The Observation Deck

Today it is a vote for Lakewood's Man of The year.

Fron page under the calendar.


Yesterday a shocker!

Which street is Lakewood's best retail street?
• Berea Rd.:0%
• Clifton Blvd.:0%
• Detroit Ave.:21.4%
• Hillard Blvd.:0%
• Madison Ave.:78.6%
• Warren Rd.:0%
• W.117th:0%

jim/dl,
how many votes yesterday?
thanks

Chris Trapp wrote:jim/dl,
how many votes yesterday?
thanks

First day of the question of the day only 32.

Still it speaks volumes that maybe Mainstreet is on the wrong street!


Jim

Chris-

Front page is not my responsibility (thank goodness). I'm grateful not to be the uberoverseer, although I sometimes get to play the 600 lb. gorilla in the living room.

I just found out about the question of the day yesterday. That's the great thing about the Observer - different people move the ball down he field. (Or in Jimmy's excellent roadie descriptive - carry the equipment).

I spent this evening trying to convince a Lakewood neighbor to step up to the plate and write for the paper (and sign up on the Deck).

Ken Warren won "Man of the Year."

Today we vote on "Woman of the Year."


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What's more surprising is the rapidly decreasing credibility of the godfather of the Observer. You're now basing your findings on undisclosed polls of 32 people? What did you do stand outside of Madison shops and ask the 32 owners that stepped out for lunch? I'm sorry but I don't see how that speaks volumes to anything regarding the Main Street program. Maybe it evidence that given the overall lack of retail in general, even a street with such high levels of storefront occupancies can still beat out it's traditionally more travelled neighbor to the north. I'll stop myself short of giving examples of why your statement is bunk, I assume ol Jimbo isn't interested in logic or reason on this one.
But hey at least the opportunity was seized to badmouth a non-Val group that's working to improve things in the area. Always best to create or advance a divisive attitude in the area. Quite a brand that's being built.

Shawn

Of course you are right, again.

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In response to Jim's comment about "Main Street" being on the wrong street, the Main Street program is focuses on commercial district revitalization. A commercial district is more than retail alone. It is also office, restaurants, bars and municipal properties. Lakewood Hospital is the single largest employer in the City at about 1,400 employees. Combine that number with all the people working in Lakewood Center North, the INA Building, Detroit / Warren Building, Cook Building and you have the highest concentration of people coming into the City on Detroit, than anywhere else in the City. On top of that, we have the Library, the Schools Administration Building, the Post office and many pockets of retail, restaurants and coffee shops along the way.

Jennifer hooper wrote:In response to Jim's comment about "Main Street" being on the wrong street, the Main Street program is focuses on commercial district revitalization....

Jennifer

Thank you as always for coming in and clarifying.

When we first had lunch, do you remember us speaking of "if" Mainstreet would be interested in Warren and Madison? Madison and Lincoln? Dowd and Madison?

I merely pointed out that many see Madison as a better spot to develop and have retail.

No mention of revitalization, parks, or anything then the question is asked, is the focus on the wrong street.

As you so eloquently have said, not the goal.


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thanks for editing your post Jim. The original seemed to be "half cocked".

Shawn Juris wrote:thanks for editing your post Jim. The original seemed to be "half cocked".

Shawn

To be honest, it really got me mad. You have no idea how far some of us drill down on these projects. You have no idea how bad some of us would like these to work. You simply have no idea. But unlike you I cannot follow blindly and pray for something nice to happen.

The Lakewood Observer has run over 6 pages of info on Mainstreet. I knew of the project very early on and had lunch with Jennifer, before most even knew her name. I like Jennifer, I think she has a ton of talent. I cannot think of anytime I or the paper turned down one request from her. I have even sponsored her to talk about the project. But it is like owning a Hummer with no money for gas. The program is dreadfully underfunded, and as it is now I just do not see where the proper amount of money will ever come from and if it is found, why rebuild an area that would seem pretty damn healthy, when other areas need it.

Shawn I hope you can appreciate what I am going to say. Just because I am not at a meeting does not mean I do not support. To be honest one of the great gifts I can give is not being there. That said it does not mean it is not being "Observed" reported back, digested, analyzed and numbers crunched on if it has a chance, is wrong, or done half assed. I am not saying this in context of anything, especially Mainstreet.

We do not put that information out, it is kept for deciding where the group wants to put effort, time and money. Not everyone is always on board. But we never stop anyone from speaking their mind, we never follow blindly, we always question, drill down, and issue the white paper.

What also frustrates me, is that you find it cool to belittle The VAL, while having ZERO understanding. Other VAL pieces Lakewood Catholic Academy, Lakewood Cares, The Library, The Observer, etc.

Hardly failures or ill concieved.

Very frustrating.

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Thanks Jim. Not to nitpick here, but the question that was posed was "what is Lakewood's best retail street" NOT what is Lakewood's best location to develop, or in need of redevelopment. Let's not surmise that because 30 respondents feel that Madison has more retail that it is also the best place to concentrate development efforts. And yes we did discuss possibly using the Main Street approach in other locations of the City and that is still our intention. However due to limited resources (we do accept donations!) and staff we do not want to spread ourselves thin and try and do things all over the City. While we dont want to miss any opportunities if they present themselves, our mission at this point is to make downtown Lakewood the best it can be and then we can work on other areas.

