The Observation Deck

Hi all. It looks like I am a little late to respond, but I’m happy that Jim and Mary Anne are right on. Here’s a little more:

1. Urban Active made a site proposal a little more than a year ago. The City has requested that they update their plans and are awaiting a response. The project will still go forward, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they propose. When it’s finalized, we’ll share it in this space.

2. The developers of the Cliffs are bullish on the project, and working with the City to address hurdles unrelated to market conditions.

3. Lakewood Plaza (aka Drug Mart Plaza) is among the most ideal retail locations in Lakewood. The new owner has been in contact with the City, and we’re looking forward to seeing updated plans for the property they own. The City is also grateful to Mainstreet for their guidance and input to help set expectations for the new owner.

Moving on, I agree with Phil, Justine and others that the City must make it easier for businesses to open and thrive in Lakewood. Sharing more information is only part of that. There are other initiatives in the planning stages; we’ll need the Deck’s support getting the word out.

Buy Lakewood.

I thought I read in the Sun Newspapers a few weeks back that the Drug Mart Plaza sale either fell through or was cancelled. Am I mistaken? I remember thinking that it was probably because TG was no longer mayor.

Dee Krupp wrote:I thought I read in the Sun Newspapers a few weeks back that the Drug Mart Plaza sale either fell through or was cancelled. Am I mistaken? I remember thinking that it was probably because TG was no longer mayor.

Is it just the Plaza and not the Park? That might be two separate deals and the Park may have fallen through but the Plaza might not have. Even without the Park, there is a lot of property there to be used a bit more wisely, I would think. Any decent update to that property would be appreciated.

I understand that there has been a majority view that the Drug Mart Plaza is not asthetically as pleasing as the two Pantheons that bookend it and the psuedo pantheon across the street. My latest question in this discussion and I believe its come up before is why can't a developer just slap a new facade on the existing structure? With the rear entrances in place the businesses would not be shut down in the process. It would be similar in ways to what First Fed went through a few years back. Put a masonry, gabled roof in place of the brown aluminum, enclose the brick colums with classical columns and wrap the building in some sandstone (all of which would be artificial material rather than the same quality as the Masonic and the Maxxum buildings.
If Drug Mart wants a larger floorplan there are tons of them around town. Tear down one of those buildings but why mess with a building that is 100% occupied?

A related question -- has Giant Eagle said anything about the future of the existing store on Bunts once the W 117th Street store opens?

Bruce Kratofil wrote:A related question -- has Giant Eagle said anything about the future of the existing store on Bunts once the W 117th Street store opens?

I would imagine the Bunts location will remain but the W 116th dump will be closed.

Shawn:

I realize you have long wished for a real “Pants/eonâ€￾ on Detroit Avenue. But in sacrificing your classical dictionary to the god of pants, you have lost sight of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

From the beginning Athena’s connection to the Wood’s wisdom tradition has been encoded in the actual architectural details of Lakewood Public Library.

So it’s more likely that in your post you should be reaching toward the Parthenon, the chief temple of the goddess Athena built on the acropolis at Athens, an example of Doric architecture.

Finally I will assure you that despite the connection to the wisdom tradition and classical architecture there’s nothing “pseudoâ€￾ about Lakewood Public Library and the modern traditional design of Robert A.M. Stern.

Cheers,

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Bruce Kratofil wrote:A related question -- has Giant Eagle said anything about the future of the existing store on Bunts once the W 117th Street store opens?

I went to Urban Active in Beachwood a couple of weeks ago... I was told that an Urban Active would be opening in Lakewood at the old Giant Eagle location on Bunts.

Stephen, I think he's asking about the future of the existing Giant Eagle, which is also on Bunts.

Are we going to lose another grocery - this time to the newer/bigger/better Giant Eagle location next to the new Target?

dl meckes wrote:Stephen, I think he's asking about the future of the existing Giant Eagle, which is also on Bunts.

Are we going to lose another grocery - this time to the newer/bigger/better Giant Eagle location next to the new Target?

That Giant Eagle on Bunts has only been open for a year or so - I can't believe they'd close it.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:

Bruce Kratofil wrote:A related question -- has Giant Eagle said anything about the future of the existing store on Bunts once the W 117th Street store opens?

I would imagine the Bunts location will remain but the W 116th dump will be closed.

Hey, they little "dump" will be greatly missed by many in that neighborhood. And just because it's small, doesn't make it a dump. Everybody talks about how walkable Lakewood is.....well that store is walkable for many. I worked there years ago and I know the many many regulars will be sad to see it go. Giant Eagle wanted to build a new store on that same corner, but for some reason just because that old church is historic (even though a huge eyesore) it's staying and the City of Cleveland gave them a hard time.

Sometimes these huge supermarts are a pain to go to...they're just too darn big.

One of my old co-workers that still works there used to live in a condo on Edgewater, but bought a house in Brook Park years ago. She never asked for a transfer closer to home because she really enjoys working in that store.

Dee Krupp wrote:Hey, they little "dump" will be greatly missed by many in that neighborhood. And just because it's small, doesn't make it a dump.

Small is not why it's a dump. It's a dump because the store is dirty, dingy, and often messy. It's not at all appealing.

That's just my opinion.

Did the 5 Guys Burger place deal fall through? The old Party Station is at the end of my street and I noticed a big "for lease" sign now in the window that wasn't there yesterday.

Went to Borderline for Breakfast - one of two of our favorite places in Lakewood to eat breakfast (the other is The Place to Be). Walking there we saw two new businesses going in. One is a fairly large pizza place named Deweys (sp?) that will feature a sit down place to eat.) I think there was a tanning salon in here previously.

The second is where the bait shop used to be. It is called Ecletic and will feature things for the home.

Two more nice places for the West End.