Help! Anyone here live south of Cleveland?

Need some assistance. Relocating for work to the Bedford Ohio area. Seems there are some really bad neighborhoods around Cleveland. The job is in Oakwood Village. I will not be able to travel to the area first and will have to rent a place through the internet. I would really appreciate some input on neighborhoods to avoid.

I live southwest of Cleveland by a little bit, we call it Austin, TX.

I know that doesnt help, but my brother lives just south of Cleveland and you have my word that I'll contact him and let you know.

Thanks I just don'y want to sign a year lease on a place to find out I can't walk to the corner store for fear of being mugged. A few years back I rented a place over the internet that ended up being next door to a honest to goodness crack house. Everyday I came home and my things were still there was like Christmas.

Originally posted by Ladysophiaofsandoz
Need some assistance. Relocating for work to the Bedford Ohio area. Seems there are some really bad neighborhoods around Cleveland. The job is in Oakwood Village. I will not be able to travel to the area first and will have to rent a place through the internet. I would really appreciate some input on neighborhoods to avoid.

The east side is pretty bad except for Case Western area. My first day on the overnight shift coming home from the east side by foot in the early morning (like 1am-4am) was extremely dangerous. I walked by some homeless people on Superior, and there was a kid with them that said I had took his bag as I walked by. Imagine a bunch black guys chasing you down on bikes, probably with guns to see "what you got in the bag". Things seem a lot quieter now, but I definitely travel by bike between the hours of about 10PM-4AM if traveling outside of downtown in Cleveland (we're talking between like West 9th and like East 20th is what I'm calling "downtown").

If you're looking for good neighborhoods, it depends on what your definition of "neighborhoods to avoid" is. The city is over half black america (yeah, well, duh, so I'm a black american), so if you have a problem with that, then your best bets are only the "far eastern" and "far western" suburbs. If you don't, then there's either downtown, possibly ohio city (but they've got tons of projects over there), or near case western reserve where the students live.

Once you get out of the city and first ring of suburbs, its generally just rednecks that shout racial epithets and throw rotten eggs at you. And if you're coming into Cleveland, DO NOT take Greyhound. Even the driver warns you if you do that it wasn't the best idea, kinda hints that the security guards with the guns there are extremely DANGEROUS. I've also had serious problems with the guards at Reserve Square. The cops won't do anything about it. Haven't had any problems taking a train in though.

I also wouldn't recommend renting a place without seeing it first. Thats probably a bad idea. You could accidentally rent a room without a door, that's right next to another room without a door that contains a dude passed out on a couch. If you're black american, you could also accidentally rent out a place and then find out when you get there that the owner won't allow you. They don't tell you this stuff over the phone.

Alright, my brother actually lives in Akron now but knows about South Cleveland.
He told me that based on where you are that Solon, Hudson, or Bath would be better.

He told me that crime is pretty bad all around Cleveland. He said that the further you get outside the city the better it is, but not always. He said that there are many suburbs that have worse crime than inside the actual city.
I said no sh*t!
He's my younger brother.

Sorry sweetheart, that's all I got for now.
I will look more, if I find anything I'll let you know!

The area where I live is pretty racially mixed. So thats not a problem but I do allot of walking and biking so I would like the place to be safe. I wish I could travel there first but don't have the cash to do it more than the one time to move. I appreciate the info and will check out the areas you suggested. Thanks!

reply to post by Ladysophiaofsandoz


Check out Berea, Olmsted Falls & Strongsvile. Kinda pricey, but quiet.

But even these towns have section 8 housing...stay away from those rentals. Good luck and welcome to Cleveland...I can't wait to put it in my rearview mirror.



ETA: Bedford? Look into Twinsburg or Solon, it's much like the above. Beware of the bear that is wandering around though.

reply to post by TDawgRex


Thanks for the advice. Looking into Hudson, Brecksville, North field, Strongville and Stowe. Can't wait to leave Florida in my rearview mirror.

reply to post by Ladysophiaofsandoz


Brecksville , Stow and Macedonia are pertty nice towns. I haven't heard to much positive about Northfield though. That town seems to be on the decline from the two people that live there tell me. They're moving to other towns as well.

Also the weather here is ...quirky. But it's been pretty mild for the most part this year.

And beware of the many idiot drivers...I think they gravitate to Cleveland for some reason.