Pruning an Overgrown Tree so that it May Bear Fruit Again

[Jim O'Bryan]

I am not missing the point. You are missing mine. My fence comment was in relation to those who would ignore Cleveland and let them fend for themselves, thinking that what ever happens to Cleveland does not affect Lakewood or its attractiveness or viability in any way. That is burying your head in the sand, IMO. Cleveland IS the 'big city' whether we like it or not, where corporations hopefully site their headquarters or home manufacturing base and stay longterm. We most likely do not want half of that in Lakewood, and we dont have enough land or existing office space to attract something like that. We do need Cleveland to continue being what it is for Lakewood to continue being what it is: a vibrant residential community.

Did I ever say that we need to ignore Lakewood's needs to prop up Cleveland? Never. Do I agree that Cleveland is NOT holding up its end of the bargain and helping itself. Absolutely. Lakewood does need to be planning for itself and protecting itself, but to assume that what is going on across the border does not affect us... or even the rest of the suburbs, inner ring and otherwise, is a fallacy. We need a healthy downtown core. I figured that all of your Jane Jacobs reading might lead you to that eventually. Dont make the mistake of thinking only about residents and who and what we attract in that regard. If the economic base continues to move out of downtown to Beachwood or Westlake, we will continue to decentralize and take those residents with them. Then we wont be fighting Cleveland for residents... they will have been already gone to far flung east and wests and we will die along with the center, Cleveland.

Valerie

If I missed your point, I am sorry. I have never been accused of being the sharpest
pencil in the box. (For the young ones... a pencil was a lead then graphite writing
instrument, that needed constant sharpening, as it would get dull as us old folks would
write with it.)

We agree, the only thing we differ on is how we think of Cleveland. Cleveland and for that
matter the region gives me little hope that they will ever come up with a plan that
makes enough sense or impact to be what it could be. Medical Mart?

When I speak of Island, ignoring Cleveland I speak of Lakewood working on getting
our house in order, and being the best we can be, and attracting what we can.

As for Jane Jacobs, there is a lot I agree with and a lot I do not agree with. I try to see
how it applies to Lakewood, the region, and the point I am trying to make.

We cannot count on Cleveland nor the region for our future any longer.

FWIW


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[David Anderson]

Like, Valorie, I too missed the fact that this thread was receiving recent action. Unfortunately, I allowed myself to become too embroiled elsewhere.

There have been some great ideas kicked around here and I’ve posted these general views, for what they’re worth, in other threads. Others here have expressed similar thoughts.

(1) Lakewood, as a whole, seems to have an inferiority complex associated with the fact that its established rental community is a big part of the city’s profile – many simply don’t like it;

(2) The availability of quality housing stock – single and multi-family – should be the dominant issue when discussing Lakewood’s sustainability;

(3) Specifically concerning rentals, Lakewood does not have a glut of rental properties. However, it does have far too many unsafe, dilapidate and eroding homes with and without tenants.

(4) The current housing/foreclosure “crisis” offers a tremendous opportunity; and

(5) City leaders play a vital role in helping the community identify core values and ensure these are imbedded in all public policy or project initiatives.

However, for all the ideas kicked around here, it would be nice to hear a comprehensive neighborhood development plan from our elected officials. What are they working on in regards to HUD programs, for example? Maybe a plan is out there. Am I looking in the wrong places?

Such a comprehensive plan should meld our established value of our schools, libraries, amenities, parks and community with our God given gifts of location, approximation to the lake and river, other natural resources and an educated citizenry.

How do we turn a tread discussion into effective action?

This thread rocks.

[Jim O'Bryan]

There have been some great ideas kicked around here and I’ve posted these general views, for what they’re worth, in other threads. Others here have expressed similar thoughts.

(1) Lakewood, as a whole, seems to have an inferiority complex associated with the fact that its established rental community is a big part of the city’s profile – many simply don’t like it;

(2) The availability of quality housing stock – single and multi-family – should be the dominant issue when discussing Lakewood’s sustainability;

(3) Specifically concerning rentals, Lakewood does not have a glut of rental properties. However, it does have far too many unsafe, dilapidate and eroding homes with and without tenants.

(4) The current housing/foreclosure “crisis” offers a tremendous opportunity; and

(5) City leaders play a vital role in helping the community identify core values and ensure these are imbedded in all public policy or project initiatives.

However, for all the ideas kicked around here, it would be nice to hear a comprehensive neighborhood development plan from our elected officials. What are they working on in regards to HUD programs, for example? Maybe a plan is out there. Am I looking in the wrong places?

David

Great points.

By accident I had breakfast with one of Lakewood's largest land barons, and we started
talking about the future of Lakewood and how I see it. While I rarely agree with many of
his ideas. yet over bacon and eggs we were able to come to many agreeable points that
almost read exactly as yours above.

I mentioned you and how we had talked at one time about having landlord clinics to
teach landlords how to get more for their rentals by investing in them and their tenants.
I mentioned my rental agreements, not leases, and he loved the concept.

Yesterday he stopped by the house unexpectedly, and asked who was digging, and I mentioned,
that you had bought the house, after others had tried, but that you were the only one
willing to rebuild the house to bring it up to your standards, as a place that you would
rent to others. After all if you do not want to live there why would others?

