October 15, 20204 yr ^The Central Interchange does clean up the entryway right off the highway and creates some development opportunities. Main Street in the Bartges Street area is my biggest pet peeve, with the underpass, highspeed ramps, parking garage exit, etc.
October 15, 20204 yr Great photo tour! I'm happy to see all these changes, especially with the new murals. I lived in Downtown Akron for college last year, and my biggest complaint was just how gray and drab the colors in Downtown were. Everything was just way too mid-century corporate looking, and the roads are like 6 lane superhighways. I'm glad to see people are trying to add more color and better streetscaping, it is much needed. I hope they find a way to better connect the different areas of Downtown. For example, there aren't many shops or restaurants between the business district around Canal Park and the one up by Market Street, I'd like to see the area between become more vibrant. Akron always felt like a strange city to me as the northwest area around Highland Square is super well developed and a very healthy urban neighborhood. Downtown on the other hand always felt quite empty for a city of 200,000 - I think it could be because most urban development in the area goes to Downtown Cleveland instead of Downtown Akron. Edited October 15, 20204 yr by Dblcut3
October 16, 20204 yr ^Its mainly a wacky layout because of the various urban renewal projects of the 1960s and early 1970s. Streetcar lines are long gone that fed into Akron. The two massive department stores of O’neils and Polskys are shadows of what they were. Whole neighborhoods were torn down to create the inner-belt. Check out Luigis and look at the old photos of downtown Akron. Many classic buildings were knocked down to create the Cascade Plaza.
October 16, 20204 yr Found out that Akron is getting a “baby Beacon” in downtown Akron. Tony Troppe is going to build 3-4 stories of apartments on top of a parking deck on Main St.
October 17, 20204 yr ^Love it! I think investment in Akron is really going come to life once the Main Street revamp is done. The restoration of the buildings next to the Civic Theater is fantastic and will work together with the streetscape improvements to convince investors that Akron is ready for its turn to shine.
October 18, 20204 yr On 10/16/2020 at 5:17 PM, audidave said: Found out that Akron is getting a “baby Beacon” in downtown Akron. Tony Troppe is going to build 3-4 stories of apartments on top of a parking deck on Main St. My guess is that it's this one, which is directly behind Musica / Blue Jazz Club on Maiden Lane. This would make a fantastic location for residential (fun area with access to parks AND a grocery store hopefully just down the way at the Bowery) and add some important connectivity between the Northside and this part of Main. Where'd you hear about it? I really love the idea. Any guesses on how many units? 20-25? Edited October 18, 20204 yr by ASP1984
October 18, 20204 yr That is the location. I spoke with Tony Troppe. I am a bit confused at what he was trying to tell me. One conversation with him a week earlier he told me that he was finishing up adding an elevator to the back side of the Everett building and he was going to finish 20-30 new apartments. I have met 2 people that already have apartments there. This past week he very nonchalantly said that he was going to add either 20-30 or 30-40 apartments over the parking deck. I said ‘wait, you’re going to build new apartments on top of the parking deck?”. He said yes. He also said the other project to knock down the neighboring buildings/complexes fell through. So the trolley barn is saved. I’m still not completely sure that he is doing this project as he is known for restoring/repurposing buildings not building anew. I’m curious where the new elevator is positioned and if this new construction will be more of an extension of the Everett building or it will be a separate apartment complex. Or does he consider the elevator as being the completion of new construction over the parking deck for accessing the upper floors of the Everett. I would think that it would be a multi million dollar project to build new on top of a smallish parking deck. I didn’t think he owned the parking deck. He may have bought air rights. There may have been plans originally for the parking deck to have offices above it. So engineering and design could be done. It would make sense that he wants more people living amongst his playground of businesses that he owns or leases out space to. So there is still some doubt in my mind that he really is doing new construction. I’ll ask him next time if it is fully new construction over the parking deck for apartments as a separate building from the Everett.
