Any suggestions on good areas to live for single, mid- to late-20 year old females? Don't need the "crazy" nightlife, as that's long past, but some recommendations for an area that provides housing along with low-key bars, restaurants, shops, etc. where other singles hang out on the weekends.

Ideally, would like a town house or rented house, as opposed to an apartment. The location would need to be dog friendly, too, so any suggestions for parks, walkable neighborhoods, etc. would be great!

 

I've looked at the Tremont and Lakewoods areas, but haven't experienced them first hand... suggestions are very much appreciated!!

I'm moving to Cleveland in the next few weeks and was hoping that people could provide me some parameters as far as which areas to stay in (i.e. East of whatever Street, North of whichever...)? I think it will help me to visualize the locations I should stay in to make sure that I'm staying in a safer neighborhood.

I'm a single, late-20s female, so safety is key, but I still want to stay in an area where there are other 20 and 30-somethings and easily accessible restaurants, shops, bars, etc, so not the 'burbs. I'm currently looking in Lakewood, Tremont and Cleveland Heights areas, but am certainly open to suggestions. Thanks!

I'm moving to Cleveland in the next few weeks and was hoping that people could provide me some parameters as far as which areas to stay in (i.e. East of whatever Street, North of whichever...)? I think it will help me to visualize the locations I should stay in to make sure that I'm staying in a safer neighborhood.

I'm a single, late-20s female, so safety is key, but I still want to stay in an area where there are other 20 and 30-somethings and easily accessible restaurants, shops, bars, etc, so not the 'burbs. I'm currently looking in Lakewood, Tremont and Cleveland Heights areas, but am certainly open to suggestions. Thanks!

 

Welcome!  As far as Cleveland Heights goes, stay south of Mayfield Rd.

I'm moving to Cleveland in the next few weeks and was hoping that people could provide me some parameters as far as which areas to stay in (i.e. East of whatever Street, North of whichever...)? I think it will help me to visualize the locations I should stay in to make sure that I'm staying in a safer neighborhood.

I'm a single, late-20s female, so safety is key, but I still want to stay in an area where there are other 20 and 30-somethings and easily accessible restaurants, shops, bars, etc, so not the 'burbs. I'm currently looking in Lakewood, Tremont and Cleveland Heights areas, but am certainly open to suggestions. Thanks!

 

Welcome! As far as Cleveland Heights goes, stay south of Mayfield Rd.

 

I take offense to that ;)  The 44121 is not unsafe!

 

Seriously though, the "south of mayfield" rule, in my mind, really only applies in the very small portion of CH known by locals as "the Jets" which would be anything south of Mayfield and west of Superior.  But, it should not include "on" mayfield road even if that means the south side of the street.  There are other little pockets of Heights that you may want to stay away from, but they are few and far between.  The only one I could specifically identify for you would be going too far past Monticello on Noble and approaching the East Cleveland border, but you would realize that just by driving through.  Also, if school districts are important to you, be careful as some areas of Cleveland Heights are in the East Cleveland school district and you don't want to buy there.

 

Based on your post, I would say look at the Coventry and Cedar-Fairmount neighborhoods in Cleveland Heights.

 

On the east side of the City, I would generally limit your search to specific neighborhoods like Downtown, University Circle, Little Italy, Asiatown, Shaker Square, and North Collinwood.  It all depends on what you consider "safe".  Personally, I would walk around any of those areas without much fear.

 

Someone else will provide better advice for west side neighborhoods. 

 

Welcome to Cleveland. 

Hi Lulu, and welcome to Cleveland!  I live in Tremont, and can wholeheartedly recommend it, though all of the areas you're looking in are attractive in their own ways.  My neighborhood is fairly low-key, and is home to lots of young professionals.  There are bookstores, two libraries, parks (including a large dog park,) galleries, restaurants (of course,) and big-box shopping in Steelyard Commons (great for picking up necessities or something you forgot to grab at the store,) as well as good public transportation and excellent access to downtown, Ohio City, and major freeways (71, 77, 90, 176, 490.)

 

In Tremont, the general rule is to stay east of I-71/90.  The part of the neighborhood north of 490 is more gentrified and considered to be safer by some, though I live south of the freeway and have never had any issues with crime.  I walk the neighborhood at all hours of the day and night and have never felt unsafe, and the two single women who live in my building have said the same to me.  Of course, a feeling of safety is something personal, and only you know how you feel about a particular area, so I'd recommend checking it out for yourself.  If you have specific questions, feel free to ask here or send me a personal message.

