Demolition of Hilliard Theater begins Monday?

[jackie f taylor]

I'd like to see photos of Lakewood in the 1950's, 1960's and the 1970's before everything went to hell. I'd like to know who was in charge, who made it possible, to remake Lakewood to the generic destination that may become, if we don't stop it now. today, a flea market of odd businesses' and pointless building, I may as well live in North Olmsted. I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN NORTH OLMSTED, NOT ONE MORE PROPERTY SHOULD BE TORN DOWN OR DEMOLISHED, OR REPLACED WITHOUT THE ENTIER COMMUNITY VOICING THERE OPIINIONS. Start a fund raiser if necessary,

including the Hilliard theater. I will be there Monday morning, trying to save it, it's not too late, bodies laying across the property will bring the police, the news camera's, the public. That building should be saved. is anyone with me? it is not to late, next Saturday will be too late.

[jackie f taylor]

I can't believe Lakewood is letting this happen. An eccentric theater, with apartments above, a restaurant, parking, what could be better? My new post, "Zombies in Lakewood, your all included.

[jackie f taylor]

would you rather have, those "Luxury Apartments" on Detroit Avenue? really? am I alone on this? If I were on board, if I had a voice, Lakewood would not allow any commercial modifications, demolitions, alterations, renovations unless it went by ME first. Not until every resident had a chance to speak their opinion. Starting With the Hilliard Theater property. Lets save it, it's not too late " SAVE THIS SPACE"

[jackie f taylor]

imagine, the entire property renovated, state of the art theater, fabulous apartments up stairs, leasing at two thousand, $2000.00 a month, or more, stylish local business downstairs in the storefronts, who lives above a theater? with a restaurant, with patio, a neighborhood destination, a wonderful location,

[jackie f taylor]

I will donate $5,000.00 to save the property.

[jackie f taylor]

I'm so fired up, let me not say any more, I've said too much already.

[Michael Deneen]

I am among Team Summers' harshest critics, and even I can't lay the blame for this one on their doorstep.
The deterioration of that place took place over decades, and the loss of the parking lot killed whatever meager chance it had.
It's important to distinguish between old buildings that financially viable (like the hospital) and those that are not (Hilliard Theater).

[m buckley]

Well I know at least one person in Lakewood who will be happy when its bulldozed:

According to Thomas George, former Lakewood mayor:

I recently bumped into a prominent Lakewood friend. And as I mentioned how great the city looked, he opined that if he had his way, he would plow under about 1/2 Lakewood

My question is, in a city that is rotting from the head down, who or what qualifies as prominent?

[Lori Allen _]

Again, it is painfully obvious that there is money to be made off of these demolitions. It appears that the more buildings that are torn down or deemed "nuisances", the more money Gus Frangos and Mike Summers get, supposedly for demolition. However, I suspect that someone's pockets are lined with at least some of these funds.

I would not necessarily argue the fact that this property in particular is beyond saving. Rather, my argument is that had City Hall made the owner (s) fix minor violations 10, 20, or 30 years ago when Gilman was inspecting the property, we would not be at this point. Better yet, maybe we could have come up with some funding to repair the property then, rather than letting it rot. I'm surprised City Hall didn't use their baloney excuse of "we can't find the owner" for this property.

I would really like to see all of the building inspection reports and correction notices for this property going back to 1980. Then again, the Records Committee probably shredded them by now.

The question is: how are we affording all of this? On top of an almost $1 million dollar fiber-optic phone system/play toy for Summers, the schools, and the library, we have also spent money on solstice steps, cars for city employees that could walk to work, and we are now shelling out I believe roughly $1 million to demolish this property. Actually, I recall hearing at a council meeting that the amount could be as high as $2 million to help demolish the theater. Then we have the $7 million gift we gave to CCF to tear down the south garage and medical building. The city cannot have any money left. Actually, that is evident by the gaping potholes in our streets, broken down garbage trucks, city-owned streetlights that the mayor says don't work, and on the list goes. Don't forget that we also paid for FitBits for City Hall employees. Why? I heard that there are issues with them, especially when they are combined with high contents of alcohol, tobacco, and Nicotine in the bloodstream!

Not trying to get off track, but wouldn't the data from City Hall's FitBits be public record? I know that the Ohio Supreme Court has held that fitness tests for employees do not qualify as "medical records" and must be released. I would like to see the data to, you know, see how we are doing with becoming the healthiest city in America!

[jackie f taylor]

Just asking, cause I don't know.. Could the owner have gone to the city and said, I'd like to get all the public assistance available for the restoration of this property, listed, a Historic landmark, in a target area, CDBG funds, start a fund raiser, go fund me, the last theater in Lakewood, would that have saved that building? ( maybe he did? ), an example, a testimony, about how you preserve Lakewood. whatever.

I don't know, I just thinking, something should have been done to save it, it didn't have a devastating fire, WATER, ok, it needs a roof, to start. I would hope the city would have offered every possible financial assistance or REBATE, tax incentives, any program available to help, why didn't I see any past reports on the Hilliard? him, and what happened?

So much potential, in that location, entertainment, a theater, more dining, 1 & 2 bedroom commercial flats, upstairs. What?
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

IMG_1946.JPG (2.63 MiB) Viewed 2690 times

IMG_1944.JPG (2.94 MiB) Viewed 2690 times

If you invested 3 or 4 million dollars, wouldn't the property be worth 4 or 6, or 7 million? not to mention, the positive vibe in the neighborhood, in the city.
sorry, I don't know how to rotate the picture.

[jackie f taylor]

I've seen too much destruction of Lakewood's unique commercial properties, I can't take it anymore, If there is not already an organization, then we need one. we need a voice, an entity of some sort, out in the public, a voice and opinion regarding the alteration, restoration and rehabilitation of any of Lakewood's original properties.

I'm old, nimble and confused, I can't put it together, but I can participate and make it great. save our history......

[jackie f taylor]

Located right at the cross way, X, a diamond in the rough" "The Hilliard Theater", Maybe, Italian Creation's will make that location great again? Dine in, take out, parties, catering, parking, fabulous food, sounds like the best solution to me.

Don't even think about demolishing the Board of Education building on Warren rd. across from the post office.

[jackie f taylor]

I've seen too much destruction of Lakewood's unique commercial properties, I can't take it anymore, If there is not already an organization, then we need one. we need a voice, an entity of some sort, out in the public, a voice and opinion regarding the alteration, restoration and rehabilitation of any of Lakewood's original properties.

I'm old, nimble and confused, I can't put it together, but I can participate and make it great. save our history......