Moving to Cleveland Area

[smitty03]

Wife just got accepted into the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Independence, OH. I have never lived in the Cleveland area, specifically Independence, and was wondering if I could get information from any one that is familiar with that area? (Apartments, Resteraunts, etc.)

Also, I will be looking for a teaching job somewhere around there. Any information on school districts would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

 

[iambrutus]

you poor bastard

i work about 25mins south of independence, get ready for road construction!

 

[Piney]

My condolences for moving to Cleveland...

 

[buckeyegrad]

I made the move up to NE Ohio 5.5 years ago.

My advice is to RUN AWAY!

 

[Cornerback6]

Get really good locks and heavily reinforced windows.

 

[Piney]

Wife just got accepted into the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Independence, OH. I have never lived in the Cleveland area, specifically Independence, and was wondering if I could get information from any one that is familiar with that area? (Apartments, Resteraunts, etc.)

Also, I will be looking for a teaching job somewhere around there. Any information on school districts would be extremely helpful. Thanks!

Now that I got my snide remark out of the way, here is some info.

For teaching STAY AWAY FROM CLEVELAND! Suburbs suburbs suburbs! The farther from Cleveland normally the better. There are some exceptions, but jobs may be tough to get. But feel free to post the school districts that you are looking at and I am sure people will chime in.

As for restaurants near Independence there are tons. Rockside road has what seems like a million of them as alot of businesses are in that area. Other areas to explore is out on the west side in Westlake off I-90. You have a bunch of places you can see off the free way and then there is Crocker Park (off Crocker Rd in Westlake) which has alot of shops & food places. Alot like Eaton Park in Columbus.

Regarding living, apartment guides are a good thing. If you think about buying a home, I suggest living outside of Cuyahoga county as the tax rates are insane and alot better in surrounding counties nearby.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

[tibor75]



[/tibor75]

 

[LitlBuck]

Perhaps Piney can amplify on my post a little more but I know that the Solon and Strongsville were pretty nice areas a few years ago but I don't know how well they are doing right now. I know that the Solon area is pretty close to a line of good schools like Orange and some other private schools. If I were ever going to move to Cleveland and purchased a house, I would move to just east of Mentor. Sort of between Mentor and Concord. Unfortunately, that area is a little far from Independence and I really don't know about the drivetime.

 

[Bucklion]

East side...Solon, Moreland Hills, Bentleyville, Pepper Pike, Mentor...

West side...Avon Lake, Avon, Westlake, Bay Village...

South side...Strongsville, Brunswick...

All of these areas are pretty good. Cleveland just closed like 16 schools and laid off a crapload of teachers, so the market for jobs will probably be tough, because presumably those people will head to the burbs to try and find work.

 

[smitty03]

All of these areas are pretty good. Cleveland just closed like 16 schools and laid off a crapload of teachers, so the market for jobs will probably be tough, because presumably those people will head to the burbs to try and find work.

I have started looking at district websites and am finding that the job market sucks in NE Ohio. Hopefully I will get lucky and fall into something, but it is looking like substitute teaching for a year or so.

I am not thrilled with moving, but it is too good of an opportunity to pass up. In eight years we will most likely move back to Central Ohio.

Anyone know of any good private/charter schools in NE Ohio? I may go that route if I absolutely have to.

 

[Buckeneye]

Get a helmet.


Put on the damn helmet.

 

[BrutuStrength]

For teaching STAY AWAY FROM CLEVELAND! Suburbs suburbs suburbs! The farther from Cleveland normally the better...

As for restaurants near Independence there are tons. Rockside road has what seems like a million of them as alot of businesses are in that area...

Regarding living, apartment guides are a good thing. If you think about buying a home, I suggest living outside of Cuyahoga county as the tax rates are insane and alot better in surrounding counties nearby.

All of the above is good information. If I had known 9 years ago what I know now, I would not have moved into Cuyahoga county. I would have stayed just outside. I can't stand having to pay a couple extra thousand every year for a regional income tax. Especially when nicer non-Cuyahoga county suburbs are exempt.

If I were ever going to move to Cleveland and purchased a house, I would move to just east of Mentor. Sort of between Mentor and Concord. Unfortunately, that area is a little far from Independence and I really don't know about the drivetime.

The problem with all parts Mentor and East is going to be traffic. Especially when it snows. That entire gets slowed to a crawl.

Also, housing tends to be cheaper on the West side. Maybe a place like Medina would be good for you. It's just south of Strongsville but not in Cuyahoga county.

 

[Buckeye86]

Don't listen to everyone and their horor stories about Cleveland, at least you're not moving to Youngstown.

 

[exhawg]

Perhaps Piney can amplify on my post a little more but I know that the Solon and Strongsville were pretty nice areas a few years ago but I don't know how well they are doing right now. I know that the Solon area is pretty close to a line of good schools like Orange and some other private schools. If I were ever going to move to Cleveland and purchased a house, I would move to just east of Mentor. Sort of between Mentor and Concord. Unfortunately, that area is a little far from Independence and I really don't know about the drivetime.

If you throw a rock pretty much anywhere around Solon you will hit a good school district, Bedford (or whatever district is to the west) and maybe Twinsburg would be the only exceptions I can think of. If you're just looking for an apartment Twinsburg would probably be a good option. You'll have an easy commute pretty much anywhere and you get to be in Summit county. The west side seems to be the place to be for the younger folks that like to go out and have a good time. From what I've heard teaching jobs are hard to come by in the whole Cleveland area so that might take some time.
Shopping can be a bit of a pain on the east side if you are looking for a mall. My wife is from the west side so she always goes to Great Northern or South Park if she needs a regular mall. The Aurora outlets are one of the better options in the east. The Sam's Club and BJ's on the east suck and I've never been to Costco, but it looks nicer. There are tons of restaurants around 480 and 271 so you shouldn't have trouble there.

 

[MolGenBuckeye]

I'm biased since I grew up there, but I'd look south. If you want to be in Cuyahoga county, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, North Royalton are all options for a good school system. Outside Cuyahoga, you could look in the Peninsula or Richfield areas. Coming from that side of town, I don't think you'll have nearly the traffic coming up 77 that you would coming across 480. As mentioned before, Medina could be a good option too if you want to go a little farther out. There's a lot of parks, ski slopes, etc on the south side as well if you're into those sort of things.