Surf's Up! Can Northeast Ohio Catch the Sustainability Wave?

Thursday, May 29th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Atrium
Cleveland State University
Glickman-Miller Hall
· 1717 Euclid Avenue

Northeast Ohio has the potential to become a center for sustainable business, technology and industry. Several local firms already focus on sustainability. Who are they and how can we attract others? What do we need to do to create a national identity as a center for sustainability?

This interactive dialogue to explore the possibilities will be moderated by Tom Waltermire, Chief Executive Officer, Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO).

AIA CEU's Available
Free and open to the public.

To register and for more information visit www.urban.csuohio.edu/forum or call 216.523.7330

Housing in cities and neighborhoods that require lengthy commutes and provide few transportation alternatives to the private vehicle are falling in value more precipitously than in more central, compact and accessible places," begins a May 2008 study by CEOS for Cities. The full 27-page study, available without charge at the web site above, looks at housing values in five cities with housing both close to and far from the city core. The well-documented report gathers data from dozens of other cities and concludes with five policy implications:

* The relative decline in prices in sprawling suburbs is likely to persist because of the continued high price of gas, and governments should plan accordingly.

* The market for higher density and redevelopment in close-in neighborhoods is likely to grow stronger, and local land use plans should accommodate this shift.

* Government can help families save money by making it easy and convenient to live in mixed-use, close-in neighborhoods served by transit.

* Reducing vehicle miles traveled reduces oil consumption, cuts greenhouse gases and the trade deficit, and saves families money that can be spent on other things that better stimulate the local economy.

* Many distant exurban developments may no longer be economical, and propping up building and homeownership in these areas encourages unsustainable settlement that makes families even more vulnerable to future gas price increases.

Founded in 2001, CEOs for Cities is a national network of mayors, corporate CEOs, university presidents, foundation officials and business and civic leaders who are urging cities to make the most of their assets by building new leadership partnerships around urban innovations.

See article

Welcome, Welcome! To two new businesses on Main Street Lakewood:

Green Smart Gifts located at 14534 Detroit next to Aladdins (see hotlinnk below)
Great Gardens Ltd in renovated office space at 14235 Detroit.
We are so glad you are here!

Don't miss the GRAND RE-OPENING of our beloved and spectacular Lakewood Public Library, this Sunday, June 1 at 12 noon. Architect Robert Stern will speak.

J to the 4th a young band that successfully auditioned to perform in the Band2gether summer concert series in downtown Lakewood, will be on Robin Swododa's "That's Life" tomorrow at 10am on Fox 8. J to the 4th will be announcing their date to play at the Band2gether concert series on tomorrow's show! Band2gether performances will be on Friday evenings in Sinagra Park from 6-8p.m starting July 11.

Walk+Roll Lakewood will be advertised in the June issue of WestShore magazine. This July 19th event, held on closed sections of Detroit and Belle Avenues in the heart of downtown Lakewood will attract health-, environmental- and community-minded visitors to our city for a car-free experience from 4-9p.m.

The building which formerly housed the former Party Station space has been sold to Five Guys Burger and Fries franchise owners. Opening is anticipated for late 2008/early 2009.

Main Street Lakewood Blossoms! Thank you to Geiger's Clothing and Sports and to CVS for their beautiful new flowering window boxes. They look GREAT! Thirty Earth Boxes filled with flowers will be delivered next week to merchants who ordered them. Also, The Coral Company will soon be hanging flower baskets in the area of Marc's Plaza. The Main Street Lakewood Blossoms program was started with seed money from Keep Lakewood Beautiful and expanded with the help of the Lakewood-Rocky River Rotary Club.

Support the work of Main Street Lakewood/Lakewood Community Progress Inc to promote and revitalize our city by playing in the LCPI 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 28th. Top prize: $500. Go to www.mainstreetlakewood.org (Quick Link below) for details and a registration form.

Green Smart Gifts

Written by Patricia Neligan Barley

As Carl Sandburg once said, “Nothing happens unless first we dream.”

Did you ever dream about the day you would leave for college, where would you go, what would you study? Or maybe you had a vision of what your wedding would be like? Would you get married in a park, or perhaps a church? How would you fund such an event? Well, that would take a lot of planning. So many things to consider, and think about. That is how the vision for a new Beck Center has come about. It has started with a vision for what the Beck Center for the Arts sees in their future. As Cindy Einhouse, President and CEO of the Beck Center for the Arts said “The most successful projects are the ones carefully planned out.”

