Ohio City or Not Ohio City
After a series of conversations with Cleveland Bachelor, I'm left undecided about whether Ohio City is where I want to buy.
I decided to move here because of two things: the West Side Market (without which there would never have been an Ohio City) and the sheer number of public transit options (one of the two best places in Cleveland to live without a car, an RTA insider once opined to me. The other is Shaker Square).
Thing is, I wonder how many other people who have moved here in the last five years moved here for those reasons. How many of them actually shop at the West Side Market? If they do, what are they buying? Are they buying one or two prepared items, or are they walking out with a heavy shopping bag laden with meat and produce? Or are they just going for the atmosphere, to have an "authentic experience?" (See "Meat the Neighbors" from the Scene vault; scroll down for the article).
And how many of the people taking up space in this transit-friendly neighborhood are operating car-free? Maybe it shouldn't matter, but it irks me. How can we have the kind of business district that comes with transit-oriented development if everyone who lives here has a car?
The answer seems to be we can't. Ohio City is turning into another entertainment district a la the Flats, albeit a higher-priced, ostensibly "classier" one. The Warehouse District II, I guess. Which is disappointing to me -- it seems like a real missed opportunity. I don't think an entertainment district is a long-term solution, really.
On the other hand, I love the beautiful houses here. I love the overstuffed, postage-stamp-sized gardens. And I do love the West Side Market. I love nipping down there 2 or 3 times on a Saturday just because I can, because it's so close. I love the sheer cheapness of all the raw ingredients; I feel thrifty and powerful because I know how to cook. I love how shopping at the Market is like thrillseeking in New York -- you never run out of things you haven't tried.
What do you think?
I decided to move here because of two things: the West Side Market (without which there would never have been an Ohio City) and the sheer number of public transit options (one of the two best places in Cleveland to live without a car, an RTA insider once opined to me. The other is Shaker Square).
Thing is, I wonder how many other people who have moved here in the last five years moved here for those reasons. How many of them actually shop at the West Side Market? If they do, what are they buying? Are they buying one or two prepared items, or are they walking out with a heavy shopping bag laden with meat and produce? Or are they just going for the atmosphere, to have an "authentic experience?" (See "Meat the Neighbors" from the Scene vault; scroll down for the article).
And how many of the people taking up space in this transit-friendly neighborhood are operating car-free? Maybe it shouldn't matter, but it irks me. How can we have the kind of business district that comes with transit-oriented development if everyone who lives here has a car?
The answer seems to be we can't. Ohio City is turning into another entertainment district a la the Flats, albeit a higher-priced, ostensibly "classier" one. The Warehouse District II, I guess. Which is disappointing to me -- it seems like a real missed opportunity. I don't think an entertainment district is a long-term solution, really.
On the other hand, I love the beautiful houses here. I love the overstuffed, postage-stamp-sized gardens. And I do love the West Side Market. I love nipping down there 2 or 3 times on a Saturday just because I can, because it's so close. I love the sheer cheapness of all the raw ingredients; I feel thrifty and powerful because I know how to cook. I love how shopping at the Market is like thrillseeking in New York -- you never run out of things you haven't tried.
What do you think?
posted by Christine Borne at 7:33 AM
36 Comments:
Hmmm. I looked at living in Ohio City when I moved back to Cleveland a little over a year ago, and opted not to settle down there for a few reasons: first, I hate to sound prissy but it seriously stinks there sometimes. I love OC, but when I spend any long amount of time anywhere in the neighborhood I get migraines. Maybe it's just me. Also, not to be a pessimist, but I worry that the trendier neighborhoods will go the way of the Flats... there are things I like to do in the WD and OC and Tremont, but ultimately I ended up in Shaker Square.
I love SS -- despite the fact that freeway access sucks without having to do major driving, it's VERY easy to get around without a car. We walk or take the Rapid pretty much everywhere we go... groceries, restaurants, libraries, the movie theatre, etc... and Coventry and Cedar-Lee are short bike rides away.
There is a terrific farmer's market (North Union) on the square 8AM-noon every saturday morning from April-November. There are lots of vendors from the WSM there. For the times in between, I just hit the WSM.
Good luck with whatever you decide... and thank you for staying in Cleveland!
