Mentor-on-the-Lake -- Named for the Greek God, Mentor, who encouraged others.
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, just east of Cleveland, Mentor-on-the-Lake started up as a summer lakeside community where residents could escape the heat and hassles of the big city. Since then, the city has grown from having just 230 permanent residents in 1930 to being a thriving community of around 7,400 residents today. Living in Mentor-on-the-Lake offers residents convenient transportation, beautiful Lake Erie vistas and close proximity to big city amenities like major league sports, health care, and cultural opportunities in Cleveland. If you're looking for just the right mix of big city life and the peace and quiet of suburbia, Mentor-on-the-Lake might just be the ideal place for you to live.
Moving to Mentor-on-the-Lake
It's easy to get around the region when you live in Mentor-on-the-Lake. The city is located right on I-90, known as the largest interstate highway in the United States. This freeway connects the Mentor-on-the-Lake area to Cleveland and Toledo to the west and to Geneva-on-the-Lake and Erie, PA to the east. However, if you were so inclined, you could drive all the way to Seattle (or even to Boston in the other direction) on this road. The Mentor-on-the-Lake area is so compact you won't have to worry about getting lost as you make your way around and look for one bedroom apartments in the area.
Housing in Mentor-on-the-Lake ranges from early 20th century cottages and bungalows to lavish lakefront estates to condos and apartment homes. It's not very difficult to find a nice place to live in Mentor-on-the-Lake.
Most two and one bedroom apartments have gas heat, but that is generally not included in the rent. Area apartments usually include just water and sewer. The rest of the utilities are, unfortunately, the tenant's responsibility and expense. It's customary in this region for the landlord to charge a security deposit equal to one month's rent when you sign a lease, and leases are generally written for one year.
Mentor-on-the-Lake Neighborhoods
Although Mentor-on-the-Lake is a relatively small area, the city still has a few distinct neighborhoods, many of which offer apartment homes. When searching for a place to live in northeast Ohio, you'll want to be sure to check out the following areas:
Plains Road/Lakeway Boulevard: Located on the east side of town, this area includes lakefront property as well as apartment homes on quiet, tree-lined streets.
Western Edge: The Western Edge neighborhood encompasses the small Mentor-on-the-Lake business district, as well as the government offices. This area extended from Lake Erie south to Route 20 and is a good area to look for just the right apartment complex to meet your needs.
Living in Mentor-on-the-Lake
Mentor-on-the-Lake has a lot going for it. Beautiful Lake Erie sunsets make for a fitting and relaxing end to a busy day. The pace is slow and easy here, but you're still within a short drive of anything you may need to buy or want to do. Mentor-on-the-Lake is largely a bedroom community, meaning that the majority of residents either work at home or commute to work in nearby Cleveland or another of Cleveland's eastern suburbs.
Mentor-on-the-Lake is a great place to live if you enjoy being outdoors and communing with nature. The City of Mentor-on-the-Lake owns and operates four parks and recreation areas--John R. McMinn Memorial Park, Andrews Road Field, Mentor Beach Park and Overlook Beach Park. Facilities at these parks include a ball park, playgrounds, picnic tables, and grills, along with long stretches of white sand beach.
Not so fond of the outdoors? Don't worry. Mentor-on-the-Lake is just a few minutes drive away from cultural institutions like the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Rock, and Roll Hall of Fame, not to mention fun attractions like the Hard Rock Rocksino, a combination of slot machines and live music. There's also shopping and dining available in Little Italy, one of Cleveland's many ethnic enclaves.
Mentor-on-the-Lake hosts a number of civic events each year. The largest of these is the annual Labor Day parade, the largest such parade in Lake County. The adjacent City of Mentor was once home to President James A. Garfield, and his home, Lawnfield, is now a part of the National Park Service and open to the public. Mentor also hosts a summer arts festival each August.