The Observation Deck

I was startled to see that the building at Edwards and Detroit had been knocked down yesterday. I know I heard discussion about the building being too far gone to save-- I think Michael Gill was talking about it. I haven't heard anything about what's supposed to go there. Does anybody know?

I heard that the Detroit Theater-- a beautiful building is in no way past saving is next, even that the demolition is starting today, though I didn't see any construction fences up.

My kids told me that they were not going with me to take pictures and they didn't want to see it-- and were happy that they don't live near it the way we live near the ex-Lutheran church.

In Collinwood the CDC bought our old theater, called the LaSalle, and are holding it until a good use can be found for it. Northeast Shores is a Community Development Corporation, not an "Economic" Development one like Lakewood Alive, but man, that neighborhood has so few resources compared to Lakewood, and yet they dug in and bought that, and hold meetings with the community talking about proposals, studying what other communities have done, etc. Is an Economic Dev Corp at odds with a Community Dev Corp? The economic developments should be good for the community right? Or else what are they doing? If "the community"s needs are not met, they will move out. If the location isn't friendly to "residents" I mean, residents, then people won't move in. "I hear Lakewood keeps tearing down its vintage buildings and putting up corporate chains." And not in their vacant properties. (Detroit theater, without the theater running had four tenants, two businesses on the street and two rented apartments upstairs--one was the home of the projectionist, you know, Lakewood-style.)

Would Collinwood welcome another McDonalds? Yes, but not in that location, there are so many other empty locations where a McDonalds could build that wouldn't require knocking down a beautiful building that holds so many memories for the neighborhood. They certainly wouldn't say to McDonalds, Hey if you move off of that primo property right by the lake, we got a building going cheap on East 185th st. (The Collinwood neighborhood McDonald's is right on Lake Erie! Right next to three public beaches, and two public parks!)

I know, I know, if I like it so much, why don't I move there? (??? How about them schools? I know. Schools are important aren't they?)

I'm probably repeating myself.

Anyway.

If anybody feels like chaining themselves to the Detroit Theater, I guess the time is drawing nigh. I guess the problem is that we left the theater.




Betsy Voinovich

Betsy--- As of this morning the chain link fences and a dumpster surround the Detroit Theater parking lot.

A day away from the end, the Detroit Theater stands silent.


Many great memories walking into the Detroit Theater.


I had even gotten used to the many fine frescoes adorning the building.


No matter how much I have to accept the inevitable, it is sad seeing this Lakewood landmark
in bondage ready to die tomorrow.

.

_________________
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Does anyone know what is happening to the marquee?

Christina

I wondered that as I rode by yesterday, thinking that's an iconic thing. It's also huge.

Someone with a new building design . . . perhaps very nearby . . . would have a great story to tell if they'd incorporate that classic sign into a new building design.

But good news for Woodward! People cutting through will slow down, probably.


While covering Earthday I cut down the sleepy Spring Garden Avenue. Always a nice
easy street to cut down to Detroit...


Dunkin Donuts, packed, the drive-thru overflowing in all directions, making it tough
getting through. So after waiting about a minute it settled down. Then I realized I
forgot my phone so went home, let the dogs out, had a cup of coffee, then went out again.


Street was still packed with drive-thru traffic 20 minutes later.


I was so amazed I stopped to film the mini-traffic jam, that continued until I lost interest.
Please note, there is no traffic on Detroit, just a traffic jam on Spring Garden!

I guess they are doing OK.

.

_________________
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
Werner Heisenberg

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Lakewood is touted as "walkable" ... not "drivable." Why aren't these people walking to DD?

Or perhaps these are all the folks who thought (while whizzing down I-90), "Hey, honey ... why don't we get off the highway here in Lakewood, drive down a bunch of side streets all the way down to Detroit Avenue and go to that nice new Dunkin Donuts shop they have there in Downtown Lakewood©?" And The Wife responds, "no ... let's wait for their new McDonald's to open so we can (proverbially) kill two birds with one stone."

These streets aren't going to be very walkable either--if Jim's pictures of Spring Garden are any indication-- which is a shame considering the great volume of students who use these streets to get from Madison (Harding) to Detroit and north. Though these same students have to be a big segment of the consumer population McDonald's is counting on. Healthy after-school snacks, after you're done winding your way through the cars on foot. Maybe we should have just one Middle School and it should be Garfield, there's a little more room down there for humans.

Betsy Voinovich