Thank you all for your responses! This is really helping me to narrow things down! Any other suggestions or guidance is very much appreciated!!

For Lakewood, the city in general is safe, but I wouldn't recommend the southeast corner or the city, the area south of Madison and East of Bunts.  Its not really that bad of an area, but its not where I would recommend.  Most of the bars and restaurants are on Detroit or Madison.  The west end of detroit has a lot of popular bars.  the area of Madison just west of Warren also has a good cluster. 

 

Lakewood streets differ from one to the next, so you really need to check out the specific street to judge an apartment.  One street might be full of rundown doubles that might be more likely to house some problem neighbors, while one street over will have large beautiful homes.  In general, the farther north or west you are, the nicer the area.  Lakewood apartments are up/down doubles, but there are some whole houses for rent. 

 

For the dog, I don't think dogs are allowed at Lakewood park (not positive since I don't have a dog myself) but there is a dog park in the Rocky River Reservation Metropark, which is on the border of Lakewood and Rocky River just off Detroit Rd (near the west end area I've been talking about).

I would suggest Tremont, downtown (east 4th area), or even Ohio City.  In my limited experience it seems that Lakewood is home to more of a "party" crowd but someone correct me if I'm wrong.  Where are you moving from and where is your ideal area to live in the city you are coming from?  That may help us direct you.

I would definitely recommend Tremont to a single female in their mid-late 20's........Of course I'm a single male in my late 20's living in Tremont  :-D

If it hasn't been mentioned....Tremont has a dog park

north of mayfield has some really quaint and cohesive residential areas. but they tend to me more houses than apartment communities that fit this description. As a women who lived alone (not in cleve at that time) on a shoestring budget in urban areas from 18-26, I always checked out neighborhoods at times I knew I would be coming home-ie 4am (then-bartender) and hung around and asked people including law enforcement. that said many Cleveland cops seem super hyper sensitive to living in the city.

I would suggest Tremont, downtown (east 4th area), or even Ohio City. In my limited experience it seems that Lakewood is home to more of a "party" crowd but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Where are you moving from and where is your ideal area to live in the city you are coming from? That may help us direct you.

I've lived in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, so I'd love to be able to stay with that vibe-- shops and restaurants were within walking distance and I never felt unsafe walking my dog at night. Safety is a big priority with me since I will be living alone, but I also want to live around other young professionals, so the 'burbs are definitely out. Any additional feedback or suggestions would be very helpful!!

I would recommend the West end of Lakewood, anything west of Warren Rd, which is W 150th street, and either on Detroit or Madison (the E-W streets) or any of the side streets that go N-S from Warren to the west edge of Lakewood would be fine. there are TONS of duplexes there for rent and lots of bars, restaurants and shops, though if you live ON Detroit or Madison it will be closer than one of the side streets.  I lived at Elmwood and Madison on the NE corner of the street, those were nice apartments, and in the Riverside apartments that are the last apartments on the N side of the street and it was pretty low key there and a fairly close walk to the bars on the western edge of lakewood which are always hopping (the Riverside, the West End, Around the Corner,a nd there's a great breakfast spot there called the Borderline Cafe).  The dog park in Rocky River reservation is very close to there as well, though it would be a bit of a hike to walk there, but less than a 5 min drive.  Lakewood has a lot of 20somethings but more working professionals than students IMO, so post-college singles as opposed to Cleveland Heights, which I think gets more college aged folks.  Take a drive down Detroit and Madison, you'll see for rent signs posted where there are vacancies.

 

Lakewood has a strong and active police presence which is good and bad. They will ticket you if you're even 10 minutes past the time you shouldn't be parked somewhere, and once I got a ticket for blocking the tiniest bit of someone's driveway (I was waiting tables and getting home very late and with street-only parking, sometimes there are literally NO spaces for a mile so you park where you can find a spot and take your chances).  There is a fair amount of non-violent crime the closer you get to the Cleveland-Lakewood border (W 117th street) such as car break ins, stolen bikes, etc. but I never felt uncomfortable walking alone there at night and I lived about a block from 117th for several years when I first moved to Lakewood.

that said many Cleveland cops seem super hyper sensitive to living in the city.

