Highland Hills

Formerly known as Miles Heights in the early 1920s to 1930s, Lee Miles is located on the southeast side of Cuyahoga County and is considered Cleveland's first ward. Its tree-lined streets host an array of homes, many of which were built in the 1940s and 1950s, and many of them upgraded with modern amenities. With options catering to first-time buyers, long-time residents, and investors, Lee Miles boasts affordability and diversity. Lee Miles is a neighborhood with access to necessities from grocery stores to local eateries and watering holes and big box shopping retailers. Locals have access to multiple parks, a recreation center, and a local library which hosts weekly clubs. Lee Miles is also a place where residents come together to celebrate heritage. For those who live in Lee Miles, traveling is a breeze, with easy access to major highways like Interstate Highway 480 and Interstate Highway 271. Downtown Cleveland is just 10 miles away from the neighborhood, where residents can enjoy nightlife and live sports, including the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. Locals can hop on the highway and get to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 17 miles. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority provides public transportation on its buses around the neighborhood and throughout the rest of the city. "It's a pretty walkable neighborhood, and they just put some bike paths in, too," says Keisha Wagner, Realtor with Keller Williams Living. Along the tree-lined streets of Lee Miles, there are multiple styles of homes in Cleveland's First Ward. Some fixer upper Ranch-style homes can start at as low as $44,100. Older Colonial style homes with three bed rooms start at $100,000 while renovated Colonials with four bedrooms and a two car garage can costs $169,900. Median price of homes in the area is $91,500. "There are tons of first-time home buyers, and there are folks who have lived in the area for a long time," Wagner says. "And investors purchase in the area, and they renovate or rent them out. So it's just kind of mixture of everything." The median price of a home is $91,500. Dave's Markets is the place for locals to grab their grocery needs, offering fresh produce and pantry staples for daily meals. Residents also shop at Kaba's African Market for ingredients and spices to cook up tastes of the continent's cuisine. When hunger strikes, residents can delight their taste buds at KJ's Caribbean and Soul Food, where dishes like curry chicken, oxtails, beef patties, and stew chicken are popular. For a drink, Mac's Sports Bar offers daily happy hour specials. The restaurant serves traditional bar food such as burgers and wings. At Lee-Harvard Plaza, residents can find everything from everyday essentials to specialty goods. DTLR is the one-stop shop for the latest sneakers and clothing, while Family Dollar and Goodwill offer a variety of household items and thrift finds. There is a Little Caesars Pizza that satisfies cravings with quick, ready-to-go meals. Kerruish Park is a community gathering spot with ball fields where friendly competitions unfold and a playground where laughter fills the air. The city and some environmental organizations are working to restore Mill Creek, a stream adjacent to Kerruish Park, to help fish, clean the water, and make the park safer. Nearby, Idalia Park provides additional recreational spaces for children to explore and play, with open fields and playground equipment. Glendale Community Pool offers a refreshing respite during the summer months; adults have two split-hour closed sessions Monday through Friday for lap swimming. Students can attend Adlai E. Stevenson School, which offers pre-kindergarten through ninth-grade education and has a Niche rating of C-minus. Older students can attend Collinwood High School, which has a D+ Niche Rating. Collinwood students can participate in the Future Farmers of America club. Parents also can send their children to Hathaway Brown, a private school for kindergarten through 12th grade with an A-plus rating. After classes end, students can explore the shelves of the Cleveland Public Library Harvard. A highlight of the library's weekly schedule is the What Are You Reading Book Club every Wednesday. This engaging club brings together readers of all ages, from elementary school students to adults, to share their thoughts on current reads. Annually, residents of Southeast Cleveland's Lee-Harvard, Lee-Seville, Lee-Miles, and Village neighborhoods come together for Harvard Cultural Fest, celebrating the African American heritage of the area. This event offers an opportunity for community members to engage in various activities and experiences that highlight the rich traditions and contributions of the neighborhood. Attendees can participate in free art classes, explore interactive exhibits showcasing the history of the neighborhoods, and enjoy cultural food. Lee-Seville Baptist Church serves as a critical house of worship within the Lee Miles neighborhood.