Study: Spruce up Lorain Road
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published Jan. 24, 2007

The western edge of Lorain Road within Fairview Park has many well-maintained buildings, but is not pedestrian friendly enough.

That’s the conclusion of a study by the Akron-based Floyd Browne Group, which was commissioned by the city to analyze western Lorain Road from its border with North Olmsted to West 223rd Street.

Experts from the engineering and planning firm will discuss their findings at a public meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Fairview Park Senior Center, located just south of City Hall. Owners of several Lorain Road businesses are expected to attend.

Mayor Eileen Patton said the goal of the study is to identify manageable and achievable projects which can enhance that part of Lorain Road. The enhancements would be achieved through a public-private partnership, she added.

“We want to review with the business owners our design guidelines that were approved a couple years ago identifying signage and how to handle storefronts that may not have the room to allow monument signs, along with appropriate colors to enhance the area,” Patton said. “We are interested in hearing from the business owners and the tenants the issues of parking, pedestrian walk-ins, landscaping, etc.”

At a City Council committee meeting Jan. 15, authors of the Floyd Browne Group report briefed Patton and council members on their findings.

A diverse mix of commercial, residential and office buildings along western Lorain Road creates a dynamic environment, the report authors said. On-street parking benefits businesses but needs to be better defined, they added.

Parking lots in front of businesses often obstruct pedestrian access to those businesses, said Dennis J. Mersky, senior vice president at Floyd Browne. Businesses should consider creating shared parking lots to replace the current situation where every business has its own driveway and parking lot.

In short, Mersky said vehicles should not be seen as obstructing pedestrian access to the entrances of businesses.

Using aerial photographs, Mersky showed ample parking space is often present behind businesses, especially on the north side of Lorain Road.

Jim Kennedy, Fairview Park’s director of planning and development, said there’s not as great a shortage of parking in the city as many people believe. He added creating a public parking lot may help.

Photos in the study showed the numerous driveways and curb cuts along Lorain Road.

“They’re all separate entrances and they don’t compliment each other,” Kennedy said.

Intersections are too car-oriented, the report concluded. “Traffic calming” measures, such as landscape enhancement and paving crosswalks with different materials such as brick were suggested as methods of benefiting pedestrians and corner businesses.

Enhancing RTA bus stops would also make the area more attractive to pedestrians, Mersky said.

Sign clutter is common in the area, Mersky said. “Mostly it’s ineffective for the business community,” he added.

Signs that can be read from cars traveling in both directions along Lorain Road — that is, signs perpendicular to the street — were recommended as a solution.

The study recommends expanding the city’s signage guidelines. Several businesses which utilize canopies to enhance their entrances were lauded by Floyd Browne as good examples.

The study also suggested making even temporary improvements to vacant or underutilized buildings while long-term viable tenants or owners are sought.

The study was funded through a $50,000 grant from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and a $10,000 matching grant from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McGowan III.