The Observation Deck

Mike Davis wrote:Jim,

me, I am a lifer.
maybe you do not know which house eliot ness lived in. It is currently one of the nicest home/property in clifton lagoon

No

It was on the lot, that is now one of the nicest houses in Clifton Lagoons. The home
is no longer visible nor there. I forget if they gutted it completely during the rebuild.
Will have to go back and look at my photos of the rebuild.

Nicest house, which would be strictly taste, is the house on the south side, along the river.

A friend of mine who is a member of the "club" always wanted to make that a little bar.
You know a place to drink after the Club closes with no private beach.

The Lagoons, development and ED options everywhere you turn.

Also only basketball net in town, yet another opportunity.

.

No,

same original structure, gutted and rebuilt inside and some exterior upgrades.

Mike Davis wrote:No,

same original structure, gutted and rebuilt inside and some exterior upgrades.

Mike

That is nearly a totally new exterior.

I have before images, will take some current ones and post.

I hope you are right.

But think of it, we all agree develop the lakefront.

Gary where is that banjo.

Do you know "down by the riverside??


.

Lakewood's hidden gold reserve. Clifton Beach hard to believe no one ever thought of
using it for the betterment of all of Lakewood. Most mayors are members, many of
the civic leaders parsing up the rest of Lakewood are members. Heck some that say
"anything for Lakewood's future..." were even past presidents. Wonder why it has never
been spoken about? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


Elliot Ness' house at 830 Beach.

Mike, by this time the bay window, the top, and behind the top had been added and redone.
So much for history, and saving it. Hmmmmmmmm seems more important than the
Lombardo House.



Now the building is completely changed in and out. Quarried limestone replaced with
bricks and faux stone. Building widen front to back by 25% and lengthened by 10%.
Also brick building added instead of the stone boat house.



From this side you can see the tower added, which represents about the width added
to the entire building. Also the massive dock has been cut up. Nice house, historical
no, but a nice house.



Wow, basketball outside. Hmmmmmmmm wonder where the members stand on
the rest of the city enjoying basketball?



When the beach goes public and the Clifton Club closes, maybe this could be the
new beach bar and grille. Maybe put up some photos of how the place looked before
the city developed it all.

Mike

I have to think the old Sandy Satula House has to be the best down there, though 830
Beach does have a nice view on many days. As I walked the beach area I think I have
been in about 60% of them over the years.

I have to think any one running for mayor that promises that beach to the city gets
elected pretty easily.

Bill C

Want to be my treasurer?

I feel a platform developing.

Full Council Meetings on TV and online.
Full transcripts
Higher landlord fees (pays for next two)
Hire more police (30)
Better programs for rebuilding housing stock. Seriously fund LakewoodAlive's housing program.
New public beach (clifton beach)
New 2.5 mile bike path along the lake
Basketball hoops
Work to bring in businesses we need instead of 50 restaurants
Clean Detroit and Madison EVERY DAY
Study Peninsula with Army Corp of Engineers
Entrepreneur Program to get businesses into Lakewood(run by real entrepreneurs)
Bring in a real university like Bejing, Cambridge, etc. No city college!
Reach out to Jesuit Universities to put junior colleges in empty Catholic Churches and Schools. Or see about a medical college that could partner with clinic and high school.
Demand full transparency from anyone receiving city funding. Advertise and keep meetings OPEN.
Stop any possible perception of Conflict of Interest with all city workers.
Advertise Lakewood outside of Lakewood
Do not compete with other Lakewood Businesses
Completely overhaul Lakewood Parking so that it really works and makes money.
Develop our own fresh water access and sustainability
Work with other cities to sell our water treatment facility services($3 million a year)
Bottle water at plant.($3 million)
Open our hearts and $$$ to Beck, in exchange for Armory returned and they have $1 lease, and we own the name and reserve the right to take over(rescue) if needed.
Negotiate long term better contract with Clinic. $1 mill now, double it for next ten years and add cost of living.
(Possible negotiate the parking garages downtown to the Clinic, provided they develop them into more doctor's offices)
Community Currency.
Coordinate with school board to have council meetings on different days than BOE.
10 other programs, but they have to be done right, so shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

This is off the top of my head and the short list.

OH YEAH, work to be the last mayor ever.
Push for City Manager. (set it up to be reconsidered every 10 years)

.

Jim,

I'm completely with you on waterfront development. It is a winner.

Where is the city with the development on Sloane? They bought the homes without eminent domain. Tore them down. Got council to rework issues to give them a boat load of money - then nothing. I guess they put a fence around it. Is there a project here or not? Did they just take homes which were generating property tax and tear them down to lower property tax. It is kind of an eye sore now. Isn't erosion an issue now - they stripped the hillside bare? Are the other property owners having problems because of this? Can another developer be found for this spot and the current ones, who don't seem to be able to complete this project be encouraged to sell? Is anyone working on this?

What is the status with the city having approved the funds for this?

BTW, I recall someone else trying to get you to run for Mayor.

