The Observation Deck

Lakewood is actually asking for input before they make a decision!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Historic Preservation Community Workshop & Survey

The City of Lakewood will hold a Historic Preservation Community Workshop on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the Lakewood Public Library Main Auditorium, 15425 Detroit Avenue. Please join Mayor Summers, Planning & Development Staff and the Heritage Advisory Board as we host a public discussion to explore historic preservation in our community. Our city turned 100 this year and as we look to the next century how will the community define historic preservation? What are the tools and resources available to meet that vision? This hands-on workshop will provide a forum to share ideas. All are welcome.

For more information, please contact the Department of Planning and Development at 216.529.6630 or planning@lakewoodoh.net.

Take the Survey clicking Here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZZTSXMX

DO IT TODAY!


.

Also, please take our preservation survey by clicking here. Results of the survey so far will be discussed at the August 17th meeting.

Well, that was fun. Well thought-out questions. I love this one:

6. What are the TWO greatest benefits of preserving Lakewood's character?
(Choose only 2)

Attracts and retains residents
Improves the quality of life in the city
Improves how the physical environment looks, makes the city look interesting
Preserves memories and historical information for future generations
Attracts and retains businesses
Makes the community more sustainable and "green"
Expands educational opportunities

I wish I was allowed three choices on this one. Or maybe I would have had the first choice read: Attracts and retains residents and businesses. So I could still choose: Improves the quality of life in the city.

The only objection I have to the survey overall is that this question--

*7.What is the best way for our community to raise resident awareness about its historic and cultural resources?
(Choose 1)

Newsletters
Lectures
Tours and Special Events
Classes
School events for younger residents
Website or Social Media Sites (i.e. Facebook)

--doesn't include newspapers, or the local, resident-written newspaper, The Lakewood Observer, as one of the ways to raise awareness about Lakewood's historic and cultural resources. Including the Lakewood Observer on the survey, not to mention utilizing it as a way to spread information, seems a natural, and inexpensive choice. The paper is free. Any information about any building, event, situation like a possible sale.. can be in the paper just by submitting it.

I'm assuming the Observer is included under "newsletters" but a free newsprint newspaper available every other week, at every public location that Lakewoodites go, guarantees that all members of the community could have access to the information-- whether or not you participate in Message Boards, or "Social Media." You don't have to have a computer, or an address where a newsletter could be sent, to find out about what's going on. I didn't like not being given the choice to at least say, "newspaper."

If the community isn't given a choice on the survey to say "newspaper", the committee can say that the community didn't choose to use the newspaper, even though the reason for this is that they didn't have a chance to. The City can call that a decision made by the community not to use the newspaper, when this is not the case. (Many MANY surveys in the Phase 3 committee were set up like this.)

Why would the community not want the information where they could easily get it? At cafes, the library, stores, public buildings, etc.?

The newspaper is the perfect place to announce all the other thing mentioned in that question:Lectures, Tours and Special Events, Classes, School events for younger residents.

And it won't cost us taxpayers a penny. It seems the perfect choice for a financially strapped city wanting to do what they can with what they have, with the goal of having an active, well-informed population determining its own future.

All right. I will take a bow here and now, for once again being one of the more paranoid actively-involved residents in town, and will leave this issue for now, because it can be brought up at the meeting itself, and discussed endlessly into the future...

Overall, this is a great survey, and this meeting is a great idea. Another cool, inclusive, forward-thinking thing going on in Lakewood. Thank you, City of Lakewood.

Take the survey! Go to the meeting!

Betsy Voinovich

Take the survey go to the meeting.

I have yet to see a survey that wasn't designed to prove something the people taking the
survey needed to have underlined as "Not our idea, it is one of the masses..." Just like so
many Lakewood committees, just another chance to avoid the discussion.

Which is why there is no paper, meaning the Sun, PD, Westlife, Scene, Westlaker, etc.

Certainly you have witnessed how few of Lakewood civic leaders are prepared, or even
up to the task of caring on conversations about ideas. No, LO offered everything they wanted
but their answer was, "people don't like our ideas..." so they run for the hills.

