Streetscape improvements in East Akron completed in seven months

By Marilyn Miller

Published: November 18, 2016 - 09:14 PM

 

The city of Akron’s $5.5 million streetscape improvements project at the east end of East Market Street is complete.

 

The redevelopment project, which began in April, showcases a main thoroughfare and centerpiece corridor at the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. headquarters, now known as East End.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/streetscape-improvements-in-east-akron-completed-in-seven-months-1.728283#

 

Between the East End portion and the building they are tearing down at the corner of Market and Case, traffic has been an absolute mess. Starting to look great though. Curious what retailers go into the building.

Summa moving HQ.

http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/summacare_to_move_operations_t.html

Summa moving HQ.

http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/summacare_to_move_operations_t.html

Wow, kind of a big hit for Downtown.

Summa moving HQ.

http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/summacare_to_move_operations_t.html

Wow, kind of a big hit for Downtown.

Main Street north of Market really seems kind of dead (more-so than normal) with the 59 project and this move certainly only contributes more. I think this is very big for the East End though. This could become what many though the North Side Lofts were going to be for Akron. With Summa heading into that complex, I think retail isn't far behind.

 

...

 

I'm extremely interested to see what initiatives Akron takes to link Downtown with this area. Heard a presentation from Downtown Akron Partnership a couple weeks ago discussing upcoming Main Street project and Route 59 project and how that'll help link neighborhoods on the other side of 59 to Downtown.

 

Route 8 isn't going anywhere and that'll act as a bit of a divider between Middlebury Neighborhood/East End vs Campus/Downtown but improvements to Market and Exchange could really help fuse together both areas and really benefit the whole city.

Basically the three corners of Main & Market will be vacant in the coming months.

Basically the three corners of Main & Market will be vacant in the coming months.

 

Plenty of workers in the block immediately South on Main. The biggest issue I've seen is that those workers are much more likely to head toward Main/Exchange than Main/Market because there isn't really reason to be at that Market intersection. You've got Musica/Uncorked and a couple other places a block up but those really don't have the draw of a lot of those food places down towards Exchange.

Basically the three corners of Main & Market will be vacant in the coming months.

 

Plenty of workers in the block immediately South on Main. The biggest issue I've seen is that those workers are much more likely to head toward Main/Exchange than Main/Market because there isn't really reason to be at that Market intersection. You've got Musica/Uncorked and a couple other places a block up but those really don't have the draw of a lot of those food places down towards Exchange.

 

Right, but I'm not just talking about foot traffic, I mean a lot of downtown employees relocated to which there has been no replacement.

Development Continues at Steady Pace on East Side

Things continue to move along at East End (former Goodyear Headquarters & Factory) on East Market and the surrounding area. Apartments in Goodyear Hall almost completely rented out, and business is booming at the Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel’s bar and restaurant has also proven to be a favorite meeting place, not only for guests and Goodyear visitors, but also for Eastsiders. The 2 concert venues are doing well, and IRG says construction may begin soon on a 3-unit retail building across from the hotel that will include a Starbucks w/drive-thru.

 

Summa Health is moving a couple hundred employees into the renovated Goodyear Offices across Market Street, which hopefully will be the first of many businesses going in here. The street improvements on Market, with the East End sign arches, street parking and bike lanes look great as well.

 

This, combined with the massive expansion of the car dealerships further East, have transformed the area between Market Street and Goodyear Boulevard into something very campus-like. Hopefully, IRG and the City will be able to preserve and find new uses for the old Goodyear Junior High School and the former YMCA. Further up the Boulevard, the effort has begun to get Goodyear Heights listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the local neighborhood organization has a new website promoting the area’s historic character, affordable housing and encouraging future investment.

 

It’s taken a while, but hopefully this area of town will regain much of its former vitality, and some of these new efforts can take advantage of its easy accessibility from I-76, which is a real advantage.

