Moving from NYC to Cleveland -- looking for walkable neighborhood (Lakewood: transplants, apartment)

[tres gatos]

My husband and I are moving to Cleveland from Manhattan, and we're looking for a neighborhood that's walkable. We'd like a relatively high concentration of restaurants/shops and prefer something close to rapid transit. It would be great if there are typically a lot of people out on the street.

It seems that Shaker Heights, University Heights & Lakewood might be our best spots. Are there specific areas within these communities that might work best? Are the commercial areas along Lakewood a little less dense? The warehouse district sounds interesting, but I'm wondering if isn't like the warehouse district in Chicago & other cities, where the streets are quiet most of the time.

We'll be renting & would prefer a vingage apartment/duplex/home with orginal details. Based upon my perusal of Craigslist, that looks to be quite easy to find. After paying Manhattan prices, I'm feeling a bit like a kid in the candy store when I look at the listings.

[BelieveInCleve]

You said it. Shaker Hts., University Hts., and Lakewood are exactly what I was thinking. Also, downtown, University Circle, Ohio City, and possibly Tremont (In Cleveland) sound like a match.

[Pgserge27]

Detroit Shoreways right outside of Ohio City also. Many beautiful old houses on Franklin. Plus great theatre in the neighborhood, a new movie theatre coming soon, and about 4 -5 new restaurants just opened in the last year, more to come.

[ericmc783]

You guys won't like Cleveland, I'm sure.

I enjoy living here, but u guys probably wont.

I know how ppl from NYC are......... gotta have a 100-story building every 2 blocks they walk, or they consider the place "boring".

either that, or some strip chock full of hundreds of bars and restaurants and clubs. Like the decent selection a smaller city like cleveland has isn't enough.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by tres gatos

My husband and I are moving to Cleveland from Manhattan, and we're looking for a neighborhood that's walkable. We'd like a relatively high concentration of restaurants/shops and prefer something close to rapid transit. It would be great if there are typically a lot of people out on the street.

It seems that Shaker Heights, University Heights & Lakewood might be our best spots. Are there specific areas within these communities that might work best? Are the commercial areas along Lakewood a little less dense? The warehouse district sounds interesting, but I'm wondering if isn't like the warehouse district in Chicago & other cities, where the streets are quiet most of the time.

We'll be renting & would prefer a vingage apartment/duplex/home with orginal details. Based upon my perusal of Craigslist, that looks to be quite easy to find. After paying Manhattan prices, I'm feeling a bit like a kid in the candy store when I look at the listings.

Several things:

Cleveland does not have much of a mass transit compared with eastern cities. It also does not have as much traffic. If you were solely reliant on the public transport, Lakewood is one of your best options. If you are working downtown, the bus makes it there in 20 minutes.

If you are looking for walking, Lakewood is the place. You can walk the length of Lakewood on Lake Road or on Clifton Ave. and you will not see a commercial building. Most of the retail is on Detroit Ave, where there are two small strip centers and tons of "mom and pop" restaurants, banks, shoue stores, doctor's offices, and the like.

Generally, you can walk in Lakewood comfortably from March 1 to November 1. I used to log a MINIMUM of 5-10 miles a day when I lived in lakewood which beat going to the gym. We used to walk to church, doctor's offices, the grocery stores, etc. rather than driving.

There are plenty of rentals in Lakewood. Some are better than others and they range from duplexes to large apartment buildings on the lake. Personally, I prefer those along Clifton Ave between 117th and 130th St.

Rocky River would be another option but it is more $$$ and the delection of rentals is much less.

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by tres gatos

My husband and I are moving to Cleveland from Manhattan, and we're looking for a neighborhood that's walkable. We'd like a relatively high concentration of restaurants/shops and prefer something close to rapid transit. It would be great if there are typically a lot of people out on the street.

It seems that Shaker Heights, University Heights & Lakewood might be our best spots. Are there specific areas within these communities that might work best? Are the commercial areas along Lakewood a little less dense? The warehouse district sounds interesting, but I'm wondering if isn't like the warehouse district in Chicago & other cities, where the streets are quiet most of the time.