October 18, 20204 yr 4 hours ago, audidave said: That is the location. I spoke with Tony Troppe. I am a bit confused at what he was trying to tell me. One conversation with him a week earlier he told me that he was finishing up adding an elevator to the back side of the Everett building and he was going to finish 20-30 new apartments. I have met 2 people that already have apartments there. This past week he very nonchalantly said that he was going to add either 20-30 or 30-40 apartments over the parking deck. I said ‘wait, you’re going to build new apartments on top of the parking deck?”. He said yes. He also said the other project to knock down the neighboring buildings/complexes fell through. So the trolley barn is saved. I’m still not completely sure that he is doing this project as he is known for restoring/repurposing buildings not building anew. I’m curious where the new elevator is positioned and if this new construction will be more of an extension of the Everett building or it will be a separate apartment complex. Or does he consider the elevator as being the completion of new construction over the parking deck for accessing the upper floors of the Everett. I would think that it would be a multi million dollar project to build new on top of a smallish parking deck. I didn’t think he owned the parking deck. He may have bought air rights. There may have been plans originally for the parking deck to have offices above it. So engineering and design could be done. It would make sense that he wants more people living amongst his playground of businesses that he owns or leases out space to. So there is still some doubt in my mind that he really is doing new construction. I’ll ask him next time if it is fully new construction over the parking deck for apartments as a separate building from the Everett. Thanks for the summary - that's a lot of detail you've gleaned - and pretty awesome that you've got the forum with Troppe to learn so much about prospective plans. If I can ask, by "neighboring complex" do you mean the whole set of warehouse looking buildings behind the Austen Bioinnovation Institute / to the right of the movie theater? (i.e. the ones with the murals along High Street). That would be a true shame if they were knocked down, along with the awning in the back (what I assume to be the trolley barn). That warehouse space is pretty unique and should be saved - any variety of interesting uses could get housed there with enough surrounding density. Was the project that fell through intended to be housing as well? Would have had to have been some pretty lofty plans for that much square footage...
October 18, 20204 yr ^The plan was part of Smithers up the street to consolidate their HQ at the Austen Biotech facility. They wanted to knock down the 2 buildings by the parking deck and expand. It was never fully fleshed out except for the demos. I’m guessing Covid helped alter the plans. I think they just wanted surface parking. Maybe that got Troppe more involved in using more of the block as people are apparently trying to destroy the other half of it.
October 18, 20204 yr 25 minutes ago, audidave said: ^The plan was part of Smithers up the street to consolidate their HQ at the Austen Biotech facility. They wanted to knock down the 2 buildings by the parking deck and expand. It was never fully fleshed out except for the demos. I’m guessing Covid helped alter the plans. I think they just wanted surface parking. Maybe that got Troppe more involved in using more of the block as people are apparently trying to destroy the other half of it. Oof - what a near miss that was. Just terrible. As with most lazy real estate professionals, demolitions are the first and easiest thing to figure out - i.e. the low hanging fruit for idiots. Really glad to hear that fell through, and its safe to say I'm now sadly rooting against Smithers as a company.
November 16, 20204 yr Author They started Phase II of the Main St. renovation a few weeks ago. Cut down the trees in the boulevard planting area and have now started taking out the center planting "bunker". https://www.akronohio.gov/cms/engineering/MainStreetCorridorPhaseII/index.html
November 16, 20204 yr I love that the entirety of Main Street is getting two lane protected bike lanes! For some reason, Akron seems to have a lot more bike riders than other cities I've lived in, so this will be a great and welcome asset to Downtown! Glad work has started on Phase Two.