 

Cops have extremely skewed responses. They sensationalize things. 

for some reason packing heat makes them even more worried. go figure.

I would suggest Tremont, downtown (east 4th area), or even Ohio City. In my limited experience it seems that Lakewood is home to more of a "party" crowd but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Where are you moving from and where is your ideal area to live in the city you are coming from? That may help us direct you.

I've lived in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, so I'd love to be able to stay with that vibe-- shops and restaurants were within walking distance and I never felt unsafe walking my dog at night. Safety is a big priority with me since I will be living alone, but I also want to live around other young professionals, so the 'burbs are definitely out. Any additional feedback or suggestions would be very helpful!!

 

Some people on this board lived in Lakewood when it used to be the area where the young professionals live. Things have changed over the past decade. I'd look into Tremont and Ohio City if I were you. From what you're saying, I'd tend more towards Tremont. I'd also suggest the area of Ohio City near W.25th/Lorain.

I would suggest Tremont, downtown (east 4th area), or even Ohio City. In my limited experience it seems that Lakewood is home to more of a "party" crowd but someone correct me if I'm wrong. Where are you moving from and where is your ideal area to live in the city you are coming from? That may help us direct you.

I've lived in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, so I'd love to be able to stay with that vibe-- shops and restaurants were within walking distance and I never felt unsafe walking my dog at night. Safety is a big priority with me since I will be living alone, but I also want to live around other young professionals, so the 'burbs are definitely out. Any additional feedback or suggestions would be very helpful!!

 

Some people on this board lived in Lakewood when it used to be the area where the young professionals live. Things have changed over the past decade. I'd look into Tremont and Ohio City if I were you. From what you're saying, I'd tend more towards Tremont. I'd also suggest the area of Ohio City near W.25th/Lorain.

Thanks-- that's helpful! My major issue is where exactly in Tremont? Are there decent apartment buildings or am I better off looking for a stand alone rental? I've mainly been seaching on Craigslist, which hasn't been too helpful since the posters tend to classifiy anything remotely close to Tremont as such, when it's obviously not... Also, do you have any suggestions about specific parameters/street boundries I should try to stay within?

go to your favorite mapping tool....such as Google maps.

 

zoom in on downtown Cleveland

 

look just south where 90 and 490 meet, this is the southwest corner of tremont...the river forms the other side of a triangle,  You will probably want to make sure the prospective address is in that triangle.  East of 90 North of 490.  There is a bit of land south of 490 but still east of 90, this might be acceptable, but stay north of clark.

 

I lived there for the last 10 years or so before moving over to Detroit Shoreway.  One of my best friends from high school was an "urban pioneer" in the area he moved there in 1994, he owns 6 rental houses on W. 12th st between castle and clark.  none are vacant at the moment, and you probably want to be north of there anyway.

 

What kind of budget are you looking at?  I was paying $600 for the upper floor of a double with off street parking.  there is at least one $300,000 townhouse for rent for $1750.00

 

http://tremontplacelofts.com/apartments.htm might be worth a look.

 

If you PM me an address or 3 I can render a more specific opinion.

 

 

 

Generally speaking the further north you are the better.    Most of the fancy restaurants run along professor between jefferson and literary.

 

Tremont has a bar scene but I would say it is more "30's" than "20's"  it does have some "divey" type places but for the most part it is more upscale so not too crazy.

 

I would look for rentals that offer off street parking of some sort, lots of bars and fine dining without too many parking lots means it can be difficult to find parking on the street.

 

There are not too many apartment buildings, most of what you will find are 1/2 houses, up/down. 

 

 

 

for some reason packing heat makes them even more worried. go figure.

 

They see people and places when they are at their worst.  It is no surprise they become deeply cynical about both.

Another Lakewoodite chiming in here..... if you like Chicago, then Lakewood might be what you're looking for. The density of individual townhomes is much like Chicago except they're made of wood here (something to do about us not having a little blaze like Chicago did). Most townhomes are doubles (over-under) with both units having front porches. Of all the cities I've visited, this style of wooden double almost uniquely Cleveland. These were built from 1890-1930 during Greater Cleveland's greatest boom in population.

