The Observation Deck

Councilman Butler has aranged for me to present my thesis on Lakewood Park and the Pennisula at the Council meeting on Tuesday, February 21, 2006.

Please come and learn more about this project and support it moving forward.

Thanks,

In case anyone has not seen Savannah's exciting vision:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/images/savannah/new_full.jpg

I won't be able to make it SF, but if you can provide specific times and place for when/where to go, maybe (local) people will be able to break away.

BTW, awesome looking plan!

City Council is at Lakewood City Hall at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month, unless there's a holiday, when the metings are on Tuesday nights.

OK... please don't flame me.

I know that there is a lot of support for this plan and I have to agree that it is innovative. On its face, I like it. So understand that this is not a slam on Savannah or her vision, her ability, her tenacity, or anything else.

...

But how is the return on an investment of this type being calculated? Are we going to count on the increased revenues from additional income tax (more residents), or is there space being created for industry as a result of this development? Is it to increase the status & image of the city thus, presumably, increasing the property values, attracting more business to existing structures? There is great appeal for a plan of this nature; however, appeal alone does not create long term success.

I guess what I am trying to say is "Why would we want to do this?" There are a LOT of things the city can spend time and money on, why this? Personally, I simply cannot understand the justification of this type of project in a city that has so many basic infrastructural problems. Somewhat akin to building a castle on quicksand.

Perhaps I missed some of the discussion about this, or perhaps the discussion is just beginning. Whichever the case, I hope only that we, and our representatives, look at any plan honestly and critically to ensure that we are being good stewards of the city's finances.

Peace,
~Charyn

Charyn----

Your questions certainly do not constitute a "slam" on Savannah's proposal. In fact, the seriousness of your questions are testimony to the overall uniqueness of this grand idea along with its high caliber presentation.

Since this proposal has only had a public life of several months I think it's helpful to remember that it takes at least a year for a concept like this to settle into the consciousness of relevant parties. Tonight's presentation to the City Council is just one more step in that process.

Should such a proposal ever get legs your questions certainly will have to be addressed. Let me just say from my perspective that when I first saw the drawings and artist's renderings an eerie sense of deja vu came over me. See, back in the early 1970's there was a proposal to build a Jetport in Lake Erie. This was to be a regional airport to replace Hopkins. I worked for the prime engineering consulting firm which was doing the feasibility study for it. The idea of building a facility either on the bed of Lake Erie or creating new land in the Lake was the basis for the Jetport. The study concluded that the technology to do that was readily available.

So, just by moving that Jetport concept a few miles west to the shore of Lakewood Park is very doable in a technical sense. Such a project would have to include federal, state, as well as local government cooperation as well as possibly Canadian monitoring. Creation of the new land could be an Army Corps of Engineer project. All construction work could be based off of Whiskey Island with heavy traffic confined to barges, not land based trucks.

Ownership could be various consortiums combing the different governments participating along with private developer investment.

Suffice to say, this is a proposal that deserves close scrutiny and should be entertained seriously by all who care about Lakewood.

Stan Austin

Charyn

To elaborate on what Stan said and to answer you question. Kind of.

It has been roughly figured that the plan would take $55 million to build. This is based on other peninsula plans that have cropped up. Most with more than 28 acres. i have already see a plan that build on Savannah's peninsula! Ironically that plan also makes a ton of sense.

OK so where do we get it. Well some money might be possible from the Federal Government, and the Army Corp of Engineers would be needed, but again they have monies for shoreline preservation. One estimate for the value of the property put it at three times the cost. Even if it is a break even deal, Lakewood wins with the new taxes, and the new destination.

But Savannah figured much more. The peninsula actually helps pay for the rebuilding and changes at Lakewood Park. It also gives Lakewood a way to get to the lake finally!

Recently I have heard of plan that had allocated $55 million to buy houses and tear them down. So we loose those citizens, homes and taxes in exchange for higher taxes in theory. I say theory because of the possible ups and downs of retail, and the fact that every development made in the last ten years has come in dramatically under what was projected. Legacy Village was 85% under projections at 100% occupancy! So the peninsula, saves those homes, and creates new space.

FWIW


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I would love to see some figures on the Chicago Navy Pier. If the peninsula space is used in any way similar to the Pier it could be a lot of fun and a definite destination to bring people into Lakewood besides our awesome bars and goth clothing stores. This isn't a slag on those industries...I love them...but it is a limited market that a whole new venue could better add to, not replace.

Has anyone seen the Pier? I finally went to it last summer to see the AMAZING Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. This was world-class Shakespeare being done in a cool venue with an odd but surprisingly cool mix of restaurants and festivities all with a fun view of the Lake and skyline of downtown Chicago. When I was there the place was packed and alive and very vibrant. I could see Ms. Farris' designs having a similar collection of stores, food and entertainments.

Anyway, good luck with the presentation! I hope to be there!

Ciao,

Phil

Charyn.

Just to add a note of support, agreement, concurrence, or whatever, I know what you are saying.
This is a big, bold, forward-thinking plan, but it's being proposed in a city that needs to tighten up its attention to the nuts and bolts of being a community. Unfortunately, that's the way the world works. An Avon Lake, which has its basics covered and a steady stream of cash, can consider this. Lakewood, with potholed streets, a lowered bond rating and some schools where 70 percent of kids are economically disadvantaged, needs to stick to its knitting.

