The Observation Deck

http://wcpn.ideastream.org/programs/sou ... e-students

Bryce Sylvester was on WCPN this morning discussing inner ring suburbs and development. A caller from Lakewood asked about the hospital site and had two specific questions. Would taxes be increased and what is the plan for parking with new development there given the already limited parking in the city.

Sylvester responded that the city income tax rate was one of the lowest in the county at 1.5%. He opined that there would be no tax increase in the foreseeable future.

As for parking, he suggested that the city would take a "neighborhood approach." What he meant by that is unclear as he did not expand on that idea.

I'd like to know what he meant. If I lived in the surrounding area, I would be concerned. Does the city think that the surrounding streets will be the suggested parking? Will, or should they expect to have their streets jammed with non-resident parkers?

It seems like the city needs to explain what plan they have - if they have one. Do they really think a "neighborhood approach" is sufficient?

Hospital Demolition was a brilliant way to address Lakewood's parking shortage.

Without all those employees, patients, and visitors, there will be plenty of room to park in that area for the forseeable future!

Bridget Conant wrote:http://wcpn.ideastream.org/programs/sou ... e-students

Bryce Sylvester was on WCPN this morning discussing inner ring suburbs and development. A caller from Lakewood asked about the hospital site and had two specific questions. Would taxes be increased and what is the plan for parking with new development there given the already limited parking in the city.

Sylvester responded that the city income tax rate was one of the lowest in the county at 1.5%. He opined that there would be no tax increase in the foreseeable future.

As for parking, he suggested that the city would take a "neighborhood approach." What he meant by that is unclear as he did not expand on that idea.

I'd like to know what he meant. If I lived in the surrounding area, I would be concerned. Does the city think that the surrounding streets will be the suggested parking? Will, or should they expect to have their streets jammed with non-resident parkers?

It seems like the city needs to explain what plan they have - if they have one. Do they really think a "neighborhood approach" is sufficient?

At a couple of points during the long recorded presentation, it was said that not as much parking was needed as codes would dictate because this is such a walkable city. Maybe it's that kind of thinking that has brought us the parking shortage many of us experience.

Bridget Conant wrote:http://wcpn.ideastream.org/programs/sou ... e-students

Bryce Sylvester was on WCPN this morning discussing inner ring suburbs and development. A caller from Lakewood asked about the hospital site and had two specific questions. Would taxes be increased and what is the plan for parking with new development there given the already limited parking in the city.

Sylvester responded that the city income tax rate was one of the lowest in the county at 1.5%. He opined that there would be no tax increase in the foreseeable future.

As for parking, he suggested that the city would take a "neighborhood approach." What he meant by that is unclear as he did not expand on that idea.

I'd like to know what he meant. If I lived in the surrounding area, I would be concerned. Does the city think that the surrounding streets will be the suggested parking? Will, or should they expect to have their streets jammed with non-resident parkers?

It seems like the city needs to explain what plan they have - if they have one. Do they really think a "neighborhood approach" is sufficient?

Ms. Conant,

I happened to be listening to that show this am.

Mr. Sylvester's answer was a "none" answer, i.e. "I don't really want to tell you that."

My take away form Mr. Sylvester's appearance on the show and his comment are twofold;

1. Expect a residential/office development with little retail.
2. The deal has been baked and city Hall is juicing the media for the roll out.

According to public records Sylvester/Siley have been in contact with two area developers since 2015-2016

http://www.first-interstate.com/portfolio/

http://oneuniversitycircle.com/

http://www.buildgeis.com/

Here are some of the communications:

Geis in RED First Interstate in Blue

From: Tom Charek <tom@geisco.net>
Subject: Lakewood Hospital Walk- Geis
Date: May 7, 2015 at 1:29:15 PM EDT
To: "Siley, Dru" <Dru.Siley@lakewoodoh.net>

Dru,

I’m waiting to hear back on dates that work for your group to walk Lakewood Hospital and catch up.  Please let me know.