Jim,

What the H--- is wrong with you?

I am outraged by your posting pictures of one of my extended family member's homes with some imbecile comment about drinking a beer inside after you have taken it by eminent domain. These are subjects not to be played around with - any fifth grader would know better.

Good luck with your delusional Mayoral campaign - you must think Lakewood residents must be pretty stupid to believe such baseless, simple minded drivel.

Mike Davis wrote:Jim,

What the H--- is wrong with you?

I am outraged by your posting pictures of one of my extended family member's homes with some imbecile comment about drinking a beer inside after you have taken it by eminent domain. These are subjects not to be played around with - any fifth grader would know better.

Good luck with your delusional Mayoral campaign - you must think Lakewood residents must be pretty stupid to believe such baseless, simple minded drivel.

Mike

Please go back and reread, I have never mentioned taking a single home through eminent domain, I said the
beach. Having fought for the right of landowners to sell their property themselves when they want when it
for private use. Where were you standing during the Westend. Side of homeowners or on
the side of back room dealers, liars, and miserable broke bankrupt developers?

Please also note I called it the nicest home in the lagoons.

What is the baseless simple minded drivel? That the lakefront is our best chance to keep this city solvent?

Maybe it was my line where I said, "FUND THE LAKEWOODALIVE HOUSING PROJECT BETTER" or
where I thought it would be wise to double the lease to the Clinic.

Mike, if we are really going to make this city solvent we need actions not parties. We need solid proven ideas.

How many doubles turned into singles will it take to save us? Well seeing how it lowers values and reduces
population I would say a billion, we will have to make it up in volume.

I am surprised you are so outraged over a single house when you gleefully wanted Grant torn down for a mall.
Grant, you know the school that would cost $12 million less to rebuild than Lincoln.

Mr. Davis if we are going to be serious about this city and what can be done. Like eminent domain, EVERYTHING
has to be on the table. Including my house, my office, and my ideas and yours.

From my emails I think a majority of residents think I am on to something. Of course the
300 members are not so sure.

Thanks for the note.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:From my emails I think a majority of residents think I am on to something. Of course the
300 members are not so sure.

Just curious.

Let's say Lakewood has 50,000+ residents....it must be a pain to read and organize all those emails.

wrong again Jim.
The house pictured was not Sandy's, her house was across the street.

Jim,

Why do you continually try to attribute untrue statements to me?

My comments on the school closure issue were strickly about walking distances and the unwalkable distances created when trying to cover the North half of Lakewood with two elementary schools.

I have no idea what mall? project you continually bring up in your posts, it does not seem to matter what geographic location in Lakewood you are referring to at the time, but if you disagree with the other deck participant, you accuse them of wanting to build a mall? I really don't get it.

Mike Davis wrote:wrong again Jim.
The house pictured was not Sandy's, her house was across the street.

I know, you have to go back farther in the thread to see where I called it one of the nicest
homes there. As for Satoula's place, spent many hours in there and crawling home late
at night, I still think has to be one of the best. Lots of nice places, in a boat house sort of
way. But if it can lead to financial stability to the city, then let's look at it.

Another idea that seems to be catching on is moving LCA to St. Clements, and opening
up the lake front there at LCA.

Mike Davis wrote:Jim,

Why do you continually try to attribute untrue statements to me?

My comments on the school closure issue were strickly about walking distances and the unwalkable distances created when trying to cover the North half of Lakewood with two elementary schools.

I have no idea what mall? project you continually bring up in your posts, it does not seem to matter what geographic location in Lakewood you are referring to at the time, but if you disagree with the other deck participant, you accuse them of wanting to build a mall? I really don't get it.

Mike

The generally feeling I got from your posts are, close Grant, never mind the facts, save Lincoln. As the only
reason to close Grant was "best reuse" I figured that you were deciding because of that. Walking, safety,
size, service, best school, versatility, and even cost all pointed to keeping Grant and closing Lincoln. The only
use that has ever been mentioned for Grant and the BOE was extending the mall. Hence I made the
quantum leap. I am sorry.

Why I bring up the mall? Maybe I do get in a rut, but let's not forget it all started with Marks Plaza which
was sold as a beautiful development for Downtown Lakewood and followed by the WestEnd strip mall. I have
seen about 15 ideas for Lakewood, they all revolve around a strip mall of some sort, and what I would say is a
wealth of under thinking and achieving. I really do not remember ever seeing another
"plan" for Lakewood that does not have a strip mall in it.

But save that for another thread.

Want this one to continue on how other cities, have really come around after developing
their lakefront and beaches. That the fastest way to give a city a chance and rebirth is in
their waterfront.

As always, thanks for taking part.

Sorry about the miss-communication between you and I. Some think I am a imbecile
with a 5th grade education, that usually leads to upset 5th graders.

.

J Hrlec wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:From my emails I think a majority of residents think I am on to something. Of course the
300 members are not so sure.

Just curious.

