Sunday, November 23, 2014

"IMAGINE" john lennon

Imagine your Downtown Painesville.

A resent poster claimed I was miserable living here in Painesville. As I explained to them I was far from miserable and bewildered seem to be a better impression of what I see around town.

Look many things that seem cut and dry to me just aren't viewed the same with others around here especially people who are in charge.

One example is the Barnes Ave. property rezoning that went in front of the Planning Commission instead of the Zoning Commission? Then after Planning passed or O.K.ed legislation 5-0 to make those properties R1 the motion went before council and even after explanations and photographs three members of council believed for some reason or another this measure should pass? thankfully three on council showed good common sense to leave this property zoning alone.

The speed in which at home built in 1836 that presently isn't bothering anyone must face the axe. Maybe a savior will be found and if not many of the structural pieces could give another old home life.

Everything from the old hotel that went back and forth between the city and the port authority as to why Painesville regained possession of the property with no explanation, to the constant changing goals of the old hospital site.

Never mind council people voting  on 30/50 year electric deals that have millions of dollars at stake all of them with probably the same knowledge of electricity as the average Painesville resident. You flip a switch or check a breaker box if that doesn't work you call someone to fix it. Who advised that council on these deals?

People in city leadership positions go on a national news show and welcome legal as well as illegals to Painesville... and when they come it's their fault?

Now comes the deal of the "NEW"Century Downtown Painesville Streetscape. Was this project brought forward as a way to get people here to forget about losing the hospital? Attending the "stakeholder Meetings" it sometimes appeared we were building Disneyland instead of a revitalized downtown. How many times have we done this since the 1960's?

The many Painesville residents who approached council and the city manager at that time that Rite-Aid who was building at State and Erie would spend the same amount of money to move the building if the city provided the property. (Check city council minutes) Now we have an empty building for how long with a price tag of $500,000 that has never been used for nothing. The $500,000 price is a pipe dream.

$1,300,000 for the revitalization of Main St.? Yes I know a large portion was Grant money but still.

Now I find out the rumor had some fact behind it  appears 154 Main St. is for sale all 6,700 sq.ft    . @ $174,900.  Here all along I thought the idea was that streetscape would promote growth in our downtown area.
"Your guess is as good as Vine"?

Recently at a meeting outside of town a Bowling Green student asked me about Lake Erie College? There statement was pretty blunt. "There just wasn't anything there for me she claimed, not even a coffee shop". My short answer we have a Dunkin' Donuts. I love D.D coffee! She just sighed.

21 Comments:

At November 23, 2014 at 8:26 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've heard that City Council and the Administration have ignored the concerns of the Senior Center and The Center is now looking at property in the Township. How do you lose the Senior Center?1? Oh wait this is the same group that lost a Hospital.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 5:22 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry Term but it is CVS that is building on state and Erie st.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 10:02 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I guess I pretty much agree with your line of thinking (which scares me a little bit).
I guess all we can do is vote and then sit back with popcorn and what what happens.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 10:58 AM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

10:02 Scary Uh? If this city was a sitcom I'd call it the "Big Bust Theory".
5:22 And at what location is the Rite-Aid at? Right across the street.
8:26 I was under the impression former council-president William Horvath was president of the Painesville Senior Center. I was planning a future post on the senior center maybe now sooner than later.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 12:10 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I called Waste Management and asked why the bags of leaves are still sitting on the curbs. How long has it been, 2 weeks plus? No reason given. They will look into it.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 1:29 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

12:10 I don't know if "leaf collection" is under yard waste. But the city was out with it's rented garbage truck picking them up.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 2:45 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I called the city utility department Monday about leaves, several times and could not reach a live person.

 
At November 24, 2014 at 5:40 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

2:45 Call your councilman.

 
At November 25, 2014 at 6:03 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

How many bigger, better new & improved drug stores do we need? We NEED a grocery store - a real chain grocery store. Enough drugstores and convenient marts. Coffee shop would be nice. Dunkin had great coffee but it's no Java Joes. Sure do miss the old days.

