yanni_gogolak

Well that was a quick turnaround. Lordstown Commission OKs Rezoning for TJX Project By George Nelson | May 9, 2018 LORDSTOWN, Ohio – The TJX Companies Inc. cleared a key hurdle Tuesday evening in its plan to develop a 1.2-million-square-foot regional distribution center here. The Lordstown Planning Commission last night voted unanimously in favor of rezoning seven parcels of land from R-1 Residential to I-1 Industrial. The followed a 2½-hour hearing attended by more than 100 village residents and others. https://businessjournaldaily.com/lordstown-commission-approves-rezoning-tjx/

Some of their infill is pretty bad aesthetically and functionally, IMO. Their brand new stuff looks like home plan models. Which I think is fine, just not my style. https://www.knez.net/neighborhoods/

The issue in this project has been the reputation of Akron, I'm sorry to say," Rybak said, when asked why he thought financing the project was difficult. That's sobering. What do people expect when every Nike commercial filmed here depicts Akron as a ghetto from which LeBron escaped. They never show the beauty. I like the current mayor and city planner a lot; now the city needs a good PR machine. Wow, that's entirely not true. This was a PR piece to drum up investment. From what I've heard this will not move forward until the Bowery project across the street is proven viable. Basically, do your homework and let me copy.

Akron mayor Dan Horrigan proposes legislation to crack down on city's vacant buildings By CRAIN'S AKRON BUSINESS f you own a vacant building in Akron, your days of being able to just let it sit, hopefully unnoticed by the city, might be numbered. Or at least they will be if Akron City Council acts on legislation proposed by Mayor Dan Horrigan. Horrigan, who has made rebuilding the city's population and redeveloping neighborhoods top priorities of his administration, wants a law requiring the owners of vacant buildings to register them and have plans for their future use or demolition. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180507/news/160651/akron-mayor-dan-horrigan-proposes-legislation-crack-down-citys-vacant

Akronym Brewing opens doors in downtown Akron Published: May 7, 2018 - 1:33 PM | Updated: May 7, 2018 - 3:06 PM By Rick Armon Beacon Journal/Ohio.com Akronym Brewing co-founder Josh Blubaugh could feel the hair stand on up his arms as beer-drinkers started filing into the new downtown Akron brewery. “I got chills,” he said Sunday during the two-day soft opening for the production brewery and tasting room. “We’re super excited.” https://www.ohio.com/akron/lifestyle/akronym-brewing-opens-doors-in-downtown-akron

Wow, missed that part. Public Officials Hail TJX Decision to Stay the Course By George Nelson | May 4, 2018 “Our numbers have been under estimated [sic] in the media and within the village,” she continued. “Village residents support TJX for the value it brings to the village, but don’t support re-zoning residential land, she said in the email. The chamber was wrong to suggest any of the properties were available for purchase as industrial sites.” Dickson and her husband, Brett, live on a relatively affluent street that abuts a large wooded area that would serve as a buffer to the TJX project. Brett Dickson is the associate vice president of distribution and fulfillment at the nearby Things Remembered warehouse, 500 S. Bailey Road in North Jackson, which presumably would compete with TJX for skilled warehouse workers. The couple moved to Lordstown about two years ago. https://businessjournaldaily.com/public-officials-regional-chamber-hail-tjx-decision/

Owner hopes to convert Akron's Law Building to high-end apartments, mixed use By DAN SHINGLER Downtown Akron's Law Building could become the city's next luxury apartment building if its owner can put together the financing needed to complete a $26 million redevelopment. Its owner, New Jersey developer and real estate investor Tom Rybak, said he hopes to turn the 11-story office building into a high-end, mixed-use tower, with most of its space converted to apartments. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180506/news/160526/owner-hopes-convert-akrons-law-building-high-end-apartments-mixed-use

Trailhead Event Space features sustainable design, proximity to downtown Akron, Towpath Trail Updated May 2, 8:56 PM; Posted May 2, 8:55 PM By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com jconnCleveland[/member].com AKRON, Ohio - The Trailhead Event Space at Cascade Lofts is more than a sleek new party space in a cool, old tire factory. It's designed to feature sustainability while drawing visitors into downtown. On the corner of Howard and North streets, and adjacent to the Towpath Trail, Cascade Locks Park and the Mustill Store Museum, the Trailhead is just over a stone's throw from downtown Akron. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/05/trailhead_event_space_features.html

