Moving to Cleveland from Portland (Lakewood, Cleveland Heights: townhomes, transfer to, safe neighborhood)

[saraperez]

I'm moving from Portland, OR to Cleveland in August and am wanting some local perspectives. I'll be attending Cleveland State Law. We are a family of 4-my husband, our 12 yo son and 9 yo daughter. We're looking for a safe neighborhood on a major bus or rta line as we are a one car family. We need to be in an affordable neighborhood (less than $800 or $850 a month for 3 bdr) that is also close to CSU--within 4 miles at the most.

Any suggestions? Any neighborhood recommendations?


Any suggestions on places to avoid entirely?

Thanks!

[Clevelandgal]

1) Lakewood. A direct, express bus line to Cleveland down Clifton Blvd. You would be about 7 miles, but that bus line is great-express from this inner ring suburb to CSU- the 55x (Timetables, Maps & Schedules | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ) Most family folks like the west end of Lakewood around Lake ave or Clifton Blvd. You are in a pretty tight price range, but it could be do-able. There are shops, parks and restaurants throughout Lakewood. It has older, charming housing. It has more amenities with in walking distance than the next ones below.

2) Old Brooklyn (Cleveland neighborhood)-can be hit or miss- can be quiet and family oriented or more transient. The 51X has a direct CSU bus line as well. Since you want a quiet family neighborhood, you might really need to do some exploring.

3) West Park (Cleveland neighborhood)-you may be able to find some areas near the red line. You would go to tower city and transfer to the free trolley to go to CSU-or could walk on a nice day. I am less sure about the bus service around there. This is a quiet, cute area with affordable housing.It is more suburban than urban in character. a lot of police and fire people live there.

here is a site to poke around Cleveland neighborhoods (it does not have the burbs).
Neighborhood Link


Other areas such as Shaker and Cleveland Heights are pretty close, but do not have direct RTA access to CSU and involve transfers. Plus they are more expensive. I think CSU students pay $25 a semester for an unlimited bus pass-beats the $50 or so a month for parking.

I have a somewhat hard time quessing areas to be avoided as I live in the innercity so have a different thresh hold for judging that.
Good luck and welcome.

[costello_musicman]

Lakewood around the W. 117 stop of the red line rapid train would be my recommendation as well. Good schools, close proximity, and affordable rents. The redline will take you to public square where it is only a short trolley ride down to CSU.

I will second C-gal's response.

[121804]

Originally Posted by saraperez

I'm moving from Portland, OR to Cleveland in August and am wanting some local perspectives. I'll be attending Cleveland State Law. We are a family of 4-my husband, our 12 yo son and 9 yo daughter. We're looking for a safe neighborhood on a major bus or rta line as we are a one car family. We need to be in an affordable neighborhood (less than $800 or $850 a month for 3 bdr) that is also close to CSU--within 4 miles at the most.

Any suggestions? Any neighborhood recommendations?


Any suggestions on places to avoid entirely?

Thanks!

A third person to recommend Lakewood.

A brand new middle school has been built, also.

Great variety of choice with your budget needs & personal needs.

Good luck.

[saraperez]

Clevelandgal and Costello (and others of course),

What are you opinions of Ohio City or Tremont?

Thanks

[Clevelandgal]

I love OC and Tremont (my fave hoods!) If you were w/o kids or in the stroller set I would go for it, but if you move there with the kiddos that age you are a real urban pioneer that will need to have a lot of conversations about the real world with your son and daughter. Most kids this age want to run off and play/hang out without mom and dad, and there can be some real characters in the neighborhood. I am not sure what the school plans are, but one could safety send the kids to Lakewood schools, where as OC and Tremont have some good elementary schools I am told, but things go a little south unless they go to the magnet (ie science, arts) schools. My advice in this area is not the most educated though. If I had kids in Lakewood, I would feel safe turning my responsible children loose a little unsupervised with neighborhood kids I knew, but in OC or Tremont, maybe not as much unless they were really street wise or a little older. I love seeing the suburban teenage boys from St. Ignacious (high rated Catholic Boys high school in Ohio City) negotiating the OC neighborhood with confidence, class and w/o incident.

[costello_musicman]

Well, since you asked:

I personally love those neighborhoods. Tremont has amazing restaurants, hangouts, and gorgeous townhomes. It always has open views of both downtown and the grit of the old industrial valley--which I love! (If you ever see the opening scence of the movie "Major League", that is Tremont where the kids are playing baseball)

OC has the great old character with again great establishments. It's main attractions include the Westside Market and Great Lakes Brewery.

NOW...because of the whole family aspect, I don't know if I can recommend it. I don't want to decourage you from at least giving it a look, but it is not really "family friendly"--but, if you can make it work, you would have one treasure of a location with your move to Cleveland.

So...very mixed feelings because they are great neighborhoods, but I would not recommend because of the kids pretty much.

[121804]

Originally Posted by saraperez

Clevelandgal and Costello (and others of course),

What are you opinions of Ohio City or Tremont?

Thanks

Great if you didn't have kids.

You do not want your children to attend Cleveland Municipal Schools.

[saraperez]

How do Cleveland schools (including Lakewood, etc.) compare to schools in the NW? Specifically Portland? I'm actually from Vancouver (2 mins across the Columbia River from PDX) so my kids go to school there but PDX has had a lot of problems with their school district--but it's starting to change. It's tough b/c no matter what we know our kiddos are going to be in for a huge culture shock--although I have been looking at a variety of the magnet programs. Hmm, lots to think about . . .

[Clevelandgal]

Lakewood and Cleveland are different school districts. I wish I had web links...In Cleveland most people with a couple pennies to rub together send their kids to private (usually Catholic schools). I think some of the elementary schools are pretty darn good. Middle not so sure. I am a huge advocate of urban living and the public schools in general, but if I looked in my heart, I would probably not send older children if I had them, to most Cleveland public schools. It breaks my heart to say that, but it is true- I could not use my child to make a statement. I would have to do a ton of research to find which ones would be good-and there are some I think-such as the magnets. I imagine some Lakewood parents send their kids to private as well, but I still think with the right parental support they would do just fine in Lakewood schools.Private schooling in general is huge here which devalues public ed even more. I remember when growing up in N.VA/DC area and having Senetor's kids in class-almost everyone went to public school. Alas not the case here. I am not sure how this all compares to PDX. The demographics of Cleveland are very different for starters. I think there is a lot of wealth living close-in in Portland whereas there is more white and/or middle class flight in Cleveland. A few knuckleheads like myself have bucked the trend and love living in the city (ie only getting a tank of gas a month, close to everything and so on). Still I am puzzled as what the heck I would do with kids...