Lucky for Avon there might just be a few rolls left over from the annual Duck Tape Festival to keep this booming suburb from bursting at the seams.
What 20 years ago was vast Lorain County farmland has sprouted into a thriving city in which more than 100 homes are built each year and retail development is as abundant as sweet corn in August.
When Jennifer and Kurt Kappa moved to Highland Park nine years ago to start a family, they were attracted to the communal tennis courts and outdoor pool, and nearby 20-acre nature park with hiking trails. They also found value in their 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom colonial with its high ceilings and open floor plan.
“You get a lot more land and space for your money,” says Jennifer.
The North Ridgeville High School history teacher placed a premium on a school district (No. 13 in our rankings) that would challenge her two kids. Jennifer points to the new 162,000-square-foot Avon Middle School, with an entire wing devoted to the arts.
“It’s much more competitive than it has been,” she says. “Our school district is growing very rapidly because there are so many new families moving in.”
The growth is bolstered by modern amenities such as the French Creek Family YMCA and 9,100-square-foot Avon Aquatic Facility mixed with the 78-acre Miller Nature Preserve.
Just shy of Avon’s northern border, Avon Commons shopping center holds nearly 40 restaurants and retailers, but a five-minute drive west takes you to the historic French Creek District, which features the Strip Steakhouse’s white-tablecloth finery in a restored barn and the Tree House Gallery and Tea Room.
The ability to jump between Avon’s two worlds without going far is one of its draws, and incoming families willing to support each other keeps the community thriving.
“They always say that it takes a village to raise children,” says Jennifer. “I have such a long list of people that I can call immediately if I need anything.”
Neighborhood Profile
2016 Total Home Sales: 354
2016 Median Home Sale Price: $296,500
Education Ranking: 13
Safety Ranking: 12
