Can Grace and Cohassett Be Saved?

[Bill Call]

Why on Earth would the city allow them to tear down ANYTHING on Clarence, Cohassett, or Grace. Those are three of the most beautiful streets this side of Detroit.

The construction of the new Drug Mart, Dollar Store and Value World will do great and permanent damage to the East end of Lakewood.

If those stores are built property values for homes in the area will decline.
If those stores are built any hope of value added development in that area will be ended.

Just as good tenants drive out bad tenants and bad neighbors drive out good neighbors bad development drives out good development. We should be particularily concerned about the new Drug Mart. The Giant Eagle at 140th is alread on the edge. Do we really want to end up with an empty Giant Eagle in exchange for a new Drug Mart?

Can the City take control of its own destiny? Can Lakewood's Victorian District be saved?

Probably not but we can have some fun talking about it.

[Valerie Molinski]

Why do we need a new thread to discuss it? Can't we just keep it all in one place in the original thread?

[Peter Grossetti]

If "the construction of the new Drug Mart, Dollar Store and Value World will do great and permanent damage to the East end of Lakewood" ... then, conversely, constructing a Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn or Prada Shoppe will be a great and permanent favor for the East end of Lakewood ... right?

[Myra Beckrest]

If "the construction of the new Drug Mart, Dollar Store and Value World will do great and permanent damage to the East end of Lakewood" ... then, conversely, constructing a Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn or Prada Shoppe will be a great and permanent favor for the East end of Lakewood ... right?

I'm going to bring up Hudson again, and Chagrin Falls. We talked about Hudson with the custom-build McDonald's, but I once again think that they ~ along with Chagrin Falls ~ are excellent examples of how to integrate higher-end stores into a "small town" feel utilizing the storefront approach without destroying the integrity of the city, or the surrounding homes. Both have historic homes nearby, around the corner, and even on the same streets.

Not everything has to be a big-box style development (New Drug Mart) or a strip mall.

This can only be done if the city cares enough to do it. It doesn't have to be a Pottery Barn or Arhaus but there is no reason for not entertaining this idea to preserve the feeling of the area.

[Bill Trentel]

Give me a break, to make a credible argument at least use communities that are comparable to Lakewood. Lakewood's median income is $40,000 +/-, Hudson and Chagrin Falls is $100,000 +/-.

The larger lots in need of redevelopment in Lakewood require developers with enough $'s to make it happen and make $'s on the investment. A local mom and pop's can't do it. You can have your Pottery Barn dreams but the reality is we in Lakewood shop more often at Drug Mart.

Funny thing, there are Drug Marts in both Hudson and Chagrin Falls, no Pottery Barn. I guess we are more like them then I thought.

Bill

[Myra Beckrest]

Bill, I think you either misread what I stated, or I stated it poorly. When I said Lakewood should "entertain the idea" I didn't mean the idea of Pottery Barn. I meant the idea of keeping things less big-box, less strip mall, and more storefront ~ smaller scale.

[Bill Trentel]

The economic reality is new construction 1919 style 2000 sq. ft. retail is not economically viable. Mom and pop can afford the rent and they can afford to build it.

Your other options is repurpose the existing buildings. What are your options? Crazy Joe's close-out mart, maybe a flee market or Crazy Joe's used car lot if stand alone used car lots where legal in Lakewood.


Bill

[J Hrlec]

The construction of the new Drug Mart, Dollar Store and Value World will do great and permanent damage to the East end of Lakewood.

If those stores are built property values for homes in the area will decline.
If those stores are built any hope of value added development in that area will be ended.

Just as good tenants drive out bad tenants and bad neighbors drive out good neighbors bad development drives out good development. We should be particularily concerned about the new Drug Mart. The Giant Eagle at 140th is alread on the edge. Do we really want to end up with an empty Giant Eagle in exchange for a new Drug Mart?

Just looking for more input on the thoughts below based on the above statements:

1) Why would this type of development cause property values to decline? (Old store vs. new store and New store vs. empty lot)

2) What type of "good" development was coming (or is planned) for those general areas that these 2 proposed sites would drive out?

[Bill Call]

Why do we need a new thread to discuss it? Can't we just keep it all in one place in the original thread?

I guess I’m looking for some thoughts on development in Lakewood. I have some opinions based on my own nebulous ideas about development in Lakewood but I was interested in what other people thought.

When Marc’s Plaza was being planned (originally called Lakewood Town Center I believe) a lot of promises were made about walkways, town centers, movie theaters, upscale shopping and the like. The City gave up a lot or parking lot revenue, relocated a fire station, gave up land and offered some financial incentives for what was supposed to be something special. What we got was the worst Marc’s store in the Marc’s store chain and a lot of fast food joints.

The paradox is:

That the center really isn’t that bad and is a financial success

But

I wouldn’t say if offers added value to Lakewood in the same way a larger more pedestrian friendly development with a movie theater would.

Which begs the questions:

What is value added development and who gets to decide?

How can Lakewood compete with communities that receive millions in government development dollars?

Why is Lakewood inelligible for those dollars?

Should we have our own development fund?

For what purpose?

Should the City be giving parking spaces to the owners of the East End Drug Mart Building so they can get more rent from the operators of a used clothing store?

Or

Should the City close down that parking lot behind the East End Drug Mart until someone comes up with a better idea?

Just thinking out loud.