one of the oldest shopping districts in the country. You'll have direct rail access to downtown (about a 12 min. ride) and a full-service grocery, movie theater, diner, CVS and coffeeshop, as well as a lot of other retail, galleries, etc. literally outside your door. The apartments are beautiful, many of them dating back to the 1920s, and many are small-pet friendly. A lot of the buildings do have really nicely landscaped courtyards, and you're also only a couple blocks away from the stunning Shaker Parks and parklands. The libary might be a little further away than you would like, but the downtown library is accessible by rail and then a 5 min. walk ... and it is consistently rated as the best or among the best libraries in the country. You'd also be a bus ride and just a mile or so from University Circle, Cleveland's concentration of museums and hospitals. I think you would be SERIOUSLY happy with the nabe. That being said, I would stack Shaker Square against a couple other neighborhoods in Cleveland, particularly Ohio City. Let us know if we can be of any help; specifically, I work at a service organization that supports artists and arts and culture organizations, so I'd be happy to provide some information about plugging into the local arts scene for your husband. For starters, he can check out www.cpacbiz.org. Best of luck with your potential move!
February 26, 200817 yr We are looking for neighborhood where we can walk to: (up to 1/2 mile, but preferably closer) -a basic grocery store -a CVS or basic drug store -a good bus line or rapid line -a diner for cheap breakfast on the weekend - a community feel (not too transient) Shaker Square, Cedar Fairmont, Coventry, Cedar Lee, Little Italy/Murray Hill, Edgewater or AsiaTown. If you are familiar with Detroit -we live in midtown Detroit now -we would like a neighborhood like Lafayette Park (only safer) -we don't really like Woodbridge neighborhood that much (no retail within walking distance) Shaker Square, Detroit-Shoreway, Tremont, Ohio City, Edgewater, Little Italy/Murray Hill Our wish list for extras within walking distance: -a branch library -a coffeehouse - a movie theater (preferably one that show independent films) -a neighborhood pub or bar Cedar-Lee or Detroit-Shoreway Our wish list for apartment building or condo is: -a court yard or back yard or patio or porch with some green space for our cat to go out -a building that allows cats -a two bedroom apartment, preferably with a dining room -a building or street where there is parking for our friends to visit -car port available would be nice Shaker Square, Coventry, Cedar Lee, AsiaTown or Edgewater Our interests and lifestyle -we have eclectic interests, art, freecycle, organic food, lectures, independent movies, music (folk and blues) -like to have friends over to play cards,watch movies, eat (so need parking for friends to visit) -we are more diner type people frather than upscale restaurant types thanks for your help Shaker Square, Coventry, Tremont, AsiaTown, edgewater
February 26, 200817 yr I'm thinking Downtown, Shaker Square, Ohio City, Cedar-Lee or University Circle. I don't think anyone has mentioned Downtown yet, strangely. Here, you'd be near scads of transit including all rapid lines. To be able to walk to both groceries and drug stores, I'd live in the E. 4th or Playhouse Square areas, as both downtown CVS's are inexplicably located on E. 9th Street. You'd also be within a mile of both Tremont and AsiaTown, two of the city's best art neighborhoods. The backyard thing would obviously be an issue in downtown, though. There's a movie theater right on Public Square in Tower City, although it's pretty mainstream. Shaker Square perhaps comes closest to meeting all your requirements, and if you are looking for a yard/garden, I would check for apartments on Larchmere -- a very cute street one block north of the Square that also has a great indie bookstore, restaurants and pubs. Shaker Square's main drawback, to me, is that it feels somewhat cut off from the rest of the city because it's 6 miles from downtown and surrounded on three sides by disinvested neighborhoods. Still, a great neighborhood. The movie theater, right on the Square, is independent and has been showing an increasing number of "art" films in recent years. Ohio City, meanwhile, has everything you want in walking distance except a movie theater and drug store. This neighborhood has the added benefit of being close (within a mile) to downtown. If you're serious about the food thing, you've got both the legendary West Side Market and Dave's Supermarket at your doorstep. There's also a 60-year-old community garden, the Kentucky Garden, where you can get a plot for the summer for $10. Ohio City has a nice, tight-knit, "old-city" feel about it. There's also a beautiful branch of the (amazing) public library, a