http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/07/solon_is_flush_with_money_and.html

Solon is flush with money and amenities

 

Posted by Laura Johnston July 14, 2008 21:00PM

 

Solon boasts a golf course, a state-of-the-art City Hall, senior and arts centers and three swimming pools.

 

It paid off its City Hall loans eight years early and earned the lowest interest rates for borrowing money. And it has never faced the kind of nail-biting budget cuts that some Cuyahoga County communities have made this year.

 

 

 

suburbanohio.com again...

So apparently you need to be a suburb to get the Plain Dealer to dote on you.  Oops is this the wrong thread to bash the P.D.?

You mean communities with large non-residential tax bases take in lots of tax dollars without having to tax their own citizens at high rates?  Another stunningly insightful contribution by the PD.  I guess Cleveland Heights and Lakewood should just bulldoze a few neighborhoods and put in industrial parks instead.

 

I love the comparison to Lake Forest.  Aesthetics aside (not much of a comparison there- no offense, Solon), the comparison to Lake Forest is kind of weird.  As the article states, Lake Forest has no significant industrial tax base and is significantly smaller, but hey, they're "otherwise similar".

My sister and her family love Solon.  Great schools, great gym (with one hell of a crappy weight room), the parks, incredibly low crime (that Max and Erma's incident was just bizzare), and getting better every year.

 

It's hard to believe only 30 years ago Solon had a large Klan chapter. 

My sister and her family love Solon. Great schools, great gym (with one hell of a crappy weight room), the parks, incredibly low crime (that Max and Erma's incident was just bizzare), and getting better every year.

 

It's hard to believe only 30 years ago Solon had a large Klan chapter.

What does the Klan have to do with this craptastic bland place?

And in Solon's defense, it's actually pretty racially diverse by suburban Cleveland standards: As of 2000, I think it was over 6% black and almost 5% Asian.  Probably even more integrated today.

 

It's still auto-dependent, bland, aesthetically-challenged exurbia though.

I'm pretty sure there're substantial Indian and Jewish populations there, too.

Definitely substantial Jewish populations.

And I lumped Indian (South Asian) with "Asian"- I think it's pretty mixed between South Asian and East Asian.

You people still amaze me at times..

And I lumped Indian (South Asian) with "Asian"- I think it's pretty mixed between South Asian and East Asian.

 

Oh, yeah.  I wasn't thinking.  Sorry. :-/

Since it was brought up:

 

Races in Solon, according to the 2006-07 School District Report:

 

White Non-Hispanic (74.3%)

African-American (12.9%)

Asian (9.5%)

Hispanic (0.7%)

Multi-Racial (2.6%)

 

I don't know % Jewish, but the school system has off on Jewish Holidays.

Since it was brought up:

 

Races in Solon, according to the 2006-07 School District Report:

 

White Non-Hispanic (74.3%)

African-American (12.9%)

Asian (9.5%)

Hispanic (0.7%)

Multi-Racial (2.6%)

 

I don't know % Jewish, but the school system has off on Jewish Holidays.

 

Is that a breakdown of Solon or the Solon School District?  If for the school district, what cities are in the School District?

Since it was brought up:

 

Races in Solon, according to the 2006-07 School District Report:

 

White Non-Hispanic (74.3%)

African-American (12.9%)

Asian (9.5%)

Hispanic (0.7%)

Multi-Racial (2.6%)

 

I don't know % Jewish, but the school system has off on Jewish Holidays.

 

Is that a breakdown of Solon or the Solon School District? If for the school district, what cities are in the School District?

 

It's a representation of the Solon School District which includes Solon and Glenwillow, although Glenwillow is basically 500 people.

School has gotta be at least 20 percent Jewish and growing

More than Orange, less than Beachwood

 

Just my estimates

Everyone.... demographics is certainly a worthy topic when it comes to most subjects on this site, but knock off the stereotyping.  That has no place in any discussion on this site.  "Cornfed" or "Cornbread" or whatever.  I've already had one complaint...the next one gets the offending poster some time off.

 

Clear?

6% black and 5% asian is "racially diverse" ? lol solon is prolly 80% white or above, that isnt diverse.

 

and jewish is a religion not a "race" (we're all the same race- human) or ethnicity

 

 

solon sucks btw

6% black and 5% asian is "racially diverse" ? lol solon is prolly 80% white or above, that isnt diverse.

 

and jewish is a religion not a "race" (we're all the same race- human) or ethnicity

 

 

solon sucks btw

 

Prolly if you'd been folling the thread you would have noticed the numbers just posted above.

 

Since it was brought up:

 

Races in Solon, according to the 2006-07 School District Report:

 

White Non-Hispanic (74.3%)

African-American (12.9%)

Asian (9.5%)

Hispanic (0.7%)

Multi-Racial (2.6%)

 

I don't know % Jewish, but the school system has off on Jewish Holidays.

