PD: Lakewood=mecca for creative talent

[Tom Bullock]

Today's PD profiles a Lakewood creative talent above-the-fold in its Arts & Life section: Mike Polk, a 29 single comedy writer choosing Lakewood over LA and New York. He flies to his HBO-writing job rather than move away.

The story confirms what we've discussed here on the Deck:

--Lakewood is a mecca for creative talents--who knew such a star lived here? What other undiscovered treasures does Lakewood hold?

--Lakewood is a lovable, livable community. Polk prefers "his $300-a-month attic apartment in Lakewood" and doesn't want to drop "the kickball league he started"--sponsored by Lakewood's own Corky's.

Here's a link to the full story:
http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1166089524132960.xml&coll=2

One part I find truly inspiring: Polk says a role model "told aspiring comics, 'Do your own material for yourself. Create your own world. Don't work or write for someone else's bit.' " The reporter says, "Polk has followed that advice tirelessly."

Good for him! Let's follow his example throughout the whole City. I think the Observer project very much lives by this credo.

[Jim O'Bryan]

[list]--Lakewood is a mecca for creative talents--who knew such a star lived here? What other undiscovered treasures does Lakewood hold?

Good for him! Let's follow his example throughout the whole City. I think the Observer project very much lives by this credo.

Tom

Lakewood is rightfully mentioned in many historical publications as the home of Punk. Also I know of at least 42 bands that have have at least two CD's out that have at least one member living here in town. I know of at least 3 recording studios in town. Recently the hybred PereUbu/DeadBoys/Rocket from the Tombs, came to Lakewood to practice from the upcoming tour and show, and write their new CD. This would be their tour of Brazil and Asia.

This is just the tip of a very creative iceberg in this town.

Another reason why I question moving anyone out of a home for the dreams of one person. As I have pointed out, Lakewood is a very unique ecosystem, much like a coral reef. This is also why I toughly question wash-a-shores that arrive, walk a couple blocks and start changing for their own personal needs, with no history, context, no true view of what Lakewood has. What we are rich in and what really makes us tick and different from the rest of the area.

FWIW

[Shawn Juris]

While it's great and all that someone who claims he thinks he has a long shot at best of breaking through prefers to live in an attic in Lakewood than move to LA, I'm not sure what the "wash-a-shores" could do to ruin this guy's trip. Artists of any kind are typically creative or else their really just unemployed and feel they need a title in life. But let's not fall to diverting the city's future so those who chose to be "starving artists", "struggling comics" or "anarchists punks" can have someplace to call home. I have a hard time imagining that as the establishment's vision. Is there a place for galleries, recording studios, theaters and such in Lakewood? Absolutely. Does this mean that development should stop for the horned owl living in a tree (or someone living in an attic in this case)? Nope. I'm sure we can compromise to allow Corky's and a kickball field to stay no matter what.
Being creative can mean finding a way to keep a city well financed, well populated and authentic. Hopefully, soon there can be an article written about Lakewood that addressed that topic. I'll stop posting if that solution is increasing the number of 29 year olds living in attics.

[ryan costa]

The online independent comic collective Act-i-Vate publishes the online comics of many people who have congregated in or near New York City.

If such people congregated in Lakewood, it would raise Lakewood's profile enough to attract the Reality Tv Shows. Once you have Reality TV programming on MTV, MTV2, Much Music, Home and Garden Channel, and shows with a lot of C list or former A List Celebrities getting together to fuss over dogs, interior design, fashion, or flower gardens, fine dining, music, Micro-breweries, etc, - it generates enough attention to attract an initial immigration of upper middle class and independently wealthy people to set off real estate speculation that lasts at least a few years.

The secret is to not blow the sudden appreciation in rent and real estate on expensive infrastructure projects and entangling projects.

[Jim O'Bryan]

While it's great and all that someone who claims he thinks he has a long shot at best of breaking through prefers to live in an attic in Lakewood than move to LA.

Shawn

While being ridiculed for the "Designer Haven" by Joan, the facts remains if you ad the just the designers I know in this city puts you past big money. Throw in artist, writers, media, production, and musicians you get a pretty big chunk of change from income and spending. It transmits a positive enlightened city. It build the brands, it adds not subtracts. It is a very important part of the tapestry. It would also seem to be something you think is not important. But you were gun ho on the Beck. Mixed messages. Pay 23 million for kids art, or tax 23 million for roads.

