Lakewood Hospital issue placed on November ballot

March 08, 2016 UPDATED 10 HOURS AGO

By LYDIA COUTRÉ 

 

Lakewood voters will have the chance in November to cast their ballots on whether to repeal the city's decision to close Lakewood Hospital and shift health care to a new family health center and emergency department.

 

Lakewood City Council voted unanimously on Monday, March 7, to put the issue to the voters after Save Lakewood Hospital gathered enough signatures place a referendum on the ballot.

 

The organization delivered the certified signatures to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections a month ago and aimed to have the issue on the March ballot, but city council did not take action.

 

Colin McEwen, city of Lakewood spokesman, said the city will save voters $90,000 by placing the issue on the ballot in November instead of an earlier special election.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160308/NEWS/160309829/lakewood-hospital-issue-placed-on-november-ballot

Lakewood City Council authorizes $1 million for Hilliard Square Theater demolition

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7006.msg796459.html#msg796459

Mixed news:  large office tenant leaves Lakewood for Cleveland.  Good news:  downtown Lakewood gets a "new" residential high-rise.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/04/lakewoods_tallest_office_build.html#incart_river_home

Mixed news:  large office tenant leaves Lakewood for Cleveland.  Good news:  downtown Lakewood gets a "new" residential high-rise.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/04/lakewoods_tallest_office_build.html#incart_river_home

 

This could be a win-win for Lakewood and Cleveland. Hoping that building gets some upgrades. The 1970's were an era where people were unsure about the value of windows.

I can see millenials jumping on these apartments in a hurry, especially those priced out of the swankier downtown dwellings.  The article states that rents "start" at $1,000/month.  Who knows where they "end," but at least some of those units are going to be reasonably priced in the heart of downtown Lakewood (which allegedly has the highest population density of any city between NYC and Chicago).  Not to mention its proximity to downtown Cleveland, Ohio City, and Tremont.

 

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but this kind of dense urban-style living at suburban prices may just be the future "business" model for inner-ring burbs like Lakewood, Cleveland Heights, and (one can hope) Euclid.  Granted, there's not a lot of existing buildings like Lakewood Center North that can be converted to residential units but hey, there's always the dream of new construction!

Who knows where they "end," but at least some of those units are going to be reasonably priced in the heart of downtown Lakewood (which allegedly has the highest population density of any city between NYC and Chicago). 

 

Ya know this is often said about Lakewood. And I don't doubt it. But for a place as dense as Lakewood it is surprisingly auto reliant. Even at the Gold Coast you would expect there to be more walkable amenities, but those residents are somewhat sequestered.

 

Being that this building is located in arguably the most walkable section of town, it may be indeed a game changer.

 

 

Downtown Lakewood is good living.  You have everything right there.  It's a long haul to Public Square on the 26, so you're still car dependent in that regard.  There are a couple of Rapid stations a short drive away though not walking distance.  Great freeway access too, if you're into that sort of thing, and 15 minutes from the airport.

 

We need as much of this as we can get.  The upper floors should demand big numbers.  I'd love to knock out that concrete and make it all glass. 

Downtown Lakewood is good living.  You have everything right there.  It's a long haul to Public Square on the 26, so you're still car dependent in that regard.  There are a couple of Rapid stations a short drive away though not walking distance.  Great freeway access too, if you're into that sort of thing, and 15 minutes from the airport.

 

We need as much of this as we can get.  The upper floors should demand big numbers.  I'd love to knock out that concrete and make it all glass. 

 

Not to derail; but IME, it takes anywhere from 30-50 minutes from public square-ish to downtown Lakewood via the 26. It's usually quicker to walk the couple blocks to Clifton and take the 55.

Office tower conversion to apartments proposed in downtown Lakewood

April 11, 2016

By STAN BULLARD

 

Lakewood is known for its Gold Coast of lakefront high-rise apartment buildings, but it may gain suites in the suburb’s downtown through a plan by owners of the 15-story Lakewood Center North office tower at 14600 Detroit Ave.

 

Taking advantage of an adverse development — the looming move of five-floor tenant New York Life to downtown Cleveland — owners of Lakewood Center North plan to convert 11 floors of the building to about 180 apartments.

 

Brad Kowit, managing member of Lakewood Center North LLC, which bought the building from a lender in a distressed sale in 2013, said the owners had a plan for retaining it as an office building if the insurer stayed and had the apartment option in mind if the long-term tenant departed.

