Where Would I Live? Part Five: Edgewater
Since it's too freaking hot to do anything, and it's going to stay that way for the next ten days, or so, I might as well keep doing what I do best -- daydream about being somewhere else.
So...Edgewater.
I remember back when I was younger, thinner, and less worldly, riding the bus down Clifton when the many deciduous trees were in their full autumn splendor and thinking, this is the most beautiful place in the world. Last time I drove down Clifton - surely more than a year ago now - I thought the same thing. I look at pictures like these from the Cudell Improvement site and get nostalgic.
The thing that keeps me from moving back to Edgewater this weekend is a suspicion that my fond memories of it have more to do with a general high point in my adult life, rather than any affinity for the neighborhood itself.
When I look at it objectively, I'm not sure that it has as much to offer as, say, Cedar Fairmount. That's not completely fair... it's a very leafy, beautiful area that's well connected, public transportwise, and as far the loudness factor goes...it was one of the better places I've lived. But the only grocery store is a pretty shabby Giant Eagle, which I can see getting torn down to make way for a high-rise condo or something (which sounds like a possibility according to this Wikipedia article), the restaurants are meh, and despite the flowered beauty of the Truffles garden, there are a few elements about Clifton that shout: sprawl!
Although... one thing I haven't been considering, which I absolutely should be considering, is the neighborhood pizza presence. Edgewater = Papa Nick's. Papa Nick's = happy Christine. Shaker Square has Captain Tony's, which I was never that fond of, and Cedar Fairmount looks alarmingly pizza-less....
Pros. The lake. Public transport - this is the neighborhood I lived in without owning a car, remember. Lots of apartments. Pretty houses. Truffles.
Cons. Not living up to my vaunted memories. Dirty Giant Eagle that may not be long for this world. Lack of services ... the extent of Cedar-Fairmount's mixed-usedness is really getting under my skin, making it the potential frontrunner.
Actually I'm having trouble coming up with many cons for Edgewater. My biggest one is that I have a vague sense that I shouldn't trust the city of Cleveland not to schmuck it up somehow. I'm thinking about the city of Long Branch, New Jersey, and how it got schmucked up with ugly waterfront condos.
Then again, there's the Lakewood side .... right after I moved to Shaker Heights, being driven from my apartment on a Sunday afternoon by my lovely neighbor and her stereo, I went over to Lakewood to look at apartments. I saw the most beautiful, reasonably-priced apartment I ever laid eyes on before or since on the Lakewood side of Edgewater. I am still kicking myself for not breaking my Shaker lease and moving in immediately.
If I had, this three-year East Coast odyssey may never have happened!
So...Edgewater.
I remember back when I was younger, thinner, and less worldly, riding the bus down Clifton when the many deciduous trees were in their full autumn splendor and thinking, this is the most beautiful place in the world. Last time I drove down Clifton - surely more than a year ago now - I thought the same thing. I look at pictures like these from the Cudell Improvement site and get nostalgic.
The thing that keeps me from moving back to Edgewater this weekend is a suspicion that my fond memories of it have more to do with a general high point in my adult life, rather than any affinity for the neighborhood itself.
When I look at it objectively, I'm not sure that it has as much to offer as, say, Cedar Fairmount. That's not completely fair... it's a very leafy, beautiful area that's well connected, public transportwise, and as far the loudness factor goes...it was one of the better places I've lived. But the only grocery store is a pretty shabby Giant Eagle, which I can see getting torn down to make way for a high-rise condo or something (which sounds like a possibility according to this Wikipedia article), the restaurants are meh, and despite the flowered beauty of the Truffles garden, there are a few elements about Clifton that shout: sprawl!
Although... one thing I haven't been considering, which I absolutely should be considering, is the neighborhood pizza presence. Edgewater = Papa Nick's. Papa Nick's = happy Christine. Shaker Square has Captain Tony's, which I was never that fond of, and Cedar Fairmount looks alarmingly pizza-less....
Pros. The lake. Public transport - this is the neighborhood I lived in without owning a car, remember. Lots of apartments. Pretty houses. Truffles.
Cons. Not living up to my vaunted memories. Dirty Giant Eagle that may not be long for this world. Lack of services ... the extent of Cedar-Fairmount's mixed-usedness is really getting under my skin, making it the potential frontrunner.
Actually I'm having trouble coming up with many cons for Edgewater. My biggest one is that I have a vague sense that I shouldn't trust the city of Cleveland not to schmuck it up somehow. I'm thinking about the city of Long Branch, New Jersey, and how it got schmucked up with ugly waterfront condos.
Then again, there's the Lakewood side .... right after I moved to Shaker Heights, being driven from my apartment on a Sunday afternoon by my lovely neighbor and her stereo, I went over to Lakewood to look at apartments. I saw the most beautiful, reasonably-priced apartment I ever laid eyes on before or since on the Lakewood side of Edgewater. I am still kicking myself for not breaking my Shaker lease and moving in immediately.
If I had, this three-year East Coast odyssey may never have happened!
Labels: Where Would I Live
posted by Christine Borne at 10:42 AM
2 Comments:
I've never lived on the east side so I can't compare but this is by far the nicest neighborhood I've ever lived in. The main cons are the Giant Eagle and the Parking. In the summer with all of the walkers, joggers,and dog owners out it just feels so good! Plus my apartment is adorable.
Christine--where do you live now. I assume you are renting. Get out of that racket as soon as you can. Build equity. You can do that in Cleveland or where ever you work. Be a part of the solution. Fix things, instead of running away. That's all I have to say. You are a librarian. So am I. I live in the city that taxes me.
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