audidave

In that regard i can see a modern forward thinking company say that a used office might not work for them due to how they work in groups. However I don't think a gov entity needs to worry about that. It is compartmentalized. Many companies are using skyscrapers that were designed before this building. Financially, i think its probably the best option. In this environment, that's all that matters.

Where some people see grass, i see esplanades. Bw3 will be closer to campus.

An article on the new Metro Director. Nice to have someone like him in charge. Metro severely lacked vision. It does what it does well. But now it will be exciting seeing the agency use its tracks to take cars and trucks off the road going forward. http://www.akronnewsnow.com/news/local/item/46080-metro-chooses-new-executive-director

The easiest thing is to use padmapper.com or download the app. Do the research there and then come back with questions. Most of the Cleveland area is fairly safe. Obviously some sketchy sections in spots. For the range you are looking at I doubt you have to worry about safety.

I attempted to alter/delete my previous post but my iphone died just as I hit send.. The Metro announcement is incredibly vague and I guess I got confused on the emphasis from KJP and missing the & symbol.. I went over the 140 page document on my iphone being the geek that I am but already had seen most of that.. There was nothing in that study that alluded to the commuter rail which is why I commented. To me when I see METRO list 2 streets and suggest it as transit corridor needs, I think bus not train since there has been serious contemplation about a brt type thing going from Goodyear(Arlington-ish) to maybe as far as Summit Mall(W. Market).. Here's the announcement of the meetings in the Akron Beacon Journal, a little more fleshed out. Sounds like an airing out of ideas to try to get general public feel and feedback. I suppose they're going to see if people hate the idea of light rail or maybe are indifferent along with other proposals: Metro RTA seeks to bolster routes By Dave Scott Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 22, 2012 - 10:59 PM Metro RTA says its busiest routes are overcrowded and the bus system is looking for suggestions on ways to deal with it. The routes along Market and Arlington streets average more than 40 people per hour and often are above capacity, with as many as three people for every two seats available. The bus system is paying for a $350,000 study to look at ways to improve service and speed traffic along the key “corridors.” http://www.ohio.com/news/metro-rta-seeks-to-bolster-routes-1.322027

I still think there is confusion. There are 2 separate studies going on for metro. One is evaluating the commuter rail section from the Merriman valley to the Goodyear complex and a half mile either side of that. The other study is what this is, an inventory of Metro-owned rail lines and what can be "fast tracked" to improve the tracks for industry in Summit county. I don't think the commuter study will be out until closer to the end of the year. The freight rail is an important basis point to guide Summit county and AMAT. I guess some improvement to the tracks will give more impetus to using them for passenger rail since there will be less startup costs for passenger rail and additional money for rail improvements from rail revenue that is currently non-existent.

This has nothing directly to do with commuter rail. I'm kind of confused that I thought I saw an article that stated the secondary freedom trail was going to be started in early August through Tallmadge. To me that kind of implies that the metroparks are going to start pulling up the rails for a walking path. Is this one gov dept not know what the other is doing or will there be a walking trail alongside? Here it is: http://kent.patch.com/articles/groundbreaking-for-trail-linking-kent-tallmadge-set-tuesday The Board of Park Commissioners for Metro Parks, Serving Summit County will break ground on a new multipurpose trail that will connect Akron and Kent, Tuesday, July 3, at 10 a.m., near the intersection of East Avenue and Erie Road in Tallmadge. The Freedom Trail will follow an unused railroad corridor on land owned by METRO Regional Transit Authority, and construction will take place in three phases. The first phase, which should be completed in December, is 4.2 miles long and runs between Tallmadge Circle and Kent’s Middlebury Road.

Cool! I was going to suggest Bricco there on the corner of Exchange and Main. They have great apps that could be construed as brunch. By Wally Waffles, you can see the massive new parking garage that is starting to be built across from the hospital. That is likely the first phase of an expansion. Other obvious construction is at Main and Cedar a block further south from Exchange with new dorm/apartments going in. I'll be jumping on the train soon to head into downtown with my bike. I'll mainly hit up Ohio Brewing which opens at 2pm on Selle st. Then I'll bike back to my car on towpath. Probably grabbing something at Italian festival.