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160411/NEWS/160419985/office-tower-conversion-to-apartments-proposed-in-downtown-lakewood

Cleveland Clinic presents early plans for Lakewood family health center

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/04/cleveland_clinic_presents_earl.html

Cleveland Clinic presents early plans for Lakewood family health center

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/04/cleveland_clinic_presents_earl.html

 

Giving CC's past architecture I'm concerned about how this building is going to treat Detroit Ave.  This is a bad sign.....

 

Regarding the architectural firm's comment about why they had not designed a Detroit Avenue entrance -

 

"sometimes violence can follow patients into an emergency room" -

Regarding the architectural firm's comment about why they had not designed a Detroit Avenue entrance -

 

"sometimes violence can follow patients into an emergency room"

 

I'm not sure how not putting an entrance on Detroit mitigates this.

Regarding the architectural firm's comment about why they had not designed a Detroit Avenue entrance -

 

"sometimes violence can follow patients into an emergency room"

 

I'm not sure how not putting an entrance on Detroit mitigates this.

 

It's the clinic....they're probably looking to put in a moat along Detroit. Or a blank wall. Or shrubbery.

^Why go thru all that trouble? I'm sure they'll just end up continueing their tradition of world class lawns.

^Why go thru all that trouble? I'm sure they'll just end up continueing their tradition of world class lawns.

 

Classic!

 

Oh, and for anyone who thinks Lakewood wouldn't allow that, they did allow barbed wire fencing along Detroit Ave. 

Lakewood seeks developer to rehabilitate historic Curtis Block building

By Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com

on April 29, 2016 at 9:27 AM

 

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The city is looking to partner with a developer to rehabilitate the historic Curtis Block building at 14501 Detroit Ave., immediately east of the former Lakewood Hospital.

 

The building was constructed between 1913 and 1925, according to the Lakewood Historical Society. It was built on the location of the original Hall homestead, a family of early settlers, at the corner of Detroit and Marlowe.

 

The city obtained ownership of the building in February as part of the agreement that shut down inpatient services at the hospital. An emergency department and outpatient services remain open at the former hospital, and the facility has been renamed Cleveland Clinic Lakewood.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/04/lakewood_seeks_developer_to_re.html

Lakewood's economic strength lies in its housing stock, city planning director says

By Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com

on May 20, 2016 at 6:20 PM

 

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The city's economic health is largely tied to the health of its housing stock, Lakewood Planning and Development Director Dru Siley told the Chamber of Commerce at a Friday meeting.

 

"We've had a remarkable run for the last several years in Lakewood's renaissance," Siley said. "We're continuing to improve. We're continuing to grow. We're continuing to reinvent ourselves."

 

One of the factors that makes the city attractive to retailers and restaurateurs is Lakewood's population density. The city, established in 1911 and covering about 6.7 square miles, has a population of more than 52,000.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/05/lakewoods_economic_strength_li.html

City Transitions Birdtown Nuisance Property Into State-of-the-Art Single Family Home

May 23, 2016

 

The city of Lakewood has taken a former four-unit apartment nuisance property in the Birdtown neighborhood, and transformed it into a single-family home complete with solar panels.

 

All this while retaining the charm of the historic neighborhood.

 

http://www.onelakewood.com/city-transitions-birdtown-nuisance-property-into-state-of-the-art-single-family-home/

Sorry to hear. Dru has been very busy in recent years!

 

Lakewood Development Director Dru Siley resigning to accept private sector job

By Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com

on May 27, 2016 at 4:15 PM, updated May 27, 2016 at 4:46 PM

 

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- City Planning and Development Director Dru Siley will leave his post in mid-June to accept a job with Liberty Development Co., which is developing commercial and residential projects in Northeast Ohio.

 

Siley has been with Lakewood's planning and development department for eight years, but today he said it was time for a change.

 

"They're a great company; it's a great opportunity," Siley said. "I was at a point in my career where I was ready to make a move. It's been a privilege to serve Lakewood, my hometown, for the past eight years."

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/05/lakewood_development_director.html

City Transitions Birdtown Nuisance Property Into State-of-the-Art Single Family Home

May 23, 2016

 

The city of Lakewood has taken a former four-unit apartment nuisance property in the Birdtown neighborhood, and transformed it into a single-family home complete with solar panels.

 

All this while retaining the charm of the historic neighborhood.

 

http://www.onelakewood.com/city-transitions-birdtown-nuisance-property-into-state-of-the-art-single-family-home/

This is pretty awesome, happy to see Lakewood taking care of Birdtown. There's so much history there. I hope that brewery opens up in the old church - last I heard plans hadn't fallen through completely.

City Transitions Birdtown Nuisance Property Into State-of-the-Art Single Family Home

May 23, 2016

 

The city of Lakewood has taken a former four-unit apartment nuisance property in the Birdtown neighborhood, and transformed it into a single-family home complete with solar panels.

