GetGo at the Bunts Giant Eagle Site?

[Bill Call]

From a Giant Eagle view using the Giant Eagle site as a GetGo makes a lot of sense.

1. Their GetGo's are profitable.

2. Using the site for a GetGo leaves Giant Eagle without competition in Lakewood.

Hang on to your wallets!!!

From a community standpoint use of that site for a GetGo would be a disaster. Worse than a disaster, it would be a missed opportunity.

[Mike Deneen]

Why a disaster? We lost a gas station with the demolition of the "puff's" at Madison and Warren, so this would balance things out.

Plus, I hate driving all the way to RR to cash in my gas discounts.

You have no worries about lack of competion for Giant Eagle. Walmart will see to that. Plus, we still have plenty of alternative groceries in and near Lakewood with Aldi, Marcs, Heinens and Rego Brothers.

[Bill Call]

Why a disaster?

You have no worries about lack of competion for Giant Eagle. Walmart will see to that. Plus, we still have plenty of alternative groceries in and near Lakewood with Aldi, Marcs, Heinens and Rego Brothers.

First, you make an excellent point regarding competition. Giant Eagle will have plenty of competition from Walmart if Walmart is allowed to build. I am not a big fan of Walmart but they do offer very low prices. The food at Drug Mart is also a good buy. And as you rightly say, Aldi's and Rego's will also offer competition.

Second, the corner of Bunts and Detroit might be the single most valuable corner in Lakewood. It has easy access and high visibility. I just think that a different type of business would have some synergy that might encourage other development in a way a GetGo would not.

Perhaps in exchange for the City's cooperation in building a Getgo at some other location Giant Eagle would use that corner for something else. A Kohl's? A bookstore? An office building with a book store?

This is a great opportunity. I would see building a Getgo as a lost opportunity.

[Phil Florian]

What impact does the City of Lakewood have on the use of that corner? Is building a gas station as easy as digging a giant hole and putting in the needed tanks or are their certain licenses and regulations that must be met first? Are permits needed that only the City or County can issue for a certain property? Or not issue if it doesn't feel the need for such a service?

[DougHuntingdon]

<<<Or not issue if it doesn't feel the need for such a service>>>

If this has turned into the USSR then maybe I should move to Westlake or River. Anyone have any leads on good rental units there?

Doug

[Jeff Endress]

As I said before, I would be surprised if the GE site were turned into a GetGo.....it's across the street from the Tops, the site is too large for just a gas station, putting a Getgo there would sacrifice the remaining parking across ParkHaven Row, AND there plenty of space in the Top's lot (if reconfigured) to put a Get Go there.

It would make much better financial sense for GE to put a station on the Top's lot, and then free up the GE site to develop, as they see fit.

Jeff

[Phil Florian]

<<<Or not issue if it doesn't feel the need for such a service>>>

If this has turned into the USSR then maybe I should move to Westlake or River. Anyone have any leads on good rental units there?

Doug

Why? We have liquor licenses? They determine how many restaurants or bars can exist in a city that can legally serve booze. Is that too much like the USSR? I was thinking along those lines. What stops any company from digging up their property and dropping gas tanks underneath it? If anything? It was just a question. Sheesh.

And wasn't Westlake the city that voted not to have a Super KMart installed on Center Ridge Rd. a while back? You know, because the City (made up of citizens) didn't feel the need for such a store at that location. Communism in action!

[John Guscott]

I've heard Manor Park Sunoco will become the GetGo. Anyone else hear/confirm?

John Guscott

[David Lay]

I've heard Manor Park Sunoco will become the GetGo. Anyone else hear/confirm?

John Guscott

Seeing the size of other GetGo locations...probably not, the Sunoco spot isn't large enough.

[Kenneth Warren]

I heard something similar from a second hand source. GetGo will go into the Manor Park Sunoco, which will be sold. The motivation for the sale is that competition from a GetGo on Bunts would squeeze the business anyway. The ruling idea along the scuttle butt channel is that the Giant Eagle/Get Go Gas discount program will own the Lakewood market.

That may be so, and the Get Go at Manor Park would seem a preferred outcome from an economic development perspective.

That puts the current Giant Eagle site in play for a range of downtown development discussions. One person suggested a relocation of Marcs and expanded redevelopment into Warren and Grant School, or the relocation of Kaufman Park, and development of that site.

So GetGo at Sunoco is good news from the vantage point of economic development potential.

Again, this is all second hand. Caveat lector.

Kenneth Warren

[Chris Trapp]

Just the thought of relocating the Marc's plaza is enough to keep me up tonight. Since I've been in Lakewood, I've wished that the space where the parking lot is (south-west corner of Detroit-Warren) could be a town square park. I was at a couple of the early discussions when the Main Street group came to meet with Lakewood citizens about starting the program. We were asked to brainstorm about what would make our 'downtown' more vibrant. The top item on my list was such a park. The benefits of a space where people can lounge, play, read, meet, sleep, etc while shopping, at lunch, on the weekend, etc, etc are infinite.

