Another string of positive media stories on Cleveland (Lakewood, Washington: top neighborhoods, property taxes)

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by october2007

Well, enjoy your day inside...I went out this morning but too cold! I live at the Alcazar which I love and on Tuesdays (tonite) we have a happy hour in the lobby and they light the fire. I think your apt. building sounds great too but I'm not old enough yet for that. This place is a mix of ages with some social activities and nice people. Glad to be in now for rest of day!

Sounds nice, before you began posting about it, I didn't realize they had not turned it into condos as had been planned otherwise I would have checked it out when I was looking to relocate from the Excel.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Sounds nice, before you began posting about it, I didn't realize they had not turned it into condos as had been planned otherwise I would have checked it out when I was looking to relocate from the Excel.

They are renovating some units for student apartments supposedly but at a high price. Hope that doesn't happen. But right now it's great..some seniors, some internationals, and others...some temporary, some more permanent. But it sounds like you're in a good place there.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by october2007

They are renovating some units for student apartments supposedly but at a high price. Hope that doesn't happen. But right now it's great..some seniors, some internationals, and others...some temporary, some more permanent. But it sounds like you're in a good place there.

I am and it also sounds like you are too.

[Bilbono]

As someone likely moving to Cle in a couple of months, I just want to say I appreciate all the great info and insights you guys are posting. The three things that are attracting us to Cle are mass transit, affordability, and homes with yards that are close to downtown. And indeed, it seems like the city is nothing but homes with yards, which is much different than say, Chicago. Could this be why Cle doesn't feel like a real, walkable city to some of you?

Also, someone stated that mass transit is infrequent. This is a concern, as punctuality is important to me. What is infrequent, buses, trains, or both? How infrequent? Do they just not show up sometimes?

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Bilbono

As someone likely moving to Cle in a couple of months, I just want to say I appreciate all the great info and insights you guys are posting. The three things that are attracting us to Cle are mass transit, affordability, and homes with yards that are close to downtown. And indeed, it seems like the city is nothing but homes with yards, which is much different than say, Chicago. Could this be why Cle doesn't feel like a real, walkable city to some of you?

Also, someone stated that mass transit is infrequent. This is a concern, as punctuality is important to me. What is infrequent, buses, trains, or both? How infrequent? Do they just not show up sometimes?

People are kinda ridiculous calling Cleveland not a "real" city. It's not 5 million people. If that's not "Real", ok. But that's stupid. Really stupid. I love some cities that are even smaller than Cleveland (Savannah, GA; Grand Rapids, MI; Manchester, NH; Providence, RI; Madison, WI etc). This talk is just from perpetually negative people. Though it is valid in the sense that if you want to live in a big city, Cleveland isn't that "big" vis-a-vis NYC, Chicago, Philly, LA, etc.

Cleveland has some pretty different areas, see for yourself:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4566...8i6656!6m1!1e1
Slavic Village

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cl...943605!6m1!1e1
Shaker Square

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5010...8i6656!6m1!1e1
Cedar Fairmount

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cl...943605!6m1!1e1
Little Italy

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cl...943605!6m1!1e1
University Circle

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cl...943605!6m1!1e1
Ohio City

I guess a lot of the main streets have storefronts and apartments, a lot of sidestreets tend to be single or two family homes. This is very similar to the neighborhood I live in in Boston currently.

Someone's idea of Cleveland might differ greatly depending on what neighborhood they live in and whether or not they make it to others.

[Bilbono]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

...This talk is just from perpetually negative people.

Yes, I listen to negative people with skepticism, being generally an optimist myself. People have varying ways of how they define 'big city'. Someone growing up in Chicago is going to have a different perception than someone growing up in Savannah. Thanks for the links.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by Bilbono

Yes, I listen to negative people with skepticism, being generally an optimist myself. People have varying ways of how they define 'big city'. Someone growing up in Chicago is going to have a different perception than someone growing up in Savannah. Thanks for the links.

I'm one of the negative ones so you can take what I say with a grain of salt. But I think there are few "real" cities in the US and the description mostly limited to NYC, Boston, Chicago and SF. And it isn't based on population although all are densely populated.