He suggested the LO starts a dialog of fellow landlords, away from the city to propose
our own plan of action, and direction for the city to consider. He is extremely bothered
the fact that those charting the course of Lakewood's future in business and housing
have zero experience first hand in either. He hates the way Detroit is headed and owns
property on Detroit.

You in? I will underwrite it.

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[Paul Schrimpf]

Why does he hate what is happening on Detroit? It feels good to see a lot of activity that frankly has been a long time coming ... is it too random? Wrong kind of businesses?

[David Anderson]

Jim -

I am very interested in being part of a discussion or a next step/action plan. Feel free to contact me at anytime and you know where I am at on most evenings.

Heck, I would be willing to welcome you and your friend into the house I am working on for the first meeting. However, you'll have to bring a folding chair.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Why does he hate what is happening on Detroit? It feels good to see a lot of activity that frankly has been a long time coming ... is it too random? Wrong kind of businesses?

Paul

How to put it in the gentlest terms, losing the feel he invested in. I want to save some for
an interview I am working on, but he owns property in Westlake, Avon Lake, Cleveland,
Brookpark, etc. But loves the mixture here, as a "real community." That said if a big box
store would to offer to buy his property or lease his property I am sure he would sell in an
instant. That Detroit Avenue is seeming less and less friendly, and colder and colder, losing
its soul.

Now how could anyone say the wrong kind of businesses. Coffee shop in the middle of 5,
two of them locally owned. A cheap burger place in a city that has a glut of GREAT
burger places. A national chain selling $5.00 haircuts in a city of 35 barbers and salons.

Another concern was as you mentioned, there was a plan that overreached with no funding,
and because of that it has fallen apart and is now looking like a quilt of scraps.

Of course I want it to be understood, rarely do I post comments I do not agree with.

David

Will stop down, and get this going.

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[Jim O'Bryan]

Why does he hate what is happening on Detroit? It feels good to see a lot of activity that frankly has been a long time coming ... is it too random? Wrong kind of businesses?.

When do we ask what happens to a city when the number one land owner feels the city
has lost the feel he bought so heavily into?


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[Corey Rossen]

Why does he hate what is happening on Detroit? It feels good to see a lot of activity that frankly has been a long time coming ... is it too random? Wrong kind of businesses?

Now how could anyone say the wrong kind of businesses. Coffee shop in the middle of 5,
two of them locally owned. A cheap burger place in a city that has a glut of GREAT
burger places. A national chain selling $5.00 haircuts in a city of 35 barbers and salons.

Has anyone ever seriously looked into the concept of helping small businesses open up in Lakewood, grow, and thrive? Is there anyone within the City that helps guide with areas such as start up, investments, location selection, renovation expenses, etc.? Does the Chamber of Commerce help with that? LakewoodAlive? Downtown Lakewood? Mainstreet Lakewood? Other programs? Does the Mayor's office seem interested in helping? Or do these places step in once the lease/contact has already been signed? Are ther ever speakers or gatherings in Lakewood that cover these topics?

I look around and hate to see open storefronts. I also look around and see corporate or franchisee establishments moving in (I, for one, am not against this. I feel they bring in more traffic to that particular area and hopefully helps the surrounding businesses...also, it fills the vacant storefront void that plagues Lakewood.) Pros of one are cons of the other? How do we put Lakewood businesses into Lakewood vacant storefronts?

Have I ever written something with so many ? marks?

Corey

[Jim O'Bryan]

Does the Chamber of Commerce help with that? LakewoodAlive? Downtown Lakewood? Mainstreet Lakewood? Other programs? Does the Mayor's office seem interested in helping? Or do these places step in once the lease/contact has already been signed? Are ther ever speakers or gatherings in Lakewood that cover these topics?

Corey

Maybe you can answer this yourself.

As one of the oldest and most respected businesses in the footprint of at least 4 of the
most highly funded programs in the city.

Mainstreet?

LakewoodAlive?

DowntowN?

Chamber?

I have seen you at their meetings, and have seen you on their donor lists?

I know first hand what you have tried to do and what has happened?

I would question, the value of the "chain traffic" as opposed to looking at the Melt, the Root Cafe,
Rozi's, bela dubby. etc? If I remember correctly you turned to LA for help and was told
you must use their board members for drawings, legal work, etc at twice what others were
willing to charge. Seems more like a mob shakedown to me.

My other question is? Did we need a burger chain? That competes with 10 locally owned
places for damn good burgers. That have to pay higher taxes because they live here. A
coffee shop, no two coffee chains, that compete with 3 coffee shops owned by
Lakewoodites that have to pay higher taxes because they live here. A $5 hair cut place?
That competes with 8 barbers that live in Lakewood, and because of that pay higher taxes.
Cerny's rent doubled for half the space?

Is there even a plan? I have seen maps, heard all sorts of stuff. But to me it might have
well been done with a couple cases of beer from Rozi's and Bud's White Door's dart board.
Did they even use Lakewood beer in their beer tent the day after the Arts Festival?

What are we paying over $250,000 a year for? Or are they, because of their leadership(?),
more worried about giving themselves awards for things they did not do, and fixing the
region that stretches from Youngstown to Sandusky? Seems most of their meetings are
for regionalism.

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