The jumping off discussion area for the rest of the Deck. All things Lakewood.
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Corey Rossen wrote:If the hospital goes away, what could be done with the area on Detroit vacated by car dealerships, etc. to help rejuvenate the economy? What types of business provide quick, stable, long term solutions to an economy and city? High rise office towers, 2 story retail, housing, etc? Computer company, sporting goods, box store, etc.?
Corey
Lakewood still needs a good pants store. (inside joke that some of the veteran Deckers should appreciate.)
Glad you called them pants, and not trousers!
Corey
Corey Rossen
"I have neither aligned myself with SLH, nor BL." ~ Jim O'Bryan
Lori Allen _ wrote:I recall hearing that the Lakewood Soccer Association would like to see the houses on Belle & St. Charles demolished between Detroit and Franklin so that the vacant land can be used for "shared greenspace."
Lori,
You may have misheard. I know of at least one Lakewood Soccer Association board member that has a SAVE LAKEWOOD HOSPITAL sign in their yard. There is another soccer group in town. You can learn more about them at http://www.lakewoodrecreation.com/progr ... ccer/11480.
“There could be anywhere from 1 to over 50,000 Lakewoods at any time. I’m good with any of those numbers, as long as it’s just not 2 Lakewoods.” -Stephen Davis
Thanks, Meg. I was not aiming to classify everyone in the organization as being in favor of demolishing the houses and putting in "shared greenspace". However, I have been told that a few of the members are very anti-hospital and very pro-soccer fields.
A decent place for soccer fields, would be Berea Road across from Summers Rubber (well, a little closer to W 117). NOBODY walks to soccer practice; their moms all have to drive them anyway. There's plenty of old warehouses there that could be taken down and there's NO green space anywhere within 2 miles of that stretch of road.
In my view retail at Detroit and Belle would be a disaster. Imagine the traffic congestion. Do you think that folks from Bay and River will drive into Lakewood to shop? What would be the long term stability of retail? How did the Galleria Downtown work out? Cernos? Beers of the World? Five Guys? IHOP? etc.
Lakewood Hospital has employed folks for over 100 years. Can anyone name a significant retail employer with that track record?
Can anyone show some data that shows retail is more stable than healthcare for employers and employees?
Where is the data on people are investing in their kids to go to college for careers in retail vs. healthcare?
Right on Brian, I agree totally...as I send my daughter off to be a respiratory therapist this fall...nothing is as stable as healthcare come to think of it (possibly education too).
Recently, I read over the economic impact study put forward by the “Save Lakewood Hospital” committee as well as keeping up with the information being posted. My question is how does the loss of hospital revenue impact funding for Lakewood City Schools? It seems to me that since schools are mostly funded by property taxes (business/residential) that losing revenue will negatively affect the district’s bottom line. Suppose houses are cleared away for a wellness center or a rumored rec center—how much of a loss would that be to our schools?
This fall, the local election cycle includes the Lakewood Board of Education. I think it will be important for voters to know what candidates for the school board think about the hospital deal. The school board potentially has an important role to play in the future of the hospital.
Kristine--- It's not just the potential property tax decrease if several houses are taken off the tax rolls. It's the general economic vitality that all those hospital employees provide including a demand for all houses-rental and private, that would be diminished. Stan
The $294 million annual economic impact, is the spending generated by the 1100 hospital jobs (average pay $59,000+) and the 3300 community jobs (and small businesses) created thereby. This spending includes mortgages, real estate taxes, car payments, insurance, medical insurance, remodeling/updating our homes, theater tickets and classes (Beck), and all the usual household spending. 4400 jobs is one out of every 12 Lakewood residents (52,000) and one out of every 4 households (15,300).
Every hospital job, is worth $250,000 in annual spending in the community.
The community jobs, include THE BANKS, doctors' offices, dentists, small businesses, sign shops, car dealerships, restaurants, banks, financial advisors, accountants, boutiques, gas stations, grocery stores, drug stores, Beck Center--in short, EVERYTHING in Lakewood.
If the hospital jobs disappear - the doctors and nurses and radiology techs disappear. They sell and buy close to the hospital that the cardiologist has to get to in 5 minutes.
The hospital jobs are the highest-paying jobs in town. If the doctors move - who will buy their houses? If the hospital closes, Lakewood becomes much less desirable.
By KEEPING our hospital, Lakewood retains its desirability, especially for those high-income mid-career individuals who can afford those houses, who want high-quality medical service close to home--AND who have high-quality medical insurance to pay for that service.
If potentially one-fourth of our homes are affected - how much of a price decrease does this force on us? (I don't want to find out, and I bet you don't, either.) Less desirability = lower values = lower property taxes = lower school taxes and sets off a downward spiral.
A community hospital is an irreplaceable asset - in VERY many ways.
