The Observation Deck

I will be the first to apologize to Bill Call for poo-pooing the idea that Beck would have the audacity to leave its home city for distant shores, in this case the less-than-thriving Crocker Park area in Westlake. After he prompted the discussion a couple of weeks ago and after numerous people reported this as mostly rumor, I did some digging with people in or close to in at the Beck to see what was really going on.

Turns out, we very well may be losing the Beck Center. Sure, maybe not this decade but it is coming down the road if we don't do anything about it (if we CAN do anything about it). I guess the short version I have heard is this: Beck Center needs a new theater. This makes sense as it is an older facility that is way out of date in terms of modern theater technology. They do great work in this older theater but it could be much more with newer facilities. This could look two ways, either they gut and renovate their existing space or create a brand new space. This is what is on the table to start off with and it obviously can go a few different ways. If they gut and renovate, we are golden and will still have the Beck. If they want to build a new one, they can either build on the current site or they can build elsewhere and it is the latter option that puts our crown jewel of the arts in jeopardy.

Where to build? This is the stuff that I haven't been able to verify but there is some land near Crocker Park that is itching to be developed (not IN Crocker Park) and some investors have dangled this juicy bit of land in front of the Beck.

Supposedly City Council has been informed of this decision making process, maybe to give them a chance to dangle their own carrot. I have a couple worries about this, though. First, I am told that there are few, if any, people on the Beck Board of Trustees who are Lakewoodites which takes away some allies at the highest level. Secondly, our own City of Lakewood seems to be lacking in many home-grown Lakewoodites in positions to make decisions. It seems like many of the City of Lakewood decisions come from people who live outside the city and I have to wonder if such a move will at all concern the powers that be in the City.

So what are thoughts? Can we do anything about this? Should the City fight to keep such a great asset as the Beck Center squarely in Lakewood? How could the City help? Should we? Or should we let it go and be happy we had it for as long as we did? Is there any way Lakewood would BENEFIT from losing Beck and gaining some open property on Detroit Rd.?

Just some thoughts and concerns from one Lakewood citizen who loves the Beck for all it does for this city and this family.

Phil

Thanks for the post. A troubling prospect, indeed.

It dawns on me that I'll bet a goodly percentage of folks don't realize the Beck Center is not affiliated with the city. Its a totaly independent operation, like Fairchild or Lakewood UCC, and llike those entities,it will go wherever the money leads it.

Would Lakewood be diminished by the loss of the Beck Center? Unequivocally, yes.

Should tax dollars be funneled into keeping it....ahhhhhhhhhhhh, not so sure about that.

Seems to me that it's time to mobiliize some (priivate) Lakewood money to see what the interest is in keeping it here. Who are the angels that make things happen in any community? Looks like we may need them here.

What about tax incentives? Abatements? Hell, we do more for sports teams who offer little to the cultural development of the city. How much is the city/county paying for the football stadium that gets use only 10 days a year? How much are we getting back? I think some investment of public dollars into arts entities is important. NE Ohio and this county in particular is one of the few metropolitan areas without public funding for the arts. We do VERY well up here without but I have to wonder how much more we would have with a minimal investment.

Maybe an investment of land deals? Are there spaces that the city has some influence on that Beck might be interested in? I don't know. I wonder what the greater loss will be if they leave?

Phil

hmmm, tax abatements? I thought that our taxes were too high already, if that many support that notion then wouldn't there be an outpouring of support from the arts community with their attendance at their events? I really have no idea how well attended the events at the Beck are, they could be great. I also don't know much about how they manage their finances there but I would need to see some real significant cost/benefit to the city before I would start considering abatements and city sponsored incentives.
I've been through the Beck on a monthly basis for the past two years and have attended a couple of events at the Armory. I think that if they are considering moving to build a new theater that may be an option that we face. It doesn't change the fact that there is a great facility sitting here in Lakewood. Finding rooms that can accomodate that many either in the Armory or the theater are rare in this area and finding that much open parking in Lakewood is even more of an asset. Maybe the board of directors needs to come up with a better business plan so they can go beyond the idea that it's an asset because it is a source of arts and culture and make it into something that is thriving and is truly a leader in the city.
They're sitting on what could be something great. Let's see the numbers and the utililization of their resources before we start encouraging the city to solve the problem.

City Council received no official notice of any move planned by the Beck Center. I heard about it via ru8mor the other day and was able to confirm that discussions have taken place between Stark and the Beck, but nothing official.

A big caveat. We don't know how serious the conversations between Beck leadership and Stark have been. So this may all be a bit overwrought.