Development Continues at Steady Pace on East Side

Things continue to move along at East End (former Goodyear Headquarters & Factory) on East Market and the surrounding area. Apartments in Goodyear Hall almost completely rented out, and business is booming at the Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel’s bar and restaurant has also proven to be a favorite meeting place, not only for guests and Goodyear visitors, but also for Eastsiders. The 2 concert venues are doing well, and IRG says construction may begin soon on a 3-unit retail building across from the hotel that will include a Starbucks w/drive-thru.

 

Summa Health is moving a couple hundred employees into the renovated Goodyear Offices across Market Street, which hopefully will be the first of many businesses going in here. The street improvements on Market, with the East End sign arches, street parking and bike lanes look great as well.

 

This, combined with the massive expansion of the car dealerships further East, have transformed the area between Market Street and Goodyear Boulevard into something very campus-like. Hopefully, IRG and the City will be able to preserve and find new uses for the old Goodyear Junior High School and the former YMCA. Further up the Boulevard, the effort has begun to get Goodyear Heights listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the local neighborhood organization has a new website promoting the area’s historic character, affordable housing and encouraging future investment.

 

It’s taken a while, but hopefully this area of town will regain much of its former vitality, and some of these new efforts can take advantage of its easy accessibility from I-76, which is a real advantage.

 

Welcome to the boards. Please make sure to read the rules about posting news articles.

https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,20191.0.html

 

More specifically:

That said - going forward, we will strictly enforce this policy and offenders will have their accounts suspended. Regarding past posts - if each forumer could review their posts as soon as possible, and edit them to the following:

 

1. Headline of article, byline/author name

2. The first paragraph (or few sentences) or a summary

3. End the post with "More info at _____(News Site link)_____" with the link going directly to the article

 

At no time should anyone post photos that appear on any news site, unless you yourself have taken them.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

 

Also, there is a thread dedicated to the East End found here:

https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,29161.0.html

A Starbucks in the heights. That will definitely attract people from off of the highway. There isn't one with a near direct entance/exit from 76 between Wadsworth and Austintown. That's a long distance.

I do like the progress that I see happening on Akron's east side, but it's still quite a ways from being Highland Square or Downtown. There's little reason yet to get out of your car and walk around down there, despite the presence of the arches, which look like someone pulled them straight out of Columbus's Short North district. At the very least, they need some storefront spaces accessible along East Market for shops and restaurants if they are truly aiming to create vibrancy like what High St. in Columbus has.

 

I am also curious as to what the fate of the old Goodyear Middle School building will be. It was actually the original East High School before the current East High/CLC building was built on Brittain Road in the 1950s. It was built in the early 20s and definitely has some structural issues for parts of it being nearly 100 years old, but I wonder if it could be renovated and converted into more apartments and professional offices? Seems like it would be a waste to just tear it down and create more lot or showroom space for Ganley.

I do like the progress that I see happening on Akron's east side, but it's still quite a ways from being Highland Square or Downtown. There's little reason yet to get out of your car and walk around down there, despite the presence of the arches, which look like someone pulled them straight out of Columbus's Short North district. At the very least, they need some storefront spaces accessible along East Market for shops and restaurants if they are truly aiming to create vibrancy like what High St. in Columbus has.

 

I am also curious as to what the fate of the old Goodyear Middle School building will be. It was actually the original East High School before the current East High/CLC building was built on Brittain Road in the 1950s. It was built in the early 20s and definitely has some structural issues for parts of it being nearly 100 years old, but I wonder if it could be renovated and converted into more apartments and professional offices? Seems like it would be a waste to just tear it down and create more lot or showroom space for Ganley.

I don't see why it couldn't. The question would be is there demand for it. Seeing as how the Goodyear building filled, I would say there is. Although, I don't understand it.

I suppose it may ultimately come down to whether a converted school building is viewed as logical extension of East End up the Market Street corridor. Given the successful conversion of the former Akron West High School building into a senior citizens' home on West Hill though, I would think it would be a waste to see the former Akron East High School building simply bite the dust.

 

Heck, maybe they can even restore the old swimming pool in the basement!

