Do I live in Lakewood? Or am I mistaken!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Recently I was made aware of some of the hopes and reams of a select few Lakewoodites. All I could think was, "Lakewood, Ohio?" I meant, "Lakewood, Ohio in a down turned economy, with stores closing, and the Lakewood Christian Service Center requests for help and food going up 300%?" I mean "Lakewood, Ohio the quite, safe bedroom community that's defined "downtown" area is less than .8 of a mile, with less the 30 real stores, many ready to close?"

The I flashed backed to when I was 16 years old, and shopping by myself out on Coventry. I had wandered down the street and ended up in a nice clothing store, when a cute sales clerk asked if she could help. Over the next hour she brought out a variety of shirts and pants for me to try on, telling me, "That looks good, or no, let's try something else." Well by the end of the hour she had gotten all my money, and I had a beautiful black silk shirt with long stem red roses embroidered on the front. Wide whale corduroy forest green pants that "picked up the green in the stems." Damn, she was right, they did pick up the green in the stems!

So I climb in my car and headed back to Lakewood to show off my cool, groovy hippie threads from Coventry. I pull into Bill Davis' driveway, because he was certainly a person that could appreciate cool, and wide whale cords. I got out and walked up to the door and knocked. His father "Uncle Dave," answered the door and let me in. As I walked into the living room he asked about the clothes with, "Well I have to believe she was attractive, but how the hell did they actually fit you in those clothes without them exploding." Then it came home to me with another valuable lesson in life that has always stuck with me. Do not let the sales person talk you into wearing clothes three sizes too small. Buy clothes that fit, and are comfortable, because in the end I am the person that has to live in them and work in them.

Why I tell you this story it would seem that some are once again dreaming of strip malls lifestyle centers, and other things that just do not fit, do not make sense, and are even less trendy in this day and age that green wide whale corduroy.

At this point I normally tell a story that makes at least one good friend flinch and call me. One afternoon, sitting enjoying afternoon tea on her Veranda, we discussed Lakewood and Lakewood living. Her dream was that Lakewood would end up just like Tremont. A mythical place that I am still a little puzzled over, as I have known it and people that have lived there through its entire transformation. My old bar manager opened Literary Cafe, the first trendy thing in Tremont. I said "If you really yearn for Tremont, why not move there?" With a sigh she looked over her tea cup and said, "I just can't afford to, I bought in Lakewood, and for now this is where I will be. But if I could just reform Lakewood like Tremont, ALL of our lives would be better." As I picked up my sport coat on that warm afternoon I turned thanking her for the tea and biscuits and I said, "Do not fret it is only 10 minutes away on I-90."

As I drove away, it began to trouble me more and more. Why do people think so little of Lakewood, that they must constantly strive to change it for ALL of us. Especially when they seem to really yearn to live elsewhere? Now I really have no problem with trying to improve Lakewood, I really appreciate all that are willing to grab an oar and help the city row through troubled waters. But I always think back to the black silk shirt and those wide whale cords. I sometimes wonder why when so many volunteers are bailing the sinking boat keeping it afloat in these troubled waters, other do not grab the bail can but reach for the paint brush to put flourishes on the boat. Or as I have often said, frosting a cake that has yet to be baked.

No matter how we think, or how hard we dream, Lakewood is not Bay Village, Phoenix, Seattle, the Hamptons. While we can certainly learn things in all of those cities, rarely if ever, do they transfer directly to Lakewood. No matter how cute the sales person is, at the end of the day we must all look in the mirrors and see the buttons trying to separate themselves from the fabric. In the end, the residents should strive for comfortable FOR ALL, and changes that we can work and live in. Because after all that is what Lakewood is, and what makes us different from the entire rest of the region. A pocket of livability that is just minutes from Bay Village(6 minutes), Tremont (10 minutes), Crocker Park (10 minutes), Legacy Village (17 minutes), University Circle (19 minutes), Coventry (24 minutes), etc.. Having lived in Chicago and traveled the east coast, these numbers are similar to time spent on "on ramps" in other cities. You tell someone from Chicago that you can be anywhere in Cleveland in during Rush Hour in under and hour, and they picture a city the size of Milan, Ohio.

What I also think is amazing in this story that has gone on way too long, is that every city mentioned above, is now actually looking to Lakewood, for their "cool." They RIGHT NOW see Lakewood as the city to look too, for their future. They are amazed at our schools, our library, our art walks, our LEAF Community, at our engaged citizens, and yes at our paper. It is a very real lesson in "the grass is always greener on the other side of the street." What I tell these politicians, and civic leaders is, "Don't chase cool, do not focus on what is cool now, learn from others but always apply it in a way that makes sense to your city, it's residents, and will still work down the road. Be realistic, work with your community, and always make sure it fits."

It is usually now when they ask me to define "cool." I always tell them "cool is a word one of my very best friends use to slap me back to reality with a very simple, "Yeah, you are one cool dude."

Lakewood is unique, it is special, let's not ruin it by running off chasing cool, chasing Bay Village, chasing Tremont. Maybe, just maybe we can define "liveable" "comfortable" "workable" on our own terms, and like many of the very real organic movements in Lakewood, help others to learn how it applies to them.

FWIW


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[Bret Callentine]

nice post Jim,

I've said it before and I'll say it again. About 15 years ago, my wife and I decided on a change. We sat down with an atlas and a lot of blank peices of paper. We could have moved anywhere we wanted, but we wanted to make sure the next place we lived would be the place to raise a family and make long lasting roots.

