The Observation Deck

Scott Meeson wrote:Hello Jim,

Just how long has this house,13474 Edgewater Drive, been vacant?

When was Kirtland Lane developed and what stood in its place prior to development? (If you know)

When was Edgewater Lane developed and what stood in its place prior to development? (If you know)

Wouldn't you agree that Mayor Summers has a duty to listen to this proposal?

I do believe that, only 11 or 12 homes can be built on the proposed site- due to density issues for that size lot. This would alter the developer's original plan and may alter the feasibility of the plan, due to economics for the developer.

Maybe we can name the whole gosh darn city as historical....Lakewood, a historic city that has (now) GONE OVER THE EDGE. That's Cool!

Scott

Scott

I believe 4 years.

Mayor Summers has a duty to listen to all credible proposals. He also has a duty to understand if there could
be something better out there for the property and the area. I would say this is something sorely lacking in
most studies of housing in this area.

We are always looking at malls, and mediocre developments for some of Lakewood's finest property but
where are the big ideas, like The Cliffs? In grow Lakewood they speak all about housing and never once
look at trying to rebuild or extend the Gold Coast. From the numbers I am getting out of Winton Place, to
be posted when I am done. One project like that gives us stability for years.

The current project is barely a bandaid on the deep cut.

There is a $4 million dollar facelift going on in Clifton Park on a piece of property 1/3rd the
size of the Edgewater lot. So it should be worth much more.


We have a shortfall, and everything I am hearing and reading makes small cuts, but we need a couple big
things to make this city happen, and a completely new rethink, of what is going to do it.

Mike

You are absolutely right as pointed out by Rhonda.


EStill


Kirtland


Edgewater Lane


Roy

Possibly the largest collection of ranch homes in Lakewood.


The lot from Google Maps.


From Google Satelitte images.

Or...


One or two more of these, which have had no negative impact on homes nearby.

What the city needs is a plan, and an active policy to find what is needed, not waiting for whoever.

FWIW


.

That's quite a parcel .. I had no idea it went back that far. Jim's right, quite an opportunity for planned growth if keeping the current structure is impractical.

Man, look at all that lakefront... To bad we can not get to any of it...

Donald Farris wrote:My former home in Lakewood is just as beautiful (well almost) as it was when we sold it just a couple of years ago. Yet it's value (according to Zillow) has dropped an amazing 25% in that short time. I hope if this development does go through the new homeowners do not find they lose value at a similar rate. But without the City taking any serious action why would it be different?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I've pointed out repeatedly that Lakewood is not going to get any money from any government agency for development. We are at the bottom of the list, I suspect we are not even on the list. We are on our own.

I've pointed out for years that our property values are set for a subtantial decline. People chose not to pay any attention. We are on our own and must depend on our own ideas and resources, yet whenever anyone makes plans for a development that actually might succeed all hell breaks lose.

We can't do much about a billion dollars in tax money funding development all around us but we can make better use of our own resources.

Step one is to realize that sometimes a house is just old, an apartment building becomes obsolete and business models no longer meet market needs. Step two is to deal with carpet bagging building owners. Step three is to realize that we are not going to get a healthy economy in Lakewood by giving really big raises to the residents of Avon Lake and Bay Village. Step four is to finally admit that some institutions (and individuals) in this town view this town as a cash cow, they will take the money generated by their activity in Lakewood but invest it somewhere else.

Step five (which should be step one) is to challenge those "regional" institutions that do so much damage to cities like Lakewood.

Jim DeVito wrote:Man, look at all that lakefront... To bad we can not get to any of it...

Jim

As one very well known semi-retired real estate broker said to me once. "If Lakewood residents had access
to a beach or the water, all proper value would be worth 10% - 20% more."

I would think that is the single best thing any administration could do, is let us eat cake...

... at the water's edge.


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Jim DeVito wrote:Man, look at all that lakefront... To bad we can not get to any of it...

Jim

As one very well known semi-retired real estate broker said to me once. "If Lakewood residents had access
to a beach or the water, all proper value would be worth 10% - 20% more."

I would think that is the single best thing any administration could do, is let us eat cake...

... at the water's edge.


.

A tip of that hat to this idea.

Betsy Voinovich

Jim, can this person provide some data? Like corporate america i'm sure the city would love to see numbers regarding this. Find some evidence of the 10-20 percent rise in property values. Equate that to higher property tax income, figure the cost of building a beach at Lakewood park. I'll bet it evens out 2 years later. Just a thought...

