The Observation Deck

Front page of today's Sun Paper(yes I am not afraid to use their name). City to spend $20,000 to study how to make the Beck viable, and keep this world class facility going.

I have not heard Tom Jordan use words like this since he describe Edwards Park as a World Class Baseball Facility, that helps Lakewood kids move on to the big leagues.

Would this be the same study group that came up with - If we build a parking at the cost of $150,000, and split the income potential of $5,300 a year, it will only take forever to make any money back?

Why not give Beck the $60,000 to fix the roof, let them kick us in the crotch and we can call it even.

They have two boards from what I see. Is it not their job to make the Beck viable? I mean if a business occupies $6 million in property, pays no taxes and cannot be made viable by people in that business...

The easiest way to make the Beck viable is to give the land back to the city of Lakewood. Then Lakewood would be forced to fix the roof, plow the driveways, and help keep the Beck viable. Until then...

Hey Mayor, give me $20,000 I will move three businesses to Lakewood storefronts that pay taxes. Give me $20,000 I will find you 6 residents to buy homes in Lakewood. I love the Beck, as much as one can love a girlfriend that buried a knife in my back. But I do hope they gave you something in writing besides that letter they mailed to everyone.

Or give it two the two Lakewood based civic groups looking to start another arts and theater center and see how they can utilize other property. Oh that's right they were not asking for the city's tax money to study art centers that would actually pay taxes to the city.

How about a FREE meeting(I'll buy coffee and pastries) between the four art galleries, and the three music schools and twenty or more music teachers, to see what they could do to help the city.


FWIW

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Why not give Beck the $60,000 to fix the roof, let them kick us in the crotch and we can call it even.

I thought it was possible that the City would be foolish enough to fund the study that found that Beck should move, I didn't think they would actually do it.

The real problem with the Beck is that it is poorly managed. Its financial plan consists of having board members standing on street corners holding tin cans under a sign that says "support the arts".

Bill Call wrote:The real problem with the Beck is that it is poorly managed. Its financial plan consists of having board members standing on street corners holding tin cans under a sign that says "support the arts".

Bill

Or is that plan, as stated in the Plain Dealer article, stay in Lakewood until the building is finished in 3-5 years, then move.

A show of good faith is needed. The Beck giving back to Lakewood the all the property the city gave them, land they now admit they cannot manage or take care of would do wonders in my humble opinion on thinking the study was not "burning tax dollars."




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Update?

The city has $20,000 to study how to make the Beck viable, $32,000 for a free wesbite for rentals, money for Detroit Ave accents. But it did not have the $20,000 - $30,000 (some say FREE) study to see if adding 35 - 100 acres of high value property added to the city was worth the effort? This property would have added a minimum of $55 million dollars in taxable property to Lakewood, payed for all Lakewood Park renovations, and given the entire city access to the lake and a beach.

One keeps status quo, the other has a better than 50% of solving our financial woes for decades to come. Ironically, I believe, the very developer involved in Beck discussion, only reservation on Savannah's Peninsula was that it was not big enough! Lynn, please correct me if I am wrong.

How about, the Beck gives us back the land, we build the peninsula, and allow the Beck to pick the location for their new state of the art theater. Sell the land, as it will be worth more once we start the peninsula, and use that to build their theater.

Mayor, send my $20,000 like this -$5,000 to the Family Room, $5,000 to Lakewood Christian Services, $5,000 in bike racks, and $5,000 towards concerts for the younger crowd at Lakewood Park.


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I am confused. We want to spend $20,000 to study what exactly? I hate to say it but the studies we have done in Lakewood line shelves somewhere never to be used again. Building Inspections are less expensive and you should be able to get estimate on repairs for free. Doesn't the Beck Center already know what they want - or is this for an art center in Lakewood not the Beck Center?

Am I correct in assuming that we gave the Beck Center away and the city no longer owns it? Am I correct in assuming that the Beck Center does not pay property tax or income tax? The only tax that would come from it is the income on salaries of the employees? Do we spend this kind of money on other non profits that the city doesn't own? While I love the Beck Center and think that it is a valuable asset, what assurances do we have that the Beck Center after we invest money in it - won't leave and sell the assets buildings, land to the highest bidder? If we agree to do this, what is the Beck Center agreeing to? Giving us back the assets we gave them or agreeing to stay in the city for 20 years? Shouldn't there be some give on both sides to make this a win win situation?

About the Pennisula, the developer was very excited. He said we as a city needed to decide whether we wanted it to be primarily residential or mixed use. If mixed use he thought it should be bigger. He also said it was a no brainer, the city should have done this years ago. This does generate very high end lake front property that is desirable and helps the schools by bringing in lots of new property tax, helps the city by bringing people with high incomes to the city. According to NASA, it is also an idea place to test sustainable energy. It is an ideal place to use the scrap from the road work on Clifton instead of the city/county paying to haul it off. While Savannah heard many enthusiastic comments, and had support from many members of council, the planning department seemed to feel that if they listened to her ideas, they might have to listen to every good thesis idea that came their way - imagine that - what horrors!!!!