LeBron James Family Foundation has big plans to revamp the building at 400 W. Market St. for I Promise School Published: May 1, 2018 - 11:21 PM | Updated: May 2, 2018 - 8:55 AM By Theresa Cottom Beacon Journal/Ohio.com Like so many ventures by the LeBron James Family Foundation, all parts of the I Promise School are aiming to inspire students and their families when it opens at 400 W. Market St. in July. The design of the building is no exception. At the Akron School Board meeting this week, district and foundation officials detailed their preliminary plans for physical changes to the space, including modifications of everything from landscaping and flagpole positioning to classroom spaces and paint colors. https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/lebron-james-family-foundation-has-big-plans-to-revamp-the-building-at-400-w-market-st-for-i-promise-school

Yea, two blocks of continuous storefront anywhere in Akron is a pretty big win. As far as walkability for commercial / social / community, it's really from 18th to 11th. And that's of the existing infrastructure. As things get rolling I'm sure incremental development could be a big part of the boulevard.

Dedication set for KSU’s May 4 site as National Historic Landmark Posted Apr 30, 2018 at 10:19 AM Updated Apr 30, 2018 at 10:27 AM Kent State University will formally recognize the May 4 site on campus as a National Historic Landmark during a dedication ceremony Friday. The site represents the location of the historic events of May 4, 1970, where the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students and wounded nine others. http://www.record-courier.com/news/20180430/dedication-set-for-ksus-may-4-site-as-national-historic-landmark

Kenmore Boulevard revitalization underway through zoning updates, infrastructure improvements Updated Apr 30, 5:14 PM; Posted Apr 30, 5:13 PM By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio - Efforts to return Kenmore Boulevard to a bustling business district are gaining momentum. Akron City Council Planning Committee is considering changes to the boulevard's zoning to add special development conditions for new construction and building renovation. The proposed zoning would regulate types of businesses allowed on the main strip through Kenmore, as well as their dimensions and proximity to the street. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/04/kenmore_boulevard_revitalizati.html#incart_river_index

Homeowners Closest to Site ‘All for” TJX Project By Andrea Wood | April 30, 2018 LORDSTOWN, Ohio – Fred Price and Marilyn Whipkey own the only house and property on Hallock Young Road that directly abuts the site where TJX Companies still could build its $160 million HomeGoods distribution center. And they are the only homeowners on this stretch of the road, which would be rerouted to make way for the project, that have posted “Welcome TJX. Right Project. Right Property” yard signs. Hundreds of “Welcome TJX” signs, passed out at the rally Sunday to many of the more than 600 people who attended, are now visible elsewhere in this small village. https://businessjournaldaily.com/homeowners-closest-to-site-all-for-tjx-project/

Akron's Lock 15 Brewing Co. aims to open in June in historical, natural setting Updated Apr 25; Posted Apr 25 by Marc Bona, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio - A strong sense of history is fueling Lock 15 Brewing Co., which plans to open in Akron this summer. Lock 15 Brewing Co. The brewery, in the shadow of the Y Bridge, is in the Cascade Valley Metro Park. It's a mix of old, new and nature: Trails wind through the area and its montage of historic buildings, rushing water and electrical towers. Soon, Colin Cook's vision and restaurant background, Tony Troppe's development acumen and Joe Karpinski's brewing know-how will converge to open one of Akron's newest breweries. http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2018/04/lock_15_brewing_co_aims_to_ope.html#incart_river_index

Summa Health hosts topping ceremony for new West Tower Updated Apr 24; Posted Apr 24 By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com jconnCleveland[/member].com AKRON, Ohio - Summa Health System's leadership, clinicians and support staff performed a ceremonial topping of the new $270 million West Tower on Tuesday, despite chilly rain and wind. The new six-floor tower, set to open next year, is part of a $350 million facility plan, which includes modernizing Summa's Barberton campus, building a medical office on the Akron campus, and increasing outpatient capacity across the system. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/04/summa_health_hosts_topping_cer.html Akron Officials Say They're At the 'Two-Yard Line' In Getting The Bowery Project Moving By Kabir Bhatia • Apr 23, 2018 Officials in Akron say they’re at “the two-yard line” when it comes to securing funding for the long-delayed, $40 million Bowery redevelopment project. The six empty buildings next to the Akron Civic Theater have been slated for re-use for about 20 years. But only in the last several years has funding been secured for most of the project. Earlier this year, The Bowery was denied New Market Tax Credits that would have generated about $4.5 million in capital – the final piece of funding needed to begin work. http://wksu.org/post/akron-officials-say-theyre-two-yard-line-getting-bowery-project-moving

