Downtown Lakewood Needs You!

LakewoodAlive is a non-partisan economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stability and growth in the City of Lakewood.

In 2005, Lakewood applied for and was accepted into the Main Street revitalization program, and through a community forum, designated Detroit Avenue between Arthur and Bunts as Lakewood’s Main Street area. Lakewood’s program is known as Downtown Lakewood, and operates under the auspices of LakewoodAlive.

The Main Street program, a time-tested initiative of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and administered in this state by Heritage Ohio, provides a comprehensive outline for mobilizing the community to invest not only money but energy to create a sense of pride in and attract people to the traditional commercial district. It is a volunteer-driven effort supported by a variety of stakeholders, but requires participating cities to have a program director to manage the program, coordinate volunteers, assist with program implementation and act as primary spokesperson for the organization. LakewoodAlive’s executive director, Ian Andrews, serves in that role.  

Lakewood is the only western suburb with a true downtown area—it is the community’s heart, and is essential to the character that makes Lakewood unique. The goal of the Main Street program is to rejuvenate the downtown area by focusing on a four point approach; all four points must move forward simultaneously and with equal importance:

• Organization--Providing effective management and support for human and financial resources. Gets everyone working toward the same goal. Builds consensus and cooperation among the various stakeholders.
• Economic Restructuring—Strengthening and broadening the economic base of downtown. Helps existing businesses sharpen their edge to ensure retention; recruits compatible new businesses and economic uses to build a commercial district that responds to today’s consumers’ needs. Converts unused or underused space to productive property.
• Promotion—Promoting the downtown as the community’s social, cultural and economic center. Sells a positive image which improves consumer and investor confidence in the district.
• Design—Encouraging visual improvements through good design compatible with historic features. Capitalizes on its best assets—historic buildings and walkability.

The Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance was formed as a result of the Main Street Program. It is comprised of businesses located in the Downtown footprint of Bunts to Arthur. This group of hard-working, committed people invests money, energy and philanthropy in the community. Each month in 2012, The Observer will highlight a different Downtown business. Get to know them, and support them by shopping locally. All of Lakewood benefits when you do!