Let's say Lakewood has 50,000+ residents....it must be a pain to read and organize all those emails.

J Hrelc

Actually Lakewood has limited access to the internet, so that cuts out say 15,000. Then
others do not care about if we develop the lakefront or not, so another 15,000. Many kids
who can not access, another 12,000. People working or on vacation, another 8,000, then
the 5 that do not read the deck, which leaves the 3 emails I got from residents backing
me on my run for mayor. But 2012 is just around the corner, and I have to think public
beach, $2,000 back to 300 families every year, and lower taxes will play well, to the other
49,997 residents. So a majority of the responders in Lakewood...

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

J Hrlec wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:From my emails I think a majority of residents think I am on to something. Of course the
300 members are not so sure.

Just curious.

Let's say Lakewood has 50,000+ residents....it must be a pain to read and organize all those emails.

J Hrelc

Actually Lakewood has limited access to the internet, so that cuts out say 15,000. Then
others do not care about if we develop the lakefront or not, so another 15,000. Many kids
who can not access, another 12,000. People working or on vacation, another 8,000, then
the 5 that do not read the deck, which leaves the 3 emails I got from residents backing
me on my run for mayor. But 2012 is just around the corner, and I have to think public
beach, $2,000 back to 300 families every year, and lower taxes will play well, to the other
49,997 residents. So a majority of the responders in Lakewood...

.

I guess I am just confused, you said the majority of residents think you are on to something....not sure what you were explaining above.

Actually, I think the majority of residents don't even know who you are. The majority of those who know who you are, probably think you are on something, not onto something. How else to explain your constant invention of facts, which of course you gained in confidence and so cannot give any citations.

It seems to make no sense to spend a fortune obtaining access to the waterfront when there is already access at Edgewater, especially given that the beach season here is not terribly long, and the topography of the coast. The lakefront dream you constantly promote makes no sense. I'm sure the pampered people of Beachwood and Moreland Hills would navigate the congested streets of Lakewood for the joys of risking their lives in the waves of a winter storm. I've not yet been anywhere, but I have yet to see a retail development exposed to the open waters. And I doubt that many homeowners in Lakewood would vote the taxes necessary for something that few would use. And if you think such development would be done by private developers, the obvious question is why hasn't it been done; why is the only holdup now the common sense of those politicians who won't give you public money for a study?

Will Brown wrote:Actually, I think the majority of residents don't even know who you are. The majority of those who know who you are, probably think you are on something, not onto something. How else to explain your constant invention of facts, which of course you gained in confidence and so cannot give any citations.

Will

I am comfortable with all of that.

Those holding self professed Dr. Of Thinkologies, which is so prevalent in this town should always be questioned.

Will Brown wrote:It seems to make no sense to spend a fortune obtaining access to the waterfront when there is already access at Edgewater, especially given that the beach season here is not terribly long, and the topography of the coast. The lakefront dream you constantly promote makes no sense. I'm sure the pampered people of Beachwood and Moreland Hills would navigate the congested streets of Lakewood for the joys of risking their lives in the waves of a winter storm. I've not yet been anywhere, but I have yet to see a retail development exposed to the open waters. And I doubt that many homeowners in Lakewood would vote the taxes necessary for something that few would use. And if you think such development would be done by private developers, the obvious question is why hasn't it been done; why is the only holdup now the common sense of those politicians who won't give you public money for a study?

Will

First, Why do we care about the good people of Moreland Hills and Beechwood?

Second, it makes all the sense in this city as can be made. It creates approx, 100 acres of valuable space in
a built out community. Because of the design, it also creates both a marina, and a way to catch and hold
sand, which is a problem everywhere on the lake.

Building this development, which the army corps or engineers would help to underwrite creates enough
revenue, to then build the other additions to the park. Learning center, amphitheater, etc.

This city just spent $25 million on schools, with the state kicking back 1/3 maybe,
after a review, and if they have the money. Compared to Feds pay half for everything
guaranteed, maybe more as a recover fund, including the study, and it generates a
potential $200,000,000 in taxable property in a built out community, for the same $25 million.

Will, I had the entire presentation in my office for 6 months. I had many people come through and look at it,
and the 10 notebooks of studies and information that accompanied it. Those that stopped, and took the time
found it n amazing piece of work. There were many downsides than needed to be looked into, as simple as
where do the dredging come from? Could Lakewood raise the $25 mill to match? Is it big enough. But none
of the people that had a base of knowledge coming through that it was dumb, or ridiculous.

I would encourage you to go back and read the article.

All I am saying is for the biggest bang for our buck, it was a shot at a home run that should have been studied.

As far as the cost. Lakewood lakefront seems to be about half the value of Cleveland and Rocky River lakefront,
maybe now is the time to snatch it up and go vertical.

J Hrelc

My point was, as it should have seemed obvious, was a wild and vast overstatement. But I am finding out
others can joke, but not I. Others can be unaccountable but not I, some can dream but...


Well my teacher has brought out sippy cups and nap mats, got to go.



peace