Onaway Shaker Heights Questions

[WRnative]

Originally Posted by TAC1977

Thanks for all the great replies!


Thanks for the perspective of the repair men EHFP. I've always leaned to that line of reasoning as well. My current house was built in 1930 and so far I've replaced the furnace, the water heater, and the roof (storm damage). Those things will go no matter how new or old the house is.

DR J,
I'm glad to see that you feel that you feel that you get your money's worth from the services. You mentioned that you live near the park and belong to a club. Are there any other recreational amenities in Shaker?

WRNative,
Besides what I've already mentioned I'm considering Shaker because it fits into my long term plans. I work in Cleveland Heights and like the short commute between the two, I'll be applying for the PH.D program at CSU so the proximity to downtown and the area colleges I may teach at in the future is a bonus, and I'd enjoy the overall quality of life that being closer to a more urban (Cleveland) and artsy (Cleveland Heights) area would bring. I like the idea of being able to take the RTA to Indians games or the casino but it isn't a huge draw from me. I've always lived in the suburbs so being car dependent is the norm.

I also grew up in Mentor and live in Willoughby...I'm tired of Lake County. There is nothing to do there but eat at chain restaurants. The other areas you mentioned are to far out from work; I want to cut my 45 minute commute down to as little as possible. I don't mind being further from the freeway as most of my day to day activities will be in the Heights area or Cleveland; if I want to visit my parents I'll just drive 45 minutes in the other direction.

What is it about the Shaker Library system you don't like? I enjoy libraries and like that the Onaway neighborhood is so close to the main branch.

I think the Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation, Lake Metroparks, Mentor Lagoons and Mentor Marsh nature preserves, and Holden Arboretum are excellent, and Willoughby offers relatively easy access. Ditto, Mentor Headlands and Fairport Harbor beaches. Unless you're going downtown or to University Circle daily, Willoughby isn't that far from either. Willoughby also has the very good Fine Arts Association.

For those who like outdoors activities, Willoughby's location is superior to SH, where the closest good park is the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin reservation, which isn't quick to reach from SH. The Shaker Lakes Nature Center is very nice, but tiny. Actually, access to Greater Cleveland's great park system is another negative for SH. As access to parks is a major factor affecting property values, this is a concern.

Re: the Shaker Heights Library, friends who used to live in SH complained about the difficulty of getting books because apparently many books were stolen, not returned. Pick some books you would like to read and see availability. I also just wasn't that impressed with the library itself, but I've haven't been there in over a decade. You always could go to the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library, which is like having a palace library all to yourself. Definitely sign up for a Cleveland Public Library card. I believe, under Ohio law, you can sign up for SH Library card even though you don't live there. My impression of the SH Library is very dated, so make your determination.

Your other reasons for wanting to live in SH are superb. I hate commutes. Consider living near a rapid station so you could buy a monthly RTA pass and take the rapid downtown and switch to the Healthline to arrive at CSU.

However, consider renting for a while to see what you think about SH unless you find the perfect home. It may be a different experience than expected. Check out foundations of any prospective home for water leakage, etc. Those old houses don't have foundation tiling, sump pumps, etc. Solutions are very expensive.

Also, check out the Fernway neighborhood in SH.

Shaker Heights, Ohio - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I wonder if the right neighborhood in Cleveland Heights might be a better value for you. It's closer to downtown and University Circle and to your current job. Property values may be lower, greatly because its school system already has suffered. There's a thread currently on buying a house in CH. Just a suggestion of something to think about, and not a suggestion.

Good luck!

[dr_j_planning_shaker]

Dear OP,

Aside from private clubs and Thornton Park (tennis, swimming, basketball, skate park, sledding hill), there is also the Shaker Lakes Nature Center and the walking/biking paths around the Shaker Lakes (including Horseshoe Lake Park). Here is a link to the city's recreation department web site: City of Shaker Heights - Recreation. Since you are from the area, you are probably very familiar with both the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In addition to two private golf courses (Shaker Country Club and Canterbury Club), public golfing is available at Highland Hills Golf Club (Chagrin Blvd/Green Road).

Good luck with your move!

Dr J

[ehfp]

I'm a current Shaker library patron and haven't encountered any shortage problems. I usually go to Bertram Woods, which has a good selection, but the main library's collection is larger I've also had good luck getting books through the Clevnet loan system - it's very fast. (The e-book offerings are good too. Browse online and have them sent right to your kindle or phone.)

Shaker and the CH-UH libraries are all part of the Clevnet consortium, and so your Shaker card will let you check out books at any Clevnet partner plus any Cuyahoga County Library System library.

South Chagrin reservation is about 20 min from my house in Fernway, so not too far for a weekend or summer evening hike. For biking and jogging closer to home, I usually use the trails along Horsehoe lake down to the Nature Center. You'd also be a quick walk to Teal Lake, a cute little man-made lake just east of Lee.

[WRnative]

I read in another post in this thread that a rapid station will be added at Lee Road. I wonder what housing is located nearby. That housing could appreciate in value once the station is open. Persons may be attracted to housing within a short walk of a rail rapid station, especially given the weekend and later hours that rapids operate compared to most RTA bus lines.

[ehfp]

There's been a station at Lee since the 20s, but it's being remodeled (it hadn't been redone since the 80s and was looking pretty rough.)

[dr_j_planning_shaker]

The rebuilding of the Van Aken/Lee Road Rapid Station is underway. You may see renderings of the new station at the following website: Van Aken-Lee Rapid Station | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. There is also further development opportunity in the vicinity of the station and the Shaker Towne shopping district (particularly on the south side of Van Aken Boulevard, between Lee and Avalon Roads).