Lynn Farris wrote: While Savannah heard many enthusiastic comments, and had support from many members of council, the planning department seemed to feel that if they listened to her ideas, they might have to listen to every good thesis idea that came their way - imagine that - what horrors!!!!

Surrounding communities are working hard to attract development. They are also working hard to support development projects that need seed money to succeed.

Support for Rockport and support for Savannah's project (or a version of it) would seem to be a no brainer.

I think we have to conclude that the administration has decided to manage the cities decline rather than engineer its renaisance.

Bill-

Wasn't yours a voice that asked what the city was going to do to keep the Beck Center here?

And it's easy to talk about "managing decline" and Lakewood, but the entire state of Ohio is "managing decline" as far as I can see.

I see the city working to build and keep assets.

dl meckes wrote:Bill-

Wasn't yours a voice that asked what the city was going to do to keep the Beck Center here?

That is a fair critisism. Perhaps I am too skeptical.

I was in the Library over the weekend looking for the 2005 City Report (which isn't in yet) when I noticed a stack of City studies on the shelf. Gathering dust.

I doubt that the Beck Board is actually interested in staying in Lakewood. They have known for three years that they were leaving. If they were interested in staying in Lakewood their October fund raiser would be used to showcase their rebuilding plans.

Do you really believe that a group of artsy craftsy people can't even come up with a concept for a Lakewood development? After three years? Not even some wild and crazy ideas? I mean besides an Applebee's.

Now at this late date they convince the City to fund a study that will tell them what they want to hear.

Will the study include the options of relocating? If so the City is funding the Beck's relocation expenses. That makes no sense to me.

I agree with Jim on this one. If the Beck commits to staying in Lakewood then the City should take action to support the Beck. If the Beck will not commit to staying in Lakewood then funding the study is funding the Becks relocation expenses.

I doubt that this study was recently proposed and I believe that it has been in the works for some time.

City government usually doesn't move too quickly - it's the nature of the beast.

I would also guess that there are other interests whose needs must be considered, not necessarily of the "artsy craftsy" variety. I'm not sure why you think it's "artsy craftsy" people who push the city to find ways to secure Beck Center's future here or why you feel justified in using such a dismissive and demeaning phrase.

Do you think the businesses that benefit from having Beck participants should be dismissed out of hand? How about the schools?

So while there is a group of people, particularly well represented on the Deck with a "don't let the door hit you on the way out" attitude, that doesn't mean that everybody or every civic institution or group feels the same way.

Our focus here seems very sharp, but let's not convince ourselves that "everybody" follows the general trend of thinking here.

There are a lot of opinions that are actually not represented here.

It's shocking, I know.

Here's a lesson to teach your kids.

Whenever someone utters the phrase, "world class," it's nearly always while his/her hand is in your pocket.

Remember, Cleveland couldn't possibly be a "world class" city without the Indians, Cavs, Browns, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and of course, a new Convention Center.

And if we just open our pocket to $25 million or so, we'll have a "world class", uh, suburban arts and theater center I'm not sure how "world class" gets determined in that case, but smarter people than me figure those things out.

What we REALLY need is "world class casual dining in a fun neighbohood atmosphere." $25 million can build an awful lot of Applebee's.

dl meckes wrote:I would also guess that there are other interests whose needs must be considered, not necessarily of the "artsy craftsy" variety. I'm not sure why you think it's "artsy craftsy" people who push the city to find ways to secure Beck Center's future here or why you feel justified in using such a dismissive and demeaning phrase.

Do you think the businesses that benefit from having Beck participants should be dismissed out of hand? How about the schools?

If there was any doubt about the duplicity of the Beck you need look no further than today's Plain Dealer article. The tone of the article makes it clear that the Beck intends to move to Westlake. Those businesses and schools that benefit from Beck should consider moving to Beck's new location, Westlake.

The Beck is moving. They have known for some time that they were moving. They hoped to keep that a secret until they were loading the moving vans.

Now they want Lakewood to pay their moving expenses.

The political leadership in Lakewood should announce plans for a Lakewood Center for the Arts independent of Beck.

They should also fight any attempt to use tax payer funds to support the relocation of Beck. Since any money given to Beck can be used to fund its relocation any one interested in a Lakewood arts facility should keep their wallets shut.

The City should also consider legal options to get Beck to return some of the money given to the Beck during the time when the Beck was pretending to be a Lakewood institution.

I don't expect any of this to happen. It is now clear to me that this administration thinks its job is to manage the decline of a City. They are doing a pretty good job.

Joan Roberts wrote:$25 million can build an awful lot of Applebee's.

Joan


Please stop with the Applebees already!

Seriously, here is what the mere mention of trying to help The Beck Center has done...

Spurred two articles that come out and say maybe Lakewood cannot afford the Beck Center, that maybe they are better suited for Crocker Park.

So I always wonder, how many other Lakewood Businesses begin to wonder, that maybe they should move to Crocker or worse yet decide not to move here. This is an insane way to grow economic development, or to save a city.