Thanks,
 
Tom Charek
Project Executive
Geis Companies
10020 Aurora-Hudson Road
Streetsboro, Ohio 44241
Cell: 216-218-3515
Tom@geisco.net

From: "Siley, Dru" <Dru.Siley@lakewoodoh.net>
Subject: RE: Lakewood Hospital Tour
Date: April 30, 2015 at 4:07:44 PM EDT
To: 'Tom Charek' <tom@geisco.net>

Ok. Thanks.
 
From: Tom Charek [mailto:tom@geisco.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 4:06 PM
To: Siley, Dru
Subject: RE: Lakewood Hospital Tour
 
Monday morning
Tuesday Morning
Would work best
 
Tom Charek
Project Executive
Geis Companies
10020 Aurora-Hudson Road
Streetsboro, Ohio 44241
Cell: 216-218-3515
Tom@geisco.net
 
From: Siley, Dru [mailto:Dru.Siley@lakewoodoh.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 4:05 PM
To: Tom Charek
Subject: RE: Lakewood Hospital Tour
 
I will look into it and let you know. Any dates in particular that work best that week? Thanks.
 
From: Tom Charek [mailto:tom@geisco.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 3:50 PM
To: Siley, Dru
Subject: RE: Lakewood Hospital Tour
 
Can we do the following week?
 
Tom Charek
Project Executive
Geis Companies
10020 Aurora-Hudson Road
Streetsboro, Ohio 44241
Cell: 216-218-3515
Tom@geisco.net
 
From: Siley, Dru [mailto:Dru.Siley@lakewoodoh.net]
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 9:42 AM
To: Tom Charek
Subject: Lakewood Hospital Tour
 
Tom-
 
What availability do you and Fred for the week of May 4th?

Thanks again, Ramie - let me know if you have any questions, or need additional info over the coming weeks.

Bryce 


Bryce Sylvester
Senior City Planner
Department of Planning & Development
City of Lakewood
216-529-6635
bryce.sylvester@lakewoodoh.net

From: Ramie L. Schneider <rls@first-interstate.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 8:38 AM
To: Sylvester, Bryce
Subject: RE: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Bryce,
 
Thanks for getting back to me regarding touring the Curtis Block. I do have one more follow up question, Are you able to share the floor plans for the old wing of the hospital? If at all possible, we’d like to start reviewing those drawings prior to the RFQ being issued.
 
Thanks,
Ramie
 
From: Sylvester, Bryce [mailto:Bryce.Sylvester@lakewoodoh.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 10:27 PM
To: Ramie L. Schneider <rls@first-interstate.com>
Subject: Re: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Ramie -
 
Thanks for checking in. Appreciate your persistence and attention to this important project.
 
We are currently making good progress on the RFQ document details and process. Part of that process will include dates and times to come visit the site again. At that time you'll be able to walk the old wing of the hospital, and spend time in the Curtis Block. I will keep you updated on the timing as we finalize the RFQ details.
 
Thanks again. Talk soon.
 
Bryce
 
​
Bryce Sylvester
Senior City Planner
Department of Planning & Development
City of Lakewood
216-529-6635
bryce.sylvester@lakewoodoh.net

From: Ramie L. Schneider <rls@first-interstate.com>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 9:49 AM
To: Sylvester, Bryce
Subject: RE: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Bryce,
 
I hope all is well. I wanted to follow up to my email last week and see if we might be able to get inside the Curtis Block building. Please let me know a few dates/times that work well for you.
 
Thanks,
Ramie
 
From: Ramie L. Schneider 
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 4:10 PM
To: 'Sylvester, Bryce' <Bryce.Sylvester@lakewoodoh.net>
Subject: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Bryce,
 
I hope your week is going well. I wanted to reach out and see if we might be able a time to tour the Curtis Block Building. Please let me know a few dates/times that work well for you in the upcoming weeks.
 
Thank you,
Ramie
 
Ramie Schneider
Development Manager
First Interstate Properties
25333 Cedar Road, Suite 300
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Phone: 216.381.2900 ext. 145
Fax: 216.381.2901
 
This message and any attachments are for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this e-mail or calling First Interstate Properties at (216) 381-2900, and then deleting this message from your computer. Any other use of this email by you is prohibited.
 