Again if I have to drive to River for slacks and it keeps one of the arts in town, I'll bite the bullet for the team.

.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Shawn

Touch base on a couple points.

I am not against development. I just would like it to be pretty non-invasive, and not be a 30-70 deal, with a 30% chance of doing anything, against the 70% upsetting the apple cart.

I had the pleasure of running into Bill Call at the Library yesterday. It turned into a half hour conversation. Bill is a fascinating guy. We look at things from completely different angles, but often arrive at the same place. Over the past couple months i have been taking an informal survey, about where Lakewood is, where it is heading in the near future, and what makes it different from the rest of the suburbs.

The responses always bring a smile to my face, while all regions around the lake are taking a hit, and Cleveland is taking a BIG hit. Lakewood has stayed even, and even continues to gain in positive charts. Percentage wise Lakewood is holding it's own in home sales. We have new businesses and developments outpacing closing businesses and development in other "inner ring" suburbs around the Great Lakes.

We are a mecca for the arts, always has been. for intellectual capital always has been, for safe family living, always has been. This has worked for the city for a long time. That is while hundreds of fads come and go. Safe, clean enjoyable places to live are always needed. Safe, Clean, Enjoyable actually attracts people to a city. We should use these positive attributes to help market the city to whoever, residents and business.

I know God will strike me down for even using this term, but... Safe, Clean, Enjoyable living, is the low hanging fruit in Lakewood. Right now, the city is about 15,000 residents light from are record population. Think of the buying power of 15,000 people. Think of what it would add to this city. The infrastructure is already in place, we know the city can handle it. We know we have parks, rivers, fresh water, schools, libraries, restaurants, that will also help.

Another low hanging fruit are DL's Art Zones, while I am not sure of the segmenting of the city again, instead of just declaring the city an ART ZONE. It is a no brainer. One might say from your comments, your dream come true. When an area is an Ar Zone Property Values rise so fast that "artists" are usually priced out of the area. A home that sold for $37,000 in Tremont was sold last year for $317,000. I am still shaking my head. Tremont is not Safe, nor Clean, and barely enjoyable. But they had the fore thought to understand in the "battle of cities" building and projecting a brand is not a crime, but common business sense.

Speaking of, as all of these zones are artificial in nature and used for finding funding more than anything else, can't we just declare the city a historical, art, development, educational, designer, silicon, health zone?

"Lakewood, the city the world comes to get life right. Mecca for the arts, science, technology, family life, and recreational lifestyle for over 100 years. Isn't it time you enjoy your life again?"

.[/list]

[dl meckes]

Changing the zoning for the entire city would upset the applecart. It would detract from the flava of the 'wood.

It makes more sense to look carefully at what we already have, at "natural" development, and think about what would fit well and enhance an area before we push forward.

Speaking of, as all of these zones are artificial in nature and used for finding funding more than anything else, can't we just declare the city a historical, art, development, educational, designer, silicon, health zone?

We probably could, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense and I don't think it would be good for Lakewood as a whole. Again, it's about enhancing what we have. All of Lakewood isn't the same and I don't want to make it all the same. I don't think you do, either.

[Shawn Juris]

Jim
I think it's pretty clear that we don't agree on this topic. Thanks though for editing out the first paragraph, you really threw me with that rant. Anyway, 15,000 more will undermine your claim of safe and clean, just think of the number of cars alone. Second, I understand that it's the easy way out to make a straw man argument, but this is not a matter of development or the arts. I'll ask again, what could the "wash a shores" possibly propose that would negatively effect the individual in the article. And please don't jump back to the exaggerated version of turning Lakewood into Crocker Park. We both know that there are certain elements that would be protected so let's talk about realistic possibilities. If there are aspects that you think should be protected, I'd recommend dropping a note to the Main Street program.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim
I think it's pretty clear that we don't agree on this topic. Thanks though for editing out the first paragraph, you really threw me with that rant. Anyway, 15,000 more will undermine your claim of safe and clean, just think of the number of cars alone. Second, I understand that it's the easy way out to make a straw man argument, but this is not a matter of development or the arts. I'll ask again, what could the "wash a shores" possibly propose that would negatively effect the individual in the article. And please don't jump back to the exaggerated version of turning Lakewood into Crocker Park. We both know that there are certain elements that would be protected so let's talk about realistic possibilities. If there are aspects that you think should be protected, I'd recommend dropping a note to the Main Street program.

