"Catching the Light in Lakewood"

[Paul Schrimpf]

Can't speak to the process, but it highlights the incredibly important distinction between "renovation" and "restoration." There are few architectural rules with the former. Clearly this is a renovation ... it's been neutered, with virtually no sensitivity to the architectural integrity of the original. Most people will just see a squeaky clean structure and be fine with it, but it's not what Grace Ave. deserved. Then again, we care about these things more than most.

Historic preservation has not been a hallmark for the city. Either it's a priority or it's not.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Historic preservation has not been a hallmark for the city. Either it's a priority or it's not.

Same people at Historical Society that are pushing for new developments, and tear down of historic structures.

They have a ton of money, yet nothing for historic preservation of Hall House, Heideloff Home, even the historic skate structure is up for grabs if the isptrical Socisty backs the looting of Lakewood Hospital, they will get a new 2 floor air conditioned structure where the skate house sits.

You cannot serve two masters.

.

[Ian Andrews]

Morning Alex,

It was good to see you at Spooky Pooch this past weekend. Thanks for coming to the event and taking such great photos.

Thought I'd jump in to clear up a few things. LakewoodAlive is not an extension of municipal government. We partner with the City of Lakewood on many projects but we are an independent 501(c)3 community development organization. We receive Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds from the City of Lakewood to support our Housing Outreach work that focuses primarily on providing services to ensure low-moderate income individuals and families are living in healthy and safe environments. We fundraise for the remainder of the Housing Outreach budget from foundations, institutions, and individuals. Those funds support programming like the Knowing Your Home Educational Series, Community Engagement in Birdtown and Scenic Park, volunteer projects and much more including supporting single family redevelopment of vacant and abandoned properties (like the Grace and Mars projects) which ultimately leads to vibrant neighborhoods, one house at a time.

For decades, the boarding houses at 1436 Grace and 1446 Mars Avenue were problem properties with numerous calls to police, fire and EMS. The way in which they had been chopped up was unbelievable. I'm proud that we were able to partner with the City of Lakewood and Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization to save these homes from the wrecking ball, ensuring both pre-1910 homes were not only in tact but brought to new life. Vacant homes depreciate housing values on a street and even a vacant lot will depreciate (at a lesser rate) surrounding property values. These two homes represent several hundred thousand dollars of investment instead of what might have been two empty lots. They are both unique in their own right, with different owners and different general contractors.

The new owners of 1436 Grace Avenue fell in love with a home no one else wanted to tackle. They saw the possibilities amidst a home that was sagging inward on itself. They wanted to make this a home their family could enjoy for years to come. They took on this major challenge and now they have their "forever home" which they will move into this Saturday. They were able to use the Heritage Home Loan, a program of the Cleveland Restoration Society and First Federal Lakewood, to create the home of their dreams. CRS has been just as involved in the rehab process, approving the process and disbursing funds throughout the different stages of the process. This project has had oversight from several organizations, helping to preserve the home and help the homeowners realize their dreams. The contractor had 18 months to complete the project, per Cleveland Restoration Society, and have completed the job in about 15 months, well in their allotted time.

Allison and I hosted open houses and personal tours, all days of the week including Sunday's. If someone indicated the potential to be a serious buyer, we were there making every effort to take them through the houses. Nearly 200 people went through these homes and we made every effort to accommodate. Mind you, the homes lacked heat and these showings were during the Polar Vortex of 2013-14. Sample floor plans were developed for both properties, which we paid for, to help give potential buyers a vision for what the properties could become. We even went so far as to shovel after heavy snowfalls and we didn't even own the properties. We staged them with our personal holiday decorations, changed light bulbs and smoke detector batteries. The commitment we felt and still feel to these homes and the neighborhoods cannot be understated.

We all love this community and take a certain level of ownership over things outside of our own properties. It's what makes folks in Lakewood so passionate about this city and that's great. What each person does with their home however, is up to them. I might not like what someone else does with their house but it's still their house.

I welcome the chance to speak with you further about remedying issues between you and the contractor and/or owners. I also encourage you to speak with your new neighbors. All Phase General Construction has done a nice job and it's been to the satisfaction of the owners. This project has not been without issues but no project ever is. I have spoken with other neighbors when they called and reached out with concerns. We visited the project site on a semi-regular basis but ultimately, it's up the owners to guide the vision of this project because it's their house. I'm proud to call Jim and Lillian our new friends and welcome them to Lakewood. I hope you all will welcome them too.