December 21, 20204 yr Author December 20, 2020 04:00 AM updated 13 hours ago Developer: Akron's Bowery District has not signed a commercial lease yet — thankfully Dan Shingler Downtown Akron's Bowery District has had little trouble leasing its residential space, but so far it has not signed a single lease with any restaurants, bars or retailers for its 40,000 square feet of commercial space. And that's just fine with Don Taylor, CEO of the Welty Building Co. and the man leading the $42 million development. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/developer-akrons-bowery-district-has-not-signed-commercial-lease-yet-thankfully
January 5, 20214 yr Author Portion of Akron’s Main Street closed to traffic until about May 31 because of construction Updated Jan 04, 2021; Posted Jan 04, 2021 By Robin Goist, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio – Main Street, or King James Way, from Market to Mill streets will be closed to drivers in both directions until about May 31, as crews began work Monday on the second phase of the Main Street reconstruction, the city said in a news release. The $14 million “Phase II” is set to include improvements to the roadway, with one lane in each direction and turn lanes at Market Street and Ohio 59, a lane on each side of the street for parallel parking, short-term deliveries or buses and a continuation of the bike path connecting to the nearby Towpath Trail. Plans also call for new sidewalks, a mid-block pedestrian crossing near the library, pedestrian and roadway LED lighting, utility upgrades and aesthetic improvements and amenities, including space for sidewalk cafes. https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2021/01/portion-of-akrons-main-street-closed-to-traffic-until-about-may-31-because-of-construction.html
January 18, 20214 yr Author January 17, 2021 04:00 AM updated 4 hours ago Akron's 22 Exchange building to convert from student housing Dan Shingler Downtown Akron is getting a new round of apartments that are expected to come online next year, thanks to the redevelopment of a major student housing complex. The project is at the corner of South Main and Exchange streets in what's known as 22 Exchange — a student housing project that went into foreclosure and was subsequently sold last year. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/akrons-22-exchange-building-convert-student-housing
January 23, 20214 yr I figured that this was ultimately going to happen. Developers went on a student housing building binge Downtown in anticipation of UA's continued growth and expansion, but the opposite in fact has happened, and now they are scrambling to fill vacancies with working adults, rather than nonexistent students since UA's enrollment has plummeted so dramatically. Ironically, UA's vision was to have much of this development take place along Exchange St. closer to the university, rather than Downtown, as part of the erstwhile University Park initiative. Maybe it's just as well that Downtown ended up drawing most of this investment, given UA's deep financial and managerial troubles. Even if the university eventually recovers, It's difficult to see anyone pulling plans off the shelf for more student housing complexes along Exchange St. anytime soon, if ever.
January 23, 20214 yr I'm not surprised, either, but I think that'll still be a major renovation. I never got to see the inside of any units, but my understanding was they were set up dorm-style: four bedrooms each around a central living area in each quad (which the old management would then rent by the bedroom, also dorm style, in the sense of not getting to choose your roommates). While I'd actually be completely OK with them leaving them as 4-bedroom units, which are true rarities in urban living, I wish I had more confidence that they could fill 4 bedroom units consistently (and I think in general, two 2-bed units will rent for more than a 4-bed one of equivalent square footage).
January 23, 20214 yr I am curious to see how these conversions ultimately affect demand for residential living in Downtown Akron. There have been a few other residential projects already underway, and additional projects proposed. Will there be a glut of housing options that put some of these projects on ice due to market saturation and reduced demand? Or is demand for urban living so high now that even these won't be enough to meet it? The latter would be very good news for Downtown Akron's continued growth and redevelopment.
January 24, 20214 yr 5 hours ago, Gramarye said: I'm not surprised, either, but I think that'll still be a major renovation. I never got to see the inside of any units, but my understanding was they were set up dorm-style: four bedrooms each around a central living area in each quad (which the old management would then rent by the bedroom, also dorm style, in the sense of not getting to choose your roommates). While I'd actually be completely OK with them leaving them as 4-bedroom units, which are true rarities in urban living, I wish I had more confidence that they could fill 4 bedroom units consistently (and I think in general, two 2-bed units will rent for more than a 4-bed one of equivalent square footage). Yeah 4 beds would be a tough sell unless the price is right!
