The Observation Deck

This case study by MIT and the University of Maryland about a partnership between University Hospitals and the City of Cleveland to deploy the economic power of an anchor institution (University Hospitals) to actually benefit a community (pick your jaws up off the floor) should be required reading for Lakewood's economics- and community development-challenged politicians:

ANCHOR INSTUTIONS: LEVERAGING THE POWER OF ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS TO BUILD COMMUNITY WEALTH, A Case Study of University Hospitals Vision 2010 Program

http://community-wealth.org/content/anc ... ity-wealth

Only in Lakewood would city officials choose to destroy a valuable economic engine to replace it with - take your pick - a small boutique hotel, a rec center, retail, or maybe more of the usual fare- drug store, bar, pizza place, dollar store or thrift store.

Thanks for that, Leo, looks very pertinent to our situation!

More required reading for our city’s leaders: “How Communities Can Make the Most of Their Anchor Institutions”

http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/ ... board.html

This is from Governing magazine. Governing is considered the leading news source for state and local government leaders. Do we have any of those in Lakewood (“leaders”)?