The Observation Deck

For all of those who have ever uttered the phrase "Lakewood should have a (fill in the blank) store or business" or "what Lakewood really needs is a...", I have an idea and I am looking for your feedback. How far would you be willing to go to test your theory? Between making a suggestion to actually opening the doors, what would your threshold be where you would stop moving forward? What would be your biggest restraints; time, money, knowledge?

Shawn Juris wrote: What would be your biggest restraints; time, money, knowledge?

I don't have any of those things but...

The Capital Theater at 65th and Detroit was renovated under the assumption that when people leave the movie some may head for the nearest bar or restrauant. I think that assumption is valid. The Detroit Theater is not going to draw a lot of people. So a new movie theater or properly renovated Detroit Theater would be a plus.

I say properly renovated because I found the Capital Theater a big disappointment. If they had to cut it up into small pieces they could have at least put in comfortable seats.

I got the impression that whoever designed the Capital didn't care if is was a financial success. I later found out that some government agency guaranteed the operators profit so I guess maybe there is no need for them to care.

Another idea is a LOT of parking in the Rockport area. About 13 acres or so.

Some people would like a really big shopping mall but I don't know...

Lakewood needs to build the peninsula. The first peninsula would grow Lakewood by 26 to 50 acres and create an engine for new real estate taxes. The City, Schools and Libraries would all reap sizable new revenues.

Savannah Farris invested months in studying this and designing a solution for Lakewood. She presented it to City Council. The next step is a feasibility study. If the City had acted when this was first presented, the Schools would not now be faced with asking the taxpayers to approve a new levy. I hope action is taken before they need the next levy.

We have heard many say that Lakewood is a built-out community and we can not create any new developments without destroying some of what is already here. Lakewood has room to the north to utilize our shoreline and expand Lakewood to add high-end housing and/or waterfront parks and/or marinas and/or retail space.

what's the cost of this plan??

Hi,
The plan or the construction of the peninsula? The plan was free. My estimate for construction of the peninsula is $50 million, but with the Federal government still looking for public works projects to stimulate the economy (and I think we could all agree that NE Ohio's economy could use serious stimulation) actual dollars needed isn't known. Further it could dovetail nicely with many projects throughout the region. The City of Cleveland created a larger peninsula off of MLK as a byproduct of dredging the Cuyahoga river. They didn't create the peninsula properly so the end result was a toxic wasteland, but it could have been properly done so the land was usable. Through many highway construction projects an incredible amount of clean fill is created that could be used here. There is an organization that coordinates stuff like this and if it became a real project then they would get involved. If that group does their job well public dollars can actually be saved.

The first step is for Lakewood City government to say "this is something we should look into". Savannah was told she could present it to the Planning Committee, she prepared documentation for the Committee, delivered it to the Planning Department. The meeting has yet to occur. Once the City wants to look into it, a feasibility study can be done. Part of that would be estimating cost.

Lakewood should get some earth movers, dig out the butt end of lakewood park, and make a nice little public beach...

Or to your point Bill. What do we relly nees in the Rockport "parking" lot? Who cares. It would be nice to just buy it all up, and plant some grass. They could throw up some nice soft lighting some rolling paths and see what happens.

The latter would cost too much money I suppose...

Hi,
I would not recommend that, Mr. DeVito. You see that is a landfill. Savannah discovered that early in her research on the history of Lakewood Park. Her Idea was to make a hillside amphitheater for concerts and whatnot. Below that she did have a public beach. The peninsula would serve as protection to keep the sand from eroding away. The peninsula also serves and the economic engine to pay for creating the beach, the amphitheater and improving Lakewood Park.

I recommend taking a look at what Lake Forest, IL did with their shoreline too. They took a cliff and made a beautiful park, beach and marina. Lakewood, OH could do something similar.

Shawn Juris wrote:For all of those who have ever uttered the phrase "Lakewood should have a (fill in the blank) store or business" or "what Lakewood really needs is a...", I have an idea and I am looking for your feedback. How far would you be willing to go to test your theory? Between making a suggestion to actually opening the doors, what would your threshold be where you would stop moving forward? What would be your biggest restraints; time, money, knowledge?

Odd to quote myself, but allow me to clarify, than if you like this can return in the direction it was going.
Whether its a parking lot, a rehabbed movie theater or the Peninsula project, how much would you be willing to invest to make the idea a reality? From soup to nuts at what point would you excuse yourself from the table (soup being the idea and nuts being running the project).
The peninsula may not fit into the program but who knows, to open shop you still need to do a market analysis, find funding, and complete a business plan.

Shawn

As you are not an entrepreneur, I am guessing as you have no idea what one would need, let
me take a crack at this.

1) Working with someone that has a successful history of starting businesses, or a group
that has a history of success.

2) Working with a group that can be trusted to not borrow ideas, and have a history
of not stealing ideas.

3) A city with non-profit business groups that help small businesses, and does not
attack private businesses for doing their business, legally.

4) A group of residents and customers that will hold those non-profits accountable for
how they spend their money to help businesses.

5) And I would certainly work with the group the LA Board Member and one of the
architects of Cleveland's Mid-town Corridor called the greatest economic development
engine he has ever witnessed.

For a start.

.

A roller rink. We need a roller rink. I want a roller rink.

In about 10 years, I'd like to open a brewery here in Lakewood. Think their will be any empty buildings then or will they be all filled up?

I used to home brew before kids. Washing and sterilizing the bottles was a pain but the rest was a lot of fun. I enjoyed coming home after work to the sweet aroma of fermenting beer, kind of flowery and fruity. My friends enjoyed end product so I know it will work.

I look on-line every now and then for some small scale commercial grade equipment. Problem is lack of time and funds which is why I say 10 years.