The Observation Deck

Mary Anne Crampton had posted a note in "What would you change about Lakewood?"



"I agree that access to the lake and ideally, a beach, would have an immeasurable positive impact on Lakewood's quality of life. Unfortunately, our lakefront cliffs, already subject to critical erosian issues, make the creation of a beach, let alone a marina, a project of substantial proportion. Effectively harnessing the forces of Mother Nature is very expensive and rarely guaranteed.



Exisiting North Coast cliff-side beaches occur where the contour of the surrounding land directs natural forces to leave sand along the shore. Most of those beaches, at this point, have some added manmade piers or breakwalls to protect and enhance them through changes in water levels and sustained adverse weather patterns. Marinas along Lake Erie and those in the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff area on the west coast of Lake Michigan north of Chicago were created in areas which naturally slope to the waterfront, also with added manmade structures to protect the assets and enhance/direct naturally occuring events. Otherwise, North Coast marinas tend to be located on rivers (Cuyahoga, Rocky River, Vermillion, Huron, etc) where boats, docks and buildings are protected from the ravages of wind and water (but not necessarily ice!!).



This is not to say that piers extended perpendicular to the cliffs over time could not facilitate the creation of a sandy beach at the foot of Lakewood Park/St. Augustine, but I think it is helpful for residents to appreciate the complexities our geographic limitiations present. I am a huge supporter of Councilman Fitzgerald's efforts in this regard, and everyone should recognize the value of the persistant resident-based intitiative led by Lou McMahon which got this project rolling in the first place.



FWIW....I saw in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the average sales price of a Lake Forest home was $1.4 million last year! Undoubtedly these property values are largely influenced by the spectacular lakefront amentities in the community, which in turn, support the financial demands of maintaining them.



Mary Anne Crampton



Which underlines many points we should remember in saving, developing and just thinking about the lakefront.



Is the state or the Federal Government still trying to make the land grab of the first 50' back from high tide?



What is the average cost of break wall spikes like those used elsewhere along the lake?



Is the lake going up or down?



And a idea Don Farris mentioned to me almost a half year ago that I cannot get out of my head. Lakewood's peninsula! Is there a way to reclaim land, without destroying property values along the lake?



I see a peninsula stretching out from the road along the park, which turns into a causeway, on one side of the causeway Lakewood's new marina, on the other side natural habitat. The causeway leads to Lakewood on the Lake, and area of 100 high end homes with piers. The island would be only 1/3 the height of the cliff so that everyone on the lake would still have a pretty nice lake view.



As it is obvious that Mary Anne Crampton and Don Farris have spent more time thinking of the lakefront than I, please jump in with opinions.





Jim O'Bryan

Hi,

A wise bird on another forum discussed the Lakewood Cliffs often. That person, whom I agree with, felt the value of the homes along the cliff was such that the City could easily justify the cost of taking action to stop the erosion along the Lake.



Lynn, my wife, has spoken to many about the beauty of Lake Forest's beach area. There they did the project just for the rec. use. Here in Lakewood we would get a double-bang.



I'm no expert on soil erosion, but I was told by someone that the Lakewood Cliff is composed of shale. Shale erodes by being exposed. This in combination with the Lake's wave action is costing the City of Lakewood a great deal of money over the years. Plus, we can only use a very small part of the Lake even with the Lakewood Park improvements. That's better but we could have Great.



If we would construct a gently sloping grassy hill down (like the one at the fort at the mouth of the Niagra River in NY) to a level area with a series of scalloped beaches, we would make Lakewood an amazing place to live with a public waterfront area the world would envy, even Lake Forest.



In Lake Forest there are not nearly as many homes in danger of falling into the Lake. We can do this project in Lakewood and get a revenue boost (by putting an end to expensive homes easily worth as much as those in Lake Forest falling into Lake Erie) as well as create a great new lakefront park. This project would be expensive but it could be funded, I believe, with a TIF. We need to support those fellow residents that own property along the cliff. These property owners are those that have invested the most for their properties and they are faced with higher property taxes (Total $ paid) than the rest of us. In addition, they risk losing their property to erosion unless they expend hundreds of thousands of dollars each to employ stop gap measures. Only by the City acting across the entire lakefront can this erosion issue be tackled.



As Jim mentioned I do like the idea of reclaiming land from the lake for Lakewood's use. We can get everything we want without hurting fellow residents if only we try.

There is no question we need to be taking steps to protect our lakefront along the entire length of Lakewood's north shore (Tom Bier elaborated on this issue in the April 19 Housing Forum).



Therefore, I strongly believe Donald and Lynn Farris' lakefront vision should be explored. My reservations about the practicality of such a project are intuitive and based on my personal waterfront property dealings and observations here, on the east coast and Chicago's northshore. I can't answer Jim's questions. This idea deserves professional consideration.



