What's up with The Cliffs project?

[Lynn Farris]

So then is Applebees getting essentially the same deal as Rockport?

This is a different developer, and different plan.

I'm not arguing that they should or shouldn't - just curious.

Actually I'm quite pleased with the development going on there - they seem to have built nice homes in an area that was not getting attention and they did it with respect to the citiznes in the neighborhood without a boatload of money from the city. This has been a hard sell in this economy. I understand them selling a portion to Applebees.

[Jim O'Bryan]

So then is Applebees getting essentially the same deal as Rockport?

This is a different developer, and different plan.

I'm not arguing that they should or shouldn't - just curious.

Actually I'm quite pleased with the development going on there - they seem to have built nice homes in an area that was not getting attention and they did it with respect to the citiznes in the neighborhood without a boatload of money from the city. This has been a hard sell in this economy. I understand them selling a portion to Applebees.

Lynn

I am not sure they sold anything, are you? It is possible that Rockport leased a section of their land to Applebees.

In the end Rockport was smart stopping when they did, though the entire project would have been nice. In this market you need something special to stand out from the 30 year tax-abatements Cleveland is offering. The Cliffs offered that as new buildings on the end of Detroit and along the Gold Coast could also offer.


FWIW



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[Bill Call]

Rockport has gone through three builders/developers and I am correct and in the end Forest City has had to call it quits with the sale of space to Applebees or so the rumor goes.

If I bought one of Forest City's new homes in the Rockport area I would be asking for a refund.

They promised those people a real neighborhood with substantial retail and residential development. What was delivered is far less than what was promised.

Rosewood is a gem.it shows what can be accomplished. How is it that a small time developer can deliver but the billion dollar company cannot?

[Lynn Farris]

Rockport has gone through three builders/developers and I am correct and in the end Forest City has had to call it quits with the sale of space to Applebees or so the rumor goes.

Jim,

My comment was based on your quote. But I see that I may have interpeted it incorrectly. I have no knowledge that land was sold to Applebees.

Lynn

[Nathan Kelly]

Last night, Lakewood City Council voted unanimously to extend the development agreement for the project we all know as “The Cliffs.â€￾

The development agreement lays out a series of time-sensitive requirements that must be met by the developer to be eligible for the tax increment financing that Council agreed to provide for the project in 2007 and early 2008. Tax increment financing (TIF) uses the anticipated tax revenue generated from improving property to make public infrastructure improvements in support of the project. No funds have been disbursed, nor will they be until the developers achieve certain benchmarks towards making the project a success.

The developer also committed to improving the site on Sloane, including moving the construction fence to the building line, securing it, adding appropriate signage, and landscaping the front yard (grass and shrubs).

The City supports this ambitious project, and wanted to give the developer more time to achieve key milestones in the face of a difficult residential and economic climate. The City should support ambitious projects – in this case by granting a time extension – especially when there is no hard-dollar outlay at risk. We’ll continue to assist businesses, developers and residents to improve property values in pursuit of greater economic and community development.

Hope this helps.

Buy Lakewood!

Nate

[Bill Grulich]

Thank you Nate for your pertinent information on this project.

Bill Grulich

[Grace O'Malley]

The City supports this ambitious project, and wanted to give the developer more time to achieve key milestones in the face of a difficult residential and economic climate.

How likely is this? That is, have you thoroughly investigated whether the developer EVER will be able to meet these "milestones?" Are they solvent?

Considering that they have yet to meet ANY of their own milestones, what indication do we have that they will meet milestones imposed upon them by the city?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Nate


Thanks for jumping in and setting some of the facts straight.

What happened with the hotel planned for Sloane?

Grace

Good points.

What do developers have to do to be approved in Lakewood? My sign company has to carry $750,000 in insurance in case something we do causes harm. Do developers have to carry bonding or insurance in case their project devalues entire blocks of properties or harms a city?

In a built out city like Lakewood how many of these empty lots and the devaluation they must bring to a neighborhood can we stand?

I think all of this goes back to the city needs some development, but it should always be "responsible development."


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[dl meckes]

One of the issues with this project has been and continues to be the access road along the river.

The MetroParks has been in negotiation with the City regarding this road for some time and the negotiations are still not finalized.

The build can't begin until that issue is settled, which is why the City decided to give the project more time.

That obviously only addresses one part of the project and certainly doesn't answer many of the questions that have been discussed here, but that one piece is significant, since no building can commence without access.

[Grace O'Malley]

Uh hmm. And why wasn't that researched by the developer PRIOR to the land purchases and TIF application?

Seems to me it is a critical piece of the puzzle; one that should have been addressed early on in the process, if not made THE first priority. Without the access, the project cannot be started, much less completed.

Incompetence? Lack of experience and knowledge? Either way, it does not inspire confidence in the ability of the "developer" to actually bring this idea to fruition.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Uh hmm. And why wasn't that researched by the developer PRIOR to the land purchases and TIF application?

Seems to me it is a critical piece of the puzzle; one that should have been addressed early on in the process, if not made THE first priority. Without the access, the project cannot be started, much less completed.

Incompetence? Lack of experience and knowledge? Either way, it does not inspire confidence in the ability of the "developer" to actually bring this idea to fruition.