Good point, Megan. Christine and I have talked about this, and although we've been disdainfully referring to Ohio City's evolution as the rise of Warehouse District II, I am really starting to think of it as the New Flats. I mean, sure there has been some high-priced condo development, but nothing on the order of what you see in the Warehouse District. Instead of housing anchoring the new trend, it has been entertainment, particularly a certain kind of higher-dollar, trendy entertainment. Most of those places, even when successful, don't stay around for that long, and the ones that do stay for more than a decade quickly lose their cache. Moreover, I can really see the end of the Euclid Corridor project siphoning off the entertainment energy of Ohio City as the city-supported zone of East 4th (or is it 6th?) spreads out. Anyway, my prediction for Ohio City is that ten years from now, this trend will just be a memory. The developments on Detroit/W 65th seem to suggest more staying power because they are built on more reliable cultural/civic infrastructure.
Glad to see you back in action, Christine. Your voice was missed. Okay, so I'm partial to the east side, but the Cedar-Fairmount area is hard to beat. When we moved back to Cleveland from Chicago's awesome Lincoln Park neighborhood, an urban-lover's paradise, the only neighborhood in the region that gave us anything like the same (admittedly upscale) blend of old but still-cared-for feel was Cedar-Fairmount.
Interesting observations. I purposely moved to Ohio City and Cleveland in general for a few reasons. The West Side Market was s huge reason and every week we go there and but much of the food we eat in a given week, plus the place is an architectural marvel. We love how walkable the neighborhood is. We love the old homes, including the classic Ohio City worker's cottage that we bought. I love that I can get to places like Edgewater and the Towpath Trail and other neighborhoods like Tremont, Detroit Shoreway and downtown so easily.
I think that the notion that Ohio City is becoming like the Warehouse District is silly, frankly. Did you live here when Moda was open? We did not, but it was much worse then and much more like West 6th. The neighbors pushed that place out and have prevented other nightclubs from opening. And have you ever talked to people who lived here 20 years ago or longer? It is amazing how unsafe the neighborhood was and it was the residents who banded together to form block clubs and similar groups to fight crime and promote it as place to call home.
Ohio City also has a very high poverty level, believe it or not. 40% of the neighborhood's residents live at or below the poverty line. People who consider Ohio City to be West 25th north of Lorain are ignoring many parts of the neighborhood and what it offers in terms of calmer streets and what it suffers from in terms of crime and the lives of people who have little hope.
Anyway, I love that I can sit on my front porch and see people I know and people I don't of every sort walk by. The majority of them are friendly and happy to smile or wave or even stop for a chat. Some of the people live on the street without a house, but they are comfortable here and cared for.
I also worry about the people in the neighborhood who are a bit off the meds and walk around yelling and scaring people. Many are harmless, but they are a startling part of our neighborhood because of Lutheran, May Dugan, etc. that people in Shaker don't have to deal with on a regular basis.
The comment that Detroit Shoreway and East 4th will outlast Ohio City is one I certainly disagree with. It is not a competition; these places can coexist and thrive. Detroit Shoreway has a huge influx of money for a variety of reasons and good for them; what benefits them, benefits Ohio City.
I'll step off of my soapbox after another sentence or two, but the real staying power of Ohio City are the residents who choose to buy a home and live here for a long time, or who choose to rent a home and live here for a long time, but in both cases they make a connection to the neighborhood that is unyielding. If you want to understand that, you may need to venture into the neighborhood beyond West 25th, the restaurants on Fulton, and the West Side Market and meet the people who live, work and play here on a daily basis. Ohio City is not for everyone, but for those who make it their home, it has a power, a multifaceted charm, that can't be underestimated.
I appreciate all of your comments - I'm really just thinking aloud at this point, so thanks for giving me things to mull over.
In particular, I want to address a few things by AJB:
1. You state that OC is a walkable neighborhood. It's a wonderful place to just take a leisurely stroll, that's true. But besides restaurants, what is there to walk to? In a true walkable neighborhood you should be able to hoof it to drug stores, hardware stores, services like small doctor's offices and dentists, etc. This is especially important to people without cars. The best example of a diverse, walkable business district in the Cleveland area is Cedar-Lee.
(You might ask, if you love Cedar-Lee so much, why don't you marry it. C-L is too far off the public transit grid to suit the needs of my husband and me. I don't want to live in the Heights and get double-taxed. And the Market. I have to be within easy striking distance of the Market.)
I firmly believe that an economy based solely on entertainment is not sustainable. Actually, I'm going to admit that I'm basing this opinion on something the guy from the Emerging Cleveland tours said last December (on the tour). The Warehouse District was NOT included as part of this tour, because he didn't think it had the right mix of businesses to really qualify as a "new urban" neighborhood. I.e., it was just an entertainment district with some "luxury loft" condos.
