The Observation Deck

So back to the original suggestion. We've got 4 exits. What are the top 10 Lakewood spots at each exit? I would guess that these signs don't come free to the advertiser so assume for discussion sake that the business needs to pay $300/month to be listed (a steal really for that kind of exposure). Sure it may be less and we may uncover more economical promotional solutions but for the sake of discussion, what are the non-franchised or franchised businesses that would be listed on these signs?

117th (or Highland) Exit:
Virginia Marti, McDonalds, Phantasy, Hi Fi, Rockport (assuming they get restaurants at some point), Swingo's, Pier W
Bunts
Angelo's, Lakewood Civic Auditorium (increase the # of shows), Winking Lizard, Highlander,
Warren
Crazy Rita's, Chipotle, Melt, Geiger's, Malley's, Burger King, Subway
McKinley
3 Birds, any of the west end district bars and restaurants, the new Brewery/restaurant on Madison, India Garden,

I do think it's a great idea. I'm curious of the obstacles. Cost and if maybe there's something that would be lost if we increase traffic that's coming in just to get fast food and get back on the road. Is there a way to be selective about such a thing though and limit an ODOT sign to just the businesses that we feel should draw more customers from the freeway? I think that it's good that the proposal is not to use the signs as they are traditionally. Which is to offer a quick jump off the freeway during a long drive, so the traveller can gas up and grab a Big Mac.

Shawn

This sounds like the perfect gift from the Lakewood Jaycees to the businesses of Lakewood.

Thanks


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Shawn

This sounds like the perfect gift from the Lakewood Jaycees to the businesses of Lakewood.

Thanks


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Shawn

I agree with JO, that would be a great donation from Lakewood Jaycees to the businesses of Lakewood. It seems you want all the little businesses in Lakewood to do better, and this would be a wonderful project to underline what the Lakewood Jaycees stand for.

Thank you in advance, Shawn and Lakewood Jaycees.


Pat

Hmmm, not that I am in charge of anything at this point but I'm trying to see how a donation of this sort would make sense. It sounds similar to the misconception of the "government" paying for it or the misunderstanding closer to home that City taxes should pay for Main Street instead of the businesses that stand to gain from it. Jaycee donations are specifically decided to benefit the community in general and traditionally are charity orientede. How would our supporters (local businesses and the public) feel about us singling out small businesses and providing them a monetary benefit? I suppose if there could be a case made for this being charitable or something that the Jaycees could accomplish easier or cheaper than the businesses themselves, you may have a point. Otherwise it just sounds like a non-profit chosing to sponsor a for profit business with donations from residents and other for profits money. Feel free to submit a proposal but at this point, that sounds like a really bad idea.
Then again, maybe the comments were just made to shrug off the valid question and try to throw it onto the first person you can find. So does anyone have any real information on this issue or are we done with the "civic discourse"?

Shawn

I for one was not trying to stop civic discourse when I mentioned it. I personally thought that the idea was questionable, but the more I thought of it the more sense it made.

Would anyone really get off of I-90 and travel 3-4 blocks through a congested city to Crazy Rita's? I doubted it, but then I realized that it would allow Far Westsiders and others to see what we have in the city. From my knowledge I think that the signs for Kiwanis was underwritten in part by Kiwanis. You were mentioning wanting Jaycees signs, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

You have had a series of successful fundraisers, and this might be the perfect way to channel some of the money, while taking a lead in promoting the city of Lakewood and our commercial district. As Jennifer Hooper stated this was a goal of Mainstreet, while also mentioning their funding is tied up for the short term.

It would be a great way to help Mainstreet, and downtown Lakewood. Maybe down the road you could sell signage, but what a lift to get this going. While I am not sure if the Highlander can afford $3,600 a year for a sign on I-90, I would certainly be willing to take the idea LO Advisory Board about the Observer being on the board.

As Gary Rice notes, the seed was planted, now you must grow that seed.

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Hi All!

The idea of signs directing people to Lakewood is a good one, but it might be hampered by regulations regarding billboards on federal highway right-of-ways. I seem to recall that signs could not be placed within so many feet of a freeway.

Yes, I've seen semis with their painted sides parked close to the freeway, and there are billboards as well, within spittin' distance.

Any ideas for raising the visibility of Lakewood's presence should be considered, but will have to pass the test of whatever local, state or federal regulations might be involved.

Keep those Lakewood ideas comin'. Trivia time: Which '60's personality said that when you had more than two people involved, you had a movement?
(to be fair, I'll let you know that I'm not sure m'self!)

Gary Rice wrote:Hi All!

Trivia time: Which '60's personality said that when you had more than two people involved, you had a movement?
(to be fair, I'll let you know that I'm not sure m'self!)

Abbie Hoffman


Gary

If I remember correctly signage like this was mentioned during the number war. As an answer to how would we get traffic to know the mall is there?

I would think that they could be affixed to bridges, as many are.

FWIW


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Today would have been a good day to have the sign up for If you lived in Lakewood, you would be home by now - as I see everyone crawling by.

Of course I wouldn't want to be holding that sign - I think there has to be a good way connect the signs.

Lynn Farris wrote:Of course I wouldn't want to be holding that sign - I think there has to be a good way connect the signs.

Lynn

Tie straps and bungees. Tie straps keep it tight on the top, bungees to let the air out on the bottom. Do it all the time.

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Hi all,

You know, an answer to freeway brand identification might lie with a variation of the following idea:

Searching the internet regarding my family tree, I came across the "Sons of Confederate Veterans" site.

In an interesting, if not controversial action, some people sympathetic to their cause seem to be putting up Confederate battle flags near interstates down south.

With all our graphic artist type talent around here, what about a giant Lakewood flag, or flags? (Along with the national colors, of course) Private businesses might "buy a pennant" to help support the cost, to fly from nearby poles.

