North Water Street Brewery update.

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

That would look a lot better without the tacked on suburban strip mall entrance.

8 hours ago, X said:

That would look a lot better without the tacked on suburban strip mall entrance.

 

Hey you know if it fails it can at least always become a Panera!

Corner of Franklin and Erie. The proposed 6 story Hasawai building has broken ground. First floor bar/cafe. Second floor restaurant and top 4 floors for apartments.

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

What is planned for the old Robin Hood site (NE corner of Main and Lincoln, for those of you too young to remember the Robin Hood)?

^I don’t see how that site gets any single repurposing as it is so narrow of a footprint. The Wendys next door which looks like an original 1970s Wendys is temporarily closed according to their website. The play would seem to be to knock down the Wendys building and rebuild expanding onto the Robin Hood lot for a better drive thru flow and modernizing in general. 

 

I don’t understand why Robin Hood was knocked down. I guess Lincoln sold it to some goofs that literally ran it into the ground?

Edited November 30, 20204 yr by audidave

There was also a bar on the second floor of the Robin Hood called O'Lincoln's for a short time, right yannigoglack? $1 Molson drafts and jelloshots if I'm not mistaken.

Spent a month there one night...

A friend took a picture of the Robin Hood lot today and posted it on Facebook. There was an earthmover on site.

There are rumors that the Wendy’s is going to be rebuilt. It’s pretty sickening that the beautiful Robin Hood was torn down for an expanded Wendy’s.

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by Silent Matt

8 hours ago, KJP said:

What is planned for the old Robin Hood site (NE corner of Main and Lincoln, for those of you too young to remember the Robin Hood)?

My freshman year at Kent in 91-92 was spent at The Underground and Robin Hood. I vaguely remember 10 cent beers at Robin Hood. 

1 hour ago, Silent Matt said:

There are rumors that the Wendy’s is going to be rebuilt. It’s pretty sickening that the beautiful Robin Hood was torn down for an expanded Wendy’s.

 

Robin Hood was architecturally beautiful, but it was in bad shape -- and that was when I was at KSU (1985-89). My parents had dinner there in the 1960s and said it was a nice restaurant back then.

My parents met there in the 60’s. If not for the Robin Hood, I’m not alive! So, it was particularly sad to see it razed.

I was last there right before it closed around 2009-10 and admittedly the memories are fuzzy, but it seemed to be in as good a shape as some of the downtown establishments. 

Edited December 1, 20204 yr by Silent Matt

4 hours ago, Silent Matt said:

My parents met there in the 60’s. If not for the Robin Hood, I’m not alive!

 

You probably have many many "cousins" from the Robin Hood!  🤣

On 11/30/2020 at 1:37 PM, w28th said:

There was also a bar on the second floor of the Robin Hood called O'Lincoln's for a short time, right yannigoglack? $1 Molson drafts and jelloshots if I'm not mistaken.

Spent a month there one night...

I do not recall anything from there...

The good ole Robin Hood.  That bar was absolutely awesome. Spent so much time in there at Kent from 01'-02'.  Shame they couldn't find a way to save it.  At the time, I lived on Lincoln, about 6 houses down from the Robin Hood and next to the Chi Omega Sorority girls.  Those were some fun days i must say.  Go Flashes!!

2 hours ago, OhioFinest said:

The good ole Robin Hood.  That bar was absolutely awesome. Spent so much time in there at Kent from 01'-02'.  Shame they couldn't find a way to save it.  At the time, I lived on Lincoln, about 6 houses down from the Robin Hood and next to the Chi Omega Sorority girls.  Those were some fun days i must say.  Go Flashes!!

We were neighbors. I lived in the second to last house on the same side just before Crain.

Hasawai building update.

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

That area with heavy rebar is interesting. Looks like enough for a vault.

On 12/21/2020 at 9:53 AM, yanni_gogolak said:

That area with heavy rebar is interesting. Looks like enough for a vault.