Still, I don't want to see the city become vision-challenged. That's why I believe it's up to a cadre of movers and shakers to donate their time and talents to seeing if this thing has legs. I don't want our mayor, economic development people, or anyone on the city dime taking precious time on this (actually, I don't think that will happen). I certainly don't want to see taxpayer dollars used for studies, at least not at this very early stage.
Mr. O, correctly, believes outside funding may be available. Let's find out if he's right, but let's do it outside (but with the blessing of) "official" Lakewood.
(Aside to Mr. O. You may have "seen $55 million plans to buy existing houses", but that doesn't mean they have a ghost of a chance of happening)
That's not nay-saying. This is just hard-headed, good-government, common sense.
All that said, good luck to everyone. It would be swell to see this happen.

Hi,

Please those of you that are concerned about the cost of such an undertaking consider what a home/townhouse there would sell for. I'm guessing they would vary in price but by looking at our existing homes on Lakewood cliffs you can get a feel. I'd say well done these properties could sell for $1.25 million each on average. There are on Savannah's plan 144 structures. That's $180 million new property in a "land-locked" city. How much additional taxes would that work out for the City? How much more for the Schools?

I know everyone would like to see industry come to Lakewood. One of my favorite parts of the plan is the wind farm. This is an amazing way to generate power for all of Lakewood and possibly for sale to other cities. This kind of industry - is one of the areas that Lakewood can develop.

I know Lynn went into financing on the other thread. But Savannah has lots of ideas. Some are very inexpensive - almost free. Others cost little money. This isn't an all or nothing proposition. For example, you could do the wind farm without the peninsula. You could do the farmers market without the wind farm. It was Savannah's concern to generate revenues that led to the peninsula. Well, that and a desire to give Lakewood a public beach. But come hear her and she the project and decide for yourself.

Any idea on what time the actual presentation will be? Is this going to start sharp at 7:30 or is the an agenda item on an already established meeting so the presentation might start later? Just curious. Trying to work out child care, homework and dinner (not in that order).

Thanks!

Phil

She is the 14th item on the agenda. None of the first 14 items seem controversial and Mary Hagan reads like a auctioneer. So, I would assume about 7:50 - 8:00 but I could be wrong.

Thanks! That's good to know. I attended some of the 47 meetings and it seemed like forever to get the meaty issues. Anyway, thanks for the info. See you there!

Phil

I love Mary Hagan and I especially love her impressively speedy but entirely clear reading style.

What the docket does not mention are any resolutions for groups or individuals (and there may be none). It is usually the practice of council president Seelie to present any such resolutions at the beginning of the meeting.

It may be that Ms. Farris's presentation is not presented in the docket order since it is likely to draw a lot of interest and comments - and therefore may be delayed until the end of the council session. This is pure speculation, of course, but I would be prepared for that.

Council does start at 7:30 sharp.

I think Savannah Farris is to be commended for the effort she has put into this project.

Is there a powerpoint file or anything available for those who won't be able to attend the presentation? I did see the .jpg file. For the large percentage of people who don't have powerpoint on their computer, you can still download a free powerpoint file viewer from Microsoft or use somethign like OpenOffice.

I definitely think SOMETHING major needs to be done to improve Lakewood's access to Lake Erie. It is such a waste to have all that coastline and do absolutely nothing with it. I am convinced that Lakewood can come up with something much better than Edgewater Park. Lakewood has its problems, but I believe we are better than Cleveland (yes I know the state runs that park) and better than Bay Village. I think the islands just off the shore of Toronto in Lake Ontario are a great asset to the GTA. I believe they resulted from a natural sandbar with some added human intervention, but that is besides the point. I think the peninsula could have similar effects here.

For a major project like this to work, I think there needs to be significant corporate/private investment in addition to government investment. If it is such a good idea, investors will be stepping on top of each other to get in on the project. I am not a finance or real estate expert--maybe space on the peninsula can be pre-sold or maybe deposits can be taken. This could be like the Palm Tree islands or The World islands in Dubai. Just because the government (regardless of which level) can sometimes be conned into misappropriating millions of dollars doesn't mean it should be done (e.g. Eastlake baseball stadium, RTA Euclid Corridor, etc.). Some seem to feel we should do anything to increase property values and taxes. If so, why not literally pave the streets with gold? Just think of what that would do to property values and taxes! We could be the only city in the world with gold-paved streets! It would give new meaning to the Gold Coast--the entire city would become the Gold City!

I am sure someone will also look into the effects that such a project will have on bordering areas. Will we have to install traffic lights in Lakewood Park? Will Lake, Clifton, or Belle need to be widened? etc. etc.

I think it is great that this topic has generated so much interest.

Doug

Doug

Savannah made a beautiful presentation last night. All council people thanked her for making it. However some stuff got lost and I left early, so maybe after council more questions were asked.

However, the big moment came when Tom Jordan asked her to keep her books at the library for anyone that might be interested. This was followed by Ryan Patrick Demro asking if some of the ideas could be used at Lakewood Park now that many of her ideas were far better than what they had spent money on. Tom admitted that some could.

But the point missed and the beauty of the plan is that you and I are paying for the update to the park. Savannah's plan had the peninsula' and the revenue from the sale of property and new taxes generated paying for EVERYTHING! So we get more valuable land, a true destination, a place for high end economic development, and a really cool park with amphitheater and beach for $0.00 in the end. Even make money.

While I realize this is no where near as glamorous as paying someone to tear down houses and build a mall. I still think it is a huge winner.


FWIW



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