Topic: Finding an apartment in Ohio City, Cleveland

[PhlToCle]

I'm moving from Philadelphia to Cleveland in late August/early September and am currently looking for an apartment or house to rent for myself and my boyfriend. Although I'm moving for a job, we spent a weekend in Cleveland last spring and I'm really excited about the city!

We identified Ohio City as our top choice because of its walkability, restaurants, shops, grocery options, beautiful houses, and overall character. We need to visit over the next few weeks to rent an apartment, but I'm looking for some advice on how to find a place and time our trip. We saw a few great places on craigslist that meet our needs over the past few months, but they are not as frequent as we'd like and seem to go quickly. I'd love any input about how realistic our expectations are and advice on the best way to approach this. Our criteria are: 2 Bdrm + office or 3 Bdrm, preferably private house or duplex, cats (2) allowed, rent $1000-1500 (flexible).  We might consider a loft-type apartment, but would prefer a house and are not looking for standard, traditional apartment complexes.

1. Is there anywhere online other than craigslist we should be looking?

2. Are there postings ("for rent" signs, flyers, etc.) we would need to be in Cleveland to access?

3. Is it better to wait to visit until we see something great online, or just schedule a visit now and see what we can find in person? We'll likely only be able to make one trip for 2-3 days. When would be the latest we could safely wait for, say, a September 1 move-in date?

4. My employer will arrange for a realtor to help with the search. Since we already have a good idea of what we want, will that be of any help or allow us to locate properties not listed on craigslist?

5. If we can't find a place we like in Ohio City, any other ideas to consider? I'll be commuting to Cleveland Clinic and we will share one car between the two of us that we'd like to use sparingly. Tremont would be a second choice, but it doesn't seem like it would fill as many needs within walking distance as Ohio City (e.g. grocery store, West Side Market, RTA).

Thanks for your help!
(question also posted at city-data, but someone recommended this forum as well)

[BelievelandD1]

Also check out Detroit Shoreway between 65th and 76th north of Detroit.  A great residential area.  I live there, there is a mix of old and new residences and the neighborhood has incredible momentum with an influx of young urban-passionate folks.  I bike to Ohio City, its about a 5-10 minute bikeride.  You have the good neighborhoods though, IMO...west side is chill.

One of the posters on this board wrote a book called "New to Cleveland" and it dissects the city in an incredible way.  I would google it and snag a copy.

Hopefully some of the Ohio City posters can help you out with rentals in the OC.

[ClevelandOhio]

It might be somewhat difficult to find something that large, but someone who lives in the neighborhood might be of more help. If that doesn't work out, I think Little Italy would be a great option. Its a short distance from the Cleveland Clinic, and has good access to public transportation with the Red Line right there and the Healthline just a short walk away. You would be surrounded with plenty of restaurants, and be really close to uptown, which has a good sized grocery store, and will also have several other local restaurants and quick eats like chipotle. Good luck!

Although I prefer Little Italy, Cedar Fairmount, also a great place, is right up the hill from Little Italy and might be a good fit as well, and could be easier to find a place. Here is an example.

Listing
http://apps.facebook.com/marketplace/detail/apartment-for-rent-in-cleveland-heights-oh/3095548440-cleveland-heights-oh/?cm_mmc=FB_PREVIEW-_-www-_-NA-_-NA&rfb_domain=facebook.oodle.com


Streetview
http://goo.gl/maps/vjqw

[PhlToCle]

Thanks! We'll probably look at Detroit Shoreway as well. I've been more of a walking and public transit person in the past, but it sounds like a bike would be pretty indispensable for a car-light person in that neighborhood. 

I actually have a copy of "New to Cleveland" already and have found it absolutely invaluable! I brought a copy with me when I visited and it really helped me focus on a few potential neighborhoods.

