ANNOUNCEMENT: New Logo for Downtown Lakewood

[Grace O'Malley]

I drove across the Detroit road bridge from River into Lakewood today. What a sight!

First, there is a sign for a new housing development on the river...on the Rocky River side! Its called 11 River and is being developed by the same company that built the ubermodern new housing in Little Italy.

Then you hit Lakewood and see a blighted, dumpy hole where the Cliffs should be, er I mean where Foran's Folly currently sits idle, and you just have to wonder.

We're spending money putting up unreadable signs to tell us where downtown is and help us find our way down Detroit when at the very threshold of our city, the gateway that either invites or repels visitors, we have nothing; no welcome signs, no hint of what shopping or dining is around, nothing. Now that's where "wayfinding" and signage would really be appropriate and have some impact.

Same old, same old.

[Gary Rice]

It's no secret that many little towns seem to have some sort of oligarchy in play. That, being a small group of relatively well-to-do citizens, who stand behind the scenes and make things happen.

Often they mean well. Sometimes, they don't.

I think that the difference in Lakewood, is that our oligarchy seems to have fractionalized into several groups.

Add to that, the very passionate and vocal leanings of those not in those groups, and then the pot starts to boil.

Abraham Lincoln wisely stated from Scripture, that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

And lately, it seems that ours is on shaky ground indeed.

Since the West End debacle and even before, the dynamics of Lakewood's political and sociological interplay has bordered on an only-barely nonviolent and most uncivil verbal war of words.

Perhaps this is all simply a reflection of our great national fracture of courtesy and resultant unwillingness to compromise.

Perhaps it's just a dollar grab with some, or a willingness to let the ends justify the means?

But one way or another, our 'Deck, and our city, appears to increasingly resemble an overgrown and very dysfunctional family.

Where's the leadership that will unify our city's purpose and direction?

Let's hope that Mayor FitzGerald is "getting" the huge disconnect between these various groups. He has quite a project on his hands in that regard, I do believe.

[stephen davis]

Charlie, again if they had chosen private funding for their follies, I, you, Steve, Gary, the mayor, the planning department would have ZERO to say. But that was not the case, instead they have chosen to build "their dream world" with our tax dollars. Completely different set of rules, as their should be.

I'm not even opposed to Lakewood Alive using public money to do some things. I just think City Hall, and Lakewood residents, need to monitor their projects and success rate. Dropping a LOT of money on this group may not be in everyone's interest.

I really appreciate LakewoodAlive's educational mission. I have been underwhelmed by "Mainstreet" projects. Mainstreet, LCPI, and LakewoodAlive always seemed to be the same people organized under different umbrellas and mission statements. Now that they are combined, and well connected, I hope they don't overstep themselves, or demand too much of us financially.

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[Jim O'Bryan]

Gary

It is simply not true, much of the things you are hinting at.

What is true is the lineage, that Jay hinted at.

As was said by two in the Rivera the night of the election, "We will
form a pac and bring it back again and again..."

Lynn Farris, Don Farris, the Tiemiskis and others saved the city over $25 million according to Planning Director Tom Jordan, who was a fan of the WestEnd, but realized just how bad and ill proposed the entire project was in the later stages, and upset over the misrepresentation.

Isn't it odd, that so many of these dismal plans have the same names the same modus operandi attached to them? Coffee clatches behind the scenes, the movement towards grabs of power and BAM! Another new way to make the city better just like "Crocker Park" no matter how much it costs us.

I have been a supporter of Mary Ann Crampton and her at LakewoodAlive until her meltdown earlier in this thread because one of the "unwashed masses" dare to ask how much. Then came in the insults, then Jay, showing that leopards indeed cannot change their spots. It is still "our way or the highway" Jim, errr "Jimmyville" shut up we do not need the Observers..."

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[sharon kinsella]

If you keep doing the same thing, the same way, over and over again, you're going to get the same results.


Gary - I know you like nice, but there is passive aggressive stuff that keeps happening and when it is confronted everyone gets uncomfortable.


Maybe it's time. I'm thought to be out there by the way I choose to communicate. When you stand in the middle of the road and say no more, some will stop and find out why, some will go around you or some will take their cars and go home so you can't talk to them.

Some of this top down stuff needs to stop. It's not working and it wastes time and money. Again there is work to be done and this window dressing doesn't hide what is going on here. Their is hope and so much potential here if people would get real about it. It's not hard to accomplish many large things, I've been a part of it before, so have you.

Our approaches may all be different, but, if we take our toys and go home and slam the door, nothing changes.

Maybe a little more courage is needed, vision, dreams of possibilities and renewal for our own.

[Dustin James]

Lakewood Hospital has promised me back to full health in 3-6 months if I listen.

