Secret Plans to Sell Kauffman Park?

[Bill Call]

The recent purchase of Drug Mart Plaza for 270% of its appraised value never made any economic sense to me. $5.7 million for a strip mall the new owners intend to demolish. They paid $4.4 million dollars an acre!

Now that the new owners have expressed a desire to include Kaufman Park in a new development the purchase makes perfect sense. They weren't buying Drug Mart Plaza they were buying Kaufman Park.

See:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10 ... _lake.html

The City should proceede cautiously.

The City gave up a great deal of land and income to assist in the construction of Marc's Plaza. Before the construction the promise was for a real town center with shops, walk ways, condo's, etc. After the project was started all that remained of the concept was the name, Lakewood City Centre!

The City was snookered.

I happen to think that the right development at Kaufman Park would be a good thing. Reasonable people could disagree.

What is beyond disagreement?

If Drug Mart Plaza is worth $5 million dollars an acre (demolishion cost included) then Kaufman Park is worth $30 million.

What would you do with the $30 million?

[Jim O'Bryan]

If Drug Mart Plaza is worth $5 million dollars an acre (demolishion cost included) then Kaufman Park is worth $30 million.

What would you do with the $30 million?

Bill

If the city really believes it is as good as we think it is, it should be $50 mil. We have to stop being the cheapest, and get a little self respect.

"The city has asked that the development include at least one acre of open space. Jordan said the city's wish list for tenants includes a grocery story such as Trader Joe's, a two-story bookstore and specialty retailers like Old Navy.

But depending on the findings of the park study, a mixed-use development might not be possible, he said. The study is expected to be completed within the month."

Well they learned a couple things from the WestEnd nightmare. Do not use Pottery Barn 5 times, and a bunch of businesses going bankrupt!

.

[Phil Florian]

"I was very adamant and remain very adamant that we cannot sell the park unless it's a win-win situation," he (George) said.

So is it sold or isn't it? Can this be brought before the people of the City to vote on instead of simply allow it to go to the hands of developers? Would Giltz take the risk to buy a plaza if it was still not a done deal? I was very new to Lakewood during the Issue 47/West End debates. Didn't that start as a City-only issue that was then brought to the people instead? Could the same thing be done with Kaufman park before it is sold and parcelled out for parking lot and more empty new condos?

This upsets me a ton. You knew this was possibly on the block when you had the putt putt place shut down and then George stumbling over his words to deny that anything was going on and Demro talking about his "less parks, same acreage" plan. The only one that hasn't addressed this is Fitzgerald (other than to deny knowledge of it).

Will this be the first thing he will do if he wins the race in a month? Come clean with what has been proposed? Or will the ink be dry before the end of George's term and it will be too late to save the park?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Phil

I am sure one will jump in if I am wrong.

All candidates running for mayor stated, they would leave Kaufman Park on the for sale table.

I think ryan was the only one to indicate he would work to keep the same acreage in greenspace in the city. Of course financially that would be impossible.


FWIW

[Bill Call]

I think ryan was the only one to indicate he would work to keep the same acreage in greenspace in the city. Of course financially that would be impossible.
FWIW

I disagree.

$5 million could buy all of the land across from Rockport including Drug Mart and all of the housing and apartments all the way to the tracks. That would be a great site for a new ball park and new housing around the new ball park. That leaves $45 million left over!!

[Lynn Farris]

Bill,

Correct me if I'm wrong. But when you purchase property, can't you work a deal with the bank for more than the value of the property if you can show that these are the improvements that you plan to make?

I'm assuming that the people that purchased this park are reasonable business people. So why pay so far above market value? Why would a bank loan so far over market value? The only way I can think of is with a plan to improve it.

If we are going to sell Kaufman Park - by law doesn't the city have to auction property and doesn't it have to go to the highest bidder with of course some mimimums in place? I'm not sure how we got around that with the medical building that Mayor George "sold" for significantly less than it was worth right after he took office. Do you understand this process?

If the people that now purchased Drug Mart want to improve that I'm all for it. Good for them. But Kaufman Park is a city asset where thousands of children play - and adults too. If we get rid of an asset like this - then I hope we aren't giving it away. I would urge Mayor George to return the contributions from this developer. Because while I am positive that he would not do anything to sell a city asset on the cheap - I am sure he would not even want the taint of inpropriety in this effort. Perhaps he didn't realize the potential conflict of interest when the contribution was made but now that he does - I'm sure that he will return the donations.