February 10, 20214 yr Author Akron's Lock 3 Park almost halfway to $10 million fundraising goal Dan Shingler Downtown Akron is nearly halfway to its goal of raising $10 million for its Lock 3 Park and entertainment venue, thanks to a $1 million gift from the Richard S. and Alita Rogers Family Foundation. The city and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition announced the gift last week. Along with $1.5 million from the city, a $2 million grant from the Knight Foundation and a $400,000 anonymous donation, the Rogers' donation brings the total raised for Lock 3 to $4.9 million. https://www.crainscleveland.com/dan-shingler-blog/akrons-lock-3-park-almost-halfway-10-million-fundraising-goal
February 22, 20214 yr Author February 21, 2021 04:00 AM updated 3 hours ago Smithers cancels move into former Austen BioInnovation Institute building in Akron Dan Shingler Downtown has had a setback in terms of getting the former Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) building back into full use. Smithers has confirmed it has canceled its plans to take over the downtown Akron building and do a $16.9 million renovation. The company, which provides laboratory and testing services for industries ranging from health care to transportation, said it has decided not to use the six-story building at 47 N. Main St. to consolidate its operations. Previous plans called for Akron-based Smithers to renovate and move its headquarters, now at 121 S. Main St., into the former ABIA site, along with a lab now housed on West Market Street and about 200 employees. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/smithers-cancels-move-former-austen-bioinnovation-institute-building-akron
February 22, 20214 yr 1 hour ago, yanni_gogolak said: February 21, 2021 04:00 AM updated 3 hours ago Smithers cancels move into former Austen BioInnovation Institute building in Akron Dan Shingler Downtown has had a setback in terms of getting the former Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) building back into full use. Smithers has confirmed it has canceled its plans to take over the downtown Akron building and do a $16.9 million renovation. The company, which provides laboratory and testing services for industries ranging from health care to transportation, said it has decided not to use the six-story building at 47 N. Main St. to consolidate its operations. Previous plans called for Akron-based Smithers to renovate and move its headquarters, now at 121 S. Main St., into the former ABIA site, along with a lab now housed on West Market Street and about 200 employees. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/smithers-cancels-move-former-austen-bioinnovation-institute-building-akron I don't have a subscription--why did they cancel the plans? This is a bummer because that stretch of buildings around 47 N. Main could use some life.
February 22, 20214 yr It sounds like with the pandemic as an excuse the expense of getting the building refitted to how they really want it was going to be much. They want half of their space to be for labs. I think they also want more of a mini campus or a more sprawling building. They will continue the search for a new building/complex in Akron
February 23, 20214 yr Author 20 hours ago, audidave said: It sounds like with the pandemic as an excuse the expense of getting the building refitted to how they really want it was going to be much. They want half of their space to be for labs. I think they also want more of a mini campus or a more sprawling building. They will continue the search for a new building/complex in Akron Yes, it says they are still looking. So I would tend to agree.
February 26, 20214 yr Author Akron seeks public feedback on East Exchange Street construction project Updated Feb 25, 2021; Posted Feb 25, 2021 By Robin Goist, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio – Akron is seeking public feedback on proposed improvements to a one-mile stretch of East Exchange Street near the University of Akron slated for 2023. The work would be between Wolf Ledges Parkway and Goodkirk Street/Ohio 8 and involve replacing the pavement, reconstructing sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, having two full lanes in each direction with “adequate” turn lanes, installing new traffic signals, creating bike lanes, upgrading lighting – including under the Ohio 8 bridge – and providing more parking in “key locations.” https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2021/02/akron-seeks-public-feedback-on-east-exchange-street-construction-project.html
March 1, 20214 yr Author They have started demo. for the new apartments at Canal Place. Pretty good sized project. The building permit stated $19.5 million. The building is across from the breweries: https://goo.gl/maps/ZjJsqyH8gkf8o77m6 Inside shot of the first floor. Not much to see except the height of the space.
March 3, 20214 yr * cleveland.com Subscriber Exclusive * Smithers cancels plan for new headquarters, R&D facility in downtown Akron Robin Goist - Plain Dealer - Mar. 3, 2021 "In a move attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, Akron-based Smithers has canceled its plan for new downtown headquarters which the city and Summit County were helping fund. The company, which provides science, technology and business testing and consulting services, had planned to build a $16.9 million headquarters and research development facility in part of 47 North Main Street near Ohio 59. ... 'In the meantime, Smithers has initiated a comprehensive search for a new campus to bring our Akron-based employees together in a transformational new home designed for agile operations and growth. The strategic reasons for a new Smithers global operations hub remain unchanged,' the company said."
