The Observation Deck

Yesterday I was working out on the far eastside, and had some time walking around
Willoughby while I was waiting for the meeting to start. Now I realize that Willoughby is
not Lakewood, and to be honest, I'm glad. Snow alone would keep me on the Westside
(we get a lot less of it) and Lakewood is (still) a near perfect community, but it brought
me back to some discussions that have gone on in the past here, concerning the
homogenization of this city--trying to make Lakewood like every other city. So that we
become so much like every other city that it is not even possible to tell us apart.

What Willoughby has: Jimmy Johns, Panera, Dollar General, Arby's, Bob Evans, Dunkin
Donuts, McDonald's, and on and on and on.

And they mastered...

Hanging flower technology, watering technology, tree technology, brick technology, historic
lamp technology, A-Frame signs not in the way technology, and more.

To recap...


Independence


Crocker Park

Lakewood year 1 - $80,000

Dead in two weeks.

Lakewood year 2 - $40,000

Dead in under a month.

Lakewood year 4 - ?

Watered by the "court offenders" who used to pick up litter, and keep the parks clean.

So, I have a couple questions.

Did anyone bother to ask the "scientists" from other cities how they keep their flowers
alive and hung? Bricks flat? Regular trees that live?

But even more importantly, to quote my friend Kenneth Warren, back in 2007, "Maybe
we are not a flower basket community?" Or possibly even more importantly, maybe we
don't NEED TO BE a flower basket community like everyone else.

I have nothing against flowers, and I enjoyed the ones I have seen. It adds to a community
and make streets nicer. IF you can make it work, and IF you can afford it.

Which is more important paying for dead flowers, or
keeping Kauffman and Madison park open to 11pm?

Even more troubling is the rush by Lakewood to be just like other communities. An
illustration from the past to illustrate.

Which makes better sense for Lakewood?

This?


Or this?

The city that stands out as different!

We/Lakewood has repeatedly won top accolades for being hip, cool, bikeable, liveable, a great place to raise a family, all the while our civic leaders are trying to take us down the road to becoming a "mall city" like on Pearl Rd.

We have made our name with "Organic Places" that spring up from Lakewood residents, like the Root Cafe, Melt, Lion and Blue, Deagen's, Mahall's, Around the Corner, Pier W, Vosh. Without the city planning them. They merely made it possible for Lakewoodites to have their dream-- in other words fertile soil for new businesses. But of course when there is fertile soil, you get the weeds or Corporate America, trying be be cool, or to just siphon away enough dollars to make the little guy's life rough.

Maybe, just maybe we need to get back to our basics: Being the best city in which to raise a family. Not the best for chain stores to come until the city is sucked dry.

Let's stick to what we know, parks, recreation, schools, friendly business incubators, and let the others get caught up in the foolish rat race to the bottom of the pool.

FOR THE RECORD - READ THIS

Throughout the meeting which included Willoughby civic leaders, they were all talking about Lakewood, not about our flowers, baskets, or downtown area, but about the engaged residents, the schools, the library, and how WE DO IT!

And as I always do at these meetings, I ended with thanking my hosts for dinner, for the conversation and the continued relationships.

But I was damn glad to be headed back to Lakewood, MY HOME.


FWIW

.

Yeah, no one's moving here for flower baskets.

I'll be honest. I don't get the question and what one should answer from the soup can pictures. Which is supposed to be best for Lakewood? I'm confused. Sorry.
.

Matthew Lee wrote:I'll be honest. I don't get the question and what one should answer from the soup can pictures. Which is supposed to be best for Lakewood? I'm confused. Sorry.
.

The homogenization of Lakewood and other cities. Where each one does exactly what the
other does. To follow instead of leading, until the entire region looks like a bunch of cookie
cutter communities.

The city working overtime to bring in "big box chains" like 5 Guys, Bob Evans.

These are things that blur what makes Lakewood special and unique, and also works against
the fertile ground of new ideas and innovation.

Let's pretend people are moving to the area. Doesn't it make sense to stand out, instead
of blend in?


.

Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the info.

Are we homogenizing? Interesting question. You specifically mention two establishments: Five Guys and Bob Evans. Five Guys failed. Bob Evans is building in an abandoned lot. Would it be better to keep it abandoned? Should the city give concessions so a "non-homogenized" establishment can come in and set down roots?

Personally, I think we are better off with a Bob Evans there than nothing. But that might just be me. And, it's at least an Ohio company.

We have StreatBurger and Humble Wine Bar opening in the same week. Homogeny?

Matthew Lee wrote:Personally, I think we are better off with a Bob Evans there than nothing. But that might just be me. And, it's at least an Ohio company.

Matt,

I would rather have full storefronts than empty storefronts … as long as City Hall isn’t giving away tax abatements like they are Halloween candy.

Matt

Matthew Lee wrote:Thanks, Jim. Appreciate the info.

Are we homogenizing? Interesting question. You specifically mention two establishments: Five Guys and Bob Evans. Five Guys failed. Bob Evans is building in an abandoned lot. Would it be better to keep it abandoned? Should the city give concessions so a "non-homogenized" establishment can come in and set down roots?

