City Hall Kool Aid
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 7:37 pm
Just got this from our Block Club Captain, though you all might find it interesting . . .especially all of those fancy statistics that Colin is presenting:
Lakewood recently got a lot of attention when Thrillist named us one of the “coolest suburbs” in America’s biggest metro areas. What are they saying?
“Everyone in Lakewood already knows that Lakewood has been the place to live in Cleveland….It’s a prime location that's undergone incredible development that's legitimately good for the community. Everything you could ever want is now on Detroit Ave.”
What’s all the buzz about?
Let’s look at all that development that’s “legitimately good for the community.” Here’s a summary that every Lakewood resident can be proud of (some you can see and others are in the works):
More than 120 small businesses have either opened or undergone major renovation in the last five years (we have more than 4,000 small businesses in our city).
The former Christian Science Church on Detroit Avenue was purchased by Roundstone Insurance; the 45-person firm will move into the historic property within a year.
Premier Physicians bought the former Berger Village building (formerly Busch Funeral Home) on Detroit and is bringing more healthcare options to our city.
The vacant 19,000-square-foot former Spitzer auto dealership property on Detroit Avenue is the Wingstar Corporation’s new headquarters—they said they chose Lakewood because of the location and high quality local workforce.
Virginia Marti School of Design is expanding into the vacant Vedda commercial building on Detroit’s east end.
The vacant Payless shoe store was purchased to be retrofitted as an urgent care center, with physical therapy — more healthcare choices in Lakewood.
Clifton Pointe provides 24 new housing units in a townhouse development that has rejuvenated Sloane Avenue.
Forest City Development and Ryan Homes are building 50 new townhomes on the east end of Detroit Avenue. Estimated value: $12 million.
Liberty Development is building 40 McKinley Place townhomes on Lakewood’s west end, including many with first-floor master bedrooms in demand in our city. Estimated value: $14 million.
Nearly 6 acres on the old Lakewood Hospital site are being readied for redevelopment in the next 5 years. Estimated value: $60 million to $100 million.
The Cleveland Clinic is investing upwards of $50 million in a new family health center and emergency department.
The Solstice Steps in Lakewood Park have become a beloved attraction for residents and visitors alike. Next up in the plan is an overhaul of Kid’s Cove playground.
Dozens of repaving and resurfacing projects are making our streets easier to navigate and water and sewer improvements are ensuring our future. (Take a look at an interactive map at onelakewood.com to see where it’s all happening.)
So, what does all this exciting news mean for you and your city?
Small businesses keep opening here, joining the 4,000+ small businesses that are the foundation for our thriving economy (75% of the 12,000 workers in Lakewood work for small businesses).
Unemployment rates here are below county, state and national averages.
Income tax collections are up, more than 5% every year for the last three years. In 2016, that means an additional $557,000 to reinvest in our city’s growth.
Your house is worth more: Lakewood saw an average 8% growth in housing value in the 2015 reappraisal, one of only three communities in Cuyahoga County to see such improvement. That means an additional $1 million in revenues to reinvest in our city’s growth.
Congratulations, Lakewood! There is much to celebrate and much more to look forward to and appreciate! Join us in celebrating Lakewood—its growth and its future—for the Summer Solstice on Tuesday, June 21. The future looks as bright as we hope the sun will be on that special day.
Summer Solstice Celebration: As mentioned above, the Solstice Steps Celebration is slated to take place at 6 p.m. June 21, at the Solstice Steps. Live music is slated and food trucks will be on hand for the free event. In addition, a number of activities are scheduled. Bring a blanket — and perhaps a picnic basket — and enjoy the sunset. The Summer Solstice Celebration is weather-dependent, and will be canceled in the event of rain. For more information, visit the event Facebook page or onelakewood.com.
Summer street construction: Got the orange barrel blues? Well, the various infrastructure improvements will make our streets a little smoother. Please have a look at this new interactive map showing the projects, as well as real-time updates highlighting the progress. Not a bad idea to bookmark it on your web browser.
Autism Safety Roster: Officers from the Lakewood Police Department may now have a crucial advantage when responding to a call of a resident with autism who has wandered from home or experiencing a crisis situation. The police department has unveiled its innovative Autism Safety Roster to promote communication and enable the police to have quick and relevant access to information about a person with autism. “The Roster is for any person who either resides in, or attends school in, the city of Lakewood, who is affected with autism or any other related autism spectrum disorder,” said Lakewood Police Lt. Roger Warner, noting that the roster is for residents of any age.