We started with the entire United States to choose from, and we chose Lakewood, Ohio. And now that we've lived here for a while I can honestly say, that we definitely made the right decision.

That said. I don't feel the need to justify our decision to anyone.

If you don't want neighbors, don't live in Lakewood
If you don't want diversity, don't live in Lakewood
If you don't enjoy a walkable community, don't live in Lakewood
If you don't value a good coffee shop, don't live in Lakewood
If you aren't interested in having police, fire and a world class hospital within a few blocks, then don't live in Lakewood
If you don't appreciate parks, and pools, and the best damn public library on the planet, then don't live in Lakewood
If you don't dream of victorian houses at affordable prices, don't live in Lakewood

I could go on and on.

I've heard many people discuss branding and logos and signage, but in my mind: Lakewood=Home

And the only sign that I'd put on I-90 would be one that says, "Lakewood Next Three Exits - Mediocrity Keep Left"

[Donald Farris]

Hi,
Jim reading your post made me think of that salesperson you speak of and I'll bet that Adam Fishman and Randy Ruttenberg were the same with our former Mayor Madeline Cain. She was consumed by their flowery words while they were working hard to pay for their last mistake (Shaker Square).

The hard work of good people in Lakewood saved our City from millions of dollars being lost by stopping the flawed West End proposal. I'm sure you wish a good friend was with you in Coventry back then to have saved you from your personal equivalent loss.

Retail is dead. I would really like to meet the person pitching a new retail development in Lakewood today. What a person. He/She must think they are in Hooterville (reference to old TV Show and not big-breasted wings shop). I have heard of great salespeople able to sell lawnmowers in the desert. They must be in this class.

You mentioned a list of Cities some feel Lakewood should be like. Well, I always look for the best pieces that I think would move us forward long term. I believe Indian leaders always used a 7 generation rule when considering options. That's what Lakewood need to do. We are (or should I pray) getting a bunch of money for infrastructure projects. This money is a chubby raindrop. Its a 1 time thing. Lakewood's long term success will be impacted by how it is spent.

When I visit Harvard, I see a big part of Boston built on reclaimed land. Some wise leaders long long ago had the vision to give Boston more land and today it is a bigger City because of that.

When I go to Lake Forest, Il I see how they took a useless cliff - a danger to it's citizens and turned it unto a beautiful lakefront park and marina that is now enjoyed by all.

These are 2 examples of visionary projects done my great leaders who were not looking for immediate gratification for their personal political careers but were more concerns about their City's long tem success.

This is an amazing time in our Country's history. We are faced with huge challenges and given a Leader who appears up to it. Can lightning strike twice? Will we be blessed with local leaders that rise with the tide? I pray so.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi,
Jim reading your post made me think of that salesperson you speak of and

Don

Did not read your post by THE ONLY SALESPERSON I was speaking of was the hippie girl on coventry that had the ability to sell me clothes that never fit.

Every other reference to sales people was generic.

Please read nothing more into that than that.

I am inundated with calls and ideas from all over the place. The Lakewood Observer and the LO office has truly become the staging area for ideas from all over the world. Businesses, restaurants, street designs, projects, penisulas etc. all come here, and all are told the same. My honest opinion and "write it for the paper."

PLEASE read nothing more into my story then what I wrote.

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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
Yes Jim, I did read your post. CAREFULLY!

The hippie girl as you refer to her was clearly an excellent salesperson. She sold you what she was selling.

I also read this:

"Why I tell you this story it would seem that some are once again dreaming of strip malls lifestyle centers, and other things that just do not fit, do not make sense, and are even less trendy in this day and age that green wide whale corduroy. "

I know that those that worked hard to sell the dreams Centerpoint was selling never disbanded. They never will admit how wrong that bad idea was or how much that plan would have actually cost Lakewood. You know. Behind closed doors I know a keystone figure in that bad idea told you.

So, I did read your post and my post was addressed to it and the specific situation Lakewood currently faces.

[Jim O'Bryan]

So, I did read your post and my post was addressed to it and the specific situation Lakewood currently faces.

Don

I read yours only briefly on my way out to a wonderful lunch at Lakewood Tavern. $8.00 steak and a massive $4.00 burger!

I understand what you are saying now, and thank you. To be honest there is more than one group in town that is driving, and driving and driving and have never hit a single what alone a home run. These are also the "Santas" that I speak of in other posts. Everything done behind close doors, because they have learned the ideas just NEVER hold up to the vetting of the public.

This is why I also ask people to remember track records.

The other day a person who loves to challenge me and my ideas mentioned "At least they are trying something." This is such a backwards mediocre comment I did not even know what to say. That is when I came up with the sinking lifeboat story. 9/10ths of the people bailing and rowing, while 1/10 paint designs on the back of the sinking boat. The certainly are doing something, but...

We can do better, we are unique, and we need unique situations that FIT.

FWIW


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[Donald Farris]

Hi,
WOW! A steak and a burger. That's quite a lunch. I'll bet the animal kingdom breathes a sigh of relief on days you miss a lunch.

I hope local government follows our President's lead to operate in a new environment of openness.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hi,
WOW! A steak and a burger. That's quite a lunch. I'll bet the animal kingdom breathes a sigh of relief on days you miss a lunch.
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God gave me opposable thumbs, I try to use God's tools whenever possible to conquer those without.

Well except for monkey's on December 31.

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