I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Developing and marketing Lakewood, I wouldn’t call it easy, but it’s certainly straightforward. I said it
in this thread (click here) and
in this thread (click here).
Lakewood needs to focus like a laser on its “unique sales propositions,” the things that positively distinguish Lakewood and that are relatively unique. Lakewood has several USPs: (1) its lakefront location and Lakewood Park in particular, (2) its proximity to downtown Cleveland, and (3) its inner-ring character, including the feel of Detroit/Madison, the variety of housing options, Lakewood’s “density,” and its biking/walking options. There is no competition whatsoever in NEO for a similar living experience. None.
All Lakewood has to do is not mess it up by overthinking everything. Focus on those things above. Sure, you have to make sure that Lakewood is safe, that the trash gets picked up and that the streets are plowed in winter, and Lakewood does those things pretty well. But almost every other planning decision should be in support of Lakewood’s unique attributes.
Here’s some suggestions in no particular order. I’ve made every one of these before.
1…. Bring back the circulator. But not with RTA, they’ll mess it up. Use Uber or Lyft in some way. Good minds like theirs and ours could come up with something really different and fun, and that enhances Detroit and especially Madison.
2…. Plow the sidewalks. And don’t mess up any more streets for biking like Madison got messed up. They blew it and that thermoplastic should be removed.
3…. Keep enhancing Lakewood Park. The Solstice Steps may have been the best million dollars Lakewood ever spent. The skate park is terrific. Even more programs and activities please. Make Lakewood Park the city’s premier public destination and a reason to move here.
4…. Embrace housing options. And yes that includes the new townhome developments (a la McKinley and Clifton Pointe) and whatever is planned for Detroit. Lots of good people want to live that way. Bring ‘em on! Just insist that it’s all reasonably well-constructed.
5…. Sponsor the RTA buses to downtown. By now I'll bet CSU would let you have them. They’re a roving testament to Lakewood’s USPs. And work with Bernie Moreno on his plans for turning Tower City into a tech hub. Win-win-win.
If you gave me a couple hours I could come up with more. Then, and
this is the important thing, don’t force development! Don’t presuppose what works! Let it happen organically. Organic development will take time, but it will support the USPs, be much more enduring, and cost Lakewood taxpayers virtually nothing. Forced development will almost inevitably make mistakes and miss the mark. Maybe that’s Uptown’s experience, I don’t know. I didn’t experience it firsthand.
My two cents. I’ve lived in Lakewood for 34 years and I care.
