ICYMI: City of Lakewood Community Bulletin, Issue No. 3

The City of Lakewood often sends city updates out with the monthly water bill. If you missed it, or you don't receive the water bill, be sure to check this one out — there are a lot of great things happening in Lakewood!

City of Lakewood Community Bulletin, Issue No. 3

Lakewood recently got a lot of attention when Thrillist named us one of the “coolest suburbs” in America’s biggest metro areas. What are they saying?

“Everyone in Lakewood already knows that Lakewood has been the place to live in Cleveland….It’s a prime location that's undergone incredible development that's legitimately good for the community. Everything you could ever want is now on Detroit Ave.”

What’s all the buzz about?

Let’s look at all that development that’s “legitimately good for the community.” Here’s a summary that every Lakewood resident can be proud of (some you can see and others are in the works):

• More than 120 small businesses have either opened or undergone major renovation in the last five years (we have more than 4,000 small businesses in our city).
• The former Christian Science Church on Detroit Avenue was purchased by Roundstone Insurance; the 45-person firm will move into the historic property within a year.
• Premier Physicians bought the former Berger Village building (formerly Busch Funeral Home) on Detroit and is bringing more healthcare options to our city.
• The vacant 19,000-square-foot former Spitzer auto dealership property on Detroit Avenue is the Wingstar Corporation’s new headquarters—they said they chose Lakewood because of the location and high quality local workforce.
• Virginia Marti School of Design is expanding into the vacant Vedda commercial building on Detroit’s east end.
• The vacant Payless shoe store was purchased to be retrofitted as an urgent care center, with physical therapy — more healthcare choices in Lakewood.
• Clifton Pointe provides 24 new housing units in a townhouse development that has rejuvenated Sloane Avenue.
• Forest City Development and Ryan Homes are building 50 new townhomes on the east end of Detroit Avenue. Estimated value: $12 million.
• Liberty Development is building 40 McKinley Place townhomes on Lakewood’s west end, including many with first-floor master bedrooms in demand in our city. Estimated value: $14 million.
• Nearly 6 acres on the old Lakewood Hospital site are being readied for redevelopment in the next 5 years. Estimated value: $60 million to $100 million.
• The Cleveland Clinic is investing upwards of $50 million in a new family health center and emergency department.
• The Solstice Steps in Lakewood Park have become a beloved attraction for residents and visitors alike.
• Next up in the plan is an overhaul of Kid’s Cove playground.
• Dozens of repaving and resurfacing projects are making our streets easier to navigate and water and sewer improvements are ensuring our future. (Take a look at an interactive map at onelakewood.com to see where it’s all happening.)

So, what does all this exciting news mean for you and your city?

• Small businesses keep opening here, joining the 4,000+ small businesses that are the foundation for our thriving economy (75% of the 12,000 workers in Lakewood work for small businesses).
• Unemployment rates here are below county, state and national averages.
• Income tax collections continue to increase year after year. In 2014/2015, the city saw an increase of 6.5% — or $1.3 million.
• Your house is worth more: Lakewood saw an average 8% growth in housing value in the 2015 reappraisal, one of only three communities in Cuyahoga County to see such improvement. That means an additional $1 million in revenues to reinvest in our city’s growth.

Congratulations, Lakewood! There is much to celebrate and much more to look forward to and appreciate! Join us in celebrating Lakewood—its growth and its future—for the Summer Solstice on Tuesday, June 21. The future looks as bright as we hope the sun will be on that special day.