Drug Mart looking to have its way with Grace and Cohassett

[Myra Beckrest]

How do residential properties get flipped to commercial? On my street we have a monstrosity out of variance but it's been there for a quite a while...who knows what variances allowed it to be. And a house is under threat for commercial development, which I do not understand since that lot is zoned residential. Is zoning in Lakewood worthless?

Follow the money... Hmmm... isn't someone on trial right now for things like this? Kinda makes you wonder...

[Valerie Molinski]

How do residential properties get flipped to commercial? On my street we have a monstrosity out of variance but it's been there for a quite a while...who knows what variances allowed it to be. And a house is under threat for commercial development, which I do not understand since that lot is zoned residential. Is zoning in Lakewood worthless?

They explained it further last night. They would be able to take the adjacent property (the apt building) under conditional use. This states that if they satisfy certain requirements, planning and zoning would have to let them use that lot for parking or landscaping. They would not be able to put a building on it. It is technically not re-zoned, but still residential with conditional use for commercial.

Not sure how they are also able to take the house next door as well, but it would also be under conditional use. I think that one is up to planning and zoning to allow as it is two lots in. So they will probably be able to take the apt building and do it, but the house is not 100%.

Dru Siley explained that if they meet the requirements for the conditional use on the apt building lot, Planning and Zoning has to grant it. I wish there was more to it... as far as a potential aesthetic decision that they would be able to say no. But the zoning laws are clear.

The auditorium at City Hall was packed with residents of Cohassett and Grace last night. The next meeting is Planning and Zoning on June 7th, where reps from Drug Mart will petition for conditional use. Then the week following, the ABR will vet the site plans and building design should it go forward.

[Christina McCallum]

In 1995 Walgreens wanted to build a store at Warren and Franklin, where the Speedway is. They wanted conditional use for the houses on St. Charles that run behind the Speedway and up to the Post Office property. Their plan was to obtain usage so that the residential property could be used for parking.

At the time the Community Vision was current and it stated that development would focus on existing commercial corridors. The City denied Walgreen's request because it would have moved commercial property into residential areas. It was viewed [negatively] as encroachment.

This new development proposal and potential impact on a great neighborhood speaks to the importance of keeping up with Vision Plans as a goal or standard to turn to when in such situations. It makes it more difficult to act on a whim that ends up affecting more than an empty car lot.

Christina

[J Hrlec]

I believe this is the area in this discussion, aerial view :

[Jim O'Bryan]

Val

To my knowledge, the only piece of development that was stopped this far along, was the development of the Heidiloff House on Edgewater that also happens to run behind the mayor's house.

Right now everywhere you turn, it is a group that came out of the "Westend" one way or another, and all are 100% dedicated to the concept that Commercial Economic Development is the ONLY thing that will save the city. What they mean by saving the city is keeping "their" taxes down.

LakewoodAlive was all about educating ignorant Lakewoodites on the need for commercial development. While recently they have taken on housing, it was a Political Action Committee for commercial economic development right up until the day they took over Lakewood Community Progress Inc. the non-profit that was dedicated to helping Lakewood. If you look at the leadership over the past 10 years, you will see they are now council people, the mayor, on the board of the Historical Society, the School Board, even the hospital Board. An accident, no!

Somewhere along the lines of 14-20 years ago, it was decided by the powers that be that anything, let's say South of the tracks, is fair game for ANYTHING that could keep their taxes lower. My street, well actually the street behind me was targeted for a strip mall. Everything between Manor Park and Lakeland, south of the tracks north of Detroit was targets for two strip malls with an outer ring road, just like the "real malls" have. Everyone who has been appointed to council in the past ten years is a person who has bought into all of these ideas in one form or another. People that believe your street no matter if it is Grace, or Riverside, is nothing more than a land bank for their developments down the road. They close our parks when it suits them while their park, which has more graffiti, stays open. They take down our basketball hoops, because their club has basketball hoops for their kids, and tennis courts in great shape. This week we see the gifted program close at Grant, but enlarge at Lincoln and Emerson. So now it permeates into Lakewood children's education.

Having had enough discussions with many of the civic leaders we now see being rallied around, I can assure you they see us much like the guy in the Warner Bros Cartoon who is on a deserted island sees his fellow shipwrecked friend as a hamburger.

I hate to see this happen to Grace and Cohassett, Hall and Woodward, Bell and ....

You have to remember, these people wanted 1,750 people to move out of their homes, the ones they grew up in, raised families in, made friends with neighbors, had relatives move alongside them and some of the best views in Lakewood, because the Westend group, the founders of Lakewood Alive, wanted cheese cake and another strip mall. These people's big dreams are strip malls. Matter of fact, I know of a $5 million dollar project that was being kicked around for the very property that is now going to be Value World that was responsible, positive, great for Lakewood, and would bring people in, tax-paying people. But now we can look at Value World and think, who does this bring in?

