Bay Village (Cleveland, Westlake, Rocky River: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[GoulashBrother]

I'm seriously thinking of moving to Bay Village. I have a 4 year old son and I'm willing to spend up to $300K for a home.

I have also been told that Rocky River, Westlake and Avon Lakes are just as good neighborhoods.

Is this an area that is good to raise a child and is the weather bearable?

What are the bad things that I do not know about Bay Village and the area? Are there an unexpected surprises that I will encounter.

Much appreciate any and all input.

[firefightermom]

I had friends who lived in Bay Village and Rocky River, and they said they loved it growing up. The weather is bearable...the west side of Cleveland doesn't typically get the lake effect snow that the east side is known for.

Since I didn't live there, the only crime I can comment on is the kidnapping of a girl in the fall of 1989. She was abducted from the Bay Square Shopping Center. I don't think the killer was ever caught. I only mention it because it was huge news at the time, especially since Bay Village is known as one of the better suburbs with lower crime. I lived on the east side and it was all anyone spoke of for months. I would contact the local police for their crime stats.

Here's a website I found that looks interesting too...The Bay Village, Ohio Community Advocate

Good luck with your decision!

[CortlandGirl79]

I remember that ffmom.............i was in 5th grade and the same age as Amy when she was kidnapped. I remember sitting in class writing her name on my notebook.........it really bothered me and i've never forgot about it. In fact, when i saw the posting about Bay Village i immediately thought of her. Amy Mihaljevic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It's sad that 20 years later, the mention of this wonderful town is still tied to that kidnapping and murder.

[NewToCA]

Bay Village is just great, love the park by the lake (with the lighthouse). If I were moving back to Cleveland, it would be the first place I would look to live, and $300K gets you plenty of great choices in housing.

[firefightermom]

Originally Posted by CortlandGirl79

I remember that ffmom.............i was in 5th grade and the same age as Amy when she was kidnapped. I remember sitting in class writing her name on my notebook.........it really bothered me and i've never forgot about it. In fact, when i saw the posting about Bay Village i immediately thought of her. Amy Mihaljevic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia It's sad that 20 years later, the mention of this wonderful town is still tied to that kidnapping and murder.

I agree...I was a freshman in college at the time, and when I went home for Christmas Break, posters were all over my hometown too, almost 4 hours south. I would have never mentioned it, but the OP mentioned wanting to know everything...just wanted to point out that luckily, in that area, it's not a common happening.

If I had stayed in Cleveland, I would have chosen to live in either River or Bay--if we could have afforded it!

[WeSoHood]

You can get a really nice house for $300k in Bay Village. The city itself is mainly residential - they try to keep the big box stores and fast food restaurants out. Actually, I don't think the city has one fast food joint. It's probably one of the safest communities in greater Cleveland. Very home orientated community. Great to raise a family.

[ottomobeale]

All mentioned are good places.

There really are no scary bad ghetto suburbs on the west side of Cleveland.

[ironsinthefire]

Are you still considering the move?
Where are you from in NJ?
I'm from Rutherford and now live 5 minutes from Bay currently.

[CrissCT]

Bay Village is a wonderful place for a family. It has that small town feel and yet people are very welcoming and friendly to newcomers. It's very walkable too. Like other posters mentioned, the west side of Cleveland generally has better weather than the east side, and we even found that at times we would have green grass and just across the RR tracks in Westlake they would have snow.

And even though there is no fast food or big box stores you are really no further away from them than if you lived in Westlake or Rocky River. There is a Heinen's grocery store which I loved and they even load the groceries in your car for you (I hope it's still there anyway)!

[GoulashBrother]

I'm currently in Bedminster which is about 15 miles south of Morristown. I'm seriously considering Bay Village because of the feel of the community and the school district but I'm a little concerned about the weather.