Jeez Jim, I sincerely hope you get better and man, that is a heavy thing. Some bad bugs out there and I personally have been taking the flu vaccine for 5 years now...just in case (for at least one of them). Be well and shamans or whatever it takes to get there. You are a leader, like it or not. There are things to do and if I was able to be there, I'd help in person. So, keep up the great work and take care of yourself... so that you can!

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[Jim O'Bryan]

There are things to do and if I was able to be there, I'd help in person. So, keep up the great work and take care of yourself... so that you can!

Dustin

I have always known you are there if needed, and there if not needed. I will be fine, lost 32lbs last week! most of it fluid on the lungs and chest!

As for leaders, I know leaders, I hang with leaders, I am no leader. Kenneth Warren is a leader and one of the best people I have ever been associated with. When the Lakewood Little Theater was going to Westlake, everyone freaked, and made plans to keep it here. When Mr Warren announced his retirement ten years early, not a peep. This city might not know real leaders, they might even fear them. They might prefer the flash instead of the substance, hence "Downtown."

Thanks for the kind words.

peace

[Charyn Compeau]

Way off topic, but for what it is worth, I thought that Mr Warren was retiring to free himself up in order to become more involved with other community projects. It was simply unfathomable that there could be any other reason.

If there was, that is truly heartbreaking.

Back on topic, and forgive me for my ignorance, but if LA is receiving public funds for this project, how are those funds being accounted for? In other words, who determines the amount of the distribution and oversees their use?

Always,
Charyn

PS - back off topic, glad to hear you are healing, we will keep you in our prayers

[Jim O'Bryan]

Way off topic, but for what it is worth, I thought that Mr Warren was retiring to free himself up in order to become more involved with other community projects. It was simply unfathomable that there could be any other reason.

If there was, that is truly heartbreaking.

Back on topic, and forgive me for my ignorance, but if LA is receiving public funds for this project, how are those funds being accounted for? In other words, who determines the amount of the distribution and oversees their use?

Always,
Charyn

PS - back off topic, glad to hear you are healing, we will keep you in our prayers

Charyn

Ken will be able to speak for himself come July 2, for now he is retiring, and I feel that the man and his unbiased knowledge is far more valuable than any other entity in Lakewood.

I have never met a person more fair or deeper in knowledge than Mr. Warren, and to allow him to possibly slip away without any outcry from the city borders on insane, or if you know more, selfish.

But that is the key. More than one tax-payer has asked very simple question of a 501C3, that receives public funding. And instead of any real answer those tax-payers were attacked for being "shrill." Besides what the law states for 501C3, this just seems to me to border on obnoxious, possibly more. To have another founder of LA come in and further those attacks against residents and tax-payers is an outrage.

One of the things that bother me most about this is there are many very good businesses that support their efforts, including The Lakewood Observer. Instead of answering a supporter, we are informed, "they have other outlets..." Again, one starts to ask, what is being hid? I know many very good people on board, and again businesses like FFL, and the Hospital that have always had Lakewood's interest deep in their hearts, so why are they standing for this? How does this further their mission?

How tough are the three questions that drew their fire? How much did Spooky Pooch make?, How much does LA bring in from the city? What percentage does towards salaries and expenses? These are fair and legitimate questions that allow all taxpayers to judge effectiveness.

Steve Davis recently started to ask, more like demand that politicians should watch our taxes carefully. This again a legitimate statement in a city that has cut senior services, health services, meals on wheels, and others. Now we are told backyard pick-up must go. So what are we cutting and why, and for what. I got an email last week that pointed out that the mayor, and every single member of council, and much of the schoolboard are "members." While they were concerned of conflict of interest, I always prefer to think that it is merely a show, not a problem. But one can see how it is perceived, and as we both know perception is 99% of the problem in this world today.

Again, I am hoping this is merely a misunderstanding, as many on the LA board are friends, and people I respect. Again some of the businesses represent the best in Lakewood. Why should they be tarnished by a couple hot headed ill thought out comments from a couple founders?

Charyn, you and I have had many tough discussions on the deck, you have always been an advocate for the high ground and the down trodden. The fact that this has brought you in, signals to me, people on all sides are starting to sense something is wrong.

Thanks for the prayers.

Hope all is well with you.

You are missed, but welcomed.


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[stephen davis]

All about signs, colors, and flowers....

and so much more BEHIND those signs, I suspect....

Hmmm.

Where possible, we have to weed out our own gardens..
probably never as well as we would like to...
some weeds can be difficult to eradicate...

Who must tend the Lakewood garden?

Where's the leadership that will unify our city's purpose and direction?

Let's hope that Mayor FitzGerald is "getting" the huge disconnect between these various groups. He has quite a project on his hands in that regard, I do believe.

It is not Ed Fitzgerald’s job to unify the city on this issue. He, and all in city hall, have their hands full with providing SAFE and CLEAN with less money. That’s tough enough.

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[Bill Grulich]

I'd like to make this suggestion for a kiosk...




