Beach Cliff I Rocky River Ohio

Beach Cliff I Homes for Sale

Beach Cliff I Homes

About Beach Cliff I in Rocky River

True to its name, the city of Rocky River’s affluent Beach Cliff I neighborhood offers both beaches and bluffs. Located at the picturesque confluence of the Rocky River and Lake Erie, Beach Cliff I boasts nearly 2 miles of scenic waterfront property. With idyllic surroundings, winding tree-lined streets, private parks, and The Cleveland Yachting Club as its neighbor, it’s not surprising that Beach Cliff I is the city’s most sought-after place to live.

Beach Cliff I Real Estate:

Beach Cliff I extends from the west bank of the Rocky River Valley across to Bradstreet’s Landing Park, and from the Lake Erie shore down to Lake Rd.

It boasts the highest median home value and highest median sales price (roughly $575,000) in Rocky River. Homes in this neighborhood are consistently included in the most expensive home sales in Cuyahoga County.

Its curving streets embrace a range of home sizes, from modest to mansions, in varying architectural styles typical of the Western Reserve: Tudor, french country, storybook, farm house, Georgian, and Greek revival.

Residences are exclusively single-family homes (no condos, duplexes or row homes) that range from 1,600-9,100 square feet.

Most are historic homes and even a few century homes. More than half of homes, about 58%, were constructed before 1959. Roughly 34% were built prior to 1940.

Streets include Aberdeen Rd, Argyle Oval, Argyle Rd, Arundel Rd, Avalon Dr, Battersea Blvd, Beach Cliff Blvd, Buckingham Rd, Collver Rd, Cornwall Rd, Elmwood Rd, Falmouth Dr, Frazier Dr, Kensington Oval, Kensington Rd, Lake Rd (north side), Morewood Pkwy, Northcliff Dr, Oak Rd, Parklawn Dr (north of Lake Rd), Parkside Dr, Roslyn Dr, S Island Dr, S Riverdale Dr, Wagar Rd (north of Lake Rd), and Yacht Club Dr.

Beach Cliff I homes with Lake Erie frontage include the streets of Avalon Dr, Beach Cliff Blvd, Frazier Dr, Lake Rd, Kensington Oval, Parkside Dr, and Wagar Rd. Depending on lot placement, the elevation of these homes (altitude) range from 614-630 feet. Other than a few homes perched atop a rocky bluff near the river’s mouth, lakefront lots have sloping yards to a bulkhead, riprap, or modular block shoreline.

Riverfront homes occupy portions of Frazier Dr, Yacht Club Dr, and S Island Dr. Elevations (altitudes) of homes directly along the river range from 595-628 feet. Homes along the rocky bluff at the mouth of the Rocky River have the highest elevations. Moving inland toward the river’s west channel, the elevation of riverfront homes gradually lowers to a bulkhead riverbank with private boat docks.

Beach Cliff I even has its own monthly publication, Beach Cliff Beacon.

Homeowner’s Association (HOA) fees for Beach Cliff I are approximately $80 annually.

Residences are served by the top-rated Rocky River City School District.

NOTE: This community includes non-bussing streets to the city’s Kensington Intermediate School (within the neighborhood), Middle School, and High School.

Homeowner’s Association (HOA) fees for Beach Cliff I are approximately $80 monthly.

Beach Cliff I Neighborhood Assets:

In addition to the public lakefront parks (Rocky River Park, located within the neighborhood, and Bradstreet’s Landing Park at the far west end), the Beach Cliff I neighborhood includes private parks held in trust exclusively for the benefit of its property owners.

Privileges for Tangle Town/Oakwood residents:

Residents living east of Rocky River Park (in the Tangle Town/Oakwood area) have privileges to Oakwood Beach, Kensington Triangle, and Rose Point.

Oakwood Beach is a secluded lakefront park with a 56-square-foot gazebo, expansive tiered decks, grassy area with picnic tables, a pier, and a small sandy beach abutting a dramatic 50-foot-high rocky cliff. Oakwood Beach is accessible via a paved walkway off Frazier Drive.

Another lakefront section, Rose Point, is a half-acre parcel atop a 35-foot bluff overlooking Lake Erie.

The neighborhood is connected via Yacht Club Drive to The Cleveland Yachting Club (CYC) — one of the oldest and most prestigious yachting clubs in the nation.

Kensington Triangle is a triangular strip of grass at the intersection of Kensington Rd, Frazier Dr and Beach Cliff Blvd.

Privileges for west-end residents:

Residents residing west of Rocky River Park have privileges at Parklawn Beach and Wagar Beach. Parklawn Beach (at the end of Parklawn Dr). has tree-shaded steps down to a landing, which descend to an elevated deck and a 0.08-mile stretch of beach.

Avalon Drive’s red brick road leads to the charming arched stone entrance of Wagar Beach. Similar in landscape to Parklawn, Wagar Beach has a stairway flanked by lush ground cover leading down to a paved landing, then to an elevated deck with a 0.35-mile stretch of beach and a boulder rock pier.