great used bookstore, a place to rent videos, and lots of bars and restaurants. It has in my opinion the best transit options in the City outside downtown, with a rapid station and three or four bus lines. Cedar-Lee's got the movie theater and the library going for it, and it's also walking distance to a CVS and a very nice grocery, Zagara's. But it, too, is far from downtown and compared with the other areas listed here has poor transit options. In other words -- as a pedestrian you're set here as long as you don't ever have to leave. If you do, chances are you'll be driving a car. University Circle area, including Little Italy. You're within walking distance to a rapid station, a well-established (if somewhat down-at-heel) co-op grocery store, the Cleveland Cinematheque -- which shows great international and independent movies every weekend: http://www.cia.edu/academicResources/cinematheque/cinematheque.php -- and all the museums. Little Italy has a few galleries but they're more of the "gift shop" variety. You'd be lacking a drug store and a full-service traditional grocery store, as well as a local library branch. Detroit-Shoreway, around W. 65th and Detroit, is also worth a look but overall it's got fewer of your requirements than any of the above neighborhoods.
February 26, 200817 yr Very good analysis...the only point I disagree on is the transit around Cedar-Lee. While not on par with Shaker Square or Ohio City (although I believe there is a greater range of services at Cedar-Lee than Shaker Square) you are still right on a major bus line which terminates a couple miles away at the red line rapid in University Circle. And if walking is OK, you're a little less than a mile walk through a very nice neighborhood to the Lee Rd. Green Line rapid stop.
February 26, 200817 yr Lots of good neighborhoods to consider, but do indeed check out Shaker Square. Though cut off from downtown, it's got the convenience retail parts covered well and the bus ride to University Circle or train ride to downtown are really pretty speedy. Plus, the Saturday morning farmers market is incredible, even in the winter (when it's moved inside)- a very nice community oriented ritual. University Circle area, including Little Italy... You'd be lacking a drug store and a full-service traditional grocery store, as well as a local library branch. Isn't there the MLK branch of the CPL at University Circle?
February 26, 200817 yr Isn't there the MLK branch of the CPL at University Circle? yes 105 or 107 & chester.
February 26, 200817 yr ^Nah, I just got worried it had closed down or something. Justine, do keep us posted as to where you guys settle and what your impressions are when you do. Always curious how helpful people find our barrage of info/recommendations.
February 26, 200817 yr OMG somebody cue MTS, Shaker Square could be a real possibility LMAO!! I think you really have one on the line here! If I did not know better, I would think you were "Justine" planting a post. Seriously Justine, for the reasons mentioned SS is worth a good look. I want to say the library in OC is very cute, and Tremont has one as well, plus an AWESOME book store, Visable Voice. Truthfully you cannot go wrong with any place mentioned.
February 27, 200817 yr Where is Pope in all this? As a former Detroiter, he should chime in to offer a local comparison to Layfayette Park. And, one thing you're all forgetting among the transportation options -- bicycle. Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and Ohio City are all bicycle friendly (lightly trafficked secondary streets that make for great bike paths). Detroit-Shoreway is getting there, bike friendly-wise. And, of course, bikes are allowed on all RTA buses and trains. So even if you don't live next to a bus or rail line, you're not out of luck if you don't have a car. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 27, 200817 yr I'd second Ohio City and Shaker Square as they have the best transit and the amenities you are looking for. Downtown while great in its way doesn't have the "community feel" you are looking for; it is more transient and impersonal. Also there won't be a greenspace you can let your cat romp around in. Also check out Edgwater, about 4 miles west of Downtown, and the adjacent streetcar suburb of Lakewood, particularly the Gold Coast area (which more or less "flows over" from Edgwater) or nearer to Downtown Lakewood around Warren and Detroit. The last would be a bit of a stretch regarding transit, maybe similar to the comments made about Cedar-Lee. There isn't really anything quite like Lafayette Park in Cleveland. It's a pretty unique thing- an urban renewal scheme that is a middle class Modernist masterplanned community. Such things were attempted here in Cleveland, but all that was ever developed on those sites were low income public housing projects.
