The Observation Deck

I noticed as I was riding in to work this morning that the Ganley Subaru is closed down. That leaves Barry Buick as the last dealer standing. Frankly I'd be surprised if their there much longer I can't imagine they fit into the new GM's vision of a dealership. Multi-acre highway interchange, middle to upper middle class demographic.

This model seems similar to the one the health care industry has adopted. Highway interchanged based facilities that followed the customers with the good health insurance to the sprawling mostly white middle to upper middle class communities. I would be shocked if we don't see Lakewood Hospital closed down once the Clinic opens it's new facility in Avon. Why would they keep a facility to serve mostly under insured and the uninsured. Keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is run by a guy who said he would not higher fat people if he didn't have too. What makes you think he has any interest in treating the under insured and the uninsured. It's all business to him.

Bill

Bill Trentel wrote:I noticed as I was riding in to work this morning that the Ganley Subaru is closed down. That leaves Barry Buick as the last dealer standing. Frankly I'd be surprised if their there much longer I can't imagine they fit into the new GM's vision of a dealership. Multi-acre highway interchange, middle to upper middle class demographic.

This model seems similar to the one the health care industry has adopted. Highway interchanged based facilities that followed the customers with the good health insurance to the sprawling mostly white middle to upper middle class communities. I would be shocked if we don't see Lakewood Hospital closed down once the Clinic opens it's new facility in Avon. Why would they keep a facility to serve mostly under insured and the uninsured. Keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is run by a guy who said he would not higher fat people if he didn't have too. What makes you think he has any interest in treating the under insured and the uninsured. It's all business to him.

Bill

Bill

I believe that Steve Barry Buick is just a used car lot right now. I could be wrong, but
everything we have gotten from him over the past 6 months has been used car flyers
and a message for auto work. We should support him all that we can.

As for the Clinic, the have many horizontally challenged people working there and running
it. They also send out 25lbs of cookies each year! I believe hat the Clinic has once again
shown their commitment to Lakewood with the move towards updating the rooms, and
all of the plans I have seen.

Funny many of the people that brought us some of the "greatest plans" for Lakewood's future spoke of the need to keep 6 car dealers here at all costs. Of course this plan was
hatched by many of the same people that said "No retail malls is the future...," which
then became "No large office buildings are the future..." which turned into, "No the region
from Sandusky to Youngstown is the key... which became "No DowntowN is the key..."
Meanwhile great housing stock, that is perfectly located is still a constant need and want.

FWIW


.
is the future

Bill Trentel wrote: Why would they keep a facility to serve mostly under insured and the uninsured. Keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is run by a guy who said he would not higher fat people if he didn't have too. What makes you think he has any interest in treating the under insured and the uninsured. It's all business to him.

Bill

I wish I could disagree.

The Clinic pays $1 million or so per year to the City of Lakewood for the right to send referrals to Clinic owned facilities. The Clinic steers non paying, medicare and medicaid patients to Lakewood Hospital. Paying customers are steered to Clinic facilities. While the Clinic is puting money into Lakewood Hospital they are demanding that the Lakewood Hospital Foundation empty its treasury.

The State of Ohio and Cuyahoga County are spending billions in Northeast Ohio to move jobs and people from Cuyahoga County to the Counties boarding Cuyahoga County. The State is willing to spend hundreds of millions to widen Northeast Ohio freeways and millions more to add and expand exit ramps. Meanwhile our elected representative in Lakewood have to put on their dancing bear outfits to get a street repaved.

This subject is actually related to the Nickie Antonio issue discussed in another post. Will she fight for her district? Skindell pretty much forgot his district.

It's also related to Ed Fitzgeralds campaign for County Executive. Will he serve the County or the region? Will he challenge the entrenched special interests or will he settle down to a comfortable sinecure?