How has it changed so much since 2000? I think the 2006-07 data conflicts this way too much to be accurate in any sense:

 

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 7,554 households, and 6,171 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,060.8 people per square mile (409.6/km²). There were 7,801 housing units at an average density of 379.6/sq mi (146.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.79% White, 6.12% African American, 0.04% Native American, 4.91% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

 

African American and Asian pops double in 7 years? And Latino stays the same? Ummm, also, Glenwillow apparently is even more white. I don't think demographics census reports are ever accurate. I'd say Solon is 92% white, 4% Asian, and 2% African American and 2% other. OK, so I'm only guessing, but the bottom line is: Solon is NOT diverse or anywhere near! Try Shaker Heights/C. Hts/S. Euclid/U. Hts for diversity.

C-Dawg, CTownsfinest

 

Considers yourselves warned. This forum will not tolerate the internet equivalent of "name-calling" of other cities. Don't like Solon? Great, express your opinion in a more intelligent way.

I've deleted C-Dawg's messages and the lone reply which quoted him.

6% black and 5% asian is "racially diverse" ? lol solon is prolly 80% white or above, that isnt diverse.

 

You might recall that the rest of my sentence was "by suburban Cleveland standards".  Compare Solon's demos (even in 2000) with Twinsburg, Westlake, Strongsville, Bay, Medina County, etc.

 

How has it changed so much since 2000? I think the 2006-07 data conflicts this way too much to be accurate in any sense:

 

Shs96, was the school district report describing the demographics of all residents of the district or just the student population?  If the latter, that might explain some of the discrepancy.  Although I don't doubt the minority population (all minorities) has been growing rapidly, for the same reasons, more or less, that the white population grew so fast in the 80s and 90s.

I have to admit I'm amused by this thread too.

 

Parma, which is helluva lot more dense that Solon is or ever will be, is treated like an outburb by some folks on these boards, yet 80% white, "racially diverse" Solon is getting a pass by some of you.

 

I'm just trying to understand the point here...it's OK to be sprawled out and diverse, but denser and not so diverse is bad?

 

Next time some of you make a smarmy Parma remark understand that Solon is dragging down the Cleveland area much more than Parma ever did or is. :)

 

Some of you eastsiders (yes, I said it MTS!!!! :lol:) need to cross the river every once in while and see how the other half lives.

 

 

 

Some of you eastsiders (yes, I said it MTS!!!! :lol:) need to cross the river every once in while and see how the other half lives.

 

Is it safe for us to travel across the river there wearing jewels?  LOL.

 

Seriously, based on a lot of threads and living in Cleveland my entire life, there are lots of neighborhoods I'm very surprised to see.  They are gorgeous.  I'm sure there are lots of suburbs on the westside, which are nicely maintained that folks should take a moment to explore as well.

 

I would like to think UO is a small representation of Cleveland city.  Most people here live in the popular or hip neighborhoods or well to do neighborhoods that haven't changed.  How many people on here live in central or the stockyards?

 

 

 

Well i can't just explore anywhere without being at least looked at funny. They think i'm out of place of something just because of the color of my skin.

:roll:

 

Well i can't just explore anywhere without being at least looked at funny. They think i'm out of place of something just because of the color of my skin.

 

I'm not sure what you race is, but that goes both way, as experienced by ajknee when he was here.

 

It's  happened to me on the westside, but more of a "your not from this neighborhood" kinda thing.

I have to admit I'm amused by this thread too.

 

Parma, which is helluva lot more dense that Solon is or ever will be, is treated like an outburb by some folks on these boards, yet 80% white, "racially diverse" Solon is getting a pass by some of you.

 

I'm just trying to understand the point here...it's OK to be sprawled out and diverse, but denser and not so diverse is bad?

 

Next time some of you make a smarmy Parma remark understand that Solon is dragging down the Cleveland area much more than Parma ever did or is. :)

 

Some of you eastsiders (yes, I said it MTS!!!! :lol:) need to cross the river every once in while and see how the other half lives.

 

?  Who (among we who consistently express preferences for urban settings) gave Solon a "pass"?  The demographics of Solon are, to me at least, really interesting in a region as racially balkanized as Northeast Ohio and distinguish it (statistically speaking) from every other exurban community in the area, but the appeal ends there for me.

Eh, I read too much into the comments. I'm not trying to incite something. I just think some people that haven't travelled west think Parma=Solon in terms of density. That isn't the case. It's more like South Euclid/parts of Euclid. :)

 

And, yes MTS you can wear your jewels, just nothing shaped like a flamingo or a bowling ball.

^Gotcha.  Parma is demographically interesting in its own right (not a snide comment, I swear), and yes, I agree, not exurbia.