Updated concept plan: http://www.hudson.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/6681

WOW Lordstown Residents ‘Disheartened’ at Opposition to TJX By Dan O'Brien | April 21, 2018 LORDSTOWN, Ohio – George Vasko, a resident of the village of Lordstown for 22 years, says he’ll probably lose his job along with 1,500 others when General Motors Co.’s Lordstown Complex sheds its second shift in June. With this sort of pressure facing the community, he said he’s even more frustrated as to why a small number of residents here have effectively squashed a $160 million project that would bring 1,000 new jobs to the village, and at least blunt some of the impact from GM’s latest downsizing. The land is directly across from the Imperial Communities mobile home development, and abuts residential land along Hallock Young Road. Some of these residents here led vocal opposition to the project site, claiming they would like to see the center built somewhere else in the village that is already is zoned industrial. https://businessjournaldaily.com/lordstown-residents-disheartened-at-neighbors-opposition-to-tjx/

Land swap between Cuyahoga Falls schools, city proposed for fire station By April Helms Reporter Posted Apr 18, 2018 at 12:01 AM Updated Apr 18, 2018 at 10:16 AM CUYAHOGA FALLS — The city is currently preparing to knock down and rebuild Fire Station 3, at 1601 Portage Trail. However, there is one issue the city has “to clean up legally,” according to Mayor Don Walters. Walters and Fire Chief Paul Moledor gave a presentation on the proposed fire station during the Cuyahoga Falls City School Board’s April 4 meeting. The city is hoping to come to an agreement with the district to do a land swap so they have more room to build the new station. http://www.mytownneo.com/news/20180418/land-swap-between-cuyahoga-falls-schools-city-proposed-for-fire-station

Kent State University giving equal weight to design and money in choice of business college developer (photos, video) Updated Apr 17, 4:31 PM; Posted Apr 17, 4:20 PM By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer KENT, Ohio - The competition to design and build a new, $72.9 million College of Business Administration building for Kent State University has come down to four finalist teams that include some of the world's leading architecture firms. All of the competitors have proposed buildings with distinctive shapes and facades, plus central, sky-lighted atriums, grand staircases, and digital panels displaying stock prices. http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2018/04/kent_state_university_to_give.html#incart_river_index

Interesting theory in this article. While there may be some cross border influence, this firm has an NY office and completed many domestic projects. The quote in the Post is even from the head of the NY office. It would be the same as saying that the new plan and building at the Cleveland Clinic by Foster+Partners is designed by a British firm even though they have two US based offices. Building a research center is a lot more appealing than building a wall STAFF BLOG : Managing Editor A project at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is cited in this Washington Post story as a prime example of architectural synergy between Mexico and the United States. From the piece: Whether through the popular Spanish Colonial-style houses that dot the American suburban landscape or the Mayan-inspired concrete blocks of Frank Lloyd Wright's La Miniatura in Pasadena, Calif., American architecture has often been preoccupied with Mexico both as a romantic ideal and a source of the new. Meanwhile, designers from the south have frequently picked up on Mexican themes in American design and reimported them, making them their own. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180417/blogs03/158526/building-research-center-lot-more-appealing-building-wall

Moved out of real density to new fake density?

Looks like SHoP was replaced. https://www.contractdesign.com/news/projects/gensler-replaces-shop-on-quicken-loans-arena-renovation/

It was in the article you posted above. Here is a link to current day view and the rendering from the same view. Existing Moulton Hall on the right foreground will remain. https://goo.gl/maps/HtHwDfJAZF82

Stark County devising way to keep score of development progress By Alison Matas GateHouse Media Ohio Posted Apr 9, 2018 at 7:27 PM The document is a follow-up to “Strengthening Stark,” a report released last summer that determined the county is becoming older, poorer and less populated. The economic plan being designed to help Stark County grow its population will come with a scorecard. Nonprofit JumpStart Inc. and affiliated Innovation Economy Partners — a Cleveland-based consulting firm that provides economic impact support to communities — are developing a measurable economic development plan for Stark County. Work began last year with data collection. More than 20 people in the county who have jobs devoted to economic development meet regularly to help with recommendations. http://www.cantonrep.com/special/20180409/stark-county-devising-way-to-keep-score-of-development-progress

Again, not sure what you mean by "group". IRG is the developer. They have completed many large project successfully.