 

All this while retaining the charm of the historic neighborhood.

 

http://www.onelakewood.com/city-transitions-birdtown-nuisance-property-into-state-of-the-art-single-family-home/

This is pretty awesome, happy to see Lakewood taking care of Birdtown. There's so much history there. I hope that brewery opens up in the old church - last I heard plans hadn't fallen through completely.

 

Do you have any news on what's been holding up the brewery? The owners (Barrio) seem to be doing great business as far as I can tell.

Do you have any news on what's been holding up the brewery? The owners (Barrio) seem to be doing great business as far as I can tell.

Unfortunately I don't know anything - just that in the Birdtown History walk that was done recently, they mentioned that it was still in the works.

 

Woodstock BBQ construction is coming along nicely!

Here's how it looked previously - nice to see an abused storefront come back to life.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trio's+Bar/@41.4770084,-81.7839873,3a,75y,343.72h,84.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sehTedjdkGiqNPi8Pk0BXMQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8830f21caa528b43:0x601634efb6f26863!8m2!3d41.4772049!4d-81.7839985!6m1!1e1

 

And here's how it looked today during my walk.

 

And here's a photo of the inside - couldn't change the angle without the reflections ruining the photo.

Ugh.  I hate when they don't even attempt to match when repointing bricks.   

You're talking about the past work above the glass right? Yeah, that was pretty crappily done. Here's a better photo of the glass face - https://www.facebook.com/woodstockbbq/photos/a.1682907371982517.1073741828.1681801542093100/1719016075038313/?type=3&theater.If you're talking about the bottom left, the individual bricks look pretty well matched to me. I don't know if it's possible to weather/darken the mortar lines but that would make a huge difference.

Do you have any news on what's been holding up the brewery? The owners (Barrio) seem to be doing great business as far as I can tell.

Unfortunately I don't know anything - just that in the Birdtown History walk that was done recently, they mentioned that it was still in the works.

 

Thanks. I've been really excited about Birdtown Brewing and now I'm a bit worried. It would be a tremendous catalyst for the neighborhood.

 

p.s. Much prefer the name "Woodstock" over the originally proposed "Smoke."

The makeover on Madison continues....I'm actually going to miss going past The Corner Pub at 8am and seeing the regulars there, already drunk.

 

Veronika Building (Lakewood, Cuyahoga County)

Total Project Cost: $502,760

Total Tax Credit: $82,402

Address:  12301 Madison Avenue, 44107

 

Lakewood's first Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit project, this small commercial building in the Birdtown National Register Historic District formerly housed a bar on the first floor with apartments above and behind. The 1970s storefront modifications will be removed and new wood storefronts modeled on the originals will be installed, reopening the commercial space to the street. The apartments will also be completely rehabilitated.

 

The makeover on Madison continues....I'm actually going to miss going past The Corner Pub at 8am and seeing the regulars there, already drunk.

 

Veronika Building (Lakewood, Cuyahoga County)

Total Project Cost: $502,760

Total Tax Credit: $82,402

Address:  12301 Madison Avenue, 44107

 

Lakewood's first Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit project, this small commercial building in the Birdtown National Register Historic District formerly housed a bar on the first floor with apartments above and behind. The 1970s storefront modifications will be removed and new wood storefronts modeled on the originals will be installed, reopening the commercial space to the street. The apartments will also be completely rehabilitated.

Just came here to post that. Scalish does excellent work so there will be three beautiful storefronts in a row. Go Madison/Birdtown!

Lakewood partners with developer on Birdtown home construction project

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/08/lakewood_partners_with_develop.html

Fantastic news and updates regarding the former Corner Pub building. I love Scalish, definitely one of the best in the area for small scale historic projects like this.

 

http://www.freshwatercleveland.com/devnews/Veronika080916.aspx

 

Lakewood's first historic tax credit to benefit classic 1915 building

KARIN CONNELLY RICE | TUESDAY, AUGUST 09, 2016

 

Frank Scalish, owner of Scalish Construction, is attempting to revive Northeast Ohio’s history brick by brick. His latest project is an historic 5,000-square-foot building at 12301 Madison Ave. in Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood.

 

Thanks to a $82,402 Ohio Historic Preservation tax credit, Scalish is renovating six apartments and the street-level store front of the 1915 structure constructed by Michael and Veronika Turza, who lived there until they died. Their children sold the building in the 1950s.

 

The former home of the Corner Pub, which was actually two storefronts combined into one 1,250-square-foot space, previously housed a hardware store and a candy store. Scalish is currently talking to two potential retail tenants including a coffee chain and restaurateur.