Beach Cliff I History:

Before it was developed into a residential community in the early 20^th century, almost all of the Rocky River’s lakefront property was owned by two men. One of them was Cleveland banker, financier, and philanthropist, Dan Parmelee Eells (1825-1903). While living in his palatial Victorian estate on Millionaires’ Row, Eells purchased 150 acres along the west bank of the Rocky River. His land encompassed nearly a mile of shoreline, extending westward from the river to what is now Falmouth Dr, and from the Lake Erie shore down to Lake Rd.

Eells’ “Oakwood” home, named for the abundant oak groves on his property, was constructed in 1888. The Oakwood estate at 19715 Frazier Dr and a section of stone property wall along Lake Rd have both been preserved (both pictured below).

When Eells’ heirs sold the property in 1906, the Mathews & Gilbert real estate office called the subdivision Oakwood-on-the-Lake. To this day, allotments in the neighborhood are sometimes designated as Mathews & Gilbert or Oakwood-on-the-Lake subdivisions.

The northernmost street in Oakwood-on-the-Lake, Frazier Drive, was plotted along the natural curve of the shoreline. Three additional streets (Argyle, Buckingham and Kensington) were configured in a meandering pattern to complement the natural contour of the land, similar to the layout of Lakewood’s Clifton Park subdivision across the river. By 1908, Oakwood-on-the-Lake’s roads were approved for city water and sewer. However, over the next decade, development of Oakwood-on-the-Lake remained sporadic.

In 1916, a massive parcel of land directly west of Oakwood-on-the-Lake came available for sale. The land had previously been purchased in 1888 by Cleveland businessman, later a congressman, Clifton Bailey Beach (1845-1902). Spanning 427 acres, it included a mile of Lake Erie shoreline extending down to Detroit Rd, and from Daniel Eells’ Oakwood estate westward to Bradstreet’s Landing Park. The property was purchased from Beach’s wife and son and the subdivision was named Beach Cliff Estates in honor of Clifton Bailey Beach.

As announced in the March 13, 1917 issue of Ohio Architect Engineer and Builder (Volume 29, No 11), “The entire village of Rocky River has been purchased by a syndicate of Cleveland capitalists at an outlay of several million dollars. The purchase includes Oakwood-on-the-Lake and the Clifton Beach estate including 500 acres. …improvements will include widening the boulevards along one and one-half miles of lake front, installing new sewers and water systems and adding new features which will make this section an ideal community of suburban homes.”

By the end of 1917, road crews began constructing a bridge over the creek dividing the Eells and Beach properties. Paving of additional streets continued over the next six years, during which time the city contributed $100,000 to street and sewer enhancement.

The winding thoroughfare of Beach Cliff Boulevard (also written as Beachcliff Boulevard) was designed to mimic the undulating streets from the Oakwood-on-the-Lake subdivision. In stark contrast to the typical suburban grid pattern, its labyrinth of streets eventually earned the eastern end of Beach Cliff I the nickname of Tangletown (also spelled Tangle Town).

Browse other lakefront properties or all Rocky River luxury homes for sale.

Looking to buy a home here or already living here and planning to sell? Call or text Realty Done by Damien Baden at (440) 628-1321. Find out how you can get a FREE updated closing report of available and recently sold Beach Cliff I homes below.

Convenient Location

The prestigious neighborhood of Beach Cliff I is located in northeast Rocky River, Ohio (Cuyahoga County). It extends along the Lake Erie shore down to Lake Rd, and from the west bank of the Rocky River Valley across to Bradstreet’s Landing Park.

I-90 is conveniently accessible in just 5 min!

Downtown Rocky River is a 2-5 min drive (a ≤20 min walk from Tangle Town area) with over 50 boutique retail stores and award-winning restaurants. The northeast Tangle Town section of homes is walkable to downtown River in ≤20 min.

You are 12 min from the 75-acre open-air collection of restaurants, retail and entertainment at Crocker Park — the best shopping on the west side of Cleveland — including Apple, Nordstrom Rack, Trader Joe’s, World Market, Bed Bath & Beyond, Athleta, Chico’s, GAP, J. Crew, and tons of dining options. 

In addition to the aforementioned private parks for Beach Cliff I residents, there are numerous other recreational opportunities! Also situated within the Beach Cliff I neighborhood is the public Rocky River Park. This 5.23-acre lakefront venue has a small sandy beach, scenic observation decks, paved walkways, a playground, a pavilion and picnic areas, and a sledding hill.

Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate being a 3-6 min drive (a ≤20 min walk from Tangle Town) from The Metroparks’ Valley Parkway All-Purpose Trail, which extends down to Mill Stream Run Reservation and over to the 81-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Rocky River Reservation offers 2,520 acres with picnic areas, play areas, sledding hills, ball fields, nature trails, paved trails, nature center, stables and bridle trails, a marina, fishing areas, boat rentals, waterfalls and lagoons, and three golf courses.  

