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Goodyear deal could be finished next week State agencies, company board have separate meetings scheduled to consider headquarters plan By Rick Armon, Stephanie Warsmith, Phil Trexler and Jim Mackinnon Beacon Journal staff writers Published on Friday, Nov 30, 2007 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. appears poised to accept a deal to build a new worldwide headquarters in Akron, ending any fear the company might move out of the city and Ohio. The company, which employs about 3,000 workers locally, wants a new flagship headquarters to replace its current 80-year-old site off East Market Street. Executives confirmed earlier this year they have been wooed by communities in other states since Goodyear's desire was made public. In Ohio, local and state leaders have been working behind the scenes for months with Goodyear to keep the company in Akron. Goodyear, meanwhile, said it would focus its efforts on the Akron development proposal through the end of the year. MORE: http://www.ohio.com

Council approves historic building purchase Akron agrees to pay $760,000 for run-down Young's Restaurant By Phil Trexler Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007 It has pigeons and their droppings floating inside and a roof that needs to be razed, but the battered yet historic Young's Restaurant is about to become Akron's. City Council on Monday approved the $760,000 deal that had been floating around town since last winter. The sale of the former restaurant is expected to close by the end of November. Council voted 12-1 on Monday night for the sale. Ward 2 Councilman Bruce Kilby cast the sole dissenting vote. At-large Councilman John Conti voted for the deal, but he questioned the price. He believes the cost might be too high because of the building's poor condition. He said the owners essentially abandoned the building several years ago, leaving behind a neighborhood blight. more at: http://www.ohio.com

If anything, I think it will hurt the Chapel Hill area. Around Akron, it seems like every three or four years a different township has a mess of chain stores go up seemingly overnight. Seven or eight years ago it happened it Streetsboro, a few years later it happened in Macedonia, and now it is happening in Brimfield. While I was attending Kent, Brimfield seemed to be very rural, but when I drive through it now it seems unrecognizable.

Brimfield faces task of keeping charm amid fast growth As buildings rise from farmland, township navigates tricky issues of planning, revenue, new services By Paula Schleis, Beacon Journal business writer Published on Sunday, Sep 09, 2007 BRIMFIELD TWP: It's late afternoon on Thursday, half an hour before BrimFest opens. The rides are in place but still. Vendors are holed up in their trailers, preparing waffle batter and corn dogs. But it won't be quiet for long. The activity that will soon consume this peaceful park next to town hall is . . . inevitable. It's a moment in time that mirrors the community itself. Brimfield Township, a sleepy rural haven that has long avoided development despite having two interstate interchanges within its borders, is on the verge of becoming the region's next super township. more at: http://www.ohio.com

Hynde's VegiTerranean restaurant to aim for unexpected Italian eatery to serve organic, meatless meals By Lisa Abraham Beacon Journal food writer Published on Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 Akron native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde is expected to hold a news conference today with city officials to talk about the opening of her new restaurant, VegiTerranean.

Mayor prevails in close primary Plusquellic wins 53 percent of vote to claim sixth term. Rival Finley not conceding By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007 Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic claimed victory Tuesday night with 53 percent of the vote, acknowledging that the election was closer than many expected. But retired school teacher and former Ward 2 Councilman Joe Finley, who took 47 percent, isn't giving up yet. ''We thought we were going to win, in fact, that's why I'm not conceding,'' Finley said. Read More...

