Kauffman Park - Plans to Redevelop?

[Gary Rice]

Well stated points all, Richard.

At the same time the amount that our local candidates receive, while more than nickels and dimes, is hardly more than chump change in the big picture of politics. To even infer (if that is indeed the case here) that someone with the character of a Tom George, or for that matter, any of our candidates could be bought off for the price of a good dining room set, is patently ridiculous to me.

Remember too that campaign contributions are NOT for personal use anyway. There are STRICT federal laws concerning such funds.

Still, it's a good thing to raise questions like these. It tends to let all public officials know that the public is in fact, watching them.

The sad part, to me, is how few of the public seem to turn out for input, while so many city issues are being discussed.

[Brad Hutchison]

I don't know the mayor, any more than I know any of you Observers. I'm new to this. But I have been keeping up with these topics and I understand people's confusion.

It strikes me as odd that...

a Canton developer would make a large contribution to a Lakewood politician's campaign.

several people on this forum have asked for an explanation that has yet to come

when asked directly about it by Ed FitzGerald, the mayor ducked, dodged, attacked Mr. FitzGerald, suggested we all lighten up, and never answered the question.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and generally am not one to jump to believe that people are being underhanded. I'm not even sure that I think Kauffman Park is best undeveloped. I just think a lot of people are rushing to attack and defend the mayor, while the mayor himself has not responded to repeated invitations on this forum to inform the citizens of where exactly everything stands so we can put this thread to bed and talk about something else.

[Richard Cole]

I have a copy of the charts (red and green dots) and schematics that were generated at the meetings in my office. Bring your reading glasses because the 3x4 ft posters are reduced to about 2x2 inches!...but you can still make them out.

Just give me a call. 521-0655

Mary Anne

Mary Anne

I attended the third Streetscape Meeting, and I can't remember if it was you or Planning Director Jordon who indicated that the powerpoint presentation used that evening would be made available on the official City of Lakewood website. As of yesterday, it had not been posted.

Could you and Planning Director Jordon get the presentation online?

Thanks

[Kate McCarthy]

Is there a whispering campaign out there to get folks all riled up to support Kaufmann Park being sold off?

I'll put on my tin foil cap and relate a very animated discussion at Giant Eagle tonight. A couple of cashiers and customers were very excitedly discussing that a Traders Joe will be part of the development across from the library. They said of course that means the current plaza would have to be raised and part of the park would go but ohmigod it's a Trader Joes!!!!!

After witnessing the disaster of Lakewood Town Center I have nightmares of a development where Marcs relocates to the new digs to be the anchor store and we have a national chain like Dress Barn make an appearance. And we lose a park. And have vacancies at that nasty town center.

Just my worst nightmare being prompted by an overheard conversation.

Dress Barn. Moooo.

[Bryan Schwegler]

I still think rather than sell Kaufmann, we should just raze Lakewood Town Center to the ground and start over. I agree with Kate that in no way would I like the idea of selling all or even part of Kaufmann just to end up with another Marc's plaza debacle.

[Kenneth Warren]

In a consumer society awaiting the coming of Trader Joe’s trumps awaiting the coming of the Messiah. Trader Joe will anoint consumers of the Wood with the certain knowledge that they have at last arrived in the promised land of upscale supermarket shopping.

I suspect that residents of the city will be evenly divided over desires for goodies and green space.

Kenneth Warren

[chris richards]

I suspect that residents of the city will be evenly divided over desires for goodies and green space.

Kenneth Warren

I think one of the biggest problems in the world of chain retail stores in America right now is the idea that they need brand new buildings at any cost. There are plenty of places for chain stores to go if they have the ingenuity to look. If Trader Joe's is serious about moving into Lakewood, they could easily convert the empty Giant Eagle. If Marc's wanted a larger space, they too could look into the empty Giant Eagle.

I think we as a city have to decide. What is more important, new trendy shopping centers that people will complain about in 10 years, or the re-use of perfectly fine buildings? If chain businesses do want to move in, we should not cave in to get them here, they should work for the honor of being in such a unique and diverse city.

My fear of chains coming in has been stated before. but here is another example. Trader Joe's has been mentioned before as possibly coming to Lakewood. I predict that if it does, Nature's Bin will start hurting for business.

That is another decision we have to make as a city. Do we stand up and support our local businesses, or do we let chains in and become another cookie cutter American town?

[Kate McCarthy]

Chris,

I agree with your post in that we should try to get the big box retailers and chains to adapt to the style of existing building types and conform to our development plans rather than razing the built environment. My primary concern though is that the community may again be sold the promise of a nonexistent bill of goods to just fold on selling Kaufmann Park, which this administration has been careful to neglect making it a less desirable commodity.

As Ken said "Trader Joe’s trumps awaiting the coming of the Messiah." Could anyone better state the messianic passion of fans of this chain?

