A 2 da K

Any thoughts on the rumored front office shake up? I personally hope that things simmer down and the front office stays intact. You can't build a successful organization with as much turnover as the Brownies have had since returning in '99.

Become more disciplined... that will then take care of a lot of smaller resolutions I continue to make year after year.

Great pics ColDay. Damn it seems like 50 is everywhere!

My favorites as well. The Merriman Valley is also another nice area of the city, that's my current locale.

From the City of Akron web site, 12/28/2005 IMPORTANT FACELIFT FOR ‘DISTINCTIVE’ NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHLAND SQUARE PLAN IS READY Mayor Don Plusquellic today announced a $6 million construction project that will provide a facelift for one of Akron’s most historic neighborhoods. The City of Akron, the Akron-Summit County Public Library, Albrecht Incorporated and First Merit Bank have entered into an agreement that will see the first major re-development of the Highland Square business district in more than 50 years. Albrecht will build a new retail and grocery center at the now-vacant corner of West Market Street and Portage Path. The private developer will also build a second retail and office complex on the site of the old Star Market. A new West Hill branch of the library at Highland Square will be constructed starting in 2006. The City of Akron will construct public parking, which is critical to the success of the project. "In the history of Akron, it’s unlikely that there’s been a redevelopment project that has been the subject of more discussion and more citizen input than this one," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "Highland Square is a distinctive neighborhood in Akron and deserves the thoughtful planning that has gone into this development." The development agreement provides for: Construction of a $1.5 million retail center of about 10,000 square feet on the triangle-shaped piece of property bounded by Market, Portage Path, and Edgerton Road. The city will lease the property to Albrecht for 20 years. Albrecht will develop a 6,400 square foot grocery store on the site, the operator of which is yet to be named. The retail development will create initial employment of just under 50 persons. Albrecht has an option to purchase the property. Construction of a $1.2 million retail center of roughly 9,000 square feet, on West Market Street at North Highland Avenue on property currently owned by Albrecht, the site of the former Star Market. Employment here will be about 40 persons. Construction of a $2.15 million Akron-Summit County Library of about 12,000 square feet, on the site of its current West Hill branch at Market and Highland. The existing building will be demolished and North Highland Avenue will be vacated to provide land for the construction. Development by the city of 112 new public parking spaces on the site for which Albrecht and the Library will be assessed. The city will also build 92 parking spaces at the corner site under a cooperative agreement with FirstMerit utilizing existing parking owned by the bank. These will be for use by bank customers and by tenants of the Albrecht development. The parking will be paid for by FirstMerit and Albrecht. Public improvements along West Market Street, Portage Path, Edgerton Road, Conger, and Highland avenues that will be made by the City of Akron. Plusquellic recognized the diligence and professionalism of the major players, developer Steve Albrecht and the board of the Akron Summit County Public Library. "Steve Albrecht and the Library each owned their land and could have built new projects earlier," the mayor said. "They took time to give residents the opportunity to be heard and their ideas to be integrated into this final plan." "This redevelopment will be the first step in a long awaited re-invention of Highland Square," said Jim Nilsen, president of Albrecht, Incorporated. "It represents the collaborative efforts of citizens, business and local government working together to create a distinctive, urban business district." Library Director David Jennings said that the new West Hill branch will serve residents of Highland Square for many years. "On behalf of the library board and the community we thank Fred and Francia Albrecht whose generosity made locating the library at this site possible. Their love of reading and the arts will be recognized with the dedication of a garden at the branch." The first phase of the grocery store and the accompanying office/retail space is expected to start early in 2006. Phase II of the re-development project will begin in April of 2006 with the library construction and the construction of the adjacent single story retail/office building. "This plan has been a long time in coming," said Akron first ward councilman Dan Horrigan who first convened neighborhood meetings about the project almost five years ago. "I am pleased that the developers listened to the residents’ concerns and have incorporated many of their suggestions into the final design." The Department of Planning and Urban Development will hold a public meeting on January 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Portage Path School to discuss future planning issues in the Highland Square business district. It is expected that the information collected will allow the city to create an urban renewal plan that will also include development guidelines to direct future development in the neighborhood. The proposed development package must now be submitted to the Akron Planning Commission and Akron City Council. The Board of the Library has given its approval to the proposal. Contact: Mark Williamson ([email protected]) http://ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/1228.html

^ Amen to that! I'm not picky, I just want to see the Cavs still playing in May (though, with their impressive home record, home court advantage could really help them in advancing).