Keep walking? Wally waffle is supposed to be good but its by akron childrens hospital. I'd try using yelp or urbanspoon vs this method. The Italianfest is going on in Main St. right now. Lockview might be open by noon. Not sure. Not sure if the creperie across from convention center on mill is open or not.

New guy in charge of CVSR with what his goals are going forward. He'd like to get to downtown Cleveland as a goal: Trucks to trains is easy transition By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 2, 2012 - 11:38 PM | Updated: July 3, 2012 - 07:01 AM BOSTON TWP.: Craig B. Tallman is a truck, not a train, guy. But the 58-year-old Tallman is learning about trains — especially the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. He is frequently riding the trains and talking to passengers, staff and volunteers to learn more about the appeal of the popular tourist railroad that runs through the 33,000-acre Cuyahoga Valley National Park and stretches south to Akron and Canton. http://www.ohio.com/news/trucks-to-trains-is-easy-transition-1.317941

dba about to open!! Akron is definitely hopping with new restaurants! Pretty exciting although it keeps me from visiting all the amazing Cleveland area restaurants.. Also, UO exclusive NEWSFLASH! Ohio Brewing's Taproom in Downtown Akron is now open from 4:30-8:30 Wednesday-Friday and will be open from 2-8pm on Saturdays. Growlers can be filled and purchased.. There should be occasional visits from Cleveland food trucks.. 6 beers are on tap currently including the limited Barrel-aged steel valley stout and the hoegarden-esque Buckeye Blonde. dba — Dante Boccuzzi Akron prepares for July 2 opening Beacon Journal food writer Published: June 15, 2012 - 05:15 PM | Updated: June 15, 2012 - 09:50 PM By Lisa Abraham When the doors open next month at the restaurant dba — Dante Boccuzzi Akron, one of the first things guests may notice are the bread baskets: They’re long-playing records melted into the shape of bowls. The 33 rpms-turned-bread-baskets are a standard at Boccuzzi’s restaurants, but for his Akron outpost, not just any albums would do. A close look at the record labels shows that most of them are by the Pretenders. It’s a small tribute to Akron native Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the group, whose closed restaurant, VegiTerranean, occupied the space that Boccuzzi is converting to dba. http://www.ohio.com/lifestyle/food/dba-dante-boccuzzi-akron-prepares-for-july-2-opening-1.314291

Launch of a potentially large company the other day.. It definitely sounds fairly promising but I think there are some inherent hazards of compressed hydrogen ala zee Hindenburg.. To become mainstream, there will need to be improvement I suspect in the transfer of compressed hydrogen to the tanks. I'm assuming that he hasn't created that as part of his patent.. It really needs to be totally idiot-proof and fairly easy to re-fuel before there will be buy-in. I don't really know anything about hydrogen tanks and how he is doing this process but just sheer speculation. We shall see as more becomes known.. Startup has big dreams for small hydro-fueled engines By Katie Byard Beacon Journal business writer Published: June 20, 2012 - 11:48 PM | Updated: June 21, 2012 - 02:48 PM Partners in an Akron startup called Hydrogen Energy Systems LLC revved up a small engine Wednesday to show off what they say is breakthrough technology they hope to soon commercialize. The small engine was powered with gaseous hydrogen, an alternative clean energy source. The key, company partners said, is their patented Mixing Block system, which replaces the fuel injector or carburetor used in gasoline-powered engines. “The Mixing Block delivers the right mix of hydrogen and air to successfully and efficiently run small internal combustion engines” used in lawn mowers and outdoor power equipment, among other devices, said Jeff Wilhite, CEO of Hydrogen Energy Systems. http://www.ohio.com/business/startup-has-big-dreams-for-small-hydro-fueled-engines-1.315472