Bill Grulich

[stephen davis]

Last week, I watched a movie called “Helveticaâ€￾. My son bought it for me. It’s an excellent film about the typeface, Helvetica, that was created in the 1950’s. It’s a documentary that has been on PBS recently. Lakewood Public Library has it in their collection.

Helvetica documents the history of the development, use, and non-use, of the now ubiquitous font. It discusses modernist Swiss design and the post-modernist reaction to it, all the way through psychedelic art and the grunge design of the late 90’s. Designers in the movie ranged from those that ONLY use Helvetica, to those that wouldn’t use it if it were the last way to on earth to visually communicate language. One went so far as to blame the Viet Nam and Iraq wars on Helvetica. I will spare you discussion of design grids, negative space, etc..

I watched Helvetica with a friend who is a Lakewood based designer, with a degree in Graphic Design from KSU. My degree is in art, and I’ve worked in marketing, graphics, and the printing industry my whole life. We thought it would be fun to watch, just because of our interests.

We didn’t realize that this movie was going to be a metaphor for life, and the tension between order and chaos. It took us 3 hours to watch the 90 minute movie. We kept stopping to talk about design, the philosophies expressed in the numerous designer interviews in the film, and how these related to life, and most particularly, how this all related to life in Lakewood.

We talked passingly about the new “DowntowNâ€￾ signs’ design, but more about their intent, function, and meaning, within the context of Lakewood’s grid, environment, development, history, and culture.

We explored that tension between order and chaos, along with old and new, rich and poor, black and white, yin and yang, and comedy and tragedy. The intersections of these can be the ignition points for a fun, inspired, and interesting community, or life. That is where the energy is.

Lakewood has these intersections, and they can’t be defined by street signs like Warren and Detroit, or Elbur and Madison, or “DowntowNâ€￾.

Look at “DowntowNâ€￾. Geiger’s is a great, multi-generational business, with old-school service, that we are lucky to have in this era of faceless box stores. They easily fit into an eclectic environment like Lakewood, or more homogenous ones, like Chagrin Falls or Hudson. As discussed before, the new logo kind of fits the Geiger’s/First Federal image. All well and good, but does this even come close to a fit with Crazy Mullets, Dave’s Cosmic Subs, Lion in Blue, or the Phoenix?

Lakewood, “DowntowNâ€￾ or otherwise, is not downtown Hudson, or downtown Chagrin Falls. Lakewood sprang up from parallel trolley lines, new, wealthy, suburbanites, and a vast array of working class immigrants. Lakewood is an almost perfect grid with random development laid on top of it. The contrast is built in, and that’s what we’ve got, order and chaos.

I would hate for Lakewood, and its image, to be totally defined by people my age, or any particular demographic. How boring! Just look at the signs. Yawn. How about the kiosks? Would the kiosks provide information just about shopping and sanctioned events, and maybe not allow a posting about a death metal band at the Fantasy?

Do we know what brings and keeps people in Lakewood? What is the next generation of Lakewoodites looking for? Conservative, or quirky? Ken Warren has done some of the most important demographic studies of Lakewood during his time here. Have any of these development groups asked Ken about target markets?

I love Lakewood. It is my adopted hometown. I’m all for change, but we need to know ourselves well enough to exploit our strengths as we move forward. I’m all for just the right amount order that allows for some chaos. Those that have walked out of this conversation can’t seem to ride this tension through an honest and dynamic discussion about the present, or future, of this city, but they still want our money.


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[stephen davis]

At last night's council meeting Tom Bullock introduced legislation to allow Lakewoodites to keep chickens. This would be a very progressive act, as many more cities are making it legal. If we are to keep up with them we must allow this which is also a very green thing to do.

So that we can get a better feel of how it might work and feel we created this sign for outside of the DowntowN Area. As I had a friend that kept them illegally for years and he lived in the original "Clifton Park" I made sure this was historically accurate.


A

or


B

Please Vote Today


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I was corrected through a PM by a person that understands this.





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Jim,

Sorry. I know you moved these to the "ANNEX" thread, but with 221 replies, and almost 14,500 views of this signage thread in about 2 weeks, I figured people people over here would be interested interested in seeing your beautiful work, and commitment to the community.



Everyone else,

Please keep posting chicken comments on the "ANNEX" thread, not here.

Thanks.




Steve


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[Gary Rice]

And here I was, thinkin' that Steve was gonna' start bringin' up some kind of good cheese.

I love cheeze.

Kinda reminds me of Lakewood's sign discussion.

But I can't figure out whether that cheeze

would be bleu, brie, American,

...or Limberger.

[Gary Rice]

Sorry Stephen,

But even though you're a great guitarist, and a memorable acquaintance.

As far as where I post what, my respectful response is simply:

Bwaaak Bwak Bwak Bwak BWAAAAK!....