March 30, 20214 yr Author Akron City Council approves $2.95 million in improvements to Canal Park Updated Mar 29, 2021; Posted Mar 29, 2021 By Robin Goist, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio – City Council moved swiftly on Monday to unanimously approve $2.95 million for improvements to Canal Park, the downtown baseball field home to the Akron RubberDucks. Some repairs to the stadium will take place before the 2021 season starts on May 4, and other renovations – including new seating – are scheduled for the off-season leading up to 2022′s opening day. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/03/akron-city-council-approves-295-million-in-improvements-to-canal-park.html
March 30, 20214 yr On 2/26/2021 at 9:12 AM, yanni_gogolak said: Akron seeks public feedback on East Exchange Street construction project Updated Feb 25, 2021; Posted Feb 25, 2021 By Robin Goist, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio – Akron is seeking public feedback on proposed improvements to a one-mile stretch of East Exchange Street near the University of Akron slated for 2023. The work would be between Wolf Ledges Parkway and Goodkirk Street/Ohio 8 and involve replacing the pavement, reconstructing sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, having two full lanes in each direction with “adequate” turn lanes, installing new traffic signals, creating bike lanes, upgrading lighting – including under the Ohio 8 bridge – and providing more parking in “key locations.” https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2021/02/akron-seeks-public-feedback-on-east-exchange-street-construction-project.html I just now spotted this earlier article, and I don't know what feedback they received in the past month. But that stretch of East Exchange desperately needs an overhaul--IMHO significantly moreso than the downtown arterial of Main Street that is currently in the midst of a multi-year, enormously expensive overhaul. From Wolf Ledges to Sumner isn't too bad, and from Spicer to Rt. 8 likewise--the bookends of this proposed project. But that stretch in the middle there is ridiculous, with constant transitions and ambiguities regarding what is a travel lane, what's a turning lane, and what's a parking lane, and crosswalks spaced far enough apart to make jaywalking inevitable even if it weren't a border of a large college campus. And I wouldn't dream of trying to bike on the road through there.
April 15, 20214 yr Akron mayor proposes prioritizing parks, housing and utility assistance with $153 million in pandemic stimulus Robin Goist - Cleveland.com - Apr. 15, 2021 "The American Rescue Plan money totaling $153,370,000 will arrive in Akron’s coffers in two rounds – May 2021 and May 2022 – and must be spent by the end of 2024. ... Horrigan identified six areas where he hopes to allocate funding, pending City Council approval: Parks and public facilities (about $30 million) – Fund projects for city parks and public spaces, community center “capital needs” and downtown parking deck maintenance. City IT and budget stabilization (about $29 million). Housing (about $25 million) – Pay for housing rehabilitation grants and residential building grants for infill housing, meaning new housing that is built on an already-zoned residential neighborhood. Public utility support (about $25 million). Local economic recovery ($24 million). Community and youth violence prevention (about $20 million)."
April 23, 20214 yr Author New role for old tire factory: Apartments planned in former B.F. Goodrich plant in Akron Jim Mackinnon Akron Beacon Journal A $40 million residential redevelopment project is gutting and rebuilding much of the mammoth interiors of Canal Place buildings 10-17 that run along South Main Street. Workers are cutting holes through 10-inch-thick concrete slab floors to make openings for plumbing and wiring. Rows of exposed massive concrete columns holding up the floors are being incorporated into the interior designs. Interior metal framing is going up that shows the outlines of the apartments. And window openings are being sliced through brick and concrete walls to bring in more natural lighting and views while retaining the structure's historical design. If all goes as planned, the first wave of tenants will be moving in starting in October. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/04/21/akrons-canal-place-getting-apartments-40-million-project/4850899001/
April 26, 20214 yr Famous Chapel Hill Mall carousel will live on at Lock 3 in Akron Sean McDonnell - Beacon Journal - Apr. 22, 2021 "Development firm Industrial Commercial Properties (ICP), which bought the distressed mall in March, is in the process donating the famous ride to the city, Deputy Mayor James Hardy said. He said the goal is to install the ride downtown as part of the future Lock 3 renovations. ... It's not a small donation, Hardy said. The carousel is estimated to be worth anywhere from $500,000 to $750,000. Even individual figurines can be sold for thousands. ... The city is fundraising for the Lock 3 Renovations. If all goes to plan, Hardy said construction would start in September 2022."
