cleveland or chicago (Youngstown, Springfield, Lakewood: apartment, lofts, condominiums)

[crag73]

Hello everyone. I know people will say you can't compare the two cities and I'm not trying to do that. I grew up in Youngstown(Liberty township) moved to Tampa a year ago. I like the warm winter weather here and thats about it. I do not see myself here for more than another year. I have been researching Cleveland and it seems the downtown and other neighborhoods have many great projects under construction and more on the way. I have been to Cleveland many times but it was 5+ yrs ago. I work in radiology so employment would be easy knowing Cleveland's healthcare reputation. I'm interested in living downtown or westside neighborhood that is clean,safe,friendly and diverse. Does this exist in Cleveland today or is it still a couple years away? I do not want to live in a larger version of Youngstown. I lived in Chicago 14yrs. ago and loved it. I visit there once a year. If Cleveland could offer a lifestyle similar to Chicago(much smaller scale of course) I would consider it. So, does anyone think Cleveland would be a good choice over Chicago? Another thing, I want to be car free in the future. Cabs and trains suite me fine.

[complexsimplicity]

Not sure if money is an issue for you, but I know Cleveland's cost of living is a lot less than Chicago. I live on the eastside and rarely visit the westside for some odd reason, but people tell me that there are areas that are pretty diverse. I one of my friends stays in Lakewood, a surburb on the westside, and she loves it. I think that might be a good neighborhood to check out. Downtown has really nice condos, expensive, but very nice. They are close to the nightlife, restaurants, sports stadiums, etc. Cleveland doesn't have as much to offer as Chicago does, but I think you would like it here. Lots of job opportunities in the Cleveland Clinic as well. There is a Red Line train that runs on the westside all the way to the airport. As far as the cabs, you can schedule one to come in advance it you need the service. They usually don't drive through the neighborhoods like larger cities such as Chicago or NYC. That's just my two cents, maybe someone more knowledgable about the westside could offer more suggestions. Good Luck!!!

[gtsurfer05]

The westside of Cleveland is a relatively safer than the east side. All of the inner East side suburbs have really gone down the tubes except for possibly Shaker Hts, and from what i've heard some areas of that are slowly falling too. The inner west side suburbs have managed to remain better than their east side counterparts, besides from that its really up to you which outer suburbs you want to live in. As for diversity, you won't really find much on the west apart from Cleveland proper, but those areas are not that good. As for things to do, the suburbs are usually pretty bland, Cleveland has some things around the downtown area, and south of Cleveland is the National Park.

[twange]

Lakewood's pretty cool. I lived there for 11 years and loved it very much. Not sure about your $$$ situation but Lakewood has some new condo/townhouse projects that seem to be promising. There is a Redline Rapid station on W117th/Madison that will get you downtown in 10 minutes, near East side(museums, Little Italy, Cleveland Clinic)in 20 minutes, or the Airport in 15 minutes. There are some good restaurants, boutique shops, awesome early 20th buildings/houses, close proximity to Lake Erie, downtown Cleveland, Metroparks etc...The area is fairly diverse(for the West side) and walkable as well. It's also pretty safe but it is an urban setting so there are occasional issues.

Cleveland won't compare well to Chicago but the cost of living is really low in comparison.

Here's some links:
Welcome to Lakewood, Ohio
Rockport Square - Lofts and Townhomes located in Lakewood, Ohio near downtown Cleveland
Cleveland Condos / Lakewood Condominiums - Rosewood Place

[justine]

We are also considering either Chicago or Cleveland and have visited both. From what I can tell from visits.
Both have a good public transit system especially if you live in the city near a transit stop.
Both have good culture, museums, plays, etc.
Both are on a great lake although Chicago does far better in regards to beaches in the city. Cleveland only has one swimming beach in the city.
I get the impression that per capita and land size, Cleveland actually has more green space that is pleasant to walk in, ie. University Circle, Metro Parks etc. Chicago mostly has a narrow strip along the lakefront for walking, biking which is right next to a highway.
Chicago has a lot more pedestrian activity which makes it feel safer.
Not sure about job opportunities since the unemployment rate is about the same last time I checked.

[andrew61]

Hi crag73, I've lived in both cities extensively, so here's my two cents:

If you want a vibrant singles scene, Chicago is by far the better choice. If you're looking to raise a family, however, Cleveland (suburbs) might be the way to go.

Cleveland's cost of living (housing, etc.) is considerably lower than Chicago's, although state and local income taxes are high.