2. The idea that OC's business district is gaining a striking resemblance to the Warehouse District isn't really silly at all. We've got a lot of bars/trendy restaurants; they've got a lot of bars/trendy restaurants. (Perhaps I didn't make that clear - I specifically meant the West 25th part of Ohio City.) And it seems like anytime we get any new business, it's a new bar/trendy restaurant. Just this evening I came home to a notice that another nightclub is trying to move into the Moda space.
Don't get me wrong. I love Ohio City itself. Your last paragraph in particular resonates with me in an almost otherworldly way. I've wanted to live here for practically my entire life, and that comprised part of the time that it looked like absolute shit. But what frustrates me, what I resent (if I can be candid) is that one of the most transit-friendly neighborhoods in Cleveland doesn't have a really useful business district for people without cars.
One of the main reasons I live in Ohio City is the proximity to public transportation options. I also own and drive a car, but typically less than once or twice a week.
I don't think I would let other people's driving habits discourage me from enjoying and using the amenities that Ohio City has to offer.
I also think that Ohio City has long been established as an economically mixed and otherwise diverse area. Maybe a little too diverse for Ohio City to become home to a majority SUV, boutique crowd.
When it comes to walkable neighborhoods around here, what about the densest community between New York and Chicago?
Yes, Lakewood.
You can walk to pretty much everything or take the circulator (now that it's off the chopping block -- for now), it's right by the lake, It's bordered by a huge Metropark to the west with incredible Downtown access, should you need such a thing.
I would have chosen Cleveland but there's one small problem..C..M..S..D.
Derek- I actually like Lakewood a lot. I'd want to buy there, except for the getting double-taxed part, and the fact that it's slightly too inconvenient for Jim, public transit-wise. And there are too many young families. But in terms of amenities, Lakewood is awesome. It's very self-contained - I like that. Except for the getting to work part, you would hardly ever have to leave Lakewood.
Lustfelt - thanks for visiting! I didn't realize you lived in OC too. I guess I don't see so much the "economically mixed" part. I see nouveau riche and poverty. My husband and I make 24 and 30K, respectively (and my job's not even permanent, so this time next year I'll be making 0K), so we feel kind of alone in that range. Maybe there are more middle-income folks deeper in the neighborhood, away from West 25th.
And there's the "I own and drive a car" part. I don't; haven't driven a car but for one time (in an emergency) since 2005. So whenever I need to buy things that aren't groceries or go to the dentist or post office, I have to haul them on the bus - something that I feel that in a better planned business district, I (and the other transit-dependent people here) wouldn't have to do. Or depend on my husband, who owns and drives a car, which is an inconvenience to him and makes me feel like I've lost an awful lot of my independence.
I am so glad to see the blog active again. I gave up until AJB told me about this subject. First, I love Shaker Square, and considered living there. Ohio City is my neighborhood of choice though. I can easily ride my bicycle to City Hall or the Justice Center, where my job frequently sends me. This is much cheaper, faster and healthier than public transportation. I ride all winter long, as long as the streets are clear. Ohio City is a true bicycle paradise. My wife and I share one car. I need it for quick trips to check on my elderly mother in Rocky River. It is a modest Toyota. Owning a car is not evil. How it is used should be a consideration though. If I am picking up take out from Phnom Penh, I try to take my bike (I live near W.44th & Bridge). Or I load the Toyota with recyclables and drop this off at the WSM recycle dumpsters first. Consolidating trips is important to me. The greatest asset about Ohio City is its people and the sense of community here. I love hearing the salsa Y merengue on my block filtering through my open windows. There are 5 Spanish-speaking countries represented on my block alone, where I have lived since 1982. I love our diversity. Wild horses could not tear me away from Ohio City. Also, I am so glad you posted the Moda announcement. This is where our community springs into action and does what is best for the community.