It is a put up or shut up town, and they have decided WalMart is better than Lakewood
Hardware. Panini's better than Root.

And in the end, the LO Project lays bare just how ill equipped they are to be real servants
of the residents.

Nothing new here, we have seen it elsewhere, and it is what it is.

Take the survey, we will see how it compares to the LO Door to door survey.

Time to kick it up a notch.

FWIW


.

That seems to me to be a profoundly dishonest survey. It presumes that everyone agrees with the main idea, and asks only for a few trivial details.

We live in an old city, and much of the housing stock has outlived its usefulness and is not worth updating. Why do we have so many people, including some on the city payroll, who want to embalm the city? Are you going to unpave the roads and bring back the streetcars too? Will you ban solar panels on my house because they offend the "look" you so value. I would rather see the money spent on preservation put into modern infrastructure; lets get sewers that work, and put in underground electric while we're at it. Lets look into solar heating of the streets and sidewalks, and not allow some bureaucrat to dictate how we can side our homes, and what color to paint them.

There's gon' be some stuff you gon' see that's gon' make it hard to smile in the future. But through whatever you see, through all the rain and the pain, you gotta keep your sense of humor. You gotta be able to smile through all this bullshit. Remember that. - Tupac Shakur


Will

I have rarely seen a survey that was not there to prove someone's point of view. This one
I believe was designed to take care and fill the gap of historical preservation with a group
that can be controlled, and also to find the areas of least resistance. "Well no one thought
the Scenic Park District was significant, level it..."

We have a massive sewer project due. The last three administrations have passed it off to
the next. Current rumors, have the one time $55 million dollar project at of $100 million
now, and the EPA, says they are tired of waiting. The fine is $10,000 a day, and they have
been very successful in court collecting the fines and making cities do the projects hey have
set out. Recently Akron lost their case and is now paying their fine and starting the project.
Now we could debate, why city officials put this project off, but I do not see any way of
Lakewood pulling this off without raising taxes and cutting everything to the bone.

When I spoke with the representative from First Energy, he loved underground wiring,
if the city is wiling to pay the difference. I fear that has disappeared. I know of businesses
that had much hope for the Start-Up program, only to find out no funding while other
cities have $8-32 million available to help start ups. The state is cutting back, the people
coming to Lakewood Community Services for food and help has gone through the roof
in recent months. 79% of the new people are from Lakewood. From all over Lakewood
North of Clifton and South of it. The country, state and county are on the ropes, is
Lakewood ready for this? Or are we getting ready to be the catcher for the 75,000 people
being moved out of Hough, Glenville, East Cleveland, Buckeye, Fairfax?

For almost a decade, a small group has warned of today. Of course most of them have
been run out of town, or shut down. As their cutting edge ideas were traded in for Wing
Crawls, Puppy Parades, and icing on a cake that tastes great but no one can live on, or
that it would seem no one has had the time to bake, finish, or even make a recipe for?

Take the survey, then talk about it.

At the end of the day, they work for us.

All of us.

FWIW


.

Geez. It's a start, right?

It could be an evil tool-- if the City declares Open Season on destroying or selling any and every building -- or street-- or block-- that doesn't get chosen in the survey. Or if no "historical value" is found in certain neighborhoods, and the City then says, "The City of Lakewood has spoken. No-one minds if we declare this or that or this blighted, and tear it down and put up more drugstores."

A survey should be taken as a beginning tool, to get a feel for how interested parties are feeling. It was outrageous that 75 people took a survey at a Community Meeting during Phase 3 and those 75 people were then called, "The city of Lakewood." Most of the city of Lakewood couldn't be there, and most of them didn't know about it. They still deserved representation from responsible people they had elected to SPEAK FOR THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN. That's what a representative is.

Interested parties still aren't the City of Lakewood. There should be criteria for why we keep what we keep. It can be shown pretty easily that trashing our reputation as a walkable unique authentic city, by building chain stores and fast food places in every open space, will decrease our attractiveness to residents, potential residents, and potential businesses that could serve a unique place like Lakewood better. We don't keep winning all of those polls because of how many chain drug superstores we have.

