Good neighborhoods , Parma, Garfield Heights, Broadview heights? (Cleveland, Lakewood: houses, rental)

[ecologito]

I am moving with my wife to Cleveland, I've been there once for my job interview and most likely will be moving by the end of August. We are a young couple and we are looking to buy a house near Parma, Garfield Heights or Broadview Heights. I will be working for the Metro Parks so we are looking for a safe not to crowded area. We don't mind driving 10 minutes to the movies or stuff like that. I am looking at this area based on where I will be working and a Yahoo Maps.

Please let me know if these are growing areas or neighborhoods that are going down the hill. I rather live on a undeveloped area than a crowded packed area since I don't mind the commute. Please let me know if I am looking at the right places. Any suggestions are welcome as well.

[ecologito]

what about Berea?

[Quinn-VA]

Brecksville is being devleloped and has a great school system. You also have the towpath here. It is not visually attractive, but better than Broadview heights. Brecksville and Broadview heights kind of blend, the rec center in Brecksville is a lot nicer and new. They are building here, but it is not too crowded.

[the age]

I grew up in Parma and its a great if you're Eastern European (which I am), but otherwise pretty run down and dull. There is a huge ethnic community there though, with lots of bakeries and strange shops, but they're sort of spread all over the place and there's no distict little shopping strip where you can find them all (which would be nice). Parma is pretty big, so if you move to there, move to the southern half. The north is a lot more run down and actually has some trailer parks... All in all, its really safe, but if you're not into the ethnic stuff, definitely go to Brecksville/Broadview Heights - its just cleaner and has newer and larger developments. The further south you go (North Royalton, Hinckley), the less developed and less crowed things get.

[ecologito]

Thansk a lot for your input. I spent the past 3 days driving around Cleveland and this were my findings:

Lakewood is a ver old and seems outadated area. I drove around for 1 hour and didn't really love it ( except for the huge houses by the lake).

I drove a little farther south towards Berea and ended up in North Royalton. I love Seven Hills. That is a really nice area ( at least the kind that I like). Too bad there are not that many apartment places down there.

After a lot of research I think Iwill be moving to North Royalton. I like the green open spaces a lot more than the power lines and building everywhere.

I notices that rentals a either affordable and the buildings are really old, or the buildings are new and they are a lot more expensive.

Again thanks to everybody for your help on this forum.