I suppose it may ultimately come down to whether a converted school building is viewed as logical extension of East End up the Market Street corridor. Given the successful conversion of the former Akron West High School building into a senior citizens' home on West Hill though, I would think it would be a waste to see the former Akron East High School building simply bite the dust.

 

Heck, maybe they can even restore the old swimming pool in the basement!

 

That's the exact building I was thinking of.

I cannot see those storefronts on the east side of Market sitting empty too much longer. Especially once Summa moves in.

Agreed, assuming some developer doesn't come along and tear them down to build something else.

 

It is a bit unfortunate though the way I-76 cuts into the E. Market corridor at Innovation Way. It tends to limit East End's potential to expand or at least influence further eastward development. I suspect that some of this will continue to happen anyway, but I think there will be more interest in redeveloping the section of Goodyear Blvd with the old parking lots for Goodyear employees, as well as the Case/Market intersection, and "Downtown" Middlebury around the intersection of Exchange, Market, and Arlington.

The retail spaces fronting Market St. in the old Goodyear Hall will find tenants; there have already been special events held in the old bank building (which is a pretty spectacular space) and IRG says they already have a restaurant seriously looking at it.

 

While it will be sometime before it approaches anything like a Highland Square, the area has a great advantage in that it is so quickly and  easily accessible from I-76 - unlike The Square, which you have to drive [through] town to reach, especially now with the demolition of the Innerbelt. Down the road (sorry for the pun) this makes it more attractive for "destination" retail and entertainment.  This is one reason why the square footage available at East End would be a great location for an eventual "Brewery District" for example. Whatever you do, you need that critical mass of something to pull regionally.

 

It will take a long time to fill existing space in the old Goodyear Main Office & factory space; IRG already says they will now be using some of that (across from the Goodyear Hall apartments) for additional residential as well, since the response was so strong. This should increase retail opportunities even further. While the corridor along Market St. (to the east) is pretty narrow, the observation that the campus-like area along Goodyear Boulevard offers many possibilities is spot-on. I think APS may still own the school building, but I also think IRG has first dibs, and has already expressed an interest; the city own the YMCA building there, which is also empty.  The large parking lots and ball field across from Goodyear Research could offer many uses as well - not to mention Blue Pond across the street, if it could ever be reclaimed for recreational use.

 

Another interesting project in that area is the bikeway being planned that would run just south (along) I-76 parallel to Market, which would curve behind the old Goodyear Plant and use the raised RR trestle that crosses River St. - the idea is a bike-path version of NYC's High Line, terminating near the Market/Exchange area.

 

I've also noticed a lot of work south , alongside I-76, where the old plastic/rubber mold factory and adjacent buildings have been demolished. The area is not only being cleared, but very carefully leveled - as if it's being already prepped for some construction.  No need for parking lots, though :-D, so whatever is going on there is a mystery. Have heard nothing.

 

ALSO: (for mods) the original post was not a news article, but a summary of information I have gathered on my own.

Agreed, assuming some developer doesn't come along and tear them down to build something else.

What do you mean? One developer (IRG) owns the buildings on both sides of the street at East End.

 

It is a bit unfortunate though the way I-76 cuts into the E. Market corridor at Innovation Way. It tends to limit East End's potential to expand or at least influence further eastward development. I suspect that some of this will continue to happen anyway, but I think there will be more interest in redeveloping the section of Goodyear Blvd with the old parking lots for Goodyear employees, as well as the Case/Market intersection, and "Downtown" Middlebury around the intersection of Exchange, Market, and Arlington.

I-76 doesn't cut across the East / West boundary until Ellet. E. Market St. extends for a good bit that could be influenced to the East, but hopefully it will go to the West towards Downtown.

The retail spaces fronting Market St. in the old Goodyear Hall will find tenants; there have already been special events held in the old bank building (which is a pretty spectacular space) and IRG says they already have a restaurant seriously looking at it.