I really don't think a Trader Joe's will be moving here (if you want upscale grocers...give me a Whole Foods Market any day). I think it's being dangled as a possibility...along with Old Navy, etc ... to get people to buy into selling off public lands.

[Bryan Schwegler]

Here's the other thing to think about with this proposed development. Big Box retailers thrive on highway access. Tell me, where is the easy highway access for this spot in Lakewood?

Any proposed development plan that includes national retailers as the corner stone should be thought of skeptically. Without highway access, it's difficult for them to hit their business models.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I suspect that residents of the city will be evenly divided over desires for goodies and green space.

Kenneth Warren

I think one of the biggest problems in the world of chain retail stores in America right now is the idea that they need brand new buildings at any cost. There are plenty of places for chain stores to go if they have the ingenuity to look. If Trader Joe's is serious about moving into Lakewood, they could easily convert the empty Giant Eagle. If Marc's wanted a larger space, they too could look into the empty Giant Eagle.

I think we as a city have to decide. What is more important, new trendy shopping centers that people will complain about in 10 years, or the re-use of perfectly fine buildings? If chain businesses do want to move in, we should not cave in to get them here, they should work for the honor of being in such a unique and diverse city.

My fear of chains coming in has been stated before. but here is another example. Trader Joe's has been mentioned before as possibly coming to Lakewood. I predict that if it does, Nature's Bin will start hurting for business.

That is another decision we have to make as a city. Do we stand up and support our local businesses, or do we let chains in and become another cookie cutter American town?

Cris

This is the problem and one that has been laid out on this board before.

One person wants pants, the other wants health food, another wants pottery, and on and on and on. It seems to me that we begin the endless spiral of Belden Village, when we look to move our favorite store to Lakewood. Before you know it all big box stores and no residents, or small local based business.

One of Lakewood strong points for those that do not read my diatribe often enough. 10 minutes from Crocker Park, 20 minutes from Legacy Village, 10 from the airport, downtown, etc.

Simply the best place to live and raise a family.

FWIW


.

[Stephen Eisel]

20 minutes from Legacy Village

not during rush hour

[chris richards]

One of Lakewood strong points for those that do not read my diatribe often enough. 10 minutes from Crocker Park, 20 minutes from Legacy Village, 10 from the airport, downtown, etc.
.

Jim,

I agree completely with this! And that is one of the reasons I don't see the need for Lakewood to have big chain retail stores. I have never minded the drive to get to any of those places when I wanted to shop at them, they are already so close. It's is like people who complain that they have to park a short ways away and walk to a local store. In the big picture, they are probably still parking closer to the location than if you went to Crocker Park or any of the others.

[Brad Hutchison]

Don't forget Avon Commons too... 15 minutes. I also I agree with you, Jim. My wife and I figured the other day that there are 5 Target stores within 15 minutes of us. Everybody's using the Starbucks model now... one on every corner.

We're running out of corners.

[Kate McCarthy]

So what do we want in Lakewood? I know I don't want to lose green space. And my experience is green space gone is green space gone.

Mayor George has said "The park [Kaufmann] is there because of a steep grade change and its landlocked location next to the railroad tracks had made it unuseable for anthing but recreational space." At the same time Mayor George says "I believe anyone with a clear vision of the City's future would explore the redevelopment of the adjacent [Kaufmann] park." Explore the redevelopment of a unusable property? It's tricky trying to make a piece of property worthless for developers to pick up for a song and at the same time make it the primary focus for redevelopment in the city. Can you really have it both ways?

Kaufmann Park could be better, no doubt. But poor management of a park should not make the poorly managed property useless for the city. There's plenty of property available in Lakewood for redevelopment. Hands off the green space.

[Christina McCallum]

Seems like Lakewood took another step closer to losing Kaufmann Park, as the PD has an article about its possible sale and development in today's paper. . .

Does anyone feel like they're getting squeezed out of the green space that may have attracted them to Lakewood? Or does anyone wonder why the City's youth aren't involved in more positive activities? Could it be that we're not providing them with enough easily accessible parks and activities?

By easily accessible I mean low cost/free and near their neighborhoods. If Kaufmann Park's facilities are moved to Cove Park, will parents drive their kids there to play on the playground? To play a pick up game of baseball or soccer? Where will families in central or southwest neighborhoods go? Impett?

The sale would supposedly fund "park improvements. . ." It doesn't sound like parks are much of priority if the only way to fund improvements is to sell off valuable space, and betting that homeowners and apartment building owners would be willing to sell in order to expand green space. Do people not remember the West End fiasco?

I'd like my kids to become more independent as they get older, including riding their bikes to area parks. However, it would be a long time before I'd send them across town to Cove, which is equally set back from civilization, before I'd send them over to Kaufmann.

Kate's right, Lakewood needs to decide what it wants.