 

I agree with prior suggestions about Lakewood's west end, but would broaden the area to include the western half of the city. Detroit Avenue has a lot of shops, cool bars, movie theater, grocery store, parks, good variety of restaurants and coffee shops from downtown (Detroit Ave at Warren Ave area) westward to the Rocky River. My favorite section is from downtown west to Edwards Ave. So if you find some rentals on the sidestreets off Detroit in this area, I think you might like them. Streets include Cook, Gladys, Victoria, Elmwood, Andrews, Mars, Arthur, Lakeland, Westwood, Summit, Rosewood, Brockley, Orchard, Cranford, Northland, Westlake, Woodward, Hall, Wagar, Ethel, Lauderdale and Edwards.

 

Try a Google streets view of this area to see if this what you're looking for before heading out to look for for-rent signs.

 

But then again, I live in Lakewood so it's not all that safe for single ladies...  :-D

But then again, I live in Lakewood so it's not all that safe for single ladies... :-D

 

Yeah, you gotta watch out for KJP, hahahaha. (just kidding)

The first neighborhood I thought of from your description was Tremont. Most of the housing stock is wood-frame houses divided up into apartments, but there are a few apartment buildings. Depending on your price range, you might try the Gospel Press building, http://www.tremontplacelofts.com/

This is an old Mennonite book bindery that has been turned into apartments. It's a good location, within a 5 minute walk of most of Tremont's main attractions.

Tremont is probably different from Chicago neighborhoods you're used to in that the restaurants, stores, etc. are scattered randomly throughout the neighborhood. Although Professor St. comes close, there isn't a main commercial artery where most stuff is located. This gives the neighborhood a "sleepier" feel than many big city neighborhoods because there's no critical mass of activity in any one place. The one thing that Tremont still doesn't have in walking distance is a grocery store. You'll have to bike or drive to the West Side Market or Dave's in Ohio City.

If you're looking for a neighborhood that feels a little more bustling, you might try the area around W. 25th and Lorain in Ohio City, as 3231 previously suggested.

I moved from living in downtown Boston to Tremont and really enjoy it. I am living across the street from Lucky's cafe on Starkweather. I didn't have a car for the first three months here and was able to walk everywhere in the neighborhood. I was taking public transportation, sometimes late at night, and always felt safe. I am 30 years old and feel that demograph is well represented in Tremont. Also, it emulates a lot of the features that my neighborhood in Boston had - shops, restaurants, a library, parks, etc...

Thanks again to everyone who's submitted recommendations/suggestions! So I've set up a few places to look at this weekend (listed below); any feedback you guys can provide on these specific areas/streets would be great!

 

- Shaker Heights: 19411 Winslow Ave

- Shaker Heights: 3718 Glencairn

- Cleveland Heights: 1646 Belmar Ave

- Tremont: 1213 Fairfield Ave

- Tremont: 716 College Avenue

- Anyone know anything about The Hyacinth Lofts on East 63rd St? The neighborhood seems pretty sketchy, but maybe it's just me...

 

Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

- Anyone know anything about The Hyacinth Lofts on East 63rd St? The neighborhood seems pretty sketchy, but maybe it's just me...

 

No, its not just you.

- Cleveland Heights: 1646 Belmar Ave

 

 

Like I said upthread, in that little swath of CH, stay either on Mayfield Rd or south of it.

 

- Anyone know anything about The Hyacinth Lofts on East 63rd St? The neighborhood seems pretty sketchy, but maybe it's just me...

 

If that is the old board of education building, I have a friend that lives there.  It is a really nive conversion and an interesting crowd of artists, carpenters, young professionals, etc.  It is gated in and is not in a neighborhood you would really want to explore.  Probably popular due to quick access to 490.  But also very close to the projects and some real seedy parts of town.  Doesn't seem to be a good fit for you.

 

 

Hyacinth area is rough - honestly not somewhere I'd consider.

 

Belmar is in that triangle north of Mayfield, between Coventry and Superior - not great on that side of Mayfield, but it is close to Coventry.  I would look for a duplex south of Mayfield or near Cedar-Fairmount.  For the extra $100-150, I'd take a look at 2661 Hampshire or 2300 Bellfield listed by the same company (www.urbanrestorationsproject.com)

 

Both Shaker addresses are very residential areas - I lived on Winslow about a dozen years ago, and it was fine but boring.  It is very convenient to the rapid if you're working downtown.