 

While it will be sometime before it approaches anything like a Highland Square, the area has a great advantage in that it is so quickly and  easily accessible from I-76 - unlike The Square, which you have to drive [through] town to reach, especially now with the demolition of the Innerbelt. Down the road (sorry for the pun) this makes it more attractive for "destination" retail and entertainment.  This is one reason why the square footage available at East End would be a great location for an eventual "Brewery District" for example. Whatever you do, you need that critical mass of something to pull regionally.

Not sure what the Innerbelt construction has to do with Highland Sq. If you have seen the plans and the current work being done, basically nothing is changing in terms of traffic patterns. It's more like a road diet.

Brewery district would be cool, but there is a better location on Grant St. for that with two brewery's and a brew pub coming online soon. Need more than two to make a district though, IMO.

 

It will take a long time to fill existing space in the old Goodyear Main Office & factory space; IRG already says they will now be using some of that (across from the Goodyear Hall apartments) for additional residential as well, since the response was so strong. This should increase retail opportunities even further. While the corridor along Market St. (to the east) is pretty narrow, the observation that the campus-like area along Goodyear Boulevard offers many possibilities is spot-on. I think APS may still own the school building, but I also think IRG has first dibs, and has already expressed an interest; the city own the YMCA building there, which is also empty.  The large parking lots and ball field across from Goodyear Research could offer many uses as well - not to mention Blue Pond across the street, if it could ever be reclaimed for recreational use.

 

If APS still owns the school building they are required to offer it to charter schools first and then it has to go to public auction. That is why they have historically torn them down, because they don't want charter schools getting them.

 

Another interesting project in that area is the bikeway being planned that would run just south (along) I-76 parallel to Market, which would curve behind the old Goodyear Plant and use the raised RR trestle that crosses River St. - the idea is a bike-path version of NYC's High Line, terminating near the Market/Exchange area.

 

I've also noticed a lot of work south , alongside I-76, where the old plastic/rubber mold factory and adjacent buildings have been demolished. The area is not only being cleared, but very carefully leveled - as if it's being already prepped for some construction.  No need for parking lots, though :-D, so whatever is going on there is a mystery. Have heard nothing.

 

ALSO: (for mods) the original post was not a news article, but a summary of information I have gathered on my own.

Cool, thanks!

yanni_gogolak[/member] -- I was thinking a bit further down E. Market, past East End and Innovation way. The fact that I-76 was expanded back in the 90s in such a way that it cut into the block on the one side of the street. Before I-76 was built out, East Market was once a thriving corridor in its own right, much as West Market still is today in Wallhaven and Fairlawn.

 

I agree with you though as far as the potential for westward development. Linking East End to "Downtown" Middlebury--the convergence of Market, Main and Arlington streets--is key to reviving East Akron.

RubberSoul[/member] -- I would love to see something constructive done with Blue Pond and the area immediately surrounding it. It was open to swimming and recreation in Goodyear Heights' early days, and my understanding is that Goodyear even maintained a small amusement park around it for employees and residents during a few years between WWI and WWII. It's been fenced off since Goodyear started to move out of the community development business and didn't want to assume all of the liabilities associated with recreation. Plus they had Wingfoot Lake out in Suffield Township. I know there is also some concern about chemicals being dumped into the pond over the years. If these could be cleaned up, it would be easy to see Summit Metro Parks taking it over and at least turning into some kind of nature preserve.

 

I also think fixing up the lower part of Goodyear Blvd through this stretch is an eventuality. If East End eventually fuels Middlebury's rebirth to the west, there should also be the potential for a spillover effect back up Goodyear Blvd, which could further in turn support a renaissance in Goodyear Heights. I'm guessing at this point that we're probably somewhere between 20-30 years of this all playing out, but who knows?

 

yanni_gogolak[/member] -- The charter law is stupid, IMHO. We are losing buildings like the old East High/Goodyear building with great potential for being remodeled into residences and similar uses now, all because state elected officials are falling over themselves to help the charter school lobbyists who give kickbacks to their campaigns. Given these conditions, of course APS will sooner demo it than let it go to a company that stands to benefit at the expense of the district. The real loser is the city, however, which loses a piece of its cultural and architectural heritage every time an old building that could be preserved and converted to a new and productive use, gets torn down instead.

