The Observation Deck

Just for curiosity's sake, I was wondering if anyone had any news on when ~ if ever ~ this development idea is going to come to complete fruition.

It's sad to drive by...

After a little googling, I found the plans:

http://metroarchstudio.com/portfolio/ro ... hood-plan/

Which looks great on paper ~ but I'm wondering what's going on. Hasn't it been several years since they started this? One would think there should have been a time frame on this, right? Or wrong?

Myra Beckrest wrote:Just for curiosity's sake, I was wondering if anyone had any news on when ~ if ever ~ this development idea is going to come to complete fruition.

It's sad to drive by...

After a little googling, I found the plans:

http://metroarchstudio.com/portfolio/ro ... hood-plan/

Which looks great on paper ~ but I'm wondering what's going on. Hasn't it been several years since they started this? One would think there should have been a time frame on this, right? Or wrong?

Rockport is a perfect case study on development in Lakewood.

In theory the project should have been successfully completed by now.

I have my own theories on why it is not. Some of the more likely reasons:

Design

Price

In a region of declining or stagnant population a heavily taxpayer subidized develpment downtown or in Tremont or Westlake will have a competative advantage.

Our regional institutions have other plans for Lakewood and they don't include vibrant middle class neighborhoods or neighborhoods that would compete with downtown development.

While County money is available for development in Rocky River and State money is available for development in Westlake Lakewood is inelligible for any development money.

Carpet bagging building owners aren't much help either.

The soon to be empty lot across from the Y is a perfect location for a small, modern apartment building. If you made a list of what people say is desireable to young people in their 20's or 30's that area has it. However, there is no interest in that lot except for punch palace parking or fast food joints.

I'm not sure why. If anyone can find the answer we would seeing building all along Detroit and Madison.

Some people are saying that homeownership has lost its appeal to many people and that there will be an increasing demand for new apartments. If that is true, and I think it is, Lakewood should be situtated to attract that type of development.

The decision to build a gas station at Bunts and Detroit says that we are not. Why? Again, answer that question and you solve the problem.

Bill's not accounting for the fact that the project was designed in a different economic climate. If it had not been so mismanaged by Rysar, the project would have been done and over with by the time the real estate and lending markets crashed and people stopped wanting to buy $400K townhouses in declining neighborhoods.

Still, since then, Forest City (who took over the project from Rysar sometime in the mid-2000's) has posted new plan after new plan for the site, including an Applebee's on the north lot, then a Class-A office building with parking deck. Like the proposed loft building on the south lot, these plans have been mostly vapor, with no response when asked by the community to provide tangible progress reports, nor any signs of activity in a couple of years now, short of posting some signage around the deteriorating fencing that was immediately vandalized.

Have any new housing projects broken ground in Lakewood since Rosewood? Rockport was touted as the largest development project in Lakewood in 30 years. It might take another 30 before it's done.

Brian Pedaci wrote:Have any new housing projects broken ground in Lakewood since Rosewood? Rockport was touted as the largest development project in Lakewood in 30 years. It might take another 30 before it's done.

Brian

There was the failed "Cliffs Projects" by the Foran Group. Last I heard from Rick Foran was
that he was busy developing something in Ohio City. While the entry to Lakewood remains
boarded up!

We are weeks away from Clifton Pointe by Adobe and Andrew Brickman, who has pretty good
success with all of his projects. Most sell out before being finished, and I really do not believe
Clifton Pointe would be any different. Adobe has a knack, in my opinion, of doing futuristic
projects that fit into the current neighborhoods. His development in Little Italy on Mayfied
would underline this.

There is some development coming to Rockport, but promised to wait until Monday.

.

[quote:"Bill Call
The soon to be empty lot across from the Y is a perfect location for a small, modern apartment building. If you made a list of what people say is desireable to young people in their 20's or 30's that area has it. However, there is no interest in that lot except for punch palace parking or fast food joints.
[/quote]

Bill have you heard anything specific about this? I would love to see something like a mini-Rosewood Place in that location. I agree that location is perfect for young professionals with the Y, restaurants, and bars in easy walking distance. Since there are already townhouses on the street, that type of development with storefronts on the corner and along Detroit would easily fit into the neighborhood.

Kate McCarthy wrote:Bill have you heard anything specific about this?

No. The only specific proposal I saw was for the Y parking lot and day care/teen center. The deal fell through at the last minute.

Well, I can tell you I'm in my early 30's. Yes, when I first moved to Lakewood 9 years ago, I lived in an apt over on Clarence behind the now Garden Center (the old ones, not the one's behind Corky's).

My husband and I have been renting a home on the west end for the last 4 years, and are now in the process of looking to purchase a home in Lakewood.

I think while apartments are great for their purpose, and I agree for the 20's and perhaps early 30's crowd yes, we eventually do want to settle down and plant roots.

Regardless of the current economic atmosphere, I think after looking at the original design for that project that it should still be built. Apartments in that area with the storefronts below will attract those who are looking for newer amenities (I haven't had air conditioning or a dishwasher in 9 years!) and fill a void that is missing from Lakewood.

Also, something to think about, what about a boutique hotel? If anyone has visited Chicago and stayed at the Hotel Allegro, or in Soho in NY, you'll know what I'm thinking of. That is something else Lakewood could benefit from ~ but how do you attract that type of business here? Who is the person who should go out and seek the businesses?

There is currently a large brick building for sale next to Virginia Marti that I think would be the perfect location for such a thing.

