The Observation Deck

I'm not sure what the alternative is here. Let a new business come in, or leave the abandoned building, and put up a sign "Behold my works, ye mighty, and despair"?

Jerry Ritcey wrote:I'm not sure what the alternative is here. Let a new business come in, or leave the abandoned building, and put up a sign "Behold my works, ye mighty, and despair"?

Jerry

I see no way that the Detroit Theater could be saved, the only thing more delusional is
trying to save the Westwood/Hillard Theater, especially while the city is secretly salivating
over tearing down what will be the last movie theater , The Phantasy Theater.

I do take great offense over some of the BS flying around, and how things are being sold
to us once again. 1) We have no control, 2) We should be happy because McDonalds
marketing really does it research, and they picked Lakewood!! 3) It has nothing to do with
redevelopment planed for Sloane, etc.

A theater being unsuccessful should have no impact on a residential neighborhood that
has always been good neighbors and a plus for the community. I mean maybe a couple
people lose jobs. But not 30 homes have their property values ruined, and their otherwise
peaceful lives ruined by hearing, "Do you want fries with that until 2am on a hot summer
night." To have those peaceful nights in their backyards ruined with light pollution and the
aroma of Big Macs?

If the city is not willing to stand by the residents, and will always shove crappy economic
development down our throats the middle of Lakewood better run for the burbs. You know
what they say, "Once they go..."


This is not about a new business moving here.


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Jim,

The Winking Lizard griping went a little something like this "Oh NOOOO not the abandoned Elk's, We love the abandoned Elks. Remember when we used to have bowling leagues there and we went with our Grandma...etc" "They better keep the integrity of that building or it will ruin Lakewood forever" Since you can see it from my house it may be more relevant to me.

There is also question your definition of a big box store. IMO a Rite Aid or Walgreens is NOT a big box store. Just curious

Colleen,

Jimmy used to be a big fan of the Winking Lizard. See, e.g., http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3448.

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:Colleen,

Jimmy used to be a big fan of the Winking Lizard. See, e.g., http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3448.

Matt

Jay Foran wrote:Mary Anne and I are just pretty faces.

Thanks to LakewoodAlive members Melissa Page, Paul Beegan, KC McKenna and Shannon Strachan for making the evening possible.

Thanks to all that attended. It was fun seeing both familiar and new faces and talking about all the great things happening in Lakewood!

Jim, thanks for the photos!

WOW!

What a look back in time!

Funny how nice we all played before I asked what happened to the money!

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Jim, the reason that some of us want to save the Hilliard Theater is simple; it is the most beautiful non-ecclesiastic interior space ever built in Lakewood.

Michael Loje wrote:Jim, the reason that some of us want to save the Hilliard Theater is simple; it is the most beautiful non-ecclesiastic interior space ever built in Lakewood.

Mike


Do you really think it can be saved at this point?

The last time I was in it, it seemed like the space would have to be nearly gutted.

What is the talk in your neck of the woods about loosing McDonald's?

Happy?

Sad?

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Jim,
Basically, it needs a new roof, significant plaster repair on the ceiling, and new seats[if it continues as a theater). As far as the Sloane location closing, we're already used to the 6 am trash pickups. And anyone living in the neighborhood already had the McD's there when they moved in. Its been there about 47 years.
Funny you would mention the Hilliard in this context. As we both know, the owner of the Hilliard is doing what many of us want, holding out for the right buyer, someone who will not tear down the building to put in a drug store. As you know, that is the right of the seller, to sell to whomever they want. In the case of McD's, CVS and others, that is what happens. As we saw, a group can build a church, worship in it for 60 years, celebrate thousands of weddings and mourn thousands of funerals, and then sell it to the first buyer like an old car, with no emotional attachment. As long as the buyers use conforms to zoning laws, the buyer can do what they want. Lets hope we have more building owners like Bob at the Hilliard Theater.

Michael Loje wrote:Jim,
Basically, it needs a new roof, significant plaster repair on the ceiling, and new seats[if it continues as a theater). As far as the Sloane location closing, we're already used to the 6 am trash pickups. And anyone living in the neighborhood already had the McD's there when they moved in. Its been there about 47 years.
Funny you would mention the Hilliard in this context. As we both know, the owner of the Hilliard is doing what many of us want, holding out for the right buyer, someone who will not tear down the building to put in a drug store. As you know, that is the right of the seller, to sell to whomever they want. In the case of McD's, CVS and others, that is what happens. As we saw, a group can build a church, worship in it for 60 years, celebrate thousands of weddings and mourn thousands of funerals, and then sell it to the first buyer like an old car, with no emotional attachment. As long as the buyers use conforms to zoning laws, the buyer can do what they want. Lets hope we have more building owners like Bob at the Hilliard Theater.

Mike

So can you hear the 6am Trash-Pickup from your house? Just curious.

The only reason I bring in the Hillard was the fact we are talking about saving theaters.

Mike let's be honest how much in $$$$$ to save the Hillard/Westwood Art Theater? Talking
about nearly gutting the place and rebuilding. The plaster work inside is heavily damaged.
Having rebuilt a theater with minimum plaster damage it is a huge job. The seats are nothing,
compare to the plaster and structural damage. I am not saying it is not worth
but in this city, We take a healthy theater building, with people picketing, and then we do
a little misdirection, like, "Hey the Hillard is the most historical significant building worth
saving." and wham bam Detroit comes down, then will come the reasons why "we" cannot
save the Hillard.

This is basically what went on with the hoop controversy this year. We don't have to worry
schools will cover this, then schools don't. Heat of the moment diffused.

This is not an attack on your efforts to save the Hillard. We both know the only way it is
viable is if the city uses eminent domain to take the Silver Coast for the parking lot the
past theater owner shortsightedly sold to make some extra $$$$$. Even then, it would
need to be a heavily subsidized non-profit to have any chance. Still we all have our pet
projects, and I appreciate the effort.

FWIW


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Jim,
You are missing my points here entirely. In this context, I am mentioning the Hilliard only because of it's design significance. No other existing theater building in Lakewood, not the Detroit, not the Lincoln, not the Homestead, not the Lucier, and not the Melba have that significance. And they would all require multi-million dollar investments to make them livable. But the main point that you are missing is this; We had a nondescript theater, an unwanted church, and a commercial block that all had owners anxious to sell. To anybody. None of those owners cared what happened to those properties after they sold them. The owner of the Hilliard is concerned as to what happens to the building AFTER he sells it. For that, I have to give him some credit.

Michael Loje wrote:Jim,
You are missing my points here entirely. In this context, I am mentioning the Hilliard only because of it's design significance. No other existing theater building in Lakewood, not the Detroit, not the Lincoln, not the Homestead, not the Lucier, and not the Melba have that significance. And they would all require multi-million dollar investments to make them livable. But the main point that you are missing is this; We had a nondescript theater, an unwanted church, and a commercial block that all had owners anxious to sell. To anybody. None of those owners cared what happened to those properties after they sold them. The owner of the Hilliard is concerned as to what happens to the building AFTER he sells it. For that, I have to give him some credit.

Mike

I give him some credit too. And you too.

Thanks for the note.

I have a feeling when the entire thing is over we will find that the owner of the Detroit
Theater, was also hoping for the same thing. Then someone, made the introduction
between McDonald's and them, and the rest is history.

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Jim, I'll bet you McD's found the Detroit Theater all by themselves.