Architectural Review:McDonalds tonight 6:30, City Hall

[Betsy Voinovich]

The Architectural Review Board is meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at City Hall. McDonald's potential purchase of the Detroit Theater will be discussed. Come and make your opinions known and make sure to ask plenty of questions about what the official process would be to change things in the future, if you don't like what you're hearing and seeing. The Architectural Review Board seems to be one of the groups that safeguards Lakewood's development.

If a regular McDonald's replaces the Detroit theater, changing the character of those streets that surround it and lowering their property values-- along with one more fast food place making Lakewood less unique, and less cool, less attractive to home buyers, etc--- at least we can learn from it, and try to do better as a city in the future.

And maybe it can be more than just a lesson. Maybe McDonald's could accommodate Lakewood the way they have San Francisco and other cities, who have required them to adapt to their locations, in terms of building style and even quality of food offered, in exchange for being allowed to do their "impulse buying" business here.

Betsy Voinovich

[J Hrlec]

If a regular McDonald's replaces the Detroit theater, changing the character of those streets that surround it and lowering their property values--

Would a new McDonalds building lower property value compares to an old ugly and mostly vacant building? I do not know but I am curious...

along with one more fast food place making Lakewood less unique, and less cool, less attractive to home buyers, etc--- at least we can learn from it, and try to do better as a city in the future.

Just FYI ... it's not really one more fast food place, just a relocation I believe.

[Betsy Voinovich]

If a regular McDonald's replaces the Detroit theater, changing the character of those streets that surround it and lowering their property values--

Would a new McDonalds building lower property value compares to an old ugly and mostly vacant building? I do not know but I am curious...

along with one more fast food place making Lakewood less unique, and less cool, less attractive to home buyers, etc--- at least we can learn from it, and try to do better as a city in the future.

Just FYI ... it's not really one more fast food place, just a relocation I believe.

Hi J--

Plenty has been written about all of this already. The Detroit theater houses two functioning businesses and has apartments that are rented upstairs right now which points to the fact that in a built-out city, buildings that can serve multiple functions might be desirable.

I think a McDonald's affects the values of the houses directly next to it because of the smell, lighting, noise, and traffic. Mayor Summers pointed out at his state of the city address that it would be nice if Lakewood was in a position to buy buildings and hold onto them until the right development came along, but we're not there, or not there yet in terms of our financial wellbeing. I was pleased to see that he was aware of what a possible plan could be, and expressed a desire to get there.

I'm in the camp that thinks something better than a McDonald's could be in that location. I think it's clear that there is no easy answer; but if in the future, the community was aware of businesses like the Detroit theater being in trouble in time that something could be done-- or aware of buildings that we value being threatened--- in time so that something might be done--- that would be good. In Collinwood, every property is mapped, and its status is known about. Lakewood's not very big, it seems that we could do that. It would be a big part of being able to get together on a discussion about Lakewood's future in terms of having some kind of vision about what kind of city we want to be, and what kind of development constitutes responsible development.

I think what no-one likes is being alerted about what's happening when it's already way too late to do anything about it. The only way we can stop this from happening is by making sure we do know what's happening, and by being are aware of what the processes and procedures are. I think the Detroit/McDonald's discussion is great for heightening awareness, so in that sense... it's all good.

Betsy Voinovich

[Meg Ostrowski]

The Architectural Review Board is meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at City Hall. McDonald's potential purchase of the Detroit Theater will be discussed. Come and make your opinions known and make sure to ask plenty of questions about what the official process would be to change things in the future, if you don't like what you're hearing and seeing.

According to the Sun Post-Herald, tonight's meeting of the ARB is a "work session." The public is welcome to attend but public comments will not be taken.

[john crino]

any follow-up on this? report from the meeting?

[michael gill]

Hi John.

"The ABR—the same guys who say no to front porch enclosures to preserve the appeal of our residential streets—they also preserve our walkable commercial streets as an economic asset. They are on the front line as McDonalds stomps along with plans more appropriate for highway exits than an urban main street.

If you care about how Lakewood looks and feels—if you like to walk or ride your bike in the city, if you think your old house is part of something larger—a community —if you’re one of those people who cares, then you owe these guys a debt of gratitude, especially after their work last week, when the fast food giant brought concepts for the layout of the property."


http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.word ... ewood-abr/

[john crino]

good article..thanx

[Betsy Voinovich]

good article..thanx

Mike's article is great, I'm putting some of it here so we can talk about it.

What I had heard was that that Architectural Board of Review had trouble with McDonalds' plans for cars entering and exiting and felt that it would be a big traffic jam, and they had issues putting the typical suburban McDonalds, little building, mostly parking lot, back from the street to serve cars, in a spot that should have a building that acknowledges and serves the foot traffic in Lakewood.

