I think new growth is important. Think of the new jobs it will bring. I hate to see the landmark go but who would pay to keep it up? There are enough vacant storefronts in Lakewood. Let's embrace this difficult change and welcome the new opportunity it will create. I think the design is really nice. It compliments the city look and feel. I don't understand the need for 6 signs. Seems a little excessive.

I live on Hall and with the stop light that we currently have on Hall and Detroit it is still an issue to get out and make a turn onto Detroit. How in the world will we be able to do this is they remove the stop light there? When the light is blinking yellow (which starts at 11pm and whenever the light decides not to work) those that are on Detroit do not slow down and give me a chance to make that turn onto Detroit. This is certainly a big issue in my eyes.

Why were all these traffic issues not addressed when the Detroit Theatre was thriving with hundreds of patrons attending movie shows nightly. Oh yeah... I remember, the theatre was not a thriving business (and did little to add to the city's tax base.)

And ... if a thriving business (other than McD's) moves into the existing building, won't there still be a traffic issue??

Perhas the best possible outcome for Woodward Avenue residents is that the building is torn down and nothing is built in its place???

Landmarks like the Detroit Theater are what make (soon to be "made") Lakewood unique. Instead of incorporating it's history into new ventures like Rocky River and Bay Village have done, Lakewood is quickly becoming the next Brookpark.

Hopefully we'll move by then. Goodbye Detroit Theater, welcome another McDonalds.

There is NOTHING interesting about the architecture of the Detroit Theater. NOTHING. It's a box of bricks. The end.

I wish something other than McDonald's was going there, I really do. But the current building leaves nothing to be desired and most likely is cost-prohibitive to renovate properly. Think about what it would take to upgrade the electrical service there....

Lakewood is so far from being Brookpark it's not even laughable. Residents make a place, not the other way around. Instead of lamenting something that is gone, go out and find new endeavors, new places to eat, new entertainment. Trust me, they are ALL OVER our town and they are unique and awesome.

Oh, I forgot - it's easier to whine and complain.

Lakewood (the Mayor's office, City Council, Law Director, Office of Planing & Development, etc.) is not doing this (replacing a theatre with a fast food restaurant.)

This is a real estate transaction between two private entities and there are no zoning codes being violated.

It's true that Lakewood isn't "doing" this, it's a private real estate transaction. However, the city needs to do a much better job attracting and influencing the right businesses to invest in the city and to maintain its integrity. That's what towns like Westlake and Rocky River have done and that's why they don't look like Brookpark, which is the direction Lakewood is now heading.

Aaron: I'd be interested in hearing your definition of (or example of) "the right businesses."

Within the past six months or so, six or eight new restaurants, sandwich shops, or dessert places have opened up; a new Univesity of Akron facility is in the works, and two businesses from Westlake - Newry, a management consulting firm and Onix Networking, a global information technology firm - are relocating to Lakewood. Congrats to Planning & Development guru Dru Siley and the City Council's ad hoc Economic Development Comittee led by Councilman Juris for bringing in new investors!

Peter...you said it all! Thanks. Holly

Historical?? The Detroit Theatre has received no Historical designation from a national, state or local agency/entity. Just because a building is old and hold lots of memories does not make it historically significant. If that was the criteria (old and holding memories) then 90% of Lakewood's homes would qualify.

Aaron - Personally, I'd rather see just about anything go in there than a McDonald's ... but, as I stated before and you agreed upon, this is a perfectly legal transaction between two private parties. How would you like it if your fellow citizens told you who you could or couldn't sell your property to?

Aaron: good riddance. We don't need whiners and complainers like you. Lakewood will become a better city the day you move out.

Aaron - you are angry at -- and venting at - the wrong people (person). Don't you get it??? It is Mr Barr who is (legally) the selling his own property. I ask you again: "How would you like it if your fellow citizens told you who you could or couldn't sell your property to?"

Dru Siley did not put a gun to Mr. Barr's head and force him to sell his property.

Aaron - It's not Planning & Development's job to play real estate agent!

