August 15, 20231 yr 8 hours ago, KJP said: Yes Awful. How is it we built multi use buildings for hundreds of years, with ground floor shops and 2nd floor residences, but we can't pull it off today?
August 15, 20231 yr Quote How is it we built multi use buildings for hundreds of years, with ground floor shops and 2nd floor residences, but we can't pull it off today? Largely depends who's the "We" we're talking about... For Chase I'm sure they didn't want the risks/hassle... Sticking to single-use likely saved years of negotiation, working around zoning regulations, solving for required parking minimums, more complicated financing, etc.
August 15, 20231 yr 20 minutes ago, outjet said: Largely depends who's the "We" we're talking about... For Chase I'm sure they didn't want the risks/hassle... Sticking to single-use likely saved years of negotiation, working around zoning regulations, solving for required parking minimums, more complicated financing, etc. Thank you for explaining it so concisely. It’s easy to impose what we think should be built when we don't have a clear view of what can and can’t be done at a given property, who owns the property or who has a desire/need to do what. A bank isn’t in the business of building apartments above their branch. Would it be great if a developer built a big apartment building here with a bank branch on the bottom? Yes, but an apartment developer doesn’t own the land.
August 16, 20231 yr 3 hours ago, outjet said: Largely depends who's the "We" we're talking about... For Chase I'm sure they didn't want the risks/hassle... Sticking to single-use likely saved years of negotiation, working around zoning regulations, solving for required parking minimums, more complicated financing, etc. This was also a pretty good answer to the original question regardless of who the "we" may be. These are some, not all, of the things that keep mixed use development from being more common.
August 17, 20231 yr Lakewood is busy planting more than 600 new trees Aug. 16, 2023 By John Benson, special to cleveland.com "The city’s budding tree program continues to grow stronger. For the third time in the last few years, Cuyahoga County recently awarded Lakewood a $50,000 Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant. ... The Healthy Urban Tree Canopy Grant, which finds the city also contributing $104,000 toward the effort, will pay for the planting of 485 trees over the next year around the entire community." https://www.cleveland.com/community/2023/08/using-recently-awarded-grant-money-lakewood-busy-playing-more-than-600-new-trees.html
August 30, 20231 yr Lakewood finishes Kauffman Park renovation with new multipurpose courts Aug. 30, 2023 By John Benson, special to cleveland.com Quote Kauffman Park acts as a centerpiece of recreational opportunities in Lakewood. That’s why over last two years the city has dedicated time and energy into completely reinventing the Detroit Avenue park experience. ... The $192,457 court replacement project includes a new tennis court along an adjacent multi-sport court facilitating volleyball and badminton. https://www.cleveland.com/community/2023/08/lakewood-finishes-kauffman-park-renovation-with-new-multipurpose-courts.html
September 21, 20231 yr By chance, was anyone able to attend the Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept 18th? Casto was supposed to present to the committee on updates for the hospital site. Agenda - Update from the Planning Department regarding the proposed downtown development*
September 22, 20231 yr I got ya.... Downtown Lakewood project going through phases By Ken Prendergast / September 22, 2023 Over the 60-90 days, the city and its development team will explore the feasibility of breaking up into more achievable pieces or phases the ambitious, $100-million-plus-dollar vision to redevelop the former Lakewood Hospital site in Downtown Lakewood. But city officials and the development team they chose said the basic, long-term vision for the site will remain largely unchanged from what city review boards have approved thus far. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2023/09/22/downtown-lakewood-project-going-through-phases/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 9, 20231 yr Lakewood Madison Park master plan has been released! Design seems fine to me. One thing that stood out though, it looks like the city purchased a home on Halstead and plans to demolish it to create an Eastside park entrance. https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/madison-park-master-plan/
November 19, 20231 yr A shipping container and generator/compressor trailer have popped up at the lot on the corner of Madison and Marlow. Looks like DiGioia-Suburban Excavating, LLC is doing whatever work is planned. Anyone know if the townhome project is finally getting started?
