First of let me start by saying what a great place for information on cleveland.

 

I just got offererd a great job in cleveland and it looks like I will jump on the opportunity.  Problem I have is that I was practically born and raised in Chicago, wicker park area and love the city life.  Great restaurants, grocery stores, and great parks for me and my wife to take our daughter out.  Problem I have found is that the areas we are interested in like the Warehouse district seem to be more on the singles crowd than the family.  Don't get me wrong we aren't opposed to it but with a daughter we have other concerns in our lives now.  I guess what I am basically looking for is a safe neighborhood that my wife can freely and safely walk to explore.  We currently pay 1400 for a two bedroom 1800sqft apartment and would like something similar in size and cost.  One more thing, I will be working in Medina so I would like to keep my commute down to 30min.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Welcome "soon to be" new northeast Ohio resident. I would check out Lakewood if I was in your situation. Best of luck with the move!

Tremont or Ohio City might interest you. Both neighborhoods are adjacent to downtown but attract slightly older residents, in their 30s-40s, many with children. Both neighborhoods have shops and restaurants within walking distance (depending of course on exactly where you live). Both have easy access to I-71, which will take you to Medina.

Lakewood is a safe bet.  You will find very affordable housing, a fairly safe area, parks, and a pretty urban feel (No Chicago though).  There is a pretty young rental crowd,  but there are also loads of lifetime Lakewoodians. 

 

WHD:  I would agree with your analysis.  First of all, you can't really compare it to anything in Chicago (that goes for all of Cleveland IMO).  If you do, you will constantly be let down.  Instead, you need to look at Cleveland through a different lens. 

 

OH City: I would say no.  While I would not label it a high crime area, there tends to be a bit more "stuff" going on than some like.

 

Places you did not mention:

 

Tremont:  Tremont offers a very nice park, a stone's throw from downtown, and relatively cheap.  However, I lived there for a year with my gf, and we did not necessarily feel all that safe walking around at night.  A lot of it depends on where you live in Tremont.  Also, you will not be able to walk to any grocery stores.  Instead, you have to go to this giant strip mall where your only option is like Walmart or Target.

 

East Siiiiiide (I would generally favor)

 

Little Italy:  Safest area in the city; you are surrounded by Case Western Reserve Univ, University Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, and a cemetary.  It has a minerature park, good restarants, and great access to downtown (new bus line and rapid line).  You are also right next to University Circle, which is Cleveland's cultural hub and also has very nice parks.  Only problem with the further east you go, the more your lake access is kinda cut off.  Once again, you won't be able to walk to any grocery stores, but you're like a 2 minute drive from them.

 

Cle Hts (Cedar Fairmount/Coventry):  These areas are pretty young, especially Coventry.  Coventry is home to a lot of university students, a lot of bars and eclectic type stores, and is safe (just don't go north of Mayfield).  You can walk to a grocery store too.  Public transit is not as ideal in Coventry, however.

 

Cedar/Fairmount: I currently live here.  Nice, very little commercial district that is very safe, has a grocery store, and is a little older than Coventry.  You're about a 10 minute walk to the nearest rapid, 2 seconds from the aforementioned Little Italy and Coventry. 

 

Anyways, sorry if this was a rambling mess.  I'm currently in class and need to fake like I'm paying attention.  Please feel free to ask ANY questions you have.  I've never people who are more knowledgeable on this city than those that are on this forum.

 

Check out this thread too: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14228.0.html

 

And welcome to Cleveland

^I agree with both redbrick and blinker12 - all three are great areas with their own character and pros/cons. The commute from some parts of northwestern Lakewood might be a little north of 30 minutes. Pricewise I think you may experience reverse sticker shock, and whatever you do, if you really realllly like a place - don't be afraid to negotiate a lower price. Just out of curiosity, what kind of arrangements are you hoping for as far as schools?

Lakewood is a safe bet.  You will find very affordable housing, a fairly safe area, parks, and a pretty urban feel (No Chicago though).  There is a pretty young rental crowd,  but there are also loads of lifetime Lakewoodians. 

