The Observation Deck

From today’s PD, lower income people are being pushed out of Lakewood.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/11/ ... d-out.html

I’m happy to see Tristan Rader and Dan O’Malley mentioned in this story. Both seem to grasp the issue and the importance of income diversity in our city. That’s how it’s always been and it’s what made Lakewood special, IMO. Thank you to both of them for speaking about it and attempting to address the issue.

The huge influx of fancy new housing, with upscale pricing, is going to impact our city. Let’s not forget there are people who want decent, clean, safe, and affordable housing, and these people, like the man in the article, are NOT lazy slobs looking for a handout. They may be elderly, disabled, alone, have a young family, hard working but underpaid....they could be you or one of your own family.

Let’s be careful about the future direction of Lakewood.

I would not want to live in a enclave.

Team Summers be like "This is great!! We're keeping "those people" out!!"

But here's the problem: Bubbles burst.
And when this one bursts, it's gonna be really ugly.

Bridget/Mike

This is one of the many topics we have spoken about on the Deck for years, generally about the same group of people, chasing and copying other peoples dream with zero critical thought.

The bubble Mike speaks of is real, and when the growth was organic, it was in a constant back and forth much like ocean and lake tides. Back and forth in a way that very little changes happen, but the shoreline remains stable.

As they drop in false/non-organic growth, TIFs, Tax Abatements, Government under-written, that cause the massive waves back and forth. Example 6 NEW restaurants ready to open, not closed and reopened but new. Stressing both parking, residential and the food service business currently here. Does anyone remember the East Bank of the Flats?

The last two administrations preferred dealing with businesses over dealing with residents. Let's hope that trend is changing.

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Today, I took the time to read the linked article very carefully.

My fundamental question for the Lakewood Planning Department is why are we now donating millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place when we know that the luxury apartments and town-homes will be completely unaffordable to middle-income residents.

Mark Kindt wrote:Today, I took the time to read the linked article very carefully.

My fundamental question for the Lakewood Planning Department is why are we now donating millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place when we know that the luxury apartments and town-homes will be completely unaffordable to middle-income residents.

My next question for the Lakewood Planning Department is why are we now donating millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place when all of the national consultants are describing a retail "apocalypse".

From today's Crain's:

Coresight Research reported that as of Nov. 15 this year, U.S. retailers had announced 9,052 store closures, more than in all of 2018. They are also forecasting 12,000 closings for 2020.

Can any elected official confirm that retail space has actually been leased at One Lakewood Place? What percentage of the planned retail space is now actually under contract?

The public contract with the mayor's selected developer is now more than a year and a half old.

C'mon, C'mon -- Mark is begging for that signed lease with the dry cleaner and upscale dogfood store

Did anyone else make the connection between This thread and the one on the school levy? I have always supported the schools but they're going to have to go some to get my vote this time.

This is sort of back arse hafewards-- ask for the money first then explain why afterwards. This is not following the traditional board connection and communication with Lakewoodites.

Stan Austin wrote:C'mon, C'mon -- Mark is begging for that signed lease with the dry cleaner and upscale dogfood store

Stan, I remain ever hopeful!

Mark Kindt wrote:

Mark Kindt wrote:Today, I took the time to read the linked article very carefully.

My fundamental question for the Lakewood Planning Department is why are we now donating millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place when we know that the luxury apartments and town-homes will be completely unaffordable to middle-income residents.

My next question for the Lakewood Planning Department is why are we now donating millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place when all of the national consultants are describing a retail "apocalypse".

From today's Crain's:

Coresight Research reported that as of Nov. 15 this year, U.S. retailers had announced 9,052 store closures, more than in all of 2018. They are also forecasting 12,000 closings for 2020.

Can any elected official confirm that retail space has actually been leased at One Lakewood Place? What percentage of the planned retail space is now actually under contract?

The public contract with the mayor's selected developer is now more than a year and a half old.

More from Crain's:

"In our own backyard, a Crain's analysis of CoStar online data found retail vacancy at the end of September was 17%, up from 13% a year earlier." (p. 10.)

Again, I will repeat my point that the Lakewood Planning Department has committed millions-upon-millions of dollars to subsidize and construct One Lakewood Place for unneeded future retail space.

Same goes for the future office space. Business executives this week are likely to announce a $110 million downtown investment for a 350,000 square foot entrepreneurial center featuring corporate office space, co-working areas, cafes and a public plaza. (Crain's at page 2).