Getting the City’s Housing Stock Ready for the Next 100 Years

Most Lakewood officials typically agree: Getting ready for the next 100 years is one of the biggest challenges facing the city.

LakewoodAlive is hosting a community forum — “Housing: A New Approach for a New Century” — to address that very issue.

The event, open to the public, is slated to take place at at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Ian Andrews, the executive director of LakewoodAlive, said that the city and the economic delveopment organization have partnered with homeowners and investors to fix code violations and provide resources to help stabilize the community.

“Further strengthening our Lakewood’s housing stock is critically important for the success of this community,” Andrews said.

“This forum offers residents a chance to learn about the City’s Housing Forward program, LakewoodAlive’s collaborative housing outreach program, and gain insight from a great panel of housing specialists.” 

Mayor Michael Summers and Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, will be on hand to present the city’s strategy, which includes the city’s recent housing survey.

Hilary Schickler, LakewoodAlive’s director of housing outreach, will also provide information on the non-profit’s housing outreach program.

The panel for the evening will feature:

• Heidi Finniff: First Federal of Lakewood
• Bill Gaydos: Appraiser
• Eric Lowery: Realtor
• Michael Molinski: Lakewood Architectural Board of Review
• Hilary Schickler: LakewoodAlive
• Dru Siley: City of Lakewood