Lakewood, Ohio: Struggles to Get Land for Development

Lakewood, an older westside suburb of Cleveland, is concerned about its dwindling economic base. Businesses, jobs and tax base are skipping past this inner ring suburb and landing in newer, faster growing suburbs to the West of the City.

In response to this need, City officials have developed Campaign for Lakewood's Future, which is a sizable redevelopment initiative that would give the City the land area it needs to expand and grow.

Greater Cleveland's business community is throwing support and resources behind Lakewood's proposed West End redevelopment. The Greater Cleveland Growth Association is campaigning for approval of a West End-project referendum. It will appear as Issue 47 on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The $151 million project would bring offices, condominiums and shops to the suburb's western end, south of Detroit Avenue. The project has sparked opposition and lawsuits - more than 50 homes and 500 apartment units would be razed, with Lakewood ready to use eminent domain to take the property from unwilling sellers.

These are never easy issues to contend with, especially when residents must give up their homes and relocate to make the land area available. This is a typical first-tier suburban development story in this regard.

Lakewood is an attractive "new urbanist" style city that is liveable and walkable. It has a creative base that can be grown to enrich the quality of life for residents and offer an attractive location for "cultural creatives" who want to start their own businesses. This sounds like the perfect development project to help the City reach its future development potential.

In the final analysis, Lakewood voters will be asked to decide. One for sure, if the City does not experience new commercial and residential development, it will lose out to its more land-rich and ready community neighbors.

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