Vote "NO on 96"Don't pave paradise to put up a parking lot — Burma Shave style demonstration

Citizen volunteers campaigning to stop Big Box development on Oakwood urged South Euclid voters to "Vote No on 96". The Burma Shave style demonstration, "Don't Pave Paradise to Put Up a Parking Lot" pointed out that developing Oakwood is literally, paving a beautiful natural area to lay down 40 acres of asphalt and concrete and value-oriented retail.

With more and more of us shopping online, we need less and less bricks and mortar stores, except for buying groceries. Big Box on Oakwood will hurt local grocery stores, as a Walmart Supercenter will probably be built there. That is Walmart's pattern throughout the country. They are trying to gain market share on groceries, and are succeeding.

While canvassing during this campaign, we heard from South Euclid residents who said that there is already more retail than we need, and too many vacant stores to even think about building more retail. They said, this will just shut down Severance Center and other stores; relocating, not creating jobs.

Although First Interstate says it is giving South Euclid a park, this is largely smoke and mirrors. The 21 acres cannot be used as part of the development as it is too narrow to accommodate tractor trailer loading docks and turn arounds. So, First Interstate is going to donate land it cannot use, and take a tax deduction for the donation. The icing on the cake is that First Interstate's legally mandated detention basin in on the 21 acres--taking up 7 of those acres. It will use this detention basin every day, but never pay a penny's worth of tax on it. Finally, this "park" will have no restrooms, or water fountain and will be fenced in on 3 sides; public space that is fenced in makes people feel entrapped.

Any land use would bring more money to South Euclid; office space, mixed use, or multi-family apartments, or houses. Anything would be better financially for South Euclid than Big Box.

By voting "NO on 96", South Euclid residents will have another year to think and plan the best use for this wonderful community amenity.

Of course, not everyone agrees with me, but I think the best plan for this land would be for the cities to buy Oakwood from First Interstate and turn it into a Metropark. Voting "No on 96" is creating a path to a park.Please vote NO ON 96!