Wow, the blog is back. :)
You’ve mentioned a couple of times that the number of destination or upscale bars & restaurants in the neighborhood is becoming excessive. New establishments in the past 5-10 years, say, would include Bier Markt/Cento, Garage Bar, and perhaps The Old Angle. (Did I forget any?) I guess I would not include Lelolai in that category – they seem more neighborhoody. This doesn’t seem like an excessive number to me. In the comments, you clarified that what you’d prefer is more small businesses like drugstores, dentists, etc. I get that, and there hasn’t been much development like that. I doubt those businesses can bring in the money that a bar can. It does seem bizarre to me that there aren’t more hardware stores in a neighborhood full of hundred-year-old homes. ;)
I moved to OC two years ago. I have to say that I feel zero guilt about pushing out someone who would make better use of the public transit than I do. If good public transit connections were a higher priority in Cleveland, then housing prices would be higher than they are in OC. If a place as nice as OC, and with its transit connections, was in New York, or DC, none of us would be able to afford to live there. It is what it is.
As others have mentioned, it’s great to mix various kinds of people into your life, not just those who are like you. This is part of the reason that I live in OC. How can I understand other people, or what goes on in the world, if I’m only seeing a tiny sliver of it? It’s also sometimes uncomfortable, annoying, and stressful. And noisy. ;) But I’d still rather live here than somewhere homogeneous, like Portland for example. It keeps me on my toes.
woohoo! welcome baaaack!
Anyways...
I've been living in Lakewood for about four months now and at least for me, it's definitely easy to be car-free as far as commuting goes since I can pick up the 25 down to the Rapid/75X stop on 117th. (I still use the car for after work recreation, but...)
When my car was in the shop, I hardly missed it because I was still within walking/biking distance of the park, grocery stores, and anything else that I'd need.
The high taxes, despite the great city services, were a deal-breaker for my parents, though, which is too bad. Right now, however, I'm feeling like I couldn't be in a better place as a renter.
On the topic of neighborhood development: I noticed that someone was working on the former storefront next to the ABC Tavern on 25th Street today. Turns out they are remodeling for a hair salon.
Cleveland Heights! You've got cedar-fairmount, coventry, cedar-lee all walkable and bikeable, shaker square is close, univercity circle and little italy...everything but the westside market. but just hop on the train :)
I love living here. although coventry has been getting a little yuppierlately. what up with that?
Hey Jeanne - Yeah there is a salon going in. Unfortunately, though, it isn't an entirely new addition to the neighborhood. Zen is just moving a few blocks from their location on Lorain.
OMG the blog is back yes! :-)
I think you are right about OC and it just becoming an entertainment district. I really believe there should be a master plan for the neighborhood that brings in the other amenities you mention.
I love OC but I think you are on the right investigative track, asking yourselves the right questions. I think S Square rocks. I love D/Shoreway too, and Tremont. But the truth is, you can't walk to every amenitie needed in either of those places either. Why the West side CDC's don't court Heinen's is beyond me. Dave's is okay but truthfully, I can go to Heinen's and spend 20 bucks and get more food and of better quality than I can at Dave's or Giant Eagle.
I think it gets down to community activism, but for the moment, that doesn't help your where to buy issue. Maybe rent another year and keep thinking?
I really believe there should be a master plan for the neighborhood that brings in the other amenities you mention.
Drug and hardware stores are private businesses, though. Are you saying that these types of businesses are trying to get into Ohio City but are being thwarted in some way that having/changing a master plan would correct?
When was the last time a new hardware store was started anywhere, anyway? I don't mean Ohio City, or even Cleveland, I mean in the entire region. Some stores that have existed for a while have managed to maintain their niche, but do new hardware stores actually happen?
I don't at all mean they are being thwarted, I don't know anything about that. I know that CVS tried to go into the old eastern mkt space right smack dab next to the WSM but I think logistics thwarted that, not the neighborhood? One of the service industries I keep hearing OC peeps discuss is a drug store.
You are right that it's much harder for a smaller hardware store these days but in reality, there are quite a few in existence still no? Torch Hardware on Lorain does a very good business and has been there forever. There is a True Value affiliated one on Puritas near W. 145th; Ingersoll's in Rocky River does very well. Since there isn't one in OC I just thought it might have a niche.
I know that CVS tried to go into the old eastern mkt space right smack dab next to the WSM but I think logistics thwarted that, not the neighborhood?
Well, okay, that's interesting, I didn't know that had happened. I think a drug store would be a good idea; if there was some way to encourage (or cease to discourage) one to come to OC, I would support that. My point is that we can't make 'em establish a store here if they don't think a store would be a good idea for their own selfish reasons.
Would the "logistics" problem have been parking by any chance? The big drug store chains seem very particular these days about the physical layout of their store property, including a significant amount of parking.
So, where is the hardware store on Lorain? I'm rarely on Lorain west of 28th St.