 

WHD:  I would agree with your analysis.  First of all, you can't really compare it to anything in Chicago (that goes for all of Cleveland IMO).  If you do, you will constantly be let down.  Instead, you need to look at Cleveland through a different lens. 

 

OH City: I would say no.  While I would not label it a high crime area, there tends to be a bit more "stuff" going on than some like.

 

Places you did not mention:

 

Tremont:  Tremont offers a very nice park, a stone's throw from downtown, and relatively cheap.  However, I lived there for a year with my gf, and we did not necessarily feel all that safe walking around at night.  A lot of it depends on where you live in Tremont.  Also, you will not be able to walk to any grocery stores.  Instead, you have to go to this giant strip mall where your only option is like Walmart or Target.

 

East Siiiiiide (I would generally favor)

 

Little Italy:  Safest area in the city; you are surrounded by Case Western Reserve Univ, University Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, and a cemetary.  It has a minerature park, good restarants, and great access to downtown (new bus line and rapid line).  You are also right next to University Circle, which is Cleveland's cultural hub and also has very nice parks.  Only problem with the further east you go, the more your lake access is kinda cut off.  Once again, you won't be able to walk to any grocery stores, but you're like a 2 minute drive from them.

 

Cle Hts (Cedar Fairmount/Coventry):  These areas are pretty young, especially Coventry.  Coventry is home to a lot of university students, a lot of bars and eclectic type stores, and is safe (just don't go north of Mayfield).  You can walk to a grocery store too.  Public transit is not as ideal in Coventry, however.

 

Cedar/Fairmount: I currently live here.  Nice, very little commercial district that is very safe, has a grocery store, and is a little older than Coventry.  You're about a 10 minute walk to the nearest rapid, 2 seconds from the aforementioned Little Italy and Coventry. 

 

Anyways, sorry if this was a rambling mess.  I'm currently in class and need to fake like I'm paying attention.  Please feel free to ask ANY questions you have.  I've never people who are more knowledgeable on this city than those that are on this forum.

 

Check out this thread too: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14228.0.html

 

And welcome to Cleveland

 

We'll I'm going to throw Shaker Square into the mix. 

 

It's a very nice area mixed with condo's, apartments and homes.  Good everyday services, 12 min. train ride to downtown, walkable neighborhood, great stores and restaurants.  Easy access to parks and great schools for you daughter.  A 5-7 minute drive to Cedar-Fairmont or Coventry.  The commute will not be 30 minutes though.  Will Medina to any neighborhood similar to wicker park or that we recommend be 30 minutes?

 

Personally, I think Downtown is the safest neighborhood in the city.

Thanks for all the info, very helpful.  I did want to take a look into the Tremont area as I have been researching that area the most.  Can anyone fill me in on more info of Lakewood?  Little Italy sounds like a good option as well.

 

Mayday, my daughter will be 2 in march so we have been looking at possibly enrolling her for a few hours in a montesorri school.  My wife is a teacher in Chicago, and she is planning on returning to school for her masters in school counseling while in Cleveland.  Great opportunity for her since she will not beable to use her degree in here.

One of my friends teaches at the Montessori school at Holy Rosary in Little Italy - it has a very good reputation, draws a lot of kids from the Case/CCF/UH professionals.  http://www.montessori-holyrosary.org

 

If you're thinking more about Lakewood, the nearest Montessori is Ruffing (Rocky River) www.ruffingmontessori.ORG - they also have a campus in Cleveland Heights on the east side.  www.ruffingmontessori.NET

I've been in Ohio City for about three years and the best part about it has been the network of young and growing families that we've found. There are some active parent groups that have built up a lot of social capital. I'd recommend Ohio City.

 

As a family, I wouldn't consider the warehouse district.

I think most of the neighborhoods mentioned sort-of resemble Wicker Park in makeup and diversity (mixed types of housing stock (new and old) and population, with great neighborhood establishments)  especially Tremont and Ohio City. 

 

I think Lakewood and Cleveland Heights (maybe Cedar Lee and Cedar Fairmount areas) as well as Shaker Square area would also definitely be very good bets (not sure about for commute though).

