Various Lakewood Neighborhoods (Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Madison: sale, 2014, homes)

[usernameunavailable]

Originally Posted by andrew61

I think it's just real estate hype... they're the only ones I've ever heard use that name... but IMO you can call the neighborhood North Birdtown if you want.

I meant your assessment on my take of the neighborhood

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by usernameunavailable

I meant your assessment on my take of the neighborhood

I'd say your take is pretty much accurate, although it should be noted that the neighborhood is part of Lakewood's "East End", which is the relatively high-crime part of the city. But it's not at all bad in an absolute sense... and I think the eastern area between Franklin and Madison is better than the area between Detroit and Franklin. I do like some of the cool new businesses that have been sprouting up on Madison in the Birdtown area in recent years. I'm much more comfortable in that part of town than I was many years ago. I do wish bus service on Madison were more frequent.

[TheProf]

^How about a new nickname similar to the trend: "NOBI" ... North of Birdtown

[TheProf]

Saturday, I took a Red Line Rapid ride to W. 117, then walked over to Birdtown, which I hadn't visited in 4-5 years. This was my first time taking transit there. A couple takes:

- Taking the Rapid there is EASY. It seems further away on the map, but I was in the core of Birdtown comfortably (in the humid heat) in 6 minutes, easily.

- Surprised at the amount of foot traffic, street vibe. No it's a ways from being Ohio City, Tremont or even downtown Lakewood on Detroit a mile or so away, but there was considerably more vitality than I'd imagined; it's just laid back -- it's kind of like Larchmere on the East Side in that sense -- I even saw an antiques store on Madison.

-- The Birdtown housing, both north and south of Madison, was in much better shape than I'd imagined. No decay; no foreclosure/abandonment, lawns were well kept -- including several scenic, nicely done gardens... In short, there's solid old housing there, including some Cleveland doubles, side-by-sides and a few brick apartments (including those ubiquitous, faceless 50s-60s International Style apt blocks you see all over town). But all was well cared for; hardly the run-down ghetto some snooty folks would have you believe.

-- Very diverse racially, ethnically; lots of millennial and even those dreaded hipsters.

-- Birdtown looks to be the next "thing" neighborhood. Along Madison in the commercial district in the old mixed-use buildings, a couple stores (including a Bi-Rite, I think) were closed and being gutted; one clearly is being converted into a bar, brewpub and/or restaurant. Others seem poised to follow. All in all, very promising for this once forgotten neighborhood built by the neighboring Union Carbide factory...

[usernameunavailable]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Saturday, I took a Red Line Rapid ride to W. 117, then walked over to Birdtown, which I hadn't visited in 4-5 years. This was my first time taking transit there. A couple takes:

- Taking the Rapid there is EASY. It seems further away on the map, but I was in the core of Birdtown comfortably (in the humid heat) in 6 minutes, easily.

- Surprised at the amount of foot traffic, street vibe. No it's a ways from being Ohio City, Tremont or even downtown Lakewood on Detroit a mile or so away, but there was considerably more vitality than I'd imagined; it's just laid back -- it's kind of like Larchmere on the East Side in that sense -- I even saw an antiques store on Madison.

-- The Birdtown housing, both north and south of Madison, was in much better shape than I'd imagined. No decay; no foreclosure/abandonment, lawns were well kept -- including several scenic, nicely done gardens... In short, there's solid old housing there, including some Cleveland doubles, side-by-sides and a few brick apartments (including those ubiquitous, faceless 50s-60s International Style apt blocks you see all over town). But all was well cared for; hardly the run-down ghetto some snooty folks would have you believe.

-- Very diverse racially, ethnically; lots of millennial and even those dreaded hipsters.

-- Birdtown looks to be the next "thing" neighborhood. Along Madison in the commercial district in the old mixed-use buildings, a couple stores (including a Bi-Rite, I think) were closed and being gutted; one clearly is being converted into a bar, brewpub and/or restaurant. Others seem poised to follow. All in all, very promising for this once forgotten neighborhood built by the neighboring Union Carbide factory...

Keep NoBI a secret!

You are totally correct, at least about the housing between Madison and Franklin. Have not gotten to south of Madison yet.

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by usernameunavailable

Keep NoBI a secret!

[usernameunavailable]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Please, keep the word in Lakewood to not go east of Bunts!

[BryanThomasCPA]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Saturday, I took a Red Line Rapid ride to W. 117, then walked over to Birdtown, which I hadn't visited in 4-5 years. This was my first time taking transit there. A couple takes:

- Taking the Rapid there is EASY. It seems further away on the map, but I was in the core of Birdtown comfortably (in the humid heat) in 6 minutes, easily.

- Surprised at the amount of foot traffic, street vibe. No it's a ways from being Ohio City, Tremont or even downtown Lakewood on Detroit a mile or so away, but there was considerably more vitality than I'd imagined; it's just laid back -- it's kind of like Larchmere on the East Side in that sense -- I even saw an antiques store on Madison.

-- The Birdtown housing, both north and south of Madison, was in much better shape than I'd imagined. No decay; no foreclosure/abandonment, lawns were well kept -- including several scenic, nicely done gardens... In short, there's solid old housing there, including some Cleveland doubles, side-by-sides and a few brick apartments (including those ubiquitous, faceless 50s-60s International Style apt blocks you see all over town). But all was well cared for; hardly the run-down ghetto some snooty folks would have you believe.

-- Very diverse racially, ethnically; lots of millennial and even those dreaded hipsters.

-- Birdtown looks to be the next "thing" neighborhood. Along Madison in the commercial district in the old mixed-use buildings, a couple stores (including a Bi-Rite, I think) were closed and being gutted; one clearly is being converted into a bar, brewpub and/or restaurant. Others seem poised to follow. All in all, very promising for this once forgotten neighborhood built by the neighboring Union Carbide factory...

I agree, I think Birdtown is the next "big thing". With the west side of Lakewood becoming more and more unaffordable, the only way to go is east...

[responsiblestranger]

Read through the thread - lots of good information on Birdtown and downtown Lakewood. Does anyone have info on other neighborhoods of Lakewood? Didn't realize there were so many... These are the ones I found from City Data:

Beach Court, Berkshire, Birdtown, Captains Cove, Clifton Boulevard, Clifton Park, Clifton Prado, Detroit, Downtown Lakewood, Edgewater Towers, Elbur, Envoy, Gold Coast, Highland House, Hilliard Triangle, Lake Avenue, Lake House, Lakewood, Lakewood Heights, Lakewood Park, Madison, Madison Village, Rockport Square, Silver Coast, The Edge, Waterford, West End, Winton

If anyone can sum up a general "vibe", safety, and walkability... that would be awesome!

[WeSoHood]

Originally Posted by WRnative

I didn't know/had forgotten that the downtown store was the third location. It is possible that the downtown story carries a different inventory, as Geiger's has a history of very differentiated inventory in its various stores. E.g., the following article says that the Chagrin Falls and Lakewood stores carry some sporting goods.

https://www.cleveland.com/business/i...eland_sto.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geiger%27s

I believe the Lakewood location is the first location. They are a local family I know and live in Lakewood. Great store!