The Observation Deck

One year ago, Lakewood was described as the best suburb to live in by three of Cleveland's papers.

The same year that a London based group judged Cleveland as the most affordable place to live in America.

Now in a political year we see many people confusing issues and over inflating problems for their own good or profits in some that are not running but have a vested interest in making it sound worse than it is.

People praying on the fear of a few.

Where did it all go wrong?

When do we stand up for the city, and correct the negative thoughts.


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Jim,

When Cleveland and the region are identified in those terms it speaks to potential. We all know kids with plenty of potential who have grown into lackluster adults because having potential isn't the same thing as realizing your potential.

Realizing our potential is about recognizing the good and the bad. Fixing or mitigating the bad and captalizing on the good. That's leadership. To pretend there's nothing wrong is to limit our ability to reach our potential but on the bright side - it preserves the status quo.

Suzanne

Lets please not forget that the game sometimes looks different depending on where your seats are.
It certainly is possible to have completely different views of where Lakewood is and where its going depending on whether you live in an Edgewater mansion, a Birdtown double, an apartment in the Westerly, or a single family house on Cranford.
Some people are mystified by the complaining and others are just as puzzled by the instance that all is just fine. Thats partly human nature and it also has a little something to do with your individual means and situation.
I think forums like the Observer do a good job in helping to bridge the gap and help different people see different perspectives. But there are REAL differences.

good point Dee.

Also there's people that paint a image of lakewood that they want the city to be, even though it really isn't like they think it is.

you can try to get through to them but it's still going to be "their lakewood" no matter how different from their perceptions it really is.

Jim,

I propose a gathering. Madison Park seems to be appropriate, since it's more centrally located, than Lakewood Park.

You encourage everyone to think "out of the box". Let's get out of the box on this, if even just to let someone know that the people of Lakewood are united.

There is a city south of Dayton, Ohio called Moraine. It's small and it's full of factories from General Motors, but when we were down there last, they seemed to have their city under control. They border Dayton.

Their city motto is "Progress through Unity". Maybe we need to demonstrate some unity ourselves. I'm not proposing a mini-Woodstock here, but an impromtu picnic day with invitations to anyone related to the entire regionalism concept so we can voice what our thoughts are regarding this topic.

Maybe it's a hairbrain idea, and if so, chalk it up to Mark has been watching too many cartoons.

Food for thought or food for the round file. It's just a suggestion.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

Mark,

You propose a GET-TOGETHER????

Of 'DECK MEMBERS????

At LAKEWOOD PARK????

Would that not be more like a Civil War re-enactment?

Only maybe, with water balloons?

One group could be deployed in a skirmish line by the bandstand, another in line of battle by the swimming pool, another by the lake? Each of course, would be flying the flag of their sacred cause.

Or maybe just a great big tug-of-war?

Arm wrestling contest?

Or maybe we just decide then and there who to throw into the pool.

All

I had my morning coffee and feel much better now.

Dee, I do want to address what you said, and Suzanne nailed it.

It is easy to harp on negatives.

I do not see Lakewood as paradise.

What I do see is a city doing OK with incredible upside potential.

Out potential or what we(a group) have identified while put Lakewood
high in the region for livability, and function. 5, 10, 15 50 years down the road.

I realize that not everyone can share the visone of VAL or the Observer. I had an incredible meeting this morning, that tied up so many loose ends it strengthens my hope and resolve.

Soon you will see it too.

.

Think of it this way. The housing market is in a 'slump'. specifically this means big box development construction will slow down. This will trip up the business of the developers, the sub-contractors, and the financiers invested in every step of this. This also means fewer new malls and shopping centers.

The negative publicity doesn't reflect a substantial change in crime rates. Around '89 there was a murder suicide at the dairy mart on Madison. There have been other murders since then. There have been murders in Westlake.

The bad press is a good tool for ramping up conversion of cornfields into new malls and housing subdivisions. If you make enough money doing that you can buy a professional sports team and get the tax payers to build you a stadium.

Gary Rice wrote:Mark,

You propose a GET-TOGETHER????

Of 'DECK MEMBERS????

At LAKEWOOD PARK????

Would that not be more like a Civil War re-enactment?

In all of the get-togethers I have attended, neither fists nor chairs have flown.

As Gary well knows, the Observer events have been so pleasant that he could probably lead all participants in a round or two of Kumbaya.

Gary,
I suggested Madison Park ....

It's more in the middle of the city, and seems to fit, location wise, more what the post topics are covering.

Mark Allan Crnolatas

There is a city south of Dayton, Ohio called Moraine. It's small and it's full of factories from General Motors, but when we were down there last, they seemed to have their city under control. They border Dayton.

I can't believe you're actually using Moraine as a model. I grew up in Oakwood, which is the first burb that directly borders the city of Dayton to the south.

Moraine has about as much in common with Lakewood as comparing apples to lug nuts.

Actually Oakwood has a little more in common. Little to no real industry, dense population, etc. However, they have one thing going for them that I'm not sure was part of Lakewood's history... Oakwood is on a large hill, and was the destination of most of Dayton's wealthy (including the Wright brothers) when they had their big flood. Over the years, the city stuck to their guns and did not have the typical white flight.

Although, lets not get too excited, I grew up there, I could have easily stayed there, but chose not to. I wanted to live in a city that had all the good parts of Oakwood but less of the bad. And that city is Lakewood.

Bret,

We worked the whole area in and around Dayton for a few years, as musicians. Our manager, at the time, lived in Oakwood. The reason I highlighted Moraine, was while it could have exploded with problems, being close to Dayton, it couldn't be any further from those problems, at least to us visitors. Yes we were impressed with the grand mansions in Oakwood, the city structure, etc, and maybe that might be a more appropriate example.

Would you agree, that Moraine has next to if not zero problems with what we are discussing here on the deck? If not, it's possible us visitors just didn't see the depth of Moraine as much as you who lived there in Oakwood for a much longer time.

I just can't picture a group of thugs hanging out anywhere in Moraine, not for more than a minute or two.

Mark Allan Crnolatas
P.S. Is the Oregon District and the Daytonian Hilton still going?

Moraine had (I'm not sure if it still does) big problems with drugs, etc. once most of the factories closed down. And you really didn't want to be anywhere near some of the areas after dark. The other difference is that their population is spread out differently. There might not have been as many problems in the housing areas, but the buildings and lots around Delco, etc. were a constant focus for police.

Never really hung out in the Oregon district. It's like going to the warehouse district, prices were way too high and I hated the snobbery. I'm a corner bar kind of guy (which once again is one of the reasons Lakewood appeals to me).

If I get to pelt people with water balloons, count me in.

You won't be able to get me, but I'll make SURE to get you!

DL, Joe Ott, Mark and Gary, you guys are on my team. We can arrange a secret meeting to discuss tactics and so on.

New photos are up
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivork/sets ... 0877/show/