Regards,

Ian Andrews

[Bridget Conant]

I'm proud that we were able to partner with the City of Lakewood and Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization to save these homes from the wrecking ball, ensuring both pre-1910 homes were not only in tact but brought to new life. Vacant homes depreciate housing values on a street and even a vacant lot will depreciate (at a lesser rate) surrounding property values. These two homes represent several hundred thousand dollars of investment instead of what might have been two empty lots.

I find it curious that such expense and time is put toward two admittedly obsolete properties to "save" them yet Lakewood Alive seems to support the wrecking ball hitting the hospital. Certainly, the hospital is far more valuable, has a greater impact on the vitality of the city, and was in a less deplorable condition, having been regularly updated and remodeled.

[Alex Belisle]

"All Phase General Construction has done a nice job and it's been to the satisfaction of the owners."

Sorry, but this is not true. And they destroyed our backyard fence. The oversight you mentioned was never witnessed by us and the 15 months you mentioned boiled down to the rush job they've down in the last 2 weeks. As far as I'm concerned, All Phase Construction basically blew through through Jim and Lily's budget by doing nothing for many months, making my family and I wonder "What are they doing over there?"

[Alex Belisle]

In a more positive "light", my B&W studies always bring me back to Gaudi's wonderful shapes and precocious vision when I visited Barcelona, Spain. This is a Gaudi staircase in his inimitable style.

[Gary Rice]

Great shot, Alex!

Reminds me of a Cartier-Bresson photograph. Light and shadowing are often just as important as compositon and subject matter.

When I studied the photographic arts, I was drawn to the candid masters of photography. Cartier-Bresson was one of those pioneer 35mm "capture the moment" people. He, Alfred Eisenstaedt, W. Eugene Smith, David Douglas Duncan, and a number of other photojournalists were my heroes as I honed my own photographic skills back in the day.

Back to the camera, err, banjo...

[Heidi Hilty]

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Same people at Historical Society that are pushing for new developments, and tear down of historic structures.

They have a ton of money, yet nothing for historic preservation of Hall House, Heideloff Home, even the historic skate structure is up for grabs if the isptrical Socisty backs the looting of Lakewood Hospital, they will get a new 2 floor air conditioned structure where the skate house sits.

Jim,
This will most likely be my last post ever on the Deck. I just can't stomach the uncivil discourse anymore. However, before I go, I must object to your post above. Your lack of knowledge about the mission and finances of the Lakewood Historical Society is astounding. Please visit http://lakewoodhistory.org/aboutus.htm for information about what the Lakewood Historical Society does. In full disclosure I am a former board member and have served on both standing and ad hoc committees with LHS. I'd like to know where you think the pot of unrestricted money is to fund purchase/restoration of properties . Second, anyone is eligible to become a member of the LHS and to offer their time, talents, or support. Instead of just making an unsubstantiated claim, why not get involved with the organization and see what's going on? JMO.
Always,
Heidi

[Alex Belisle]

Once again, I "caught the light" of Vincente Chinor's elegant designs one can see in his salon window on Detroit Avenue

[Alex Belisle]

I'm tired of people who demand that the coach be fired when they have a losing team, especially when it relates to a team of student-athletes. Sports is a life lesson not taught in the classroom but on the field of competition. It's not simply winning or losing.

As a new resident of Lakewood and a former NYC HS basketball coach, I can say one thing about our athletes that should make all Lakewoodites proud - they are the most resilient, hard working and positive group of young men I've seen in my career as a teacher, coach and professional sports photographer (NIKE Basketball). Where others would complain, get at each other, give up and have bad attitudes, these young men have stood tall despite their losses and many injuries.

Lakewood should be proud of them and their coaches.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... e-football

[Alex Belisle]

I love this shot! I caught the light of pure joy as the Lakewood Boys Soccer team celebrated their victory over St. Edward HS to advance in their division.