November 28, 20231 yr Lakewood's Citizen Advisory Committee has two vacancies and is accepting applications for the council nominated positions. The CAC is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and researching Community Development needs and the Consolidated Plan of the City of Lakewood. In this context, the CAC reviews various proposals for federal funds and makes recommendations to the City Council as to what programs would be funded and at what funding levels in a particular year. The CAC members analyze requests for funds in relation to the needs of the community and the amount of funds available. https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/accordions/citizens-advisory-committee/
December 8, 20231 yr A few Birdtown Neighborhood updates... Pic 1 - Signage added yesterday to the old BiRite Building as part of its transformation into "The Nest." I believe the sign refers to the tenant occupying the 2nd/3rd floor...not sure of status of 1st floor beyond Phoenix. Pics 2 & 3 - Crane dropping HVAC into the new-build portion of Birdtown Brewery this morning. Seems like this long-awaited project is finally coming to fruition? Edited December 8, 20231 yr by Blimp City
December 8, 20231 yr 14 minutes ago, Blimp City said: A few Birdtown Neighborhood updates... Pic 1 - Signage added yesterday to the old BiRite Building as part of its transformation into "The Nest." I believe the sign refers to the tenant occupying the 2nd/3rd floor...not sure of status of 1st floor beyond Phoenix. Pics 2 & 3 - Crane dropping HVAC into the new-build portion of Birdtown Brewery this morning. Seems like this long-awaited project is finally coming to fruition? Wow, I can't believe Birdtown Brewing is still happening. That was approved in 2014!
December 8, 20231 yr 19 minutes ago, Blimp City said: . Pics 2 & 3 - Crane dropping HVAC into the new-build portion of Birdtown Brewery this morning. Seems like this long-awaited project is finally coming to fruition? Wow that would be only 6 years late https://www.clevescene.com/food-drink/birdtown-brewery-takes-delivery-of-brewing-equipment-eyes-fall-opening-5015807
December 8, 20231 yr ^ kind of a weird time for a brewery to open as we are starting to see some craft brew failures.
December 8, 20231 yr I'd been spying on the brewery site all summer. I swear it was like one guy working part time, doing one sheet of drywall a week haha!!
December 8, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, freefourur said: ^ kind of a weird time for a brewery to open as we are starting to see some craft brew failures. Which others beside North High? And apparently the North High spot was just incredibly mismanaged which is why it failed so I don't think it had anything to do with the brewery market. I feel like the brewery market is pretty steady. People always need to drink! lol
December 8, 20231 yr 1 minute ago, dwolfi01 said: Which others beside North High? And apparently the North High spot was just incredibly mismanaged which is why it failed so I don't think it had anything to do with the brewery market. I feel like the brewery market is pretty steady. People always need to drink! lol Terrestrial Brewery just filed bankruptcy. There's many national breweries that are folding and/or consolidating.
December 8, 20231 yr Add R. Shea in Akron and Anheuser closing Platform to the local list. And Saucy came back asking for money to fund their expansion even though they closed a taproom in Detroit and pulled out of the expansion in Independence within the last year.
December 8, 20231 yr 44 minutes ago, dwolfi01 said: I feel like the brewery market is pretty steady. People always need to drink! lol If by steady you mean steady state, then I agree. I think the market is basically saturated at this point, every new successful brewery is probably going to push out another less successful one. Not a bad thing, just what it is.
December 8, 20231 yr 52 minutes ago, freefourur said: Terrestrial Brewery just filed bankruptcy. There's many national breweries that are folding and/or consolidating. Damn totally forgot about that one. From the article it sounded like they bit off more than they could chew with that expansion. Sounded like finance costs went up and now they are struggling on funding the completion of the expansion. Which is a bummer. I liked that place. But hopefully they can stay open. It's a great place to go and pet all the dogs lol.
December 8, 20231 yr Platform had a whole thing going on that doesn't really reflect on the brewery industry overall. Allegedly some pretty shady stuff. Also, didn't their entire staff walk out at one point because of poor treatment?
December 8, 20231 yr I’m sure a brewery will do great there. I think any closings have less to do with breweries than with the inherent risks of restaurant operation.
December 8, 20231 yr 3 minutes ago, bumsquare said: I’m sure a brewery will do great there. I think any closings have less to do with breweries than with the inherent risks of restaurant operation. I think if the food is decent and it's a fun informal place to take the kids after sports it will fill a needed niche.