Residents decry lack of grocery Sign-carrying Highland Square protesters ask why a store hasn't been built yet on West Market Street By Jim Carney Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007 Where's the beef? That was one slogan inscribed on a picket sign carried by one of about 35 protesters Tuesday in Akron's Highland Square. The group had gathered in front of a space where they hope a new grocery store will be built in the West Akron neighborhood. The protesters, many of whom were senior citizens, are upset that the retail development's owner, Albrecht Inc., has not yet found a grocer for the site. The development firm is an Albrecht family-owned company, as is the F.W. Albrecht Grocery Company that operates Acme Fresh Market stores in Northeast Ohio. Some of the protesters speculated that a grocery store has not opened there because the property owners do not want the grocery store competition. But Joe Albrecht, manager of retail properties for Albrecht Inc., said there is no conspiracy at play in Highland Square and his company wants a grocery store in Highland Square. More at http://www.ohio.com

Developer: Goodyear deal near HQ plan still far away, company responds By Jim Mackinnon Beacon Journal business writer Published on Thursday, Aug 16, 2007 Real-estate developer Stuart Lichter thinks he is within weeks of getting an agreement with Goodyear on his part in building a corporate headquarters for the Akron tire maker. That does not mean the project is signed, sealed and delivered, Lichter said. It probably will not be until the end of the year before anyone knows whether Akron will be the site of the new Goodyear headquarters and related redevelopment, he said. Lichter, founder and senior managing partner of Industrial Realty Group, discussed the Goodyear headquarters project and other subjects in a wide-ranging interview Wednesday at Canal Place, another of his Los Angeles firm's Northeast Ohio industrial redevelopment sites. ''I don't think I can sit here and say it's a done deal, but I think it's going well,'' Lichter said. ''I think it's going as well as a deal of this size and complexity can go.'' MORE: http://www.ohio.com

Large-scale redevelopment plan for Summit village Lakemore a bit uneasy Lack of specifics for renewal effort worries residents By Rick Armon Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Saturday, Aug 04, 2007 LAKEMORE: With Summit County poised to approve a multiyear, multimillion-dollar redevelopment plan for Lakemore, many residents appear more apprehensive than excited about the future investment in their village a one-time resort town at the southern tip of Springfield Lake. ''Everybody is confused,'' Cheryl Smith, 42, said while floating in a rubber pool in her driveway to escape the recent heat. ''Residents are afraid they are getting their homes torn down, especially the elderly.'' County and village officials announced a sweeping renewal plan in May that includes razing blighted homes, fixing flooding problems, installing sidewalks and a lakeshore trail, encouraging new businesses and homes to be built, adding a 30-foot fishing pier, and developing a new traffic pattern for wider streets. County Council is expected to act on the 40-page document Monday. (A copy of the plan is available at the Summit County site, Department of Development, Lakemore Community Investment Area Plan.) more at: http://www.ohio.com

I really dont see a problem with the university expanding into downtown. I think the university and all of its students going to the bars and clubs at night can be credited with helping the revitalization of downtown. I was at quaker square earlier this summer and it seemed pretty dead. It seems to do well during the soap box derby, the pro football hall of fame induction, and the pga tour, but when these events are done, it seems to be pretty quiet. I also think that the university owning this will help to draw students to the university. If the city really needs another hotel, I dont see why the mayflower couldnt be converted back into a hotel. It is right in the heart of downtown across from canal park. I believe it is used now for low income housing. Anyway, it is nice to see all of these projects going on at the university. The University of Akron is starting to grow up and is shaking off their community college image.

Mayor wants to aid 2 firms FirstEnergy still needs parking, developer seeks a site, Plusquellic says By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic provided more details at his news conference Wednesday about his July 6 agreement with federal judges on development of a city parcel next to the downtown federal building and courthouse. The agreement -- reached just before the dedication ceremony naming the federal building for former U.S. Rep. John Seiberling -- scrapped city plans to build a $20 million parking deck that would have supported a new office building for Akron developer Anthony Manna. ...

