$100,000,000 New Development!

[Jim O'Bryan]

As one prominent member of the community who is also a Realtor once told me, "If Lakewood ever really
could establish access to the Lake for everyone. All of our property values would go up by 20%."

That's a bit of a streach. The West 65th area of Cleveland has access to boat docks and beach and despite a huge government investment the area is struggling. How many people use Edgewater Park?

Bill

According to this highly regarded realtor, that is not a stretch. I think you would agree that
even 10% would be welcomed. You have to think in terms of Cahoon Park. Beach access
for all residents. This allows for that to be mentioned in all advertisements for rentals and
housing. Lake access is the key, and is but one resolution away from being a reality. That
is if, the movers and shakers are really serious about making Lakewood better for all.

Would another condo on the Lake really enhance the value of that house on Clifton? Would opening up Clifton Beach to thousand of people really enhance the value of property in Clifton Park? I think the location is a bridge to far. On the other hand the idea has merit.

Bill

The question is not if condos add. The public resident only beach adds to the value. The
condos DO NOT DETRACT from the value of property around them. Again, one only has to
look at the property around the Gold Coast. The closest property has gone up at the same
rate as the property in Clifton Beach. ZERO negative impact from developing our shoreline.
A chance to really turn this city's economic woes around. The question is, how
serious are our leaders about making the city solvent and better. 200 family condo, or a 5
Guys Burgers? Which has the best long term positive impact on the city? For the record,
there are more people employed at a better rate at the Carlyle than in 5 - 5 Guys Burgers
added together.

People hate living next to a mall, so the city slowly bleeds to death. People do not mind
living next to luxury condos. It adds to the community in so many more ways than retail.

The day is over for playing Sim City, our leaders must stand up and consider our best
chance for survival, is the lakefront. Maybe our only chance.

I think there is a better opportunity for recreational development on the lakefront at Lakewood Park.

The Army Corps of Engineers has informed the Clevealnd Port Authority that the port needs a new dredging site. Why not locate that site off the shore of Lakewood to provide a protected harbor and beach with access through Lakewood Park?

Bill

The fact is that so much more could be done with Lakewood Parks and Lakewood Park. But
as long as we are led to believe another restaurant is our saving grace, the residents will
never understand that it is indeed our lakefront that could lead to lower taxes, better
schools, and more money for police, etc. Not a couple lots off of Franklin! However as long
as the committees are run by people not willing to look at everything we will be forced to
follow the very pathway that has gotten us to the trouble we are now having. There is only
one real success story in Lakewood for development, and that is the Gold Coast, the River
Front. If leaders are only going to provide lip service and miss-direction then how will we
ever get out of this mess they have driven us into?

Of course we would need to have someone at the County level speaking for the interests of Lakewood. Since that won't be Dale Miller perhaps it can be Jim O'Bryan.

Run Jim, Run!!!

Bill

It is funny this comes up. This past weekend I was speaking with Ken Warren about many
things including coming back to run the Observer and being my campaign manager. The
only thing that has really moved forward is ideas out of the Visionary Alignment For
Lakewood. Things that cost tax payers NOTHING, but adds to the great experience of
living and working here. Ideas that are proven to work for the next 50 years, not 5 or 10.
Ideas that make Lakewood stronger than ever before and and have ZERO negative impact
on the city or any residents.

Anyone that thinks Economic Development alone will save this city is a FOOL. This city
suffers from poor housing, dirty streets, crime, and a general problem of the same people
still leading the city that have been trying to lead us for 20+ years and look at where that
has gotten us! LEAF, Bike Lakewood, MAMA, Observer, Cafe University, City Manager, and
on and on is our future, a proven future, and maybe our only chance. Time to quit playing around.

FWIW


.

[Keith Kopko]

Lake access is the key, and is but one resolution away from being a reality.

Jim - I think you would need a resolution and a whole lot of money. Eminent domain would only allow the city to purchase the property at market value. Any estimate of what that would be?

Like Bill, I'm also highly skeptical of the 20% projected increase in property values for all of Lakewood. A portion of eastern Lakewood is already closer to Edgewater. How would additional lake access further away benefit those properties? Can you share the name of the Realtor you spoke with?

