Question for the Rumor Mill

[Michael Deneen]

The UPM Express gas station on Madison has been closed for at least a couple years.
I believe the nearby Fridrich Moving and Storage building is also empty.

Does anyone have any idea what will happen to these properties?

[Bill Call]

A similar building in the Gordon Square area along the Shoreway will be converted into loft apartments.

The developers will be receiving tax credits equal to 40% of the redevelopment costs plus the benefit of the millions in subsidies available to the surrounding area. Lakewood is not eligible for that type of help.

That illustrates the challenge. Nothing our County Government is doing is bringing people or jobs to the region. The subsidies being paid just pay people to move from one part of town to the other. Subsidies are available for areas like downtown, Crocker Park and areas in Lorain and Medina County. They are not available to Lakewood. Our County current development policy is:

Subsidize downtown

Subsidize sprawl

Starve the middle

Lakewood is in the middle.

[Bill Call]

The UPM Express gas station on Madison has been closed for at least a couple years.
I believe the nearby Fridrich Moving and Storage building is also empty.

Does anyone have any idea what will happen to these properties?

Someone was interested in turning the Christian Science Church on Lake into a rock climbing facility. It looks like that idea is dead:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index ... er_default

If it was a real proposal that could work then it's possible that the old Fridrich Building would work better.

[Matthew Lee]

How do either of those two responses answer Michael's question?

To address Michael's question, I don't know what is happening with them. Haven't heard a thing.

[Bill Call]

How do either of those two responses answer Michael's question?

To address Michael's question, I don't know what is happening with them. Haven't heard a thing.

How about:

I'VE HEARD SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT:

A similar building in the Gordon Square area along the Shoreway will be converted into loft apartments.

The developers will be receiving tax credits equal to 40% of the redevelopment costs plus the benefit of the millions in subsidies available to the surrounding area. Lakewood is not eligible for that type of help.

SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT

That illustrates the challenge. Nothing our County Government is doing is bringing people or jobs to the region. The subsidies being paid just pay people to move from one part of town to the other. Subsidies are available for areas like downtown, Crocker Park and areas in Lorain and Medina County.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT:

They are not available to Lakewood. Our County current development policy is:

Subsidize downtown

Subsidize sprawl

Starve the middle

Lakewood is in the middle.

[Matthew Lee]

Nope. That doesn't do it. But if you want to keep repeating the same thing in every thread, more power to you.