January 11, 20241 yr Most exciting news from this is Cleveland Bagel *should* be opening their Lakewood shoppe later this year! Trinity Church adaptive-reuse project under way in Lakewood Published: Jan. 10, 2024 By John Benson, special to cleveland.com LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Roughly four years after Scalish Construction purchased the former Trinity Church property, construction started late last year on the $3.75 million Detroit Avenue adaptive-reuse project. ... The adaptive-reuse concept calls for the transformation of the former church and two vacant commercial storefronts, as well as the construction of up to 10 new residential units, the addition of several public areas and the repurposing of existing retail buildings for small businesses. https://www.cleveland.com/community/2024/01/former-trinity-church-property-adaptive-reuse-project-underway-in-lakewood.html
January 11, 20241 yr Great news for me!! It's a (very) little thing but l think their baggles are the best and since l retired from the Clinic and live in Lakewood l haven't been able to get them very often. Oh, and good news on the adaptive re-use of a church too lol.
January 11, 20241 yr 20 minutes ago, cadmen said: baggles I'm going to start calling them baggles, too!
January 11, 20241 yr As desirable as Lakewood is, it’s mind boggling how it’s so difficult for anything new to get developed in that city.
January 11, 20241 yr Ya living in Lakewood is great, but any project you want to do big or small goes through permit hell.
January 11, 20241 yr 24 minutes ago, marty15 said: As desirable as Lakewood is, it’s mind boggling how it’s so difficult for anything new to get developed in that city. I personally know two contractors who won't work in the city. I worked concrete in high school, and they almost arrested us for pouring 5 sidewalk blocks without having the permit on us (though it'd been pulled). Cops showed up, we let the concrete dry, then had to rip it up because they wouldn't let us finish it.
January 11, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, marty15 said: As desirable as Lakewood is, it’s mind boggling how it’s so difficult for anything new to get developed in that city. Is Lakewood really still that "in demand" or is it just its own bubble? What I mean by that is they refuse to build new housing it seems so either people move from one house to the next in Lakewood , people move out Lakewood completely and someone fills the house or houses sit vacant? Didn't Lakewood have the highest percentage population loss out of any city in Cuyahoga county last census? Just a question I was pondering the other day. Edited January 11, 20241 yr by TDi
January 11, 20241 yr 15 minutes ago, TDi said: Is Lakewood really still that "in demand" or is it just its own bubble in that they refuse to build new housing so either people move from one house to the next in Lakewood , people move out Lakewood and someone fills the house or houses sit vacant? Didn't Lakewood have the highest percentage population loss out of any city in Cuyahoga county last census? Just a question I was pondering the other day. From my Cleveland MSA census data spreadsheet 😆 And to answer your other question: East Cleveland had the highest percentage population loss 2010-2020 (-22.7%) followed by Cleveland (-6.1%). Edited January 11, 20241 yr by Geowizical
January 11, 20241 yr 8 minutes ago, Geowizical said: From my Cleveland MSA census data spreadsheet 😆 And to answer your other question: East Cleveland had the highest percentage population loss 2010-2020 (-22.7%) followed by Cleveland (-6.1%). This is why I love this forum, someone always has the data ready to go. I read it on Cleveland.com and now that I read it again it says highest percentage decline of cities over 50k population.
January 11, 20241 yr 45 minutes ago, TDi said: Is Lakewood really still that "in demand" or is it just its own bubble? What I mean by that is they refuse to build new housing it seems so either people move from one house to the next in Lakewood , people move out Lakewood completely and someone fills the house or houses sit vacant? Didn't Lakewood have the highest percentage population loss out of any city in Cuyahoga county last census? Just a question I was pondering the other day. I lived in Lakewood for 20 years. The population definitely declined, but there’s seldom a vacant house anywhere. Just smaller families than in the past, and no new development to foster any growth.
January 11, 20241 yr If there was more new development or redevelopment in Lakewood it would sell like crazy.
January 12, 20241 yr 16 minutes ago, coneflower said: If there was more new development or redevelopment in Lakewood it would sell like crazy. It's actually perplexing more isn't going on. When you compare the pace of growth to Detroit-Shoreway, Ohio City, Tremont etc. it makes one wonder.