Whether this would fly legally or not, (bad pun) would remain to be seen, but we could have this town looking like a battleship at sail with all those pennants!

Gary Rice wrote:Hi all,

You know, an answer to freeway brand identification might lie with a variation of the following idea:

With all our graphic artist type talent around here, what about a giant Lakewood flag, or flags? (Along with the national colors, of course) Private businesses might "buy a pennant" to help support the cost, to fly from nearby poles.

Gary

Love the idea of flags. It was this thought that started the "LO and Lakewood logo" stickers on the back of cars.

The LO logo came way before the project. I came out of the "I Love Lakewood" project. 4 different stickers. A LO plain, a LKWD, the Lakewood logo, and then what became the LO Logo. the nose and the eye. This were set up to raise awareness of Lakewood, while helping raise money for H20, Lakewood Library, Lakewood Historical Society, and Lakewood Arts.

After many little problems, they all ended up at the Library, with the money raised going into "Friends of the Library." 100% of all proceeds stay at the library. My company AGS does not receive one penny from the sales of the ovals.

In the summer H20 sells them at various events. Again, 100% of those proceeds stay with H20. Whenever they need more, they just call and they are delivered.

The flags would be a natural offshoot of this.

Not to raise the ire of anyone on council, but there was talk of a Lakewood Flag many years ago. This was for a flagpole that was not being used anymore at City Hall.

But I think the thought was, let Lakewood's talented kids design the flag.

But i am glad you have brought the idea back to the table.

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Thank you Bill for asking the questions that were running through my mind. For those of us out of the loop? What is Main Street exactly? I know I read about it awhile back, but haven't for awhile. Is it grant-funded? Is the person in charge a Lakewood resident? Is it part of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce? I have been hearing a lot of disgruntle with the Chamber as I go into local businesses. I am not trying to cause trouble but there are some unhappy businesses who feel on their own in Lakewood.

Back to my original argument of the leaders in Lakewood living in Lakewood or it doesn't make sense to the common mind.

Justine Cooper wrote:Back to my original argument of the leaders in Lakewood living in Lakewood or it doesn't make sense to the common mind.

Justine

Many of us at the Lakewood Observer believe the same thing. we believe so much we are working on residency incentives, and requirements have been struck down but the courts.

As for "Mainstreet" This a a program that has been brought into the city to oversea and handle the "rebirth" of Bunts to Arthur on Detroit Ave. Jennifer Hooper is a member of the Observation Deck and usually will jump in. Probably best to let her describe the program.

You can also do a search for "Mainstreet" and get some of the discussion from the past.

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Yes I would love more information on it, as would many other parents in the PTA. Why is it only on Detroit and what do the funds provide? I do not mean any personal attack on any person in a position in Lakewood whom does not live in Lakewood, but from the little I have read on the Deck, it seems there are passionate, intelligent, educated residents of the city that have great ideas. Why in the world does the city not look within before going out?

I just went on a job interview for a non-profit for a new job being created (a pre-interview to find out what the job description entailed). The meeting went well but I was told they have to post it within first, of course. Am I crazy to think Lakewood should do the same?

"A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it."-Max Planck (1858-1947)-Nobel Prize winner, quantum physicist

Justine Cooper wrote:"A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it."-Max Planck (1858-1947)-Nobel Prize winner, quantum physicist

Ain't it the truth.

If you want a perfect example of what you are talking about. Do a search for "Savannah's Pennisula." Talk about intelligent! Savannah Farris did a year's worth of work, filling 4 notebooks with everything you could need. The plan, the work, the idea is brilliant. To be honest one of the few plans that make sense. I will let Don Farris or Lynn speak about where it is now. All I know is we back 110% and our still working it through the various systems. Lakewood genius at it's best.

Residency requirements, are not legal, but residency incentives are. Also the mayor, school board, and other groups could demand residency in appointments, and I think it's time has come. Ken Warren has done much work on this as has Grow Lakewood. Both agree it is needed NOW to keep this city moving in the right direction.

Another interesting group that was started with the help of Observers was MAMA. Madison Avenue Merchant Association. This was started after it was pointed out to the advisory board that Madison Avenue was left out, as if it was the ugly stepchild of the city. Recently Observers thought Madison was a better area for shopping and retail than Detroit. Easier to park and get around, and a homier feeling were just some of the reasons. How do you feel about that?

While I have had more than a few lunches with Jennifer Hooper, and Dave Shaw, I have to admit be confused on some issues or what should be done. As Jennifer mentioned in this thread, they have ideas for I-90 and signage to move people to the center of the city. I have heard the plan, and it seems nice enough.

But Bill Call raises the interesting point, when, and with what money? this is a fair question. In talks with Jennifer she has mentioned that "Mainstreet" could go as far as Rocky River and Cleveland. Again, we must visit Bill Call's comment, "when and how much."

As a woman that ran a nice gift shop on Madison, you know what it is like as minutes turn into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, into years waiting for a little help. That is not much reassurance for "Turnstyle" "Bela Dubby" "chain Link Addiction" etc. These people need help now.

Some on this forum and in this thread have told me, let the little shops die. If they can't make it, let them close, so be it. At the Observer we see each shop and each family as part of Lakewood and needed.

I speak with owners on Madison, and they are not happy with "Mainstreet" being on Detroit. Once again treated as the ugly stepchild. Ken Warren a person on the board of Mainstreet has often wonder why Bunts to Arthur was selected. It would seem that that is the area that needs the help the least. Of course the answer is, "Mainstreet" does best in small downtown areas. But that is a discussion for another day. Which is another day so many small stores do not have.

Justine, you raise many critical questions. Rest assured you are not alone in your thoughts.

peace



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