The Observation Deck

Just wondering

Or perhaps Boulevard of Broken Dreams?

Grace O'Malley wrote:Or perhaps Boulevard of Broken Dreams?

So the building Lakewood, Ohio is most known for and respected for on the East Coast, the
$12 million Robert AM Stern Building is now flanked on all sides by "value chain stores" of
one kind or another.

On one end of "Lakewood's Miracle 8/10ths of a Mile" also know as "DowntowN" where we
have channeled millions of dollars in resources over the past 6 years, is lead off by Family
Dollar, with CVS/DrugMart/Dollar Tree on the other.

See this is why I get edgy. The very same people that worked so hard on Marc's Plaza, with
promises of monorails to the hospital, well overhead glass walkways, and then said oh my
God did it turn out bad. Were the same ones telling us we need wayfinding, and branding
and new signage, and emphasis on DowntowN with sign on the freeway to bring the
millions into our new city with high end shopping that is just like Crocker Park which was
copied from us, and this will kick off...

Kick off exactly what?

Yeah let's give them Grant and Board of Education and see what other low end box chain
they can lobby to get in there.



Well we used to be the one of the coolest.

Did you see the bike rack?

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I prefer Empty-Lot Avenue

J Hrlec wrote:I prefer Empty-Lot Avenue

J Hrlec


I appreciate the thought. Certainly the simplistic way to look at commercial development is
something is better than nothing. The next step up in thinking would be anything but another
burger place. And I suppose that could be true.

But lets look at Councilman Juris' current dream of a hotel in DowntowN Lakewood. Between
the dollar stores? DowntowN because of a very closed mindset is our "showcase" Arts Fest,
Summer Meltdown, Spooky Pooch Parade, Chocolate Walk, The Fashion Walk, etc.. For
many this is the only view of Lakewood they get and take back to their neighborhood. So
what was, what a great organic little town becomes, miles and miles of dollar stores?

Nevermind the promise of the high end stores that would come Downtown by those that
took millions that could have been allocated or used for housing, police, parks, etc. Our
pay-off and we should be happy by yet another Dollar Value Mart Bazaar? No I think it is
time we ask, why the BS at the front end for a total lack of underachievement at the
back end.

Just because Lakewood now has 7 different groups spending 100% of their energy
lobbying for businesses and/or businesses Downtown, I would expect just a little more.
But they brought us many other underwhelming projects that NEVER lived up to
expectations or promises so I suppose you are right, this is the best they can do I suppose.

Well at least there is opportunity for many ribbon cuttings, the businesses, their bike racks,
their parking lots, their first box for sale, their...

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

J Hrlec wrote:I prefer Empty-Lot Avenue

J Hrlec


I appreciate the thought. Certainly the simplistic way to look at commercial development is
something is better than nothing. The next step up in thinking would be anything but another burger place. And I suppose that could be true.

But lets look at Councilman Juris' current dream of a hotel in DowntowN Lakewood. Between
the dollar stores? DowntowN because of a very closed mindset is our "showcase" Arts Fest,
Summer Meltdown, Spooky Pooch Parade, Chocolate Walk, The Fashion Walk, etc.. For
many this is the only view of Lakewood they get and take back to their neighborhood. So
what was, what a great organic little town becomes, miles and miles of dollar stores?

Nevermind the promise of the high end stores that would come Downtown by those that
took millions that could have been allocated or used for housing, police, parks, etc. Our
pay-off and we should be happy by yet another Dollar Value Mart Bazaar? No I think it is
time we ask, why the BS at the front end for a total lack of underachievement at the
back end.

Just because Lakewood now has 7 different groups spending 100% of their energy
lobbying for businesses and/or businesses Downtown, I would expect just a little more.
But they brought us many other underwhelming projects that NEVER lived up to
expectations or promises so I suppose you are right, this is the best they can do I suppose.

Well at least there is opportunity for many ribbon cuttings, the businesses, their bike racks,
their parking lots, their first box for sale, their...

.

I don't think we just put anything in empty spots, and upcoming "plans" do not sound bad to me as a resident of Lakewood. So we simply differ in opinion?

How about this as the new street name...

Speculation Lane?

Also, let me know where these miles of dollar stores are so I can take a picture and maybe find some values. Every time I bike ride around the city I seem to miss seeing them?

J Hrlec wrote:
I don't think we just put anything in empty spots, and upcoming "plans" do not sound bad to me as a resident of Lakewood. So we simply differ in opinion?

How about this as the new street name...

Speculation Lane?

Also, let me know where these miles of dollar stores are so I can take a picture and maybe find some values. Every time I bike ride around the city I seem to miss seeing them?

Miles and miles of dollar stores, well I guess down there on Speculation Lane.

Different opinions are always good. After all we all have them, why not share them.

I am laughing while working here, Detroit since becoming the land of "DowntowN" has been
renamed "Shakedown Street" by others.



Then Bill suggested...



Now your idea/opinion...



I think I side more with...




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Grace O'Malley wrote:Or perhaps Boulevard of Broken Dreams?

