A mixed-use development called Lakewood Common will now fill “the pit” at the Lakewood Hospital lot, which has been vacant since 2016. The development will feature a mix of amenities and is expected to take approximately three to four years to complete. The Panzica Construction Company began construction on the site Sept. 25, 2025, to initiate the process.
This new development will replace the vacant site that was once occupied by the old Lakewood Hospital, which closed nearly a decade ago due to funding issues and was demolished in 2019. The area has remained vacant since then and has become an eyesore to the community because of its pit-shaped exterior, a remnant of the old buildings. That is no longer the case.
Lakewood Common will be located on Detroit Avenue, a business-oriented street featuring a diverse mix of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, with little residential or commercial housing. “This infusion of units will not only help to increase our density and provide additional housing options for residents, but due to the location [on] Detroit—a heavy commercial district—it will provide additional patrons to our local businesses,” said Angela J. Byington, who works for the Lakewood Council Department’s Zoning Commission. This development will add a new scene to downtown Lakewood.
“During the term of the CRA [15 years], 10% of the residential units within the multi-family portion of the project must be offered for rent exclusively to households making up to 80% area median income, and 10% of the units must be offered to rent exclusively to households making up to 120% AMI,” Bryington said, addressing provisions for low-income and senior housing within the development. The goal is to make the new space accessible while also encouraging the developer to continue building and generating revenue through development.
However, neighboring residents have expressed concerns about the construction and its impact on the community. These concerns range from traffic control to sewer issues. Many issues the city has not yet addressed as the new development begins.
While this isn’t the first time concerns have been raised due to “the pit,” a small group called “Save the Hospital” was formed during the foreclosure of the original Lakewood Hospital. The current concerns are less about the development itself and more about potential problems that could arise during its construction.
“Where’s all that sewage gonna go? Did they ever think about that with all these new buildings and not fixing the sewage that we [have]?” said Daniel Callas, a Lakewood resident for nearly 16 years who was around during the closing of the original Lakewood Hospital.
The sewage is an issue during new housing or commercial projects. It can add more wastewater to the existing sewer system. Due to the two ongoing projects happening in Lakewood, tacking on a third one could cause problems, including backups, overflows, or even flooding.
Another reasonable concern is a potential power outage. “When that happens, how are they going to supply power? Last time the electricity went off, for them to turn all of Lakewood back on, it took two weeks…what are they going to do with the power outage when they have to supply the power to those buildings?” said Callas.
From a construction standpoint, increased demand on the power grid can lead to fluctuating outages throughout the community. Over the past two summers, Lakewood has experienced power outages due to storms. With ongoing construction, work crews will have to re-route lines and install new transformers, which can cause temporary outages within the electrical system.
“We have children on the street, so there are traffic control ideas and issues going on…and the parking situation is going to be impossible,” said Ronnie Restivo, resident of Lakewood for nearly 25 years.
With Lakewood being a notable walking community, the new Lakewood Common could increase the driving rate in the area. Traffic around the community makes transportation more difficult and parking more challenging.
Concerns are rising about Lakewood Common, but it has the potential to impact the community positively and help it grow larger than before. The development will feature more than 300 apartments, a public plaza with a community space, and hopefully enough parking to avoid disrupting the community that is already established around it.