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Trentel wrote:I noticed as I was riding in to work this morning that the Ganley Subaru is closed down. That leaves Barry Buick as the last dealer standing. Frankly I'd be surprised if their there much longer I can't imagine they fit into the new GM's vision of a dealership. Multi-acre highway interchange, middle to upper middle class demographic.

This model seems similar to the one the health care industry has adopted. Highway interchanged based facilities that followed the customers with the good health insurance to the sprawling mostly white middle to upper middle class communities. I would be shocked if we don't see Lakewood Hospital closed down once the Clinic opens it's new facility in Avon. Why would they keep a facility to serve mostly under insured and the uninsured. Keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is run by a guy who said he would not higher fat people if he didn't have too. What makes you think he has any interest in treating the under insured and the uninsured. It's all business to him.

Bill

Bill

I believe that Steve Barry Buick is just a used car lot right now. I could be wrong, but
everything we have gotten from him over the past 6 months has been used car flyers
and a message for auto work. We should support him all that we can.

As for the Clinic, the have many horizontally challenged people working there and running
it. They also send out 25lbs of cookies each year! I believe hat the Clinic has once again
shown their commitment to Lakewood with the move towards updating the rooms, and
all of the plans I have seen.

Funny many of the people that brought us some of the "greatest plans" for Lakewood's future spoke of the need to keep 6 car dealers here at all costs. Of course this plan was
hatched by many of the same people that said "No retail malls is the future...," which
then became "No large office buildings are the future..." which turned into, "No the region
from Sandusky to Youngstown is the key... which became "No DowntowN is the key..."
Meanwhile great housing stock, that is perfectly located is still a constant need and want.

FWIW


.
is the future

One interesting fact is that used car sales as a primary business is not an allowed use in our C2 business zones. In order to sell used cars you need to have new car franchise located in Lakewood. Spitzer (and Barry if and when they loose their franchise) is a non conforming use, NOT ALOUD. They might have gotten a Conditional Use Variance, I don't know or the City could be looking the other way. It probably wouldn't be difficult to get the variance particularly since they never stopped doing business. The Subaru dealership is closed down they would need to reach a higher bar to put a used car lot in. That's if it was done by the letter of the law.
I was a member of the Planning Commission when the latest full version of the Zoning Code was crafted and adopted. We specifically prohibited stand-a-loan used car lots in order to keep the low quality sometimes shady operators out. New car franchises are usually required keep pretty high standards of store upkeep, business practices and financial stability.

Bill

This issue is also related to the auto bailout.

It was clear that the bailout would rescue the UAW, factories in Democratic strongholds and well connected auto dealerships. It was also clear that car dealerships in Lakewood and other cities would be left to rot on the vine.

The Northeast Ohio congressional delegation failed to use their leverage to secure the millions of dollars necessary to repurpose the old dealerships and to get those dealerships a square deal. They should have done everything possible to kill that bailout unless this area got a piece of the action.

I don't think our political leadership understands the political environment that we now live in. Does Nickie Antonio? Does Ed Fitzgerald?

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Bill Trentel wrote:I noticed as I was riding in to work this morning that the Ganley Subaru is closed down. That leaves Barry Buick as the last dealer standing. Frankly I'd be surprised if their there much longer I can't imagine they fit into the new GM's vision of a dealership. Multi-acre highway interchange, middle to upper middle class demographic.

This model seems similar to the one the health care industry has adopted. Highway interchanged based facilities that followed the customers with the good health insurance to the sprawling mostly white middle to upper middle class communities. I would be shocked if we don't see Lakewood Hospital closed down once the Clinic opens it's new facility in Avon. Why would they keep a facility to serve mostly under insured and the uninsured. Keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is run by a guy who said he would not higher fat people if he didn't have too. What makes you think he has any interest in treating the under insured and the uninsured. It's all business to him.

Bill

Bill

I believe that Steve Barry Buick is just a used car lot right now. I could be wrong, but
everything we have gotten from him over the past 6 months has been used car flyers
and a message for auto work. We should support him all that we can.