I know. I was wondering what was going on there. 🤨

Monthly Hasawai update. 😀

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

Hasawai. Pouring the concrete basement walls.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

The basement walls are done. I see steel beams and cinder blocks getting ready to go.

The pit around the basement has been filled with stones and flooring is being built quickly.

This is what's happening with the old Robinhood site -- a new driveway for Wendy's! Ugh... For a city that has done some nice urbanist designs near downtown and KSU campus, this is a big disappointment. This is the opposite of "street presence." A college buddy of mine from KSU in the 80s took this pic.

 

 

Hard to believe that’s where the Robinhood stood. A friend of mine had a rock band that gigged there. Kent has done an amazing job building overall - but that’s a big step down.  

On 4/2/2021 at 6:26 PM, KJP said:

This is what's happening with the old Robinhood site -- a new driveway for Wendy's! Ugh... For a city that has done some nice urbanist designs near downtown and KSU campus, this is a big disappointment. This is the opposite of "street presence." A college buddy of mine from KSU in the 80s took this pic.

 

 

 

RIP Robinhood...

Update on the Hasawai building - taken today, May 8, 2021:

 

 

I have mixed feelings about the Hasawai development. Don't get me wrong, I love the new building. But I wish that the old building didn't have to be demolished for it.

 

On 5/9/2021 at 8:37 AM, KJP said:

I have mixed feelings about the Hasawai development. Don't get me wrong, I love the new building. But I wish that the old building didn't have to be demolished for it.

 

The old building wasn't anything special. It did have some of the most dangerous stairs I've encountered in a public space. Watched many slip and slide down the beer soaked carpeted steps from the restrooms.

The new building design....ehhh....

I just realized this was the old Town Tavern building (before Mugs). I spent many a crazy times there in the '90s in addition to Ray's and the Loft. That's too bad it was demolished. I did visit about two years ago and downtown Kent looked great though. They've done great things there.

1 hour ago, yanni_gogolak said:

 

The old building wasn't anything special. It did have some of the most dangerous stairs I've encountered in a public space. Watched many slip and slide down the beer soaked carpeted steps from the restrooms.

The new building design....ehhh....

 

Our opinions are different on both structures.

21 hours ago, KJP said:

 

Our opinions are different on both structures.

And....? What was so great about the old building?

23 hours ago, jc324 said:

I just realized this was the old Town Tavern building (before Mugs). I spent many a crazy times there in the '90s in addition to Ray's and the Loft. That's too bad it was demolished. I did visit about two years ago and downtown Kent looked great though. They've done great things there.

 

Oh yes, I spent plenty of evenings at the Town Tavern, usually the second floor with all the other art/fashion school freaks 😈

2 hours ago, MayDay said:

 

Oh yes, I spent plenty of evenings at the Town Tavern, usually the second floor with all the other art/fashion school freaks 😈

Same here. We would always head to the second floor. It had a great aura about it. The bartender, Neil, was the best. He had our drinks waiting for us when he saw us coming.

On 5/11/2021 at 10:05 AM, jc324 said:

I just realized this was the old Town Tavern building (before Mugs). I spent many a crazy times there in the '90s in addition to Ray's and the Loft. That's too bad it was demolished. I did visit about two years ago and downtown Kent looked great though. They've done great things there.

 

I wanna say Town Tavern had a sister location at Exchange and Brown St. at U. Akron.  Or am I thinking of Town House? That era is a hazy one for me...but I really loved swinging over to KSU and hitting up Brady's, Singin' Sams, Black Squirrel, Europe Gyro, Library, Taco Tontos, etc. etc. I hardly recognize the place anymore. 

Edited May 13, 20214 yr by surfohio

https://www.wksu.org/environment-energy/2021-05-13/kent-plans-to-make-a-home-for-birds-that-have-long-history-with-university

The walls of the entire first floor are pure concrete and have been poured and they are setting up for the 2nd floor. This building is being built like a brick sh!t house.