Public Art Task Force: Public art has the ability to provide aesthetic beauty; educate and inspire; stimulate commerce and increase real estate values; build better citizens; provide for cultural interpretation; and to increase tourism and provide other benefits. With this in mind, the city of Lakewood sought to further explore the development of a public art plan for the city by establishing the resident-driven, seven-member Public Art Task Force in late-2015. The Task Force has already begun its work. The seven-member group’s main objective is to research and develop a citywide public art strategy and process and present their findings to council. There is a large artist community in Lakewood from which the Public Art Task Force would like to engage as part of their process. Look for the Public Art Survey to be available soon through the website and social media.
Hens in Lakewood: Lakewood City Council approved an ordinance allowing a limited-number of Lakewood families the opportunity raise backyard hens. Applications for backyard hen-raising permits will be available on July 15, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis on Aug. 1. If you are interested in raising hens be sure to review the Hen Ordinance for all requirements.
Lakewood is the “Best Place to Buy a Home” By Scene Magazine: Lakewood received some high honors in Cleveland Scene’s 2016 Best of Cleveland Awards. The magazine named the city the “Best Place to Buy a Home” in its April 27, 2016, edition. “It’s not for nothing that Lakewood considers itself ‘the city of beautiful homes,”’ the magazine noted. “If you get involved around here long enough, you’ll hear Mayor Mike Summers laud the city’s 100-year-old housing stock as one of its greatest assets. There’s good variety here too, from starter digs to ‘forever’ homes to some palaces near that big old beautiful lake of ours that will leave you breathless. In fact, Lakewood is a world unto itself, so it’s just a great place to plant some roots and, if you’re so inclined, start a family.”
As always, feel free to pass the information contained in this newsletter along to fellow block club members. We appreciate your continued leadership and valuable work in our community, and hope that we continue to keep these important lines of communication strong.
Colin McEwen
Public Information Officer, City of Lakewood
[/b][/b]
Lakewood recently got a lot of attention when Thrillist named us one of the “coolest suburbs” in America’s biggest metro areas. What are they saying?
“Everyone in Lakewood already knows that Lakewood has been the place to live in Cleveland….It’s a prime location that's undergone incredible development that's legitimately good for the community. Everything you could ever want is now on Detroit Ave.”
What’s all the buzz about?
Let’s look at all that development that’s “legitimately good for the community.” Here’s a summary that every Lakewood resident can be proud of (some you can see and others are in the works):
More than 120 small businesses have either opened or undergone major renovation in the last five years (we have more than 4,000 small businesses in our city).
The former Christian Science Church on Detroit Avenue was purchased by Roundstone Insurance; the 45-person firm will move into the historic property within a year.
Premier Physicians bought the former Berger Village building (formerly Busch Funeral Home) on Detroit and is bringing more healthcare options to our city.
The vacant 19,000-square-foot former Spitzer auto dealership property on Detroit Avenue is the Wingstar Corporation’s new headquarters—they said they chose Lakewood because of the location and high quality local workforce.
Virginia Marti School of Design is expanding into the vacant Vedda commercial building on Detroit’s east end.
The vacant Payless shoe store was purchased to be retrofitted as an urgent care center, with physical therapy — more healthcare choices in Lakewood.
Clifton Pointe provides 24 new housing units in a townhouse development that has rejuvenated Sloane Avenue.
Forest City Development and Ryan Homes are building 50 new townhomes on the east end of Detroit Avenue. Estimated value: $12 million.
Liberty Development is building 40 McKinley Place townhomes on Lakewood’s west end, including many with first-floor master bedrooms in demand in our city. Estimated value: $14 million.
Nearly 6 acres on the old Lakewood Hospital site are being readied for redevelopment in the next 5 years. Estimated value: $60 million to $100 million.
The Cleveland Clinic is investing upwards of $50 million in a new family health center and emergency department.
The Solstice Steps in Lakewood Park have become a beloved attraction for residents and visitors alike. Next up in the plan is an overhaul of Kid’s Cove playground.
