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Thumb Your Nose As You Pass The Gas Station: Live Along The Shaker Rapid Transit Line (LOCALISM FEATURED)

The Buckeye Woodhill Rapid Station, Courtesy of RTA Transit oriented development (TOD) has been a hot button for a decade. I was on the bus yesterday and as we passed a gas station on Lorain I saw that regular fuel would cost me $4.05/gallon. Yes, it's better today (relatively speaking!) at $3.99/gallon. But wouldn't you like to save money and live on the Rapid Transit Line !!!???

We have one of the original transit systems in the Country right here in NE Ohio, in the form of The Shaker Rapid. Many of you know the story, but for those of you who may be considering relocating to NE Ohio, this is a little history of light rail for you. Two amazing visionaries - the Van Sweringens - built Shaker Heights. They built Shaker Square and The Shaker Rapid light rail system, all with the idea of providing everything residents would need regarding transport and shopping. By the way, this all started in 1913. Read this excerpt from clevelandmemory.com (lots of good history on that site) - they show how housing was tied into transportation even way back then, explaining that the Van Sweringens felt a good transportation system would help their Shaker home sales....they were correct.

By 1930, the Terminal Tower in Downtown Cleveland was open and Union Terminal as well. (yes the Van Sweringens were responsible for this too). This is when The Shaker Rapid System, our very first TOD, began connecting Shaker to Cleveland.

The Shaker Rapid system is vast, with stops on major streets like Shaker Blvd, Van Aken, Lee, Chagrin. You can get almost anywhere in Shaker Heights on the Rapid and one of the biggest destinations has historically been Shaker Square. Shakersquare.net is a great site for information on what currently exists there as well as surrounding activities (like a farmers market, concerts, Balaton's Hungarian restaurant among others, and lots of service industries. Once again, so you can keep your car in the garage for occasional use. There are plenty of rental apartment buildings located along the Rapid....some of them even have roof top gardens and patios off your living space, high ceilings, hardwood floors and yet modern amenities. How about homes for sale in Shaker?

There are currently 485 homes for sale, including multi-family homes. I've picked out three as examples, with an emphasis on the Rapid line.

1. How about a modest two family home for $59,900 (not bank owned) in the 17400 block of Chagrin Blvd. It has two brs in each unit, up and down, a two car garage to store that car you won't use much, and it's near the Avalon Rapid stop. It's brick, it has over 1,000 sq ft in each unit, and a two car garage for those cars you won't use much.

2. How about another multi family, this one a gorgeous Tudor-style home on Winslow (gorgeous, tree-lined street), close to Shaker Square and one short block to the Lynnfield Rapid stop. This home is for sale for $189,900 and according to the description, has been totally updated inside.

3. Maybe you would prefer a single family? For around the same price as above, $189,900, you can get a Van Sweringen built (1956) 2,116 sq ft. colonial on a deep lot with four brs, two baths, a/c, close to Beachwood Place and the RTA stop on Laureldale.

People from other large cities considering a move here might be surprised to know about Shaker's history and it's transit oriented development status. It truly is one of the first light rail systems in the United States, still taking care of commuter needs on a daily basis. Peace out - 3C

Links:

For a cool pictorial history of The Shaker Rapid, James Toman's A Shaker Rapid Album, which you can buy at Cleveland Landmark Press' site.

The Shaker School District

City of Shaker Heights

I want a rain barrel, and if you do too, here is a way to kill two birds with one stone, although I don't want any birds to die! The Shaker Lakes site features the beauty of the lakes and also talks about their rain barrel making workshops.

Shaker Library

The Shaker Rapid/RTA

Posted by Carole Cohen Realtor®, ePRO on 07/12/2008 08:41 AM

Comments (28)

shaker heights ohio, shaker rapid line, ne ohio transit system, transit oriented development

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28 Comments on Thumb Your Nose As You Pass The Gas Station: Live Along The Shaker Rapid Transit Line (LOCALISM FEATURED)

JUL

2008

They are planning on building TOD here. The price may be too much though. There is a big political battle going on as we speak.

It's sad how this country has dismantled many of our rail syatems. Why can't cities devlop a system like Disney World with a monorail. Disney was light years ahead of everyone.

What great information for home buyers Carole. Proximity to METRO or the commuter rail lines in MD and VA are very important for home buyers in my area. I put them on my web pages years ago and those pages are getting more hits than ever.

Carole~

SEE...here you are again...making it clear why I subscribe to your BLOG. Not only is this article REALLY interesting (I read the whole thing, word-for-word) but it shares a great idea for eco-friendly people...your clients are lucky, indeed.

Caraole - what a neat story. Guess I was not aware of all that history. We are seeing lots of changes here due to the gas prices (best price I have seen anywhere is $4.39 and tat down from $4.59). More and more folks are using public transportation where they can, and providing infomation like you have may be just what some buyers want and need. Congrats on the localism feature.

Jeff

Randy, I it's good to see you. I would imagine gas prices are and have been through the roof where you are but the weather is so good you could drive a scooter year round!

Jay, Walt was very forward thinking no doubt about it. The Rapid system is actually very good it's just not broad enough in it's reach. Yes it could make me cry to think of the trolly rails they took out all in the name of progress.

Lenn, omg as far as I'm concerned you live in the mecca of light rail, at least in this Country. The Shaker Rapid, for the area that is covered, is really just as good as Metro!

Jane-Anne, every time I need to get my eco fix I read your blog, even if I'm not commenting! Thanks, and I can see you living in Shaker.