[shadow=red,left]How much housing/retail is around the U of A area?[/shadow] There is quite a bit around the university with several proposals in the works. Downtown is right next to the university to the west. On the south side is the zip strip along exchange. It is mostly a collection of college bars, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. South of the zip strip is university park, which is mostly old 1920's frame houses with some apartment buildings mixed in. A lot of the university park area is undergoing a transformation right now. Many of the old houses are being torn down, and there is a new park going in on brown st. which is going to have a softball field and a soccer field for intramural sports. The new football stadium is going on the north end of exchange st. There is a thread on that with the details about it. There is also a proposal called spicer village that will be built between brown and spicer streets. It has been in the property aquisition phase for a few years now, but by judging by the amount of houses torn down in the area, it appears they have most of the land they need for it. Here is the information on that from the city's website. http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/0311.html

Dragging? thats inaccurate. How is that innacurate? It was announced in December, 2004, and it is still in court. Anyway, I dont think it will take nearly as long on this project as this is a public university project and not a project from a private developer. I just think 2009 is being a little optimistic. If they want it to be finished by then i would think they would have to start construction soon, and that might not happen if business owners decide to hold out. And to the comment about the odd corner, i agree. Im sure the university isnt too thrilled to have a head shop flanking the main entrance to campus.

It worries me a little bit that the eminent domain issue might cause this project to be delayed for several years. Spicer village was announced almost three years ago, and it has yet to break ground, and the east bank of the flats in cleveland has been dragging on for a while also. By looking at the rendering, it appears that the odd corner is the only business that actually lies within the footprint of the stadium. If they can reach an agreement with them, the university should be able to start on the stadium. I believe they should focus on the stadium first and get it built and worry about the dorms and all the court procedings later. Or if they are planning on putting retail on the first floors of the new dorms, they could try and reach an agreement with the existing businesses to lease the space to them. Anyway, I really like the design of the stadium and cant wait to go see a game there.

Posted on Wed, Jul. 25, 2007 Akron halts plan for offices, deck Federal judges express safety concerns that proposed downtown building was too close to courthouse By John Higgins and Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writers Akron has scrapped a multimillion- dollar project next to the federal building that would have eased downtown parking shortages and provided a new headquarters for Signet Enterprises. Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced Tuesday in a news release that the city continues to negotiate with federal officials to determine what can be built next to the John F. Seiberling Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse so that it satisfies the judges' security concerns. A $20 million parking deck had been planned for the site. To relieve parking problems downtown, the city will instead extend the existing Superblock parking deck behind the Akron Centre Complex on South Main Street west across Dart Avenue, according to the city's release. ...

Attorneys partner to restore building Tuesday, July 17, 2007 By ED BALINT REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER CANTON Eugene Cazantzes admits he has dueling emotions about renovating the building at Fifth Street NE and Market Avenue N. Cazantzes, a member of F.L.I.P. (Four Lawyers in Partnership), feels as if he's jumping off a cliff. But he's also excited. The partnership includes Rick Pitinii, Anthony Koukoutas and Holly Davies, all Canton attorneys with offices downtown. The group is taking its first stab at a downtown project. Each member of the group is an equal partner, he said. It's not a one-person project, he emphasized. "I think the instant we saw it, it was love at first sight," Cazantzes said, smiling. "We just had to see how much it cost - love can be expensive. more at: http://www.cantonrep.com/

Posted on Tue, Jul. 17 Group to help spruce up old homes Loans, technical assistance available in West Hill By Katie Byard Beacon Journal staff writer Owners of vintage homes in West Akron have a new neighbor interested in fixing up old houses. Cleveland Restoration Society, which offers low-interest, state-subsidized loans and technical assistance to encourage renovations of homes at least 50 years old, recently opened an office in Akron's West Hill neighborhood. The society will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at its new site: the Old No. 3 Firehouse, at 60 S. Maple St. in West Hill. The restoration group's Akron office is in an appropriate place: The firehouse is a restoration project itself. It was purchased in 2005 by area developer Tony Troppe. more at: http://www.ohio.com

Posted on Tue, Jul. 17, 2007 Akron Renewal Plan Goes Foward Measure authorizes city to take land for East Akron proposal By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer The Akron City Council approved a renewal plan and blight report Monday night for 644 acres of industrial land that includes Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. It was a unanimous vote. Councilman Bruce Kilby, D-2, who owns property within the area, abstained. Kilby did not abstain, however, from speaking out against the plan. He argued that the city has not fully considered possible environmental problems with Goodyear's inactive landfill, and those comments may land him in legal hot water... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or [email protected]. Beacon Journal reporter Phil Trexler contributed to this report. www.ohio.com

