Daily Question
Question for Monday, July 28th, 2014: Previous Next
Do you think that our community should create a permanent memorial to Jim Brennan? If so, what should it be, where should it be located and how would it be funded?
Supporting his restaurant and other local, independent businesses is the best memorial.
-
At Meadowbrook and Lee with picnic tables and swings to commemorate the family-friendly ambiance at The Colony.
-
An appropriate "memorial" might be reinvestment in a public space such as the garden/walkway next to Heights Arts...or perhaps a high school program which promotes entrepreneurial skills. I suspect that he would prefer productive action over a monument.
-
Jim was a great community leader. He should be honored via a permanent memorial that relates to who he was - something for first responders or rec league teams would be very fitting.
I believe the park initiative goes back several years and is not solely about Jim. I would rather his memorial not be tied to something controversial.
-
Yes.
The permanent memorial should be at the site of Mr. Brennan's vigil, the vacant parcels bounded by Tullamore, Lee & Meadowbrook.
The property is zoned C2, which allows for parks and public use, so no rezoning would be required.
I'm told Mr. Brennan would delight in knowing that a dog-friendly park was dedicated to his memory.
As to funding, a park needn't be expensive.
The city already maintains the vacant property.
The only limit to what can be accomplished as part of Brennan's Park is the CH city council's willingness to consider an attractive Green space, rather than *more* property tax abated development.
-
Yes.
The permanent memorial should be at the site of Mr. Brennan's vigil, the vacant parcels bounded by Tullamore, Lee & Meadowbrook.
The property is zoned C2, which allows for parks and public use, so no rezoning would be required.
I'm told Mr. Brennan would delight in knowing that a dog-friendly park was dedicated to his memory.
As to funding, a park needn't be expensive.
The city already maintains the vacant property.
The only limit to what can be accomplished as part of Brennan's Park is the CH city council's willingness to consider an attractive Green space, rather than *more* property tax abated development.
-
It should be Brennan Park. It's funding is easily obtainable and you could help make it happen.
You did nothing for Oakwood or Denison Pool. Time to step up on behalf of ALL the community.
-
A PARK at the EMPTY space at the intersection of Lee and Meadowbrook where people can gather and reflect on just how precious life is.
-
No; it would establish a too expensive precedent.
-
Yes!! Brennan park at the corners of Lee and meadow brook. It's close to his restaurant and would be the perfect place to bring people together. A small stage could encourage local performers and there could be a play area for children as well.
-
A farmer's market and arts center. Funded by dollars a'la "Harvest for Hunger" style drives at the local business to show council the community believes in it. Then they can float some of out tax dollars to support the ongoing care of the green space.
-
Yes, I want that vacant lot to be a park for this community, forever or until a truly viable development project comes along. Yes, I want the city to have a way of permanently honoring Jim Brennan.
No, I don't think these two things must be one and the same. That depends on his family's wishes and the community's ability to implement with permanence.
-
Yes, somewhere on Lee Road near the Colony. Private funding from business and donations. Upkeep by volunteers.
-
Test.
-
Where we live there are at least 6 small parks like this in a 1/2 mile radius and many towns in New England have Central town Greens, it is a shame Cleveland Heights doesnt't already have a small urban Green Space that reflects such a cool, modern city.
A green space would add a lot of character to Lee Road which already a great destination.
A private fundraising effort will have to take care of the costs of building and maintaining so the taxes aren't affected. This is an opportunity for Cleveland Heights to reflect our progressive traditions by making Brennan's park a Nationally recognized Green Space. Why not? JB deserves proper recognition as does Cleveland Heights and we have the heart and creativity to make it happen! Let's aim high!
JB really cared about people and families. It would be beautiful to have at least one "Giving Tree" planted in his honor.
Brennans' Park--it is a perfect idea! Well done!