 

The Kamms Corner area of West Park is a nice neighborhood of Cleveland (with nice housing and some good restaurants and close to the wonderful metro parks) that may be better as far as commute to Medina (rt 237).

Oh man, I'm an idiot.  I didn't realize you'll be working in Medina.  Where in Medina?  The actual town, or somewhere else in the county? 

^At least you realized it and several places you mention fit the description - I just wish *everyone* would THOROUGHLY read these relocation posts before throwing out their favored location. They're lovely and all but the OP specifically said a commute of 30 minutes or less to MEDINA. That means EASY access to I-71 at the very least.

Have you looked at Medina itself to live in?  It's got a nice historic section that would be walkable and has some nice local establishments.  I don't think it would demographically match Wicker Park, as it's more homogeneously white, middle to upper middle class, and family oriented.  But it may be a tradeoff worth making to avoid a long commute.  Schools are supposed to be very good, very low crime.  I don't know about the parks.

 

Berea is another possibility.  It is sort of a college town, sort of a suburb, but has a nice little retail strip and some older neighborhoods, and would be a nice middle ground between Medina and your job and the amenities of urban Cleveland.  It's a little more diverse and a little less wealthy than Medina.  I don't know one way or another about schools or crime stats.  Excellent access to the Metroparks.  Close to the airport, which may be a noise issue, though I am not sure.

 

I'd also second Ohio City or Tremont as good neighborhoods to look at.

^At least you realized it - I wish *everyone* would THOROUGHLY read these relocation posts before throwing out their favored location. They're lovely and all but the OP specifically said a commute of 30 minutes or less to MEDINA. That means EASY access to I-71 at the very least.

 

I know, right!

In this case, I'd recommend Old Brooklyn.  It's not as "cool" as Tremont or Ohio City, but is a really great place to raise a family.  Most of the neighborhood is very safe, and it's one of the communities with a large population of police, firefighters, and city workers. 

 

It has some interesting ethnic grocery stores and restaurants, and more, from Ukrainian to Lebanese and Italian, are a stone's throw away in Parma. 

 

The housing stock is diverse, and I'm sure that you'd be able to find an entire house to rent for $1,400 or much less.

 

Also, there's great freeway access to I-480 on the south side of the neighborhood and I-71 on its north side.

^At least you realized it - I wish *everyone* would THOROUGHLY read these relocation posts before throwing out their favored location. They're lovely and all but the OP specifically said a commute of 30 minutes or less to MEDINA. That means EASY access to I-71 at the very least.

 

I read it!  Soleone, I private-messaged you.

Oh.  Somebody didnt want to recommend Middleburg Heights on here :wink:

Oh. Somebody didnt want to recommend Middleburg Heights on here :wink:

 

LOL.  Actually, I did NOT recommend MH.  But funny!

It sounds like lakewood would be a great fit for you and your family. It's a very walkable city. Great schools, low crime, easy 10 minute drive to downtown. As well as access to the RTA rapid. It's also within your 30 minutes to medina range. And for 1400/mo you could find one helluva place. Cost of living is considerably cheap here compared to Chicagoland. Check out www.progressiveurban.com for area real estate. Good luck and best wishes.

I agree about Lakewood ....think Evanston. 

 

Have you looked at Medina itself to live in?  It's got a nice historic section that would be walkable and has some nice local establishments.  I don't think it would demographically match Wicker Park, as it's more homogeneously white, middle to upper middle class, and family oriented.  But it may be a tradeoff worth making to avoid a long commute.  Schools are supposed to be very good, very low crime.  I don't know about the parks.

 

Medina is the is the equivalent of Naperville...the polar opposite of Wicker Park.  You don't want to live there.

^Lakewood would add at least ten minutes each way to this guy's commute. Keep that in mind. Also, I think that Evanston is much more upscale than Lakewood.

Thanks for all the info guys.  I have a lot to think and search for housing.  Knowing traffic patterns, is adding a few minutes to my commute like Lakewood a big deal.  I am accustomed to sitting in traffic for at least an hour only to travel 20 miles! 

 

Is anyone a teacher in cleveland?  My wife was wondering if she would be able to get a job as a substitute with her Illinois certification or if she would also need to be ohio certified.  Not really sure what that means but if you work for the system I assume you do.