Here is one from the LA Times Coop Himmelblau's Akron, Ohio, museum wing adds space-age lines The new $35-million building is attached to the museum’s existing home, a Renaissance Revival post office built in 1899. By Christopher Hawthorne, Times Staff Writer July 11, 2007 AKRON, Ohio — Wolf Prix and Helmut Swiczinsky, the Austrian architects who founded Coop Himmelblau in 1968, have waited an unusually long time for a U.S. debut. It finally arrives next week, when the firm's soaring, audaciously sculptural new wing for the Akron Art Museum opens to the public. Made of steel, glass, concrete and aluminum panels, the $35-million building is attached to the museum's existing home, a Renaissance Revival post office built in 1899, like a spaceship hitched to a locomotive. The design makes clear that Prix and Swiczinsky are still wildly inefficient when it comes to turning the contents of their fertile imaginations into built form. There is probably no firm in the world that requires so much highly wrought structure to prop up each of its architectural ideas, or that has to work up such a frenzy of form-making to evoke a particular mood or point of view. Like most of their designs, this one frequently edges from drama into melodrama. More at http://www.latimes.com

Here is the Washington Post review One Smashing Smashup In Akron, a Museum Wing Lifts an Old, Earthbound Building By Philip Kennicott Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, July 13, 2007; Page C01 AKRON, Ohio - Transformers are a popular line of robot characters, known to children through cartoons, video games, comic books, movies and especially toys (by Hasbro, ages 5 and up). They are machines that morph, metallic humanoid creatures that unfold out of the shell of a car, truck, cellphone or some other everyday object. Little boys, who can't get enough of them, seem to respond to the bristling, sci-fi menace hidden inside the familiar lines of an ordinary toy. That primal appeal, the magic of unfolding something angular and energetic and maybe even violent out of an innocuous shell, also defines the aesthetic of architect Wolf D. Prix -- and a whole generation of so-called deconstructivist architects. With its metal-mesh-encased arms, its chrysalis glass core and its long thorax of aluminum-covered gallery space, Prix's new addition to the Akron Art Museum feels biomorphic and mechanical at the same time. It is a discombobulated building pulsing with space-age energy, operating on different levels and at wild angles. It is so "deconstructed" -- whatever that means -- that it feels as if it might well have been a very normal-looking building that someone decided to unfold into weird shapes on the drafting table. And it sits next to a simple brick box, the old Akron museum that it dwarfs and expands -- which could be the box the toy came in. More at http://www.washingtonpost.com/

Akron planners back urban renewal plan Residents pack meeting; city to acquire 20 homes on east side for 644-acre project By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer The Akron Planning Commission on Friday approved the city's renewal plans for 644 acres in East Akron that includes Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s world headquarters. The area described in the ``Eastgate Urban Renewal Area Plan'' -- roughly bounded by East Market Street to the north, Archwood Avenue to the south, Kelly Avenue to the west and Massillon Road to the east -- is mostly zoned industrial... www.ohio.com John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792, 800-777-7232 or [email protected]. _____________________________________________________________________ Residents dispute location `blighted' Akron mayor defends redevelopment plan, acquisition of property By John Higgins Beacon Journal staff writer Residents of the ``poet streets'' off Seiberling Street told Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic on Thursday night that they do not appreciate their neighborhood being described as ``blighted.'' The gathering at East High School was the first public meeting for the city to describe its plan to redevelop 644 acres of mostly industrial land south of East Market Street between Kelly Avenue and Massillon Road. The city has identified 20 residences and two small businesses it wants to acquire on Twain, Poe, Darwin, Spencer and Shakespeare avenues... www.ohio.com John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792, 800-777-7232 or [email protected].