 

Scalish has already successfully uncovered the original wood storefront of the Veronika’s exterior. “What we’ve found intact we’ve refinished and restored to like the day it was built,” he boasts. “And most of the masonry is intact.” He is also restoring the building’s original glaze brick exterior while large glass doors are on order.

 

Inside, Scalish removed four ceiling layers to reveal portions of the original tin ceiling. “We should have enough to do at least one side,” he says, adding that one of the previous owners tore out the ceiling to make way for HVAC.

 

Scalish is refurbishing the original bar and the maple hardwood floors throughout the building. “It was a unique find hiding in plain sight,” he says. “We’re trying to preserve the original woodwork as much as possible.”

^ This Scalish guy sounds like a class act.

I looked at some other apartments Scalish owns a while back. He takes a lot of pride in his work you can tell. I hope he starts doing more projects in Cleveland.

Lakewood friends who are real estate agents said they're crazy-busy. And the dozens of new townhouses being built around the city are selling quickly. I've also met empty-nesters from the outer suburbs who want to buy condos in downtown Cleveland but they're only building apartments. So they're "settling" for Lakewood...

 

Lakewood housing market is 'insane'

September 11, 2016 UPDATED 3 DAYS AGO

By STAN BULLARD   

 

When Patrick and Tricia Nieser, both natives of Cleveland’s east suburbs, moved back to Northeast Ohio last month from Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood, they bought a $270,000 house on Belle Avenue in Lakewood.

 

Looking at further outlying suburbs on either side of town was not an option, because the couple sought the same walkable, close-to-activities location they had in the Queen City. They looked at 15 houses — twice the national average — and passed on several because they were overpriced and lost out on others because they were outbid.

 

When the 1908-vintage charmer came on the market, they relied on photos of the property and tours by family members as they bid on the three-bedroom home — sight unseen, as they were out of town. They landed what Patrick Nieser called “a fair deal.”

 

MORE:

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160911/NEWS/160909807/lakewood-housing-market-is-insane

So glad this eyesore is gone! Apparently it was abandoned by the owner and had mold everywhere.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4770049,-81.783612,3a,49.2y,198.92h,86.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAORQb4hTgyg2ov28FQ4x4A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

 

The two nice brick buildings beside it could use some parking.

^ BOO

So glad this eyesore is gone! Apparently it was abandoned by the owner and had mold everywhere.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4770049,-81.783612,3a,49.2y,198.92h,86.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAORQb4hTgyg2ov28FQ4x4A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

 

The two nice brick buildings beside it could use some parking.

 

Great thought, tear down the thing that actually makes Madison interesting (the buildings) for parking. Maybe we should just tear down all the buildings and there will be plenty of parking for everyone.

Yes, let's cheer the creation of missing teeth.... When does parking make a city better?

I'm afraid a lot of buildings on Madison will meet the same fate if the city doesn't step up enforcement.

Businesses need parking to survive, it's just a fact. The old Player's (I forget what it's called now) and Angelo's are always busy and fill up the municipal lots nearby their businesses.

 

Not cheering the creation of missing teeth, as someone who lives in the neighborhood and has actually seen the inside of the building, it was long gone and 5 years ago it was already past saving. Let's not tear down other buildings, the city really should step up enforcement.

 

Sent from my SHIELD Tablet K1 using Tapatalk

 

 

Now suddenly the parking lot is needed? If a business needs more customers, then it needs more density within walking distance. I moved to Lakewood not to see the urban equivalent of a snake eating its tail. You don't build a city by a sacrificing it for more parking lots. I moved to Lakewood to live in a community that sustains itself through pedestrianism which reduces the need for cars. Sometimes I just think that American cities don't trust themselves about the drug of cars.

 

EDIT: just saw a great quote from Donald Shoup, author of "The high cost of free parking":

"Americans require parking and limit density. Europeans require density and limit parking."

You're misrepresenting my viewpoint - when did I say that Lakewood should continue to destroy more buildings for parking lots? I was just looking on the bright side of something that already happened and can't be changed. I'm glad one building is gone - probably the worst condition storefront in the whole city aside from the ones connected to the Hilliard Theater. Change can't happen overnight and adding population density to that section of Lakewood just isn't going to happen (if you have ideas, I'm all ears!). Madison Village has tons of dead storefronts and parking will entice businesses to move there. You have to admit that private money in Cleveland will look at parking spaces when considering putting a store there.

 

Anyway - back on subject.

 

L.B.M., a Cocktail Bar and Kitchen, to Open in Birdtown District of Lakewood

 

 

When it opens later this year, L.B.M. (you’ll have to find out for yourself) will be a casual cocktail bar with a full-service kitchen and chef. The inspiration for the concept originated in Chicago, says Ho.

