Parma City Council President, Sean Brennan at the Root Cafe in Lakewood.
It is amazing HOW BIG this small city is.
This afternoon, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Daniel McCarthy, publisher of the Parma Observer, and Sean Brennan, President of City Council in Parma. Sean has been a writer with the Parma Observer for over two years, writing the "From the President's Desk" section of the Observer. When I asked where they wanted lunch, Dan mentioned The Root Cafe, Sean has always wanted to check it out.
"You know Parma has nothing like this," Sean said while waiting in line to place his order. As usual, ordering, like drinking and eating at the Root Cafe in Lakewood, is a relaxing, time- consuming process, that allows others to check out the specials, say hello to friends, and order your food.
Today while standing in line, Sean was spotted by Troy Bratz's father and sister, Parma residents. "Hey, what are you doing here out of Parma?" Sean introduced Mr. Bratz to everyone, and Troy's father said, "I know him,” with a smile. Troy is the fiancé of Margaret Brinich, the editor of the Lakewood Observer. Sean mentioned stopping by to check out the Lakewood Observer and the city.
We order some sandwiches and grabbed a table near the window. The conversation was mostly about the Root Cafe at first. We talked about what made it unique, and I told him the story of the metamorphosis from the coffee shop Julie took over, Phoenix Coffee, to very much a second place of her own design and creation. The place is warm and comfortable and has been from the time it opened til today, all day, everyday. I told him it was the love of a community channeled through the true love and understanding of that community's spiritual mother, Julie.
The difference between Parma and Lakewood are stark in some ways, and amazingly close in others. We are the county's two largest communities, in population Parma has 81,601, Lakewood, 53,000. Lakewood is 5.2 square miles, Parma 24.5 square miles. Our historical center is the Oldest Stone House, an acre, Parma's is Stern Farm, over 65 acres in the center of town. Both cities were constructed to be middle class bedroom communities serving industrial centers.
The similarities are staggering and some we can look back on and smile and say, yeah I like Lakewood, and feel the growing pains for Parma. Both cities have tight financial budgets that are getting tighter with the continued exodus from Cuyahoga County. And with it comes to challenges, Parma has many that we in Lakewood have faced. They would love to build a dog park, but where, and where does the money come from and in a city of 24.5 miles, where do you put it, or them? They want to be "bike friendly" but the 4.5 miles we just approved at great cost would not even do one road across Parma. They are looking at groups like LEAF for ideas to work with Stern Farms to create Food Security, and other healthy food choices. They would love to build a skatepark, but no money, so they are looking at other funding. And finally they have an empty theater, the Parma Theater which was the sister theater to the Detroit Theater. Same owner, same business plan, same abandonment. So while ours was turned into a tax paying McDonald's, they are desperately looking to start some sort of "Art Community." I commented to Sean, "Parma is the city of 5 bowling alleys and no art galleries." Sean with a serious look said, "Actually only two bowling alleys now." And you could sense the need he feels for Parma to re-invent itself over the years ahead.
But where to start?
As we parted company, we talked of the Observer and what it could do. Sean writes his monthly column because he feels the only way to move a city forward is through working together, in a transparent, open way, that makes government inclusive, not exclusive. That the future of Parma is to support local entrepreneurs who have history and a vision, as opposed to the big box alternatives which only serve to kill off the local businesses, and to find better ways to serve the residents, and to attract new young residents.
Two cities, very different in size and scope, one a little farther along with their vision of the future, yet both will be fighting for the same people, same residents, and same brand. While many are commenting that City Hall is desperately trying to give Detroit Ave. the feel of Pearl Road in Parma, it would seem Parma is looking to capture the feel of Detroit Avenue 15 years ago.
Stay tuned.