Neighborhood Demographics, Schools, Jobs, and Real Estate
Brecksville Ohio Relocation
"The City of Brecksville combines a "hometown feel" with all of the conveniences one would expect of a community on the fringe of a large metropolitan area. "There's the old real estate axiom about location, location, location. You can get anywhere in Cuyahoga County in 45 minutes," says Neil F. Brennan, vice president of the Brecksville City Council.
The 19-square-mile city, incorporated in 1960, is named for the Breck family, early inhabitants of the area, though the first permanent white settler was Massachusetts native and surveyor Seth Paine, who arrived in 1811.
As the City of Cleveland began its expansion to the east, Brecksville, 14 miles away on the southern edge of the county, remained largely untouched. As a result, the city developed its own sense of identity, centered around the town square located at the intersection of Routes 82 and 21, known locally as Royalton and Brecksville roads. Today, the square is the site of "old-time" events, such as Memorial Day and Christmas parades, as well as the city's Homedays celebration, held over the July 4th weekend. And yet just off the square is a modern retail center which provides residents with a local place to shop.
Transportation to downtown Cleveland is extremely convenient. Interstate 77 runs along the western edge of Brecksville, while those who prefer public transit can catch a bus to the city on Route 21. "No one in town is more than 2 1/2 miles from the bus line," says Brennan.
Even though Brecksville has grown in recent years, its character remains largely rural. Fully one-third of the city is open space, notes Brennan. Residents can enjoy the Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks-which includes the Sleepy Hollow golf course-as well as the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Within the city is a new station on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and just across the Cuyahoga River is the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, a jewel in the eyes of area bikers and hikers. And if that's not enough, Brennan says the city is developing the old Blossom property, formerly the site of a girls' school owned by Cuyahoga County, into baseball and soccer fields.
The housing market caters to all. At the low end are $70,000 condominiums; at the other extreme are $2.5 million mansions. Lots in the center of town-as one would expect-are somewhat narrow, while farther out, homes sit on one-acre tracts. The city offers quality services without the sting of high property taxes because of a large office/industrial base to the south. Major employers include the VA hospital, AT&T, and National City Bank.
Six schools comprise the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District: Three lower elementaries, one upper elementary, one middle school and one high school. Highland Elementary also houses a pre-school for special needs children.
Local culture includes the Brecksville Theater on the Square, located in the Old Town Hall. Founded in 1975 with the backing of the city's recreation department, it serves as a "theater for all ages," staging plays such as "The Secret Garden" and offering drama classes for aspiring thespians. Another group, the Brecksville Little Theatre, has presented nearly 200 plays, countless revues and skits, and has participated in numerous community events since its curtain first went up in 1941. Actor Paul Newman is an alumnus of the BLT.
"We have something for everyone here," says Brennan."