Lakewood keeps getting named "the best suburb," "the coolest suburb" by boards of different magazines, "Travel and Leisure," "Scene." The question you have to ask yourself is, does this development make our city better or worse? Does it build our brand as a great place to be, or does it tear it apart?

Val good luck, it is a tough uphill battle, that will find everyone who helps you described as obstructionist, and not community-friendly. The same people who stopped a 40-floor hotel from going in near Clifton Park 6 years ago, the same people that headed LakewoodAlive at the time, will say you are playing NIMBY. And they will call you nasty names and marginalize you every chance they get. But your fight is the good fight. Good luck.

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[Jim O'Bryan]

Taken from Warner Brothers' "Waikiki Rabbit."



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[Bill Call]

Having had enough discussions with many of the civic leaders we now see being rallied around, I can assure you they see us much like the guy in the Warner Bros Cartoon who is on a deserted island sees his fellow shipwrecked friend as a hamburger.

I hate to see this happen to Grace and Cohassett, Hall and Woodward, Bell and

In any other City the neighborhood around Grace and Cohasset would be called the "Victorian District". City leaders and groups like the Historical Society and Lakewood Alive would be supporting programs that help finance the rehabilitation of old homes in that area and encouraging value added commercial development. Instead what I see is the behavior I saw nearing the end of the George administration. He sought any type of development at any cost to give the impression that the City was moving ahead. The silliest was the the idea to convert Kaufman Park into the site of a 12 story condo project called the Forum In Lakewood.

Today's crisis point was when the planned for Gold's Gym and condo development was put on hold. The City should have paid whatever the cost to get that project done. The other crisis point was when the Obama administration decided to close down thousands of auto dealerships. That decision left a lot of vacant space in Lakewood and other communities. I wrote to Congressmand Kucinich several times and made more than one phone call to try and convince him to hold up approval of the auto bankruptyc unless development dollars were made available for the redevelopment of those abandoned dealerships. I wasted my time.

Of course local resources were available at the County level to provide those development dollars but County leadership is in love with the Downtown Disneyland approach to economic development so there is no chance that money will be spent elsewhere.

I had hoped that Ed Fitzgerald would refocus development at the City level. It's no going to happen. I suspected that the reason is that his campaign for Governor would require a lot of money and that downtown developers would help him convert County investment dollars into campaign contributions. The recent article in today's PD that reports on his interest in the Governorship confirms that suspicion.

Lakewood be damned.

[Myra Beckrest]

In any other City the neighborhood around Grace and Cohasset would be called the "Victorian District". City leaders and groups like the Historical Society and Lakewood Alive would be supporting programs that help finance the rehabilitation of old homes in that area and encouraging value added commercial development.

I don't think they (meaning the city) realize that people like me...an "outsider" in the respect that I didn't grow up here, drive down Grace, Clarence, and Cohassett and dream... I dream of large front porches and mint juleps, of beautiful sunny days (like this week!) of just lounging on the front porch watching the day go by. When I have a bad day, driving down those streets makes me smile. I used to live on Clarence behind the now Garden Center, in the 1900's apts, and I would just cross the street and feel instantly at peace.

I might sound silly, I might sound foolish, but I love Victorian homes.

Want to know what will happen to those beautiful homes if the city stops caring? Drive down to Lakewood heights blvd and take a look at the Victorian sitting across from the RTA station by the bottom of Clarence... sad isn't it? I mean no disrespect to that house, I just feel sad for those owners that they have to stare at a bus garage... that's the type of view the owners of Grace, Clarence and Cohassett are in for...

[Justine Cooper]

Valerie,
This is beyond disturbing. I walk up Grace and Cohasset weekly with my dog and never get tired of admiring the architecture and the peaceful feel the neighborhood has. And Clarence has been a dream to live on. I am deeply saddened hearing this news and I hope it truly is not too late. Selfish decisions ruin neighborhoods as much as the selfish decision in the housing crash on all sides.

Grace, I too have shopped at Value World and in NO way think having one in Lakewood is ANYthing but ignorant and devastating news. No way. I also have shopped at Drug Mart and have NO problem saying some of the clientel there are reasons I don't let my children out of my sight on my street. Sorry but it is the truth.

Jim I wish your words were exaggerated but sadly they are true and it is nothing short of despicable what some selfish people have in mind for a city that so many love. When they drive them all out, what will they have left?

[Bill Call]

Grace, I too have shopped at Value World and in NO way think having one in Lakewood is ANYthing but ignorant and devastating news. No way. I also have shopped at Drug Mart and have NO problem saying some of the clientel there are reasons I don't let my children out of my sight on my street. Sorry but it is the truth.

