Semi-rural, suburban living in southeast Ohio
Semi-rural and suburban living meet in Bainbridge. Situated at the center of Bainbridge Township, this community offers winding roads, ample greenery and mid-sized homes on good-sized lots. “It’s a very pretty community because it’s very green,” says Karen Eagle, a real estate professional at Elite Sotheby's International Realty. “There are lots of trees, it's very grassy, and that's what people love about it. It’s like living out in the country compared to some of these other areas.”
While it’s often compared to Chagrin Falls, Eagle says the two should not be confused. For starters, Bainbridge doesn’t have a downtown district, while Chagrin Falls does. Furthermore, Bainbridge is located in Geauga County, which has a lower tax base than Chagrin Falls’ Cayuga County. This community also features larger homes. “They are very different communities and should be kept separate,” she says.
Taste Bainbridge and support the community
The Taste in Bainbridge event is more than a night of cocktails, food and casino games held annually for over 35 years. It’s made possible by the 20 local restaurants that donate their dishes and 50 regional businesses that offer up products for the auction, says Mark George, secretary of the Bainbridge Civic Club and a 20-year resident. Individual support for the event is strong, evidenced by the fact that Taste in Bainbridge tickets now sell out earlier than ever before.
Taste in Bainbridge is just one example of how the township’s sense of community is a tangible phenomenon rather than a cliché. “All the money we raise goes to the food pantry and other philanthropic work,” George says. “But it doesn’t happen without support from the community and those restaurants and businesses.”
Shopping and dining on Washington Street
Businesses are clustered along Washington Street, the neighborhood’s northern border. These include Hungry Bee, a recent winner of Taste in Bainbridge. It’s known as the spot to pick up ready-made meals and a go-to caterer for weddings and corporate events. But George says the blue cooler in front of the shop truly highlights the business’s commitment to the community. “They fill up the cooler and leave it outside their business every day for anyone who is hungry but can’t buy anything to eat. They can get something out of that cooler.” Less than a mile from Hungry Bee, there are more than a dozen local eateries, a pharmacy and a hardware store. There’s also Heinen’s, a grocery store chain native to Northeast Ohio, where residents can order a draft beer while they shop.
Recreation at Tanglewood Club and Frohring Meadows
Residents tee up at Tanglewood Club’s public golf course for a round of nine or 18 holes. Those who prefer other sports can check out Settler’s Park on Bainbridge’s south end, where a soccer field, a basketball court, a volleyball sand pit and two baseball diamonds stand at the ready for a game. Frohring Meadows is a mile east of Bainbridge. More than three miles of trails wind through the park’s 100 acres of prairie, where the violet blooms of blazing stars dot thickets of bluestem grass.
Colonial homes with ample yard space and lake views
Home options in the community of 2,700 residents include columned colonial- and regency-style homes backed up to The Tanglewood Club’s golf course, split levels squeezed into clearings between pine trees and ranch homes on 1-acre lawns. The community’s median lot size is 27,000 square feet, so homebuyers can expect to have a spacious yard. Smaller houses start in the $200,000s and climb to the $300,000s, while larger properties can climb upwards of $700,000.
Highly rated public schools
Most kids will attend Kenston Local School District, ranked the best school system in Geauga County by Niche. They will start out at Timmons Elementary School from kindergarten through third grade, which earns an A from Niche. Kenston Intermediate School also has an A and serves fourth and fifth graders. Then, students advance to the A-rated Kenston Middle School. Kenston High, which earns an A-minus, offers pathways so students can tailor their courses to the college program or career they’re eyeing after high school. These pathways include business, engineering, medicine or general studies for those still figuring it out. Though some residents complain that Bainbridge’s property taxes are high for the area, George contends it’s worth it for homeowners. “The taxes support the good schools, which keep property values high.”
Route 422, US Geauga Medical Center and Hopkins Airport
Bainbridge has no major employers, so many residents will commute 30 miles to Cleveland or 40 miles to Akron. U.S. Route 422 cuts through the city and is easily accessed by driving south along Chillicothe Road. “You have some privacy and land in Bainbridge, but it takes me five minutes, and I’m on 422,” George says. The nearest 24-hour hospital, UH Geauga Medical Center, is 15 miles northeast and can be reached in about 25 minutes. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is 30 miles west.
Written By
Jessica Haddad
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