Hi Bryce,
 
Thanks for getting back to me regarding touring the Curtis Block. I do have one more follow up question, Are you able to share the floor plans for the old wing of the hospital? If at all possible, we’d like to start reviewing those drawings prior to the RFQ being issued.
 
Thanks,
Ramie
 
From: Sylvester, Bryce [mailto:Bryce.Sylvester@lakewoodoh.net] 
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 10:27 PM
To: Ramie L. Schneider <rls@first-interstate.com>
Subject: Re: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Ramie -
 
Thanks for checking in. Appreciate your persistence and attention to this important project.
 
We are currently making good progress on the RFQ document details and process. Part of that process will include dates and times to come visit the site again. At that time you'll be able to walk the old wing of the hospital, and spend time in the Curtis Block. I will keep you updated on the timing as we finalize the RFQ details.
 
Thanks again. Talk soon.
 
Bryce
 
​
Bryce Sylvester
Senior City Planner
Department of Planning & Development
City of Lakewood
216-529-6635
bryce.sylvester@lakewoodoh.net

From: Ramie L. Schneider <rls@first-interstate.com>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 9:49 AM
To: Sylvester, Bryce
Subject: RE: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Bryce,
 
I hope all is well. I wanted to follow up to my email last week and see if we might be able to get inside the Curtis Block building. Please let me know a few dates/times that work well for you.
 
Thanks,
Ramie
 
From: Ramie L. Schneider 
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 4:10 PM
To: 'Sylvester, Bryce' <Bryce.Sylvester@lakewoodoh.net>
Subject: Tour of the Curtis Block Building
 
Hi Bryce,
 
I hope your week is going well. I wanted to reach out and see if we might be able a time to tour the Curtis Block Building. Please let me know a few dates/times that work well for you in the upcoming weeks.
 
Thank you,
Ramie
 
Ramie Schneider
Development Manager
First Interstate Properties
25333 Cedar Road, Suite 300
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Phone: 216.381.2900 ext. 145
Fax: 216.381.2901
 
This message and any attachments are for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged, proprietary, or otherwise private information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by replying to this e-mail or calling First Interstate Properties at (216) 381-2900, and then deleting this message from your computer. Any other use of this email by you is prohibited.
 
Hi Ramie -

Thanks for checking in. Appreciate your persistence and attention to this important project.

We are currently making good progress on the RFQ document details and process. Part of that process will include dates and times to come visit the site again. At that time you'll be able to walk the old wing of the hospital, and spend time in the Curtis Block. I will keep you updated on the timing as we finalize the RFQ details. 

Thanks again. Talk soon.

Bryce 

​
Bryce Sylvester
Senior City Planner
Department of Planning & Development
City of Lakewood
216-529-6635
bryce.sylvester@lakewoodoh.net

As for parking, he suggested that the city would take a "neighborhood approach." What he meant by that is unclear as he did not expand on that idea.

He was very clear. Your quotes are off.

The city would "take a neighborhood" approach.

It my my ever so humble opinion that the Lakewood Hospital lawsuit has all been planned out by Summers and Co. for a long time. It would appear that Summers has used what appears to be his "clout" at the county and with the judicial system to help see the plan go through smoothly.

Why has Judge O'Donnell not re-scheduled a hearing yet? Better yet, it would have been in the best interest of all parties if he would have automatically recused himself from the start. If you, like myself, have concerns regarding Judge John P. O'Donnell's conduct in regards to this case, please consider sending a complaint to the Ohio Supreme Court - Board of Professional Conduct.You can PM me if you need contact information.

Is Judge O'Donnell allowing for more time to pass so that Summers Extended Co. can hurry to get their plans finished? Folks, these people are scrambling to get all of their stuff done as soon as possible, and there could be a myriad of reasons for that, most of which I will leave to your imagination. What I will say is "what is the hurry?" If this is a 100% honest, legal, proper procedure processed with never-dirtied and never-cleaned money, why scramble in an apparent effort to conceal your doings?