Oakwood Reconsidered

Last night, the South Euclid planning commission held a meeting regarding the rezoning of the former Oakwood Club. Due to time constraints, statements from South Euclid citizens were kept to two minutes each - those from other localities 1 1/2 minutes each. Here is the complete text of my remarks, which I have also sent to the planning commission.

My name is Hank Drake. My family moved to South Euclid in 1971. I went to South Euclid-Lyndhurst schools – Anderson, Memorial, and Brush. After living in many towns all over America, I decided to move back to South Euclid in 2008. I have a vested interest in this community.

On January 5, I posted an entry to my blog in which I stated my opposition to the purchase of the Oakwood Club in general, and the building of more retail in this area in particular. I must confess, I am still skeptical about the creation of Oakwood Commons, in particular I do not want to see a Walmart or Sam’s Club there.

Concern has been expressed that the creation of Oakwood Commons would harm other local retailers. Both sides have cited studies which advance their own point of view. But we already have a real-life case study on the impact of additional retail: It’s called Legacy Village. Go to Beachwood Place. Go to La Place. They are as busy as they ever were before Legacy Village was opened – maybe more so. In any case, the purpose of zoning is not to protect niche retailers or to appease one set of people. The purpose of zoning is to ensure land-use that is fair to the greatest number of citizens, while also respecting private property rights. There have been times when politicians have overstepped those bounds and abused eminent domain, such as several years ago in Lakewood which got their mayor tossed out of office. I mention that case because eminent domain would now be the only way to overcome one simple fact: The South Euclid portion of the former Oakwood Club is now Mr. Schneider’s land. Whether we like it or not, it’s his private property to use as he sees fit, as long as it falls within an already established regulatory framework. Currently this land is zoned residential. Mr. Schneider could build houses on it right now, and we’d be powerless to stop him. The last thing this area needs is more housing. But anyone who thinks that Mr. Schneider, after spending all that money to acquire this land is just going to roll over and give it away for use as a park is living in Fantasyland.

What has changed my mind over this issue most of all has been the fact that, when I asked questions of First Interstate and those who support rezoning, I received answers that were factual and rational. But from the Citizens for Oakwood group, all I’ve heard were rumors, suppositions, hysteria, and condescension for the people of South Euclid.

I believe that our best option in South Euclid is to approve this rezoning, but to also use our resources to ensure that First-Interstate keeps their promises with regard to green, Leed-certified construction, mitigation of traffic issues, and builds the best center for the people of South Euclid and the surrounding communities to use. Those who don't like it don't have to shop there.

Non-cyclical Beethoven

When speaking of complete recorded cycles of Beethoven's 32 Sonatas, the names of certain pianists are inevitably mentioned: Schnabel, Brendel, Kempff, and more recently, Goode and Schiff. But there are many individual recordings of greatness - some part of a complete cycle, and some by pianists who never recorded the entire ouevre.

Below is a list I've put together containing recordings I believe deserve a spot in every Beethoven lover's collection. I’ve limited this to two recordings per work, although there are many others that I would also recommend. All the Kempff recordings are from his stereo cycle (I’ve only sampled the mono, but know the stereo well).

Listed by Opus:

Op. 2:
No. 1: Schnabel – EMI; Perahia - Sony
No. 2: Horszowski - Nonesuch; Perahia - Sony
No. 3: Ohlsson - Bridge; Kempff - DG

Op. 7: Perahia – Columbia (afaik, this has not been issued on CD); Kempff - DG

Op. 10:
No. 1: Schnabel – EMI; Kempff - DG
No. 2: Horszowski – Nonesuch; Kempff - DG
No. 3: Horowitz – RCA; Jacobs - Arbiter

Op. 13 (Pathetique): Horowitz – Columbia; Kempff - DG

Op. 14:
No. 1: Kempff – DG; Ohlsson - Bridge
No. 2: Kempff – DG; Ohlsson - Bridge

Op. 22: Perahia – Columbia (afaik, this has not been issued on CD); Kempff - DG

Op. 26: Richter – RCA; Ohlsson - Bridge

Op. 27:
No. 1: Rosen – Nonesuch (afaik, this has not been issued on CD); Kempff - DG
No. 2: Horowitz - RCA (1956); Kempff - DG