May 21, 20214 yr News that Childrens hospital will buy the Austen bioinnovation building which they are already in. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.beaconjournal.com/amp/5181151001 Unfortunately they will also demo the trolley barn for more parking. That block is becoming quite the mixed use block. Apartments will be going on top of the parking garage by the Austen building in the next year. The owner is going to make half of Maiden lane a pedestrian walkway which it practically was already and add a canopy over it for live shows outside of Musica. The owner mentioned to me he is interested in opening a distillery in his complex which includes various businesses as Akron Coffee Roasters, Chill, Nitelite, and various bars, restaurants, and performance venues. Across Market street at Akronym it was announced they will add a biergarten around the parking deck from their location fronting Main st at what is called Commerce Park. The best patio deck in Akron has reopened further down High st at the new El Patron formerly Nuevo.
May 25, 20214 yr On 5/21/2021 at 1:42 PM, audidave said: News that Childrens hospital will buy the Austen bioinnovation building which they are already in. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.beaconjournal.com/amp/5181151001 Unfortunately they will also demo the trolley barn for more parking. That block is becoming quite the mixed use block. Apartments will be going on top of the parking garage by the Austen building in the next year. The owner is going to make half of Maiden lane a pedestrian walkway which it practically was already and add a canopy over it for live shows outside of Musica. The owner mentioned to me he is interested in opening a distillery in his complex which includes various businesses as Akron Coffee Roasters, Chill, Nitelite, and various bars, restaurants, and performance venues. Across Market street at Akronym it was announced they will add a biergarten around the parking deck from their location fronting Main st at what is called Commerce Park. The best patio deck in Akron has reopened further down High st at the new El Patron formerly Nuevo. That general area of Main, East Market, and South High Street is gradually shaping up to become a rather nice entertainment district in its own right, and a viable alternative to the South Main-Canal Park entertainment district on the other end of Downtown. Now what would really be cool is if they could connect it with Northside. Maybe they could create a tunnel/passageway under MLK/Perkins?
May 25, 20214 yr Author 1 hour ago, NEOBuckeye said: That general area of Main, East Market, and South High Street is gradually shaping up to become a rather nice entertainment district in its own right, and a viable alternative to the South Main-Canal Park entertainment district on the other end of Downtown. Now what would really be cool is if they could connect it with Northside. Maybe they could create a tunnel/passageway under MLK/Perkins? Underground and overhead have been a topic of conversation since the last Mayor. Just would be very costly.
May 25, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, NEOBuckeye said: That general area of Main, East Market, and South High Street is gradually shaping up to become a rather nice entertainment district in its own right, and a viable alternative to the South Main-Canal Park entertainment district on the other end of Downtown. Now what would really be cool is if they could connect it with Northside. Maybe they could create a tunnel/passageway under MLK/Perkins? With the ol' Goodyear people mover
May 26, 20214 yr Pritt Entertainment Group and Pritt Properties unveiled renovations to the Carlton Building in downtown Akron, earlier today. The building had been vacant for nearly two decades before being restored. Built in 1900, it's the oldest-remaining building still standing in the South Main Street Historic District.
