LakewoodAlive - Publishes Survey Results

[Jim O'Bryan]

Housing, Commercial Development
On the Minds of Lakewood Residents

Citizen Survey Reveals Sense of Urgency, Some Unexpected Priorities

Lakewood, OH, January 26, 2006 -- Residents of Lakewood, one of Greater Cleveland's key inner ring suburbs, are concerned about the maintenance of their housing stock and the need for commercial development and view both as "urgent priorities," according to a survey conducted by Lakewood citizens' advocacy group LakewoodAlive. Also of concern was the city's tax base. Fewer than a quarter of the respondents expressed concern about city services.

The survey, conducted over a two-month period in November and December 2005, was designed to gauge citizen attitudes toward the Grow Lakewood Report, a 25-year strategic roadmap for the densely populated city formulated by a 12-member citizen committee created last year by Lakewood's Mayor and City Council. Respondents to the survey -- more than 300 individual Lakewood residents -- validated the credibility of the report and clearly want action by their city officials.

Among the survey's highlights:

Asked to identify the strategic recommendation subjects in the report that fit most closely with their own concerns, nearly 76 percent selected housing as their primary concern. Commercial development followed with more than 71 percent, with just under 60 percent citing the city's tax base.

Less than half (41 percent) were concerned with safety issues, and only 31 percent cited city services as a primary area of concern.

When asked which strategic recommendations in the report offered the "best long-term" return on investments of time, money, and/or resources, 64 percent selected commercial development, 52.7 chose the creation of a Housing Commission (none currently exists in Lakewood), and just under 40 percent cited the creation of an economic development fund for the city. Lakefront preservation and development called for attention from 39.2 percent and a Street Improvement program also scored strongly at 37.1 percent.

In general, survey respondents expressed urgency about the need to act. Over 80 percent of respondents believe that the call to action expressed in the Grow Lakewood report is "extremely" (53 percent) or "somewhat" (28 percent) important.

Lakewood residents are clearly looking to their government for leadership on these and other issues, the survey noted. Fifty-five percent of respondents felt that both the Mayor and City Council are responsible for advancing the Grow Lakewood strategic recommendations, yet many, given the opportunity to make individual comments, suggested that "everyone," including private citizens, can contribute to protecting the city's future.

"Our citizens are passionate and highly informed, and definitely take a long view of the city in which they live," noted Lakewood Alive President Mary Anne Crampton. "Nearly 100 respondents took the time to offer additional comments beyond simply answering the questions we posed in the survey, and we intend to share the results directly with city leaders, both within and without government."

Both the complete survey results, including individual comments, and the full Grow Lakewood presentation are available at www.lakewoodalive.com


About Lakewood Alive

LakewoodAlive is an independent nonpartisan citizens' group devoted to promoting economic development in Lakewood and enhancing how Lakewood is perceived inside and outside its borders. LakewoodAlive's efforts benefit all Lakewood residents by stabilizing and building our tax base, attracting and retaining residents, and preserving and improving the unique quality of life our inner ring community offers.







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