Personally, I would love to see pubic access to the mouth of the the Rocky River. I don't think the city could afford to take that on. Perhaps the Metroparks or the Trust for the Pubic Land could work toward land acquisition or easements. Expanding lake access at Lakewood Park would be more realistic for the city.

[dl meckes]

I'm still wondering who shared the drawings with Jim.

If it was a student, I compliment him or her on imaginative thinking.

But I don't think it was a student, just another depp.

[Mike Davis]

Jim,

You did not do your homework very well.

The land that you so covet is owned by the 250+ homeowners of Clifton Park and the 50+ homeowners of Clifton Lagoons. So you would have to compensate the 300+ homeowners for the 20% drop in their home values if you pursued your eminent domain crusade on Clifton Beach.

In addition, the sliver of land mass that does exist could not support anything close to your proposed development.

Your time and energy would be better spent on gaining/expanding access at Lakewood Park for all of Lakewood.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim,

You did not do your homework very well.

The land that you so covet is owned by the 250+ homeowners of Clifton Park and the 50+ homeowners of Clifton Lagoons. So you would have to compensate the 300+ homeowners for the 20% drop in their home values if you pursued your eminent domain crusade on Clifton Beach.

In addition, the sliver of land mass that does exist could not support anything close to your proposed development.

Your time and energy would be better spent on gaining/expanding access at Lakewood Park for all of Lakewood.

Mike

Actually I did my homework very well.

The homeowners you speak of would immediately get back $2,000 a year in fees they
currently pay. They would also be able to count on the support of the city in maintaining
the public park. This would keep the help keep Clifton Club solvent, against their
dwindling membership.

But in reality, what is the concern of 300 when we can add to the value of 20,000 front
doors. Perhaps you should do your homework my friend. One of the things I have noticed
is that the Meriden and Winton Place pays nearly the same in taxes as Edgewater Dr.
So when you compare pay back to acreage, this would be a huge boom to Lakewood, and
would serve all Lakewood's greater good. Something I believe we both believe in, right?

The sliver would easily support 3 projects . I recently drove the area with a couple
developers that thought it could have real potential, especially when the Cliffs are finished.
One could not believe the Elliot Ness house was destroyed, and mention that "now
there is no reason not to develop."

In this day and age we need to look at EVERYTHING. We all need to be willing to take one
for the team. The single biggest bang for dollars, our future is bringing in another
10,000 residents, not 5 burger chains. With the changes at the hospital let's cash in and
hope to snag some of those doctors with high rise condos on the Lake. Time we make a
statement, that we are ready for the big time our future.

As for your statement about Lakewood Park I have suggested one, and still back another,
but neither have any traction. Savannah's Peninsula still stands as the best idea I have
ever seen for Lakewood. Bob Stark's comment was not big enough, add 25 more acres.
But for some reason, a plan that actually added $250,000,000 in taxable property, gave
us a marina and amphitheater for free, and provided the city with high end shopping and
condos, never got any traction. Even when it was pointed out funding was available for the study.

Me, I would just sell off the frontage of Lakewood Park on Lake, and add two massive
condos on each side of the drive. Then use the money to grade out the park and put a
public beach there. Hmmmmm then there is LCA's valuable property. Maybe they could
move to St. Clements and take one for the city? Let's be honest grade school kids do not
need lakefront learning!

I have to think the single biggest issue is, those planning Lakewood's future are not willing
to give up the very property that would do it for all. I see it as nothing less than Class
warfare which has killed more cities than it has ever saved.

.

[Bill Call]

Your time and energy would be better spent on gaining/expanding access at Lakewood Park for all of Lakewood.

Dredged material is an asset.

Locating the new dredge facility at the shores of Lakewood Park could provide a protective harbor, beach and wild life sanctuary in less than 20 years. That's about 21 years more into the future than most politicians look so it's probably never going to happen.

For a long boring read:

http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/missions/ ... 0_Post.pdf

[Jim O'Bryan]

Your time and energy would be better spent on gaining/expanding access at Lakewood Park for all of Lakewood.

[/quote]

Mike for something not as boring to read
http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer%20Vol.%2002%20Issue%2001.pdf

Pages 9-11




Let's get the ball rolling!


.

[Rhonda loje]

Talk to Barbara Michel about this idea!

http://www.floatingstage.com/

and see the results...http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... n21028107/

[Mike Davis]

?????????

