Westown: The Next Big Thing?
Given that we're pretty well priced out of Ohio City (at least as far as non-fixer-uppers go), we've started looking at greener pastures.
Jim has been blabbing my ear off for about a month now about Westown, the neighborhood around West 117th and Lorain, which he "found" during multiple bus trips to the podiatrist last month (don't ask).
At first I dismissed him out of hand. "Duh," I said, "there are none of your precious locally owned grocery stores in Westown, smart guy. Put that in your brainiac pipe and smoke it."
To which he replied, "Actually, there are four Middle Eastern supermarkets within a stone's throw of the West 117th and Lorain intersection."
And lo and behold, there are! Actually, Westown meets a good bit of our walking criteria, and for our purposes public transit-wise, it could be a hell of a lot worse. It's unpretentious, but there are plenty of houses with "Lakewood charm" (built-in leaded glass cabinets, natural woodwork, third floors). "Doesn't this remind you of Queens?" Jim asked nonchalantly as we drove around Halloran Park. (It was the only emotionally manipulative thing he's ever said.)
And oh, the house prices! I'm like a kid in a candy store. I could buy a house for about what my parents paid for theirs back in 1983. A bigger, better house at that! I could walk to Luchita's! And...and...Dennis Kucinich could be my neighbor! I wonder if Mrs. Kucinich would want to be my new best friend. Or am I too old for her?
So...anyone live in Westown? Have you got an opinion you want to share? I'm all ears.
Jim has been blabbing my ear off for about a month now about Westown, the neighborhood around West 117th and Lorain, which he "found" during multiple bus trips to the podiatrist last month (don't ask).
At first I dismissed him out of hand. "Duh," I said, "there are none of your precious locally owned grocery stores in Westown, smart guy. Put that in your brainiac pipe and smoke it."
To which he replied, "Actually, there are four Middle Eastern supermarkets within a stone's throw of the West 117th and Lorain intersection."
And lo and behold, there are! Actually, Westown meets a good bit of our walking criteria, and for our purposes public transit-wise, it could be a hell of a lot worse. It's unpretentious, but there are plenty of houses with "Lakewood charm" (built-in leaded glass cabinets, natural woodwork, third floors). "Doesn't this remind you of Queens?" Jim asked nonchalantly as we drove around Halloran Park. (It was the only emotionally manipulative thing he's ever said.)
And oh, the house prices! I'm like a kid in a candy store. I could buy a house for about what my parents paid for theirs back in 1983. A bigger, better house at that! I could walk to Luchita's! And...and...Dennis Kucinich could be my neighbor! I wonder if Mrs. Kucinich would want to be my new best friend. Or am I too old for her?
So...anyone live in Westown? Have you got an opinion you want to share? I'm all ears.
posted by Christine Borne at 5:41 PM
11 Comments:
Luchita's good. All of the middle eastern stuff is pretty recent, right? That's actually a pretty good sign for nbhd life, I think.
What is your OC price range? We are putting our newly renovated home on the market this month (very reasonably priced - 3 bedroom, all new, double lot, etc). We have a rental we are putting up too.
Email me - am500696@yahoo.com. - Ashley
They're branding that area too? Westown makes me think of those shopping centers all over.
That being said, I do buy most of my groceries at Almadina Imports (across the street from the Eastman branch) on 116th and it's good people there.
My mom lives there but I've never heard it called that before, maybe cause of that shopping center.
Anyway there are tons of bungalows in that neighborhood that have the wood work and fire places that make my heart sing. And the 79 is a very convenient bus. I know that eventually Cleveland is going to make a comeback and I'd like to be there before the home prices go up.
I bought over here two 1/2 years ago and have been really happy with my decision. Not only is there Luchita's, but Cleveland Grill, and a few minute walk west on Lorain takes you to Cafe Roma. I started getting my hair cut at Omar's near 130th and Lorain and love that usually there are no less than two languages being spoken. There are also a couple of great Mexican restaurants.
Have you looked at Old Brooklyn? I was raised here and my husband and I just purchased our first home here. We're in the area near Pearl and Memphis; very accessible to everything. There is a farmer's market on Pearl that sells produce on Friday afternoons, you could bike to the West Side Market from here, Downtown is right on the RTA route at Pearl or Memphis and we're within walking distance of two (three if we want a power walk!) Cleveland public library branches. I enjoyed finding your blog and hope you'll check mine out too. Feel free to contact me if you want more information about Old Brooklyn.
I live about two streets from official Westtown, albeit on the western end of it. You would be amazed at the gorgeous homes that have come on (and then off) the market around the area, all at very reasonable prices. The specific area around the RTA station, and the plans for the Variety Theatre on Lorain, all signal, I hope, that your 'next best thing' could be accurate.
I've lived in and around there, though I've never heard it referred to as that. It's an "okay" neighborhood. The problem is that crime like vandalism and theft is high, and I don't see signs of it going down with the recession. Certain spots are traveling downhill fast. But really that's going to be true of any Cleveland neighborhood you choose, including Ohio City for all its pricing. The houses around there are exactly the kind I love, and the area between 105th and 117th has some nice wide beautiful streets.
Old Brooklyn, which is where I grew up and went through high school without a car, is better for public transit about 100%. However you have the same dilemma. Lots of crime - beautiful houses. My parents live there still, on Archwood, and the house is great but the apartment building next to it has a bum landlord, so they're constantly battling the tenants over trash thrown in the yard, loud music, ect.
I think the trick with any of these places is to find a house not near rental property. And I say that being a renter myself. Research the neighbors.
I just bought a house in Westown and don't really know what to say without gushing superlatives. We moved there so that I could walk to the grocery store, which is what I missed most having moved to Cleveland from Montreal, and easily take the bus to work, but it didn't hurt that we found an amazing house that cost less than a year of my university tuition (it needed a lot of work, but we wanted a project). We have amazing neighbors who watch out for us and help us out when we need it. There is more diversity here than I’ve seen anywhere else in town. We have three nice parks and one has an ice skating rink (where else in Cleveland can say that?). There are five Middle Eastern grocery stores, two Middle Eastern Pastry shops, two Mexican restaurants, two Middle Eastern restaurants in addition to the takeout and buffets in the grocery stores, a gay bar, and a library, as well as Salvadorian, Cambodian, Italian, and German restaurants. Der Braumeister has a great beer selection. There are a couple of dental practices and a physicians’ office in Westown Plaza that’s affiliated with Fairview and the Cleveland Clinic. The access to public transit is really great, the 22 and 50 are super convenient. Best of all, living here has made me stop missing Montreal so much.
Haley, welcome to the neighborhood! And as for crime, it's in the eye of the beholder. I walk to the bus, I walk to the grocery store as Haley does, and I do it with out fear any time of day.
Luchita's good. All of the middle eastern stuff is pretty recent, right? That's actually a pretty good sign for nbhd life, I think.
Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
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