With that ini mind....

Of course, LAKEWOOD hasn't offered any incentives to sports teams, and after the disaster over in Eastlake, you won't soon see too many suburbs doing THAT sort of thing.
Abatements? The idea of taking money from the schools to pay for a private theater and art school bothers me.
And let's face it. If all the Beck Center wants is a mound of cash and a new building, it's going to be hard to stop them.

Working with the Beck to find private sources that will keep it in Lakewood, like the Y, really seems the way to go, as opposed to letting them into an ever-smaller city cookie jar.

Slightly OT - What about the old Westwood Theatre building? I know parking is non-existant, but it is such an interesting piece of property. Does anyone know if there are plans to renovate it?

Ellen Malonis wrote:Slightly OT - What about the old Westwood Theatre building? I know parking is non-existant, but it is such an interesting piece of property. Does anyone know if there are plans to renovate it?

Ellen

I have sat down with two groups over the past two years that wanted to do something. I know that it is also on the radar screen of city hall.

The single biggest problem is parking. when the owners sold off the parking lot to the "Silver Coast" it all but sealed the fate of the building.

Roof is leaking, and it is a flat roof so a good fix seems expensive.

Let's not forget my old club the Phantasy Theater, which seats 2012, but is not good for plays as there are no dressing rooms to speak of and no place to put them. when I put the stage in, it had to go into the seats because of no room to go backwards.

From what I hear it is almost as run down as when my vrew rebuilt it in the 80s.

Parking would also be an issue.

Then we have the Civic. I had always been assured that the civic could not handle a full schedule?!

It did just occur to me that we have the old Vedda Litho building, right next Virgina Marti that might be configured for a theater. Also VM has a bunch of space in the back where the bowling alley was.

Maybe this could be turned into an arts district?

FWIW


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I have sat down with two groups over the past two years that wanted to do something. I know that it is also on the radar screen of city hall.

Very cool...if it could not be a private theatre, it perhaps could be a community center (the north side of the arcade is on the Madison bus line). I've also imagined it would make a neat church building.

Ellen Malonis wrote:

I have sat down with two groups over the past two years that wanted to do something. I know that it is also on the radar screen of city hall.

Very cool...if it could not be a private theater, it perhaps could be a community center (the north side of the arcade is on the Madison bus line). I've also imagined it would make a neat church building.

Ellen

Maybe a church. Though both groups that I talked with wanted it for a nightclub. Parking killed both and the city is well aware that they have a great piece of property that is worthless without parking.

The floor is graded like old theaters, so to level it would cost not just a lot of money, but kill possible space.

FWIW


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Lakewood Observer, and Senior Editor of the FreeTimes Michael Gill has a pretty good quick look at what is going on with the Beck Center. It would seem that Lakewood native Cecil Yates might have been the one that put the bug in the Beck Center's ear about moving for the money so that he could bring in a strip mall featuring an Applebees.

Michael hurried the story, that broke here almost three months ago, to this edition of the FreeTimes so to beat a press release due to be issued by the Beck Center this Friday about the move.

Meanwhile we have two other Observers working the phone trying to talk with Bob Stark who is vacationing in Aspen right now.

Lessons to be learned, do not turn your back on developers, and we must keep Lakewoodites on the board of Lakewood projects, developments, and organizations. Because those that do not live here, are only here for the money, not the lifestyle.

Of course this good news should offset the news that broke today about the recent kidnapping at gunpoint and rape of a woman from Crocker Park in broad daylight.


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I'm interested in what Lakewood would want in the form of an arts center and what Lakewood could really support. It's great to have arts and culture and lifestyle amenities but is it realistic to have something on a large scale such as this? The city has always been unique but what is the real identity these days? The arts festival does well and draws a great crowd but could this be maintained throughout the year?
Beyond, the wants to fashion our city into something that is cultural and such is there the necessary push from the local residents to ensure its survival? We seem to be struggling to keep a half price movie theater open, is there really that much traffic to see live performances and art exhibits?

First, let’s give credit to Bill Call for his wake up call to board for capturing a development with some legs and definitely worthy of open source processing, if only to give city officials some measure of the vox populi.

Bill’s initial post says, “The opportunity to keep the Center and help it grow still exists. A successful effort will take a proactive and aggressive campaign by City officials….â€Â￾

(You should Lakewood Public Library does the webpage for the Beck Center at no charge, a service the library provides to non-profits. We do our best to create synergy and strength for the cultural corridor. We offered to partner with the Beck Center and Lakewood Hospital on a WI-FI corridor. I realize this is not cash flow.)