Shawn

15,000 does not undermine anything. Lakewood had that amount before without safety problems.

A good example is strip mall. Do you want to live next to one? So it goes in and people start to move out because of traffic, etc. Property values drop instead of going up and the whole thing falls apart.

Why would I drop a note to mainstreet instead of the city. The planning department runs what happens. Mainstreet from my understanding is managing the mall.

There did it without Crocker Park or going overboard.

There is still a ton of room for positive developemnt that adds to the city.

OK would you want to move your family into a city that grabs property and builds retail possible right to your house?

How do you attract people or businesses to buy and invest in your city if it is in a constant state of flux and change.

Did you move to Lakewood for your family or your shopping?

Which matters more, family or shopping.

Have you heard the reports from Great Northern and Crocker. Right now they are calling it a crime spree. Cars broken into, people being robbed, shoplifiting. Hown many more police are needed at what cost for more stores? We know we have enough for 15,000 people.

It is so easy to say, we need retail, but the support to make that retail viable can be a real kick in the butt. Are you ready for a raise in taxes for those pants?

Just a thought.

[Shawn Juris]

Jim,
I find it hard to sift through the BS in this post. It all seems bogus, whether it's how traffic for a shopping mall will be negative yet traffic from 15,000 more residents is okay, or the baseless sensationalism of the crime sprees and false sense of security that our safety patrols and infrastructure could handle another 15K without any additional expense.
But then again part of building a brand is generating blind loyalty in the face of better price or bettter quality so I guess we should take it in stride.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim,
I find it hard to sift through the BS in this post. It all seems bogus, whether it's how traffic for a shopping mall will be negative yet traffic from 15,000 more residents is okay, or the baseless sensationalism of the crime sprees and false sense of security that our safety patrols and infrastructure could handle another 15K without any additional expense.
But then again part of building a brand is generating blind loyalty in the face of better price or bettter quality so I guess we should take it in stride.

Shawn

Seriously, where is the BS. I was just informed tonight that population hit 71,000 at one point. The roads we driver on handled that traffic. That is 15,000 people buying in Lakewood. That means shops like Lion n Blue get at least 10 more shoppers, maybe more out of the 15,000. 10 more buyers at Lion n Blue makes a huge difference. Makes a huge difference at every restaraunt and beverage store. Makes a huge difference at grocery stores and even Geigers, Lion-n-Blue, Turnstile, and other clothing stores.

This is not a baseless crime sensationalism. Look at crime rates for mall lots.

"Building the brand is blind loyality." where on earth have I ever mentioned anything like that.

.

[Shawn Juris]

Arguing logic with someone that is irrational is a futile exercise. Best of luck on your commune/condo association. Hope you can find some folks to buy in without thinking it through. Should work out real well.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Arguing logic with someone that is irrational is a futile exercise. Best of luck on your commune/condo association. Hope you can find some folks to buy in without thinking it through. Should work out real well.

Huh?


Shawn, this was not only my idea, I am just reporting one what was brought up at meetings. Of course I agree with this. The Grow Lakewood Committee came back and said, "Retail is a dead issue." Office space and residential is what the city needs. They chose office space because it can be changed out very quickly. I have to think that everyone on the Grow Lakewood Committee were rabid WestEnd/47 thinkers and supporters. So this came as a shock to me, as I would have thought they would have stuck with a retail mentality.

So please do not shoot the messenger.

Retail is failing at record rates while ecommerce climbs 300% or more a year. The writing is on the wall for retail.

Look at Lorain on your way to the office, percentaage wise I bet the vacancy rate is higher out there.

.

[Shawn Juris]

now I know that you're just baiting. no one can read that report and interpret it like that. Great job promoting bad information. The city owes you something for your continued effort to distort and confuse the issues. You've certainly moved the bar for civic discourse here and I think it just hit me in the shin.

[dl meckes]

Shawn-

JOB mentions info. from a meeting, rather than the report, but the report I saw said,"Lakewood’s Formula for Success
Housing + Commercial Office + Financial Balance = Long term growth, viability, and lifestyle quality."

(http://www.lkwdpl.org/growlakewood/repo ... /frame.htm - Lakewood's Formula for Success.")