The Observation Deck

Aerial photo of Lakewood Hospital looking northwest. It shows the size of lot. (photo from LO Archives)

I was speaking with a couple workmen at Lakewood Hospital Debacle, (sweep it under the rug) tear down phase one. And one of them indicated that the time to tear it down had been lengthened because the designers of the new "One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall" had run into problems. It seems that they were not aware of the river that runs through the property, and had largely been filled in.

However, rivers are not made by man, and even filled in they run, and have issues. Ask anyone between St. Charles, and Robinwood. Ground saturation happens quickly for there is a crack/river that has been filled in with more porous fill.

So while they are redesigning the "One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall" to work around the issues in the new foundation and fill needed, we will continue to cover what was and is now happening.

For an idea of size, go to Detroit and Cook and look south past Sinagra Park to Marc's Plaza. Imagine that a couple stories higher, in instead of the Curtis Block building, you have a ten story Warren building. So all in all about the same square footage but slightly smaller in footprint.

Stay tuned.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote: For an idea of size, go to Detroit and Cook and look south past Sinagra Park to Marc's Plaza. Imagine that a couple stories higher, in instead of the Curtis Block building, you have a ten story Warren building. So all in all about the same square footage but slightly smaller in footprint.

Wait a minute. Ten years ago there were plans to demolish the Curtis Building and expand and modernize Lakewood Hospital. The Lakewood Historical Society fought to have those plans killed because they wanted to preserve the Curtis Building.

NOW you are telling us that the Curtis Building is to be demolished?

Bill Call wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote: For an idea of size, go to Detroit and Cook and look south past Sinagra Park to Marc's Plaza. Imagine that a couple stories higher, in instead of the Curtis Block building, you have a ten story Warren building. So all in all about the same square footage but slightly smaller in footprint.

Wait a minute. Ten years ago there were plans to demolish the Curtis Building and expand and modernize Lakewood Hospital. The Lakewood Historical Society fought to have those plans killed because they wanted to preserve the Curtis Building.

NOW you are telling us that the Curtis Building is to be demolished?

No I am not, but I would expect it pretty soon.

I am merely relaying what I heard from a workman. Again not a huge problem but people forget about all the steams and rivers that flowed through Lakewood.

The flying monkeys on the Social Media are crying foul, and I will admit, I was wrong. But correct about the visual. One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall will be slightly larger than Marc's DowntowN Plaza. This is with the addition of the two house the city through in with the deal. Otherwise it would have been the same size lot.

Here is an overlay of the two lots.

River added during update. location is approximate.

Funny a lot of the people that promised "High End Shopping" when selling Marc's Plaza to Lakewood, were powering the Lakewood Hospital Debacle nightmare.

Well this multi-use strip mall will save us for sure.

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It seems that they were not aware of the river that runs through the property, and had largely been filled in.

They can add a water feature to the “public area!”

Before everyone goes nuts over One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall being haunted!


Another photo of just how run down Wagar Cemetery was shortly before they started the building.

At least Wagar Cemetery and what happened to everyone is well documented. I am sure we the same care was taken with Kidney Cemetery. It is documented in this article from a 2007 Lakewood Observer article.

Wagar Cemetery Moved For Hospital Development
http://lakewoodobserver.com/read/2007/1 ... evelopment

While many people at Lakewood Hospital spoke of ghosts in the basements, I do not believe it to be true. I cannot see a "Poltergeist moment happening."



Also, another story we covered was finding hundreds of grave stones in Lake Erie just north of W117th/Highland. No one has had any luck tracking down where the grave stones came from. But they did not come from Wagar, Kidney, Lakewood or any other cemeteries near by.

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Well if they run into problems on the site, here’s a “shovel ready” lot on Fry. Under 1 acre and a bargain at $375,000!

OOPS! I guess it’s hard to compete with SIX ACRES FOR $1.00!!

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandho ... 05?view=qv

Sam O’Leary - still think the 6 acres were only worth $1.00?

[quote="Jim O'Bryan"

I was speaking with a couple workmen at Lakewood Hospital Debacle, (sweep it under the rug) tear down phase one. And one of them indicated that the time to tear it down had been lengthened because the designers of the new "One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall" had run into problems. It seems that they were not aware of the river that runs through the property, and had largely been filled in.

However, rivers are not made by man, and even filled in they run, and have issues. Ask anyone between St. Charles, and Robinwood. Ground saturation happens quickly for there is a crack/river that has been filled in with more porous fill.

So while they are redesigning the "One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall" to work around the issues in the new foundation and fill needed, we will continue to cover what was and is now happening.

For an idea of size, go to Detroit and Cook and look south past Sinagra Park to Marc's Plaza. Imagine that a couple stories higher, in instead of the Curtis Block building, you have a ten story Warren building. So all in all about the same square footage but slightly smaller in footprint.

Stay tuned.

.[/quote]

Mr. O'Bryan, I think you are being "pranked" by those you are speaking with.

Why? Because the City of Lakewood prepared a 400 page Phase I site study and the developer has had that study for more than a year now. The presence of this underground water flow is known to just about everyone.

However, it does appear that the demolition has either stopped or is in a slow-go mode. I drive by the site each week and little seems to be going on.

But, not to worry, Mr. Sylvester has previously explained to the press that the City is planning to spend $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 on site preparation, etc.

Hey! Once you've dumped a $200,000,000 public asset, the next $10,000,000 down the hole seems like spare change.

I'm sure the Finance Director can explain to you how this works. It is a "once-in-a-50-year opportunity."

Opportunity for what, well, I'm not so sure about that.

Your update and photo are much appreciated.

Mark Kindt wrote: Mr. O'Bryan, I think you are being "pranked" by those you are speaking with.

Why? Because the City of Lakewood prepared a 400 page Phase I site study and the developer has had that study for more than a year now. The presence of this underground water flow is known to just about everyone.

However, it does appear that the demolition has either stopped or is in a slow-go mode. I drive by the site each week and little seems to be going on.

But, not to worry, Mr. Sylvester has previously explained to the press that the City is planning to spend $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 on site preparation, etc.

Hey! Once you've dumped a $200,000,000 public asset, the next $10,000,000 down the hole seems like spare change.

I'm sure the Finance Director can explain to you how this works. It is a "once-in-a-50-year opportunity."

Opportunity for what, well, I'm not so sure about that.

Your update and photo are much appreciated.

Mark

I was not being pranked. I went back and spoke with the person, and with people at the City. To clarify, the redrawings had to be because of something not planned for with the river. I spoke with people at the city and claim they did indeed warn the developers, but they must have underestimated the problem it is.

Also in my travels, I have dug up a map of not just the river, but the small lake/pond that was on the footprint of the hospital.

I am pretty sure, the developers realize 1) City Hall Lies, 2) They now have "kompromat" on them all. No worries, City Hall has proven they will do or say anything for the new FitzGerlad/Summers One-Lakewood Multi-Use Strip Mall and Lifestyle Center built. We should never forget that Build Lakewood, Active Living Task Force Head, and others demanded everyday, "We must hurry, this is extremely important to get done" Well this group does really move Strip Malls and Multi-Use Strip Malls. But we have to hurry? Hurry for Dry Cleaner? Hurry for Ice Cream Shoppe? Hurry for Cafe??? OR hurry before the facts are uncovered?





More tomorrow.

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Mr. O'Bryan, my compliments for your excellent land-use review related to the former hospital site with the overlays of data. First class!

I am additionally curious as to whether or not the demolition of the hospital itself has been slowed-down or otherwise delayed for some reason.