There is some confusion about the state of this property that my friend Jeff Weber clarified in a letter to our neighborhood.
Since he stated it so well, I am posting his letter:


Hi all,

I feel it is necessary to correct the misinformation which continues to be said about this property. I have talked with someone close to the situation and feel comfortable that what I am writing is correct; no matter what the developer and some of our public officials are saying which would lead one to believe this house should be demolished.

1) The property was briefly listed "For Sale by Owner" from April - October, 2009. So it has not been "for sale for five years".

2) The property was listed last May (2010) with Gloria Hardington of Howard Hanna. So it was officially on the market for 7 months before the deed was transferred to Park View Federal Savings Bank. Gloria Hardington continues to have a contractual agreement with the bank to sell the property.

3) The property has NEVER been in foreclosure. The deed was officially transferred to the Bank in a deal that involved several properties including this one.

4) The payments on the property have never been in arrears and were current when the Bank received the deed in late December, 2010. So the Bank has not "owned the property for six months".

5) The house was uninhabited during 2010, however, the yard and gardens were worked on weekly and there was inside cleaning help over each week. The home was fully furnished until an estate sale was held in the Fall of 2010. So it was not "a neglected and abandoned property".

6) The house is not in "a condition that warrants demolition". I personally went through it last week. I am in the business of restoring homes and I believe there is a minimal amount of work that needs to be done. The basement is a typical Lakewood basement and requires some attention. There are some asbestos wrapped pipes in the basement that could be encapsulated for approximately $3,500. There is a backed up downspout on the roof over the Conservatory that has created some minor ceiling damage inside. And there is an area of ceiling under the Master Bathroom that shows some damage. Other than that, the house is in excellent condition, especially given it's age.

7) The water damage in the Carriage house has been cleared and the house is now ready for repair. There is an insurance company that will pay to have the work performed when they are given the go-ahead. The damage to the Carriage house was not structural, so this house is not in a condition that requires "demolition".

8) The developer, Andrew Brickman, has worked with Park View Savings Bank in the past. Furthermore, he has been in negotiation with the Bank for at least three-four months on this particular property. He has written an offer with 'contingencies' on the property. Gloria Hardington continues to show the property and will present legitimate offers to the Bank.

Hopefully this email sets the record straight. Now when you hear misinformation you can, with confidence, correctly state the facts. Please continue to encourage our elected officials to represent our feelings when they meet with the developer. He needs to know that his tract-style homes are not wanted at the expense of one of our few remaining lakefront mansions.

Mary

Thank you for helping set the record straight on the house.

The house and property were in better shape than at least 25% of the properties in Lakewood including mine.

While I could see a small amount of dry rot in the carriage house it is very common in all Lakewood garages
that have concrete or asphalt meeting the wood.

The house offers so much potential, so much more than $2.9 million development. When I compare lots to the
house going through the $4 million dollar make over, the lot is at least 2.5 times larger.

I think this city needs to decide, like so many things. Do we care about our history only when this happens? I
hope not. A good clear look back sometimes helps with a look forward. But it was this part of Lakewood that
so many forget. The Winton Mansion, The Kuntz Castle with insane woodwork, the Dearborn Mansion, and to
a lessor extent Lomabardo House and the white stucco in front of Marine Towers which at one time was owned
by DL family I do believe. This are very important look backs and give this city a fabulous feel on a summer
walk, run, drive, that kicks Lakewood up a notch in my estimation.

But without help from the city, and it would appear not to be coming, help from the Historical Society, which
is dreadfully underfunded, or a rich benefactor, it appears the only chance left is for the community to kick in
to save the house.

No matter what happens we should use this moment to set a course for Lakewood.

.

Great mini-hotel and later on, work on public access down to the water.

Kuntz Castle was divine.

In addition, the grocery store that is abandoned on the corner of Bunts and Detroit. Further down Detroit at Beach and Detroit are two eyesore, fenced off lots. Detroit Theater was just closed and that block could be developed. Then, as always, the Hilliard Theater and building.

Work on what is already waiting.

So to the developer who may or may not be reading this thread... Can you sell it to the City and develop a public park with beach access?

I suspect the residents in the neighborhood would prefer high end cluster homes to public beach access. Ideally beach access belongs at Lakewood Park.

Here we go again.

Yeah, Beach Access come along with undesirables from Cleveland anyway... I do agree however. Chop off the cliff and make a beach at Lakewood Park...

It appears that the proposed plan is dead. Lakewood Alive posted the following letter from Mayor Summers on its blog this morning:

http://lakewoodalive.blogspot.com/2011/ ... state.html