Hi Everyone,

 

I am coming this weekend (Thursday through Saturday).

thanks for all your help. You and the good people at RTA have helped us narrow down neighborhoods to look at apartments.

 

We have narrowed down neighborhoods to

shaker square and beyond in Shaker Hgts,

West side near 117th Stop on red line

Ohio city near good bus lines and close to west side market

Detroit Shoreway near good bus lines

Cleveland Heigts with access to good bus lines (Cedar-Fairmont)

 

We need:

transit

grocery and drug store

farmers market

porch and or deck

rent $750 or under, 750 sq feet  or less with two bedrooms

friendly neighborhood

coffee house, gym and places to run, walk in neighborhood

 

We are middle aged, like independent film, parks, we are activists, worked on Kucinich campaign, environmentalists, don't mind a little bit of an edge in a neighborhood, like diversity. My husband has never had a driver's license so will need to walk and use transit.

 

I also don't feel really comfortable in a high rise, we want to be able to let our cat out.

 

Please give me specific streets in these areas.

We made an appt. with Matlack Realty to see some apts.

Don't we already have a thread for this, can they be merged?  We answered a lot of the questions below in the thread below for Littly Italy/Murray Hill, Edgewater, Cleveland Heights and Shaker Square.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15442.msg261525.html#msg261525

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I still say Shaker Square or Cedar-Fairmont is your best bet.

 

Thanks for your post Justine and welcome to town. MTS's suggestion is a good one (to look at the other message thread), not so much his suggestion about Shaker Square. He's a bit biased about that place!!! ;)

 

Yes, I realize you have all answered some of these questions before but now I am looking at particular parts of these neighborhoods and we have changed our criteria somewhat.

 

We no longer are looking a neighborhood similar to Lafayette Park in Detroit. We also are looking at specific buildings and streets now. A lot will depend on the price too. We plan to buy soon and don't want to spend too much on rent.Also we were hoping to get a summer or month by month rental so we would be free to move if we find a place to buy.

 

 

Yes, I realize you have all answered some of these questions before but now I am looking at particular parts of these neighborhoods and we have changed our criteria somewhat.

 

We no longer are looking a neighborhood similar to Lafayette Park in Detroit. We also are looking at specific buildings and streets now. A lot will depend on the price too. We plan to buy soon and don't want to spend too much on rent.Also we were hoping to get a summer or month by month rental so we would be free to move if we find a place to buy.

 

 

 

You can get a one year lease.  Make sure in the lease that its states, you wont pay any penalties if you leave before the lease is up, do to purchasing a home.  Most landlords will not fight that.

 

When you were here, did you see any buildings on any streets in one of the neighborhoods mentioned you liked?  That would help us, help you.

thank  you "my two sense" for the information about getting out of a lease due to purchase of  a home. That is a big relief to know that.

 

As far as buildings we like, low rise (two or three story) like the ones on Overlook Rd. in Cleveland Heights, the four flats (walk ups) around Coventry with big front porches for each unit. Also, if you are familiar with Hamtramck in Detroit, the two flats in that area. Also row houses are fine as long as there is a roomy front porch close to the street.

 

(By the way, if you want to merge this thread with the earlier one, I don't mind.)

 

 

If you like Cedar-Fairmount, the majority of the doubles (with porch) will be on Grandview, Bellfield and Delaware; South of Cedar.

 

If you liked Coventry (Served by the reasonably frequent #9, the #7 and the circulator to the rapid station) You might find a few doubles on Hampshire both a few blocks west of Coventry and East of Coventry.

Hello Everyone, these are the apartments I'm looking at Thursday and Friday:

 

Thursday West Side

 

Clifton Park House, 11406 Clifton Blvd.

Michaels Towers, 12050 Lake  (and one other by the same company, on Belair Ave of Detoit

 

Friday East Side

Shaker Hall, 12700 Shaker Blvd.

Montlack Properties (several properties in Shaker Sq and one in Cleveland Heights)

A House at 2471 Derbyshire, Cleveland Heights (short term lease)

 

I am still trying to find something to look at around Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway too but have not found anything there yet.

 

Are any of the above properties that I should avoid or are they all ok?

 

thanks

I'd say for Derbyshire (not knowing the exact house). That's a good area, you've got cedar Fairmount at your doorstep, Coventry a ten minute walk and you have the #32 Coming down cedar and the #7 coming down Euclid Heights. Both go either to Downtown or to the University Circle Rapid Stop.

Shaker Hall is a good location but I haven't been in the building in years.

 

Montlack reality is pretty good, and they have some really nice buildings on the North Moreland.  Many of them have average/small kitchens, but usually have LARGE dining room and bedrooms, but "period" bathrooms that might appear out of date.  They usually have laundry on property.

 

You'll have direct access to the clinic on the 48 or 48A which run super frequent and until about 1:30 AM.