We'll be renting & would prefer a vingage apartment/duplex/home with orginal details. Based upon my perusal of Craigslist, that looks to be quite easy to find. After paying Manhattan prices, I'm feeling a bit like a kid in the candy store when I look at the listings.

Shaker is a great walkable city, but probably not what you are looking for. (I grew up there) There is Coventry, Little Italy etc. which would be great spots to walk around, but Shaker in and of itself is walkable for scenery, not for things to do from NYC. I think there is an area of Lakewood that would suit you better. It's a little like Brooklyn.

I've lived both places, and depending on your situation (family, single, coming for jobs etc) you may love it, or you may find it less "exciting", but certainly more affordable than NYC. Shaker is affluent (in most parts), and is gorgeous (in most parts) I am not as familiar with the lay of the land on the West Side, as I grew up on the East side. Now, if we knew where in Manhattan you chose to reside, it might help steer too. Did you live in the East Village? West Village? Mid-town/Murray Hill? Upper West or East? That would also point to certain areas of Cleveland, albeit you can jump on the subway and be in any NYC area quickly, and you won't find that in Cleveland.

I loved all the action of NYC, but I would give my left arm to be back in Cleve. I live in FL, and I'm bored. I never found Cleveland boring; you just have to want to explore it.

You asked to be near the transit, but I would recommend definitely buying a car. The transit is not going to be able to get you everywhere you want to go. Chagrin Falls is great to walk in, but not off the public transit. Lee Rd. bar scene isn't bad, but again...the transit is not like NYC.

Good luck to you.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by LewLew

You asked to be near the transit, but I would recommend definitely buying a car. The transit is not going to be able to get you everywhere you want to go. Chagrin Falls is great to walk in, but not off the public transit. Lee Rd. bar scene isn't bad, but again...the transit is not like NYC.

I don't want to harp about the lack of public transportation. However, a good portion of the transit system does NOT run past 6 pm on Saturday or at all on Sunday. And taxis, especially in bad weather, are non existent.

Once my car broke down in Bedford. A called for a cab and they told me the wait would be four hours. Fortunately, we saw a bus coming that dropped us off DT and we caught the train to Lakewood. Ten miles and three hours later.

A car is essential.

[ottomobeale]

Stay out of the City of Cleveland.
Bad city management.
Worthless police.
Worse schools.

I did the opposite. Lived in Cleveland moved to NYC metro area. Looking back. Housing in Cleveland seemed almost free.

Lakewood is nice. Has many older but decently kept buildings. Large gay community kind of like a small GV.

Recommendations
Metroparks are HUGE and very very nice.
Danny Boys in Rocky River
Des Essenhaus in Shreve (yes its a haul but its nice and the food is good AND cheap)

[Pgserge27]

Worthless police in Cleveland, I got a ticket for turning right on red in CLeveland Heights, that's the definition of worthless police, at least police in the city of Cleveland have some real crime to deal with, they put thereselves in harms way for us citizens more than any suburban cop. And by the way let the person from New York decide for themselves about Cleveland. If you're coming from NYC you dont want to be living in the suburbs, in less you hate all the activity of a big city and that's why you're moving out. I for one like living in the Cleve.

[WeSoHood]

Originally Posted by Pgserge27

Worthless police in Cleveland, I got a ticket for turning right on red in CLeveland Heights, that's the definition of worthless police, at least police in the city of Cleveland have some real crime to deal with, they put thereselves in harms way for us citizens more than any suburban cop. And by the way let the person from New York decide for themselves about Cleveland. If you're coming from NYC you dont want to be living in the suburbs, in less you hate all the activity of a big city and that's why you're moving out. I for one like living in the Cleve.

Yup.. Stay out of Cleveland. There are nice areas but the police are horrendous. My friend got stabbed outside of a bar in West Park. The police filed a report - 2 hours later... They pretty much told my friend that there isn't much they can do since they didn't have a name or good enough description. Well it's not that they are horrible, more so they don't have enough police and they can't properly control the streets because they are overworked.


One interesting thing to note, there are a lot of NYC transplants in Cleveland. Majority are African-American from the Bronx and Brooklyn. I can't find the article right now, but it was on Cleveland.com some time back.