The more I think about it, the more I can see East End potentially being a keystone for the redevelopment of Akron's long-neglected inner east side area, including East Akron, Middlebury and Goodyear Heights (probably much less so Ellet and Akron's other east-side suburban communities like Tallmadge and Springfield). Granted though, it's going to take some far more substantial economic players than Summa Care and even Goodyear at this point for that to happen. Maybe some of Akron's newer home-grown companies will be able to develop to the point of taking on such roles?

Having worked for a local charter school for five years, I was aware of the law, but honestly, that building is so big - and even though it is still functional to an extent (it was updated over the years) I doubt that any charter school organization would touch it - it just doesn't fit their needs, and would be too big an investment to maintain, heat. etc. I think someone, somewhere has a plan for it - which may be the only reason it's still standing.

 

There was a nice recreational park around Blue Pond years ago, but it fell out of use in the 1930's after Reservoir Park was constructed. It was supposed that chemicals from Goodyear Research made their way into the pond later on, but the site is no longer on EPA radar, having been "archived" some time ago - which means that it poses no significant threat and that it's no longer subject to testing or monitoring.

 

Work is currently underway to get Goodyear Heights on the National Register of Historic Places, which should be helpful in preserving the historic character of the area and encouraging housing investment. The neighborhood advocacy group has already reached out to IRG regarding the relationship between East End and the Heights (and Middlebury, too) so the connection there is well understood.

 

There's even a preliminary action plan posted on the Goodyear Heights website.

Health insurer SummaCare completes move to new headquarters in former Goodyear headquarters in Akron

Published: May 23, 2018 - 12:08 PM | Updated: May 24, 2018 - 9:59 AM

By Betty Lin-Fisher

Beacon Journal/Ohio.com

 

SummaCare has completed its big move down East Market Street to a new headquarters in the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. headquarters.

 

The Akron-based health insurance plan, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has moved from its home for the last 20 years at North Main and West Market streets.

 

https://www.ohio.com/akron/writers/betty-linfisher/health-insurer-summacare-completes-move-to-new-headquarters-in-akron

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

Also, here's the design of the new retail to be constructed soon.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/listing/1201-e-market-st-akron-oh/12386758/

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

 

 

I'm curious as to whether the company considering the East End complex is an Akron company just trading one office space for another or a company from out of town.  An out of towner would be nice.

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

Also, here's the design of the new retail to be constructed soon.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/listing/1201-e-market-st-akron-oh/12386758/

 

Cool, thanks!

 

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

 

 

I'm curious as to whether the company considering the East End complex is an Akron company just trading one office space for another or a company from out of town.  An out of towner would be nice.

 

I agree, but sometimes displacement to another location creates new opportunity. Like what happened with APS and SummaCare.

How many Handel's locations are in Akron?  Glad to see it part of a new development in the city.

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

Also, here's the design of the new retail to be constructed soon.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/listing/1201-e-market-st-akron-oh/12386758/

Does everyone like this design? Is this type of design common/acceptable in Akron? I feel like in Cleveland it would be shredded.

Forgot to mention about the former bank at the intersection of E. Market and Goodyear. I was told that it would cost too much to renovate that space into an upscale restaurant. Would be more cost effective for a restaurant to build new. So the space will remain empty until the East End is viable enough to justify spending the money to do it.

 

There was talk about a Giant Eagle Market District being built at the parking lot/ball fields on Goodyear. Not sure if that is still in consideration though.

 

The Starbucks strip center is bland in design compared to things being built on the Westside of Akron. Hopefully the former YMCA building can be razed and walkable retail can be installed.

Would the Giant Eagle Market District store be a standalone project or an anchor in a mixed-use expansion of East End into the Goodyear lots and fields? I could see the latter approach serving the East End district much better than the former. The more traditional suburban-style big box with out lots would be a poor choice in a place where density has genuine potential to truly revitalize the old Goodyear HQ Complex/East End district and reconnect it with Goodyear Heights via Goodyear Boulevard.

