I have seen other posts similar to this but I have a slightly different situation.  Others on a different forum were very helpful but I would like more opinions.

 

I am in my mid-20s and coming out to Ohio to work in the whole North of the state going to some target colleges and working with college students.  Since Cleveland is the biggest city and there are more colleges there (along with Akron, Kent) I chose to live there.  My main challenge is that I will not have a vehicle while in the state.

 

So basically what I am looking for is an area with other similar aged people (college, young professional) with a bunch to do but safe.  Since I have the vehicle predicament, this location must be near the metro routes.  I also need a furnished apartment.

 

I have been checking areas in downtown since that was the number one suggestion so far.  After reading this site, the section of Coventry is appealing to me but I don't know how the public transportation is.  Since I will be traveling to colleges in Cleveland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent, Akron, etc it is important to me that I don't have to go on a maze to get to my destination.  That being said, my travels will not be daily but rather one or two times a week so as long as it is safe to do so, a transfer here and there is ok with me.  Especially if I can get a good looking apartment for a cheaper price than downtown (I have read a few nasty reviews about places such as Reserve Square).

 

My job is working with college students and I am a young professional myself but I would like to feel safe and clean in my apartment and know I can walk the streets with my laptop bag and get to where I need to get to in a decent amount of time.  Also, since I will be here till mid-November I hope to find a few good watering holes to relax and hopefully meet some people.  It could be a lonely 3 months!

 

I appreciate all your help

I think you have quite a challenge ahead of you.  As I recall, the campus bus service to/from Kent only goes once a day to/from Cleveland.  I don't know how you would get to Akron U, maybe the others can advise.  Without a car and needing to travel to different schools you're not going to have a lot of control over your schedule.  You'll have to go when the bus goes and come home when it leaves whether your business is finished or not.  Here's the PARTA schedule (Portage county bus to/from Kent): http://www.partaonline.org/pdfs/Cleveland_Express.pdf

 

As I've suggested in previous threads, try searching on apartments.com for furnished apartments. 

Akron Metro x61 runs between downtown Cleveland and Akron:

 

http://www.akronmetro.org/Schedule%20PDFs/Fall%202008/29753%20x60-61NthCst_1.pdf

http://www.akronmetro.org/Schedule%20PDFs/Fall%202008/29753%20x60-61NthCst_2.pdf

 

PARTA also runs buses every two hours between Kent and Akron, so you could spend the morning in Kent or Akron, take a bus to the other campus, and then ride home to Cleveland:

 

http://www.partaonline.org/pdfs/CBS_Akron_Express.pdf

Welcome!

 

You can get to Toledo by megabus and amtrak to add to the list.

Given your public transit needs, downtown is the clear choice. That's where all the bus routes are hubbed. Getting back and forth between Coventry and downtown would just add another headache to the end of each of your trips.

I'd say the closer to Public Square the better -- check out E. 4th Street.

Thank you for the travel information.  I will be saving those pages.

 

I am looking at the majority of places downtown.  I just came across and spoke to a lady from Shakertown in Shaker Heights (12955 Larchmere Boulevard) and the price was pretty good...less than half of what downtown was.  It's close to the rapid as well.

 

Is this feasible in your opinion?  If I have to pay more to not want to kill myself everytime I need to travel that's what I'll have to do.  But, if its a nice area and easy access and has people my age (23+) in the area with some socialable places, I wouldn't mind.

JMO but I think anywhere but downtown is going to add a lot more hassle and time to your travel time.  I don't think the "neighborhood" benefits would outweigh the hassle given the nature of your job.

 

Edited to add: if you *really* have no desire to live downtown, my next recommendation would be Lakewood.  It is 5 minutes from downtown and has a lot of young people, stuff to do, bars, restaurants, walkable community.  Even if you couldn't get a bus or train there because it was very late or very early, a cab would be pretty cheap because it's so close.

Downtown will have lots of people in your age group. The population tends to be more "young professional" than "artsy" downtown, probably in large part because of the rents.

I live in Shaker Square (in Cleveland, about a block from the Shakertown), and it isn't really that great an area for young people. Don't get me wrong, I love Shaker Square, but it's more people in their 30s-40s overall and accordingly rather sedate. Young people tend to flock to Tremont, Ohio City, Downtown, Cleveland Heights and Lakewood.

I am 24, Mr. DocBroc is 25, and as most of the people on UO know, we just purchased a townhome in the Avenue District (a new downtown housing development).  Most of our neighbors are in their mid 20's to early 30's.  We love living downtown thus far, and we never feel unsafe. :-D

Since you will only be travelling one or two times a week, you may want to choose a neighborhood you really like such as Coventry.  It really depends whether or not you mind some longer trips on buses and trains. If you like to read or don't mind spending time on the transit then it wouldn't be necessary to live downtown.

 

As far as the megabus to Toledo and then Amtrak. I'd really look into the Megabus and Amtrak schedules. I go to Detroit from Cleveland often by public transit and I find the Greyhound much more convenient. The Amtrak train doesn't run that often and it could be a logistic nightmare to schedule it.

 

Also, with Coventry you have both the Circulator (Monday through Saturday) and the bus (I think #9). I would call RTA and ask to speak to someone in their Marketing Division. I did that before I moved here to find out what neighborhoods would work for me to live and use public transit. Their number is 216-621-9500 or call their administrative office and ask for marketing, 216-566-5100. Also you can p.m. me if you like.

 

I moved to Shaker initially but plan to move to a different neighborhood. There's nothing wrong with Shaker but it has a whole different feel than Coventry.  Each neighborhood here in Cleveland is very unique.