Are subsidies from the city or contracted services from other official agencies part of the bill of particulars needed for “a proactive and aggressive campaign by City officials….â€Â￾

Why should such a move be undertaken by City Officials?

From what I can see and hear, which isn’t all that much, I don’t believe blame can be placed on city officials for not waging “a proactive and aggressive campaignâ€Â￾ whatever that might entail.

Does Bill Call believe that the city can/or should provide subsidy/debt forgiveness to the Beck Center?

If so, can we determine whether the City of Westlake is putting any subsidy, however hidden, on the table to bring this cultural amenity to their center?

The fact that the Beck Center is considering such a move to Westlake speaks to the dis-aggregation of value that Lakewood must endure with the departure of knapsacks of privilege stuffed with cabbage to sprawling stratifying suburbs. It’s the creative/destructive cycle of capitalism doing what is does best.

It seems that many of the old time Lakewoodites who supported the Beck Center with season tickets have also moved further West. My sense is that there is a divergence in the programs supported and geared to an older guard and Lakewood's younger Gen X demos. The move to Crocker might provide the Beck with something it needs and that bread and butter supporters who boogied West would prefer - an easier, shorter commute. The target market for the Beck is the sprawling Westside and I'd bet the educational program sees Westlake's location preferable to the Kids and Cul de Sac demos that support the classes. Is the Detroit Avenue Bar Scene the streetscape Mom's from the burbs want their little darlings to scope during transit to the inner ring? Aren't Crocker Park and Westlake views "nicer," more processed, more robust with knapsacks of priviledge stuffed with the cabbage that speaks the success desired for the kids?

I realize that it hurts to lose an arts and cultural amenity and face reality. But demography is destiny; capital is a kicker, hurling affluent families into the cul de sac geography of consumable despair.

That said, Lakewood Observers on the case must vet the rumor that Stark is planning on moving his office to Lakewood?

Can this be true that Bob Stark the visionary developer of New Urbanism is coming to the inner ring UR Ground of street car urbanism?

How does that build the brand, Mr. O'Bryan?

Does Mr. Stark have a vision for Lakewood and the Beck Center footprint?

If so what is it?

Is there any truth to the rumor a world class office space is envisioned for the footprint?

How would that fit with the Grow Lakewood Report?

Such a strategy might make sense for the city, at least from an economic development perspective.

Is that why the “a proactive and aggressive campaignâ€Â￾ is not part of the playbook?

Does the Cecil Yates plan have legs? Can it deliver more or less $$$ to the city to pay for services?

All the open source economic development tools for processing the vision of whatever developer are here, with the Lakewood Observer, and the potential for intelligent development and cooperation with Westlake and the developer in a regional way that respects the sovereignty of each entity are on the table.

Maybe the Beck and the cities of Lakewood and Westlake can approach a foundation for a little help in processing a win-win regional plan that recognizes where each place is situated in the aggregation and disagregation of values playing out in real estate development and demographics, and most importantly works for all concerned.

Thanks to Councilman Demro for sharing his news here, when he did. The city that knows itself better than any other can only do so in light and truth, flying in the face of fear, with real names on the record, sending smoke signals about rumors to vet them intelligently, bumping heads as graciously in our differences and innovations as good sense and the good of the city requires.

While I differ on choice for governor, I am greatly appreciative for Councilman Demro’s intelligent, heart-felt and well crafted resolution in celebration of the LO’s first year.

Thanks also the Mayor and Council for their recognition and participation in this highly distinctive innovation in intelligent community building, branding and economic development that truly sets Lakewood apart.

In my mind, the role the LO plays in processing perceptions, messages and visions about whatever goes down with the Beck Center will be critical.

Kenneth Warren

Are they closing some elementary or middle schools in Lakewood? Those locations, or buildings, might make a good venue for Beck-ish activities.

ryan costa wrote:Are they closing some elementary or middle schools in Lakewood? Those locations, or buildings, might make a good venue for Beck-ish activities.

Ryan

I know of two groups that had plans for McKinley. The best plan I saw had the front becoming an art gallery, the auditoriums used for music and plays, the rooms were turned into beautiful lofts for art types. They had about 3.5 million ready to pay for the building, and a history of successfully doing this in other locations.

The other was as far as I know just talk, and I knew that type of stuff.

As far as the Beck, I talked with a couple friends still in the entertainment business, and they thought the place was only a small change and a liquor license away from turning a solid profit, as a for profit group.




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