Moving Up in Solon? How a New Trail, a Rebuilt Park and the Liberty Ford Site Fit Into Your Search

Our team's office is on Solon Road, so we see Solon change week to week. This fall there's more going on than usual, and some of it is the kind of thing move-up buyers should factor into which street they choose, not just which house.

The Headwaters Connector Trail

Mayor Ed Kraus has written that the city recently acquired the 7.1-mile Headwaters Connector Trail, a former rail corridor that runs through Solon's industrial, retail and residential areas, including Thornbury and Grantwood Golf Course, before continuing through Geauga and Portage counties to connect with Aurora's trail system. He has also described a planned connection behind the Marc's plaza linking the Solon-Chagrin Falls Trail to the Headwaters Trail.

The work is happening in stages. According to the Cleveland Jewish News, the city's service department maintains the trail now, including grading the dirt surface. The Flanders Drive to Liberty Road segment was expected to be finished by the end of this year, with full completion targeted within about two years.

Community Park Phase 2

The rebuilt Community Park celebrated during Fall Fest in October. Phase 2 includes an entry pavilion with restrooms, a stage, walking paths, a new concession stand, rebuilt volleyball courts and new pavilions, along with ten pickleball courts that opened in August. A third phase with an aquatic center depends on more fundraising, so treat that part as an idea, not a plan.

The former Liberty Ford site

The old dealership at 32811 Aurora Road is planned as a mixed-use district. The Cleveland Jewish News reported plans for a 112-room hotel, 190 apartments, 31 for-sale townhomes, about 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and shared workspace, with Cleveland-based J Roc Development leading the project. The mayor said he expects activity to ramp up in the coming months. That's real momentum, but not a move-in date.

For buyers, the takeaway is to watch how the project progresses. Site work, approvals and announcements over the next year will tell you a lot more than renderings do today.

Living near a trail: the tradeoffs

A lot of buyers like the idea of a trail behind the house. But near and on aren't the same thing, and move-up buyers should think about which they want.

• Access versus privacy. Backing to a trail means walkers and cyclists behind your yard. Some families love it. Others want a fence, landscaping or a few lots of distance.
• Trailheads bring cars. A street near a future parking area or access point will see more traffic than one in the middle of a stretch.
• Built versus planned. A section that's still a graded dirt corridor isn't the same as a finished trail. Ask what's done, what's funded and what's still a plan.

My suggestion is simple. Before you write an offer on a home near the corridor, go see it in person on a weekday evening and a Saturday morning. You'll learn more in 20 minutes than from any map.

What the Liberty Ford plan could mean for move-up buyers

For buyers moving up, the townhomes and apartments matter mostly as a future option, either for your own next move years from now or as new competition when you eventually sell a smaller home. A walkable district with restaurants a few minutes away can also be a real plus for nearby streets, as long as the traffic that comes with it works for you.

Choose the street, then the house

Move-up buyers in Solon tend to focus on square footage, the kitchen and the lot. I'd add one question to the list: what's this street going to be like in five years? A new trail connection or a walkable district nearby can be a real plus. Traffic you didn't expect can be a real minus. Both are easier to judge before you buy, and much harder to change after.

Questions move-up buyers ask

Will a trail nearby help my home's value? Many buyers see trail access as a plus, but every street is different. Being a short walk from a trail is usually viewed differently than having one directly behind your yard.

When will the trail be finished? The city has been building it in segments, with full completion targeted within about two years. Ask what's finished near the specific home you're considering.

Will the Liberty Ford project add traffic? Any mixed-use district brings some traffic. If you're looking at homes near Aurora Road, drive the area at different times and watch for updates as the plans move forward, and ask your agent to keep an eye on city council and planning agendas for you.

Moving up in Solon?

Whether you're moving up within Solon or into Solon, we'll help you look at the street as closely as the house. Schedule a time with me or someone on our team at 21mike.com.

Mike Ferrante
The Mike Team at LPT Realty
www.21mike.com
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