 

“Scofflaw in Chicago is my favorite bar,” he explains. “When I went three or four years ago they were doing eight-dollar cocktails. That’s what started my train of thought. If a place like that can survive in Chicago selling eight-dollar cocktails, it would kill in Cleveland.”

 

Ho says that his spot will utilize the same high-quality ingredients and talent of other cocktail bars, but at a price point that makes it more of an everyday type of place. His goal is to create a casual, comfortable environment that welcomes all budgets.

 

http://m.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/09/21/lbm-a-cocktail-bar-and-kitchen-to-open-in-birdtown-district-of-lakewood

I'm not commenting on your viewpoint. I'm commenting on the prevailing belief in America about parking vs. density. Your remarks were an occasion for me to keep my soapbox from gathering dust. And I thank you for it! ;)

The first of the Rockport townhomes were posted to the MLS today.  $237K almost seems cheap by the way things are going in Lakewood right now... :drunk:

 

Anyway, here is there zillow listing: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12123-Detroit-Ave-Lakewood-OH-44107/2097036637_zpid/

Lakewood officials discuss possible donation of city funds toward community recreation center

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/09/lakewood_officials_discuss_pos.html

Lakewood officials discuss possible donation of city funds toward community recreation center

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/09/lakewood_officials_discuss_pos.html

 

This seems like a no brainer.

Lakewood school officials discuss selling Warren Road board offices

By Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com 

on September 27, 2016 at 8:01 PM, updated September 27, 2016 at 8:14 PM

 

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – The Lakewood school board at its Oct. 3 meeting plans to discuss the possible sale of the Board of Education administrative offices at 1470 Warren Road.

 

Discussions are expected to continue during the Oct. 10 meeting.

 

District Superintendent Jeff Patterson, during a rare joint session of the school board and Lakewood City Council, announced his intention to introduce plans to sell the existing board building and move the administrative offices into the former Taft Elementary School on Lake Avenue.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2016/09/lakewood_school_officials_disc.html

Some news on the former Neubert Painting building that Barroco bought a little back.

 

Barroco owner plans Latin American-inspired Casablanca Urban Cantina in Lakewood

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/10/barroco_grill_owner_plans_lati.html

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As an artist, Juan Vergara loves the challenge of a blank canvas. The chef-owner of Barroco, the Colombian-themed restaurant that opened in Lakewood's Birdtown neighborhood in 2011, transformed a former pizza kitchen into the lively, colorful eatery it is today. On any given night, live Latin music spills into the outdoor and alley patio.

 

He'll soon add his touch to a new Latin American-inspired concept, Casablanca Urban Cantina, which he hopes to open in the summer of 2017. The bar and restaurant will take over the former Neubert Painting building at 12108 Madison Ave. With less than a quarter mile distance from Barroco, Vergara says the location allows him to never be too far from keeping a watchful eye on both restaurants.

 

"We considered other places in Cleveland, but we really wanted to keep investing in Birdtown," says Vergara. "This neighborhood is where we grew up as a restaurant."

 

Vergara is keeping his menu under wraps, but promises it will be a new concept to Cleveland, similar to the way Barroco raised the profile of arepas in the city. One of his biggest goals is to maintain a high quality at a low price point.

I will try and scan later if I can, but I received a notice in the mail about the potential development and introduction of something called Western Reserve Distillers at 14221 Madison.  It must involve some sort of code variance or the approval of  nearby residents prior to developing.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17545326/14221-Madison-Ave-Lakewood-OH/

 

http://www.westernreservedistillers.com/

Some news on the former Neubert Painting building that Barroco bought a little back.

 

Barroco owner plans Latin American-inspired Casablanca Urban Cantina in Lakewood

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/10/barroco_grill_owner_plans_lati.html

 

Great news, glad to see it's really happening. It's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen with the former Winchester Music Hall/Bevy of Birdtown venue next door.

^ Also, being open til 2:30 am every day sets this place apart. Hoping their kitchen is open as late. Right now there are very few late night options.

I will try and scan later if I can, but I received a notice in the mail about the potential development and introduction of something called Western Reserve Distillers at 14221 Madison.  It must involve some sort of code variance or the approval of  nearby residents prior to developing.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/17545326/14221-Madison-Ave-Lakewood-OH/

 

http://www.westernreservedistillers.com/

Wow, please keep us updated! That would be super cool to have right down the street. I presume they'd have a serving area on the first floor with the upper floors for production/aging? Seems perfect that it has no windows, at least for the storage aspect.

 

Cut some windows out on the first floor and put some art up on the upstairs walls. Yes please!