But the City is reaching out. We can reach back. There are talented, creative, smart, strong people everywhere in Lakewood. Some of them are on our City Council! Some of them are on our School Board! Let's give them a chance.

Betsy Voinovich

I tried taking the survey. I left the first item blank because I don't think my gender, age, and where I live is any of your business. When presented with six or eight bad or wasteful ideas, I chose none. When I hit submit it lit up like a Christmas tree, demanding that I correct my input. Some carefully chosen profanity seem to satisfy the first item, but I couldn't in all honesty select answers to some of the items as good when I badly wanted to select none of the above, so I bailed out.

I would hesitate to rely on some of the surveys that purport to show that Lakewood is the best anything around, because none of them appear to have any scientific validity. It could just be that a small group of Lakewoodites with nothing better to do flooded the survey with multiple responses. I think people move to Lakewood because it is convenient to where they work, because it has good schools, and because it is cheap. Walkability is overhyped; you see few people walking. I think if you spied on someone who talks of walkability being wonderful, you would probably find that in fact they drive more than they walk. If Lakewood were in fact such a unique and wonderful place, one would expect home prices to be higher than they typically have been.

As jobs disappear in downtown Cleveland, Lakewood will lose one of its advantages; my fear is that it will become the equivalent of a tenement. How many young people who grew up here remain here after they finish their education? In my experience is is almost none.

Will Brown wrote: How many young people who grew up here remain here after they finish their education? In my experience is is almost none.

Must be a generational thing. I can think of quite a few people I grew up with here who are now working to really make a difference in the city. Think of any group that's doing something in the city and I can probably find at least 1 person I graduated with helping out.

Bryan said:

Must be a generational thing.

more accurately--- a MULTI generational thing! I've been around for a bit and the one thing that I am finding that is so unique to Lakewood is comparing us to other cities in which I know friends and acquaintances is the ongoing, and continuing and rewarding commitment that 2,3,4, and even 5th generation Lakewoodites continue to give.
And, I might add--- these are the type of folks who can choose, have the freedom of choice either from personal skills or resources to go to many other places in the world.
They stay, contribute, and still get to experience the world.Amazin' ain't it?
Stan

All of you bring up excellent points. Someone mentioned the importance of thinking "green" and the ability to have solar panels on the roof, etc. Why is it that as we look toward Lakewood's next 100 years we couldn't envision BOTH sustainability and historic preservation? Nothing is impossible.

Many people who live here do so because they love the unique architecture, the quality of older homes, aesthetically appealing streets aligned with century-old trees, and a city that's actually alive with myriad types of people, restaurants, activities, etc. It has a rich unique flavor that is dynamic and is attracting national attention these days.

Others live here because of the proximity to downtown and the highway systems. And others take advantage of affordable rental housing and a good school system.

It's true that it's a challenge to keep residents here. I've often wondered why so many couples starting out will buy their first home here, but subsequently "upgrade?" to a home in the suburbs. I believe that retention of this demographic has always been a problem.

I happen to be one of those individuals who was raised here and am raising my family here by choice. And we love it! In fact, two out of my three siblings have decided to call Lakewood home (they are also homeowners in this city), and our parents are still residing here now more than 40 years.

Nothing might come from this upcoming meeting on August 17. But then again, it might in fact be a start of something. If there's even a glimmer of hope that it could prevent the meaningless, crude destruction of another Matthew C. Hall House, so to speak, then I'm all for it. I think people will attend for many different reasons and have varying degrees of concern for historic preservation. Everyone should have a voice, no matter what their belief.

Natalie Schrimpf wrote:Nothing might come from this upcoming meeting on August 17. But then again, it might in fact be a start of something. If there's even a glimmer of hope that it could prevent the meaningless, crude destruction of another Matthew C. Hall House, so to speak, then I'm all for it. I think people will attend for many different reasons and have varying degrees of concern for historic preservation. Everyone should have a voice, no matter what their belief.

Natalie

I hope you are correct.

