The Observation Deck

After hearing many rumors over a new buyer in the Rockport area, Falcone's Transmissions.


Looking East, Falcones, recently purchased. Baker Motors potentially for sale, and
two of the 6 lots next to it for sale. A new player in the Rockport area has put his money
where his mouth is.

One of Lakewood's largest land owners has bellied up to the bar...


Calanni's on Madison.

In a short conversation with Charlie, he has no plans of moving Calanni Automotive to
Falcone's or even Baker Motors if he can acquire it. He simply bought it because he feels
investment in Lakewood property will pay off. He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

And how is any expansion by Calanni supposed to be good?

Great! Another lot for him to stock pile cars.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold.

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold.

This could turn into a revenge buffet. The owners of Baker Motors are not huge fans of City Hall either, losing
their lucrative towing contract with the city of Lakewood to an out of Lakewood towing firm. You know
Lakewood, the people telling us to Buy Local.

They have lost nearly everything, just in trying to do the right thing, in Lakewood for Lakewood. The last
administration was hoping the loss of revenue would force them to close, and that final step would make
Rockport viable. Well, guess what?!

The city out thinks itself yet again. A local company goes bust, while an out of city business carpet bags in
Lakewood with help from the city, and Calanni ends up with the block!

City Hall is so full of mixed messages. Do they really want local business to succeed?

.

I have long dreamed of those properties being sold, but I'm... less than elated at this news. I'm not going to hold my breath over any positive development of those properties.

Some things to note:
- Cuyahoga auditor website still shows Vince Falcone as the owner of the building. Maybe agreements are in place, but it's not official yet.
- Both Falcone's and Baker Motors next door to it, although under different owners, are seriously in arrears in their property taxes. Baker changed owners in 2007, in large part due to tax debt, and the new owner appears to be falling into the same hole, so I'm not surprised to hear it may be for sale.
- Falcone's only has a small lot in front of it (as seen in the picture) and a slightly larger one in the rear of the building. Baker Motors has a much larger lot, which has interestingly been completely cleared of cars - many of which had been sitting there for years. Unless Mr. Calanni buys Baker too, it's not just another place to park cars.
- Mr. Calanni may simply have a savvy interest in picking up available Lakewood real estate, but it seems curious that he'd purchase a building from a competitor with no stated plans for expansion. Falcone appears to have been heading out of business on his own, but by buying the spot, Calanni's eliminating future competition.
- Without buying the whole block frontage, there's not much that can be redeveloped there. The Falcone and Baker properties have a combined frontage of about 140 feet, which is partially occluded by utility poles. The lot (lots?) for sale to the east are individual units of the historic Beach Apartments and can't be developed individually. Plus, environmental cleanup of the lot(s) may be a challenge.

I hope that Calanni does choose to eliminate any possible competition from the spot by knocking down the buildings and finding another development option for it. Even if he does choose to expand his operations into that site, it would be a better option than letting it lay fallow.

Thanks for the news. Looking forward to seeing what happens.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold.

This could turn into a revenge buffet. The owners of Baker Motors are not huge fans of City Hall either, losing
their lucrative towing contract with the city of Lakewood to an out of Lakewood towing firm. You know
Lakewood, the people telling us to Buy Local.

They have lost nearly everything, just in trying to do the right thing, in Lakewood for Lakewood. The last
administration was hoping the loss of revenue would force them to close, and that final step would make
Rockport viable. Well, guess what?!

The city out thinks itself yet again. A local company goes bust, while an out of city business carpet bags in
Lakewood with help from the city, and Calanni ends up with the block!

City Hall is so full of mixed messages. Do they really want local business to succeed?

.

I am pretty sure there was a good reason for Baker losing that contract. The reason escapes me right now, but I remember it was given back when it happened. That said, the contract was awarded to Kuffner Towing and the owner of Kuffner is a Lakewood resident. So what constitutes 'local' in your eyes?

Brian Pedaci wrote:I have long dreamed of those properties being sold, but I'm... less than elated at this news. I'm not going to hold my breath over any positive development of those properties.

I hope that Calanni does choose to eliminate any possible competition from the spot by knocking down the buildings and finding another development option for it. Even if he does choose to expand his operations into that site, it would be a better option than letting it lay fallow.

Thanks for the news. Looking forward to seeing what happens.

Brian

It came from Charlie and another completely opposite source. Which is why I stopped Charlie while he was
going by and said hello and talked with him. Does it mean it is set in stone, no, many deals can evaporate
before the ink has dried. But when an owner says yes to me... I feel I can post it.

Charlie is an enigma, The east side of Lakewood is an enigma, Rockport is an enigma...

I have heard many of the "movers and shakers" on the economic development bandwagon say, "well at least
it is now occupied." I would say this is an apt test for those believers.

.

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold.

(Threw in a little music for flavoring)

Scott Meeson wrote:

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:He would not comment other than a smile
about any rumors around him also looking to purchase the Lombardo House.

.

Revenge is a dish best enjoyed cold.

(Threw in a little music for flavoring)

Scott

That was just excellent.

One of the comments I get most often when talking with people looking at the Lakewood
Observer Deck is how Lakewoodites seem to talk with words, videos, pictures, etc.

I laugh and say, we can't use our hands but anything else is allowed..

Also I have never heard Calanni say anything bad about the City of Lakewood. He never
mentioned revenge, nor did any one from Baker Motor's or Falcone's.

Nice post though.

.

So a slimeball business goes from one snake to another, wonderful...