January 12, 20241 yr 7 minutes ago, surfohio said: It's actually perplexing more isn't going on. When you compare the pace of growth to Detroit-Shoreway, Ohio City, Tremont etc. it makes one wonder. I agree and that is why I started questioning it. Do the developers see something we don't or is it truly just the city getting in the way
January 12, 20241 yr 17 minutes ago, TDi said: I agree and that is why I started questioning it. Do the developers see something we don't or is it truly just the city getting in the way Like I mentioned above, I personally know a few contractors who won't bid projects in the city
January 12, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, TDi said: I agree and that is why I started questioning it. Do the developers see something we don't or is it truly just the city getting in the way Probably for the same reasons Lakewood Hospital is gone, and New York Life and Roundstone Insurance left. Basically all the major employers got out.
January 12, 20241 yr That's interesting the population has actually declined. I was away for about 5 years and after moving back, Lakewood feels much "busier" to me in terms of traffic/congestion so I had assumed it grew.
January 12, 20241 yr Lakewood's historical population is down about 20,000 from a high of about 70,000 in 1970. Unlike many cities in the region (East Cleveland is a perfect example) I don't believe this is largely due to "flight" or the decline of its housing infrastructure which has remained largely intact. I would guess a large part of the decline is that people now just don't have the large families that were common in the 50's and 60's, especially in a city like Lakewood that was significantly Catholic. This of course would not explain recent population loses as Shaker Hts., another inner ring suburb with less density, grew according to the last census after years of population lose.
January 12, 20241 yr 20 minutes ago, Jax said: That's interesting the population has actually declined. I was away for about 5 years and after moving back, Lakewood feels much "busier" to me in terms of traffic/congestion so I had assumed it grew. Also have to think of Lakewood as a destination that draws visitors from outside the city. I have a similar experience having lived there until 2010 then moving away. When I came back years later, I was surprised by the number of new restaurants and shops. It's worth coming across town to visit and stay awhile. I chose Lakewood as a young 20-something because it was "happening" and affordable (I couldnt swing downtown or Ohio City) and to me it feels even more lively. It's got something for every generation. When I moved back, I actually thought I'd buy there but all the available options at the time were way too big. I also think prices have gone up a lot.
January 12, 20241 yr If anyone could direct me to the appropriate thread, I'd be more than happy to share and my full population analysis there (condensed for ease of access) for those interested in the growth trends for other cities in the Cleveland MSA as well. There's lots of interesting stuff in the data, especially looking at the last 10 years which is probably most relevant... Edited January 12, 20241 yr by Geowizical
January 12, 20241 yr Another factor is that many multi-family homes in Lakewood have been renovated as single-family homes, often reducing the number of residents per structure and raising the value of those structures. To keep this on topic, I find it interesting that the city seems to have few reported problems processing these conversion applications as compared to the commercial development projects. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 12, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, KJP said: To keep this on topic, I find it interesting that the city seems to have few reported problems processing these conversion applications as compared to the commercial development projects. I'm sure converting to single family has the full support of otherwise NIMBYs. They like to keep the riff-raff out 🙄
January 12, 20241 yr 5 hours ago, KJP said: Another factor is that many multi-family homes in Lakewood have been renovated as single-family homes, often reducing the number of residents per structure and raising the value of those structures. To keep this on topic, I find it interesting that the city seems to have few reported problems processing these conversion applications as compared to the commercial development projects. Yep. A 2 family on my street was flipped to a single with open floor plan and gray and white interior. Sold for nearly $500k with a sloping front porch.
January 13, 20241 yr ^ Interesting. I've lived in and around Lakewood a good chunk of my life and never knew this was happening. Are these conversions of the ubiquitous Lakewood doubles or different kinds of houses?
January 13, 20241 yr Noticed this developer is trying to unload their project site for the townhomes on Madison. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Madison-Lakewood-OH-44107/2053826350_zpid/
January 13, 20241 yr Liberty's original plan was these 16 townhomes - if the plan doesn't make sense anymore with 2023 economics, we may be watching the grass grow here for a while.
Create an account or sign in to comment