The southwestern communities of Cuyahoga County represent a blend of shopping convenience, highway access and proximity to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Situated in the midst of it all is greater Cleveland’s primary airport, Cleveland-Hopkins, the NASA Glenn Research Center and a number of walkable, historic towns.

Artists can be found throughout the southwestern suburbs; however, CPAC’s research shows that they are most prevalent in Berea and Strongsville.

With 58 cities and townships in Cuyahoga County, each with their own distinct character, it can be difficult to find the perfect fit for your preferences through an online resource. That’s why CPAC recommends that artists get out and explore communities before committing to a particular city or neighborhood. Along the way, there are also a lot of resources that can make this search easier for you.

City and County Government

When looking for space in suburban markets, city government can be one of your greatest resources. Some cities have specific pages devoted to people interested in relocating to their community. If you’re unable to find a web page that matches that description, pages for Community Development and Economic Development Departments can often provide additional information and resources for home and commercial space buyers. In smaller cities and townships you may not find a page specifically related to development; in this case, it may be best to contact a main phone number. Cuyahoga County’s website features a listing of all 58 municipalities’ direct lines.

Other Resources

Community Development Corporations can be an extraordinary help when you are looking for information and resources about a particular community. These nonprofit organizations work to revitalize the neighborhoods and cities where they are located, sometimes through planning, sometimes through real estate development and sometimes through services like block clubs, community policing or art festivals. The primary community development organization in the southwestern suburbs is the Berea Community Development Corporation.

Beyond this community-specific resource, you may also find additional support through regional resources to learn more about neighborhoods, space and community resources throughout the entire region. One of the primary organizations filling this role is Global Cleveland.

With some of the best access to the lakeshore and parklands in greater Cleveland, the western communities have drawn a wide variety of artists to properties ranging from bungalows to lakefront mansions. The city of Lakewood remains one of the densest suburbs in the country, with walkable streets and plenty of activity. Further to the west, suburbs grow more residential and less commercial, creating the sense of a strong-knit community.

You can find artists locating across the western suburbs but CPAC’s research suggests that they are showing up in the highest numbers in certain cities, particularly communities closer to the Lake Erie Shoreline:

• Bay Village
• Fairview Park
• Lakewood
• Rocky River

There are 58 cities and townships in Cuyahoga County, and each has its own distinct character. We recommend that artists take some time to get out and explore communities to find one that’s the perfect fit for them. There are a lot of resources that can help you in your search.

City and County Government

When looking for space in suburban markets, city government can be one of your greatest resources. Some cities have specific pages devoted to people interested in relocating to their community. If you’re not able to find something like that, Community Development and Economic Development Departments can often provide additional information and resources for home and commercial space buyers. In smaller cities and townships, you may not find a page specifically related to development; in this case, you may want to contact a main phone number instead. Cuyahoga County’s website features a listing of all 58 municipalities’ direct lines.

Other Resources

Community development corporations can be a strong partner when you are looking to find information and resources about a community. These nonprofit organizations work to revitalize the neighborhoods and cities where they are located, sometimes through planning, sometimes through real estate development and sometimes through services like block clubs, community policing or art festivals. The primary community development corporation in the western suburbs is LakewoodAlive.

Beyond this community-specific resource, you may find additional support through regional resources aimed at helping people learn more about neighborhoods, space and community resources throughout greater Cleveland.

Situated between the city of Cleveland and the city of Akron, the southeastern communities have tremendous access to both cities as well as the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Nearer to Cleveland, the southeastern suburbs have access to a great deal of shopping options, while those closer to the border of the county give way to quaint town centers and farmlands.

Artists are present in virtually every southeastern suburb, but CPAC’s Putting Artists on the Map report suggests that downtown Bedford is the current epicenter of the southeastern artist community.

Cuyahoga County is home to 58 cities and townships, each with their own distinct character. For this reason, CPAC recommends that artists take time to explore communities to find a perfect fit before committing to any one particular community. Along the way, there are a number of resources that can help make your search easier.

City and County Government

When looking for space in suburban markets, city government can be one of your greatest resources. Some cities have specific pages devoted to people interested in relocating to their community. If you’re not able to find something like that, Community Development and Economic Development Departments can provide additional information and additional resources for home and commercial space buyers. In smaller cities and townships, you may not find a page specifically related to development; in this case, it may be best to contact a main phone number.  Cuyahoga County’s website features a listing of all 58 municipalities‘ direct lines.

Other Resources

Beyond these government resources, you may also take advantage of other efforts to learn more about neighborhoods, space and community resources throughout greater Cleveland. The primary nonprofit organization providing this type of service to individuals is Global Cleveland.

The eastern communities are some of the oldest suburbs in greater Cleveland and home to some of the highest concentrations of artists in our region. Inner ring suburbs like Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland and Shaker Heights grew up at the turn of the 20^th century around the streetcar and feature dense commercial districts and large houses on winding boulevards. Further to the east, the communities of the Chagrin Valley feature historic New England-style villages and towns peppered among parklands and rivers.

Artists are laying down roots across the eastern suburbs. Through our Putting Artists on the Map research, however, CPAC has been able to identify particular areas where artists are locating in large numbers:

• Cleveland Heights (particularly the Cedar-Fairmount, Cedar-Lee, Coventry Village and Severance neighborhoods)
• East Cleveland (particularly the Forest Hills neighborhood)
• Shaker Heights (particularly the East Shaker / Mercer, Moreland Hills and South Shaker neighborhoods)
• The Chagrin Valley (including the cities of Chagrin Falls, Gates Mills, Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Orange and Pepper Pike).

There are 58 cities and townships in Cuyahoga County, each with their own distinct character. Before renting or buying space, we recommend scheduling some time to get out and explore communities to find one that’s the right fit for you. There are also a lot of resources that can help you in your search.

City and County Government

When looking for space in suburban markets, city government can be one of your greatest resources. Some cities have specific pages devoted to people interested in relocating to their community. Community Development and Economic Development Departments can often provide additional information and resources for home and commercial space buyers. In smaller cities and townships, you may not find a page specifically related to local development; in this case, your best bet might be to reach out directly to a main phone number instead. Cuyahoga County’s website features a listing of all 58 municipalities’ direct lines.

Other Resources

In the eastern suburbs, there are a number of neighborhood-specific websites that can provide you with additional information:

• Cedar Fairmount
• Cedar Lee
• Coventry Village
• Forest Hill

The city of Cleveland Heights also maintains a webpage devoted to the Severance Shopping Center located in the heart of the Severance neighborhood.

Community development corporations can also be a tremendous resource when you are looking for information and resources about a community. These nonprofit organizations work to revitalize the neighborhoods and cities where they are located, sometimes through planning, sometimes through real estate development and sometimes through services like block clubs, community policing or art festivals. The primary community development corporation in the eastern suburbs is FutureHeights.

Beyond these community-specific resources, you may find additional support through regional resources. These are aimed at helping people learn more about neighborhoods, available space and community resources throughout greater Cleveland.