Personally, I think we are better off with a Bob Evans there than nothing. But that might just be me. And, it's at least an Ohio company.

We have StreatBurger and Humble Wine Bar opening in the same week. Homogeny?

Matthew

Streetbirger, Humble? Well I would call Humble a success story. Deagen's doing so well they jump in to another place blocks away.

Bob Evans, interesting side note, I was talking with Bill Hixon months ago, and mentioned that he as about to lose his lot, he asked
"really I didn't hear, to who" I said Bob Evans, I am not sure I have ever seen an 80-year-old so excited! "I love Bob Evans, it is
my favorite place to stop when I am on the road!" I mention this as I want to make sure you understand one man's opinion (me)
is simply that one man's opinion.

Sometimes, empty lots, are better, than a business that does not add to the neighborhood.

But it will be interesting to see how Streatburger does, the same owner as 56 West, which everyone said at one time were the
best burgers in Lakewood, closes and re-opens as a burger place. New partner, new management, so it has a shot. Jay the owner
owns good restaurants (financially) on the east side and it was nice to see him re-invest.

Value World, miles of dollar stores and drug stores. A comment I have heard more than one time is, "Detroit is looking like Pearl
Road." I always ask which part, We used to take Route 42 to Mansfield. The mention is north of Brookpark. So who knows, I have
friends that live 5 blocks north of Brookpark 10 houses off of Pearl, and they love it. The other day, my wife overheard three women
in Giant Eagle talk about to paraphrase, "This is great, two dollar stores, and value world coming, I can take a bus in minutes to
both,this is like heaven."

In Willoughby, they have it easy. Their "stores every city has" is in a mall at the edge of town next to Willowick, which everyone at
the table that night referred to as "The blue collar section of Willoughby." So that their "residential areas" seem immune for right
now from the traffic, the lights, the noise of the mall. Here we have "chains" moving into neighborhoods. The before and after
photos of Grace avenue are startling. You could not tell there was a business area at the end of the street, until you got about
4 houses from the end. Today, it is obvious from the top of the street, light and noise pollution have changed the neighborhood.
At that point I ask, for the good or the bad? Has Lakewood gone from what sets us apart, to what makes us the same again?

But I would think more to the actual point I was trying to make, instead of chasing things that make us the same. "Faux Antique
lamp poles, flowers we can keep alive, the same frosting on the cake as others, let keep our parks open, clean, neighborhoods
complete and whole and better, lets make this the best place to live, that we can amplifying what makes us who we are, instead
of the fluff, that blurs those images. Our "future" was/is charted by a group of people that desperately "wanted Lakewood to be just
like Crocker Park" Of course at the same time they would say Crocker Park was a copy Lakewood, which always confused me.

We have civic leaders trying to be like other cities or areas, Tremont, (unsafe fad), Detroit Shoreway (movie set not real),
Downtown Cleveland (Tax free zone), Westlake, Solon, Independence, Willougby (All could buy Lakewood). Yet when I get
to those areas, and I am working in all of them, they want to be more like us. While this could be "The grass is always greener
on the other side of the street" it could also be, "We have caught lightening in a bottle" I am always wondering, and again, my
opinion and thoughts, are we straying away from what makes us Lakewood? Not one person has asked, "How do we get a
Get-Go in our city" They already know, just act like the French in WWII. What they do ask is, how do we make our community
care again? How do we get the community, Lakewood has. I have been at the table when Julie (Root Cafe) was offered a chance to move to Parma, by the President of Parma Council. (To Julie's credit, she said, "I love it here, I have no interest in going to Parma..."

I would hate to loose what got us here for someone's pipe dream that at best seem like outright lies.

.
Matt this wanders I know, first cup of coffee before heading to

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Matt this wanders I know, first cup of coffee before heading to

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Matt this wanders I know, first cup of coffee before heading to

Bay Village/Westlake

Jim,

Whatever happened to the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar coming to the 'Wood?

Or did it already open and close?

Maybe I missed the ribbon cutting ceremony?

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:Jim,

Whatever happened to the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar coming to the 'Wood?

Matt

Last I heard Applebees is still looking around, of course that would be a local restaurant as it is owned by the Strangs, that
lived on Arthur at one time.

The fact that we have 285 place to get food might be making some a little edgey on moving here.

! restaurant for every 71 homes/apartments

.

I've worked in Willoughby for 15 years ... very nice place to work, but they suffer the same syndrome as all the other 5 mile city/township parcels in the western reserve - having to support a true downtown "donut" while all the development pressure is outside the downtown area. To its credit, there are no chains at all in the downtown district, only locally owned businesses (unless you want to call Arabica a chain) ... though I think it relies to heavily on food. The approach to downtown is probably what they felt they needed to do to differentiate it from the rest of the city, but it might as well be two different cities. i wonder how many in the outer areas of Willoughby would go downtown for lunch or opt for panera. (Franlky, I wonder how many Clifton Parkers and Lake Ave. residents eat/shop in "downtown" Lakewood vs. Crocker Park or River, but that's another conversation).