There are many fine examples around the area, throughout the country and the world. The plazas and squares of Europe are some of the liveliest places I have been. A few that I've seen in the last month are in Oberlin, Hudson, and Burlington, Vermont. All have been heavily in use.

In my mind I see: trees, grass, paths, a fountain, benches, a playground, more trees, small areas to gather, public art, festivals, farmers markets... The whole site being used as a town square park might be a little much. Perhaps another use could fit in with the park - expansion of the schools or some development at the edge of the park. (Oops...does that sound too much like Crocker Park?) The board of ed offices and the post office could possibly be tied into the downtown area a little bit more this way. Because I'm dreaming, I'm not going to worry about parking for right now.

While improvements to Lakewood Park - namely more access to the water - would be fantastic to see, I think that a park in the center of town would have a much greater impact on the daily lives of Lakewood's citizens.

[Jim O'Bryan]

...While improvements to Lakewood Park - namely more access to the water - would be fantastic to see, I think that a park in the center of town would have a much greater impact on the daily lives of Lakewood's citizens.

Chris

I thought you were one of the lower taxes group? While there is no doubt that a park in the middle of town would be nice. what would it do to help aleviate any of the other problems we have heard about? Let's start with the money be dumped into Lakewood Park which is but two short blocks away? What does it do for the most valuable space in Lakewood, right off of I-90 and the center of town?

Are you ready to forget the thought of same taxes(as they will never be lower) for a gazebo? Are you ready for the same problems every other park in Lakewood has? Who are you building the park for? Is it the residents, or the crew of thirty that have turned Sinagra Park into Monkey Island as they use every inch of the park for skateboarding, bmx bikes, etc.

Just some random thoughts in a built out city.


.

[Bill Call]

That may be so, and the Get Go at Manor Park would seem a preferred outcome from an economic development perspective.

That puts the current Giant Eagle site in play for a range of downtown development discussions. One person suggested a relocation of Marcs and expanded redevelopment into Warren and Grant School, or the relocation of Kaufman Park, and development of that site.

The loss of Tops is an opportunity to rethink the whole idea of development.

Kaufman Park: Move the park to the frontage on Detroit across from the Library framed by the Chrisitian Science building and the Masonic Temple. Develop the current Kaufman Park.

Getgo: Why not a Getgo at the current Sunoco site near Rockport. By expanding into the current (and very substandard) area now occupied by the adjacent apartment buildings you would help the Rockport development.

Bunts and Detroit: Why not a Kohl's?

I am sure our Department of Development is already in contact with developers and designers to take advantage of this opportunity.

[Chris Trapp]

Jim,
Thanks for the response. I definitely don't have all of the answers regarding turning this space into a park, but I feel strongly that it would be of great long-term benefit to the city. For the sake of continuing the discussion, here are my answers to the questions you have posed.

Taxes: I have no problem paying taxes when the money is used responsibly. I know that buying the (extremely valuable) land we're talking about and creating a park would be a pricy proposition. It is definitely not the highest and best use for the land. I think that in terms of creating a 'walkable city' it would be a huge asset. Perhaps some development at the fringes could be created to offer some economic benefit. Selling the land or portions of the land occupied by other park(s) could significantly offset the cost of acquiring the property.

Problems Solved: I'm not sure what problems you are talking about - obviously it is not going to cure crime, parking, housing violations, etc.

Lakewood Park: There is nothing 'short' about the two blocks away that L. Park is from downtown...unless you're driving your car down Belle. As I said, nothing against development at Lakewood Park, but I would much rather see our tax dollars spent at a town square park than Lakewood Park.

What does it do?: I think it attracts Lakewood residents and those employed in the city to spend more time in the area. It increases the liveability and walkability of the city. It decreases traffic congestion in the city center(?). It directly detracts from the taxes collected by the city - unless current park area is developed. I suppose nothing immediate about it provides tangible economic benefit.

Problems with parks: I don't think you would have as many problems with a park in this prominent location as you do at other more remote parks.

Who it is for: You, me, dogs (!?), visitors, anyone who wants to use. I'd guess the skateboarders are residents. The fact that people congregate at the site is a sign that a park would be well received. As it is now, it is extremely limited in space and potential uses as it is mostly concrete - perfect for skateboarding, though.

[c. dawson]

You've got a point ... sure, the skateboarders congregate there, but if you pull up the concrete and replace it with grass, trees, and other green space, there's nowhere to ride skateboards ... and they'll move on to somewhere else!