Damn, did you need to start a thread about this. As if the score wasn't painful enough.

5 in row! It was nice to see the Cavs pull it out against the Pacers when Lebron was having an off night (much credit to the Pacers D). The Cavs have been looking a little more consistent on the defensive end lately; lets hope this continues.

There's a former Burger King here in Akron that was recently converted to one of these places. They painted the building bright yellow and purple, hideous!! (I'll try to get a pic after the holidays). The neighborhood it's in has been sprouting these places like weeds in the last few years. I just love how they've conveniently located themselves in a neighborhood which is home to several senior housing developments. :evil:

Interesting site; here's some statistics from my zip: 44313: Akron (Merriman Valley) Housing units: 12,505 Land area: 13.3 sq. mi. Water area: 0.0 sq. mi. White population: 20,238 Black population: 3,892 American Indian population: 40 Asian population: 430 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 8 Some other race population: 93 Two or more races population: 358 Urban population: 24,422 Rural population: 637 Median age: 39.6 Average household size: 2.11 Median household income (1999): $47,686

WOW!!! :-o I built some pretty interesting stuff with my LEGO's when I was younger, but nothing like that. Incredible detail, especially the Huntington Building (hell, they even included the sign on the side of the building!).

I used to work at Rolling Acres Mall when it was the place to be back in the day. I went up there the other day after reading this article just to take a look around; the entire area is like a ghost town. I hope that some developers step in quickly and start to redevelop some of the many vacant sites located in the area; the area is really starting to look rundown and neglected. I'm most interested in seeing what will be done with the mall itself. I believe it's days as a retail center are numbered; so it would be interesting to see what be done with the structure. I'll have to try to find the article, but there was a proposal by somebody about a year ago about turning the mall into a supersized assisted living facility for the ederly. His idea called for having parts of the mall split into individual units for seniors who need assistance and having various other services (health and beauty, medical, pharmacies, fitness center, etc...) occupy the remainder of the mall. He would then remove a large chunk of the parking lot and built individual town homes for seniors who are still able to live indepently. It was a pretty interesting idea; however, he wasn't having much luck with obtaining financial assistance for the project; I haven't heard anything else about it lately. Like I said, I'll try to find the article and post it.

LEBRON JAMES!

That pic almost makes me want to cry, it's so beautiful. We can always imagine.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with him. He made a few rookie mistakes which is to be expected; but I think if he's given more playing time he will continue to develop into a pretty good NFL quarterback. I'm just tickled pink to see a QB in a Brown's uni who's got some decent mobility and is able to move the pocket.

Wow, I never realized Cleveland had a Chinatown. Great thread!

Speaking of the O-line, where have they gone lately. They started the season looking pretty good, but since have been very inconsistent. The silly penalties they've been picking up lately don't really help either.

Did anyone see when both Gooden and Donyell Marshall both went for a rebound at the end of Fridays game and Marshall accidently tipped the ball in for the Nets. I swear that can only happen to a Cleveland team.

I second that. An absolute stellar collection of pics, some of best pics I've seen of C-town. :clap: Thanks MayDay for posting them again.

This statement pretty much sums up why these things keep popping up like weeds. The convenience of not having to leave your 'burb' makes life good.

Oh the memories. :cry: I miss the days when I didn't have budget gasoline cost.

^ Agree. It's actually the quickest way for me to get home; yet, I rarely travel along it. I can't stand cruising along at 55-60 mph and then having to come to come to a complete stop at a traffic light; I'm so glad that this will finally become a true expressway (though I'll probably still avoid it because the police from Boston Hts. roam the area like hawks looking for speeders).

Big changes are underway for State Rt. 8 in northern Summit County. From the Akron Beacon Journal 11/14/2005 Route 8 to be streamlined Plan eliminates intersections at Boston Mills, East Hines Hill and Twinsburg roads By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer State Route 8 in northern Summit County soon will get a $130 million overhaul, including construction of two mega-intersections. The goal is to create a limited-access highway with less congestion and fewer traffic signals and crossroads that slow traffic between state Route 303 in Boston Heights and Interstate 271 in Macedonia, said Mohamed Darwish, deputy director of District 4 of the Ohio Department of Transportation. New intersections will be constructed at I-271 in Macedonia and in the area of the Ohio Turnpike interchange near Boston Mills, East Hines Hill and Chittendon roads in Boston Heights. Read More...

Great news for the UC area!

Nicely done. :clap: Welcome!