help with specific neighborhoods in Shaker Heights/Cleveland Heights (Green: credit, loans)

[wareaglemel]

Hi,

My husband and I are considering a move to the area and need some help with neighborhoods. We like the style of the houses in Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. I've read that some of the neighborhoods in those areas have regular block parties, and we are very interested in that kind of atmosphere.

We are late 30s with no children, so schools would only be important if we ever decided to sell. We are an interracial couple, so some diversity in the neighborhood would be great. We're looking to buy a single-family home with somewhat of a yard (we have dogs) and would love to keep the price under or around $350,000.

Ideally, we'd like somewhere within a 15-minute walk to a few restaurants. It would be a bonus if we're also close to a library branch and public transportation for downtown events. We live about an hour from San Francisco now (when there's no traffic), and we'd like to be much closer to concerts, museums, and sporting events so it's not such an ordeal to attend.

I can use Google Maps to find the restaurant/library information if I just have a neighborhood starting point. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by wareaglemel

Hi,

My husband and I are considering a move to the area and need some help with neighborhoods. We like the style of the houses in Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. I've read that some of the neighborhoods in those areas have regular block parties, and we are very interested in that kind of atmosphere.

We are late 30s with no children, so schools would only be important if we ever decided to sell. We are an interracial couple, so some diversity in the neighborhood would be great. We're looking to buy a single-family home with somewhat of a yard (we have dogs) and would love to keep the price under or around $350,000.

Ideally, we'd like somewhere within a 15-minute walk to a few restaurants. It would be a bonus if we're also close to a library branch and public transportation for downtown events. We live about an hour from San Francisco now (when there's no traffic), and we'd like to be much closer to concerts, museums, and sporting events so it's not such an ordeal to attend.

I can use Google Maps to find the restaurant/library information if I just have a neighborhood starting point. Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Perhaps look at homes in southern Fernway or other areas close to a Blue Line rail rapid stop. The Blue Line would provide access to restaurants in the new Van Aken commercial district or the excellent restaurants in Shaker Square and even to downtown restaurants on East 4th St. the Warehouse District, or the East Flats, as the Blue Line turns into the Waterfront Line which serves the East Flats. Don't rule out homes near the Green Line rail line, although likely more expensive, especially ones close to Horseshoe Lake Park and Shaker Square.

http://www.visitshakersquare.com/

http://thevanakendistrict.com/

http://www.flatseastbank.com/

http://www.east4thstreet.com/shop-dine-experience

http://warehousedistrict.org/visit/

https://www.shakeronline.com/departm...shoe-lake-park

The Tower City downtown rail transit hub is a short walk from an enclosed pedestrian walkway to both Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field. The Waterfront Line has a station at FirstEnergy Stadium.

http://www.riderta.com/sports

Perhaps check out neighborhoods within walking distance of Shaker Square. The Balaton there is a personal favorite, but there are a couple handfuls of good restaurants in the area, some among the best in Greater Cleveland, such as Fire and EDWINS (the latter a subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary). Other SH neighborhoods except near Van Aken center aren't really within walking distance of restaurants, if the Blue and Green rail lines aren't a consideration.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ghts_Ohio.html

https://www.yelp.com/c/shaker-heights-oh-us/restaurants

https://fox8.com/2018/01/23/document...ar-nomination/

Read through this thread, especially post 3 and threads dealing with Larchmere, such as post 51, as Larchmere would be another neighborhood you should consider.

Compendium of threads & posts on Univ. Circle, Cleveland Hts., Shaker Ht., Univ. Hts., Beachwood area

I would be suprised if an interracial couple should have any concern living anywhere in SH or Cleveland Heights.

Strongly consider neighborhoods of Cleveland Hts. near the many restaurants of Little Italy (intersection of Murray Hill Road and Mayfield Road (Route 322)) and University Circle, or perhaps even the Coventry area. Carefully familiarize yourself with municipal income taxes, especially the resident credit rules, and the varied property tax rates in Greater Cleveland, especially CH and SH. Higher tax rates is one reason, however, that homes are relative bargains in CH and SH. The new $10k, federal income tax state and local tax limit is a major concern IMO. CH houses close to Little Italy have easy access to Red Line rail stations and the 24/7 Healthline bus rapid, providing easy access to downtown and even the airport via the Red Line, as well as the superb cultural amenities of University Circle. Check Google Transit at the RTA home page for any residence if interested in utilizing mass transit.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...98_rect/14_zm/

The Red Line also provides direct access to the renown Ohio City Market District, featuring the West Side Market, top breweries, and several of Cleveland's favorite restaurants, including the Mitchell's Ice Cream factory store. If you take the Blue and Green lines to Tower City, you can switch to the Red Line to reach the Market District and the airport, but it's another fare, unless using passes (the 5-trip fare card may be best for this purpose, or the all day pass if using RTA a lot in a given day).