 

Well i can't just explore anywhere without being at least looked at funny. They think i'm out of place of something just because of the color of my skin.

 

I'm not sure what you race is, but that goes both way, as experienced by ajknee when he was here.

 

It's  happened to me on the westside, but more of a "your not from this neighborhood" kinda thing.

 

Look I'm not defending certain neighborhoods of the Westside and Parma in terms of race. The record of racism in these places is open for everyone to see. I give props to Solon for being racially diverse for an American outer burb, but it's still an outer burb nonetheless.

^Gotcha.  Parma is demographically interesting in its own right (not a snide comment, I swear), and yes, I agree, not exurbia.

 

Don't tell MTS this, but one of my girlfriends was 100% Puerto Rican (at least that's what she claimed) and from Tuxedo Ave. in Parma. While it's very mostly white, even in the 80's there was some diversity there. Not much though.

 

Anyway enough about Parma...this is about Solon.

 

 

 

Shs96, was the school district report describing the demographics of all residents of the district or just the student population?  If the latter, that might explain some of the discrepancy.  Although I don't doubt the minority population (all minorities) has been growing rapidly, for the same reasons, more or less, that the white population grew so fast in the 80s and 90s.

 

It represents the student body at the school and based on the 2007 graduating class, I would say it is accurate. 

 

Source:  http://www.solonohio.org/PDF/plStats.pdf

 

Parma and Solon aren't remotely comparable.

 

I'm just trying to understand the point here...it's OK to be sprawled out and diverse, but denser and not so diverse is bad?

 

I would say its OK to be a city where 98% of the kids graduate high school, 99% of those go to college, 20% of residents have a graduate degree, 56% have a bachelors degree, the population (in a county bleeding residents) grew 17% in the 1990's and 2% since 2000 with a 20% property value increase during that same period.  It has little to no crime, a thriving industry base, and a city administration that takes care of things.

Shs96, was the school district report describing the demographics of all residents of the district or just the student population?  If the latter, that might explain some of the discrepancy.  Although I don't doubt the minority population (all minorities) has been growing rapidly, for the same reasons, more or less, that the white population grew so fast in the 80s and 90s.

 

It represents the student body at the school and based on the 2007 graduating class, I would say it is accurate. 

 

Source:  http://www.solonohio.org/PDF/plStats.pdf

 

Parma and Solon aren't remotely comparable.

 

I'm just trying to understand the point here...it's OK to be sprawled out and diverse, but denser and not so diverse is bad?

 

I would say its OK to be a city where 98% of the kids graduate high school, 99% of those go to college, 20% of residents have a graduate degree, 56% have a bachelors degree, the population (in a county bleeding residents) grew 17% in the 1990's and 2% since 2000 with a 20% property value increase during that same period.  It has little to no crime, a thriving industry base, and a city administration that takes care of things.

 

Well if that's that case maybe everyone should move there from Cleveland and the inner burbs and build giant homes with 2+ car garages...oh wait, they are!!!!!! You know the point of this website? No? Or is it now suburbanohio.com?

 

Parma is dense®...Solon is not....that's my point. I'm sure Solon is fine 'burb as far as outer 'burbs go!

 

Parma -- 4291.4 people per square mile

Solon -- 1060.8 people per square mile

 

And Parma is decline, Parma had 5000+ people in its peak back in 1970.

You kids done?

Shs96, was the school district report describing the demographics of all residents of the district or just the student population? If the latter, that might explain some of the discrepancy. Although I don't doubt the minority population (all minorities) has been growing rapidly, for the same reasons, more or less, that the white population grew so fast in the 80s and 90s.

 

It represents the student body at the school and based on the 2007 graduating class, I would say it is accurate.

 

Source: http://www.solonohio.org/PDF/plStats.pdf

 

Parma and Solon aren't remotely comparable.

 

I'm just trying to understand the point here...it's OK to be sprawled out and diverse, but denser and not so diverse is bad?

 

I would say its OK to be a city where 98% of the kids graduate high school, 99% of those go to college, 20% of residents have a graduate degree, 56% have a bachelors degree, the population (in a county bleeding residents) grew 17% in the 1990's and 2% since 2000 with a 20% property value increase during that same period. It has little to no crime, a thriving industry base, and a city administration that takes care of things.

 

Solon lost population btw 2006 and 2007, but it doesn't matter. Euclid and Parma were like that at one point to, thriving, then the bottom started to fall out. In a region that isn't growing but is still sprawling further and further out, how long will Solon and Westlake thrive? 15, 20 years. Then what?

^Bainbridge and North Ridgeville.

I wouldn't call Solon an outer ring suburb.  It's more "middle ring", bordering Bedford and Bedford Hts. like it does.  In west side terms it's Middlebug Hts, not Brunswick.