Would the Giant Eagle Market District store be a standalone project or an anchor in a mixed-use expansion of East End into the Goodyear lots and fields? I could see the latter approach serving the East End district much better than the former. The more traditional suburban-style big box with out lots would be a poor choice in a place where density has genuine potential to truly revitalize the old Goodyear HQ Complex/East End district and reconnect it with Goodyear Heights via Goodyear Boulevard.

 

My brother in law attended the meeting regarding this. I believe it wasn't a stand alone and had out buildings on the street similar to the testa development in Cuyahoga Falls. But Goodyear just recently repaved that parking lot as that they still house some labs in the research building on Goodyear. It may be scraped or on a shelf right now.

 

Adding to something I touched earlier, the company looking at The East End has in excess of 1100 employees I'm told. With Goodyear, Summa, and this company there could easily be 2,000- 3,500 people during main working times. Which would mean that area would need to draw restaurants and some retailers too.

^Interesting.  I'm trying to think of Akron companies that have 1100 employees that could be moved into new offices.

First Energy? Their downtown headquarters lease goes through 2025. Not sure about their other facilities.

First Energy has "only" about 900 employees.

First Energy has "only" about 900 employees.

 

They have hundreds of employees in other subsidiaries across Akron. Though, I don't know if they make sense to consolidate.

 

https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/fecorp/newsroom/news_articles/firstenergy-extends-lease-at-downtown-akron-headquarters.html

 

In addition to the downtown headquarters, other major FirstEnergy facilities in the Akron area include: the West Akron Campus, which houses more than 600 FirstEnergy Solutions and FirstEnergy Generation subsidiary employees; and other FirstEnergy and Ohio Edison facilities that support more than 1,300 employees.

 

True. The 900 employee figure applies only to the HQ.

Would the Giant Eagle Market District store be a standalone project or an anchor in a mixed-use expansion of East End into the Goodyear lots and fields? I could see the latter approach serving the East End district much better than the former. The more traditional suburban-style big box with out lots would be a poor choice in a place where density has genuine potential to truly revitalize the old Goodyear HQ Complex/East End district and reconnect it with Goodyear Heights via Goodyear Boulevard.

 

My brother in law attended the meeting regarding this. I believe it wasn't a stand alone and had out buildings on the street similar to the testa development in Cuyahoga Falls. But Goodyear just recently repaved that parking lot as that they still house some labs in the research building on Goodyear. It may be scraped or on a shelf right now.

 

Adding to something I touched earlier, the company looking at The East End has in excess of 1100 employees I'm told. With Goodyear, Summa, and this company there could easily be 2,000- 3,500 people during main working times. Which would mean that area would need to draw restaurants and some retailers too.

 

I'm sorry y'all. It wasn't 1100 employees but rather a parking garage for 1100 cars. So it doesn't necessarily mean 1100 employees. They've already built a bridge behind the main building to a connector which would connect to a parking garage.

I keep feeling that Smucker brands will set up in Akron.  Essentially, the non-baked goods part of Smuckers will need to be handled somewhere other than Wooster.  They have bought a lot of pet food companies of late. This would seem as good a time as any to start using Akron as its off-brand headquarters.  You can’t go too wrong setting up that inside the former HQ of one of the most iconic brands in the world. I have 0 insight into any of this, it just seems to me that they are bringing marketing people from all over the US when they buy these companies and I can’t see half of these people if they are coming from SF or LA wanting to live in farm country even if the can buy a house for 1/8 what they cost in Cali.

I keep feeling that Smucker brands will set up in Akron.  Essentially, the non-baked goods part of Smuckers will need to be handled somewhere other than Wooster.  They have bought a lot of pet food companies of late. This would seem as good a time as any to start using Akron as its off-brand headquarters.  You can’t go too wrong setting up that inside the former HQ of one of the most iconic brands in the world. I have 0 insight into any of this, it just seems to me that they are bringing marketing people from all over the US when they buy these companies and I can’t see half of these people if they are coming from SF or LA wanting to live in farm country even if the can buy a house for 1/8 what they cost in Cali.

