Residents propose alternative recovery center sites
Neighborhood president says ‘we’re not elitists’
Photo by KEVIN MCMANUS A former restaurant building that has changed hands several times over the years, 716 N. Court St. in Medina was pitched as one of several possible alternative locations to the county’s proposed addiction recovery center by residents who are opposed to the county’s West Liberty Street idea.
MEDINA – West side residents who would be neighbors to a proposed addiction recovery center say they sincerely support the cause – they just don’t want it near their homes.
They also want a chance to speak privately with county officials pushing for the location near their neighborhood. So far, that hasn’t been the case, apart from some public meetings.
Bankers Row Neighborhood Association President Beth Biggins-Ramer and some of her neighbors have been vocal since the Medina County Adult Probation Department originally proposed earlier this month converting the former Medina Steak & Seafood Restaurant on West Liberty Street into a resource center for individuals in recovery. The county plans to use a state grant to open the center.
Biggins-Ramer and her cohorts argue the former steakhouse is inappropriate, due to a number of families with children residing within close proximity.
Chief Probation Officer Veronica Perry, as well as Common Pleas Judge Chris Collier, have also been vocal, arguing the former steakhouse, the third oldest structure in the city, is ideal due its location in the city and its culinary amenities, which could be used to offer vocational skills.
“Really, we want to make very clear that we want to help them find the spot that is best for all of us,” Biggins-Ramer said. “We’ve asked to meet with them and Veronica and their team.”
The meeting has not happened, Biggins-Ramer said. Perry did not respond to The Post for comment.
Proposed locations
Led by Biggins-Ramer, Bankers Row residents have found eight different vacant, non-historic, non-residential locations in and near the city they feel would be more suitable for the proposed recovery center.
Most are former restaurants, including the former Lantern at 665 Lafayette Road, the former Streetside Cafe at 3790 Pearl Road (Medina Township), the former Cipriani’s at 716 N. Court St., the former Oasis Grill at 930 W. Liberty St., the former Golden Corral at 4913 Grande Blvd. (Medina Township) and a former ice cream shop at 1065 N. Court St.
Non-restaurant locations included a former retail site at 789 Lafayette Road, a former office site at 820 Lafayette Road Unit B and a 1.6-acre empty site behind empty storefronts in the North Court Shoppes.
Biggins-Ramer said she forwarded the detailed list of proposed locations, as well as photos and respective realtor information, to county officials, but she has not heard any feedback yet.
“We identified a large number and honed it down to eight,” Biggins-Ramer said. “We’ve been working as a group, several of us, that, in all honesty, we went out, took pictures, gathered information and compiled it.”
Biggins-Ramer said the proposed facility should be in a location with room to grow, which may not be the case at the former steakhouse. She said her group is actively seeking even more possible locations for the county to choose from.
“We are absolutely sincere that we would like to sit down and discuss options and when we made that offer, we made that not only to Veronica (but) most certainly the board that’s organizing the recovery center,” Biggins-Ramer said.
Perceptions
Biggins-Ramer said her group was never angry over the proposed center in their neighborhood, but exchanges that have taken place at heated public meetings on the topic at both the municipal and county levels may lead residents to believe otherwise.
“We’re all working people. We’re not elitists,” she said. “To be portrayed as being elitists and angry and what not, that was never our approach to begin with.”
She added, “When you’re playing in a public setting, the nature of any individual is to push back and protect themselves.”
Medina City Councilman At-Large Bill Lamb, a longtime advocate of neighborhood preservation, has been trying to facilitate meetings between the county and Bankers Row, but hasn’t had much luck.
He invited Perry and Collier to attend a private meeting with Bankers Row residents a couple weeks ago, but neither could attend. A number of people in favor of the center, however, attempted to attend the meeting. Lamb said those people were not invited inside city hall due it being a “private constituents meeting.”
“While as you know I am passionate about protecting these neighborhoods, I can also understand the passion attached to the recovery issue by those involved and clearly these two have collided in an unfortunate way,” Lamb said.
Lamb said he will continue to try facilitating conversation between constituents and the county in a positive manner.
They also want a chance to speak privately with county officials pushing for the location near their neighborhood. So far, that hasn’t been the case, apart from some public meetings.
Bankers Row Neighborhood Association President Beth Biggins-Ramer and some of her neighbors have been vocal since the Medina County Adult Probation Department originally proposed earlier this month converting the former Medina Steak & Seafood Restaurant on West Liberty Street into a resource center for individuals in recovery. The county plans to use a state grant to open the center.
Biggins-Ramer and her cohorts argue the former steakhouse is inappropriate, due to a number of families with children residing within close proximity.
Chief Probation Officer Veronica Perry, as well as Common Pleas Judge Chris Collier, have also been vocal, arguing the former steakhouse, the third oldest structure in the city, is ideal due its location in the city and its culinary amenities, which could be used to offer vocational skills.
“Really, we want to make very clear that we want to help them find the spot that is best for all of us,” Biggins-Ramer said. “We’ve asked to meet with them and Veronica and their team.”
The meeting has not happened, Biggins-Ramer said. Perry did not respond to The Post for comment.
Proposed locations
Led by Biggins-Ramer, Bankers Row residents have found eight different vacant, non-historic, non-residential locations in and near the city they feel would be more suitable for the proposed recovery center.
Most are former restaurants, including the former Lantern at 665 Lafayette Road, the former Streetside Cafe at 3790 Pearl Road (Medina Township), the former Cipriani’s at 716 N. Court St., the former Oasis Grill at 930 W. Liberty St., the former Golden Corral at 4913 Grande Blvd. (Medina Township) and a former ice cream shop at 1065 N. Court St.
Non-restaurant locations included a former retail site at 789 Lafayette Road, a former office site at 820 Lafayette Road Unit B and a 1.6-acre empty site behind empty storefronts in the North Court Shoppes.
Biggins-Ramer said she forwarded the detailed list of proposed locations, as well as photos and respective realtor information, to county officials, but she has not heard any feedback yet.
“We identified a large number and honed it down to eight,” Biggins-Ramer said. “We’ve been working as a group, several of us, that, in all honesty, we went out, took pictures, gathered information and compiled it.”
Biggins-Ramer said the proposed facility should be in a location with room to grow, which may not be the case at the former steakhouse. She said her group is actively seeking even more possible locations for the county to choose from.
“We are absolutely sincere that we would like to sit down and discuss options and when we made that offer, we made that not only to Veronica (but) most certainly the board that’s organizing the recovery center,” Biggins-Ramer said.
Perceptions
Biggins-Ramer said her group was never angry over the proposed center in their neighborhood, but exchanges that have taken place at heated public meetings on the topic at both the municipal and county levels may lead residents to believe otherwise.
“We’re all working people. We’re not elitists,” she said. “To be portrayed as being elitists and angry and what not, that was never our approach to begin with.”
She added, “When you’re playing in a public setting, the nature of any individual is to push back and protect themselves.”
Medina City Councilman At-Large Bill Lamb, a longtime advocate of neighborhood preservation, has been trying to facilitate meetings between the county and Bankers Row, but hasn’t had much luck.
He invited Perry and Collier to attend a private meeting with Bankers Row residents a couple weeks ago, but neither could attend. A number of people in favor of the center, however, attempted to attend the meeting. Lamb said those people were not invited inside city hall due it being a “private constituents meeting.”
“While as you know I am passionate about protecting these neighborhoods, I can also understand the passion attached to the recovery issue by those involved and clearly these two have collided in an unfortunate way,” Lamb said.
Lamb said he will continue to try facilitating conversation between constituents and the county in a positive manner.