 

It's always had a reputation as a well run city that was attractive to business and takes care of its residents.  This is now coming home to roost, so to speak.

 

By comparison Maple Heights never learned (losing 1,200 jobs from two companies alone during the early 90s through a combination of indifference and harrasment, then still trying to limit how much warehouse space a business could have) and Bedford only learned because they needed to keep BenVen.

Solon was a great place to grow up, it's safe, lots of parks.  For a family, why wouldn't you want to live there?

 

It also has the Stouffers outlet store with dented boxes!!

Solon was a great place to grow up, it's safe, lots of parks.  For a family, why wouldn't you want to live there?

 

It also has the Stouffers outlet store with dented boxes!!

 

Thats fine. I just have a problem with people praising Solon, but blasting places like Euclid and Parma, which not too long ago were in the same postion Solon is presently. Im just saying if things don't change, then one day Solon may be envying the new burbs springing up in Geauga County.

How much of the situation Parma and Euclid may be in is due to the suburb ring spreading verse poor leadership/management.

How much of the situation Parma and Euclid may be in is due to the suburb ring spreading verse poor leadership/management.

 

Then insert the suburbs of wealthy Cleveland Hts., Shaker Hts., Rocky River or Beachwood.

Solon was a great place to grow up, it's safe, lots of parks.  For a family, why wouldn't you want to live there?

 

It also has the Stouffers outlet store with dented boxes!!

 

Thats fine. I just have a problem with people praising Solon, but blasting places like Euclid and Parma, which not too long ago were in the same postion Solon is presently. Im just saying if things don't change, then one day Solon may be envying the new burbs springing up in Geauga County.

 

I understand Euclid and Parma were once thriving and are now not what they once were.  However, they were not in the same position as Solon is today.  They thrived under different conditions and for different reasons.  Sure, you can say it will dip a little just like those cities.  Or you can argue it has learned from those mistakes, has positioned itself and has the resources to prevent that from happening.

Solon was a great place to grow up, it's safe, lots of parks. For a family, why wouldn't you want to live there?

 

It also has the Stouffers outlet store with dented boxes!!

 

Thats fine. I just have a problem with people praising Solon, but blasting places like Euclid and Parma, which not too long ago were in the same postion Solon is presently. Im just saying if things don't change, then one day Solon may be envying the new burbs springing up in Geauga County.

 

I understand Euclid and Parma were once thriving and are now not what they once were. However, they were not in the same position as Solon is today. They thrived under different conditions and for different reasons. Sure, you can say it will dip a little just like those cities. Or you can argue it has learned from those mistakes, has positioned itself and has the resources to prevent that from happening.

 

How were they different then Solon is today?

Solon maybe positioned well for the next couple of decades (and maybe indefinately for all that I know about the future) but things change as you mentioned  above. What works today will probably will not work tommorow and there is no guaratee that the leaders of tomorrow willing to adjust. I just think that it is shortsighted to believe that the decline that has happened to Parma, Euclid, etc couldn't happen to Solon one day.

 

Note: I am not ripping on Solon in anyway

Solon was a great place to grow up, it's safe, lots of parks.  For a family, why wouldn't you want to live there?

 

I really don't have anything against Solon in particular, but three reasons I would never live there (family or no family):  lack of transit, distance from everything I like in Cleveland, and aesthetically not really my thing.  Only 'cause you asked!  I can understand why plenty of people do want to live there though.

Again, my point is not a quality of life issue...it's a density issue.

 

It's a no-brainer to understand that Parma and Euclid are much denser than Solon. Each city has multiple mid-rise apartment buildings, block housing, etc. You'll never see that type of density in Solon. The residents moved there to have a giant home with a 2+ gar garage at the end of some cul-de-sac. They moved there not only to get away from the Cleveland lifestyle...but from the Parma and Euclid one as well.

 

So if Solon gets a pass, then so should Parma and Euclid.

 

BTW, Middleburg Hts./Brunswick/North Ridgeville/Stow/Solon/Mentor....it's all the same sprawled out housing. There's no distinction between them except people's income.

1) Why does Parma keep coming up?

 

2) Parma is denser than Solon, a simple check of census statistics could have proven your point four days ago.

1) Why does Parma keep coming up?

 

2) Parma is denser than Solon, a simple check of census statistics could have proven your point four days ago.

 

I keep using Parma and Euclid as examples of booming suburbs flush with tax paying industry, excellent housing, excellent schools, low crime etc. and the decline that can occur as resources and development keep pushing out. When building those sparkling brand new tract homes in the 40's and 50's who would have thought those neighborhoods could decline like they have? Basically, I think its shortsighted to think Solon, Westlake and Strongsville are immune to the ills of Euclid, Parma and other burbs like them.