The Observation Deck

Betsy--- There have been two major proposals for the lakefront at Lakewood Park in the last 20 years.

The first was for an actual beach and was proposed by Bryan Flannery in his successful campaign for council at large.

The second was just a few years ago by Savannah Farris as part of her senior class project at the Cleveland Institue of Art. That proposal called for new land, a peninsula, to be built and used for recreation, residential and commercial.

Stan

Stan Austin wrote:The second was just a few years ago by Savannah Farris as part of her senior class project at the Cleveland Institue of Art. That proposal called for new land, a peninsula, to be built and used for recreation, residential and commercial.

Stan

Maybe this was answered in the previous times this proposal was mentioned.... but I am wondering if this was every truly looked at and deemed viable? As a CIA student, I am assuming that Savannah could create some great renderings and presentations, but what about the actual engineering of the thing? Was this ever vetted by an engineer?

It sounds great and everything, but I am still not convinced this is nothing more than pie in the sky.... there is a steep drop and significant erosion over the years along our section of the lake for a reason. How would this work if every built and survive without intensive expense to keep it from getting 'owned' by Lake Erie.

Just wondering... maybe I missed that part of the discussion?

Valerie--- Savannah had complete drawings and it was a quite competent proposal. I worked for HNTB in the early '70s on the Jetport Feasibility Study and the concept that Savannah presented was viable in my opinion.
The only practical drawback that I saw was the need for landfill. This would have usually been provided by the Army Corps of Engineers in their regular dredging operations but that probably would have been a decade in the making.
As to the Lake reclaiming any newly made land, if it is built properly it will be permanent just as the reclaimed ocean is in the Netherlands.
Therefore, I think a regular beach would be a far more practical option if there is a will to do it.

Stan

Roy Pitchford wrote:

Stan Austin wrote:"Who'd want to join the kind of club that would let someone like me in?" Groucho Marx

Actually, Stan, his line was, "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member".
Marx Brothers movies were a staple of my very early years. Groucho probably taught me to talk.

For Roy ...



Matt

Matt

Yes it had been vetted by many, and some engineers and developers ALL LOVED IT.

The estimated cost for the study was $15,000 which the Army Corp of Engineers would have
paid half. Unfortunately it fell of deaf ears, and her parents had been instrumental in
stopping "The Debacle" (Jay Foran's words) also known as The West End Project.

The people that wanted the strip mall called "The West End Project" really hated it when it
was pointed out again and again, that none of their numbers added up. So when they lost
by 47 votes they took it very badly and started "LakewoodAlive." Of course LA became the
power behind all of the "economic commercial development" is good for all that permeates
Lakewood and Lakewood City Hall today.

Take a quick look, most of council, LA peeps, most of School Board, LA peeps, hence, no
$15,000 to study a project that would have netted Lakewood between $200 million and
$500 million in taxable property, a beach, a marina, a hotel, high end homes, and financial
security for the community. MAYBE

Bob Stark, Mr. Crocker Park was the one who said $200 - $500 million. He wanted the land
area to be twice as large as it would have only added 25% to the cost of the project. Also
in the plan was wind farms, beach, learning center, amphitheater, and more ALL PAID
FOR by the development and developer not the tax payers. THINK OF IT.

The estimated cost for the project was around $20-$40 million I think, but half of it would
have been paid for by the Army Corp of Engineers, or at least they have done that with
similar projects. Years later both Cleveland announced a peninsula plan, and Dubai has
made billions with theirs.



Instead we spend $13.8 million and get way finding and dollar stores!

People wonder why I am frustrated!

Here are some more illustrations from the project that also included 8 filled 3 ring binders
of interviews with 1) park users, 2) State Park officials, 3)Developers, 4)Army Corp of
Engineers, 5)Construction Materials, 6) Misc notes, all collected over a 6 month period.

I do not know of anyone that thought it was stupid, it was a beautiful plan, but alas, she
had the wrong last name, and her parents went against LakewoodAlive. Today, they all
live out of the city, frustrated, While we get to hear of the next Family Dollar store.









It was also announced the same year that Lakewood had decided to make "MainStreet"
and "Downtown" to focal point of Lakewood's revitalization. Which meant more dollar
stores, burger places, and strip malls.

It should be noted that Savannah is now making a good living working with a very well
known developer that saw genius, and hired it! This was her resume! But in Lakewood,
belittled and ridiculed by some "Civic Leaders" and run out of town. She was too smart.

I remember one council person chuckling and saying, "We just finished a park study and
we will go with that." That would be the study that erected the two walls coming into
Lakewood Park with Lakewood on them!

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Far from my area of expertise, but I understand that even the man made peninsula/islands in Dubai are sinking and eroding and there's a big tangle of litigation around it all even with all the resources of Dubai and the engineering help from the Belgians and Dutch.