 

I will be taking a trip next week to visit a few of these locations, wish me luck.

Having lived in Ukrainian Village and worked in Wicker Park, I wouldn't consider Lakewood comparable. While it does have some density and walkability going for it, the vibe is closer to West Ridge or Galewood than Wicker Park or Bucktown. Tremont would be a good option. We've been in Ohio City for a year and a half, I like it but its not that lively. If I had it to do over again, I would have looked harder for something in Little Italy.

Keep in mind soleone that you will have a reverse commute (assuming 9-5) to Medina from anywhere on the west side of Cleveland and will never sit in traffic barring a major accident or weather. I did a reverse commute from the Edgewater area of Cleveland to Wadsworth (a little father than Medina) for a few months and always made it in 30 minutes or less.

Lakewood/Edgewater to I-71 south can be pretty easy going - just cruise down 117th to the Bellaire onramp, or down Warren to the 150th onramp.  It avoids downtown and all that inbound traffic on 90.  I commuted from Clifton/117th down to Strongsville and only had trouble with traffic when 71 was torn up a few yrs ago.

Warren, which becomes W. 150th and has an onramp, is also a good route.

I agree that Tremont deserves a look.  Something I don't think anyone has pointed out yet is that Tremont Elementary is a Montessori elementary school.  I don't know if they have a preschool program, though.

i bounced around Chicago a bunch before moving to New Orleans.  I lived on Southport, Roscoe Village, And South Loop. 

What about Wicker, exactly, did you love?  Was it the restaurants, housing, neighbors?  As apposed to say a Roscoe Village.? 

Wicker,  in my view was more hipster/artsy/grittier than Roscoe?  Is that how you saw it?

My early vote is Tremont,  it has a great mix of cutting edge restaurants (google Michael Simon) a working class heritage, and a great, perhaps under utilized, park, Lincoln Park.

 

Regardless, you will be pleasently surprised about how much you will like Cleveland.

My early vote is Tremont, it has a great mix of cutting edge restaurants (google Michael Simon)

 

punch meant to say Google "Michael Symon"

Well,

I'll get mauled by my cohorts on here for suggesting this, but you may also want to consider highland square in northwest akron.  This area is a trendy, neat little area that is also walkable. 

http://highlandsquare.org/commercial.php

 

You are looking at about a 20 minute drive down route 18 to medina...could be better drive in the winters.  Market Street has just about every commerical business known to man between rte. 77 and downtown Akron, yet highland squre has more of a city feel and less of a suburb feel.  Definitely give it a look.

 

"I'll get mauled by my cohorts on here for suggesting this,"

 

Not necessarily, Highland Square is a great urban neighborhood - it might be a bit on the small side for someone coming from Chicago, though.

I agree about highland square.  I thought I would get called out for telling someone to go to Akron instead of Cleveland, but I want to be honest with the guy.  The winters can yield AWFUL commutes with snow and accidents, and a shot down a state route can be less stressful and easier.  Regardless, NE ohio is a great place and we have good people in my opinion.  Coming from the midwest, I am sure he wont feel too much of a change.

I agree about highland square.  I thought I would get called out for telling someone to go to Akron instead of Cleveland, but I want to be honest with the guy.  The winters can yield AWFUL commutes with snow and accidents, and a shot down a state route can be less stressful and easier.  Regardless, NE ohio is a great place and we have good people in my opinion.  Coming from the midwest, I am sure he wont feel too much of a change.

 

We'll being from the Great Lakes Region, I'm sure soleone used to winter and winter driving.

^^I think Highland Square is a bad option.  I grew up in Akron, and that area, while hip and trendy for Akron, is nothing to write home about.  There is also quite a bit of crime to raise your daughter around.  If you're going to consider Akron, instead of Highland Square, I would suggest an area nearby: the Merriman Road area in W. Akron.

 

However, from High Sq or Merriman Rd, it would be a tough commute to Medina in a half hour.