From Mike's article it sounds like they pointed to those two things and said, "We have a problem":

From Michael's blog:

Members of the ABR talked about how the drive thru and its exit to Woodward would almost certainly cause traffic to back up both in the street and in their parking lot. They pointed out the small size of the building footprint McDonalds showed in its plans, and spoke of the loss of the volume of the building that houses the theatre. They said big buildings built right up to the sidewalk give Detroit the feel of a city. McDonalds, as presented here and in most of its 31,000 other places around the world, does not.

The ABR pointed to the Theater’s position on the sidewalk, and noted McDonalds plan didn’t follow that line.

They talked about how another national chains moving a stores from one lakewood location to demolish another had adapted its original proposal to fit the city better.

Sure, CVS will knock down a church with its copper-green steeple visible from a mile down Detroit. But what they’ll build in its place isn’t a complete snub of the local style. Thank the ABR for that.

The volunteers reminded the McDonalds reps of other locations around the country where the company dramatically varied from its cookie cutter plans to build something appropriate for the neighborhood.

Why couldn’t they do that here? Was the implied question.

So if you know any of the members of the Architecectural Board of Review –Michael Fleenor, Jeffery Foster, Michael Molinski, Carl Orban, or John Waddell—thank them for their service, and pat them on the back for standing up on behalf of a good looking, great walking city.

They did a great job outlining Lakewood’s concerns the other night. They may not be able to save the streetcar-era building, but maybe they can get something that doesn’t jam up traffic at Woodward and Detroit, something that preserves the architectural lines of the street, something that doesn’t look like nowheresville, something not quite so McCheesey.



Another great thing about Mike's article is how simply he defined what needs to be protected about Lakewood:

The architectural board of review are the volunteers who preserve that selling point. They do it in the best interest of the city—the economic best interest. Because Lakewood’s walkable streets can draw people here. It’s a desirable place to live in part because it’s a nice place to walk. That’s worth money. It’s not a resource to be squandered.

Great article Mike, and great job Architectural Board of Review. (There's a lot more of Mike's article to read and I suggest doing so.)

This is only the beginning. We should all be paying attention, and supporting our city, and the volunteers that are working hard to keep it real. (Had to say that.) I could also say, the volunteers that are working hard to keep it Lakewood.

Betsy Voinovich

[john crino]

maybe its time for Mcds to do someting radical like,order by phone or text and pull in the lot and someone will bring it out to you, or park and be served in the car like Swensons or old AWs...eliminate the line of idiling cars and speaker blaring.

[michael gill]

Thanks, Betsy.

As Anthony Davis just pointed out to me, what about that traffic light in front of the theatre? It's right in the middle of the marquee, at Hall. McDonalds would have their drive through entrance just west of the existing light. The exit would be onto Woodward at Detroit, just east of the existing light.

If that intersection needs a traffic light now, how will it be with drive through routes on either side of it?

[michael gill]

My friend Andrew brought to my attention the McDonalds in Freeport Maine, built in a historic house.

This is what Wikipedia has to say. :

“In 1982, McDonald’s made plans to tear down an 1850s Greek Revival house to build one of its standard stores. Outcry from residents caused the town to adopt new ordinances concerning what businesses could and couldn’t do with their buildings, and McDonald’s built the restaurant inside the house, maintaining the exterior appearance. This was one of the first times that McDonald’s had been forced to change its restaurant design to fit local requirements.[5]”

And here’s a photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudder_bbc/435695431/

[Jim O'Bryan]

Thanks, Betsy.
If that intersection needs a traffic light now, how will it be with drive through routes on either side of it?

Michael

If you look at drive throughs on Detroit, lights, intersections, or even needing Detroit is
an issue. Dunkin Dohnuts entry off Spring Garden from 5 am? Burger King, intersections
and lights. Dairy Queen entrance and exit at the same light. I have to believe all of these
examples will be busier than that McDs at the Theater.

Just saying...


.

[michael gill]

McDonalds, DQ, Dunkin Donuts . . . Which is the bigger brand? Which spends more on advertising? Which doesn't specialize in either A) breakfast or B) dessert? No traffic studies have been done here yet, but I guess I don't agree that McDonalds-at-the-theater would be less busy than either of the other two.

[J Hrlec]

My friend Andrew brought to my attention the McDonalds in Freeport Maine, built in a historic house.

This is what Wikipedia has to say. :

“In 1982, McDonald’s made plans to tear down an 1850s Greek Revival house to build one of its standard stores. Outcry from residents caused the town to adopt new ordinances concerning what businesses could and couldn’t do with their buildings, and McDonald’s built the restaurant inside the house, maintaining the exterior appearance. This was one of the first times that McDonald’s had been forced to change its restaurant design to fit local requirements.[5]”

And here’s a photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mudder_bbc/435695431/

That's pretty neat...

Unfortunately, the current building is not a nice house such as the picture depicts.

[Michael Loje]

But it is a beautiful, impressive facade.