Op. 28 (Pastoral): Ohlsson - Bridge; Kempff - DG

Op. 31:
No. 1: Gould – Columbia; Kempff - DG
No. 2: Gould – Columbia; Kempff - DG
No. 3: Rubinstein – RCA (1976); Kempff - DG

Op. 49:
No. 1: Kempff – DG; Schnabel - EMI
No. 2: Kempff – DG; Schnabel - EMI

Op. 53 (Waldstein): Ohlsson - Bridge; Jacobs - Arbiter

Op. 54: Richter, RCA; Kempff - DG

Op. 57 (Appassionata): Serkin - Columbia; Rosenberger - Delos

Op. 78: Kempff – DG; Ohlsson - Bridge

Op. 79: Kempff – DG; Ohlsson - Bridge

Op. 81a: Rubinstein - RCA (1940) – Perahia - Columbia

Op. 90: Kempff – DG; Ohlsson, Bridge

Op. 101: Serkin – Columbia; Horowitz - Columbia

Op. 106 (Hammerklavier): Serkin – Columbia; Pollini - DG

Op. 109: Podis – Telarc (afaik, this has not been issued on CD); Horszowski - Arbiter

Op. 110: Kempff – DG; Pollini - DG

Op. 111: Kempff – DG; Rosenberger - Delos

Classic Trek - refurbished and ready for a new generation

I've watched the original Star Trek TV series as long as I remember. In the early days of syndication, WUAB Channel 43 ran the show using film prints of terrible quality. I've seen the original Trek on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD, and now Blu-ray. The picture quality improves with each new format, and the Blu-ray has the benefit of refurbished sound and new visual effects.

My review of Classic Trek on Blu-ray

Riveting, if somewhat rambling

I vividly remember the events of this day. A new book about the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, Rawhide Down, has just been published.

Click to read my review

Franklin and Eleanor, a marriage that worked despite difficulties

Just finished reading a fascinating book dealing with the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Click the link to read:

My review of Franklin and Eleanor

I may start watching MSNBC at 8PM again.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Oakwood Update with Links

The saga at Oakwood continues. At this time, Oakwood Commons is pretty much a done deal in South Euclid. The city itself has relatively little power in relation to zoning: They can zone it residential or retail. (Currently, it is zoned as residential, which would be worse for South Euclid than retail.) But since the sale of Oakwood Club to First Interstate is a private transaction involving private property, the new owner can do what he wants with the land. The city has some jurisdiction to ensure certain standards are maintained in construction and landscaping. But South Euclid cannot arbitrarily zone it as greenspace, which is something many in the Citizens for Oakwood group fail to grasp. About seven years ago in Lakewood, city leaders tried to abuse eminent domain laws. The case wound up going to court, the city lost, and the mayor wound up getting tossed out of office. (It should be mentioned that in the Lakewood case, the city was trying to pave over existing residences for the creation of a shopping center - different than what is planned for South Euclid.)

The Cleveland Heights portion of the land has not yet been sold, but First Interstate has an option to buy the land. If FI does not buy by April, then it goes back on the open market. The Severance Neighborhood Association has a link for donations. No word on how much they've raised or what progress they've made.

I also recommend Jane Goodman's excellent, nuanced blog post about the situation at Oakwood, particularly in relation to how the current Oakwood Club is not greenspace, and how the city of South Euclid itself has relatively little retail space.

Idealism Vs. Reality

While some feel that these issues should be faced more regionally, the current reality is that there is no tax revenue sharing between local communities. The retail in Cleveland Heights, University Heights, etc., benefits those cities only. The relative lack of retail in South Euclid proper depletes its tax base, which places a strain on city finances - especially with plummeting housing values, foreclosures, and a huge surplus of empty houses. Last year, there was a brief attempt to raise taxes for those who live in South Euclid but work elsewhere. Given the lack of commercial space in South Euclid, that's an easy majority of people. After a huge backlash from citizens, the decision was reversed, and cutbacks were instituted.

I have tried, in this post, to include links to all sides of this story. If anyone has more, please include them in a comment. And remember, anonymous comments are generally not posted, so if you have a comment to go with your link, please include your name.