The Observation Deck

Once the theater is gone, the Silver Coast apartments will have " center stage ".

Jim, I do want to take a moment to thank you for your kind words for those of us who take this as I loss. Perhaps your opinion is more pragmatic than mine. But nonetheless it's clear you know where I'm coming from.

I was just thinking through the course of this how difficult it is to accomplish anything that is not part of a recognized brand. Mega corporate commercialism has sucked so much oxygen out of the room that it seems no one is equipped to actively contemplate a proposition outside the context of a broad marketing campaign.

Then I notice this in my in box today. This really is what we're up against:

http://charleshughsmith.blogspot.com/20 ... n.html?m=1

It's interesting to think of the informational / PR power represented therein. It spans across national borders. It also goes some distance in revealing the general public's strange and carefully cultivated attachment to the sense of safety in corporate brands, despite suffering doses of austerity from the same. Go figure. Given current events in Lakewood, I'm certain you are particularly aware of this!

Anyway, a heartfelt thanks for your support, Jim.

From the great pictures I've seen posted in this forum, I don't understand why some of the artifacts weren't chiseled out and saved, marble drinking fountain niches, marble pillars, brass hand rails, door knobs, mail slots, porcelain address numbers, the cast iron radiators, the roof top ladders, which I tried desperately to get one. Now there just twisted metal land fill. Wasn't there a ticket taking booth? The exterior stone faces & decorative stone ivy, why is all that stuff gone? The vintage porcelain kitchen sinks, oak doors, Lakewood is all about recycling, what about those treasures, almost a 100 years old, gone forever? Bob, screw the city, they screwed you, you should have let me in there to save what I could grab. I have a hard hat, my risk, I'm not afraid, I'm more afraid of shopping at CVS on Clifton & W 117th in Lakewood, than entering the Hilliard Theater.

If I were informed( how can that happen) of any demolition of any original historic property in Lakewood, I would support it's restoration as if it were my own. To my last breath, because, Lakewood is my home, I don't want our quaint city to look like Brook park or North Olmsted, but it is quickly becoming that, sure some of the redevelopment is convenient, ( Marc's Plaza ), but I want to see the other options. I'd like a vote from the tax payers, the neighbors & the elected officials before anything is decided.

Friday night is coming, I'd love to go to the Detroit Theater and watch the feature of the evening. Popcorn, exciting, thrilling night. I demand we save that which is worth saving, before it's too late..... it's already too late for most. give me a voice, a platform to scream injustice. After the movie, you would visit Bob's Big Boy, in downtown Lakewood? I remember, 1969, Friday evening, about 10 pm, we went in, the place was jammed, a few counter seats were open, booths and tables filled with boys & girls in their Lakewood windbreakers, like "Happy Days" again.

About 20 years ago or so, while I was on the board of Lakewood Community Care Center, we received a notice from the city that the Center was in the Hilliard Triangle redevelopment zone or something like that and might have to move. The Center is on Woodward, between CCF and the eye center. I have always felt there were other plans for that property that did not include the theater, which would align with much of the short-sighted planning in our community. For whatever reason, those plans never came to fruition but when CCF closes the family health center, who knows what will happen with the Hilliard Triangle.

Friends in the UK live in a community that saved its old theater, and is a great point of pride for the town. http://therexberkhamsted.com/ I presented this model of preserving a irreplacable community asset to various people, including here on the deck, and there seemed to be no interest.

People will deal with an annoying lack of parking if it's worth it. I recently attended an event at the Capital in Gordon Square and was willing to put up with searching for a parking spot because it was something I wanted to see.

Why do people live in Lakewood if they are only interested in shiny new stuff. Westlake is not far. There's endless boring beige development going on there. If you are not interested in preservation at all, please, move.

Like Bob, I have an old building in Lakewood, not as impressive, but, the renovations, the daunting overwhelming work that should be done, so hard to do it by yourself. And without the cities help, the federal government, your over your head. Every possible access for assistance, grants, interest free loans, go fund me accounts, donations, volunteers should work together to save every last building & property we have. Lets not let it happen again.

I have been so overwhelmed with renovations, $$$$$ I cannot sleep at night, and thru all that, realizing, it's too much for me alone, and I'm not going to throw the towel in, let me go to the city, tell them of what I want to do, get their input, permits, contractors, ok, lets do it, after my death, I would donate the building to the city of Lakewood, as a testimony of what and how you can make an dilapidated old property great again. THE HILLIARD THEATER should have been save, your bad, shame on the city of Lakewood, for allowing it to happen. You would save your granddaughter wouldn't you? that was your granddaughter. One of Lakewood's grand old places.

so well said, and I agree, if you want Westlake, then move to Westlake, don't change Lakewood.

Sorry folks, saving any part of Historic Lakewood is not in Lord Lakewood and Company's plans. Destroy, destroy, destroy, and for what? To give their "friends" jobs?

Of course, it helps to have a spineless Council behind you saying "aye" to everything. It appears all Summers had to do was throw the dirty dogs some bones and they were more than willing to go along with the plan.

Choices have consequences. I wonder if Council knows how serious those consequences could be.