Why can't they have it on their existing campus? There are lots of people that commute from Richfield / Bath to Downtown Cleveland. Also, there is plenty of land around them if they really wanted to grow. (BTW, they are in Orrville)

 

All of the parking at East End is underground now I assume? I've been through the factory area and underground, but I don't recall where a deck entrance and parking may be.

 

I stopped in to the new barbershop at the goodyear theatre to get a cut and the owner and I got to talking. He said that another large undisclosed company is considering the east end complex but in order to accommodate them a parking garage will be needed. The developer and the city are in discussions regarding that.

 

Also, here's the design of the new retail to be constructed soon.

 

http://www.loopnet.com/listing/1201-e-market-st-akron-oh/12386758/

Does everyone like this design? Is this type of design common/acceptable in Akron? I feel like in Cleveland it would be shredded.

Typical, the bar has never been pushed except for a project here or there. I will post some pictures of the new Start State building and you will see what I mean.

But, don't people think Dimit is doing some good things and yet they seem to be doing the same kind of work as this strip mall begin proposed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BiMoW5mHoxJ/?taken-by=dimitarchitects

As JamesMatthew[/member] mentioned about a month ago:

 

June 24, 2018 4:00 am      Updated 10 hours ago

Akron's East End development prepares for phase two and a major new office tenant

By DAN SHINGLER   

 

Developer Stuart Lichter says he's preparing to move ahead with the redevelopment of what remains of Goodyear's former corporate complex on East Market Street, and he says that will mean a new business tenant taking up a large amount of space, along with more residential and retail development.

 

"A major announcement is expected soon, but we're still in the confidentiality and nondisclosure phase," Lichter said on a recent visit, sitting in the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn that he developed and owns as part of the big East End redevelopment project.

 

The California developer — who tallies up nearly 8 million square feet of real estate he's either developing or has developed in Akron over nearly 40 years — was tight-lipped about providing further details. But he said the new tenant is not currently located in the area and likely will take up more than 100,000 square feet of space.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180624/news/166106/akrons-east-end-development-prepares-phase-two-and-major-new-office

 

"not currently located in the area..."

 

I'm wondering what was meant by that. Not Currently in Akron, NEO, or Ohio as a whole.

 

 

"not currently located in the area..."

 

I'm wondering what was meant by that. Not Currently in Akron, NEO, or Ohio as a whole.

 

 

Someone mentioned up thread about Smuckers. Which was really a good guess, however I stated it seemed they had more land they could build on around their campus. They recently bought a pet food company and are having an influx of people to the area. If they were to move, it would be more for the fact that they would want an urban campus to attract talent.

"not currently located in the area..."

 

I'm wondering what was meant by that. Not Currently in Akron, NEO, or Ohio as a whole.

 

 

Someone mentioned up thread about Smuckers. Which was really a good guess, however I stated it seemed they had more land they could build on around their campus. They recently bought a pet food company and are having an influx of people to the area. If they were to move, it would be more for the fact that they would want an urban campus to attract talent.

 

I remember an article from a few years back saying that the ceo, Mark Smucker, bought a house in west Akron. He may be trying to bring a portion of the company to the city.  I believe they have about 1700-1800 employees in Orrville. I'm sure all the acquisitions as of late created the demand for more office space. There is room where the city created those round-abouts near the current Goodyear hq for manufacturing if they decided to move all pet food business to Akron. Would still be able to keep the Orrville footprint as well.

"not currently located in the area..."

 

I'm wondering what was meant by that. Not Currently in Akron, NEO, or Ohio as a whole.

 

 

Someone mentioned up thread about Smuckers. Which was really a good guess, however I stated it seemed they had more land they could build on around their campus. They recently bought a pet food company and are having an influx of people to the area. If they were to move, it would be more for the fact that they would want an urban campus to attract talent.

