The Observation Deck

Dee Martinez wrote:Whether the nickles and dimes add up the bigger damage is that the public will now be very skeptical about any inducement the city might be inclined to offer a business.

Is it nickels and dimes? Did the City indirectly get its investment back? How do we measure the return on our investment? Is being an incubator a measurable return?

There are other economic investments that the City has made - and I'm thinking of the group that is heading up Lake Erie Screw - that has taken a facility that was primarily empty and made it primarily full.

I'm sorry Hinkley is leaving, but I think there was an overall value to the City that happened as a result of the loan.

As for the public, is the skepticism based in reality or reaction?

dl meckes wrote:

Dee Martinez wrote:Whether the nickles and dimes add up the bigger damage is that the public will now be very skeptical about any inducement the city might be inclined to offer a business.

Is it nickels and dimes? Did the City indirectly get its investment back? How do we measure the return on our investment? Is being an incubator a measurable return?

There are other economic investments that the City has made - and I'm thinking of the group that is heading up Lake Erie Screw - that has taken a facility that was primarily empty and made it primarily full.

I'm sorry Hinkley is leaving, but I think there was an overall value to the City that happened as a result of the loan.

As for the public, is the skepticism based in reality or reaction?

Nickles and dimes, maybe, maybe not. Probably not a lot more if the company bolted as soon as the deal ended. The expectation certainly was that Hinkley was in it for the long haul.

As for the reality or reaction, in the end does it matter? Who wants to get into the city bribing companies to stay for a period shorter than a car loan? Whats right is right, and this isnt. The idea that Hinkley worked Lakewood over for a short-term benefit and as soon as that expired, took their act to Avon Lake looking for the same thing maikes them about as good and loyal a "neighbor" as an alley cat, in my estimation. Or maybe a common streetwalker. I just hope Avon Lake asks themselves if they really want to be the next trick.

Dee Martinez wrote:

dl meckes wrote:Who wants to get into the city bribing companies to stay for a period shorter than a car loan?

That's an interesting descriptive.

What's your opinion about the City and economic development in general? Are there any times when such loans would be a good idea?

Would it have been different if Hinkley hadn't decided to leave?

I worked for a company on Berea Rd for 12+ years. That company also moved for greener pastures further west. Why did that company move?

We needed: a modern single story facility, more space for both people and products, we were landlocked by Berea Rd, the train tracks and other buildings, to get away from perceived safety issues in the neighborhood.

We got all that we needed on 10 acres that provided room for future expansion. We also got easy access for customers to at least 5 hotels within 5 minutes drive time and the safety issues went away. Both sites enjoy easy access to I-90.

What did we lose? A few employees who relied on the rapid to get to work(this issue was never brought up as we discussed the move with the employees) and easy access to the airport. I really can't think of much else.

I've often wondered, is there a way for Cleveland and Lakewood to spur development along the Berea Rd corridor by exploiting the assets of both? The real estate for development lies in Cleveland while the services and safety forces of Lakewood are desirable.


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Rick Uldricks wrote:I drove past Hinkley Lighting today on my way to Home Depot -- I never realized they were actually in Lakewood -- I thought they were in Cleveland. Are the other businesses on that stretch of Berea Rd. considered Lakewood businesses? Pat Catan's? The adult book store? others? Are all of the businesses on Lakewood Hts, including the RTA depot considered Lakewood too?

Just curious.

Only those on the North side of Berea Rd to W 117th are in Lakewood. The businesses you mentioned are all on the South or Cleveland side of Berea rd. The RTA station is east of W 117th and in Cleveland.

Now that Hinkley is leaving, maybe Ikea can buy all that land on Berea Rd and tear it down to build.

Ikea's are normally always near airports...

Bryan Schwegler wrote:Now that Hinkley is leaving, maybe Ikea can buy all that land on Berea Rd and tear it down to build.

We love Ikea but the bad thing about being near one is that you always find that you "need" to get something. For me it's probably a good thing that we have to drive a couple of hours to get to one.

Rhonda loje wrote:Ikea's are normally always near airports...

Not the one in Detroit and the one in Pittsburgh is no closer to the airport than one in Lakewood would be.

The one in Pittsburg is very near an airport.

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/ikny_splash.html


We need IKEA in Lakewood... that would totally rock!

Forget Ikea, not gonna happen. They just opened one in West Chester OH, near Cinci. Not likely to have 2 in Ohio.

The Pittsburgh one is still closer to us than the Cinci one.

There was a joke a few years ago on SNL about Ikea. On the news segment, Tina Fey said:

Ingvar Kamprad, the Swedish man who founded Ikea, has overtaken Bill Gates as the world’s richest man, with a fortune of 53 billion dollars. He plans to use the money to finally buy some nice furniture.

It was hilarious. While I enjoy the bright colors, inexpensive decorating odds and ends, the furniture is NOT high end.

Ohio could support two Ikeas... just sayin

Rhonda loje wrote:The one in Pittsburg is very near an airport.

Here's a link to the Google Map...it's about 8 miles and 11 minutes to the Pittsburgh Airport from Ikea. Not really too different than Berea Rd to Hopkins.

I agree, the liklihood is about zero, but I can dream.

Probably more likely a city jail would go there.

It cost us $250 to transfer detainees to Bedford.

But that will be another discussion.