Jim,
I appreciate the well thought out response. Since we're sharing our feelings, I'm fed up with your repeated remarks about how little I know. I admit that there are things that I am not an expert on but please stop insulting me.
To work backwards, I don't think of it as "cool" to belittle whatever VAL is. What I know about it, I've gathered from here. Honestly, the topics that I have heard about I've discussed and I haven't gotten any reasonble answers. It's just not something for me and I prefer to spend my time on other things. Honestly, I can't think of that many times that I've even mentioned it, let alone belittled it. My impression is that it's a collection of people that are working towards the same goals as other groups and when I see remarks that seem to poke holes in another group such as Main Street in this case, I get suspicious that it's a matter of pushing one down so another can be in the lead. I really hope that isn't the case but that is the impression that I am getting. It doesn't look to be a healthy form of competition and just derails what could be good things to come. Your comment about Mainstreet being in the wrong place seems to be another case of this almost passive aggressive behavior to shift opinion. It's one thing to understand or admit to shortcomings, it's quite another to expose them or even worse exaggerate them and not contribute to their solution.

I'm not so sure that we're on the same page in the rest of your post. Maybe you can clarify this because it has come up in a number of situations. Are you acting as a spokesperson for the Observer or simply speaking your mind on issues? Your defense below seems to indicate that "your" support is based on the collective actions of others. My point here as it's been other times is that your personal comments seem to be counterproductive to the efforts of what you tout as the goal of civic discourse and other elevated principles to foster a grand community. Maybe it's time to start running the disclaimer about "the views expressed here are not necessarily the views of the Lakewood Observer". Where do you draw the line between personal opinion and spokesperson? Seems a cop out to say, we ran ads and contributed funds but then make comments that undermine support.

As for the remarks about me following blindly or not considering things... you can stuff that idea in your hat. It's just simply not true. I find it incredibly insulting for you to say that I'm sitting around like an idiot just hoping that something works out. I think it's fair to say that we see things from different perspectives but the amount of effort that I have put into understanding this city goes beyond someone sitting on their couch waiting for the world outside their window to change.

Shawn

First, if I sign something

Jim O'Bryan
Publisher
Lakewood Observer, Inc.

It is something from the Lakewood Observer, and official.

If not it is my thoughts and my opinion. I think that is pretty clear. Should we have you sign different ways. Or should I take it as a Shawn Juris post?

VAL, it is not like anything anyone else is working on in Mainstream Groups. It is very easy to find out about, one merely needs to stop in, or ask. On the board we floated some ideas, but many, you included expressed fear of the secret kabal running the city. Who were we, a group of citizens, think we were...

No one is pushing anyone down, but if they need tax dollars I can comment on it as a tax payer correct? I am entitled to my opinion, correct? Have I ever tried to limit your responses or tell you how to think? Go back and read your posts to me, it is everything you are saying I am doing wrong. Wrong for me, right for you. By I have never mentioned it until now. We are defined by our remarks.

Following blindly comes from a comment you made to me about why can't people just climb on the bandwagon and see... It is utter nonsense, we have enough people working together to drill down in hours many of these programs. Why follow anything that does not work, is more than a 50% chance of failure, or does not add to the city.(not talking of mainstreet) Why travel down dead end after dead end if you can see the wall at the end? Maybe you have the time to waste, I do not. Even more important is the waste of other people's time banks, energies and very limited resources.

You might think we(you and I) are working for the same goal. I am not so sure. One thing I know, is I expect people, friends, members and outsiders to be hyper critical of EVERYTHING I do. If they are not, then I have missed a tremendous opportunity to learn, and make myself and the programs better. Failure is only a problem if no one bothers to tell you.

FWIW


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Jennifer hooper wrote:Thanks Jim. Not to nitpick here, but the question that was posed was "what is Lakewood's best retail street" NOT what is Lakewood's best location to develop, or in need of redevelopment. Let's not surmise that because 30 respondents feel that Madison has more retail that it is also the best place to concentrate development efforts. And yes we did discuss possibly using the Main Street approach in other locations of the City and that is still our intention. However due to limited resources (we do accept donations!) and staff we do not want to spread ourselves thin and try and do things all over the City. While we dont want to miss any opportunities if they present themselves, our mission at this point is to make downtown Lakewood the best it can be and then we can work on other areas.

Jennifer

If I was trying to sway anything, why would I mention 32 people? Do you really think that I believe that because of the answers of 32 people we should go running off and do anything?

Yet do you not find it interesting? I found it interesting. I never would have thought Madison would have beaten Detroit.

But as you have come back and asked. Let me ask, do you think downtown Lakewood is that far out of whack, or the easiest place to start?

How much work is needed to make Downtown the best it can be. What does that mean? What if we make dowtown Lakewood the best it can be and lose Madison Ave, Rockport, Scenic Park etc. You do not need to answer, just wondering out loud.

As always, thanks for jumping in.


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