I live in southwest Lakewood and grew up in northern Medina County.  I can get to my parents house, door to door, in exactly 30 min and both of us live pretty close to I-71.    So, If you're working in Brunswick or Hinckley, then your commute from Lakewood would be about 30.  If you're working in Medina city or Wadsworth, it might be more like 40. 

I am not too worried about the winter driving, been doing it in Chicago for so long that it does not bother me anymore.  Thank you AWD....

 

I just looked at some pictures of homes in ohio city and have to say there are some beautiful homes there.  Reminds me somewhat of logan square here in Chicago. 

 

What I like about wicker park Punch, is that everything is walking distance.  If we feel like eating out, there is a variety of places.  Shopping is also a stones throw away, and there is always something going on, but at the same time it still has a quiet side that I can just walk around and enjoy the neighborhood.

For 12 years I've lived at the east end of Lakewood, just off the Gold Coast. The population density is great, as is the mix of people. A walk down a side street on a summer evening will yield a variety of foreign languages spoken as people sit on their front porches. The commercial district of West 117th has just about anything you'd want -- grocers, restaurants (two are open 24 hours), drug stores (two are 24 hours), two large parks nearby (Edgewater and Lakewood), coffee shops, banks, barber/beauty shops, 24-hour bus transit on Detroit Ave., 20-hour bus transit on Clifton, and 21-hour rail transit a little farther away. Just beyond the West 117th Rapid station is a Staples, Home Depot, Target and a large 24-hour grocery store called Giant Eagle.

 

BTW, Cleveland (measured at Hopkins Airport) gets twice as much as snow as Chicago (at O'Hare). Just to prepare you....

My vote soleone is still Tremont, but since you are pressed for time and family safety is a concern Lakewood is a solid choice.  It may not be exactly cutting edge, but its everything KJP said it was.  Back in the 80s it was known for being the area's gay and lesbian center.  Not so much of a boystown with its strip of bars, but mostly for a high concentration of gays and lesbians who lived there within a rather tolerent community.  I guess my point is that is has a progressive vibe for being a rather typical older suburb.  It also has a crap load of bars, mostly sports bars.  So it has a mix of enlightened intellectuals and sports loving meat heads.  You would be surprised how often in Cleveland those could be the same person.  Lakewood = Beverly sorta.

 

My advice to people when they are moving is do what I do when I move to a new town (something I have done about 10 times in the past 12 years.) Pick a potential neighborhood, then seek out its neighborhood joint and chat up the bartenders and regulars.  They will tell you nearly everyone you want to know about the area.  If you have the time to do it, I am sure we could all re comend places for you to check out.

 

For the first few months you are going to be so spoiled by the rush hours here. 

 

 

So it has a mix of enlightened intellectuals and sports loving meat heads. You would be surprised how often in Cleveland those could be the same person.

 

Guilty as charged!

 

 

 

BTW, Cleveland (measured at Hopkins Airport) gets twice as much as snow as Chicago (at O'Hare). Just to prepare you....

 

But, Chicago is much colder and windy IMHO.

Highland Square/W. Akron isn't a bad idea.  He didn't say anything that would negate that area.  Its pretty walkable.  You're close to many parks, Metro and National.  Its about a 30 minute drive via 18 to Medina.  There are several very nice, if not elite, grocery stores in the vicinity in West Point Market, Acme No.1, and Mustardseed Market. 

 

Good luck!

Highland Square/W. Akron isn't a bad idea. He didn't say anything that would negate that area. Its pretty walkable. You're close to many parks, Metro and National. Its about a 30 minute drive via 18 to Medina. There are several very nice, if not elite, grocery stores in the vicinity in West Point Market, Acme No.1, and Mustardseed Market.

 

Good luck!

 

If you are looking for a large beer selection, those 3 grocery stores combined are hard to beat...

Mustardseed is in Montrose, which is at least 15 minutes by car from Highland Square.  Like I said, I am from Akron, so I think I have a pretty good perspective.  If you are moving from Chicago and want something that half-way resembles Chicago, you cannot move to Akron.  Nice areas, yes.  City feel?  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

snow:

 

don't forget that on the east side of cleveland there is typically more snow than on the west side where hopkins airport is