Edited May 26, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

Bell Tower Brewing Company breathes new life into historic Kent church

Today 6:45 AM

By Anne Nickoloff, cleveland.com

 

KENT, Ohio -- More than 150 years after it was first built, the cathedral at 310 Park Avenue, near downtown Kent, will find new life as Bell Tower Brewing Company.

 

Inside, high ceilings arch overhead, a fresh coat of bright paint emphasizing the natural light in the open area. A patio outside makes use of the front steps, for visitors to sit on with their freshly poured pints. Arched nooks house future booths for diners, and a second-floor room offers extra seating, overlooking the main space.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/06/bell-tower-brewing-company-breathes-new-life-into-historic-kent-church.html

That's awesome news but I can't help but be a bit bitter that less than 2 years after I moved away from Kent they got 2 breweries that would've been a 5 minute walk away!

Kent officials anticipate late 2022 opening for new city hall building

Kaitlyn McGarvey

Record-Courier

 

Kent Service Director Melanie Baker said the city expects to bid the project next week and award the contract at the end of July. A late 2022 opening date is anticipated, she said.

The building is proposed for 319 South Water St. at the site of the old police station.

 

https://www.record-courier.com/story/news/2021/06/24/kent-officials-anticipate-late-2022-opening-new-city-hall-building-portage-ohio/5321148001/?utm_source=akron-morning-roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210624&utm_content=article4-headline

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kent State plans 41,449-square-foot addition to aeronautics and engineering building

Bob Gaetjens

Record-Courier

 

 

The university hopes to move into the new addition located just east of the university library along Summit Street in the spring of 2023.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment in the College of Aeronautics & Engineering continues to rise,” said Kent State University Trustee Stephen A. Perry, adding the university hopes to break ground for the addition in October. “This is a $19 million project. It will be funded from sources including $14.1 million from 2020 bond proceeds, as well as local funds and philanthropic gifts to the university.”

 

https://www.record-courier.com/story/business/2021/06/23/kent-state-university-add-41-449-square-feet-aeronautics-and-engineering-building/5311322001/?utm_source=akron-morning-roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20210624&utm_content=article5-headline

The city did an amazing job with the new police station. It looks like a freaking art museum. But this…this is so LAME.

 

Aeronautics building looks cool.

On 6/25/2021 at 3:42 PM, Silent Matt said:

The city did an amazing job with the new police station. It looks like a freaking art museum. But this…this is so LAME.

 

Aeronautics building looks cool.

 

I agree. I think it was done to mimic the development on the other side of 59. The cornice detailing looks the same. https://goo.gl/maps/HaxoyfdSB7BBwbwu7

Also, look at how much signage is in this location.

Yeah that’s what I thought too, that they were having a somewhat mirror image. Which I think is actually cool, but the city hall just looks cheap in this rendering.

Prepping for the 2nd story.

Kent State University approves $19.6M expansion for College of Aeronautics and Engineering

Posted Jun 29, 7:02 AM

 

KENT, Ohio – Kent State University’s Board of Trustees approved a proposed $19.6 million, 41,449 square foot addition to the school’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering.

The expansion was prompted by “significant enrollment growth,” according to the university. When complete, the addition will allow for additional facility research, instructional laboratories and classrooms, offices and areas for students to work together.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2021/06/kent-state-university-approves-196m-expansion-for-college-of-aeronautics-and-engineering.html

Chimney Swift Tower went up FAST!

Couple of my favorite new buildings.

Wow, Kent....

 

It's so unlike the rest of Portage County that's stuck in the 1970s and before.

19 hours ago, KJP said:

Wow, Kent....

 

It's so unlike the rest of Portage County that's stuck in the 1970s and before.

Believe it or not there are a LOT of slack jawed rubes around who hate all the new development in Kent. SMH 🤦🏻

3 hours ago, Silent Matt said:

Believe it or not there are a LOT of slack jawed rubes around who hate all the new development in Kent. SMH 🤦🏻

 

Not surprised one bit. I figured that they would consider it some kind of witchcraft.