Myra Beckrest wrote:Well, I can tell you I'm in my early 30's. Yes, when I first moved to Lakewood 9 years ago, I lived in an apt over on Clarence behind the now Garden Center (the old ones, not the one's behind Corky's).

My husband and I have been renting a home on the west end for the last 4 years, and are now in the process of looking to purchase a home in Lakewood.

I think while apartments are great for their purpose, and I agree for the 20's and perhaps early 30's crowd yes, we eventually do want to settle down and plant roots.

Regardless of the current economic atmosphere, I think after looking at the original design for that project that it should still be built. Apartments in that area with the storefronts below will attract those who are looking for newer amenities (I haven't had air conditioning or a dishwasher in 9 years!) and fill a void that is missing from Lakewood.

Also, something to think about, what about a boutique hotel? If anyone has visited Chicago and stayed at the Hotel Allegro, or in Soho in NY, you'll know what I'm thinking of. That is something else Lakewood could benefit from ~ but how do you attract that type of business here? Who is the person who should go out and seek the businesses?

There is currently a large brick building for sale next to Virginia Marti that I think would be the perfect location for such a thing.

Myra

Sounds great, glad you are thinking Lakewood. I have spent time in Chicago, but have not
stayed at Hotel Allegro, but it looks great from what I have seen.

The old Vedda Printer building next to Virgina Marti has been for sale since Phil Vedda and
gang moved to their new location on Berea Road, with help I think from the City of Lakewood.
Virgina has been trying to buy it since then, and Phil to my knowledge will not bend on the
price, but stop buy and talk with him "Vedda and Sons Litho"

There are other buildings out there and if the city got a little tough on some of the absentee
landlords with compliance, I am sure more buildings would come up for sale to good people.

Love the idea.


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Jim O'Bryan wrote:The old Vedda Printer building next to Virgina Marti has been for sale since Phil Vedda and
gang moved to their new location on Berea Road, with help I think from the City of Lakewood.
Virgina has been trying to buy it since then, and Phil to my knowledge will not bend on the
price, but stop buy and talk with him "Vedda and Sons Litho"

Is this the Rockport development news you were alluding to, or were you thinking of Clifton Pointe before?

Brian Pedaci wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:The old Vedda Printer building next to Virgina Marti has been for sale since Phil Vedda and
gang moved to their new location on Berea Road, with help I think from the City of Lakewood.
Virgina has been trying to buy it since then, and Phil to my knowledge will not bend on the
price, but stop buy and talk with him "Vedda and Sons Litho"

Is this the Rockport development news you were alluding to, or were you thinking of Clifton Pointe before?

Brian

No, I got a call from one of the new owner today, and they were desperate to get in
touch. I called them back and could not get through. Let me wait another couple hours
on this one.

It was not the Vedda Litho building either. Which was at one time slated to be a comedy
club and then an extension to Virgina Marti.


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Myra,
As Jim said, yes the idea of a hotel does sound great. It has been a topic that has come up for years. Frankly it could be a catalyst for a number of other businesses and serve a need for residents who bring in visitors. Your timing was perfect to ask about this as we had been preparing the RFP after some discussions in the community over the past few months. The next step necessary to determine if it could work would be a feasibility study. Fortunately, since the city is more than just a bedroom community and does have a need for economic development to go along with the heavy focus on housing this year (amongst other things), there are funds available. While I see that the concept of attracting a hotel is being heavily scrutinized by the same person who just a week ago thought it was a good idea, I'll do my best to go through the steps necessary to walk this through. We'll see how it goes. Worst case scenario is that we'll know why the idea doesn't work and if it's a matter of timing or immovable obstacles. Also, there is no single location that has been identified to study, the intention is to take a more broad look the market conditions and see what makes the most sense.

Shawn

The $7,000 for the study you will walk through. Would provide 280 hours of city work
time to keep our parks open. You know the parks that you seem afraid to walk through.

So did you start closing the parks down for the dream hotel, or do you just want to
put it next to the park you just closed early. "Yes mam, thank you for staying at Juris
Inn. No you cant go till the park until morning, you know, we could afford to keep it
open." We need to build this hotel for the residents.


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Speaking of the parks... (wrong thread? but oh well)...

What is the "intended purpose" of a park?

From this article: http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2012/0 ... arks-safer

'Malley says closing the parks early probably will not be a problem for families.

“Usually when it is dark families take their kids home. Those there after dark are congregating and not using the park for its intended purpose,” said Malley.'

I guess I'm confused. I love the parks... I didn't realize I had to have a 'purpose' to go to one... Perhaps someone could clue me in?

I'm not trying to be smart, I'm asking a legitimate question that perhaps someone could fill me in on what I'm missing here.

Myra Beckrest wrote:Speaking of the parks... (wrong thread? but oh well)...

What is the "intended purpose" of a park?

From this article: http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2012/0 ... arks-safer

'Malley says closing the parks early probably will not be a problem for families.

“Usually when it is dark families take their kids home. Those there after dark are congregating and not using the park for its intended purpose,” said Malley.'

I guess I'm confused. I love the parks... I didn't realize I had to have a 'purpose' to go to one... Perhaps someone could clue me in?

I'm not trying to be smart, I'm asking a legitimate question that perhaps someone could fill me in on what I'm missing here.

I would choose the following definition as my idea what a park is:

a: a piece of ground in or near a city or town kept for ornament and recreation b: an area maintained in its natural state as a public property

I also think what a park is for is different from when access to it is provided.