Time Runs Out On The Edwards Parking Lot
Time Expired on the Edwards Parking Lot
Council 05.01.06
Council President Robert Seelie called the May 1, 2006 meeting to order at 8:00 after an extended committee of the whole meeting.
The first item of business was a resolution offered by council member Kevin Butler (ward one) commending Prudential Lucien Realty. This firm is opening a large branch office at 18630 Detroit and has made extensive renovations to that storefront. Mayor Thomas George commented, "it's a healthy sign for Lakewood when a real estate company moves in." Ron Lucien and one of the firm's top agents, Paula Reed, were on hand for the customary photo.
The two proposed ordinances to build and operate a municipal parking lot at Edwards and Detroit failed by a vote of 6 to 1.
A familiar part of civics classes has been the segment called "how a bill is passed." This describes the process of legislating in our form of government. Describing and chronicling the opposite, "why a proposal failed" can be equally instructive about how a unit of government works.
It all started with the exchange of a few remarks between Planning Director Thomas Jordan and property owner Angelo Coutris at the groundbreaking of the new YMCA last year. Coutris, a member of the YMCA advisory board, brought up the idea of a parking lot on two parcels that he owns at Detroit and Edwards Avenues. Jordan was receptive to the idea because of the ever present need for more parking in the business districts in Lakewood.
A small working group including Jordan, Coutris, and Butler drew up a plan which would include demolition of two houses on the lots, building the parking lot, and leasing it to Coutris' holding company to operate. This plan then started getting a wider audience and scrutiny. One of the first to enter the fray was adjacent homeowner Michael Gill. The Lakewood Historical Society became a participant because one of the structures involved is the Hall House, one of Lakewood's first homes. Chick Holtkamp, also a major property owner started to look at the project.
The rescue of the Hall House also became an issue after the entry of the Historical Society into the discussion. Preservation of that house moved up on the list of priorities because of the attention brought to the matter.
The proposal was given a first reading at council six weeks ago and was met with tepid response. Council member Butler then held a neighborhood meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church for all interested parties. At that meeting, all the public and unspoken objections came to the surface. Foremost among the concerns was the apparent rewarding of a business that people had ongoing complaints with (McCarthy's) with a city subsidized parking lot.
Two weeks later in committee of the whole meetings and before the full council Jordan laid out the case for the need for additional parking in that area and how this proposal fit in with the larger plan of the city to provide that parking. The positions of the major players started to gel.
Council member Ryan Demro (ward two), pointed out that Coutris' houses on these parcels and elsewhere in the city had many code violations. To Demro, this would seem to disqualify Coutris from benefiting from city assistance in this parking lot proposal.
The Lakewood Historical Society found a champion in Coutris who agreed to give the society the Hall House and in Chick Holtkamp who offered a section on one of his parcels and moving costs for the structure.
Council member Mary Louse Madigan (ward four) was openly skeptical of Jordan's assertion of parking needs and how he applied that need to this location.
Council member Robert Seelie (ward three) found that this proposal met the overall plan for parking and this opportunity had to be taken while it was available.
The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce joined in by reminding council that this expansion of parking was exactly what the chamber has been advocating for several years.
The final stop of this legislative journey was at tonight's meeting. The YMCA became a last minute entry into the equation. Glen Haley, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland YMCA, along with Jordan, presented a plan by Lakewood YMCA to build a day care center on the proposed lot for which this additional parking was crucial.
If the proponents of this lot thought that this last minute tweak by the YMCA would turn the tide, their strategy proved wrong. Council members subjected this new change to harsh questioning which emphasized their dissatisfaction with the constantly changing plan.
In the committee of the whole, Seelie used personal appeals along with some deft parliamentary maneuvering to allow the full council to vote on the two proposals a short time later. As items two and four under old business the two ordinances were voted down with only Seelie voting in favor.
As it stands now, Coutris can build the parking lots on his own and control them as he sees fit.
Paula Reed, president of the Historical Society said, "We're back to square one with the Hall House. We have every intention of working on this to try and save the Hall House."
In corridor comments - a Lakewood Observer exclusive feature- Robert Seelie said "I'm frustrated. I thought this was the right thing to do so I held my position to the end."
However, as the great political philosopher Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'till it's over." Therefore, observers should keep an eye on this lot for the next game.
