The Observation Deck

Jeff Endress wrote:

If the acreage remains the same and the number of parks are decreased then it seem like a wash.

True. But I wonder exactly how we could ADD acreage to Lakewood park (short of the peninsula)......It's landlocked, unless you take LCA or neighboring houses.....

Same with Edwards. Same with SInagra. Same with Madison. Jeez, I don't think there's a vacant piece of property next to ANY park in the city. So, Is RPD advocating buying houses to demolish for park space? How about use of eminent domain to accomplish this ?

Jeff

Thanks! So now the question is, how will the acreage stay the same?

sharon kinsella wrote: Once again - here you are.

Explain the logical conclusion one should draw from the statement "fewer places". Does not mean fewer places, or is their language here that I'm not aware of.

please re-read my statement (put your anger aside and slow sown) Having the same acerage but fewer places does not sound like we are going to lose park space???


Also, did you note the question marks????

Holding onto anger is like grasping onto a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else. You are the one who gets burned.

sharon kinsella wrote:While on the subject - why is that eyesore banking kiosk still there?

Shouldn't the bank that owns/owned it have to clean up that eyesore?

What ward is that in anyway - why hasn't that councilperson done something about it?

Actually that's probably a better question for the mayor since his office is supposed to enforce building codes. City council doesn't have the power/authority to enforce laws, that's the job of the executive branch.

sharon kinsella wrote: Are you saying that I'm lacking? Or that my reading comprehension is faulty?

yes! please read what I am writing not what you think I am writing.

Thank you one and all for the engaging and informative posts. However, I still would like to know if anyone has heard any specific plans for a development or redevelopment of Kauffman Park. If so, what are the plans and who is proposing them?

Are there any Observers from French Ave. or Virginia Ave, or possibly Andrews Ave. who can jump in here? The residents of Virginia were certain there are plans in the works.

For what it's worth, I would hope any potential plan would preserve and incorporate the Masonic and Christian Science buildings, as they complement the architecture of the new Library building quite well. Maybe redesign the Drug Mart strip mall in a neo-classical style?

Dan Shields

Dan, my Google search was fruitless...

I know this doesn't relate completely to the Kaufman question but since this discussion has gone to discuss parks in general, I wonder if the park near my home could be modified. The park on Hilliard and Madison that is half tennis courts and half park is a nice space and the green section is used by kids a lot, often to play football because it is the largest nearly uninterrupted space in this part of town.

I wonder about the tennis courts, though. Do we know how often they are used? Most of the year they are unused due to weather. Even in nice weather, I rarely see anyone on the court. Usually at the start of summer when folks are doing anything to get out. How much is it to maintain them? This section of town is desperate for parking. It is what has kept much of the redevelopment of the Hilliard/Madison Theater from progressing (at least from discussions on here have indicated) and many business owners in the area that I talk to note an additional lot of easily accessed spots would possibly help with development and support of businesses in the area. There are a lot of empty store fronts in this part of Lakewood, probably more than any other part from what I can see.

How about trashing the courts and putting in parking? Spots can still be used to support the park but I would think the overall benefit of adding a significant amount of parking spots would help the dwindling businesses in the area. Unless someone wants to take down the Silver Coast and make it into a parking lot again, but I don't see that happening.

Hi,
Thanks Phil for expanding this topic a little.

Were any of the current local government officials in office back when the Parking garage was constructed? In that seizure of property, as is typical, they took more than they needed and eliminated a bunch of tax paying citizens and property tax paying houses to create the empty lot (Park?) north of the parking garage and south of the tracks. A block further north is Lakewood Park so I think we could all do without this vacant lot/park.

How about it current candidates for Mayor? Would you share with us here on the Deck what revenue generating ideas you have for this space? If you do not have any ideas, then no need to post.

Thanks!

Donald, where was this? and when? Belle??

Hi,
Yes, it's north of Detroit between St. Charles and Belle before the tracks.

We need the help of other deck hands for the specifics. Looks like this happened in 1974. See:
Looks like the garage was completed in 1974 – Start of construction –
http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/ite ... 079&REC=19
Completed –
http://images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm4/ite ... 795&REC=17

I did speak to a family that was kicked out of their home via eminent domain for it though. They were particularly hurt that the City destroyed their house and then didn't use the land for anything.

That's over 30 years of lost income taxes and property taxes for those 20-40 homes.

Let's be upfront here.

One BIG reason that many people look at a city's green space is that it does not create a great deal of revenue. If you raze Kaufman and put in another retail district, for example, it certainly might create jobs, allow more taxable land, and allow the city to rake in more dough.

On the other hand, you can end up taking business away from existing merchants, and in the case of sports fans, lose customers up at the numerous sports bars around town after the games are played in our parks.

We need to be careful to understand that, when we advocate change, that we understand that peoples' lives and livelihoods are impacted by decisions that we make. We need to consider those options wisely; as a ripple effect can occur, with virtually everything we might consider doing. One person's improvements can be another's disaster.

Another thing to keep in mind..........Organized baseball teams for boys over the age of 14 need to play on a baseball field that has "major League" dimensions. There are currently 3 in Lakewood, the newly remodeled turf field at the High School, the field across the street from the Lakewood Civic called LHS north and Kaufmann Park's field. It is my understanding that part of the LHS renovation project includes putting modular classrooms on the "North Lot", with some sort of transformation of the ballfield into a parking lot. One regulation size baseball field with limited access is not enough to fill the need for a city of this size.

While I'm all for economic development, why don't we work on the existing vacant storefronts throughout town before we tinker with space 100% occupied. (and has been 100% occupied for quite some time).

And yes, I am a Baseball Manager.......does it show?

Donald Farris wrote:How about it current candidates for Mayor? Would you share with us here on the Deck what revenue generating ideas you have for this space? If you do not have any ideas, then no need to post.

Thanks!

Don

This would best be answered by Ed Favre.

That spot is currently being designed as a stop on the commuter train line.

FWIW


.

Hi,
I know some like the idea of a commuter train line. Lakewood already has a commuter train line. It's called the Rapid. And it is just completing building it's new station. I thought the reason they took out the second set of tracks was to kill that idea forever. Besides won't a commuter train line benefit the extraburbs way more that Lakewood? Anyhow, we can't tax a train station.

I find it sad but slightly ironic that Lakewood needs parking everywhere except near the Parking garage. Next to the parking garage we have a vacant lot. Think what we could put in that little spot.

- A modern movie complex
- A Gold Coast style hi-rise
- A set of townhouses (Perfect for Doctors and people that work on "MainStreet")
- A Boutique Mall of unique shops
- A medical mart

I think the City should auction it off to the highest bidder on the last week in December.