[Dee Krupp]

If the people that now purchased Drug Mart want to improve that I'm all for it. Good for them. But Kaufman Park is a city asset where thousands of children play - and adults too.

Ditto. Pretty soon we won't have any space for our kids to play anymore. Isn't the baseball field still being used? We need to fix up the parks not develop on them.

[Frank Murtaugh]

I may be incorrect, but I don't think thousands of kids play at Kauffman park. There is the fenced in ball park where soft ball leagues and St. Ed's baseball team play. There's flag football. Is there youth soccer and baseball? Maybe this is what I'm missing.

There is a small play ground for children. Maintaining a play ground in the area is important.

Keeping the ball field may not be crucial because softball players et al can and do play elsewhere - including Usher and in the valley. Setting up another ball field could perhaps be done. Remember many, if not most, of the soft ball players are from adjoining communities. They drive to games.

The ball field sits unused for much of the year.

[Jeff Endress]

A couple of points/observations:

1) The sale of the Drug Mart strip could have only occurred if there was a distinct probability of redeveloping.....it isn't such a desirable piece of realty that anyone would buy it without future plans.

2) I agree that we do not want to lose green space. I agree that more should be done to preserve and enhance green spaces. Having said that, I don't have a particular problem if our green spaces are "reconfigured" so that the residents retain similar or enhanced recreational opportunities, even if that means that the present space is developed.

3) It isn't at all unusual that there would be no "announcement" of plans at this stage. Planning is a process. In some cases it can take years. Many a good plan has been scuttled because of premature and incomplete announcements. By the same token, a good many plans have been sprung, as fait accompli, which should have been vetted and discussed to assure that concerns and interests are addressed.

4) I would suspect, although I certainly do not know, that there are "plans", probably in the discussion and formulation stage which are not yet ripe for disclosure as they are not yet complete. I would also suspect that the study will provide the final piece of the puzzle, and that based upon its recommendations and conclusions plans will be finalized. Once that happens, we will all know what is going on and it will be up to our representatives to determine if those plans properly address the concerns being expressed.

5) Until we actually know what the final plans and proposal looks like, it's really premature to form an opinion. It's also premature to ask for public comment, because, simply, there is nothing to comment on. If definite plans are forthcoming (which they most assuredly will) AND Council approves any sale of city owned properties, then, if the idea does not properly address citizen concerns, the matter can be brought up to voters.

Jeff

[Bill Grulich]

Thank you Jeff! Your points hit the nail on the head.

Bill

[Shawn Juris]

Were my eyes deceiving me or has the LHS north lot field been eliminated? It seemed that there were a few cars parked on the diamond and it looked like there was some kind of activity going on there last night.

As for the $30 million dollars- I'm sure that we could do some more studies...

[Joe Whisman]

Tom George, please give Caring4kidscove $4,500.00. When you took this money for our campaign, you made an unsavory choice. It is obvious Gitz & Associates were trying to buy your influence. The whole deal smells. I don't believe developers promises of a brighter day for Lakewood.
We have formed a committee to repair Kids Cove. We are acting because the City of Lakewood has failed us. There are numerous unsafe conditions at that site. Lakewood spend $5,000.00 for mulch. THE PLAYGROUND IS STILL UNSAFE FOR KIDS.
You need to look at the health of our youth. Childhood obesity is a huge heath problem. Condos do not offer physical activity for children. O.K. You say lets build a new park. Where? Will it be within walking distance to the children who need it?
With all that money coming in from the paving of Kaufman, I can expect the city to take over our project and finish the job. I think $100,000.00 would make Kids Cove real sweet. Is this an election year?

[Dee Krupp]

Were my eyes deceiving me or has the LHS north lot field been eliminated? It seemed that there were a few cars parked on the diamond and it looked like there was some kind of activity going on there last night.

As for the $30 million dollars- I'm sure that we could do some more studies...

Are you kidding me? That's the 2nd person I heard mention that. The Rec. baseball kids play(ed) there. They struggle for fields as it is. Is it really gone?

[Stephen Eisel]

I hope that the city would not give up green space for a strip mall. This area is already saturated with enough strip malls and drug stores. How about developing the property so Lakewood can attract some technology companies?

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

I'm pretty sure the baseball field in the north lot is gone, as I saw crews digging or doing something.

That was the JV team's diamond as well.