The Eliot Ness house stands tall and proud????

The cost of compensating the 300+ current owners of the property, for the the 20% loss of their property values, would make the development financially unbuildable.

The Clifton Club has zero financial ownership in Clifton Beach and would quickly go out of business if their membership did not have access to a private Clifton Beach.

It is my understanding the city currently has an easment for lake access on the Sisters of Charity Property and is working/waiting on state/federal funding to build community access.

[Bill Call]

Let's get the ball rolling!


.

Run Jim, run!!

(That's not a threat)

[dl meckes]

The Clifton Club is owned by the association of property owners of Clifton Park?

[Mike Davis]

The Clifton Club [u]Property[/u] is owned by the clifton park property owners trust.

The Clifton Club operations are supported by their membership. IMO the membership would drop to a point of closure, as an operating club, if their club members did not have access to a private Clifton Beach.

[Bill Trentel]

An alternative option has been proposed. This location expands the possibilities of more citizens to experience and have access to the beautiful vistas of the "Emerald Canyon". Additionally it is located near Lakewood's west end. With the surging economy the redevelopment of Lakewood's west end with high end chain retail is a real possibility.
Increasing all of our property values far beyond the estimates previously attached to the first option.

Bill

[Jim O'Bryan]

?????????

The Eliot Ness house stands tall and proud????

The cost of compensating the 300+ current owners of the property, for the the 20% loss of their property values, would make the development financially unbuildable.

The Clifton Club has zero financial ownership in Clifton Beach and would quickly go out of business if their membership did not have access to a private Clifton Beach.

It is my understanding the city currently has an easment for lake access on the Sisters of Charity Property and is working/waiting on state/federal funding to build community access.

Mike

Must be a newcomer.

The only thing at Clifton Beach of any real value was Elliot Ness' house, which has been
destroyed. The Next most valuable thing would be the pump house, and maybe where
the Tranqullio came to shore. I am not even sure if the gas well has any gas left.

That said, how can I worry about a very small group of people when my city is in need.
More to the point how can they not be willing to jump in and help when called on? I stood
in the beach house when it was questioned why 1,500 people would not take one for the
team and leave when cheesecake was the flavor of the month. Now we are talking about
millions coming into the city coffers, and you ask me to worry about some stogey old.
nearly dead entity, that even you admit would be dead without the beach my city needs!

The city does has an easement, which will be another boat loading station. yawn

I think we need to do much better, we need to mine our resources for biggest impact.

Our future is developing out lakefront. Even you admit it.

Let's get the ball rolling!


.

Run Jim, run!!

(That's not a threat)

Bill C

This is what I love about you. You have a wonderful view that would be affected by one
of the ideas, two actually. I have always said, come grab my connecting properties, build
something that adds to the city, and I will buy elsewhere in Lakewood.

We have all got to look at the bigger picture.

As you and I and Mike know, time to develop our lakefront.

Maybe the LO should underwrite a study?

Hmmmmmmmmm

An alternative option has been proposed. This location expands the possibilities of more citizens to experience and have access to the beautiful vistas of the "Emerald Canyon". Additionally it is located near Lakewood's west end. With the surging economy the redevelopment of Lakewood's west end with high end chain retail is a real possibility.
Increasing all of our property values far beyond the estimates previously attached to the first option.

Bill

Bill T

I have always stated if you have a better plan for my property and it adds to the community
please come and make an offer. I have two lots, a great start on this project. However
along the cliffs of the beautiful Emerald Canyon I would build higher and longer. No
need for the wave. Solid wall of glass. When Rocky River looks into Lakewood, nothing
would make me happier than them seeing themselves in the reflections of our condos.

My single biggest complaint with the "WestEnd" outside of ED was it was completely underwhelming
in size and scope. All of that for a strip malls and 40 mediocre condos. Pitiful.
A wall of glass from the mouth of the river to the Hillard Bridge. shining glass from
Highland Ave. to the mouth of the River.

Bill, we must look at everything.

OK the list is growing. Two Bills, Mike, Me looking to develop our coastline.

This is a good start.



.

[Mike Davis]

Jim,

me, I am a lifer.
maybe you do not know which house eliot ness lived in. It is currently one of the nicest home/property in clifton lagoon