Ohio City is mostly houses.  I recommend taking a little time to walk the neighborhood and get some numbers if you think a house or double could work for you.

 

Montlack reality is pretty good, and they have some really nice buildings on the North Moreland. 

 

FYI there are two different Montlack companies. I believe that they used to be one, but the brothers split a few years ago.

I didn't know that.  I've just seen there signs when I walk from my house to Larchmere.  Some of those buildings are just gorgeous.

I didn't know that.  I've just seen there signs when I walk from my house to Larchmere.  Some of those buildings are just gorgeous.

 

Funny I just noticed two different signs for Montlack apartments on Hampshire, one was the old standby green and one was a newer blue one. Wonder if it was just a marketing change, or related to what 3231 brought up.

interesting...hummm

If you have the time and inclination, there are a few doubles and quads on Grandview (right around Cecil) that have "For Rent" signs out front (presumably because of the end-of-semester student outmigration).  I highly recommend the neighborhood.

 

If you are looking at the Montlack-managed places on North Moreland, keep in mind that the brick apartments on the eastside of the street tend to get direct late-afternoon sun in the summer, and resultingly bake something fierce.  On the plus side, the management is very responsive towards maintenance needs.

.........keep in mind that the brick apartments on the eastside of the street tend to get direct late-afternoon sun in the summer, and resultingly bake something fierce. 

 

Oh yes....I my bedroom, guest bedroom, sunroom (how about that for irony), dining room are like a sauna from late April thru Mid Nov.

 

However, I suspect the backs of the apartments on the west side of the N. Moreland and apartments on Kemper may suffer the same fate, if your on an upper floor.

For an update on my saga. I looked at some real dives with some unbelievable landlords who thought they could charge high rent for their places. I ended up renting a great place on N. Moreland through Matlack Realty, a two bedroom under $750 month. It is on second floor in a three story so we will get hot but the windows face east and north and we have fans. It also has a nice yard. We like the density of the area since it makes for very pedestrian friendly environment. We can literally get everything we need for daily necessities within one block.

 

 

I used to live on north moreland, quiet street, but literally a block from from either the square or larchmere, make sure you explore all the places there, some great little places.

For an update on my saga. I looked at some real dives with some unbelievable landlords who thought they could charge high rent for their places. I ended up renting a great place on N. Moreland through Matlack Realty, a two bedroom under $750 month. It is on second floor in a three story so we will get hot but the windows face east and north and we have fans. It also has a nice yard. We like the density of the area since it makes for very pedestrian friendly environment. We can literally get everything we need for daily necessities within one block.

 

 

Great choice, Justine.  Definitely be sure to check out the green market Saturday mornings on Shaker Square- if it you like fresh local food, you will be really, really happy.

We think we will really enjoy the Shaker Square area and especially the farmers market on Saturday.  I didn't really think about how much we would bake in the summer when I rented the apartment and unfortunately there were no apartments on the first floor of any of the Matlack Buildings available. Now I know why.

 

We plan to soon look for a place to buy. Does anyone know what area of Cleveland (or suburbs) is similar to Woodbridge area in Detroit? Woodbridge is just went of midtown, has a lot of older houses close together, two-flats, row houses, gardens, open minded, live and let live type of neighborhood.

 

Did you get a chance to look around Ohio City and/or Edgewater?  I don't know Detroit, so I can't say if they compare to neighborhoods in that city, but from your description, I'd say they are worth a look.  Edgewater is somewhat newer and its houses tend to be more spaced out than in Ohio City, but I think that they both fit the "gardens, open-minded, live-and-let-live" criteria pretty well.

We think we will really enjoy the Shaker Square area and especially the farmers market on Saturday. I didn't really think about how much we would bake in the summer when I rented the apartment and unfortunately there were no apartments on the first floor of any of the Matlack Buildings available. Now I know why.

 

We plan to soon look for a place to buy. Does anyone know what area of Cleveland (or suburbs) is similar to Woodbridge area in Detroit? Woodbridge is just went of midtown, has a lot of older houses close together, two-flats, row houses, gardens, open minded, live and let live type of neighborhood.

 

 

Just move to Shaker Square!

Here's an update. We moved to Shaker Square on June 12 and it has surpassed all our expectations. We are one block north of the square in a beautiful spacious apartment with nice hardwood floors, lots of windows and mature trees right outside our windows.

 

The square itself seems a bit suburban in design but there are lots of people sitting outside and it is very convenient to walk there to go to Dave's grocery store or CVS. The light rail is just 13 minutes to downtown. Also, within a two block walk is a beautiful park with a small lake. The area seems very diverse. The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous. 

 

All in all, I think it is a good place to land for someone new to the city. It does give an opportunity to live without driving since there's a very convenient bus (number 48) from the square to the red line and University Circle as well as the rapid to downtown.

Here's an update. We moved to Shaker Square on June 12 and it has surpassed all our expectations. We are one block north of the square in a beautiful spacious apartment with nice hardwood floors, lots of windows and mature trees right outside our windows.