I agree with both of your points about drug stores, that pkg is probably a big issue (I know a drive through component apparently was too). Especially your point about making them come here!
Torch Hardware is a step back in time at 137th and Lorain. They even have a resident cat. And lots of knowledge to share no matter what project you want to do and lots of widgets lolol.
Mr. Beckley-
Jim and I were discussing this last night. Although we're only "armchair urbanists", we both think that recruiting businesses is supposed to traditionally be a function of a community development corporation. Not that CVS et al are being actively thwarted from moving in in favor of fancy restaurants, but are they being actively courted? I'm not sure.
According to Duany's principles of new urbanism, if you live or work in a well-planned community, you should be able to get to most of the things you need within a ten-minute walk of where you either live or work. A short list of things I can't get to in a 10-minute walk of where I live or work (University Circle is such a disappointment, in terms of there being useful stuff around): post office, place to fill a prescription, place to buy a hammer, place to buy sheets and towels and stuff of that ilk.
The hair salon is Zen, it's moving; they were leasing before.
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"I love living here. although coventry has been getting a little yuppierlately. what up with that?"
Hate to break it to you, but Coventry has been on a steady yuppie climb since about 1997.
As for indie hardware store, Lakewood Hardware opened up last year. It's on the west end of Madison opposite the junior high.
The demise of Coventry culture has been loudly predicted at least since I arrived in Cleveland, in 1979. And in fact it has changed quite a bit in that time.
On a somewhat unrelated note, when and why did the term "yuppie," the acronym for Young Urban Professional, start being applied to any upper middle class person of a certain sort, whether young, urban, and professional, or not? (I am not ragging on the previous poster -- this is common usage now.)
The only thing I would add to the Lakewood discussion above (and Derek made really good points) is that RTA could decide not to continue the circulators. They aren't talking specifics about cuts but it's been mentioned. The #26 is a great route on Detroit however, and without too much walking you could get to the transit stop (they may have a bus that goes up 117th there, I only know the 50 which I think stops at the transit but I could be wrong)
but a caveat: that doesn't stop the issue of double taxation if you live in Lakewood
Why don't you at least try to look at houses in Brooklyn Centre, especially on Archwood? Much more affordable than OC and Tremont...much more family friendly. You should also look at South Hills in, dare I say it, "Old" Brooklyn. Call
In terms of Brooklyn Centre...I'm not sure I'm looking for family-friendly. I think I'd like to live amongst other 30 and 40-something DINKs and middle-aged empty nesters. But we will have a look, I promise!
30 and 40-something DINKs and middle-aged empty nesters...plenty of those over here, too :)
The neighborhood that keeps pulling me lately is Detroit Shoreway. Yes I know it still has issues but the energy is palpable when I am either there or talking to someone who has 1)opened a business there or 2)moved there.
The housing is still affordable. Once the Capital Theatre opens next Spring that could begin to change.
Of course I would have to be able to sell my house first and it still needs some work so I'm probably looking at two years till I can move. Tremont is still my favorite neighborhood but there are transportation issues. I'm really serious about considering Detroit Shorway.
OCNW is actively seeking business anchors on W.25th, specifically to the Rialto Building (the Moda site). We are looking into a possible commercial anchor there, like Urban Outfitters, or possibly a fitness center. One problem is the parking. The parking lot behind the building is public parking, and it is at capacity on Saturdays. Anchors want their own private lot. Also, we must have the demographics that would support such an endeavor. There is a high concentration of poverty on W.25th with the CMHA properties, and this could impact a decision to locate a business there. Another issue is that the owners of the Rialto Building are asking for an unreasonable and unmarketable sum, and in a buyer's market the building will not sell. We are working on other commercial and retail developments on W.25th, but it is too early to divulge any specifics.
Bob I agree with you, the only way some of these places would be able to operate out of that spot is by leasing. And many of the chains want their own space.
Let us know if you need neighborhood rah rah support for some of the places you are courting I bet you'd have some takers on that one :-)
And Christine, as is evidenced by the block club activities, it's almost impossible to find a neighborhood as pro-active/grassroots as OC. That is the one difference (at least so far) between D/Shorway and OC. I suppose after things get going, D/S could be as grassroots oriented.
