uastudent12

I was down at 22 Exchange today and I noticed what use to be Nervous Dog and Kuppa Coffee is now becoming a Caroline's Cupcakes. I guess there is one in canton. They have already started to redo the inside, and the website says they plan on an August opening. Here is the website. http://www.carolinescupcakes.com/

I've been wondering the same thing. They said construction would begin in the fall 10 but I have yet too see any activity. Any news on the hotel proposal for in between the convention center and the art museum?

Paving The Way For Transportation Improvements 7/18/2011 10:58:46 AM | Amani Abraham, AkronNewsNow.com The Greater Akron area will have a list of transportation improvement projects that will be part of a new $625 million program spanning throughout the next four years. Director of Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, Jason Segedy says that spending of the funds are decided through plans made by his staff. http://www.akronnewsnow.com/news/itemdetail.asp?ID=46400&section=news&subsection=localnews&title=Paving_The_Way_For_Transportation_Improvements

I've always wondered what that large shed was behind summit county jobs and family services building. It seems like a complete waste to space that had no purpose. That would be great if it served it's purpose again down the line. Here is a link to the architectural firm behind this Akron plan. Unfortunately they don't have renderings up of Akron yet, but I'm hoping that soon once they develop more of a plan they will post more. http://www.eekarchitects.com/

KJP, I always imagines a similar route. However, I envisioned a U-shaped route running down Exchange St starting near the stadium down to Main St. Then Main St. to Market, and market down to city hospital. I never realized Memphis or Little Rock had streetcars. It definitely gives me hope of the possibility of Akron acquiring a system. I hope if Akron would ever get one it would be more modernized. Something along the lines of streetcars in Portland, OR. http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

Glad to see a fellow SIFE alumni on here! In regards to UPA's vision for the four areas in Akron it would be great to see the possibility of a streetcar system that might possibly connect them. I realize it's a stretch, but with urbanization such as this I could see it being a viable option for transportation from one corner of the city to another.

No problem! I am very excited about this project, and I can not wait to see this happen. I hope to sit down with Eric Johnson (President of the University Park Alliance) sometime in the next month in hopes to discuss a project I am working on with the University of Akron chapter of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). I am project leader, and what we are hoping to do is acquire a vacant building downtown where we may be able to put around 4-5 businesses. These would be storefront businesses such as art galleries, delis, pastry/coffee shops, clothing, etc.. The businesses would come from young local entrepreneurs, and we plan to partner with a couple organizations in order to come up with the proper funding as well as help build their business plans. The objective of this project is to get young graduates and professionals in the city to get excited about downtown and to help make it one of their own. If our cities goal is to help retain local talent we want to make it appealing to them. With this project I hope to do that through proper forms of marketing and events. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. Thank you.

NEOtropolis did a great story on the University Park Alliance's plan on revitalizing Akron. Start the video around 7:40 to view the segment. The renderings look great, and I believe with a vision like this it will truly make Akron a great place to live. Exciting to hear that they hope to get a phase of this off the ground in 15-18 months! :) Here is the video:

The lake is one asset the city really needs to take advantage of. I see what they're doing with Chippewaw lake with the spa, hotel and retail and I think it would be perfect to completely renovate that area with those. I picture restaurants in the lake as well as a small marina where people can walk around, eat, shop and rent a boat or jet ski.

I drove by hear yesterday on my way to Luigi's and didn't see any sign of developement, so I'm kind of confused. Ehat indications have you seen? I did drive near 22 exchange though and see that they have started moving ground to construct the new 401 Loft apartments. Hopefully something will go up soon. There seems to be a lot of new construction going on. It's exciting!

Well since the University thread is locked.. :-/ I guess Ill just have to post this on here... UA Soccer Field Has New Name 6/15/2011 3:30:48 PM | University of Akron Athletics - news release There's already a football stadium with corporate naming rights locked down; add Lee Jackson Field to the mix seeing a name change. Continuing its more than 50-year philanthropic relationship with The University of Akron, FirstEnergy Corporation has made its latest commitment to the institution, which includes the naming of the University's men's and women's soccer stadium. http://www.akronnewsnow.com/sports/itemdetail.asp?ID=45898&section=sports&subsection=uofasports&title=UA_Soccer_Field_Has_New_Name

Soo annoying...I'll be back on this thread when there is actual news about the university. This arena talk is ridiculous. Constantly arguing about it is not going to magically place the arena where we want it. We all have our opinions and we have constantly heard each of them on this thead. I can't wait till this damn thing is built. In other, more relevant news...The University started to tear down the townhouses so they can start construction on the new residence halls. Hopefully we will start to see them going up soon.

Good to hear! I wasn't sure what was going on since they announced last summer the new hotel would begin going up in the fall of 2010.

Is this taking place of the marriott courtyard that is suppose to go next to north side? Has anyone heard anything about it?

I really wish the arena talk would just get dropped. I like to come on here to get informed of the latest developments in Akron and at the University, not to constantly speculate on an arena that no one on here knows anything about or has any developing news on. On a side note, they started to put up fencing this week around where they are planning on building the new Engineering building, so hopefully there will be some activity at that site soon.