 
At November 26, 2014 at 11:10 AM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

6:03 Be glad for the drug stores. I've checked with major food retailers about visiting Painesville. Only got one response from grocery chain in Pa. Painesville has the wrong demographics for a major grocery store. We are the poorest location in the county with the fewest cars per capita and we seem to be surrounded by more affluent communities. Our best bet? An Aldi or a Save-Alot Another possibility is a Cleveland chain called Dave's. Another thing blocking is that many of these stores mentioned locate in existing building which Painesville currently doesn't have.
This doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

 
At November 26, 2014 at 11:14 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You will never find a Dave's in an area that is looking to improve. Seeing a Dave's move in is NOT good news.

 
At November 26, 2014 at 11:25 AM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

11:14 There is a Dave's at Wilson Mills Rd. and Green Rd. seems like a nice neighborhood?

 
At November 26, 2014 at 12:15 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've written a letter to Santa and have asked for: A Dave's Super Market on the old Hospital site. A Coffee Shoppe on Veteran's Square. A new Senior Center on the old Hospital site [South of High Street]. An Urgent Care in the Chase Building. And a Partridge in a Pear Tree. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

 
At November 26, 2014 at 12:21 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

112:15 What no Nordstrom's? Must have not been at the stakeholder's meeting they proposed just about everything.
Seriously you asked for some reasonable do able things. Hope for all of us your letter get's results.

 
At November 26, 2014 at 12:32 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Term,
Look a little closer at that neighborhood and I suspect your opinion might change. Mayfield is not what it was when we were younger.
Like 12:15, I could hope for lots of this things because, as of now, we got nuthin!

 
At November 26, 2014 at 12:53 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Recently heard Aldi's is going to build a new store in Madison.

Coffee SHops- They are tough to make money at unless you can have plenty of traffic in day and evenings. Had many discussions with former owners of coffee shops and lack of other things bringing people downtown in evenings make it tough to make money. People buy coffee and linger, not necsaarily spending much money while you pay rent on all the square footage.

 
At November 26, 2014 at 3:36 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

12:53 The student from Bowling Green could not believe there wasn't a Starbucks or even a local coffee shop. College kids spend money right?
I guess my point is that empty building generate income more than an occupied building? Yes I agree it's a tough business.

12:32 What neighborhood hasn't changed? I get your point but my points is maybe those "people" have good incomes? Your judging things like its 1965. Why?

 
At November 27, 2014 at 10:33 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad for drugstores? They are all OVERPRICED. As are the convenience stores. Who has that kind of money to do a weeks worth of shopping there? (check out the food stampers at those stores)Giant Eagle is a little better if you buy the store brands but as a whole they are expensive too.

 
At November 27, 2014 at 4:51 PM , Blogger Sandy Miller said...

Since we're wishing...... I wish we had taken the million plus dollars and used it as incentives towards rent for new innovative businesses in downtown..... Like a coffee shop.
Food coop/grocery store, book store, craft brewery.... anything
I know Streetscapes was grant driven but we kicked in a good portion non grant money. Somehow this city has to get businesses to want to put down a stake. Right now, I would not put much stake here and I live here and am invested here with a home.

 
At November 27, 2014 at 5:03 PM , Anonymous TERM>> said...

10:33 My point was be glad anybody made an investment in Painesville. I agree you shouldn't do a weeks grocery shopping there. Bring back the demographics of how many don't own vehicles. Take the bus I guess.
Sandy this local bureaucracy seems to believe putting the cart in front of the horse. As I mentioned who will stand up and tell us how great this expense is?

 
At December 1, 2014 at 12:35 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

In a town this small, you don't always need a vehicle. I see many out walking, walk to the store it's healthy. Get to know your neighbor and offer them some help. Even Fairport has a grocery store (small and overpriced, not what we need here but they have one.

 

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