The Observation Deck

This week we got calls from 3 new businesses that should be opening in the next couple weeks. Like all new businesses they were filled with hopes, dreams, and ideas. It was refreshing at it always is to hear why people has chosen Lakewood as the place to launch their dream.

But this was offset with the news as reported in the Lakewood Observer that the Collector's Warehouse was closing after a good long run. I have heard from another handful of small businesses that they are really counting on a good Christmas season to keep them going. This is never a good sign.

If you get a chance, stop in a Lakewood store you have always wanted to stop in. Go back to the little gift shop you haven't been in for a while. Shop Lakewood when you can. It is these small businesses, that keep Lakewood's business districts looking alive. Most are owned by neighbors, or residents.

Let's pull together to make this a good Christmas for everyone.

peace.



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Jim O'Bryan wrote:Let's pull together to make this a good Christmas for everyone.

This illustrates why a pro-active development department is important for the economic health of the City.

The City has a great opportunity with the closing of the Bunts Road Giant Eagle. A high traffic retailer on that lot can be the anchor for smaller stores in Lakewood much like a department store is the anchor in a shopping mall.

The post office is looking to move from its current location. I am sure they would like to have the Bunts Road location. That is a terrible idea. If the Post Office moves it should be encourage to move to an area farther East down Detroit or on 117th.

If the post office on Warren Road moves what would you suggest for that Warren Road location?

Do we have a pro-active development department?

If the Post Office moves from its present location we should hope for a Fazio's Grocery Store!

oh no, not Fazio's ... their "Heritage House" store brand stuff was awful!

Stan Austin wrote:If the Post Office moves from its present location we should hope for a Fazio's Grocery Store!

Shawn Juris


I feel your pain.



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Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Stan Austin wrote:If the Post Office moves from its present location we should hope for a Fazio's Grocery Store!

Shawn Juris


I feel your pain.



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I'll be okay. Thanks for the empathy though.

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Bill

The City has a great opportunity with the closing of the Bunts Road Giant Eagle. A high traffic retailer on that lot can be the anchor for smaller stores in Lakewood much like a department store is the anchor in a shopping mall.

I couldn't agree more. But we also have to understand that the "City" isn't City Hall. A vacant peice of property, owned by third parties, presents an opportunity for the owner to develop the property however he sees fit (within zoning and architectural review structure, of course). Lakewood doesn't have any ownership interest in the GE site. I believe that the site is still controlled by the Rego's from the old Stop N Shop days. So, it is they who will dictate what goes up.

City Hall can, of course be practive, but without site control, they are limited in what they can do.....perhaps serving as go betweens and facilitators of interested developers and site owners. The only other option that can give City Hall a degree of clout beyond building approval on non-owned sites is by way of economic incentives.

Jeff

Charyn Compeau wrote:I disagree.

Hey that's my line!!

You have a good point about the post office. Bunts would be a better location than Warren Road. I would like to see it farther east on 117th because it would encourage people to shop in that area. 117th is ripe for development.

I also hear the school board is interested in the Warren Road post office. That would be a bad choice.

How about a Kohl's on that spot?

Jeff Endress wrote:City Hall can, of course be proactive, but without site control, they are limited in what they can do.....perhaps serving as go betweens and facilitators of interested developers and site owners. The only other option that can give City Hall a degree of clout beyond building approval on non-owned sites is by way of economic incentives.

Jeff

Good point. The final decisions are best made by the people who own the property and invest their money. Governments rarely make wise investment decisions because it is not their money. Do you think a private investor would pay $160,000 for a typical Lakewood double and then invest another $100,000 to convert it to a single?

What the development department can do is create interest by letting developers know about the opportunity.

I am sure that our development department has contacted dozens of developers, investors, designers, property managers, retailers and builders to make them aware of the opportunity that exists on Bunts road.

I am sure they have plans within plans and are engaged in a feverish effort to make the most of this opportunity. I can hardly wait to see what we end up with.

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How about a Kohl's on that spot?[/quote]

But there's aleady a Kohl's, 7 minutes away by car, in Fairview. Why more of the same?

Esther Hazlett wrote:But there's aleady a Kohl's, 7 minutes away by car, in Fairview. Why more of the same?

That's true and that's why Kohl's might not be interested.

On the other hand we have two Drug Marts in Lakewood. The one by the library is Drug Marts busiest store. And there is a Drug Mart 10 minutes down the road in Westlake. (Something is cooking with Drug Mart)

They are also building Wal-Marts ten minutes apart.

Anyway... A Kohl's in downtown Lakewood would be one of their busiest stores. It would also serve as an achor for other stores in Lakewood. If you shop at Kohl's in Lakewood you will shop at stores in that area.

The question is: Is anyone trying to sell this idea or idea's like it or are we waiting for people to come to us?

What would you like to see at Bunt's road? Or at the current Post Office site? A new board of education building?

How about a business/vocational college?

I would prefer that the BOE not be sited along Detroit or on any of the arteries that lead to I-90.