[KJP]

Apartment owners in Little Italy don't seem to advertise their availability except with for-rent signs. So you may literally have to walk the the streets to find more choices. But if you're going to look, start looking soon. Little Italy is popular with students at nearby Case Western Reserve University, and many of those students are looking (or will soon) for apartments (although 1BR apartments are most popular with students).

Here's some additional resources......

http://www.apartmentguide.com/neighborhoods/Ohio/Cleveland/Little-Italy/

Plus I found websites for these, specific buildings.....
http://italiabldg.com/
http://www.lewismanorapts.com/

[Confiteordeo]

Hi, PhlToCle, and welcome to Cleveland!  Ohio City's a great neighborhood, and I think you won't have too much trouble finding something that suits you for your price point.  To answer a few of your specific questions:

1. There's a website called www.padmapper.com that aggregates a bunch of listings, mostly craigslist, but some others as well.  You can search by zip code (Ohio City's 44113 and Detroit-Shoreway's 44102.)  There are also a few individual management companies that have websites listing individual properties (here's one, as an example: http://www.clv-lofts.com/)

2.  There are a lot of properties that advertise this way.  You could also look for listings in the Cleveland Scene (clevescene.com) or through the Plain Dealer (cleveland.com), but I'm not sure how much luck you'll have there.

3.  In my experience, and I was just apartment-hunting in this neighborhood this past spring, properties tend to get snatched up pretty quickly, so it's probably preferable to look at properties in person.  Most landlords seem to want at least two weeks for turnaround between tenants, so for September first, I'd come visit sometime in the first two weeks of August.

4.  Unfortunately, I don't have any experience using realtors to find rentals.

5.  As mentioned upthread, Detroit-Shoreway or University Circle/Little Italy may also be good choices, as would be Downtown (except you wouldn't find a single-family home there, of course.)  Tremont would be doable, especially if you're in the northern part of the neighborhood (where I currently live car-free, for what it's worth.)  If you're commuting by public transportation, the easiest route will be to take the Health Line (basically an upgraded bus line that runs about every five to ten minutes during the day.)  From the West Side neighborhoods, you'll have to take a different bus downtown first and then transfer, which might not be that bad.  For example, if you're standing in front of the West Side Market in Ohio City, there are about six different bus lines that run to Public Square passing right in front of you, so you're basically guaranteed to be downtown in five to ten minutes at any point during rush hour.

Good luck, and if you'd like to talk more about Tremont or living car-free, send me a PM!

[StrapHanger]

Welcome PhiToCle!

To echo other folks, in case you can't find want you want in Ohio City, I would definitely look at some places in the western parts of Cleveland Heights (Cedar Fairmount) and even Shaker Square, both of which would give you easy one-seat ride bus access to the Cleveland Clinic and are otherwise amenable to a car-light lifestyle.  Even if you have to settle for your second choice in neighborhood, you'd at least have those things checked off your list.  Good luck!

[rockandroller]

I can't offer any advice on apartments but wanted to say welcome to the board and let us know when you select a neighborhood, we can make suggestions for specific shops and such in your hood. As one of the few females on the board, I don't know what kind of job you'll have at the clinic but if it's an office job, I wouldn't plan on using the bike for commuting (sorry UO guys, don't kill me). The weather here is inclement often enough and for long enough that it's not something you can count on long-term. But as others have mentioned, there are public transit options that will work well for you. I would save the bike for local errands.

I don't know if it's hit Philly yet but here just about all landlords require "pet rent" for a pet, and most have a 1 pet restriction, though duplexes may be more flexible than traditional apartments on that. If you are able to provide a letter from a previous landlord that states that there were no problems with your unit even with 2 cats/no damage, that would help bolster your case for 2 pets.

I've not found any realtors who can do much in terms of rentals, there's not a lot of motivation for them. But if your employer will pay them to do the leg work, they could do the on-the-ground scouting of telephone numbers and initial viewings of places to make your visit here in early august much more targeted and quicker.

[3231]

Welcome to CLE!  I just met another Philly couple a few weeks ago who moved to Ohio City.

