Outgoing 22 YO Teaching in Painesville- Where to live? (Cleveland, Mentor: apartment complex, for rent)

[amydonofrio]

Hello, I am 22 and just got a teaching job at Harvey High School in Painesville. I want to live in an area with other young professionals and preferrably close proximity to fun shopping and cute strip malls people hang out at. I am from Minnesota and have NO knowledge on the area and need an area that gives me the best opportunity to meet people.

I have heard downtown Willoughby is good as well as Mayfield Heights and Cleveland Heights. Beachwood sounds nice too but I think it is too far away.

My goal is to have 25 minutes or less for a daily commute. I think Mayfield would fit the bill but I have heard that 271 is the "snow-belt" and I hate (and am terrified!!) of driving through treacherous weather.

What apartment complexes in any of the above areas, particularly Willoughby and Mayfield, should I check out? I'm looking for a single for around $600.

Any advice would be so much appreciated, I am feeling so overwhelemed! Thank you !!!

[mommamia b]

Finding anything in the $600 range in those particular areas will be tough, unless you're not very particular. Cleveland Heights is probably the best place to find the other young professionals you're looking for, as Willoughby and most of Mayfield Heights is very suburban and geared toward families. Cleveland Heights/University Heights has Legacy Village and Beachwood Mall nearby also. The commute will probably be more than the 25 minutes you're looking for, as Cleveland Hts is not really that close to the highway.

Good luck and welcome to C-town

[amydonofrio]

Thanks for the advice!! Can you recommend any particular complexes in Cleveland Heights that would be the...closest??...to a highway? Again, thank you, this is very helpful!

[airics]

cleveland heights adds a good 15 or 20 minutes to the drive.... several apartments in mayfield should be close to your price ...

[Clevelander17]

Yeah, there are a number of apartment complexes in Mayfield Heights that are probably in your price range and about 20-25 minute drive to Painesville. I'm thinking Gates Mills Towers (not actually in Gates Mills of course), CopperTree, and Marsol, all located around the SOM Center Rd./Mayfield Rd. intersection which is right by the freeway. There is a decent amount of retail/shopping/restaurants in that area, but the nightlife is very limited.

[sophialee]

Look for duplexes for rent in downtown Willoughby. There are lots of cool old Victorians in that area that are split up.

If your gonna look at Mayfield might as well look at Mentor too since it's closer and nicer imo, but I think downtown Willoughby is what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by sophialee

Look for duplexes for rent in downtown Willoughby. There are lots of cool old Victorians in that area that are split up.

If your gonna look at Mayfield might as well look at Mentor too since it's closer and nicer imo, but I think downtown Willoughby is what you are looking for.

Good Luck!

Mentor and Mayfield Heights are about the same in my opinion. However other parts of the "Mayfield area" such as Highland Heights and Mayfield Village are much nicer than Mentor, in my opinion.

[sophialee]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

Mentor and Mayfield Heights are about the same in my opinion. However other parts of the "Mayfield area" such as Highland Heights and Mayfield Village are much nicer than Mentor, in my opinion.

Well it also depends on which part of Mentor you are talking about. South Mentor Kirtland Hills and Concord are nicer than Highland Heights and Mayfield Village, imo .

Traffic on Mayfield road is terrible and always under construction too. They are similar tho, but like I said Mentor is a lot closer to his job.

[jam40jeff]

I think downtown Willoughby or Cleveland Heights would be what you are looking for. If you decide on Cleveland Heights, get something around Cedar/Fairmount or Coventry (western edge) so you can go up MLK to I-90. That'll give you about a 30 minute drive to Harvey. Downtown Willoughby will be much closer, but may be more expensive and not have as many choices. You will find many more people your age (and a lot more to do) in Cleveland Heights, but downtown Willoughby isn't too bad. Basically, you'll probably have to choose between a fun place that may have some cheaper options but a longer commute and a decent little suburban downtown area with much less options but a much shorter commute (probably no more than 15 minutes from downtown Willoughby).

[amydonofrio]

Thanks to all three of you, very, very helpful. I guess my big concern is moving into an apartment complex that is primarily families or older people....just because I am starting from scratch as far as friends go .

If I were to choose the farther options, Cleveland Heights or Mayfield, do you think the snow is going to be a big problem? During the winter what length of a commute do you think I would have?

Also, do you know of any complexes in Downtown Willoughby?