Direct from the City's website, here is what they do: The Department of Planning and Development coordinates long-range planning, zoning, and economic development for the City as well as administers the federal Community Development Block Grant Funds awarded to Lakewood by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Department works directly with the Lakewood Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board of Building Standards/Architectural Board of Review and Sign Review Board, the Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board, and the Citizens Advisory Committee.

I never called you a whiner. In fact ... I appreciate civil discourse and appreciate that you care enough to speak up.

Let's not forget two of the really important things, the "tax dollars" and "jobs" this venture will bring into the city. Our property taxes are high enough, and I don't need or can afford another increase. We need larger business that can afford to pay the the property taxes. The theather's days are over, and it's time to move on. I can't image the expense to keep up that property, and try to pay the property tax. It' s best to tear it down and start over. As much as I hate to see a church torn down, and replaced with a CVS or S.S. Admin. building, the new businesses bring in needed tax dollars that the churches didn't. McDonald's will be able to pay the tax bill that comes twice a year, no matter what's on the property!

After attending the 9/8/11 meeting at City Hall, I'm very troubled that the concerns the residents of Woodward Ave have are not being addressed. The McDonald's rep confirmed that ~80% of their business is drive thru. If the entrance & exit of the drive thru are on Woodward, why would anyone get to the drive thru from Detroit as the rep suggested?They confirmed at peak Sloane McDonald's has 80 cars/hour & the McDonald's rep said at one of the 1st meetings that they hoped the new location would double business. How are they going to process ~150+ cars an hour?? And with McDonald's being open 18 hrs/day, even a low estimate at 80 cars/hour could amount to an additional 1440+ cars/day. Woodward has 1584/cars/day now! Has anyone but the citizens of Woodward seriously thought about the implications of this traffic? Is someone going to stand at the end of my drive so I can exit??Please somebody take the time to help us! I really don't have any attachment to the Detroit Theater going, but a restaurant with the volume of McDonald's & drive thru onto Woodward is a nightmare in the making!!! Once it goes up, we are stuck forever with the consequences until we can get someone to buy our home (at a greatly reduced rate! Any takers??)

I'm still not clear exactly WHAT the residents of Woodward do want. It is VERY obvious what they DON'T want. I reiterate ... perhaps the best possible outcome for Woodward Avenue residents is that the building be razed and NOTHING go in its place.

Like I said, I don't have any attachment to the theater, but the sheer volume & potential increased traffic on Woodward concerns me, especially since I am a few houses away from the drive thru entrance/exit. Rite Aid has been a good neighbor, with little impact on our street. I mainly am pointing out that they need to seriously rethink having the drive thru enter & exit onto Woodward, reconfigure it to use Detroit instead. I assume Peter that you don't live close to this proposed site, so you don't share the concerns Woodward residents do. If you attended any of the meetings at city hall, you would know our primary concern is with the increased traffic & safety issues.

Lisa - I don't live in the immediate vacinity but that doesn't mean I don't care. I attend nearly every City Council meeting and most ARB meetings having missed the Sept 8 meeting due to work committment. I serve on the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board and volunteer my time mentoring our city's youth at the Kaufman Park baskebal courts for Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Comittee. I served ten years in the US Coast Guard and have been employed in the local not-for-profit arena for 20 years. Does that sound like someone who doesn't care?

My point is that Wodward Avenue citizens may benefit from developing a consensus with regard to the neighborhood's concerns ... and presenting those concerns in an organized way to ARB, City Council, the Mayor's Office. It seems that some folks are hell bent on keeping McDs out of Lakewood while some - like you - seem not to mind if McD's builds there but don't want an exit on Woodward. Others are only appalled by the thought of losing childhood memories when the Theare is demolished. Some beleive that the Theatre deserves some type of Histrocial Designation (and to my knowledge Charles Milsaps is the only person persuing that).

If increased traffic is The Main Issue, then tearign the building down and replacing it with nothing seems to be the best solution. (Unless someone can tell me what kind of successful business should be built there that would not increase traffic.)

Will theater seats, projection room gear, ticket box, concession stand stuff and other items be available to the public before the McWrecking Ball arrives?

My Big Mac is closer. Me likey.