Quickly growing suburban community outside Cleveland
Avon, known as the duct tape capital of the world, is home to the famous Duck Brand tape. “People take pride in being from where duct tape is made,” says Wendy Rounds, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Realty who has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and sales. While the Duck brand is a draw for tourists and provides jobs for those in the community, it’s not the real reason people are settling into the area. “People move to Avon for the small town feel and the proximity to new businesses that are coming to the area,” Rounds says. Within an easy half-hour drive from downtown Cleveland, Ohio, Avon is a quickly growing area that draws large-scale businesses, midsized manufacturing, popular national chains, and an array of small businesses, many of which are owned by locals. Popular with families, veterans and retirees alike, Avon is the kind of place where "Residents see each other out on walks along quiet neighborhood streets and sidewalks and greet one another," says Rounds. With diversified housing, high-performing schools and a business-friendly environment, Avon is a family-friendly suburban community worth investing in.
Link-side, suburban homes in Avon
Business isn't the only thing that's booming in Avon. "New housing construction is growing really quickly, for one because taxes are lower here than compared to nearby cities," says Rounds. Homes here sit on cozy, well-maintained lots which owners take great pride in maintaining. Throughout Avon's several subdivisions, which were mostly built in recent years, there's a mix of architectural styles, including modest ranch-styles, cozy cottages and large colonial homes. With an average sales price of $430,000, Avon is about $200,000 more than those in surrounding Lorain County Because of this, "Things move fast," says Rounds, "so you’ll have to keep your eyes on the market if you’re considering living in Avon." Prices range from the low $200,000s for older ranch-style homes and two-bedroom traditional builds to $350,000 to $600,000 for three-bedroom homes. These traditional and classical revival-style homes sometimes rest right along local golf courses. For up to $1 million, larger, newly-constructed four-bedroom homes that are custom-built with modern and craftsman architectural styles are also available.
A's across the board for schools of Lorain City School District
Schools in Avon are some of the most highly rated in Lorain City School District. Younger students start at either East Elementary, which received a rating of B-plus on Niche, or Heritage Elementary, which received an A rating from Niche. Older students can attend Avon Middle School, which is considered the best public middle school in Lorain County and receives a rating of A from Niche, before attending Avon High School, which also received an A from Niche. Home of the Eagles, Avon High boasts a graduation rate of 98%.
Twenty miles from downtown on I-90
While Avon is a car-dependent community, it has a very convenient location. Just 20 miles west of downtown Cleveland, Avon is an easy half-hour drive from all the amenities, sights, and attractions of the city. The Cleveland Clinic - Avon Hospital is also just two miles away along Interstate 90, while, for the closest airport, residents will have to head about fifteen miles east towards the city to find Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. At the Intersection between Interstate 90 and Center Road, residents of Avon are well-connected to the surrounding area.
Growing shopping and dining scene in Cleveland suburb
For daily necessities, residents can visit a number of nearby, recently-built shopping areas. “The area is growing tremendously,” Round says, adding that “many of these businesses weren’t here 10 or so years ago.” Avon Commons Shopping Center on Detroit Road is one of the area's main shopping centers with over 40 stores and restaurants. Residents can stop by Costco to find groceries and home essentials in bulk or visit Heinen’s Grocery Store for a more varied selection. While in the area, residents can shop for clothing or home goods at Marshalls and Kohl's.
On the weekend, pop into the intimate family-owned restaurants that maintain a small-town vibe, including Antica Italian Kitchen and Bar on Detroit Road. Allow your tastebuds to travel to the Mediterranean through their indoor-outdoor dining experience and classic Italian dishes like Pesto Cavatelli. Or, try Istanbul Grill, a local spot established in 2013 that brings traditional Turkish cuisine to this Cleveland suburb for more local flavor. For dessert, Mitchell’s Ice Cream offers locally made and sourced sweets.
Golf courses and nature close to Lake Erie
One of the best ways to get outside in Avon is to visit its golf courses and country clubs and spend an afternoon out on the greens. Red Tail Golf Club is a private 18-hole course woven between slopes and even plains designed by Robert von Hagge, a notable golf course architect of over 250 fairways. Alternatively, the Bob-O-Link Golf Course is open to the public and offers a 36-hole layout with four distinct 9-hole courses. Residents can strengthen their sense of community by joining a league at one of these clubs or courses.
In Avon, residents are also just a short drive from Lake Erie, the fourth-largest lake in North America. Visitors can relax on the sandy beaches, swim in the shallow waters, or cast a line in to catch trout, bass or salmon, which are all common throughout the freshwater lake.
Another great local spot is the Conservatory at Miller Nature Preserve. With a greenhouse teeming with exotic flora and educational information about unique and rare, the conservatory is a great retreat away from the hustle of the city and a welcoming place where residents can see some greenery year-round.
Yearly festival in Avon
The community of Avon comes together annually for the three-day Avon Heritage Festival, sponsored by the Duck brand. “They have floats and games, all made 100% from duct tape, for people to play, and there are also prizes for winners and lots of food vendors,” says Rounds.
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