IF THE BECK WERE EVEN REMOTELY SERIOUS ABOUT STAYING HERE, they would kill the press releases, shut their mouths and deal in good faith. But as one insider in this whole debacle said, they are hopping for a bidding war. They thought they had one started with the last announcement, which was merely leaked to stave off a report on them by Michael Gill. The story from the FreeTimes senior editor was written after reading here on the Observation Deck that they were leaving. They had two days to get the story out from their desk, or it would have been the FreeTimes that would have broken the story. these are the FACTS. Without Gill, this story would have been kept secret, and Fred Unger would have never uttered the 3-5 years for the new building at Crocker Park. It would have been the Browns/Colts moving out in the night.

Beck Center has proved once again they cannot be trusted, that they are not dealing in good faith, and that they are ready to drain the city of any and all money to keep their "show" going until a better offer comes along. If they never move to Crocker Park they have shown us with the constant attack and barrage of releases against Lakewood, they do not deserve our support and certainly do not deserve one penny of proud Lakewoodites tax money.

Entertainment District? Well the Chamber of Commerce had lifted one plan off of the desks at the Observer office that we were working on with business, and dropped the ball, screwing the project up. But it can still be saved. The cost to the city to start this whole renaissance? $4,000, that's four thousand. To be honest, those working with us didn't want any money from the city, they were willing to pay for it themselves as GOOD BUSINESS PARTNERS IN LAKEWOOD.

Is it not time to forget the worst run Arts/Theater Group in the county, maybe the country?

When the wife comes home and says, I need a new fur, a new car, and a new expense account, because that's what my boyfriend will give me, it is time to visit the lawyer. When they continuously brag publicly about their current mate isn't rich enough, it is time to call the lawyer, start dating, and change the locks and bank accounts.

Stop the insanity, the big talk in Lakewood is how poorly managed the Beck is, I would hate to see that rub off on our city's administration. You know birds of a feather and all. I would now demand that they turn over all of their property to the city, and ask both "Boards" to step down, as their skills are in question.

Bill - Last night I had the pleasure of speaking to a student from the Levin College. He went in length that all they teach there is how to manage the decline in cities. It is also the school our old mayor teaches at, though this student claims all she does is relive the Westend daily. Which most now admit would have been the final nail in our coffin.



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PS - Word filtered down yesterday, that the $20,000 was part of the economic development funds that had been approved and was already in the budget.

OK now.... BE NICE... I am only asking questions and pondering the facts here.

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My personal take is that you don't need $25 million in public dollars to create an "entertainment district."

Government-engineered "entertainment districts" tend not to work anyway.
Look at Playhouse Square. People get in their cars, drive downtown, see the show, and get the heck back to the burbs as soon as possible.

Ditto for stadiums and arenas.

On the other hand, fun districts tend to grow by themselves. Columbus' "Short North" and Pittsbrugh's South Side are great examples.

The Flats had it but blew it, basically because it was based on alcohol and nothing else.

The Warehouse District is on its way, with a mix of dining, entertainment, and bars. Lakewood's West End has the seeds (but it has to be more than just mass quantity joints).

On the other hand, I don't see enough "cross pollination" between the Beck and the rest of Lakewood to justify a huge public investment.

Charin,

Sometimes, what ISN'T said in a news story is more important than what is.

ONLY 25% of the attendance and donors are from Lakewood. We know that Lakewood can't support the Beck on its own (but 25% is a pretty hefty portion). So, what is the percentage of the immediate surrounding area? Add in Cleveland, both sides of the Cuyahoga, Fairview, Berea...anyplace CLOSER to the Beck in Lakewood, then to the Beck in Westlake. That's the REAL number. How much of that number will erode once the move is complete, and to what extent will the populations of Avon, Sheffield, etc. make it up? I think this is the question that the "study" hopes to answer. I would be astounded if the study showed that Westlake and the surrounding far west environs made up the other 75%. What is happening is a move away from the current primary source of funding towards a PROJECTED source which (hopefully) will be greater. I don't agree with the assumption that all the remaining 75% will stay on board once the move is complete.

I certainly agree that the business loss of the Beck is of concern to Lakewood, but Lakewood will have to make a decision about whether we can afford the keep the funds the Beck generates. I would submit that as soon as the price tag was revealed, that decision was made for us. And I am simply a realist, and recognize that in a bidding war, the near west side's economic contribution simply can't trump the lure of Elysian fields and projected thousands of new patrons from Lorain County. Forget the fact that some of those schools systems don't even have a complete music program from which to draw students. The point is clear and obvious. The lifestyle center NEEDS something cultural. Their demographics show a greater affluence than the westside. Stark is obligated to provide an arts center (and I think Karamu House isn't on his list and the Cleveland Orchestra just refurbished Severance). We simply can't play on this field.

If the city doesn't have the ability to finance the Beck staying, who would be our Knight in shining armour? Some developer who want to manufacture an entertainment district, with 25 million to spare. Unfortunately, those developers are the same people who want the Beck as a part of their lifestyle communities.

So, it isn't emotional, although there certainly is some emotion drawn in from the way this is being choreographed, and the underlying fact that the HUGE contributions made by the city will be lost, but at the end of the day, I think those who say good riddance are just accepting that our beer budget isn't enough to sign this free agent.

Jeff