[PhlToCle]

Thanks everyone for the replies! We're coming to Cleveland this weekend to look at apartments and will hopefully sign a lease while here. Unfortunately, I've been hearing from everyone that Ohio City has a shortage of available rentals and the market is saturated with people looking to rent there, so the prospects are very slim right now.

So far, we're slated to see a townhouse at 47 & Franklin and an available unit in Federal Knitting Mills and Tremont Place Lofts. I'm hoping to also get appts. to see places at 45 & Clinton, 81 & Franklin, Whitman & Randall, and 65 & Fir. I will post if any of these look good and I have specific questions, but I'm happy to hear any thoughts people have on these buildings / areas in the meantime. We're also probably going to look at apartments in walkable areas of Coventry and Shaker Square as back-ups. I'm really hopeful something works out in Ohio City as that was one of the things that sold me on Cleveland.

[tradition7]

I had a friend who lived in Tremont Place Lofts and he really enjoyed being so close to the great restaurants and bars along Professor.  Tremont doesn't have quite the energy (in terms of all around foot, bicycle, vehicle traffic) as Ohio City because it's more secluded but it's still a great neighborhood that attracts many people.

As for Federal Knitting Mills...I live in the Stonebridge Towers which is about 2 blocks towards downtown (behind St Malachi church).  If I were you I'd look at someone renting a condo in the Stonebridge Towers or Stonebridge Plaza instead (check craigslist or http://www.thekdgroup.com/).  Stonebridge Waterfront is strictly apartments and doesn't seem to have as good of quality (hallways not heated or A/C, thinner walls, etc).  It's still an easy walk to Ohio City and even an easy walk to downtown.  If you get a place on the East side of the buildings you have a great view of downtown or if on the North side a great view of the lake.

[punch]

I would also give a call to Ohio City Incorporated.  They are a VERY engaged community development group, and the people I know who work there are very nice.  If they have any info, I am sure they would be willing to share it.

www.ohiocity.org

[jjames0408]

I've seen quite a few townhomes for rent on Craigslist and also some lofts  You may want to try there also. Based on the one you're looking at 47/Franklin...I'm guessing you may have already seen them:) The Avenue District condos just went apartment downtown as well, so another option. There are many condo units in there that were held up in bankruptcy court and finally released to a development group.

[BelievelandD1]

FYI 65th and Fir is detroit shoreway and not as quiet/cozy as you may expect.  I live in detroit shoreway, so i am just being honext as I always try to get people into our neighborhood.  In my opinion the growing areas of DS are north of detroit from 65th-76th.  I dont know you or what you are expecting, but we go to church at 65th and lawn and its a high traffic area with some noise. 

I think you may enjoy 47th and franklin depending on your facility.  Many bike down frankling daily including myself and its right smack in the middle of two great neighborhoods that are trying to connect one another.

Tremont PLace lofts are going to be your safest bet in my opinion in terms of quality, consistency and noise.

[kwells54]

I'm an OC resident. Everyone and their mother wants to move into this neighborhood, and it's no surprise why. It's a great place to live. It's super hard to find rental housing right now. If you find something good on Craigslist, be prepared to hop. A unit down the street for me had 20 visitors in one day. Prices are going up. I moved here two years ago and had no trouble finding housing. People who want to rent OR buy are having a heckuva time. Detroit Shoreway is nice option which likely has more availability right now.

[KJP]

It's fascinating to read these stories about the draw that these neighborhoods have become. I'm 45 years old, so I remember when these neighborhoods were treated like a plague.

[BelievelandD1]

PhitoCLE:

Promise that no matter where you go...suburb or city, you wrig a security system on your place.  Its just the wise thing to do.  I have lived in the city for years and have had no problems...but others have.  Take the time and prepare and deter any activity at your place.  We take alot of pride in our city and neighborhoods and dont want newcomers to be dejected because of an incident that can be prevented.  Its a great place to be, welcome.