 

The square itself seems a bit suburban in design but there are lots of people sitting outside and it is very convenient to walk there to go to Dave's grocery store or CVS. The light rail is just 13 minutes to downtown. Also, within a two block walk is a beautiful park with a small lake. The area seems very diverse. The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous. 

 

All in all, I think it is a good place to land for someone new to the city. It does give an opportunity to live without driving since there's a very convenient bus (number 48) from the square to the red line and University Circle as well as the rapid to downtown.

 

WELCOME TO THE AREA!!!  :wave: :wave: :wave:  This makes FIVE people who relocated to the Square.

 

Here's an update. We moved to Shaker Square on June 12 and it has surpassed all our expectations. We are one block north of the square in a beautiful spacious apartment with nice hardwood floors, lots of windows and mature trees right outside our windows.

Surpassed?  I hate to say this, "but I told you so"!  lol

 

The square itself seems a bit suburban in design but there are lots of people sitting outside and it is very convenient to walk there to go to Dave's grocery store or CVS. The light rail is just 13 minutes to downtown. Also, within a two block walk is a beautiful park with a small lake. The area seems very diverse. The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous. 

 

The "park" is called the Shaker Lakes and it's not so small.  lol  The area is very diverse and as you can see very convenient.  Just strike up a conversation and say "hi", your neighbors will come around.

 

The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous.

 

There is a large grad student population in this part of Cleveland. Some of these buildings see a lot of people leave at the end of May. Things will pick up come August when new med, law and other grad students start moving in.

 

 

Good point!

The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous.

 

There is a large grad student population in this part of Cleveland. Some of these buildings see a lot of people leave at the end of May. Things will pick up come August when new med, law and other grad students start moving in.

 

 

Curious. My apartment building in Lakewood actually has been emptying out rather steadily for the past several months. Sort of makes you nervous. However, it seems to me there are way more apartments than there are renters. Either way, my suggestion is to totally enjoy the silence. If no one bothers you, then who cares! :)

The only thing is I get the impression that our apartment building is only about one third full. It seems awfully quiet and the few people I see in passing to say hello to barely say hello back so it seems a bit anonymous. 

 

 

There is a large grad student population in this part of Cleveland. Some of these buildings see a lot of people leave at the end of May. Things will pick up come August when new med, law and other grad students start moving in.

 

 

 

I never think about that.  Good point, as I have seen many moving vans on North and South Moreland lately.

 

Does anyone know of a reasonable vet and a reasonable dentist? I have been here two months near Shaker Square and all the vets and dentist I have been referred to seem over the top expensive. I don't need a designer vet or dentist. All I need is a dentist to clean my teeth twice a year. they all want to improve my teeth at great cost with cosmetic stuff. The people I've talked to about vets go to these outrageously expensive vets that have their animals on all kinds of medications. My cat just needs shots and also to have her teeth cleaned. Please help me find some basic services at a reasonable cost.

I just started with a dentist who has his office downtown in Playhouse Square. He's pretty good and has never suggested anything but cleaning and x-rays (a big departure from my past dental experience in other cities). He's not very talkative, but is a nice guy. PM me if you have any other questions or if you want his contact info.

 

 

my future wife grew up on the east side and took all their pets growing up to belvoir pet hospital in university heights.  We've been taking our furry creature there the last year and a half and they have been great.  They're only about 5 miles from you and you may want to check them out.

 

http://belvoirpethospital.com/750872.html

 

 

Dentist-wise, I've had good results with the dentists downtown in the Leader Building (East 6th and Superior):

 

510 Superior Ave E

Cleveland, OH 44114

(216) 241-4770

Just to clarify as it confused me, Belvoir Pet Hospital is in South Euclid, on Mayfield Rd. near Belvoir.

^correct.

If you really want to low-ball it, you can try the Case Dental Clinic.  I have no idea what it actually costs since I get treatment for free, but it can't be that expensive.

Thanks for the recommendations all of you. I now have a vet and two dentists to call.

 

By the way, someone here warned me away from Heights Animal Hospital and said there had been a lot of problems there in the past. They are the ones on Cedar near Lee.  Does anyone know anything about them? Did they have some problems in the past?

If you really want to low-ball it, you can try the Case Dental Clinic. I have no idea what it actually costs since I get treatment for free, but it can't be that expensive.

 

I second this recommendation.  This is where I went for all my dental work when I didn't have insurance and it's WAY cheaper than any other dentist, and they do a fine job.  I even had wisdom teeth removed here and it went fine.

my future wife grew up on the east side and took all their pets growing up to belvoir pet hospital in university heights.  We've been taking our furry creature there the last year and a half and they have been great.  They're only about 5 miles from you and you may want to check them out.

 

http://belvoirpethospital.com/750872.html

 

 

 

I agree with this recommendation.  They are great.