If you want to go carless and rely on public transit/cabs, Chicago is better by far, particularly in the areas closest to the lake... more train routes, more frequent service, etc. Cleveland has public transit but the wait can be pretty long... on Sundays many bus routes run only once an hour or less. It's also harder to go carfree in Cleveland because things to do (culture, restaurants, shopping, etc.) are spread out and require traveling great distances. If you want to shop at a department store or go see a first-run movie, for example, you'll likely have to travel to the suburbs.

Keep in mind, however, that currently Chicago's CTA is threatening fare hikes and massive service cuts if they don't get more funding from Springfield, and these changes could go into effect as early as next month. So I can't say what the near future holds for Chicago's public transit.

[crag73]

Thank you for your responses. Anyone have information on living in one of the downtown neighborhoods? I read about different housing being built and other downtown projects. I really hope Downtown Cleveland becomes a thriving area to work,live and play.

[askajak]

Keeping in mind that Cleveland is smaller, I think you'll find a comparable quality of life here. There's way more than you'd expect in the way of culture and dining, and it's relatively inexpensive, too.

Downtown is a great place to live- the neighborhood population has grown from 6,000 in 2000 to just over 10,000 today, so the vibrancy and activity is growing. There are two or three major housing and office developments being planned for downtown and the Flats (which are technically part of downtown, but sort of a sub-neighborhood.) The Warehouse district is very popular, with lots of clubs and restaurants. The other nightlife hub downtown is the Gateway district, centered on E. 4th and near Jacobs Field and Quicken Loans arena. If you're concerned about crime, downtown is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, and apartment buildings and garages generally have security.

Although it's harder than in Chicago, it's very possible to live car-free in Cleveland, especially if you're going to be working at either University Hospitals or the Cleveland Clinic. There's currently a 24-hour a day bus line that runs down Euclid Avenue from downtown, and it's being replaced in 2008 with a brand-new bus rapid-transit line. The Rapid red line (heavy rail) runs between Tower City and University Circle, too.

I'd highly suggest posting your question on the relocation forums of UrbanOhio.com, too. The forumers there are very knowledgeable and helpful, and I know for a fact that several live downtown, and at least one is car-free.

Good luck, and I hope you found that useful!

[YoMikey617]

Originally Posted by crag73

Thank you for your responses. Anyone have information on living in one of the downtown neighborhoods? I read about different housing being built and other downtown projects. I really hope Downtown Cleveland becomes a thriving area to work,live and play.

Cleveland compared to Chicago ??? There's no comparing the two... MOVE TO CHICAGO.

[ClevelandRocks!!]

YOMIKEY617 was right Cleveland compared to Chicago ????? There really is no comparing the two..... MOVE TO CLEVELAND.

First of all, especially if your going to work in the healthcare industry Cleveland is the right choice, and is a leader of this industry in the Midwest along with Minneapolis and in the Nation. This is by far one of the best enviornments to work in and the health care industry in the city of Cleveland is thriving. The Cleveland Clinic alone has been adding 100+ jobs a week. The new addition of the Medical mart within the next couple years will also further boost this market, which is already booming in Cleveland.

As far as entertainment you can get the same things in Cleveland as in Chicago. We have the second largest perfroming arts district outside of NYC, we have the largest concentration of museums within a square mile radius at University Circle, including the renouned Cleveland Museum of Art. University circle is also home to the Cleveland orchestra, named a top 5 orchestra in the nation. There are also numerous events, sports, concert venues, and entertainment opportunities.
On a per capita basis Cleveland was named to have the most restaurants, bars, and nightclubs then any other city with a population of its size or larger.

If you are looking for a place the downtown market while expensive right now is continiuing to boom and will for the forseeable future. Cleveland continues to have the fastest growing downtown population in the midwest and the condo construction can't keep up with the demand. The prices are also continually rising and it would be a good investment anyway to purchase a place in downtown to live.

TRANSPORTATION - Just recently in Oct. of 07' the northeast RTA was named the best public transportation in NORTH AMERICA by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). http://www.gcrta.org/nu_newsroom_rel...listingid=1096
Cleveland also has the only rail service from their airport straight into downtown and many other options.

Crime well we can't compare really because the lastest data for Chicago apparently wasn't tabulated. I wonder why??? Maybe Cleveland should be like opps we can't send info either. But the murder rate in 03' for chicago was 599 people and Chicago was named America's murder capital. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-murders_x.htm

Cleveland has had a rise in murders, same as the nation as a whole, but all other crime has decreased, while other cities have seen all crime rise.

There are many things why this city is great, just do more research and you will see you can do the same things in Cleveland as you can in Chicago, in some cases things are not as good as in Chicago and in other cases it is a lot better. You can have the same lifestlye however and it will be less stressful and cheaper in Cleveland.
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