Jeff, thanks and I look forward to reading about the rails in your area. I know a lot of our passenger train discussions link back to the system put in near San Diego and how well it's working.

Our representatives are lazy and stupid. They have had 40 years since the oil embargo problems to come up with Mid-East oil alternatives. This would have been perfect along with a real rail system like Europe. I know the busses are full now on the Akron to Cleveland route. Thanks for the history lesson, loved it!

Hi David, yeah, sometimes you just want to say what were they thinking! That's interesting about the Akron bus, and not surprising. My local route is always busy, in the time I've been riding it there has only been one day when it was not busy and that was the fifth of July when I guess a lot of people were on vacation.

Carol, what a wonderful presentation of Shaker history and gas saving life style. May I send your post to the investors from Hong Kong and Great Britain who are very interested in Mid-West and in TODs now? That might be a great contribution in promoting Greater Cleveland to foreign and domestic investors. Write more, plese!

Hi Svetlana, and thank you very much. We have a German solar energy company locating their U.S. corporation here -- I like the idea of Internat'l promotion so yes you may. TOD's are going to get to be more and more of a hot button issue....which makes sense even without an energy crisis! Thanks for commenting.

Very interesting. I live in Southern California and our transit sucks. My office is 22 miles from my home. To take the bus to get to the train station, it requires two transfers and 45 minutes. The station is 5 miles from my house! When I get to my destination city (office), it requires one transfer and 39 minutes. The station is 3 miles from my office! Yikes!

We need to:

Drill and explore
Go after alternatives
Work from home more
Change the transit system
Pray

Now that's a blog worth reading! You really stand out from the crowd with your grasp of history.

Michael Carter, Realtor

421 SE Main Street, Suite 201

Simpsonville, SC 29681

www.beachboyrealestate.com

Carole,

That is really interesting information! I have family in Cleveland on my Dad's side. We spent our summers up there. Keep up the good work

Hi Mortgage Advisor, and nice to meet you through the Rain. I agree with you we need to keep all of our options open and start drilling in places we are already allowed to drill. SUpposedly we are really underutilizing these locations. That makes no sense but then again what does! lol

Michael, you are very kind and thank you. Now you are the go to guy for math (not me!) and I taught history so I guess I gravitate to that sort of post lol.

Hi DeAnna, I'm going to have to go check out your blog and see where you spend the rest of your time! I hope your Dad is happy and healthy, and in spite of the media stories, Cleveland is still a great place to live.

Carole, thumbing my nose up at the gas stations sounds real good right about now. The cheapest gas around here is $4.21 per gallon :(

Carole, what an exceptional post. I was born and raised in Cleveland, so I love Cleveland history! When I was growing up, everyone used the bus and the rapid. My grandfather was a bus driver in Cleveland. Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane and more great info!!

Hi George that is hard to take isn't it :-( I can see you on a scooter though :-) Ok, a Harley????

Dawn how fun. I can remember having to wear gloves when we took the bus Downtown (yes I'm older than dirt LOL). I bet your grandfather had great stories....glad I could help spur some good memories.

JUL

2008

On a totally different side note: Hi Carole... =)

My apologies for the few months ago and the missed coffee... You're entirely too knowledgeable about Cleveland and the cities surrounding... I'm demanding coffee and swinging the pendulum in front of your eyes... @_@

I want a scooter. We don't have any trains in Central Ohio and we are so spread out, there is one proposed for downtown up to campus (?)

Hi Cecilia and lol. Well I have close friends here I have not seen in months ...it's a tad busy Im sure for you too. But one day we will have to have that coffee yes!

Maureen omg I can so see you on a scooter! Isn't that route, from downtown to campus, a fairly congested one? That sounds like a good idea.

It's a red scooter Carole... tell me it's a red scooter, that you can see me on.

Downtown to campus on High Street is fairly congested. Lots of volume anyway... it will tie the Upper Arlington, campus , Grandview and downtown in a lot better....

oh yeah, I can see you on a red scooter :-)

JUL

2008

Hi Carole,

I really love your post writing style, a very cool mix of history, information, and promotion, all in one. I have subscribed to your blog. You will be an inspiration to my blogging life.

I am in Akron, and come to Cleve quite often to do inspections. May I add you as an associate?

Carole~

OK...If you can see me living in a Shaker...I want to know what I'd be wearing?
AND...could it still be GREEN ?? =)

JUL

2008

What terrific insight they had to build this in the 1930's, wow! Great Localism Post!

Great post Carole-Good history, good green content and good info for buyers. I visited Cleveland back in the early 90s and thought the Shaker Heights area was pretty beautiful. Some of our older midwest and North Eastern cities have great public rail systems in place that will help with the rising fuel costs and our shift away from car culture.

JUL

2008

Hi H.I.S. I am glad to meet you as a fellow NE Ohioan! I bet you have appraised houses I have sold (we never know the names of appraisers). But I bet I could ask you questions and you could blog about them, how's that for a NE Ohio idea?

It's amazing to me that all the 'smartness' of the early 20th Century went by the wayside as we all fell in love with our cars. I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time, Diane!

Yes Pete I agree with you that Shaker is probably the closest to the New England style. Shaker has some of the most amazing housing stock Pete, I'm glad you were able to visit! But New England is so gorgeous, so you know from beautiful homes.

AUG

2008

Hi Carole, I am not an apparaiser, I am a home inspector. The idea of asking each other questions and blogging about them has some apeal to it. I don't see any home inspectors on your list of associates. I tried to add you, but no go. Still love your blogs and writing style.

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