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Reading other forums...I basically read/heard/learned that Cleveland's best areas are in the suburbs...and apparently the suburbs are urban-like? What are some of these suburbs? Are they walkable and pedestrian-friendly?
I heard there is also some good public transportation...does that connect through these areas?
Yes, what you heard is generally true. There are of course decent areas within the city, but Cleveland's suburbs are a strong point.
Lakewood and Cleveland Heights are the most walkable and pedestrian friendly suburbs, and are probably better for urban living than just about any neighborhood within the actual city. Lakewood actually has a population density greater than Cleveland itself. They are connected by bus service, although there is a rail stop on the Lakewood/Cleveland border.
Shaker Heights has two rail transit lines, but is not really pedestrian friendly when it comes to walking to stores and such. The adjacent Shaker Square neighborhood in Cleveland is urban though.
Newburgh Heights is urban, but tiny and not very noteworthy.
East Cleveland is urban and connected by rail, but is also one of the most ghetto places in the United States.
Garfield Hieghts, Rocky River, and Euclid are also somewhat urban, but not very pedestrain friendly.
There are also further out suburbs like Chagrin Falls, Berea, Willoughby, and Hudson that have traditional town centers that are urban.
I agree with Lakewood and Cleveland Hts., Euclid and Shaker Hts. are urban as well.
East Cleveland is very urban, but is not a nice place.
If you're looking for urban, there's still some nice areas in the city of Cleveland. Most of West Park, especially Kamms corner. Downtown and University Circle. Shaker Square, Ohio City, Edgewater, and portions of Tremont and North Collinwood.
Cleveland's inner-ring suburbs tend to be more like urban neighborhoods, some of them very nice (like Shaker Heights). However many of Cleveland's outer-ring suburbs can be exurban or even rural in character. Take a drive down Shaker Boulevard or Fairmount Boulevard starting in Shaker Heights/Cleveland Heights and you'll get a good idea of the suburban chronological progression on the east side.
I wouldn't count out the Cleveland area itself either.
The Kamms Corner area on the city's western edge (my neighborhood) is very walkable and very well served by public transportation... not to mention very safe. There are multiple bus lines in the area and the Rapid Transit (think above ground subway) has 3, count 'em, 3 stations in this area.
There are some really cute and affordable apartments on Rocky River drive just north of Lorain Rd.
Also the Edgewater-Clifton area of Cleveland ("the Edge" as they are trying to get it nicknamed) is right on the Lakewood border and also has excellent bus lines, a Rapid Transit station nearby and some very affordable apartments, as well.
Both of these areas also have some very excellent night life activites.
Yes, what you heard is generally true. There are of course decent areas within the city, but Cleveland's suburbs are a strong point.
Shaker Heights has two rail transit lines, but is not really pedestrian friendly when it comes to walking to stores and such. The adjacent Shaker Square neighborhood in Cleveland is urban though.
I would agree about Shaker, but the suburb is trying to change and creat TOD... The Chagrin, Lee, Avalon area, though blowing it in the early 90s with the strip mall set back, is trying to create density with housing around a rebuilt Van Aken/Lee Rapid stop... Even bigger plans are underway at the Van Aken terminal where Federal funds have been alocated for prelim planning to extend the Rapid thru the Warrensville/Chagrin/Northfield intersection around which are planned several high-density developments, narrower streets and traffic calming.
I would agree about Shaker, but the suburb is trying to change and creat TOD... The Chagrin, Lee, Avalon area, though blowing it in the early 90s with the strip mall set back, is trying to create density with housing around a rebuilt Van Aken/Lee Rapid stop... Even bigger plans are underway at the Van Aken terminal where Federal funds have been alocated for prelim planning to extend the Rapid thru the Warrensville/Chagrin/Northfield intersection around which are planned several high-density developments, narrower streets and traffic calming.
Interesting. That would certainly be an ideal plan for Shaker Hts as well as all of Cleveland's train stops. I hope the plan comes around. I think my biggest issue with the RTA is that there are very few stops with densely built residential around them. I also understand that the Little Italy stop will be moved to the center of the neighborhood. I guess these are a start.
There are big plans the Little Italy station to be a bridge between LI and the revamped "Uptown" retail district at the corner of Euclid/Mayfield in U. Circle...
... Even with its faults from a density, TOD (to date) point of view... I'll take my chances in a double-rail tranist suburb like Shaker over any other suburb, ... transit-wise. Shaker, which is over 6 sq miles, has its entire population within 1/2 mile of a rapid stop... And don't forget, Van Aken and Warrensville, have a number of large apartment buildings clustered and developed around/near rapid stops, as well...
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Suburbs of Cleveland that are urban-like?
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