Jim I wish your words were exaggerated but sadly they are true and it is nothing short of despicable what some selfish people have in mind for a city that so many love. When they drive them all out, what will they have left?

There is a saying that the best way for a politician in Washington to get into trouble is to tell the truth. I believe that applys to this site as well. Get ready for some critisism, Justine.

In ten years Cuyahoga County will have fewer people than it does now. Northeast Ohio might have fewer people as well. There is not one single study that indicates that this region will be gaining population and yet our new County leadership is willing to spend millions of dollars to build apartments and housing in Downtown Cleveland that will compete with housing in Lakewood.

Cities like Lakewood are in competion for people; not just any people but people who are responsible, tax paying citizens who frequent the local restaraunt or store and who maintain and improve their property. The job doesn't get any easier when County officials quietly endorse Cleveland's homeless resettlement plan and Lakewood City officials take a passsive role about development in Lakewood.

a .25 % income tax dedicated to development would raise $3 million per year and could have been used to find the Gold Gym project, renovation of the Detroit Theater, new development at Rockport and more. I'm not a big fan of government subsidized development but if we don't we will be at the mercy of government officials who see Lakewood as a dumping ground.

They have to know what they are doing. They have to know the affect of their polices. What does that tell us?

[Justine Cooper]

That kind of criticism doesn't bother me Bill. I am one who is a proud home owner in Lakewood and one who spends a good protion of my paycheck in Lakewood. Every business I went into to ask for a donation for the fifth grade graduating class of Hayes fundraiser, I bought something in. I frequent every type of business in Lakewood (and the small business owner said yes every tine but the bigger businesses, like Dunkin Donuts, Menchies, etc. couldn't be bothered with even a $5 gift card for donation. Every MAMA business owner that received a request responded generously. Deagans, West End and Rozis, all places I frequent, responded generously. I really honestly love every part that makes up Lakewood. I love the education my children receive at Hayes. I love when new businesses open up here. But this plan for a Value World and a bigger Drug Mart in a historical area makes me ill. It is as wrong for Lakewood as wrong can be. Right up the road from the Historical Nicholason House. I hope and pray this gets stopped.

[Myra Beckrest]

It is as wrong for Lakewood as wrong can be. Right up the road from the Historical Nicholason House. I hope and pray this gets stopped.

It would appear that Lakewood doesn't care much for it's historical homes: http://lakewoodhistory.org/artifacts/lhsn18.htm

The Curtis Hall house can still be viewed, plastered to a run-down storefront... you almost don't even know it's there. I just love the asphalt paved right up to the back door, don't you?

It's a shame that the building on Edwards had to be torn down.. not to different from the Matthew Hall house being torn down for the YMCA.

Fortunately the Thomas Hall house still stands, perched quietly behind the greenhouse and business. I remembering seeing it for sale not that long ago along with the property, and was happy it's still standing. It's beautiful.

The mansions on Lake were cleared for larger developments, and Saint James Church ~ had the Vatican decided to not reopen it ~ was being eyed by a developer. I wonder how long the city would have protected it had that been the case.

Pretty soon the only thing historic in Lakewood will be it's street names. I don't want to see that happen.

[Bill Trentel]

So saving a sixty year old functionally obsolete auto dealership is what will save Lakewood from its self?

Some how the homes on those streets survived the construction and operation of an auto dealership on the corner. Something tells me that there is a very likely they will once again they will outlast a redevelopment of that corner. Despite the attempts of our elected and appointed officials to destroy our community.

Should we be looking for developers to plant historically appropriate orchards along Detroit?

Bill

[Valerie Molinski]

I am not opposed to the development of the Ganley site into a DM. I do believe that the ABR will make sure that it will be the best looking DM we can get.. kind of like what they expected of the CVS.

My issue is with the taking of the two residential parcels via conditional use. I plan on attending the next planning commission meeting on June 7th at 7pm to voice my opposition to that particular part of the development plan.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I am not opposed to the development of the Ganley site into a DM. I do believe that the ABR will make sure that it will be the best looking DM we can get.. kind of like what they expected of the CVS.

My issue is with the taking of the two residential parcels via conditional use. I plan on attending the next planning commission meeting on June 7th at 7pm to voice my opposition to that particular part of the development plan.

Valerie

While I understand you have inside knowledge of the ARB, I do believe they had very little to do
with the final product we have from CVS, and it is my understanding they will have very little on
the DM front as well.

As I stood on Grace he other night I could not help but notice how much those apartments shield
the rest of the street from the noise and light pollution of Detroit Ave. To my knowledge it was
CVS that used the higher cost directional lights that keep much of the light in their lot as opposed
to flooding the neighbors back yards.

At the same time we are talking about a rarely used CVS moving to a new location that still sees
very little day to day traffic. The DM that is moving to Grace is one of the most used DM in the
area servicing the east end of Lakewood and Cleveland.

FWIW


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