I've been here about 6 weeks, came from Seattle where I consider the public transportation adequate although behind the curve now that they have had such explosive growth. But buses go far and wide and multiple lines criss cross so you can easily make connections and rarely have to wait too long for a bus (although they are not as on time as they used to be due to traffic but not too bad).

Cleveland buses are almost always on time in my experience but often run infrequently (at least on east side where I am). I rely on #7 and #32 quite a bit and they run every 45 minutes, weekends once an hour. My gripe (you've probably already read what I wrote) is that it makes it hard to time connections and therefore it can take so long to get anywhere and in cold weather it's pretty uncomfortable waiting around for the bus if it isn't timed well. But if you don't plan on taking multiple buses and just want something to get you to and from with some regularity it will probably be ok. The trains I think run more frequently.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by Bilbono

Yes, I listen to negative people with skepticism, being generally an optimist myself. People have varying ways of how they define 'big city'. Someone growing up in Chicago is going to have a different perception than someone growing up in Savannah. Thanks for the links.

Basically in Cleveland, all types of living are represented within city limits.

If you want a big city feel, look here: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4997...8i6656!6m1!1e1 (E. 4 & Euclid)

If you want trendy smaller neighborhood: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4839...8i6656!6m1!1e1 (Gordon Square)

No frills, suburban style: https://www.google.com/maps/place/E+...899444!6m1!1e1 (West Boulevard)

"Artsy": https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5709...8i6656!6m1!1e1 (N. Collinwood)

Cheaper, although not really "pretty" but great location near downtown: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5095...8i6656!6m1!1e1 (Asiatown)

Urban prairie: https://www.google.com/maps/place/E+...899444!6m1!1e1

Hopeless ghetto: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5429...8i6656!6m1!1e1 (E. Cleveland)

New, kinda soulless development, but in good location and very expensive: https://www.google.com/maps/place/E+...899444!6m1!1e1 (Detroit Shoreway)

As for transit, I personally never had major issues with transit in Cle that I don't have now in Boston. CLE is just more important to not miss the bus/train. If you live close to a station, it's really not bad.

I suggest you look into Shaker Square/Larchmere, Little Italy/University Circle, Ohio City. I think the best combo of being affordable with good transit, urban amenities, overall quality of life- Larchmere.

[Bilbono]

Originally Posted by october2007

I'm one of the negative ones so you can take what I say with a grain of salt. But I think there are few "real" cities in the US and the description mostly limited to NYC, Boston, Chicago and SF. And it isn't based on population although all are densely populated.

I've been here about 6 weeks, came from Seattle where I consider the public transportation adequate although behind the curve now that they have had such explosive growth. But buses go far and wide and multiple lines criss cross so you can easily make connections and rarely have to wait too long for a bus (although they are not as on time as they used to be due to traffic but not too bad).

Cleveland buses are almost always on time in my experience but often run infrequently (at least on east side where I am). I rely on #7 and #32 quite a bit and they run every 45 minutes, weekends once an hour. My gripe (you've probably already read what I wrote) is that it makes it hard to time connections and therefore it can take so long to get anywhere and in cold weather it's pretty uncomfortable waiting around for the bus if it isn't timed well. But if you don't plan on taking multiple buses and just want something to get you to and from with some regularity it will probably be ok. The trains I think run more frequently.

Well, I'm one of those who thinks any community with a population over 100,000 is a city, lol, but I get where you're coming from. Although I've never been to Cleveland, in the last few years I've spent a month in both Seattle and Chicago, and used their mass transit. I thought Seattle's system was just ok. And you're right about the weirdos there, if that was you who posted about that. I got on an empty bus once, then a woman got on and ignored all the other seats and sat down beside me. That's weird enough, but the really strange thing was the plumes of white powder that arose when she sat down. She was covered from head to toe in it! Just from sitting next to her, my pants were covered in powder.

Good to hear the buses in Cle are usually on time. I just want to be able to plan a trip without wondering if the bus will be there.

[Bilbono]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I suggest you look into Shaker Square/Larchmere, Little Italy/University Circle, Ohio City. I think the best combo of being affordable with good transit, urban amenities, overall quality of life- Larchmere.

We're leaning towards Ohio City, but we won't know for sure until we visit.