Since this vision offers so much potential, it would be grand if a resident based group could organize to consider what it would take to make it a reality. As a result of the existing Lakewood Park pier project planning, I am sure Councilman Fitzgerald and Lou McMahon have ready resources in terms of contacts at places like the Army Corps of Engineers. Lou himself may be an excellent resource in terms of explaining the type of homework that needs to be done to get out city leaders to embrace the concept.



The Lake Forest video is the perfect tool for community visioning. Lynn and Donald, you seem like the ideal project champions - go for it!



Mary Anne[/i]

This wonderful thread on the Lakefront is beginning to exemplify precisely the knowledge flow process of community self-organization around reflection, inquiry, analysis and action that will keep Lakewood vital and sustainable over the long haul.



Together Mary Anne and Don and Lynn are opening up a place in our minds for visioning a concept loaded with implications, one that builds constructive bridges, too.



Can we bring Lou into the loop? Are there other civic personalities with intelligence that can assist in this process? Who are additional intelligence assets that can contribute knowledge and experience on such matters?



The Lakewood Observer, perhaps in collaboration with Lakewood Alive and University partners can then bring the local knowledge/visionary proposition to experts and persons with comparative experience and insight.



As thoughts ferment on the forum, we begin the intelligent alignment of Lakewood's civic personalities, with their interests and skill sets in ways that advance purposeful action that builds the brand of an innovative city with the personal and political will to cohere as people in place on a grand fresh water Lake.



There is a story vision; there is research. Let's organize a pod/platform of people with interests in the Lake front to do some visioning. This mode is certainly more convenient than meetings. It allows people to figure out where our energies are best directed. As a city with rich civic talent, it is critical to deploy people in ways and projects that turn them on. The experience together need not drain, but energize.



Ah, yes, community vision, building capacity thought by thought, person by person, using technology smartly to build trust, respect. Ever onward into a visionary community capable of effective decision-making and organization for action.



Mary Anne, Don and Lynn, you have established some common ground. I really appreciate the contributions.



Did somebody once mention fish farms on a Lakewood peninsula?



Let's figure out who can help us vet these visionary notions further.



The Lake is mission critical to Lakewood.



Kenneth Warren

You can tell Don and I have spent waaaay too much time on lakes around the country watching our son sail. Looking at every cliff and comparing it to our beachfront.



Mary, you and Ken are great at hosting forums. But I would certainly work to get the video back from Councilman Fitzgerald and edit the sailing parts out for our use. I would also be willing to help find speakers on the subject. And pass our flyers. I can bet everyone that lives on the Lake is interested. The people at the top of our street just spent a small fortune reinforcing their breakfront.



Because I agree with Ken the Lake is critical to Lakewood.

Lynn



I think it is a great idea. Maybe even something Lakewood Alive could do is look at our Lakefront, and Metro Parks areas(Emerald Canyon Historic District) and come up with ideas to shore up the gems in our family jewels!



Jim O'Bryan

I was hoping Lynn and Don (or someone else) would consider leading a resident based group who will research lakefront protection and development options and their practical and financial feasibility. Is a marina and/or Lake Forest type beach construction project physically possible on the Lakewood Park shoreline? What would it cost? What are the key elements of effective shoreline erosian protection? What are the different ways of implementing those elements (rip-rap, horizontal barriers, perpendicular barriers,etc....contruction from the shoreline or from the water)? What do they cost? What would be the anticipated long-term water-based dynamic be....would the abutting lake floor be scoured or built up, what about the effect of changing water levels? What are potential sources of funding?



We need a core group of residents that understands the technical complexities of these issues even if they don't have the answers. Ideally, those folks could help guide us as to the best way to educate the broader community on the issue and be the group to which we direct advocates.



Otherwise, I would be delighted to take names of potential speakers to LakewoodAlive as we consider the many options for future LakewoodAlive activity. Public discussion about our under-utilized and under-protected lakefront would be valuable. Real progress will be made when we have local, knowledgeable champions for the lakefront issue.



Thank you in advance for any resources on the subject you can send my way.



Mary Anne

Thanks, Mark for the link. Great article with a ton of resources....and repeated acknowledgement of the role of public activism. It is the only way it gets done.



Mary Anne

I love this dialog. To me, it is amazing that, living on a lakefront community, I have to go to Rocky River or Cleveland to dip a pole. I think one of the exciting developments in recent years has been the move to create a fishing pier off the park. A beach would be wonderful, but fishing is a great start! I'm a little concerned that things haven't gotten underway in a timely manner, though. Can anyone provide an update on what's happening with the project?



I also would like to recommend that, when the pier opens, there be a small fee for non-Lakewood residents to fish from it. Rocky River does this. It's only 50 cents, but it's a tiny stream of revenue that the city could surely use.

I just learned that there is a Public Works Committee meeting scheduled for tonight (Monday, May 16) at 6PM in the Jury Room at City Hall. The Lakewood Park Lakefront Update is the only item on the agenda.

Due to a school conflict, I will be unable to attend. Hopefully, one or more Observers will be able to make it.

Mary Anne