I'm not sure Lakewood is in any danger of becoming a willoughby-like place because it's a physical impossibility ... but the emphasis on local businesses in Willoughby's downtown district is something to aspire to.

Paul Schrimpf wrote:I've worked in Willoughby for 15 years ... very nice place to work, but they suffer the same syndrome as all the other 5 mile city/township parcels in the western reserve - having to support a true downtown "donut" while all the development pressure is outside the downtown area. To its credit, there are no chains at all in the downtown district, only locally owned businesses (unless you want to call Arabica a chain) ... though I think it relies to heavily on food. The approach to downtown is probably what they felt they needed to do to differentiate it from the rest of the city, but it might as well be two different cities. i wonder how many in the outer areas of Willoughby would go downtown for lunch or opt for panera. (Franlky, I wonder how many Clifton Parkers and Lake Ave. residents eat/shop in "downtown" Lakewood vs. Crocker Park or River, but that's another conversation).

I'm not sure Lakewood is in any danger of becoming a willoughby-like place because it's a physical impossibility ... but the emphasis on local businesses in Willoughby's downtown district is something to aspire to.

Paul

Lakewood cannot become Willoughby even if they moved it here. They had room for a mall, they had a "downtown" area. They did not
have to tear down any built out taxpayer for a park and a Gazebo. However I have been at meetings in Lakewood, with people that
help shape opinions who wanted to do just that. Tear down the "Board of Education, and other buildings, to put up a central park with
a gazebo, because that is what is requested from 'Mainstreet Programs."

What worries me pretty consistently for decades, is chasing rabbits down dead ends, because we neither have the land nor the money
to chase them, and we already had more than what was needed. A massive community coveting experience. We do not have
basketball hoops, because of cost. Madison and Kauffman closed because of cost. $250,000 in dead flowers could have bought 10
courts that would be in heavy use today. That would have kept the parks open with improvements, that would have allowed the
city not to put resident against resident on trash collection day.

You worked in Willoughby for 15 years?! Where did you live?

.

Paul Schrimpf wrote:I've worked in Willoughby for 15 years ... very nice place to work, but they suffer the same syndrome as all the other 5 mile city/township parcels in the western reserve - having to support a true downtown "donut" while all the development pressure is outside the downtown area. To its credit, there are no chains at all in the downtown district, only locally owned businesses (unless you want to call Arabica a chain) ... though I think it relies to heavily on food. The approach to downtown is probably what they felt they needed to do to differentiate it from the rest of the city, but it might as well be two different cities. i wonder how many in the outer areas of Willoughby would go downtown for lunch or opt for panera. (Franlky, I wonder how many Clifton Parkers and Lake Ave. residents eat/shop in "downtown" Lakewood vs. Crocker Park or River, but that's another conversation).

I'm not sure Lakewood is in any danger of becoming a willoughby-like place because it's a physical impossibility ... but the emphasis on local businesses in Willoughby's downtown district is something to aspire to.

Paul

Lakewood cannot become Willoughby even if they moved it here. They had room for a
mall, they had a "downtown" area. They did not have to tear down any built out tax payer
for a park and a Gazebo. However I have been at meetings in Lakewood, with people that
help shape opinions that wanted to do just that. Tear down the "Board of Education, and
other buildings, to put up a central park with a gazebo, because that is what is requested
from 'Mainstreet Programs."

What worries me pretty consistently for decades, is chasing rabbits* down dead ends,
because we neither hand the land or the money to chase them, and we already had more
than what was needed. A massive community coveting experience. We do not have
basketball hoops, because of cost. Madison and Kaufman closed because of cost.
$150,000 in dead flowers could have bought 7 courts that would be in heavy use today.
They would have kept the parks open with improvements, they would have allowed the
city not to put resident against resident on trash collection day.

You worked in Willoughby for 15 years?! Where did you live?

* "Rabbit an imaginary or faux phantom that causes an unneeded reaction" like "I
swerved to avoid the rabbit." when no rabbit existed. The only thing worse, is constructing
the "faux rabbit." Example: "Economic Development," will keep our taxes low. When
the word "might" would have more proper. "The Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, Browns
Stadium.. will save Cleveland." If you have the time, and the money to chase them, great,
Lakewood does not have that pleasure.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:What worries me pretty consistently for decades, is chasing rabbits* down dead ends, because we neither hand the land or the money to chase them, and we already had more than what was needed. A massive community coveting experience. We do not have basketball hoops, because of cost. Madison and Kaufman closed because of cost. $150,000 in dead flowers could have bought 7 courts that would be in heavy use today. They would have kept the parks open with improvements, they would have allowed the city not to put resident against resident on trash collection day.

***

* "Rabbit an imaginary or faux phantom that causes an unneeded reaction" like "I swerved to avoid the rabbit." when no rabbit existed. The only thing worse, is constructing the "faux rabbit." Example: "Economic Development," will keep our taxes low. When
the word "might" would have more proper. "The Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, Browns Stadium.. will save Cleveland." If you have the time, and the money to chase them, great, Lakewood does not have that pleasure.

Jim,

I recommend avoiding rabbits. In fact ... "Run Away! Run Away! Run Away!"





Matt