As for the Clinic, the have many horizontally challenged people working there and running
it. They also send out 25lbs of cookies each year! I believe hat the Clinic has once again
shown their commitment to Lakewood with the move towards updating the rooms, and
all of the plans I have seen.

Funny many of the people that brought us some of the "greatest plans" for Lakewood's future spoke of the need to keep 6 car dealers here at all costs. Of course this plan was
hatched by many of the same people that said "No retail malls is the future...," which
then became "No large office buildings are the future..." which turned into, "No the region
from Sandusky to Youngstown is the key... which became "No DowntowN is the key..."
Meanwhile great housing stock, that is perfectly located is still a constant need and want.

FWIW


.
is the future

Jim, maybe you should pull in the next time you drive by and pick up one of the new cars on the lot--it can't hurt to buy local, right, and update that Detroit City Mini. What, not from Detroit?

Corey

Corey Rossen wrote:is the future

Jim, maybe you should pull in the next time you drive by and pick up one of the new cars on the lot--it can't hurt to buy local, right, and update that Detroit City Mini. What, not from Detroit?

Corey[/quote]


Corey

You forget I own a dark green Buick for a winter car which was purchased from Steve Barry.


Here is the photo of the wrecking crew looking at car on Steve Barry's lot back in
August. I have a Buick from Steve Barry, Ken has a Buick (his second from Steve Barry),
and Dan Slife bought his car used at Steve Barry. Meanwhile Steve Davis drives a
Subaru from Ganley. Not just talk, a lot of walking it, with the Observer's Board.

Would love to know where many of the other "Shop Lakewood" people got their
Volvos, BMWs, Hondas, etc.


FWIW


.

Oh Steve Barry is the bomb. When my Explorer was crushed it was taken there for repairs (per insurance company of woman who hit me) and they were great. They fixed my truck up and it was perfect, they were so nice, kept me up to date on how it was going, all the parts that needed to be ordered, and everything. I loved it!!!

I do however have a Dodge bought here in Lakewood.

Ok, just had to add my share...LOL.

Ahh yes, highways. The roads to everywhere that have worked so effortlessly to destroy American cities. Brought to you by the all knowing FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The same people who are about to deliver you crappy healthcare and bankrupt the nation.

Watch out for the wave because it's coming, November 2010.

Is that wave going to wash out the highway system? 'Cause otherwise I don't quite understand the point of your post.

Ryan, if you hate the government so much, why do you keep running for elected office? Why are you longing to be part of a group that's apparently so toxic for the American people?

I find it comical to hear a politician say "Government is bad for you!". That's like a doctor telling you to sleep off pneumonia.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Would love to know where many of the other "Shop Lakewood" people got their
Volvos, BMWs, Hondas, etc.

Well, I don't know what or who is considered a "Shop Lakewood" person, but I bought my used BMW from Ganley Subaru Lakewood if that helps soothe some curiousity. Judgement should not necessarily be made on car make or model.

J Hrlec

If one never asks the question, one never knows the answer.

My Honda was purchased the same way.


Still, the question and the asnwer is extremely relevant. I ran into someone that is well
known for preaching the "shop Lakewood" sermon walking out of Minotti's while I was
dropping off Lakewood Observers.

Her answer, well it is closer to where I live.

I suppose it is not uncommon for preachers to not listen to their own sermons.


.

Despite where I bought it and what brand of car I drive (which is ridiculous, btw), I just want to know how many posting in this thread are west side or east side lakewoodites. I am an east side lakewoodite, and I must say with Ganley Subie closing and soon? Spitzer, I am getting really tired and annoyed with my half of Detroit Ave starting to look like some bombed out demilitarized zone, with the giant empty parking lots, metal fencing, and shuttered storefronts.

I often think that when I go to the Shore for breakfast (under $3.00 people for the most charming eaterie around).

It's like the brave little soldier there.