If this was to be a private thing, I assume someone would just do it if it were viable. If this were to be a publicly financed thing, then I am curious how we would expect them to do it right when they are said to not even be able to color concrete properly. It seems to me a high risk and high cost project (again, not my area). I also tend to think that the view from the park presently is quite nice.

I don't mind a dollar store, really. I mind empty store fronts. If we had to chose between a local/unique place and a chain, that would be one thing. But unless I missed something I think the choices have been empty lots or something.

Not saying that new signs were needed or worth it or that the city hasn't missed opportunities or messed things up but not sure I can blame them for everything either.

Don't feel bad Myra, one person's "riff raff" is another person's treasure. We drive seven minutes to Old River Yacht Club near Whiskey Island and get to dock our boat and enjoy the pool and jacuzzie and restaurant/bar with weekend bands, for likely the same price to join our town's private beach. And no minimums on the food/drink order. Hardly anyone goes during the week and also private volleyball. Five hundred dollars for a family social membership if anyone is interested without a boat. And no politics there. Just fun in the sun.

Jim sometimes we have to cross the Lakewood border to get the extras and I do love RR and Vermillion beach. I read in the Flats Phase One today that a new beach is on their list so maybe we can see how they build one. Although Savannah's plan was breathtaking.

Justine Cooper wrote:Jim sometimes we have to cross the Lakewood border to get the extras and I do love RR and Vermillion beach. I read in the Flats Phase One today that a new beach is on their list so maybe we can see how they build one. Although Savannah's plan was breathtaking.

Justine

Let's be honest here, you know full well I spend more time out of Lakewood than many, if not most. I have the
pleasure of working with people and city halls, schools and businesses in many cities. I realize that we cannot
possibly have everything. BUT, we could do many things that add value to every home in Lakewood. That
would be a smart thing. A well know realtor said, "Beach access could add 20% to the value of a Lakewood
home." This while was she was looking at the project, when I had it on display at the LO offices in its own
room. Many, many people came through looking at it. I remember one person from the city, and 2 from
LakewoodAlive, none from Planning Department.

Jeff

Many think I am too hard on the city, I do not think that is true. A city does thousands of things everyday
and for the most part they do they good enough here. But I do fault city leaders when they get locked into
a lack lustre plan and stick to it for 8 years while telling everyone they have no plan. I fault them for not
looking out of the box, at some more innovative things. For every Melt or Observer I know of 5 the city
passed on or screwed up. When they miss big, it pains me, when they dream small it kills me. When they
dream small and do it half assed, it hurts my head. Lot of headaches recently.

The $70,000 for the sign study, would have paid for the study. It could have been used for basketball hoops,
studies, co-op funding, advertising out side the city so that we would have needed way finding one day. It
seems a bit half assed and completely ignorant to pay $70,000 for way finding study, $13.800,000 for
Detroit renovation including way finding, they spend $7,000 to study the need for a boutique hotel, so that
a couple people would actually need the way finding we bought, but is neither way finding, nor right.

We could have controlled our future better, we could do so much better. Imagine if you will, the press release
"Lakewood to study 50 acre peninsula, to generate $500 million in taxable property." Suddenly you are at
least painted and viewed as a progressive community with an eye towards the future with $$$$$$. Add in
best suburb in region, coolest place to visit, and you create a stir. OR "Dollar General moves in Downtown,
city to raise 59 condemned vacant houses, city to spend $7,000 meant for hoops on boutique hotel study, and
decide to close parks early on residents for no legit reasons" and you can see my frustrations.

We can plan our future, we can ask for more. We were promised "high end shopping in DowntowN." are we
just supposed to walk away, and say, ooopps let throw more money away? While we were spending, spending,
spending a few people's dreams of "high end shopping" we have let our homes go to hell. The residents pay
59% of the taxes, it is time they get 59% of the benefits.

FWIW

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Myra Beckrest wrote:Wow... I'm either stupid or I'm riff-raff because I've lived in Lakewood for 10 years and never knew there was a beach down there. Huh... and here I thought the perk of living on the west-end was smelling what my husband and I affectionately call "churning-night." Haha. No beach for us riff-raff, we just get stench.

Myra

I dug up some photos I have taken recently.


Clifton Beach and Lagoons as seen from Rocky River.


Looking East from the pier area.


Looking West to the pier.


What was known as York's Beach for decades was the scene of many of a great "Tire Roast." In the old days
you would have to swim or wade around the point to get back there.


The playground and beach house.


The oldest Basketball hoop in the city, with tennis courts, and platform tennis.


The boar houses. The one on the left is built on the location of Eliot Ness's house.

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Wait, there's a basketball hoop in Lakewood?????

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

"Not a soul to tell our troubles to . . ."

Clifton Park Lagoons.


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