AUDIO Village At New Seasons Celebrates Opening 4/15/2011 5:44:18 AM | Summa Health System News Release A site in West Akron that sat vacant just a few years ago with an empty shopping center collecting dust, graffiti and trash, now boasts the Village at New Seasons. http://www.akronnewsnow.com/business/itemdetail.asp?ID=44899&section=business&subsection=generalbusiness&title=AUDIO_Village_At_New_Seasons_Celebrates_Openi

I hear you on that. I hate reading the comments after articles like those. Constant complaining about this and that. They must not have anything better to do than sit around and critique every little good thing that happens to the city.

I really have a problem with LeBron James lately. I'm over him leaving the area for South Beach and everything, but it drives me nuts when he is constantly talking about helping put Akron on the map. I can't think of much more that he has done for this city than win a national title in Hs, put on a bike-a-thon once a year for kids and help out the boys and girls club. I'm sorry but if I talked about putting Akron on the map as much as he has I would invest and give back so much more than he has. I have heard of numerous projects in Cleveland that LeBron has had is name on, including setting up his marketing company in downtown Cleveland. If I was as rich as influential as him I would focus on the city that I talk about all the time. There are so many great projects on the table for the city of akron that have been there for over 8 years and still are not scrapped. Projects that would better downtown tremendously,but cannot get any funding. Instead of James helping out Cleveland with developments he should focus on the ones that need help in his own city. Getting back to the University Arena though, I'm not sure if I'm a fan of it going on S. Main St and Buchtel. I guess I would have to see how much land the arena would take up. If you knocked down the smaller buildings next to the Mayflower I think you would have enough room, but at the same time I don't think it would be good to put it next door to the most shady apartments downtown. It would be great if the mayflower could be renovated somehow and stop being low income apartments. If they built the arena next to the mayflower it would be cool to have retail, restaurants and living right across the street on the block that pita pit is on. I actually had an idea for this block awhile ago that I goofed around in photoshop and laid out. It's shown below.

Being a student I don't think its very wise to keep the Arena on campus. I'd much rather see it go downtown where after, I could walk from seeing a game, concert, or show right to a restaurant to get some food or a drink. The JAR is boring as well as its location, and as much as I love basketball I'm just not motivated what-so- ever to walk there and see a game. I've made more trips up to Cleveland to watch them in the tournament and actually pay for a game rather than go to the JAR and watch it. If they put the new arena where I've heard they plan to I'm sure it will be a flop just like the stadium turned out to be. Unless you add retail and restaurants around it I don't see attendance going much higher even if its in a brand new arena. This is probably why cities and universities build up around venues such as these and call them "Arena Districts".

Yes I remember reading that as well. The one place that I think would be a great place for a grocer to build is on the corner of Main and E. buchtel Ave. With over a 1000 people living within those three blocks I think it would be a great addition. Not to mention they still have plans to turn the upper floors of the Landmark building into loft apartments, so I'm sure it would be nice for them to have a grocer as well. I truly believe that if they were to bring new retail and restaurants downtown more people will want to live there. Now and then I'll drive around the city and envision what could be done to make it more dense and vibrant so I sketch my ideas on paper. I don't want to take this thread off topic so I'll post my idea over on the Akron news and developments thread.

I am not aware of anything that would have changed the condition of the neighborhood from when you used to live there. If anything, I would say that it has improved slightly. I really like Highland Square and I am slightly jealous of my friends who live in the neighborhood. Edit: To get back on topic, I am glad that HS finally will have some type of grocery option, hopefully it is not too expensive. I don't think HS has changed much. Being a college student I go up there all the time and feel completely safe. It is nice to walk around the area to the different places. One thing that I have noticed about most Ohio.com commenters is that they are constantly portraying every part of Akron as being crime ridden and has nothing good to say about anything that could be considered positive for the city. I have shopped at Mustard Seed before and they seem to be fairly priced. This will be a great addition into this neighborhood. Now if only we can get a grocer to come downtown! :D

MAYOR WELCOMES NEW SOCCER FRANCHISE TO AKRON Akron Summit Assault to Play This Summer Published: Monday, March 07, 2011 Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic welcomed the Akron Summit Assault, the newest team in the Premier Development League of The United Soccer Leagues, at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron this morning. http://ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/Display.asp?RecNum=337

Yes I am very curious on how big they are talking about building. That lot is not very large, so I'm crossing my fingers that they are going to build a taller building. I really wish they were able to build between the Federal building and Chase. In my opinion they should get a new federal building, and turn that into non federal offices, so they are able to build eventually on that lot. The current federal building is a complete bore in a very exciting part of Akron. Perhaps if another company took the building over they could do some exciting things to that space and building. I've always pictures some really cool lighting configuration for that building with how its layered. Even if it stayed some boring office building, the lighting could add some extra excitement to that busy intersection.

Vacant Akron bank to be razed Law firm to expand offices to site of former Ohio Savings branch By Katie Byard Beacon Journal business writer Published on Sunday, Mar 13, 2011 One of downtown Akron's more distinctive buildings — a round structure that housed an Ohio Savings Bank branch — will be torn down to make way for something new. More here ----> http://www.ohio.com/business/117891519.html

I'm assuming that fence is for the BioInnovation Institute that is suppose to be going into that building. I really hope that by the institute moving into this building they will liven it up a bit.