While I am willing to agree with your comments about homework not done. What if it was. I am starting to see a pattern emerging here. Pushing for a development, we all know is better than the apartments now sitting there. Then everyone gets greedy and tries to line their projects. The project expands into "Scenic Park." People do not want to move from their view, eminent domain brought in. Some of the toughest fighters for the expulsion of 1,500 tax paying residents, to make the almighty dollar not for the city but for friends?

In the rush to make $$$$ the traffic report issued-a fraud, the crime report issued and pushed-a fraud, the stores signing up-a fraud, the school deal-a fraud, the money Lakewood would get-a fraud.

All this time, the Cliffs was sitting on Mayor Cain's desk. I am sure we all remember when Madeline said to me in writing, "Oh Jim there are no plans in my right front top drawer for a phase two." My answer was, "Well then what is it called? Part Duex? and where do you have it?" Now with the paperwork I have it is obvious that The Cliffs were part of it.

But my question is, while I was sitting with the Ungers, as they watched the home they grew up in get torn down, they mentioned, that the Foran Group had mentioned being willing to help them fight the hotel being built next to them. Why? What happened to the hotel? You would think that LakewoodAlive the group that was constructed to educate us on Need For Economic Development would be pushing hard for this. Where is the LakewoodAlive meeting about development in Scenic Park? Why is the hotel not even mentioned?

The question Lakewoodites should be asking, is...

What did Mayor Cain know about and be disingenuous about, and who else was in the kabal?

Then there are the sewer lids on Riverside, and trees that never root... and State Representative Madleine Cain's comment, "We will need high fences because of the increase in traffic..." She then quit and became Mayor of Lakewood, taking up the fight against voters that would have lead to an increase in traffic on Riverside. Hmmmmmmmmmmm

random thoughts from a conspiracy freak.


Please note I like the Cliffs idea, love the drawings.


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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
Lakewood does not need to feed upon itself to grow. Unlike other cities (e.g. Westlake) we are not a built-out City.

We can add more land when we need it at a rate of growth we want to determine. If you've seen the peninsula, you can see we are uniquely able to expand in a beautiful manner and add what could be the most desired new land on Lake Erie. Look at what the richest governments in the World are doing with their money. They are creating shoreline. See: [url-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eUcRjo9Yv4]The World[/url] We need only look as far east as Burke Lakefront Airport to see that this can and has been done here.

Back to the current vacant lot known as "The Cliffs": If a much needed road was needed for the Cliffs project, why would our City government permit destruction of homes and destabilizing the hillside? Why endanger other property owners? I thought I read that access road issue was resolved.

I was told by some that it was a desperate political move to push the developer to show some sign of activity before the last election. Perhaps Mr. Foran could confirm/or deny this. If it was, perhaps he feels the City and not his group is now responsible for the erosion and any future damages that may result.

Why can't our elected officials be open and honest with us? The residents of Lakewood have demonstrated with the last 2 elections that this will not be tolerated. I hope this administration wakes up, if they like their current assignments. I believe Lakewood voters will continue to rotate the crop of political candidates until we get a good, open and honest administration.

That reminds me, who if anyone, is pushing to limit campaign contributions for candidates of Mayor. We will never know the real story on that massive contribution by an outsider attempting to influence Lakewood government.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Why can't our elected officials be open and honest with us? The residents of Lakewood have demonstrated with the last 2 elections that this will not be tolerated. I hope this administration wakes up, if they like their current assignments. I believe Lakewood voters will continue to rotate the crop of political candidates until we get a good, open and honest administration.

Don


The Edward FitzGerald Administration is the most open administration I have ever had the pleasure of working with.

While I do not want to go into it right now, how I would phrase it is...

While Mayor George opened the door, Mayor FitzGerald has turned the light on.

Much more open than any other mayor I have dealt with while starting papers around the country as well.


FWIW




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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
JOB, That was my impression as well. Yet there still seems to be unanswered questions regarding "The Cliffs".

Is access road still an issue?

Who's responsible for erosion damage to nearby properties?

The City, the Schools, the County and our Library was receiving revenues from taxes for the houses there and the business and the income of those families. How much are we losing each year in revenues from this loss?

When is the current, best guess, date for this project starting? Completing? When with the bleeding stop?

It's very nice to see your support of our new Administration.

[Jim O'Bryan]

It's very nice to see your support of our new Administration.

Donald

The Lakewood Observer has always had the philosophy to show support to any and all elected officials. Our belief, as a community papers with a bevy of writers and contributors it is unfair to speak for them, but to support the popular vote.

That said, Mayor Edward FitzGerald and his administration is really working hard on the tough problems facing this city and I personally am impressed.

As for the road, it was a problem with Mayor Cain, as this was one reason I was given all of this paperwork from Rick Foran. To my knowledge, it is down to less than 100' might be less than 20'.

I do know the project will cost at least $1 million more than expected, this was as off months ago, and was also covered in other media as a reason for asking for more money down and making the units smaller to cover the expenses. At this point with fuel, I have to think it could be $2 million or more higher than thought. I know for a fact they were also having some problems with the cliff, and needed to change some of those items.

In the end the building was being built of pylons not the actual cliff from what I remember when we made the model, so it might not cost that much more to build.

But, no matter how beautiful the project is, is the money there to build, finish, and sell?


FWIW