But when has this city shown a propensity for saving historic or even unique structures?
Currently I believe their are at least 42 homes on the possible tear down list. While some
are trying to shorten that list and save homes, the only thing coming out of city hall is
the term "obstructionists."

Are we all supposed to be Charlie Brown hoping deep in our hearts that Lucy will ever
really let us kick the football?

If we want to live in some form of dream world, we can wipe the slate clean after each
issue. But maturity, common sense, and critical thought should let us look back and learn
from people's actions over the years, and decades.

I can understand how some might not be aware, the city is 52% rental units. So the churn
easily allows pasts to be hidden. But for people like you and I, and many others that have
been here for a long time should have no problem understanding what is afoot, and how
it is really be rolled out. This is one of the things that always makes me shake my head
over the lack of critical thought. The history of charades in Lakewood government city and
school, is much longer than Shakespeare's list of comedies and tragedies.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein

City Council's majority are firm believers that only economic development and
development will save Lakewood. A majority of the School Board feel a strip mall being
enlarged in the center of the city is more important than a blue ribbon school, and
possibly the last building of any historic significance. The driving force in Lakewood, is
LakewoodAlive a program that came directly out of the WestEnd Debacle(Jay Foran's
words, though I am sure that is because he did not get it done, and thereby possibly let
his brother down who owned property in the footprint). After much soul searching Mary
Anne Crampton finally admitted it was an EDC (Economic Development Corp._ not a CDC
(Community Development Corp. although for a while it was a 501C3 Dedicated to
educating the city on the need for economic development, and a Political Action
Committee, to push forward economic development politically). The board is still intact,
and its members fill every committee in the city.*

Yes, I can sit back and dream that something will come out of this meeting and I hope it
does. But the history of the players, underline their is no love of history, community,
or vision other than to develop. This community has allowed itself to be painted into a
pretty weird corner. On one hand, the overwhelming belief of those outside of the
community are it is the best and cool. Meanwhile, our city fathers, are looking to perform
massive amounts of plastic surgery to make us better, in their eyes.

Should be an interesting couple of years.

FWIW

* There is a new director at LakewoodAlive, this gives me some hope that they can really
be what is needed. But at the end of the day, they depend on the city for $$$$$$ and
support. While there are many at City Hall and LA that believe in Lakewood's qualities
right now, and the small amount of tinkering needed. Are any of them willing to risk their
jobs in this economy to speak up, and say "Let's think about this for a moment?"

.

Just a friendly reminder that the Historic Preservation Workshop announcement that started this whole thread is happening TONIGHT- 7pm in the Main Library Auditorium.

Whether you have a "glass half-full" or "glass half-empty" outlook about the survey and process on the whole, show up and stand up for what you want to see happen in the future to Lakewood's past.

Historic Preservation Community Workshop & Survey

The City of Lakewood will hold a Historic Preservation Community Workshop on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the Lakewood Public Library Main Auditorium, 15425 Detroit Avenue. Please join Mayor Summers, Planning & Development Staff and the Heritage Advisory Board as we host a public discussion to explore historic preservation in our community. Our city turned 100 this year and as we look to the next century how will the community define historic preservation? What are the tools and resources available to meet that vision? This hands-on workshop will provide a forum to share ideas. All are welcome.

For more information, please contact the Department of Planning and Development at 216.529.6630 or planning@lakewoodoh.net.

Interesting meeting. A lot of things to think about. More tomorrow. (It was exhausting!)

Betsy Voinovich

This was a good meeting, taking advantage of folks' response to the string of recent demolition proposals. Finally, the Heritage Advisory Board's survey of commercial architecture gets some air-time. The main points of the meeting seemed to be that A) people care; B) "historic" preservation brings to bear a lot of subjectives; and C) that Lakewood has a whole lot of opinions.

It was an idealistic conversation. A whole lot of issues related to private property rights went unaddressed. The Mayor said he'd familiarize himself with the most urgent historic preservation case in town at the moment--not the Detroit theater, but the Westwood / Hilliard theater--which indeed may be one of the most urgent, but is also one of the most difficult cases.

Also, did you check out the sky last night?

http://gyroscopethattakesyouplaces.word ... curiouser/