Well, everyone's going to have their favorite neighborhood or area for you to consider ... and frankly, you may not find the perfect spot, but you may find something you can live with (or live in!). I've lived at Cedar-Fairmount, and it really is a nice little neighborhood. Grocery store right there, bank right there, good restaurants (wonderful living only a 2-minute walk to Aladdin's), and of course a great gelateria. And actually, it's not a bad walk to get to the RTA station, and hop the Red Line out to the West Side Market, though my recommendation is to cut through CWRU and go down the "elephant steps" behind the frat houses, rather than walking down Cedar.
That said, the problem I had with Cedar-Fairmount was at least in my immediate area, which was mostly apartment buildings, it was nearly all students. I'm not horribly old (though getting near fuddy-duddy), but frankly, the last thing I wanted for neighbors was loud college kids who felt that not only did they have the right to party, but it was also an obligation. It was lovely trying to go to sleep at a civilized hour on a weeknight, only to be kept up by thumping heavy metal music in the apartment below. But hey, I'm sure there are houses and apartments and condos in that immediate area that aren't surrounded by students. But beware those that are. And it was an enjoyable place, wonderful to walk to the shops on Coventry, and we'd even walk to Zagara's on Lee, which is a great grocery store. So it's definitely a vibrant area that you can access quite a lot without a car, and be close to transportation.
Now I live in Lakewood, which I enjoy immensely. And while I do drive, so I don't need to utilize RTA very much, I do know some folks who live in the far east end of Lakewood off Madison Avenue in the Birdtown neighborhood, and they quite like it, because a good deal of shops are easily walked to, ranging from grocery stores to even Home Depot on West 117th. There's great restaurants and music venues in the immediate neighborhood, as well as Bela Dubby, one of the niftier coffee shops/Third Places you'll find in Cleveland, a branch of the library nearby, and Mahall's Lanes, one of the better bowling alleys in Cleveland (true Clevelanders gotta bowl). And it's a short and easy walk to the new RTA station at West 117th and Madison, for either hopping a bus somewhere, or the Red Line. So take a look at that area ... housing costs are fairly inexpensive, if you wish to rent or own.
Shaker Square is not bad, though some areas around the square have had some crime issues, though I guess no area in town is immune to that. Good shops and restaurants in Shaker Square, and of course, it's as about an accessible place for the non-car user as any in Cleveland, with the rapid station right there. Though that doesn't help you too much if you're working in the University Circle area, though I think you can take a bus from the Square down to UC.
So while there may not be too much that'll be absolutely perfect, there are some ones that might be better than others, but ultimately, you're just going to have to explore around, and see what feels the best to you and your hubbie.
As for the double-tax thing in Lakewood and Cleveland Heights, maybe it's a problem. But I've lived in both, and frankly, it doesn't bother me ... and I work in the noprofit ... er, nonprofit realm, so I'm not exactly blessed with high income. Yep, there's a tax issue, but for what you get from those taxes (amazing new libraries in both cities, new schools in Lakewood, etc.), it doesn't seem to hurt that much.
Bob: All I'm asking for is a drugstore! I don't care if it's a CVS, a Marc's, whatever, something with a pharmacy in it and a bigger selection of drugstore type items than they have at Dave's, which is pretty minimal. It seems like every other neighborhood has at least one (I guess technically I could walk down to the Rite Aid or whatever at 65th), and some, like Lakewood, have more than you can shake a stick at. There has got to be some abandoned or dilapidated lot somewhere on Lorain that CVS could acquire....
I know I'm very late to this post. First let me say I love your blog! Now on to neighborhoods. I moved back to Cleveland 3 years ago from New York. First I lived in Ohio City (1 year), then Asiatown (2 years), and now I'm living in Shaker Square. I guess my philosophy has been to sample several different neighborhoods before settling down.
All three neighborhoods have offered a very different experience, and I've enjoyed each in different ways. However, I have not stopped pining for Ohio City (and the near west side in general) since I moved. Yes, it is flawed, and I agree with your comments on the lack of retail diversity. Yet the sense of community there is so, so strong. That, for me, is a big part of why I moved back to Cleveland -- missing a sense of community. In Ohio City, particularly on the side streets, you have a sense of people who have chosen to live in this neighborhood because they want to help make it a better place. Not a wealthier or yuppier place -- just cleaner, safer, more harmonious for everyone. I know that sounds idealistic, but it's one of the few places I've ever lived where that ideal seems possible. Certainly in more "successful" cities, such a balance between desirability and affordability has seemed almost impossible to maintain. The network of friends and neighborhoods that I have/had in Ohio City has been unmatched by either of the neighborhoods I've lived in since. It can be a frustrating place at times but the rewards of living there are also huge.
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