Why is Clifton Park so exclusive?

[Alex Belisle]

Had a very nice ride on Lake Ave. going west towards Rocky River this morning. Took some photos of the beautiful homes/mansions in that vicinity and then I got to Clifton Park and the hill (great for HR workouts!) with its sign saying only members allowed.

I thought that since I was on a bike and didn't plan to use their facilities, I could ride my bike in and take some photos. NOPE - security stopped me and asked me if I read the sign at the top of the hill.

Just how exclusive are they and does that extend to the mindsets of the people who live there and are members?

[Jim O'Bryan]

Just how exclusive are they and does that extend to the mindsets of the people who live there and are members?

From 1885 Map of Lakewood. Kept it large so it could be read.

Clifton Park is a wonderful sub-community within the boundaries of Lakewood. They are as
diverse as any other area of Lakewood, even economical, within their borders. It is
"exclusive" as it was set up that way, way back in the founding of the City of Lakewood by
a separate developer, that was looking for an area for people to get away from the city and
enjoy the Lake. So he bought the beach property and developed that, as a way to get people
to buy and build in Clifton Park. It was very successful and was the last stop of the train
coming from the city for a long, long time.

The original track of Clifton Park was nearly everything West of West Clifton to the river. See
map I will post shortly.

Because of the Lake/Beach and later the Clifton Club, people living in Clifton Park are
assessed an additional $2,000 a year per lot, I believe for access. They cannot opt out of it.

This money is used for running the Association.

Recently there has been a lawsuit and rift between "The Clifton Club" and many of the
residents that live there, as "The Clifton Club" sells access to the beach, and residents
are contesting, that is illegal.

It is the only place in LAKEwood, that has access to the beach, and is the home to many
celebrities, including Robbie Buhl the Indy Car driver and team owner, though he recently
moved to another city.

There was talk about 8 years ago of making it a gated community and this fell through.

A brief overview.

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[Lori Allen _]

Hi Alex,

I brought this exact problem up at last council meeting. I told the mayor and council that the city is maintaining these "private" streets. They plow the snow, salt the road in the winter, fill the potholes, pick up garbage, and fix the signs (look on the back of the signs, they have Lakewood inventory stickers on them). A friend of mine called the mayor and spoke personally with Mike Summers and asked him why this was allowed. The mayor's response to my friend was something along the lines of "they pay taxes too and are entitled to services". At the last council meeting, I said that any person (s) living in Lakewood should be able to go to City Hall and request that their street be made private. I bet the citizens on Lakewood Ave. by the police station would like to make their street private, they should put in a request. It is a very small dead-end street and people often go down there to turn around. Last fall, I called City Hall and asked if the city was paying for their security guard down therein the lagoons. They refused to answer. Just another example of the great transparency we have at City Hall.

Maybe this is something we need to pursue in the future. A large group of less elite Lakewood citizens should walk and ride on these private streets. After all, we pay taxes too, don't we? I don't believe that if an arrest was made or a citation was given, I personally don't think it would stand up in court (although in Lakewood, it probably would). You would have to appeal your case out of Cuyahoga County to get a fair trial. I am beginning to think that there are three Lakewoods now. All Mike Summer's can say is "they pay taxes too". What a great leader.

Anyone want to go up to City Hall and put in requests that we want our streets private too?

I believe if they are assessed the extra $2,000 on their lots, that this would be county tax. Does the county reimburse Lakewood for the upkeep at all?

[Alex Belisle]

Here's some data from part of my total ride. I thought my heart was going to blow up! LOL Check out the hill elevation profile. But for an old guy, I survived.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/813650841

[Alex Belisle]

Hey Jim, can you send me a link for the whole map of Lakewood that you posted? I love looking at old maps!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hey Jim, can you send me a link for the whole map of Lakewood that you posted? I love looking at old maps!

No link, it is in my office with all of the other maps from the county from 1885.
24" x 40" hand drawn and colored.

Stop by sometime, it is amazing work!





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[Lori Allen _]

Alex,

You are putting me to shame. I would probably have a heart attack after the first five hundred feet. This is what I should be doing!

[Jim O'Bryan]

Alex try this, http://cliftonbeach.com/

The concept is not new, or creepy, and it has proven to work.

Owning a piece of an exclusive beach, that is privately owned helps
to retain the value of the property, and raise the value of the neighborhood.

This is not evil.

When you buy, you are approved, and all sales are approved, it is part of
their Association. I HAVE NEVER HEAR OF ONE PREJUDICIAL COMMENT
COMING OUT OF ANYONE'S MOUTH, EVER. But, as with all housing associations
they want you to fall into the norm, and maintain the value of property.

IT IS NOT EVIL.

Good people live there, but it's a community/neighborhood onto its own. And like it
or not, we enjoy good schools, libraries and many other perks based on their ability
to control the destiny of their property values.

Which is why many think of the rest of Lakewood as parasites or flies.

None of this is wrong or illegal, but it is one of the driving forces in Lakewood today.

If they can raise the value of the rest of Lakewood up, their taxes stay lower, and more
affordable, and the City can get more shiny things. Gentrification.

This is why it is so easy to trade beautiful homes on Grace, for a chance to make
a couple more dollars in taxes with a Dollar Store.

You cannot forget, The Association pays way more into the city than other areas, votes
in higher percentages, get more involved in the city, and whatever.

It is no different than any other city, or the Observer, it is a put up or shut up world.

Me, I just want people to be honest and transparent, sunshine is a great disinfectant.

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[Tim Liston]

Lori can you name one Clifton Park homeowner who lives on a "private" street? Or even just an address? Just curious....

[Lori Allen _]

I could name over thirty of them, but I don't feel that I should be sharing names and addresses without the citizen's permission. This information is available through public records. Beach Road and Captain's Cove are both private and I believe are considered part of the Clifton Park area.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Listen you two, I will not get into the naming thing, and I really only know of one private road in Lakewood, and we service that street in exchange for boat dock privileges, and other options I believe.

It matters not, but back to what I said, those with higher taxes, through their own choices, tend to look at "southern" Lakewood,
see I can do it without mentioning the "William and Sonoma Line" are anxious to keep their taxes from going up.

In an attempt to explain this nearly 6 years ago, I used this classic Warner Bros. Cartoon.



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