There were at least three positive inflection points over the last few years when the financial and developmental path of the City could have been changed.

One was the development of Rosewood Place. A small investor Group from Akron successfully developed a small corner on Rosewood and Detroit. The success of their multipurpose investment opened up the possibility for retail and residential development along Detroit. For a short time we had the possibility of real urban living financed by private investor’s rather fake urban living financed by taxpayers, aka Crocker Park. The plans for apartments/condos and retail at Bunts and Detroit offered an opportunity for similar development all along Detroit from Webb to W117th. Such development would have been easily extended to the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood all the way to downtown.

Two was the election of Ed Fitzgerald as Mayor. In his first year in office he made necessary changes in City services, cut the fat out of the budget and put the City on a sound financial footing. He was the right man at the right time.

Three was the so called housing crisis. The collapse of the federal governments "everyone should own a house" policy offered the cultural and economic environment necessary to support the new future of Detroit Avenue; a future of condos, apartments and real urban living that would increase population, wealth and economic activity in Lakewood.

All three of those inflection points that could have pointed to a brighter economic future were instead guided to a darker, less prosperous future for Lakewood and Detroit Avenue.

The three negative inflection points were the continued failure of Rockport, the election of Ed Fitzgerald as County Executive and the decision to replace condos and apartments at Detroit with plans for a supersized gas station.

Grace O'Malley wrote:Or perhaps Boulevard of Broken Dreams?

There were at least three positive inflection points over the last few years when the financial and developmental path of the City could have been changed.

One was the development of Rosewood Place. A small investor Group from Akron successfully developed a small corner on Rosewood and Detroit. The success of their multipurpose investment opened up the possibility for retail and residential development along Detroit. For a short time we had the possibility of real urban living financed by private investor’s rather fake urban living financed by taxpayers, aka Crocker Park. The plans for apartments/condos and retail at Bunts and Detroit offered an opportunity for similar development all along Detroit from Webb to W117th. Such development would have been easily extended to the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood all the way to downtown.

Two was the election of Ed Fitzgerald as Mayor. In his first year in office he made necessary changes in City services, cut the fat out of the budget and put the City on a sound financial footing. He was the right man at the right time.

Three was the so called housing crisis. The collapse of the federal governments "everyone should own a house" policy offered the cultural and economic environment necessary to support the new future of Detroit Avenue; a future of condos, apartments and real urban living that would increase population, wealth and economic activity in Lakewood.

All three of those inflection points that could have pointed to a brighter economic future were instead guided to a darker, less prosperous future for Lakewood and Detroit Avenue.

The three negative inflection points were the continued failure of Rockport, the election of Ed Fitzgerald as County Executive and the decision to replace condos and apartments at Detroit with plans for a supersized gas station.

I'm, quite frankly, shocked at the pessimistic nature of this discussion and more than a little bit dissapointed at the complete lack of entrepreneurial thinking...

Why not sell the naming rights for the street to the highest bidder?

we let Cleveland rename Highland for free... NEVER AGAIN!!!!

if they can get millions to call it Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena I can think of more than a few billionaire egomaniacs that might pay up to put their name on mainstreet USA. (Trump Blvd?)

come on people, it's all about revenue. one dollar at a time.

...or, at the very least, if you're looking to capture the true nature and history of Lakewood in a nutshell, I would think the fitting tribute would be to name it: Dennis Kucinich's Way.

Bret Callentine wrote:I'm, quite frankly, shocked at the pessimistic nature of this discussion and more than a little bit dissapointed at the complete lack of entrepreneurial thinking...

LOL...I am assuming your saying that sarcastically because these boards are full of pessimism, sprinkled with "I love Lakewood"

J Hrlec wrote:

Bret Callentine wrote:I'm, quite frankly, shocked at the pessimistic nature of this discussion and more than a little bit dissapointed at the complete lack of entrepreneurial thinking...

LOL...I am assuming your saying that sarcastically because these boards are full of pessimism, sprinkled with "I love Lakewood"

J Hrlec

I think this could be because so many are so good at giving themselves awards, ribbon
cuttings, Resolutions, Proclamations, that it is pointless to get into that line.




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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

J Hrlec wrote:

Bret Callentine wrote:I'm, quite frankly, shocked at the pessimistic nature of this discussion and more than a little bit dissapointed at the complete lack of entrepreneurial thinking...

LOL...I am assuming your saying that sarcastically because these boards are full of pessimism, sprinkled with "I love Lakewood"

J Hrlec

I think this could be because so many are so good at giving themselves awards, ribbon
cuttings, Resolutions, Proclamations, that it is pointless to get into that line.




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Wait a minute, JOB, aren't you "Mr. Lakewood" with award after award?
Corey

Corey Rossen wrote:Wait a minute, JOB, aren't you "Mr. Lakewood" with award after award?
Corey

Corey


I have NEVER given an award to myself.

Nor have I ever sat on a board that gave an award to anything I was connected to.

Deb keeps them in a drawer somewhere or so I am told.


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