"Re-Imagine" That! It's A Done Deal Mixed-Used Development In Lakewood

[Brian Essi]

The "economic development" that has been baked and steered for nearly 6 years is going to be "Re-Imagined" by July of this year--according to Summers' now public statements to the press.

Summers will cram another fake public process into the next 5 months and out will come the developer that has had the inside track from the beginning on a mixed use development at the hospital site.

Summers is following the script like Ted Baxter reading his lines on the Mary Tyler Moore Show--"Take off glass and look concerned."

Here is a pic of Summers pretending to interpret the public feedback at the University of Akron fake public input thingy in the Summer of 2015:

IMG_0033.JPG (1.46 MiB) Viewed 3764 times

But my sources at City Hall told me it was a mix-use development in March, 2015---5 months before the Univ. of Akron fake show--an I was late to the show.

Meanwhile, the "Rubber Stamp" City Council President sits on his hand waiting for orders to get this baked deal done.

http://www.onelakewood.com/wp-content/u ... -Final.pdf

[Michael Deneen]

I don't think they have a deal in hand...if they did, they'd be bragging about it.
It looks to me like they are stalling for time.

[Bridget Conant]

I tend to agree with Mike. They've had people look over the site. I suspect developers are underwhelmed at developing a 5.7 acre parcel that the mayor apparently thinks will "transform" the city.

Who would want to live up to that expectation?

[Brian Essi]

I disagree. Look at the RFQ and Schedule in the RFQ.

It is designed to look "underwhelming"---kind of pathetic and amateurish--the site really is not very attractive except to some insider who has been looking at it for a long time--not less than 5 weeks to put a plan together in response to a February 6, 2017 RFQ that came out of nowhere.

Why would they limit this to mixed used if they thought they would have no bidders?

Why would you have such a short search period if you thought you would have trouble attracting a developer?

This is a "greased" deal and has always been a "greased" deal.

In my opinion, the winner has already been determined.

Summers and Dr. Bronson spoke about economic development at the site in 2011.

Why would David Stein's employee have told someone in March, 2015, that David has the landscaping design contract and had already finished the plans?
You can't plan landscaping unless there is already a site plan in existence.

[Michael Deneen]

One thing we know for sure.....City Hall doesn't give a damn what citizens think.
This event will be pure "dog and pony show".

[Jim O'Bryan]

How many times can they run this tired old trick past the residents of Lakewood? So the mayor acted secretly for almost a decade and never thought it through? The squirrels of commercial economic development have been salivating over their take of the booty for 6 years with no plans.

Sorry I have seen "The Force" from you kids too many times.



Their act is getting very, very, very old.

.

[Brian Essi]

The Summers Administration hired "4ward Planning" to conduct a market study (below).

The campaign theme on Issue 64 was "Forward."

How many members of Council were aware of and took part in or had knowledge of the "4ward Planning"?

"Reimagine" that.

http://www.onelakewood.com/wp-content/u ... -Study.pdf

[Brian Essi]

From the RFQ:

"The commencement of negotiations does not commit the City to accept
any or all of the terms of the proposal, and negotiations may be terminated by the City at any time, in which
case the City reserves the right to enter into negotiations with other proposers."

Hmmm

Reimagine that!

[cameron karslake]

Years ago, Lakewood had a very unique look and feel to it's commercial areas, Detroit and Madison. It was quite shocking actually, coming from Chicago, where it's basically a free-for-alll aesthetically and visual chaos reigns.

Slowly, Lakewood has succumbed to the same disjointed, hodge podge look of most cities in this country. The CCF's FHC design belongs more in Dubai than in Lakewood, OH., and that's a shame. What has set us apart, we have let evaporate right in front of our eyes. What else would you expect from spineless "leaders"?

Re-imagine a faceless Lakewood, a generic Lakewood? This is this something we are supposed to get excited about?

No thanks.

You guys can ruin Lakewood w/o my help. So far, you've done a great job!

[Dan Alaimo]

I find it hard to imagine or re-imagine that investors/developers were not lined up before the City made its deal with CCF.
Why else would they reject an offer (Metro) that would have kept a hospital and a much wider array of medical services in Lakewood for the long-term future than the CCF plan.
It's unimaginable, and also un-re-imaginable.

[Bridget Conant]

Remember the West End!

I recall one of the retailers touted to be in the mix for the shopping center was a Mikasa store. You know, because we all need fancy dishes, right?

Mikasa no longer has any bricks and mortar locations - all sales are online.

So typical

[cmager]

I find it hard to imagine or re-imagine that investors/developers were not lined up before the City made its deal with CCF. Why else would they reject an offer (Metro) that would have kept a hospital and a much wider array of medical services in Lakewood for the long-term future than the CCF plan. It's unimaginable, and also un-re-imaginable.

It's crazy! Where else can anyone find a FIVE point SEVEN acre site at the center of it all? It will make Lakewood.Alive!

[Brian Essi]

Why else would they reject an offer (Metro) that would have kept a hospital and a much wider array of medical services in Lakewood for the long-term future than the CCF plan.
It's unimaginable, and also un-re-imaginable.

It must have been to help "those people."

Reimagine all "those people" coming across 117th Street coming to the new city center and living in peace with Plantation and Cotton right across the street.

This is the "Big Dreamer" "Thinking Big" and he's not the only one...

[m buckley]

" Just Gimme Some Truth."

[Dan Alaimo]

Why else would they reject an offer (Metro) that would have kept a hospital and a much wider array of medical services in Lakewood for the long-term future than the CCF plan.
It's unimaginable, and also un-re-imaginable.

It must have been to help "those people."

Reimagine all "those people" coming across 117th Street coming to the new city center and living in peace with Plantation and Cotton right across the street.

This is the "Big Dreamer" "Thinking Big" and he's not the only one...

Or imagine/re-imagine a Lakewood resident/Metro patient, walking to the facility.
Has everyone here heard of the CleCare Metro/Med Mutual HMO-style offering? It's more reasonably priced than other insurances and the quality of Metro's health care is quite good.