First you start with a vision, then you have to consider the cost, the impact it would have on the community and if it is something you want to support. Of course then there is getting the word out about the project. Just like planning a wedding, you need to have a budget, decide how it is going to impact your life, and see if your family and friends want to support you. Then you let everyone know by getting engaged and sending out invitations! Consider this your invitation to learn more about The Beck Center!

I recently met with Einhouse and Yvette Hanzel Director of Marketing & External Affairs, and I asked them what differentiates the Beck Center from other art centers. They agree that it is the most comprehensive art center that they have found. There are two professional theatres, an arts education program including dance, music, theatre, visual arts and creative arts therapies, all offering a variety of classes for all age ranges. I live right down the street from the Beck Center and have taken advantage of a few of the children’s programs and performances but I had no idea how many art programs they have for the entire family. The day I met with Einhouse and Hanzel Chuck Yarborough was on the front page of the Plain Dealer for his “On the Job” article about his stint as a live model for one of the Beck’s adult drawing classes.

For the last 75 years the Beck Center has been a vital community resource, but the three buildings are very costly and inefficient to operate. There are over 30 different heating systems and the new plan is to make the new buildings more “green.” They have experienced tremendous support from the city as a whole and Lakewood’s Director of Planning and Development Nate Kelly. Kelly meets monthly with some Beck Center board members, outside experts in real estate, along with urban planners and an architectural design team including Westlake Reed Leskosky and the KSU Urban Design Collaborative to help move the plan forward.

The goal of this Revitalization Project would be to consolidate the operation on the existing footprint and convert some of the property for business or housing which would generate income and provide a stimulating environment for the community. The Beck Center’s vision is to do all this while being attentive to historic preservation, as well as be a catalyst for the creation of an arts and culture district in Lakewood. The Beck Center is in the planning phase of this Revitalization Project and would like the community to know that they are still working on it. The project is being costed out and a business plan is being written, as well as dialogue with developers to decide how best to proceed.

“Our vision is for the Beck Center to be an exciting destination point with mixed use of facilities,” says Einhouse “Our goal is to create an exciting atmosphere with a positive economic impact.” The Beck is in discussions with a local entrepreneur about putting in a coffee shop. When I commented that this would also be a great “hot spot” for parents to relax, and maybe get some work done while their children are in classes they informed me that Beck is already wired for Internet connections and this is already a possibility.

Compared to other arts organizations, the Beck’s percent of earned income is relatively high; 65 to 70 percent of expenses are covered by earned revenue. However, this still leaves approximately $750,000 which needs to be raised each year from individuals, corporations, foundations and government entities which understand and appreciate the vital role that such a tremendous cultural asset provides to a community. I had no idea about the upcoming “Inside the Beck” a Community Celebration of the Arts, and this is simply because there is not always funding to help get the word out. “Inside the Beck”, is on Saturday, June 7th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This will be a fun family event to help highlight all of the great things the Beck Center has to offer. There will be vintage costumes on sale as well as stage items, and make and take art activities. If you don’t know that much about the Beck now is your time to come and find out.

The Beck Center is celebrating 60 years of its children’s theatre program. There have been generations of families involved in the Beck and it is an important part of the fabric of this community. “We constantly hear wonderful feedback from the community about the Beck’s educational programs and professional theatre series. It is our mission to provide the finest quality arts education programs and to stage innovative and exciting theatre. With the support of the community we will continue to do so for years to come”, says Einhouse. Please stop by and check out this diamond of a place and help it sparkle into the future!
The Beck and Lakewood, a perfect marriage!

The Beck Center for the Arts
17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood
(216) 521-2540
http://www.beckcenter.org/

View The Beck's class schedule by age group.

Part II of LakewoodAlive's spring series is available for viewing on Channel 74 daily at 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Tune in to learn about the 2008 budget choices that were made by City Council, and hear Mayor FitzGerald speak about the priorities of his administration and his approach to meeting the financial challenges facing our community.

DVD copies of the forum are available for check-out from the Lakewood Public Library.