The Observation Deck

I am currently rereading Death and Life of Great American Cities. One of many great, simple points that is sticking with me is the question of what are people with choice doing?

Are people and businesses that become successful choosing to move out of the city/neighborhood when (or just as soon) as they are able to? Or are they choosing to stay? Or choosing to stay in the city/neighborhood, but buying a larger/newer/nicer/lower-maintenance house?

Are people from outside of the city/neighborhood choosing to move in? Are the people that are moving into the city/neighborhood doing so because they don't have any better choices? Are the people moving in, ones that had the ability to choose among a number of different communities and choose this one because they saw that it offered opportunities/amenities/value/safety?

Jacob's point is that if a community is healthy, vibrant, and diverse, it will be attracting and keeping people and businesses with the ability to choose. It all seems very obvious and straightforward, but I think with a little more reflection on real-life situations, a better vision of our city might be captured.

I am asking the participants of this forum to send me their observations of these particular choices as observed directly by them (friends, family, self, neighbors) over the last few years here in Lakewood. You can send me the info however you would like (email crt@lakewoodlawncare.com; private message, reply to the topic).

I would like to know the following (as general as you would like to be):
1. family structure (single, married, kids, emptynest, etc)
2. economic class (possibly just if their economic position played any role)
3. action - moved from, moved to, moved within lakewood, stayed in lakewood after considering other communities
4. why?
5. where from/to in lakewood (street and block would be great!)

If you would like to solicit responses from others and pass them on to me that would be fantastic.

Thanks in advance if you are able to help. I'm curious to see what if any conclusions can be drawn.

I'll start:

Case 1:
1. Married. Early 30's. No children.
2. Upper-class income.
3. Bought house in Lakewood after owning in West Park. Considered other major cities around the country.
4. Value: Couldn't find comparable house & property for the money in other parts of the country.
Attractions: Restaurants, Bars, Cleveland, Lake, Metroparks, etc, etc
Friends in community
5. To: Edgewater Dr.

Case 2:
1. Single. Twenty-something.
2. Middle-class income.
3. Bought house in Lakewood after renting in Lakewood.
4. Value: Quality of House/Price
Friends in community
Attractions: Restaurants, Bars, Cleveland, Lake, Metroparks, etc, etc
5. To: Lakewood Ave. (Franklin/Detroit)

Case 3:
1. Married. Mid-thirties. Kids
2. Middle-class income.
3. Bought in Lakewood after living in Tremont.
4. Safety: for kids when out and about.
Schools: Cleveland not getting better. Kids about to start school.
Dream house up for sale.
5. To: McKinley Ave (I-90/Hilliard)

Case 4:
1. Single. Late-twenties.
2. Middle-class income.
3. Buying in Lakewood after renting in Lakewood.
4. Value
Attractions
Friends in Community
Walkable
5. To: ???

Case 5:
1. Single. Twenty-something.
2. Student.
3. Renting in Lakewood after renting in Ohio City.
4. Safety
Friends in Community
Attractions
5. To: Winchester Ave. (Franklin/Detroit)

Case 6:
1. Married. 40ish. Two kids.
2. Middle-class income. Business owner.
3. Built House in Avon after living in Lakewood for years.
4. Space
Schools
Security
Bigger, Newer House
5. From: Northland (Madison/Detroit)

to be continued....

Here's my two cents ...


1. Married
2. Middle class
3. Moved to Lakewood from Cleveland Heights
4. Wanted to be reasonably close to our jobs in Cleveland, but wanted a place with good schools, affordable (and distinct) housing stock, good amenities within walking distance, and greenspace nearby.
5. Rockway Avenue

Case 7:

1. Married. Sixties. Classic Empty Nesters.

2. Upper middle-class income/retirement income. Federal judicial/legal system.

3. Bought condo on Gold Coast after relocating and downsizing from house in Birmingham, Alabama. Plans to stay three years until wife’s retirement, and then decide. Just moved to Lakewood this week.

4. Wife was offered a job transfer to the following: Cleveland, Irvine, CA, or Washington, D.C. Chose Cleveland for life-style and affordability.

5. To: Waterford, Edgewater Drive

It's a small world. I just met the man today. Like me, he grew up in Woodside, Queens. Lakewood is somewhat reminiscent of neighborhoods in Queens. I know a dozen NYC exiles that love Lakewood; several live happily on the Gold Coast.

Yesterday I was pitching the Gold Coast to someone set to retire in 16 months whose wife wants to ditch a cottage on a Trumball County lake for a condo in Northeast Ohio. One son lives in northeast Ohio. He already has a condo in North Carolina where his other son lives. He was thinking Shaker Sq. I told him he was crazy. He could be on the water in Lakewood at a better price. He figured he would have to spend $500K for a Lake front condo in Lakewood, which he could not afford. He said he could go $150K. Planned to live there only during the summer.

He mentioned a retired friend that lives in FLA and rents a furnished apartment in Tonawanda, NY for four summer months at double the standard rate - to escape FLA's oppressive heat.

I wonder whether or not Lakewood apartment's and or low priced condo's could be marketed to the FLA summer escape market.

Kenneth Warren

1. Married. Close to 40. Two kids
2. Middle-class income
3. Bought in Lakewood after renting in Ohio City and Cleveland Hts.
4. We found more house for the money in Lakewood than in the Heights. We were looking for a 4-5 bedroom Victorian or Arts & Crafts style house, and houses that big are too expensive (if you can find them) in OC or Tremont. We prefer a walking community, and Lakewood offers that. If Rockport Square ever gets done, we'll be right there to enjoy it.
5. Beach Ave.