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Downtown Cleveland proved to be a good fit. (Photo: Sideshow Bruce via Flickr)

Today’s guest post is written by Melinda Urick. Mel runs Pursuit Writing Services and regularly blogs at Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Your Boyfriend. She has lived in Northeast Ohio for almost her whole life. — Rob

I spent most of my teens and twenties bouncing around suburban Cleveland. I crossed the Cuyahoga River, living in properties ranging from an attic on the east side to a big side-by-side house on the west side. It wasn’t until my early 30s that I finally found a neighborhood in Cleveland that really fits. And the neighborhood was right under my nose the entire time — Downtown.

I grew up in Mentor. And even at an early age, I found this affluent east-side suburb incredibly dull and laden with pretentiousness. I knew it was NOT “better in Mentor.”

Halfway through high school, we moved to Ashtabula — which is an extreme eastern drive from Cleveland. Although I enjoyed greatly being exposed to a more urban lifestyle –- living what most would consider “inner city” — there was a tight-knit, somewhat backward undertone to the community. My time there had a positive impact, specifically with my exposure to people and cultures. Mentor is about as white bread as it gets. In Ashtabula, the high school educated an equal mix of white and African-American (and a prominent and growing Spanish community).

After high school, I returned to Mentor for a short time while I finished my two-year degree program at Lakeland Community College. I also resided in Strongsville and Parma for short durations, while I bounced around different sets of roommates and retail management jobs.

I remained on the west side for less than two years, before playing house with my then-boyfriend in Solon.

Solon is a great place… if you have kids and want a big McMansion. The location itself wasn’t horrible – 20 minutes of drive time to all points of the Cleveland area. But this southeast suburb is incredibly segregated and snobbish. Ironically, it was much like what I was exposed to growing up in Mentor. And I hated it. I never experienced the sort of comfortability expected from my family and neighbors with their endless compliments of the area. It just did not fit me.

I stayed
(uncomfortably) in Solon for about three-and-a-half years, before
renting out an attic apartment space in a South Euclid bungalow (finding
the place on Roommates.com). While I was definitely more relaxed in my
surroundings – and within walking distance of shopping and some bars –
it was MILES away from easy access to any freeway.

After six
short months, I moved to a massive side-by-side house in Lakewood on
Clifton. I wish I had discovered this near-west suburb of Cleveland
sooner! Our neighborhood was great – I was finally walking to places
instead of driving. The community was busy and safe. And more
importantly (for a college student), CHEAP.

I rented a couple
different houses in Lakewood for another few years, while I finished
school at Cleveland State. One of the things I realized as I reached the
end of my 20s was that I was quickly tiring of the college-aged
drinking scene – more so, the drunks who knew I lived within walking
distance of said bars.

With all intentions to move again to
another house in Lakewood, I found a one-bedroom condo for sale in Rocky
River. At the time, River had everything around that matched with my
personality – including being a safe neighborhood for living on my own
for the first time. Within a year of moving in, I quickly tired of the
suburban boredom. I loved the core of Cleveland, and even a 15-minute
drive felt too far. I liked to walk to places. I was shopping the West
Side Market every Saturday (even though there was a Giant Eagle behind
my building); I hate chain restaurants and fast food (and these pollute
the suburbs regardless what side of the river you live). My nightlife
was all centered in Ohio City, Tremont and East 4th. I wanted to ride my
bike (and not meet a strip mall entrance with inattentive drivers at
every intersection). Outside of the Metroparks, the attitude of
alternate means of transportation changed.

Nobody appeared to be
“like me” in Rocky River.

I lived in that condo for four years,
but six months ago, I finally moved into an apartment downtown. The East
4th neighborhood has its positives and negatives as with anywhere else I
have lived, but I finally felt a belonging to my surroundings. The only
inconvenience in living downtown is paying to park your vehicle safely
in a garage. Downtown is safe, regardless of the horror stories
suburbanites like to expel. These are
people who likely have been downtown once or twice in the last couple of
years.

Yes, there is grocery shopping nearby, and I will
walk the eight blocks to the store with no complaints. I will walk seven
blocks to my ATM. The library is a mere walk through the Arcade. I can
leave my building and choose from a variety of local restaurants for any
meal, as well as several local coffee shops. I can easily bike to the
Market or even skate to the lakefront.

There is everything of
interest in my current life nearby.

And it fits.