Old Brooklyn is the largest neighborhood in Cleveland and one of the best if you value a family-friendly community with the perfect combination of the suburbs and the amenities of the city. It avoided the brunt of the housing crisis in the 2000s that led to blight in many other neighborhoods with a diverse housing selection, low crime, and over 150 acres of green space – not to mention the Cleveland Zoo in your own backyard! Ready to see if living in Old Brooklyn Cleveland is right for you? Here’s everything to look forward to in this charming, historic community.
Where Is Old Brooklyn Cleveland?
Old Brooklyn is a six-square-mile neighborhood on the West Side of Cleveland about 5 miles south of downtown. It’s bordered by the Cuyahoga River, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Center, and the cities of Parma and Brooklyn, OH.
I-480 runs through the south of the neighborhood and I-71 runs through the north and west. Both I-90 and I-77 are easy to reach just outside the neighborhood limits. The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is just 8 miles to the west.
Old Brooklyn Ohio zip codes include 44109, 44144, and 44134. It’s in area code 216.
Map of Old Brooklyn Ohio
Overview of Old Brooklyn: Population, Demographics & History
The Old Brooklyn area was first permanently settled in 1814 as Brighton, a part of Brooklyn Township. By 1889, the hamlet was incorporated as the village of South Brooklyn. Around this time, the area became famous for its use of greenhouses as farmers in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Heights were one of the first to use greenhouses to cultivate vegetables in the Midwest. It became one of the country’s leading producers of greenhouse vegetables within a few decades.
Old Brooklyn and surrounding communities were annexed by Cleveland in the early 20th century. The neighborhood experienced most of its commercial and residential development between 1920 and 1960, although there was a resurgence of home construction again in the 1980s and 90s.
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Today, the population of Old Brooklyn is 32,009 according to the 2020 census. The neighborhood is 73.8% white, 19.6% Hispanic, 9.9% Black or African American, 2.6% Asian, and 13.7% two or more or other races.
Old Brooklyn has a median household income of $39,500. That’s lower than the Cleveland metro area median income of $51,000 but well above the $26,600 median household income of the City of Cleveland.
The most famous resident of Old Brooklyn is Drew Carey who graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School.
What’s it Like Living in Old Brooklyn Cleveland?
Old Brooklyn is a quiet, residential neighborhood known for its safety and close-knit community. It’s common to see people walking along main street and visiting neighborhood parks and a large number of locally owned and independent stores including six family diners.
The community was originally a farming community and it still embodies this past with abundant green space. It was once the “Greenhouse Capital of the United States” and today is home to the Old Brooklyn Greenhouse garden center and the state’s largest community garden. While living in Old Brooklyn, you’ll enjoy fresh produce at the popular farmers market and well-maintained neighborhood parks scattered throughout the community.
The Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) was founded in 1974 and remains a backbone of the community. The OBCDC supports community businesses and residents through partnerships, advocacy, programs, and neighborhood events. The nonprofit promotes civic pride, unites residents, and develops programs to foster public health, beautification, and economic opportunities. Projects have included rehabbing blighted homes so they could be put on the market, providing youth summer programs, planting trees on residential properties, and investing in the community for Cleveland’s Storefront Renovation Program.
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OBCDC is always looking for volunteers and donations – it’s a great way to support your new neighborhood and make living in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland even better!
Old Brooklyn is one of Cleveland’s most diverse neighborhoods with affordability and a location that makes it popular with not only families and first-time buyers but also young professionals and millennials who want to enjoy green space and a place to belong with downtown just minutes away.
Fun Things to Do in Old Brooklyn Cleveland
After moving to Old Brooklyn Ohio, you’ll enjoy plenty of amenities easily within reach. The most famous attraction is, of course, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with 183 acres of exhibits and one of North America’s largest primate collections. The Cleveland Zoo is one of the most visited attractions in Northeast Ohio.
Nearby is another of the most well-known landmarks in Old Brooklyn. The Brookside Reservation has been a community recreation hub for more than a century. The 132-acre reservation is connected to the zoo and it’s popular for picnics, cycling, and sports with a scenic overlook of Big Creek joining the Cuyahoga River.
Two other community parks stand out for new residents. Harmody Park is a well-maintained neighborhood park that leads to the Treadway Creek Trail which extends to Cuyahoga Heights. The trail connects the neighborhood’s ravine to the Towpath Trail thanks to a $1.1 million greenway project. Loew Park is another hidden gem in Old Brooklyn. This clean park hosts regular events like movie nights and boasts a large playground, baseball field, splash pad, and community pool.
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One of the most remarkable things about Old Brooklyn is the Ben Franklin Community Garden. It’s the largest community garden in Cuyahoga County and one of the oldest with more than 200 plots and 180 active gardeners every year. It includes a perennial garden, children’s garden, and demonstration garden. You can learn more about how to get a garden plot and why it’s one of the highlights of Old Brooklyn living.
Whether or not you have much success in the garden, another perk of living in Old Brooklyn is the Old Brooklyn Farmers Market in front of the Pearl Road Methodist Church. The seasonal market is open on Saturdays with homemade goods, baked goods, and local produce. All vendors accept EBT and SNAP and match up to $25 through Produce Perks!
