If our local government officials can't handle addressing all these issues with equal time, attention and vigor it would be pretty pathetic. Addressing any one of these non-related issues shouldn't take a single second away from addressing the others.

All these issues are important. Idea 1 - Take down all the vacant stores and vacant parking lots and turn the property back into green space. This will provide beauty and natural water drainage. Idea 2 - Ask Mr. Kopf to donate the large empty grocery store to the Park and Recreation Department. The space could be turned into a low cost/few frills open gym/exercise facility.

I agree Candace, I've heard a lot of concern about what will happen to the Towne Center plaza. And of course anyone whose experienced basement flooding, especially when it has caused thousands in damages, is going to want to see that problem alleviated.

I like the idea of a rec center, Candace. When the space became vacant, I thought it'd be a good place for a Fitworks or another health club.

We have to eliminate some of the retail in Avon Lake. We're overbuilt and the emergence of Avon as a major retail hub over the past decade has created less demand for retail in the Avon Lake market. Ideally, I would like to see Giant Eagle relocate to the centrally-located Avon Lake Towne Center and then redevelop Learwood Square for different use (residential, civic, etc.). This would create a centralized retail district instead of the multiple disjointed (and vacant) shopping centers that we currently have.
Unfortuantely, I don't see this happening any time soon as Kopf will be collecting rent from Tops for years to come for their empty space at Towne Center and Giant Eagle owns their property at Learwood Sq and their relocation from the property would cause its value to decrease significantly.
This issue needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Retail development surrounding the new I-90 interchange at Lear-Nagle will only add to the problem.

I dont get it !!!! Whats with Tops they have been long gone.I think it is terrible to lockup
a place for greed Kopf. They could have a Barnes and Noble there .But I would love to have a grocery store. They still have to pay taxes on the eye sore .That could be a
wonderful Center. You have apartments and homes in the neighborhood that have to go somewhere else. People like you turn places into slum areas.

If Kopf could turn it in to something viable, I am sure he would. He is losing more tennants, but there is no interest in that area. Before you rent someplace and pay a lot of other charges, you have to be able to make money. What no one seems to understand, is Avon Commons killed Tops, it killed Atlanta Bread, it killed our Ace hardware. It is going to continue to do so with the addition of the new interchange. The only thing that will save it is for us, the residents, to buy everything they need here. Shop for groceries here, eat here, and so on. I keep seeing everyone run to
Avon. It will change some once we start to get more population again, but our leaders have to attract residents, not retail business.
They will come once the residents are here.

Thanks for running this, Lori, and I appreciate all of the good comments. After numerous meetings with business owners, last September I made a number of proposals as Chair of City Council's Economic Development Committee. The new Mayor is very excited about a number of those proposals and, in fact, campaigned on some. The Committee, and Council as a whole, will be busy during the next few months implementing a multi-faceted economic development plan that will work to retain the businesses we have in Avon Lake and attract others. As things progress I will post on the Patch. In the meantime, if anyone would like to learn more or has suggestions, feel free to email me at dbucci@avonlake.org or call me at home - 930-0069. Thanks.

Thanks Dan for the post. Readers, Dan, an at-large councilman, heads the city's Economic Development Committee and has taken a lead in moving the city in a pro-economic development direction. See his info to forward ideas and suggestions.

How about the power plant pollution issues? I am surprised that no one has commented on it as a concern for our city. What are our city leaders doing to protect it's citizens from the air pollution spilling out of the power plant?

Common sense shows that its all about location, location, location. Avon can draw from east, west, north and south. Avon Lake has no North, and you can't attract retail until we have the residential base to support it. To use an overused phrase, its time to think outside the box and come up with a unique idea that isn't a "me too" retail, business solution. We're a victim of our location and can't just think drawing retailers that are the same as what's across the tracks will solve the problem. Indoor golf, driving range, putt putt, batting cages, etc.. some form of educational or training center, a museum of some sort, concert hall or club, indoor bumper car, boat/RV showcase, indoor paintball, an indoor nature preserve/walkway for seniors to walk and kids to release some energy that occupies and educates, firing range or training facility for regional police/swat ( just throwing things out there, not advocating ). Instead of thinking the Lear road interchange is going to kill our retail, we need to figure out how Avon Lake can take advantage of that easier access. We'll never compete with Avon Commons or Crocker Park, and it would be a huge mistake to think we can, gotta be different.

Excellent post, T.S. Appreciate the common sense comments and ideas.

Tops still owns the lease at the Avon Lake Town Center. Love-A-Stray is looking to hold their 5K in that parking and Kopf still had to get approval from Tops.

Kopf still gets 57,000.00 per month from Tops so he has a little wiggle room to negotiate with them on events in the parking lot. Say knock off 2 grand this month in exchange for love a stray to do a show.

It appears his hands are tied, but not really. When he turned down a proposal to put in a marcs it was because he would lose money if tops was let go from the lease.

So in summary unless someone comes up with a way for bucky to make 57k per month or more - that store is gonna remain empty.

We can't do anything to bring retail back to Avon Lake! We can control the deer population though, and potentially save lives in the process. I hope the new mayor has a plan for the overpopulation issue!

The sewer/flooding issue is just a shame. Cronyism at its best! What an f'ing joke!

I have heard the whole "Avon Lake has no Northern bordering city" excuse at some point before.... and I'm not trying to be rude, but it's exactly that..an excuse. The same lake that borders our north also borders Rocky River...and Lakewood.. and those cities have no problem attracting businesses.

Now..if Avon Lake wants to go the Bay Village route, and simply be a sleepy lakeside town..then commit to that and do it well. But by all means...do something! When I moved here 5 years ago, I picked this city because I thought it was developing...but instead in my 5 years, I have seen it go the opposite direction.

Every single shopping area in Avon Lake is riddled with empty store fronts...every single one! That does not look good for the city, and it does very little to inspire any sort of confidence or pride.