 

I've never lived in Tremont, but like the locations of both listings - the one on College would be a 1-2 block walk to some good pubs (Treehouse, Edison's), restaurants, and an ice cream shop.  The one on Fairfield is less central to Tremont's amenities, but for one weekend a year (Memorial Day), it's a prime spot for the Greek festival at Annunciation right across the street.  Hope you like gyros.

Regarding the Tremont options - the biggest gripe I've heard about the area around College/Professor streets are the weekend crowds/parking issues, particularly during Artwalks - if the College Street option doesn't offer off-street parking, I'd be leery.

- Tremont: 1213 Fairfield Ave... a bit outside the "action" if you will,  I knew a guy who knew a guy who lived in those brick 4 units, pretty nice inside.  Not a bad location

 

 

- Tremont: 716 College Avenue

 

is a block + off of Professor which is where the majority of the fine dining, a good section of bars and more than 3 art galleries are.  Art walk is once a month.  There will be parking issues if you have to park on the street.

 

I would say college would be if you want to be in the thick of things...Fairfield if you want to be a little bit away.

 

Also if you are at all athletic:  www.clevelandplays.com  They run a lot of co-ed sports...the fall touch football league is at Clark fields in tremont right next to the dog park.  Everybody goes to the Treehouse after games (corner of college and professor).  It is a good way to meet people.

 

Clevelander's are very friendly, but hard to become friends with, if that makes sense.  Most people here are FROM here, have their friends from high school and grade school, and their families. 

 

6 degrees of separation is scary here, it is very small townish in that regard.  That and the east side/west side divide :-).  Which ever side of the river you end up on, that will probably be the one you spend 90% of your time. 

 

That and I will bet you a Great Lakes brewing company Christmas ale that you will find Cleveland to be so much nicer than a good solid minority, if not majority, of the people that live here :-) 

 

I have travelled extensively, I love C-town and wouldn't live anywhere else, convinced my wife to move here from Manhattan....but you will get so much "you moved here from Chicago, why would you do that?"  that you will start questioning what these people know that you don't?

 

restless8052 you moved here from Boston, what say you?

 

 

I actually lived at 716 College for a couple of months in winter of last year while my apartment on 7th was getting renovated.  I assume that you are taking the full apartment on the top floor, not the small studio on the ground floor. It's a nice place, indeed.  I never really had issues with parking and was usually able to get a spot on the street around the corner on W. 7th if I couldn't park on College. My only concern would be with noise coming from the patio of the Treehouse. Since it was winter, folks weren't outside.  I imagine that things might be a bit different in the spring to autumn, though.

 

The Fairfield place is a nice location. You won't have parking issues except for an extended weekend when the Orthodox Church across the street hosts the Greek Festival.  Another friend of mine lived there for a while, and didn't have any complaints. It's a younger crowd in there.  You'll also have Loop down the block, which is my new favorite hang for a post-work coffee and tunes.

 

Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any Tremont questions.

you will get so much "you moved here from Chicago, why would you do that?"  that you will start questioning what these people know that you don't?

 

HA! Soooooo funny because it is soooo true! Spot on you hit the words!

I moved to Tremont months ago and have really enjoyed it.  It sounds like it fits your description.  Very dog friendly.  The only bummers are no grocery store in walking distance (but there are some close). 

Well, after taken everyone's much appreciated advice, I took a look at the Tremont area and am officially in love. Although, I must say that I was really disappointed in the two apartments that I had scheduled to view... however, I was so excited about the neighborhood, that I was determined to keep looking to find a place, which is how I ended up at Tremont Place Lofts—such an amazing space!!

 

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions and advice-- you made the process so much easier! Hope to see some of you around the neighborhood in the very near future!!

One of my favorite recent renovation projects in the Cleveland area lulu.  Welcome and good luck.

that's great news that you've settled on an area, good luck in finding just the right space.  Let us know what else you need to get acclimated.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions and advice-- you made the process so much easier! Hope to see some of you around the neighborhood in the very near future!!

 

That's great you found a place you like a lot, and so soon!

 

And if you want to meet some of us, there's a UO Happy Hour this Thursday evening....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,22116.0.html