The Observation Deck

Now that the repaving of Detroit Avenue is well underway its time to ask:

What has Mainstreet accomplished?

Does anyone know?

What is Mainstreet? Where is it? Seriously.

Bill Call wrote:Now that the repaving of Detroit Avenue is well underway its time to ask:

What has Mainstreet accomplished?

Does anyone know?

Bill/Rick


Jennifer Hooper stepped down from head of Mainstreet, and Mary Anne Crampton takes over the helm of LCPI tomorrow.

Perhaps we could get her to post as she often has with an update.


.

Here I am! Spent my first day participating in the Realtors Tour. Thought it would be interesting to see the city through the eyes of a visiting Realtor. Apparently Lakewood is unique in providing this city overview and tours of housing for these professionals. We looked very good (esp. Jim O'B)! The Realtors had nothing but good things to say about the day.

As many Observers know, Main Street Lakewood is a program (and currently the only program) of Lakewood Community Progress Inc. (LCPI). LCPI is a 501-c3 and I am its new executive director. Funded by the City, the Chamber, Lakewood Hospital, First Federal, LSC, and a few others, LCPI's long term goal is "to help obtain funding and provide community expertise to encourage economic development in Lakewood."

Main Street is a disciplined 4-point approach under the guidance of Heritage Ohio www.heritageohio.com to revitalize historic downtowns. For example, the Detroit Avenue Streetscape Design public meetings at Grant School have been presented by the Design Committee of Main Street Lakewood. The new flower baskets along Detroit Avenue are the work of the Promotion Committee. There is also an Economic Restructuring Committee and an Organizational Committee.....all are made up of Lakewood resident volunteers. Main Street Lakewood is defined as Detroit Avenue from Arthur to Bunts.

One of my earliest objectives is to undertake a strategic planning process for LCPI. The result will be clear goals, identified strategic initiatives and action steps. This process will allow us to measure our progress and understand our failures. It will also allow us to answer directly the question "What's With Main Street".

Until that time, I have made it my priority to meet with as many stakeholders as possible. I've asked for the help of Jim and others in identifying the people who have a vision for a greater Lakewood that might benefit from the synergies and the funding I will be seeking. I also want to spend some time with redevelopment leaders outside Lakewood that may be able to help identify nonprofit funding and program support that would benefit our community.

I look forward to working with everyone and also sharing the results of the strategic planning process later this summer/early fall.

See you around town!

Mary Anne

P.S. I think my new email address is macrampton@lcpi.org. I'll find out tomorrow when I check out my space in the rear of the Chamber. I don't expect to be at my desk much in these early weeks as I try to get out and meet with people. Please email me. I'll post the phone number when I get it. Call any time.

Mary Anne

Thanks for coming in.

I think you are just what Mainstreet needs, and LCPI, a fresh start with a clean slate. The Observer is here to help anyway we can.

One thing I would like to suggest is that they move your office to the front of the chamber so that you look out on "Mainstreet." I always thought it was depressing going back to speak with Jennifer waaaaaaaay in the back of the Chamber.

It is only right for the mayor of Mainstreet to over look Mainstreet.

Good luck.



.

Three weeks on the job.....its been busy!

Want to be sure that you know how to find me:

Cubicle (call first - I am out a lot): back of Chamber of Commerce office located at 14701 Detroit; Suite #130; on the street level of the INA Building

Phone: 521-0655 with voicemail
Fax: 226-1340
Email: macrampton@lcpi.org

For information on the Main Street program, the correct address is www.heritageohio.org

We have no active website for our organization at this time.

I've been in every street level business (and a few upper level businesses) in the Main Street district on Detroit between Arthur and Bunts. Have had some outstanding conversations with those stakeholders. Also, I've just hit the tip of the iceberg in meeting with the myriad of people involved one way or another in advancing the goals of Main Street Lakewood and its unbrella organization, Lakewood Community Progress Inc. As Observers are aware, there is no lack of enthusiasm for revitalizing our community! I am most grateful to all of you who have extended you support and good will.

We are planning some really cool events and are looking to expand our Promotion Committee for ideas and execution. Please contact me directly if you would like to get involved or want to discuss with me any aspect of our work.

See on the street!

Mary Anne

Here is another web site that offers more information on the Mainstreet concept:

http://www.mainstreet.org/content.aspx? ... section=15

This is a nice concept for Lakewood. We actually have a downtown. This seems like money well spent.

I hope at some date in the future the concept can be applied to all of Madison Avenue. Widening of sidewalks and or narrowing of the street in some sections could provide space for open air dining, etc. Just an idea.

Anyway, it seems like Mary Ann is just the right person for this job.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bill.

WE ABSOLUTELY plan to take the Main Street concept to the other business districts in Lakewood. Some Main Street communities have as many as 6 districts. While we are launching the official program downtown, and that is where my efforts must be focused, I am establishing relationships with activists in other parts of the city to share the principals & learn from mistakes/successes as we go along.

We are all in this together, and we will be collaborating with and supporting other business districts on an ongoing basis.


MAC

Mary Anne


The Lakewood Observer would be happy to put together a website together for Mainstreet as we have for other civic groups.


Jim


.

Mary Anne,

Let me know if you need help with OB's offer of the creation of a web site. The Lakewood Historical Society is close to finishing our web site. Our web site will be information, selling some product (books) and selling tickets to events (house tour, etc.)

Let me know if you need any help. I have been thru the process.

Rhonda Loje

Mary Anne,
Thanks for all your hard work on this. I'm excited to begin seeing this all come together.

The possibilities are indeed exciting. We have friends in Wooster, another Mainstreet community. Their downtown was suffering from the loss of businesses....Rubbermaid, the major employer closed......big boxes and strip malls on the outskirts, siphoning off growth and capital.

But, the downtown is on the upswing, new and unique businesses, renovation of century buildings. Events, tied in with the city (recent Jazz/arts fest) and the College of Wooster. A new library, a good "small town" feel. Clean. Safe. Fun. Nice planters. Part of their success probably stems from some financial support from Stanley Gault and/or the family foundations, but the effort shows a good deal of rewards for the efforts.

Jeff

I was born in Wooster, and lived there for 11 years. I went there a few months ago to pick up a copy of my birth certificate.

One of the things that I noticed very quickly is that it is going through a revival, despite losing Rubbermaid.

Some parts are still the same, however. We drove by the house I grew up in and it's in shambles.

While Mary Ann is working hard this program this is the kind of project that should be done by the Department of Development as part of normal day to day business.

It seems to getting anything done in this town requires circumventing the existing bureaucracy.

Bill Call wrote:It seems to getting anything done in this town requires circumventing the existing bureaucracy.

And how is that different than any other city, state, or national government?