Terry, by coincidence I read CHS's daily blog entry yesterday morning and almost posted the link, thinking of this thread. I've been reading him for years. Don't fail to read today's entry regarding the "plantation economy" vs. the "community economy," and the role of the community economy in building social capital.

www.oftwominds.com

The issue of what to do with the Hilliard Theater never seemed very complicated. Unfortunately the place was a decrepit eyesore that was long-since beyond repair. Rehabilitating it was simply not possible, and leaving it to continue rotting was not an option either as it had become a significant safety hazard. It had to come down. But we should do whatever we can when possible to save and celebrate truly historic elements of our community. I hope not many people would disagree with that point. To Kate's point, preservation is one of the things that should distinguish us from other cities.

Also, and I'm not referring to the Hilliard Theater, but to the broader point that people here and elsewhere seem to often be of the understanding that if something is old and beautiful, it must be "historic." Not so.

Too bad the city couldn't (wouldn't) come up with $250,000 LOAN YEARS AGO for the owner to fix it; but was willing to SPEND $985,000 to demolish it. If the number is larger than fingers and toes, the city's brilliant financial minds can't figure out which is more, or less; better, or worse.
It is too bad the architectural elements weren't pulled out to be reinstalled somewhere else. They did that with Lakewood Country Club, and Mickey Krivosh bought all the woodwork, fireplace, lamps, doors, etc. and built them into Vosh.

"beyond repair"

"simply not possible"

"not an option"


Look at those words for a few minutes.

Think of freely and how long those words have been used over and over again in this region.

Think about all the times bureaucrats and politicians identified with that fatalist viewpoint at crucial moments.

Think about what happened in instances where thoughtful people proved them wrong.

Consider what happens when the mind snaps shut and those words become the driving mantra of those in positions of influence.

And consider what a community begins to look like when those embedded words become institutionalized in the core of governance both public and private.

It's been said that "Societies in decline have no need for visionaries. "

There's a choice hidden in plain view if you'll have it.

Terry Tekushan wrote:"beyond repair"

"simply not possible"

"not an option"


Look at those words for a few minutes.

Think of freely and how long those words have been used over and over again in this region.

Think about all the times bureaucrats and politicians identified with that fatalist viewpoint at crucial moments.

Think about what happened in instances where thoughtful people proved them wrong.

Consider what happens when the mind snaps shut and those words become the driving mantra of those in positions of influence.

And consider what a community begins to look like when those embedded words become institutionalized in the core of governance both public and private.

It's been said that "Societies in decline have no need for visionaries. "

There's a choice hidden in plain view if you'll have it.

That is exactly what I thought as I read Mr O'Malley's dismissive post.

At the current moment in time, the building had deteriorated, perhaps to the point of no return.

But how did it get there!

O'Malley entirely missed the point of Mr Tekushan's postings. There was never ANY interest on the part of the city in maintaining a historic structure. How did they let it get to this point? Why was there no recognition of the fact that the theater fit into the entire "vibe"of Lakewood and was an important part of its history?

There was a failing of leadership - same as in the hospital debacle. No One in the city should be proud of what happened to the theater.

I think you should all read Kate McCarthy's post closely. There are plans that the general public knows nothing about to "develop" certain areas of Lakewood and to do so, they need empty lots.

As Tom George noted, a lot of people in Lakewood want to see "new" because some develop can make money.

Be very wary.

I wasn't trying to be dismissive, or directing my comments to Mr. Tekushan at all. Just sharing my own viewpoint on this particular situation. And I would agree that our general perspective should be to move heaven and earth to preserve the history and unique character of Lakewood.

Marguerite Harkness wrote:Too bad the city couldn't (wouldn't) come up with $250,000 LOAN YEARS AGO for the owner to fix it; but was willing to SPEND $985,000 to demolish it. If the number is larger than fingers and toes, the city's brilliant financial minds can't figure out which is more, or less; better, or worse.
It is too bad the architectural elements weren't pulled out to be reinstalled somewhere else. They did that with Lakewood Country Club, and Mickey Krivosh bought all the woodwork, fireplace, lamps, doors, etc. and built them into Vosh.

I hope Mr. O'Malley, who currently seems to be the only councilperson capable of independent thought, would look past the dismissive rhetoric of the powers that be and see that there often is another agenda at work. Somewhere along the way it was decided that the Hilliard Theater needed to go. Period. When it was a independent movie house in the 1980s, I saw movies there and it needed work but was definitely sound and had enormous potential. Like the theater in England I referenced earlier, it had seen much better days. But the vision of the owner of the property did not fit in with some other plans, and received no support from the city. Since I've lived her, most of the "community conversations" about plans for the community are only initiated after the plans are ready to go. Marc's Plaza is a case in point. People pointed to empty buildings and shuttered store fronts as a rationale for this great new development. Much like the hospital, buildings were made empty by leases not being renewed and businesses leaving because of rumors that the building was coming down. Create a losing enterprise to make your case then start using the phrases Mr. Tekushan noted:

"beyond repair"

"simply not possible"

"not an option"

The Hall House on Detroit was torn down for a lot that was supposed to be turned into a city-subsidized, privately-owned parking lot, a plan that made absolutely no sense to me. That never happened, but that part of Detroit, across from the Y, is still in a state of limbo. There was no fight from the city to save the Detroit theater. Yes, it needed work, all buildings eventually need upgrading and renovation, but the city seems to pick and choose and more often picks brand new.

Imagine Playhouse Square if Lakewood-style leadership was in place. You couldn't. It wouldn't exist.