Reported by Stan Austin, Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter
Council 05.01.06
Council President Robert Seelie called the May 1, 2006 meeting to order at 8:00 after an extended committee of the whole meeting.
The first item of business was a resolution offered by council member Kevin Butler (ward one) commending Prudential Lucien Realty. This firm is opening a large branch office at 18630 Detroit and has made extensive renovations to that storefront. Mayor Thomas George commented, "it's a healthy sign for Lakewood when a real estate company moves in." Ron Lucien and one of the firm's top agents, Paula Reed, were on hand for the customary photo.
The two proposed ordinances to build and operate a municipal parking lot at Edwards and Detroit failed by a vote of 6 to 1.
A familiar part of civics classes has been the segment called "how a bill is passed." This describes the process of legislating in our form of government. Describing and chronicling the opposite, "why a proposal failed" can be equally instructive about how a unit of government works.
It all started with the exchange of a few remarks between Planning Director Thomas Jordan and property owner Angelo Coutris at the groundbreaking of the new YMCA last year. Coutris, a member of the YMCA advisory board, brought up the idea of a parking lot on two parcels that he owns at Detroit and Edwards Avenues. Jordan was receptive to the idea because of the ever present need for more parking in the business districts in Lakewood.
A small working group including Jordan, Coutris, and Butler drew up a plan which would include demolition of two houses on the lots, building the parking lot, and leasing it to Coutris' holding company to operate. This plan then started getting a wider audience and scrutiny. One of the first to enter the fray was adjacent homeowner Michael Gill. The Lakewood Historical Society became a participant because one of the structures involved is the Hall House, one of Lakewood's first homes. Chick Holtkamp, also a major property owner started to look at the project.
The rescue of the Hall House also became an issue after the entry of the Historical Society into the discussion. Preservation of that house moved up on the list of priorities because of the attention brought to the matter.
The proposal was given a first reading at council six weeks ago and was met with tepid response. Council member Butler then held a neighborhood meeting at Trinity Lutheran Church for all interested parties. At that meeting, all the public and unspoken objections came to the surface. Foremost among the concerns was the apparent rewarding of a business that people had ongoing complaints with (McCarthy's) with a city subsidized parking lot.
Two weeks later in committee of the whole meetings and before the full council Jordan laid out the case for the need for additional parking in that area and how this proposal fit in with the larger plan of the city to provide that parking. The positions of the major players started to gel.
Council member Ryan Demro (ward two), pointed out that Coutris' houses on these parcels and elsewhere in the city had many code violations. To Demro, this would seem to disqualify Coutris from benefiting from city assistance in this parking lot proposal.
The Lakewood Historical Society found a champion in Coutris who agreed to give the society the Hall House and in Chick Holtkamp who offered a section on one of his parcels and moving costs for the structure.
Council member Mary Louse Madigan (ward four) was openly skeptical of Jordan's assertion of parking needs and how he applied that need to this location.
Council member Robert Seelie (ward three) found that this proposal met the overall plan for parking and this opportunity had to be taken while it was available.
The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce joined in by reminding council that this expansion of parking was exactly what the chamber has been advocating for several years.
The final stop of this legislative journey was at tonight's meeting. The YMCA became a last minute entry into the equation. Glen Haley, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland YMCA, along with Jordan, presented a plan by Lakewood YMCA to build a day care center on the proposed lot for which this additional parking was crucial.
If the proponents of this lot thought that this last minute tweak by the YMCA would turn the tide, their strategy proved wrong. Council members subjected this new change to harsh questioning which emphasized their dissatisfaction with the constantly changing plan.
In the committee of the whole, Seelie used personal appeals along with some deft parliamentary maneuvering to allow the full council to vote on the two proposals a short time later. As items two and four under old business the two ordinances were voted down with only Seelie voting in favor.
As it stands now, Coutris can build the parking lots on his own and control them as he sees fit.
Paula Reed, president of the Historical Society said, "We're back to square one with the Hall House. We have every intention of working on this to try and save the Hall House."
In corridor comments - a Lakewood Observer exclusive feature- Robert Seelie said "I'm frustrated. I thought this was the right thing to do so I held my position to the end."
However, as the great political philosopher Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over 'till it's over." Therefore, observers should keep an eye on this lot for the next game.
Reported by Stan Austin, Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter
Volume 2, Issue 10, Posted 2:02 PM, 05.10.06