City Hall Park is 5 min away with indoor facilities including Hamilton Ice Arena, a three-lap indoor track, basketball courts, fitness studios, a full fitness center, and an indoor aquatic facility with a lap area, lazy river, zero-entry splash zone; as well as outdoor areas including a playground, picnic facilities, and an outdoor pool complex.

Bordering this neighborhood to the west is The Cleveland Yachting Club (CYC) – one of the oldest and most prestigious yachting clubs in the nation. Home to more than 300 sail and powerboats, CYC is known for its beautiful setting, first-class facilities and family-friendly atmosphere.

The premier dining and social club, The Clifton Club, is a 2-4 min drive with a 3-story historic clubhouse, tennis courts, and a private beach with a playground and lakefront venue.

Westwood Country Club is a 6-8 min drive.

Driving Distances

• Hopkins International Airport – 17-20 min
• Downtown Cleveland – 18-20 min
• I-90 – 5 min
• I-71 – 13-15 min
• I-480 – 13 min
• I-77 – 11-14 min
• Heinen’s Grocery and Whole Foods – 2-5 min
• Giant Eagle Supermarket – 8-10 min
• USPS – 5-6 min

Beach Cliff I Sales History

Status Date	List/Sell$	DOM/CDOM	Address	City	Zip	BR	BA	Sqft	Acres	Year	Gar
03/17/22	$430,000	7/7	19750 Battersea Blvd	Rocky River	44116	5	2 (2 0)	2,047	0.13	1927	2
04/07/22	$338,000	48/48	19620 Lake Rd #1396	Rocky River	44116	3	2 (1 1)	1,200	0.09	1947	1
04/08/22	$1,350,000	2/2	339 Northcliff Dr	Rocky River	44116	5	5 (3 2)		0.25	1932	2
04/12/22	$650,000	2/2	19700 Beach Cliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,364	0.34	1920	2
05/12/22	$1,800,000	2/2	285 Yacht Club Dr	Rocky River	44116	4	5 (4 1)	4,285	0.4	2000	2
05/20/22	$1,075,000	23/23	44 Buckingham Dr	Rocky River	44116	5	5 (4 1)	3,142	0.2	1930	3
06/01/22	$1,975,000	5/5	19523 Beach Cliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	5	6 (5 1)	4,170	0.49	1950	3
06/09/22	$865,000	62/62	381 Kensington Rd	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,616		1927	2
06/10/22	$1,500,000	22/22	19690 Beach Cliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	5	5 (3 2)	3,880	0.34	1924	2
06/13/22	$800,000	6/6	19540 Argyle Oval	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,650	0.15	1925	2
06/13/22	$1,250,000	18/18	19930 Beach Cliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	5	4 (3 1)	3,016	0.28	1961	2
06/22/22	$695,000	3/3	19790 Beach Cliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	3	5 (3 2)	2,184	0.26	1927	2
06/29/22	$695,000	31/31	257 Argyle Rd	Rocky River	44116	5	3 (3 0)	2,312	0.14	1927	2
07/01/22	$842,000	4/4	40 Buckingham Rd	Rocky River	44116	4	3 (2 1)	2,832	0.19	1925	2
07/08/22	$375,000	5/5	19426 Battersea Blvd	Rocky River	44116	3	2 (2 0)	1,094	0.15	1952	1
07/08/22	$475,000	6/6	241 Argyle Rd	Rocky River	44116	4	3 (2 1)	1,610	0.14	1931	2
07/15/22	$1,250,000	1/1	21736 Aberdeen Rd	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,984	0.15	1955	2
07/20/22	$741,000	5/5	20701 Avalon Dr	Rocky River	44116	4	3 (2 1)	2,400	0.19	1930	2
08/05/22	$745,000	16/16	270 Cornwall Rd	Rocky River	44116	6	4 (3 1)	3,335	0.14	1927	2
08/11/22	$625,000	1/1	19337 Frazier Dr	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,190	0.16	1954	2
08/11/22	$740,000	82/82	271 Elmwood Rd	Rocky River	44116	4	5 (4 1)	2,722	0.37	1949	2
09/21/22	$800,000	5/5	19412 Battersea Blvd	Rocky River	44116	4	4 (3 1)	2,120	0.15	1927	2
11/19/22	$575,000	24/24	21880 Lake Rd	Rocky River	44116	5	4 (3 1)	2,776	0.24	1929	2
12/27/22	$875,100	5/5	19955 Roslyn Dr	Rocky River	44116	4	5 (3 2)		0.26	1912	2
12/27/22	$510,000	5/5	20689 Beachcliff Blvd	Rocky River	44116	4	3 (1 2)	2,072	0.18	1929	2

Receive Your Free Community Report

Would you like to receive an up-to-date sales and closing report for Beach Cliff I homes in Rocky River, OH? Even if you’d like to expand your search outside this development and include all Rocky River City School District homes within this price range, reach out now by texting “Beach Cliff I 44116” to 440-530-7052. You can expect your personalized sales and closing report by the next business day if not sooner.

To find out more about buying or selling a Beach Cliff I home, contact us today! Call or text (440) 628-1321 

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