February 27, 200817 yr similar to the comments made about Cedar-Lee I'm always confused by why people think there is no transit around the Cedar-Lee area. I know people who live in Ohio City and think it's great they're only 3/4 mile to the rapid. The apartments at Meadowbrook/Silsby are about .85 miles to the Lee Rd. Green Line station (and hop on the Lee Rd. bus if you don't want to walk/bike there), and about a tenth of a mile to the 32X Cedar Rd. stop. I said it's not Shaker Square with the rapid running through the middle of it, but it surely isn't devoid of public transit either. I would be willing to say it has better transit access than the Gold Coast (cue KJP to bash me on this one). Really, you can't go wrong in any of the areas mentioned. The best suggestion is to visit a few of them and see what they feel like to you.
February 27, 200817 yr Cedar Lee has the 40, the 32, and you can walk to the 37 or the circular. And all the above bus routes connect to a train.
February 27, 200817 yr There isn't really anything quite like Lafayette Park in Cleveland. It's a pretty unique thing- an urban renewal scheme that is a middle class Modernist masterplanned community. Such things were attempted here in Cleveland, but all that was ever developed on those sites were low income public housing projects. Yeah, and no Mies to Boot! As to KJP's comment, and you guys are doing a good job of making appropriate comments. I don't feel anyway is unfairly directing justine to an area that might not jive with them.
February 28, 200817 yr Wow, I'm surprised there are so many neighborhoods to consider. I was expecting just three or four. We are familiar with Shaker Square and Shaker Heights but will also look into Cedar Lee and Cedar Fairmont. I have never been to Detroit Shoreway or the far west side only to Ohio City. I can see where Cedar Lee is doable in terms of transit, especially since we are willing to walk quite a bit. As far as Lafayette Park goes, I am more interested in a similar neighborhood in terms of demographics, urban and green space. Lafayette Park is middle class but has different races and age groups living there. I don't necessarily need the modern architecture, although I do like the green space surrounding it.
February 28, 200817 yr I am more interested in a similar neighborhood in terms of demographics, urban and green space. Lafayette Park is middle class but has different races and age groups living there. I don't necessarily need the modern architecture, although I do like the green space surrounding it. Shaker Square wins!
February 28, 200817 yr I am more interested in a similar neighborhood in terms of demographics, urban and green space. Lafayette Park is middle class but has different races and age groups living there. I don't necessarily need the modern architecture, although I do like the green space surrounding it. Shaker Square wins! Its hard for many neighborhoods to compete with the Shaker Lakes surrounding the area. If all you need is just a plain ol' park we can find those too...
February 28, 200817 yr As far as Lafayette Park goes, I am more interested in a similar neighborhood in terms of demographics, urban and green space. Lafayette Park is middle class but has different races and age groups living there. I don't necessarily need the modern architecture, although I do like the green space surrounding it. I think the neighborhoods suggested match the demographics/social atmosphere of Lafayette Park, but the greenery is part and parcel of the design of Lafayette Park, and it will be hard to find it done in quite the same manner here in Cleveland. That said, Cleveland has some nice option that are both "urban" and "green". Shaker Square has great access to parks and the greenery of boulevards. And of course the Square itself is nice and green. I would also make Edgewater a priority neighborhood to explore. The neighborhood is named after the very lively lakefront park it surrounds. Although urban (well really "streetcar suburban"), there are some generous landscaped setbacks that give the neighborhood a spacious and green feeling. For comparison I'd say Shaker Square and Edgewater would be somewhat similar in look and feel to Palmer Park, but in somewhat better shape. And really all of Cleveland's better neighborhoods are full of tree lined streets with at least a couple of nice parks nearby, so don't limit yourself to these.