 

I remember an article from a few years back saying that the ceo, Mark Smucker, bought a house in west Akron. He may be trying to bring a portion of the company to the city.  I believe they have about 1700-1800 employees in Orrville. I'm sure all the acquisitions as of late created the demand for more office space. There is room where the city created those round-abouts near the current Goodyear hq for manufacturing if they decided to move all pet food business to Akron. Would still be able to keep the Orrville footprint as well.

 

Right, and even if they had production elsewhere and just had offices Downtown, that's not uncommon. We're only talking about 30 miles.

I don’t know that the mahogany row level has been taken over in the Goodyear HQ yet. It just seems, with the acquisitions Smuckers has made, that Akron is probably a better location for handling brand and strategic marketing than Orrville.  It is a different world of marketing these days with social media and marketing campaigns linking tv commercials back to new webpages.  So for space considerations, technological reasons, possibly logistical reasons, but mainly cultural reasons, it would make sense to get the bulk of that part of the business together in one location in an urban area close to other Fortune 500 companies. 

  A few years ago Smuckers had a good chunk of their IT people in Fairlawn while they worked on expanding offices in Orrville.

 

I don’t know that the mahogany row level has been taken over in the Goodyear HQ yet. It just seems, with the acquisitions Smuckers has made, that Akron is probably a better location for handling brand and strategic marketing than Orrville.  It is a different world of marketing these days with social media and marketing campaigns linking tv commercials back to new webpages.  So for space considerations, technological reasons, possibly logistical reasons, but mainly cultural reasons, it would make sense to get the bulk of that part of the business together in one location in an urban area close to other Fortune 500 companies. 

  A few years ago Smuckers had a good chunk of their IT people in Fairlawn while they worked on expanding offices in Orrville.

 

 

Right, there were in that building that Signet (Sterling) owns. I think they use the whole building now (Signet).

I don't think the Mahogany Row has been filled. When I was in there a couple times, the large room was used for event space. But that building is filled with apartments for the most part. New office would be across the street where SummaCare is going in. Unless I'm confused was to where that actually is?

I don’t know that the mahogany row level has been taken over in the Goodyear HQ yet. It just seems, with the acquisitions Smuckers has made, that Akron is probably a better location for handling brand and strategic marketing than Orrville.  It is a different world of marketing these days with social media and marketing campaigns linking tv commercials back to new webpages.  So for space considerations, technological reasons, possibly logistical reasons, but mainly cultural reasons, it would make sense to get the bulk of that part of the business together in one location in an urban area close to other Fortune 500 companies. 

  A few years ago Smuckers had a good chunk of their IT people in Fairlawn while they worked on expanding offices in Orrville.

 

 

Right, there were in that building that Signet (Sterling) owns. I think they use the whole building now (Signet).

I don't think the Mahogany Row has been filled. When I was in there a couple times, the large room was used for event space. But that building is filled with apartments for the most part. New office would be across the street where SummaCare is going in. Unless I'm confused was to where that actually is?

 

I walked around on the first floor when I was there in May. Looks very neat and clean. The theatre is first class. That was my first time in that building since the late 90's when I did an engineering explorer program with Goodyear back in high school. We spent a lot of time in that big room with Mahogany on everything.

 

 

 

From what I've been able to gather, Smuckers is the company moving in. Unless I'm wrong, I don't believe they've met the criteria to receive the tax credit from the Big Heart acquisition yet. Mainly bring 400 job to Ohio. They also claimed to build a new research facility. I almost applied for an r/d position for them which was advertised to be in SF with relocation back to Ohio. Now with the newest acquisition they will definitely need office space. I believe that company acquired has about 500 employees with probably some being cut and 100 or so jobs moving to Ohio. Each floor in the building where SummaCare is has slightly over 60,000 sq ft. Meaning they'd probably take up 2 floors. Unless they go into the back buildings not on Goodyear Blvd. I think that'd be a better spot for offices and research. But I could be wrong. We'll see.

Yanni..

 

 

How is that Mitchell's in Strongsville like a strip mall?