A little confused at what the guy is trying to do. I think he's probably confused too. Great ideas- more landscaping and bridges over the canal connecting to the lofts development. Restaurants, venues and such I'm not sure I get the Branson thing or even the relevance of that. Howard street was apparently a hub of black culture in particular jazz and blues clubs from the 1920s to as late as the 1960s. Ninety percent or more of those buildings are gone. I don't believe that the area he is focused on is included in the state "special entertainment district" which has 20+ liquor licenses available within it. Northside is a part of that. I suppose there is room for more bars in Northside area and maybe a bigger venue in there but Akron has I would think enough venues. The only positive I see is Howard street is fairly ripe for new development. There really isn't much unused land left in downtown proper and so it will be hard to avoid that street finally being developed in some way over the next 3-5 years. There would have to be incredible buy-in by the city for that area to be repopulated with bars and I can't see that happening unless they put a streetcar back in which was the original impetus. So unless this guy has connections to $$$ or big time developers I really think the guy is out to lunch. To bad the reporter did not ask any probing questions on how he thought this would start to come together.

Nice cinder block motif. It looks a lot like the AES aka bf goodrich complex in downtown akron.

Wanted to point out that i posted an article earlier in the week in random akron devs about a new recycling center by the fulton airport. It basicallly said going forward all Akron and a lot of regional recycleables will be dropped off there instead of fountain st. I assume this would have a fairly large affect on this company. Point is i don't think they will need more room to expand unless i totally misunderstand what it is they do. I really don't think there is any designs by UPA on that area south of Exchange on the other side of 8. If they are wanting to revitalize housing stock they have their hands full on the western side of 8 south of Exchange. The primary focus is what is marked as part of the biomedical corridor and anything on fringes of University property.

I think what is going in where greenfeaf was will mirror the first dorms that went in that has the DQ and other little stores on the first floor on Exchange That will likely start going up soon since they bothered to rip down the greenleaf. So yes expect 2 more 5-story buildings on exchange for students on both sides of McDs with retail and restaurants on first levels.

For those reasons as listed above i think that arena district is a bad analogy. I think gateway is closer but i think you'll find in any city ballfields in close proximity to arenas. Its just the benefits of having supporting entertainment district surround them both to maximize the investments. I have heard that the Mayflower may be a stumbling block and perhaps some other buildings close to where the arena may go. Not sure city is yet on same page as University on this. I suppose there will be a study to decide on the 3 locations. The 3rd location is next to the JAR. I think county goverment will be participating for the financing which is why a downtown location would also make sense. So basically, if everyone plays nice there could be a nice fancy arena downtown. Perhaps a future minor league hockey team even.

Another 5 story student dorm building on the drawing board. This one across the street from McDs on the same side of Exchange. So it will take out 3 fairly lame store fronts and rebuild with new retail on the first level. It sounds pretty solid to me. Its already impressive driving down Exchange with all the new dorms going up across from the expanded parking decks. Its like a mini canyon for a couple blocks which will now be a few blocks. http://www.ohio.com/news/new-student-housing-retail-building-planned-for-east-exchange-street-1.313915 New student housing/retail building planned for East Exchange Street By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer Published: June 13, 2012 - 10:59 PM A new student housing and retail building is planned for a block of East Exchange Street that now has three empty storefronts. The $15 million, five-story development would have seven storefronts on the bottom and dorms for more than 400 students on top. Akron City Council approved plans for the building, proposed for the south side of Exchange between Allyn and Sumner streets, at its meeting this week. Councilman Jeff Fusco said this and other housing additions by the university and private developers have greatly improved the housing selection for University of Akron students. He said he and other “gray hairs” can remember what the housing choices used to be like.