[Alex Belisle]

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... -edward-hs

[Alex Belisle]

Love it when I can "catch the light" of people's personalities in my photos: Michael Skindell and Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich. She was listed as one of the "Sexiest Women in Politics" by Esquire magazine

[Alex Belisle]

11/13/15

As some of you know, my wife took a fall and it resulted in a bad ankle break. But thankfully, Lakewood EMS arrived quickly, did a professional job and took us to nearby Lakewood Hospital where we were treated in an exceptional manner compared to hospitals we have gone to in NYC. I don't think some people in Lakewood realize what a jewel they have here!


Plus we didn't have to wait long for surgery (next morning) and didn't have to travel to another hospital. Dr. Roberts said, "Sure, we do surgery here and our facilities are quite good."

But the "light" I caught recently is disturbing. In speaking to my home care therapists who come and help in my wife's recovery, I've learned that Lakewood has a VERY serious drug problem. One of my therapists has been in a home while DEA made a drug raid while he was there! Another time, he was told to wait outside the front door before coming in while they hid their drugs which were in plain sight through the front window. Other times he has seen parents using drugs in the presence of their children.

Some zip codes are so dangerous in Cleveland, that there are days when the Cleveland Clinic tells them not to make their appointments. And in my Ward (4), crime is steadily encroaching across 117th. In Manhattan we say, wait til it crosses 110th St. Another fact which I knew but is disturbing is the legal preponderance of gun possession. Everyone owns one and it's considered a necessary household item.

Oh, how the bucolic, utopian vision of Lakewood is slowly crumbling around me. No different really than NYC where I lived all my life, just more visible due to its smaller size. Lakewood's compact dense size is like a lens on my camera that magnifies what it sees.

Yes, I'm "catching the light" and catching it in manifold quantities. What's also disturbing (just like in NYC) is the amount of cognitive dissonance I've encountered in regard to items surrounding the most recent election (my 1st in Lakewood) That's not going to go away. Willful ignorance will always stay with us as long as poor education and the allure of money are driving forces.

That's it for now. I'm going to "catch some light' at Cleveland Museum of Art but with a light field camera (Lytro Illum) where I have an infinite depth of field. I just wish I had an infinite depth of patience and understanding. But that's what life is all about , isn't it? Growing in grace, understanding and compassion.

Fiat Lux!

[Gary Rice]

Alex, my friend...

I hope you're not going to turn into one of those people who think of Lakewood as being a "half-glass" town?

You know the old saw: Are we half-full of good, or half-full of evil?

One thing's for sure, a half-filled glass does tend to splash about, does it not?

...And in that respect, our Lakewood "glass" seems to do quite well.

In the West, we tend to view so much in black and white, polar opposite, good and evil terms. Eastern martial arts, philosophy and metaphysics, on the other hand, use symbols like the yin-yang; where there are supposedly few true opposites in life, but rather that- oftentimes, the dynamics of change involve a symbiotic and even necessary relationship between those opposites. Even in our western world and even in Biblical literature, we see examples of opposing interactions, like when God and the Devil discussed testing Job's faith.

Look, Lakewood and every other community has had it's "drug" problems since the beginning of time. Dad used to tell me of the existence of problems with drugs and alcohol even before WWII. From the time we arrived in Lakewood in the late 1950's, there was always scare talk about "drugs", as well as scares about the "other side" of w.117th, and yes, once in awhile, there would actually be problems in that area, as there continue to be problems once in awhile in Lakewood or quite likely, whatever other place you might care to name.

(By the way, from Lakewood's perspective, w.117th is named Highland Ave.)

Our Mayor was re-elected for a very simple reason. Most of the voters felt that, on the whole, he was doing a VERY good job for this city. On that, I cannot disagree. For the single-issue voters, the hospital issue has, and will always, loom large, but even that situation is still very much on the table, and in the days, weeks, and months to come, that will also unfold as it will, and I suspect that at the end of it all, we could well keep our hospital.

Bottom line, to me at least, would be that Lakewood remains much more LIKE the wonderful place we arrived at in the late 1950's than it would seem to be so very different. I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses either. This place is indeed what it is, but to me, Lakewood's much more of a yin yang than it would be a land fumblingly awaiting some vaguely defined onrushing evil force. Perhaps the best illustration of Lakewood's positive forces would be with the wonderful kaleidoscope of our schools, and Lakewood's children, who above all else, represent our best hope for the future.

Of course, they need our help, and you as much as many people, have done so much for them this year!

Back to the banjo...