Dozens of repaving and resurfacing projects are making our streets easier to navigate and water and sewer improvements are ensuring our future. (Take a look at an interactive map at onelakewood.com to see where it’s all happening.)
So, what does all this exciting news mean for you and your city?
Small businesses keep opening here, joining the 4,000+ small businesses that are the foundation for our thriving economy (75% of the 12,000 workers in Lakewood work for small businesses).
Unemployment rates here are below county, state and national averages.
Income tax collections are up, more than 5% every year for the last three years. In 2016, that means an additional $557,000 to reinvest in our city’s growth.
Your house is worth more: Lakewood saw an average 8% growth in housing value in the 2015 reappraisal, one of only three communities in Cuyahoga County to see such improvement. That means an additional $1 million in revenues to reinvest in our city’s growth.
Congratulations, Lakewood! There is much to celebrate and much more to look forward to and appreciate! Join us in celebrating Lakewood—its growth and its future—for the Summer Solstice on Tuesday, June 21. The future looks as bright as we hope the sun will be on that special day.
Summer Solstice Celebration: As mentioned above, the Solstice Steps Celebration is slated to take place at 6 p.m. June 21, at the Solstice Steps. Live music is slated and food trucks will be on hand for the free event. In addition, a number of activities are scheduled. Bring a blanket — and perhaps a picnic basket — and enjoy the sunset. The Summer Solstice Celebration is weather-dependent, and will be canceled in the event of rain. For more information, visit the event Facebook page or onelakewood.com.
Summer street construction: Got the orange barrel blues? Well, the various infrastructure improvements will make our streets a little smoother. Please have a look at this new interactive map showing the projects, as well as real-time updates highlighting the progress. Not a bad idea to bookmark it on your web browser.
Autism Safety Roster: Officers from the Lakewood Police Department may now have a crucial advantage when responding to a call of a resident with autism who has wandered from home or experiencing a crisis situation. The police department has unveiled its innovative Autism Safety Roster to promote communication and enable the police to have quick and relevant access to information about a person with autism. “The Roster is for any person who either resides in, or attends school in, the city of Lakewood, who is affected with autism or any other related autism spectrum disorder,” said Lakewood Police Lt. Roger Warner, noting that the roster is for residents of any age.
Public Art Task Force: Public art has the ability to provide aesthetic beauty; educate and inspire; stimulate commerce and increase real estate values; build better citizens; provide for cultural interpretation; and to increase tourism and provide other benefits. With this in mind, the city of Lakewood sought to further explore the development of a public art plan for the city by establishing the resident-driven, seven-member Public Art Task Force in late-2015. The Task Force has already begun its work. The seven-member group’s main objective is to research and develop a citywide public art strategy and process and present their findings to council. There is a large artist community in Lakewood from which the Public Art Task Force would like to engage as part of their process. Look for the Public Art Survey to be available soon through the website and social media.
Hens in Lakewood: Lakewood City Council approved an ordinance allowing a limited-number of Lakewood families the opportunity raise backyard hens. Applications for backyard hen-raising permits will be available on July 15, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis on Aug. 1. If you are interested in raising hens be sure to review the Hen Ordinance for all requirements.
Lakewood is the “Best Place to Buy a Home” By Scene Magazine: Lakewood received some high honors in Cleveland Scene’s 2016 Best of Cleveland Awards. The magazine named the city the “Best Place to Buy a Home” in its April 27, 2016, edition. “It’s not for nothing that Lakewood considers itself ‘the city of beautiful homes,”’ the magazine noted. “If you get involved around here long enough, you’ll hear Mayor Mike Summers laud the city’s 100-year-old housing stock as one of its greatest assets. There’s good variety here too, from starter digs to ‘forever’ homes to some palaces near that big old beautiful lake of ours that will leave you breathless. In fact, Lakewood is a world unto itself, so it’s just a great place to plant some roots and, if you’re so inclined, start a family.”
As always, feel free to pass the information contained in this newsletter along to fellow block club members. We appreciate your continued leadership and valuable work in our community, and hope that we continue to keep these important lines of communication strong.
Colin McEwen
Public Information Officer, City of Lakewood
[/b][/b]
, I will say that it is very nice that the city is having a celebration at the park for the Solstice Steps.