-
Having the restuarant operating is the natural way to honor JB. Over time a memorial park in a prime lee rd spot would end up as a meaningless burden and obstacle to growth. Naming streets and empty spaces after beloved community members turns the city into a morgue of sorts. We are all for honoring these folks, but imagine if all the vets who died and have their names on the memorial at Cumberland had something named for them.
-
The "Brennan Park" leaders have wanted the Lee and Meadowbrook space to be a park for many years now. Shamefully, they are abusing JB's memory to achieve their own longtime political goals. JB wanted Lee and Meadowbrook to be developed to improve the entire district. The best way to honor JB is to buy local!
-
A scholarship in him name would be amazing
-
Park as noted above (Lee and Meadowbrook). But use it for social gatherings. Why not have bands (stage is a great idea) and food trucks and outdoor movies and family friendly events like Edgewater Park Thursdays.
-
Yes.
Competition between CH artists run by Heights Arts, judged by non-submitting CH arts residents, crowdsource with match from city, located directly in front The Colony.
-
Make the Meadowbrook lot into an attractive public space but not as a memorial to one person. Well-loved as JB apparently was, to dedicate a park to one person seems to slight other significant citizens whose deaths were not news headlines.
-
NO! I agree that supporting the Cedar-Lee business district would be the best "memorial." If funds were to be raised for more lighting, security, beautification projects such as more flowers, SNOW removal, etc, I would contribute. (No more t-shirts.)
-
I think that a green space on Meadowbrook and Lee is a good starting place. I think that the memory of Jim Brennan is a good start. The property is very nice. I do not know what would entail obtaining it. Lee Road is an exciting beautiful spot. In fact we live on Lee. A park would add something special to our area. Mr. Brennan died a violent death in our much loved area. In fact, my grandson and his friends were close by when Mr. Brennan was so critically hurt and he rushed home to tell us what had happened. Mr. Brennan was someone who added joy and energy to our neighborhood. There are other people that we would like to remember as well. Maybe Jim Brennan's memory can inspire something very good for our neighborhood. A park can be a very alive place in remembering and honoring many residents of Cleveland Hts. who also work hard in bringing us together.
-
I'm guessing that endowing some kind of scholarship in his name, for a CHUH student, might be the best memorial. I also agree it should be his family who decides what to do. Much as I would love the Meadowbrook-Lee property to be a pocket park, I also agree that should happen anyway, and Brennan's memorial should be separate.
-
I think it would be nice to have a bench with a seated statue of Mr. Brennan. It could be done similar to the statue at the Heights Main Library on Lee Rd, perhaps by the same artist. It could be placed at a site as suggested by other posts.
-
no, shouldn't take death for memorial. How to pay for it I pay enough taxes as it is. Want a memorial put a painting in front of his restaurant. who is going to take care of it. way todays kids are they will reck or destroy it. want memorial raise funds yourself and have restaurant take care of it. better use be more cameras and more police then a park.
-
Maybe a Wall of Fame, a plaque with his name somewhere near The Colony and to include names of other business leaders in our community; we honor them all, simple, yet permanent.
-
Brennan's Colony never left the neighborhood; it realized that it was part of a 'sense of place' and worked hard to maintain the viability of the Cedar/Lee area. I think we should turn the Meadowbrook/Lee vacant lot into a combination gathering place/community garden/social area/music space . . . a place where you can bring your coffee from Phoenix in the mornings and chat with neighbors and come to listen to music (food trucks one night a week would be great)in the evenings. During the winter we could have an ice sculpture contest. Making part of the land into a community garden would remind us how JB 'bloomed' where he was planted - in a neighborhood, improving our quality of life. We could finance this through a crowdsourcing effort and maintain it with a combination city/volunteer effort. This is how you build and maintain community! Give us residents a challenge - we are up to the task! People who live in the area and want to see it thrive can help make this happen. Come on, City Hall - have a public meeting in the Cedar Lee area to discuss this community-building opportunity and see what happens! You don't have to spend money to do that.
-