February 28, 200817 yr As far as Lafayette Park goes, I am more interested in a similar neighborhood in terms of demographics, urban and green space. Lafayette Park is middle class but has different races and age groups living there. I don't necessarily need the modern architecture, although I do like the green space surrounding it. I think the neighborhoods suggested match the demographics/social atmosphere of Lafayette Park, but the greenery is part and parcel of the design of Lafayette Park, and it will be hard to find it done in quite the same manner here in Cleveland. That said, Cleveland has some nice option that are both "urban" and "green". Shaker Square has great access to parks and the greenery of boulevards. And of course the Square itself is nice and green. I would also make Edgewater a priority neighborhood to explore. The neighborhood is named after the very lively lakefront park it surrounds. Although urban (well really "streetcar suburban"), there are some generous landscaped setbacks that give the neighborhood a spacious and green feeling. For comparison I'd say Shaker Square and Edgewater would be somewhat similar in look and feel to Palmer Park, but in somewhat better shape. And really all of Cleveland's better neighborhoods are full of tree lined streets with at least a couple of nice parks nearby, so don't limit yourself to these. Well they don't call Cleveland "Forest City" for nothing!
February 28, 200817 yr This Lafayette Park sounds interesting...maybe some kind UOer can do a photo thread sometime?
March 6, 200817 yr not to be redundant, but shaker square sounds like something the poster would want.
March 6, 200817 yr I don't' want to get us off subject, but found a good flickr set of Lafayette Park if anyone cares
March 6, 200817 yr http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_Park%2C_Detroit Check out the gallery, especially the strip plaza with plenty of parking. It's a 60s urban renewal project. Boy am I glad Cleveland doesn't have a comparable neighborhood.
March 6, 200817 yr ^the strip mall was kinda a tumor of an afterthought. How about you go visit it yourself, or look at the gallery I provided for a more accurate representation of it before spouting off hastily contrived criticisms. Hey, at least Detroit's masterwork of modern architecture is actually functional and working and still holds it beauty today (cough cough Ameritrust)
March 6, 200817 yr ^^Can't say the commercial plaza does much for me, but I actually like the low rise structures- i definitely wouldn't mind a leafy neighborhood of those near downtown Cleveland.
March 6, 200817 yr Layfayette Park reminds me of the high rise on Superior in East Cleveland. You know, the one that's halfway up Superior hill? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 6, 200817 yr Layfayette Park reminds me of the high rise on Superior in East Cleveland. You know, the one that's halfway up Superior hill? Park Tower(s)
March 6, 200817 yr I like the low rise townhouses alot, not the rest though. They didn't put any of the attention into the ground level detail and landscaping of the towers like they did the townhouses.
March 6, 200817 yr ^the strip mall was kinda a tumor of an afterthought. How about you go visit it yourself, or look at the gallery I provided for a more accurate representation of it before spouting off hastily contrived criticisms. Hey, at least Detroit's masterwork of modern architecture is actually functional and working and still holds it beauty today (cough cough Ameritrust) I did check out the gallery you provided, and I thought it looked like your typical towers-in-the-park public housing project, especially the pictures I didn't copy above (oops). :) I don't really understand why you would be proud of this or defensive about it. And if my criticisms, after viewing your photo thread and reading up on what Lafayette Park is, are hastily contrived, then provide me some info to change my opinion. Telling me I'm spouting off isn't going to cut it. Cut through the insults and jokes and give us some substance if you believe this is a nice neighborhood. Is it mixed-use? More walkable than the pictures indicate? How is there any street presence when the townhouses are separated from the road by large setbacks and parking lots? What is it that makes this a nice urban neighborhood?
March 6, 200817 yr ^ Probably not a good idea to post those here: Copyright 2005-2007 Sweet Juniper Media, Inc. No unauthorized reuse. Just so you know.
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