New trash recycling plant in Akron. That in itself doesn't sound too revolutionary. Lots of them all over the US. This one is going to be a dominant one regionally however since money back to communities will be higher. Also a startup tech company in Akron is tacking on their system of turning plastics into crude oil as a further enhancement. http://www.ohio.com/news/recycler-unveils-akron-processing-plant-1.312409 Recycler unveils Akron processing plant By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer Published: June 6, 2012 - 10:53 PM | Updated: June 7, 2012 - 06:58 AM Greenstar Recycling on Wednesday unveiled its $7 million facility to sort and recycle newspaper, plastics, metals, cardboard and glass in Akron. It fills nearly half of a former airplane hangar, with 196,000 square feet of space, off Exeter Road at the southwest corner of Akron Fulton International Airport. The equipment consists of a maze of conveyor belts, screens, bins, chutes and pipes — all painted blue and gold — plus a dose of technology. Materials move in a dozen directions in the dizzying array of equipment that stands three stories tall inside the building.

New massive parking garage! https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/news/Childrens_to_break_ground_on_parking_deck/ Akron Children’s to break ground on parking deck ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING OF PARKING GARAGE 06-06-2012 Akron Children’s Hospital will break ground on a new $20 million, six-level parking garage in June. The garage, to be located on the southwest corner of Exchange and Locust streets, will serve patient families, visitors and hospital staff. The garage will have approximately 1,200 parking spaces, as well as space for an ambulance garage on the lower level. “As our main campus has expanded, so has our need for parking spaces,” said Linda Gentile, vice president for professional and support services at Akron Children’s. “We have added programs, services and physicians and that has increased patient visits and traffic. Many of our patient families travel with babies, children, strollers and wheelchairs so we want them to get in and out of their appointments as quickly and easily as possible.” Akron Children’s currently has two parking decks – one on Locust Street and another Bowery Street – and also owns several surface lots for employees. Thomarios of Akron is the designer/building for the project. Akron Children’s has also been working with KLMK Group, of Richmond, Va., on long-range planning for its Akron campus. Construction should be complete by September 2013.

I wonder with these trainsets if the CVNP would be ok with weekday service to Cleveland at some point. There could be not one but two casinos in Summit county. One partially owned by Gilbert if Thistledown moves to Summit county. I don't think Gilbert has honestly given much consideration of Summit county to this point. However if he is going to invest in the county now and with a huge investment upcoming in his phase II of the casino downtown, i suspect he will be looking at all transportation methods to make it successful. With the longer window before it opens he may have a chance to do a little maneuvering to help rail. Also, if he knows that the racino could move near a train track that connects Akron and Canton and could also directly connect to his casino in Cleveland, wouldn't that be baller? I believe he'd throw a few million to help various phases make that a reality.

I went to school during the Muse era as well. I remember there was a front page article in the Buchtelite pondering a train connecting the campuses of UA and KSU. It was mainly reporting based on conversations the 2 University presidents had about the subject and whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. On one side it looked fairly doable. The track is there and not really being used. But the dark underlying factor as seen possibly from Columbus is it could see it then as a single merged state school with that linkage. I feel it was dropped from consideration at that point since neither president felt a merger was in their interest, shotgun or otherwise.

Reminds me of the blue space invader as its just about to land. Thank you Atari for invading Cleveland.

^are you referring to Primos? Supposedly it is a franchise of the same named deli by rolling acres. I popped in there last Saturday but the kitchen had closed. Rolled down w. exchange tonight and noticed that the massive parking lot across from Akron Childrens and Wally waffles had a chain linked fence around it and a rather large bull-dozer in the middle. I'd say that work on that parking deck will begin soon. Interesting how parking deck friendly Akron is.

Looked over the website for insomnia and they have over 20 locations pretty much at large college campuses. It looks like their niche is actually study parties rather than drinking parties. That is why they do late night delivery. I guess i'm impressed that they feel that Akron would have enough students on campus for this business model to work. I personally can't see myself or anyone i know stepping in there while bar hopping downtown. It sounds like they are targeting sweet tooths and 18-20 yr olds. Was at Lockview last night for food and it was pretty packed with people at 10:30. Didn't go upstairs though but it sounds like it was also fairly packed on the patio. I guess part of the crowd was coming from the Rock the Lock series that just started across the street at Lock 3. It just felt like a big happy gathering of hipster central. Great place and great food and beer.