Civic Accountability -- Honesty in Local Government IV

[Bridget Conant]

In response to questions about the value of the hospital site, a member of the city planning department responded:

The Lakewood Hospital Property at the southeast corner of Belle and Detroit has not been appraised. One good resource to reference to determine the land value is the appraisal done at the new Family Health Center site. The Family Health Center site, across the street, was appraised at $880,000 per acre.



Please let us know if there are any other questions.



Katelyn



Katelyn Milius, PE

City Planner

Department of Planning & Development

City of Lakewood

12650 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, OH 44107

So it is quite clear thecity has NOT appraised the property. They publicly admit it.

[Mark Kindt]

Thank you Ms. Conant for posting this confirmation from the city administration.

Public documents provided by our elected officials (Summers, Anderson) in 2016 state that the buildings and land of the former hospital site are worth $20,000,000.

The city planning department now reports that the approximate measure of value is $880,000 per acre, or $5,016,000.

(Calculation: $880K times 5.7 acres = $5,016,000).

The book value of the former hospital site on the City's books is likely to be different than either of these two numbers.

Therefore, citizens need to insist that the former hospital site be independently appraised so an accurate commercial value can be established.

Council and citizens deserve to have a full understanding of the size of the proposed public subsidies to the recommended developer.

[Stan Austin]

Just to add some light or explanation--- what is the typical cost of such an appraisal?

[Mark Kindt]

Mr. Austin, I cannot provide an exact estimate, but I will suggest to you that a commercial real estate appraisal would be substantially less expensive than the cost of the Environmental Phase I report that has already been completed.

[Mark Kindt]

Opinion and Commentary

In other local news today, the Third Amended Charter adopted last month was effectively rolled-out by City lawyers and immediately used to "steamroll" leading Lakewood citizens in the local appellate court.

[Dan Alaimo]

Opinion and Commentary

In other local news today, the Third Amended Charter adopted last month was effectively rolled-out by City lawyers and immediately used to "steamroll" leading Lakewood citizens in the local appellate court.

Mark, Could you explain? Thanks.

[Mark Kindt]

The newly adopted Third Amended Charter was argued as new legal grounds for the dismissal of the lawsuit brought on behalf of Lakewood citizens and taxpayers in 2015 to maintain operation of the hospital.

This use of the new charter against citizen litigation in this manner seems to vindicate those who commented here adversely to the adoption of that document.

The argument by the city administration is both surplus and tactless.

The tone of the brief itself is unnecessarily strong.

As usual, the opportunity for grace and magnanimity toward the vanquished was ignored.

--Sort of "Damn-the-public. Full-speed-ahead".

The was a missed opportunity for conciliatory language that might have been beneficial for all parties.

[Mark Kindt]

This concludes Series IV of "Civic Accountability -- Honesty in Local Government".

I thank each reader for your time, interest and commentary.

Wishing all the very best for the Holidays and the New Year!

[Bridget Conant]

Thank you, Mr Kindt!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!