Other important community resources include the South Brooklyn branch of the Cleveland Public Library and the Cleveland Estabrook Recreation Center.
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Old Brooklyn isn’t all community and greenery – you’ll also find fun places to explore. One of the most unique things to do is visit the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick, America’s only museum dedicated to witchcraft and the occult with a huge collection started in the 1960s.
Here’s where to find all of these fun attractions in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland:
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 661-6500
- Cleveland Metroparks Brookside Reservation, 3900 John Nagy Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44144
- Harmody Park, 1700 Mayview Ave, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 664-2570
- Loew Park, 4741 W 32nd St, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 664-2570
- Ben Franklin Community Garden, 1905 Spring Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 446-5155
- Cleveland Public Library – South Brooklyn Branch, 4303 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 623-7067
- Cleveland Estabrook Recreation, Estabrook Playground, 4125 Fulton Rd, Cleveland, OH 44144 (216) 664-4149
- Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick, 2155 Broadview Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109 (718) 709-6643
Great Restaurants in Old Brooklyn Ohio
Old Brooklyn is known for its family restaurants, many of which have been locally owned and operated for generations. Here are some great places to check out!
Gabe’s Family Restaurant
Gabe’s is one of several popular family diners that Old Brooklyn has become known for. Enjoy American classics in a comfortable, casual setting.
Gabe’s Family Restaurant, 2044 Broadview Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 741-4466
Dina’s Pizza & Pub
Dina’s is a fun filling station-turned-restaurant with pizza and traditional pub fare plus a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails.
Dina’s Pizza & Pub, 5701 Memphis Ave, Cleveland, OH 44144 (216) 351-3663
Honey Hut Ice Cream
The Honey Hut Old Brooklyn shoppe is the original location of the Honey Hut chain. It’s been a local favorite since 1974 with walk-up window service.
Honey Hut Ice Cream, 4674 State Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109 (216) 749-7077
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Schools in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland
After moving to Old Brooklyn Ohio, you will be served by the Cleveland Municipal School District. Students attend Old Brook High School or James Ford Rhodes High School. The latter shares space with two smaller choice schools: Rhodes School of Environmental Studies focused on business, social sciences, and life sciences; and Rhodes College and Career Academy.
There are several neighborhood elementary schools: William Cullen Bryan Elementary (PK-8), Benjamin Franklin Elementary (PK-8), Charles A Mooney (PK-8), and William Rainey Harper School Elementary, the newest elementary school in Old Brooklyn and an International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school.
Families can appreciate several charter schools in Old Brooklyn. The neighborhood is home to Old Brooklyn Community Elementary (K-4) and Old Brooklyn Community Middle School (5-8) operated by Constellation Schools and Cleveland Preparatory Academy (K-8) managed by ACCEL Schools with mentoring and after school tutoring.
Is Old Brooklyn Cleveland Safe?
Old Brooklyn is one of the safest places to live in Cleveland! The neighborhood has 16% less crime than the city average with a total crime rate of 4,815 crimes per 100,000.
The Old Brooklyn neighborhood is known for its safety with the Old Brooklyn Crime Watch program that recently expanded. The neighborhood watch program works with the Cleveland Police Second District and reports crime to the department’s Community Services Unit.
Old Brooklyn, Cleveland Real Estate & Rent
Ahead of moving to Old Brooklyn, you’ll want to explore your housing options. Old Brooklyn has maintained its home values better than most neighborhoods in the city with a diverse selection of home styles, but it consistently has one of the highest median sales prices in Cleveland.
The median price of homes for sale in Old Brooklyn, Cleveland is $138,000 and $110/square foot. By comparison, the median price in Cleveland is $125,500 and $82/square foot.
The Old Brooklyn real estate market is overwhelmingly single-family homes with no virtually no condos. Most homes were built between 1940 and 1970 but about 20% were constructed between 1970 and 2000. New construction is very uncommon.
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Because Old Brooklyn homes are mostly older, you won’t easily find modern amenities like a second bathroom or walk-in closets. Instead, you’ll get historic charm and unique architecture with most homes very well kept. The neighborhood’s housing covers everything from mid-century bungalows and classic A-frame homes to large brick Tudor homes, post-WWII ranch homes, and newer construction from the 1990s.
Thinking about renting? You’ll find several options for Old Brooklyn apartments usually starting at $800/month. The average rent in Old Brooklyn is $819 compared to the Cleveland average rent of $1,277 according to RentCafe. A two-bedroom apartment will usually run $850 to $950. The vast majority of apartments in the community are older, smaller buildings with fewer than 50 units.
You’ll find Brookside Way and Brookside Oval apartments both close to the Cleveland Zoo in a desirable area. Valley Park Apartments is ideally locally between Harmody Park and the zoo.
Ready to call Old Brooklyn, Ohio home? You’ll love living in this safe, historic neighborhood perfect for families and commuters! Give us a call at Summit Moving & Storage today for a free quote from our 5-star team so we can help you settle in without the hassle.
