The Observation Deck

There's been a number of discussions about the direction of the city and a good number of questions of who should be responsible to get us there (wherever there is). The result often comes to, well everyone has different goals or ideals. Do we really though? I'm sure that some will shift depending on the demographic that you represent (home owner/renter, single/family, etc) but are there any that are missed? Sure real estate always comes down to location but that seems to fall under transportation.
- Safety
- Housing (affordable, condition = value)
- Schools
- Transportation (Freeway accessible, parking, traffic, bus/RTA, walking)
- Jobs
- Taxes (balance of cost vs. services)
- Amenities
- Parks
- Shopping
- Entertainment
There's been what seems to just be talk about "branding" Lakewood. Maybe I'm a numbers person but I could be pursuaded if an argument could be made based on these factors. We don't need all of them to be in the top but it better come out to a positive composite relative to my other choices. I would assume that this branding would lead to marketing to those at each life stage; single (affordable rent, plenty of entertainment), married with kids on the way (great schools, plenty of safe parks), empty nest (good value for tax dollars, easy access to freeways).
As these topics come up in discussion here, I for one, would appreciate it if the discussion was seen as an opportunity to spark an improvement of an area that we may not be competitive in. And not a time to make wild claims about the eminent downfall of life itself if we even consider changing something.
Are there factors that are confirmed as true? Well, sure.
-We're a first ring suburb. Can't change that.
-We've got a freeway accessible city on the lakefront. Can't change that (unless they eliminate the shoreway, but we've still got I-90).
-We have alot of 70-100 year old homes and alot of 30 year old condo/apartments. We can shift or update that a little.
-We're authentic. May be a matter of opinion but for the time being we have far more individually owned or small multiple location businesses than we have corporate franchises. Seems to be a good part of our identity. Not set in stone but worth retaining if possible.
-We don't have an industrial parkway or a large commercial district. Juries out on that one.
So what's the next step? Renters seem to be easier to attract. We're a great post college town; great value on rental space and plenty of bars. Not to mention that the conspiracy theory goes that HUD loves to send us section 8s so our rentals are covered. What does the city need to do to attract more homeowners and keep them here?

Shawn

This was done by three outside newspapers. Cleveland Magazine, The Scene and The FreeTimes. It was also looked at on a much larger scale buy a University and study group in the UK.

There study on a total of over 100 points I believe was.

Cleveland Area - 16th most livable in the world
Most livable in America(ironically tied with Pittsburgh)

The Scene - Best Suburb in region
The Free Times - Best Suburb in County
Cleveland Magazine - Top Five in County

These are all objective studies, and the UK study was amazing.

I have copies of the magazines in the office, and have used parts with permission from the Scene, FreeTimes and Cleveland Magazine in the Observer.

Observer wrap is in volume 2, Issue 12.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/pdfs/Observ ... e%2012.pdf

You might want to check out Tom Powell-Bullocks 3,000+ words on this topic in Volume 1, Issue 1.
http://lakewoodobserver.com/pdfs/Observ ... e%2001.pdf



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Extending Lightrail from Lakewood to downtown Cleveland. Once gas goes up to 5 dollars a gallon that will encourage Downtown Professionals living in outer 'burbs to move closer.

This could be accomplished by building a track on one side of Detroit and merely running the same train back and forth. Or looping it around Clifton.

The interstate highway system will eventually be used mostly by short haul and mid-range truck drivers. Private commutes will be limited mostly to irregular or infrequent road trips, moves, and vacations. So it is possible to build light commuter rail on the shoulder or third lanes of such freeways.

As part of a region Lakewood's strength is as a first-tier pedestrian friendly suburb. It should rely on attracting individuals or families making more than 30,000 dollars/year. There is plenty of vacant industrial space in Cleveland: it isn't worth cannibalizing Lakewood residential space to build up industry. Lowering property taxes and modest income taxes will encourage home purchases and fund the city.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Shawn

This was done by three outside newspapers. Cleveland Magazine, The Scene and The FreeTimes. It was also looked at on a much larger scale buy a University and study group in the UK.

There study on a total of over 100 points I believe was.

Cleveland Area - 16th most livable in the world
Most livable in America(ironically tied with Pittsburgh)

The Scene - Best Suburb in region
The Free Times - Best Suburb in County
Cleveland Magazine - Top Five in County

These are all objective studies, and the UK study was amazing.
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These reports are great to hear and I'm not disputing them or minimizing their importance in serving as great PR for Lakewood and the Cleveland area in general. As Bret had said in the other post this was the place he chose out of many choices, so something must be right about it. I don't think that means let's sit on our hands until something happens though.

I did read through Tom's article from the first edition and found it amazing that many of his suggestions and points seemed to be those that many here have attempted to get across in the past months. Points that are met with opposition which seems to stem from fear that eminent domain will be used and homes will be torn down randomly, fear that development will go unmonitored and we'll wake up in a new city, irrational fear that never can be explained rationally. Odd even more so that these suggestions have been identified as silly or unimportant even though they are supported both with research in the article and through the Grow Lakewood report. Maybe now we can start really finding solutions to improve what we already have.
The Main Street program was also an item highlighted in the article and the focus of the second article. Pointing out the the development of mixed use property and providing retail that will be within walking distance of many of the homes in the city. Thanks for the encouragement that I was on the right track from the beginning. I somehow doubt that this means that you now suddenly agree that the direction of the city is set straight and I am waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop, but for the time being I'll hope that with a new year comes new possibilities.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Cleveland Area - 16th most livable in the world
Most livable in America(ironically tied with Pittsburgh)

The Scene - Best Suburb in region
The Free Times - Best Suburb in County
Cleveland Magazine - Top Five in County

These are all objective studies, and the UK study was amazing.

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These remind me of an anecdote from one of the James Herriott books. The vet had just finished treating a ewe/barrow/goat/wombat or whatever in a rather hardscrabble farm up in the Dales and commented to the farmer how wonderful his view was. "Aye," replied the farmer, "but the view ain't very sustainin'."