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...de.Market.html

http://www.ohiocity.org/

http://www.riderta.com/customerservice/faq#2

The PlayhouseSquare theater district is one of the best in the country. It can be reached from Tower City using downtown's free bus trolleys (C-line) or the Cleveland Healthline bus rapid. From University Circle, the Healthline provides direct service to PlayhouseSquare.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...usesquare.html

Consider the new MLK library branch to be built in University Circle. You likely could gain access to Case Western Reserve and Cleveland Museum of Art libraries; something worth checking.

https://www.cleveland.com/architectu...etition_t.html

https://www.clevnet.org/

[wareaglemel]

Thanks so much! I'll check out those links.

[ferraris]

My first question is: Where are you moving from? $350,000 is a pretty solid housing budget in the Cleveland area. You might be perfectly happy with a home half that price, though. And don't forget that the area has higher property tax rates than most of the country, particularly in CH and SH.

It sounds like you just want some neighborhood names to google and do some of your own research. Here's a quick off-the-cuff list:

Cleveland Heights

• Coventry - Very walkable. A younger college-y vibe.
• Cedar Lee - Very walkable. The crowds skew a little older (over 30, but older wouldn't be out of place either). Library access.
• Cedar Fairmount - Very walkable, close to Little Italy, University Circle, and the red line rail.

Shaker Heights

• Onaway and Boulevard - Light rail access. Good park access. Portions are close to Shaker Square for restaurants and events
• Lomond and Sussex - Light rail access. Very community oriented with block parties and other community events throughout the year. Each neighborhood holds an annual social for neighbors to get together. Has been racially and economically mixed for decades. Walking distance to Shaker Towne Center, the library, and/or the Van Aken District. Somewhat family oriented, but not entirely so.
• Fernway - Light rail access. Extremely connected and family oriented community with loads of civic pride. Not particularly walkable in my opinion, but still potentially accessible to Shaker Towne Center, the library, and the Van Aken District.

Honorable Mentions

• Larchmere - Split between Cleveland and Shaker Heights with an urban artsy vibe. Larchmere Blvd has its own shops and restaurnts, but it's also well within walking distance to Shaker Square.
• Ludlow - Split between Cleveland and Shaker Heights. More of a residential vibe, but still within walking distance of light rail and Shaker Square. Borders the troubled Buckeye neighborhood of Cleveland.

[wareaglemel]

Originally Posted by ferraris

My first question is: Where are you moving from? $350,000 is a pretty solid housing budget in the Cleveland area. You might be perfectly happy with a home half that price, though. And don't forget that the area has higher property tax rates than most of the country, particularly in CH and SH.

It sounds like you just want some neighborhood names to google and do some of your own research. Here's a quick off-the-cuff list:

Cleveland Heights

• Coventry - Very walkable. A younger college-y vibe.
• Cedar Lee - Very walkable. The crowds skew a little older (over 30, but older wouldn't be out of place either). Library access.
• Cedar Fairmount - Very walkable, close to Little Italy, University Circle, and the red line rail.

Shaker Heights

• Onaway and Boulevard - Light rail access. Good park access. Portions are close to Shaker Square for restaurants and events
• Lomond and Sussex - Light rail access. Very community oriented with block parties and other community events throughout the year. Each neighborhood holds an annual social for neighbors to get together. Has been racially and economically mixed for decades. Walking distance to Shaker Towne Center, the library, and/or the Van Aken District. Somewhat family oriented, but not entirely so.
• Fernway - Light rail access. Extremely connected and family oriented community with loads of civic pride. Not particularly walkable in my opinion, but still potentially accessible to Shaker Towne Center, the library, and the Van Aken District.

Honorable Mentions

• Larchmere - Split between Cleveland and Shaker Heights with an urban artsy vibe. Larchmere Blvd has its own shops and restaurnts, but it's also well within walking distance to Shaker Square.
• Ludlow - Split between Cleveland and Shaker Heights. More of a residential vibe, but still within walking distance of light rail and Shaker Square. Borders the troubled Buckeye neighborhood of Cleveland.

Thank you! This is great information. We're moving from the Bay Area in California. Neither of us are from this area of the country, and we're looking to be a little closer to home.