June 2, 20214 yr Author Here's more on it: Akron’s Pritt Entertainment Group keeps high-tech focus in historic building (photos) Posted Jun 01, 5:30 AM By Marc Bona, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio – If you tune in to a major-league sporting event, there’s a chance that before anyone takes the ice, field, or court, you’re going to see something produced by Pritt Entertainment Group. Based in the heart of downtown Akron, the small company creates high-tech videos for teams and companies all over the world from its home base – the Carlton Building, a 121-year-old structure that PEG – as it’s branded - bought and renovated starting in 2018. It’s a symbiotic mesh of very old and new, with the building’s rich history being preserved by the modern company. The firm maintains about 20 sports and corporate clients, from the Vegas Golden Knights to University of Akron football. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/06/akrons-pritt-entertainment-group-keeps-high-tech-focus-in-historic-building-photos.html
June 21, 20213 yr Author AkronArts is a new wide-ranging initiative that looks to better connect some of the university's arts offerings with the city. University spaces, like the Polsky Building in Akron, will be repurposed. The downtown dwelling will house some of UA's arts programs while becoming a place for community members to visit for arts offerings. Crossposted from:
July 1, 20213 yr Author June 30, 2021 03:10 PM updated 10 hours ago 55 Public Square, Canton hotel deal win big in historic tax credit contest Michelle Jarboe In downtown Akron, developer Michael Mouron plans to remake much of the Art Deco-styled Akron Beacon Journal building as 100-plus apartments. The newspaper left the space in 2019, and its former parent company sold the real estate to Mouron last year for $1.1 million. Now the property, which spans most of a city block at 44 East Exchange St., is slated for a $31.6 million makeover. That project secured a $3.125 million state tax credit. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/55-public-square-canton-hotel-deal-win-big-historic-tax-credit-contest
July 2, 20213 yr Author Former Beacon Journal building could become apartments as part of $31.6 million project Jim Mackinnon Akron Beacon Journal The former Akron Beacon Journal building is at a crossroad, redevelopment-wise. The historic downtown Akron building, now owned by a developer in Alabama, may be converted into apartments or offices. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/07/02/former-akron-beacon-journal-building-downtown-could-become-apartments/7829288002/
July 6, 20213 yr Author July 04, 2021 04:00 AM updated 14 hours ago Akron could get 100 more apartments with Philadelphia Rubber Works project Dan Shingler A big residential development proposed for downtown Akron failed to get historic tax credits in the latest awards announced at the end of June. But those behind the $42 million project say they still plan to move ahead and will try again for the credits, probably this fall. "We're not giving up. We'll probably go back in for the next round," said Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, a principal at the project's architecture firm, Perspectus Historic Architecture in Akron, and the project's spokeswoman. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/akron-could-get-100-more-apartments-philadelphia-rubber-works-project
July 8, 20213 yr Author Local drug addiction activist joins program with apartments and treatment center Doug Livingston Akron Beacon Journal Ten men and six women fighting drug and alcohol addiction could soon be waking up in the heart of downtown Akron's arts and entertainment district in dormitory-style apartments above a coffee shop and restaurant, near music venues, the main library, two breweries and the art museum. The apartment building at Market and High streets housed a business college for most of the 20th century and, most recently, a Bitcoin trader raided by the FBI. Now, out-of-town investors have secured a lease to open Akron House Recovery https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/07/08/tugg-massa-run-new-drug-treatment-housing-akron-house-recovery/5302986001/
July 16, 20213 yr Downtown Akron (7-10-21) Philadelphia Rubber Works Building - apartment conversion Canal Place Building 17 - apartment conversion The southern end of the Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel project (between Exchange and Cedar streets). This green space, parking lot and section of the towpath was rebuilt after being used as a staging area for the OCIT-3 drop shaft from 2016 to the end of last year. Civic Theater / Lock 4 mural The Bowery District Before a concert at Lock 3 University of Akron - Ayer and Crouse Hall Consolidation and Renovations Project - Departments of Physics and Geosciences Main Street Corridor Project Phase 1 Bikeway The hanging planters are nice, but they do block some signs delineating between the pedestrian sidewalk and the bikeway. Bicycle traffic signals at intersections along the bikeway. Bikeway south of Exchange Akron Beacon Journal Building - apartment conversion Rubber Worker Statue Main Street Phase 2 - Mill Street roundabout to Market Street The last segment of the Main Street project, Market to MLK, hasn't fully started yet. CVSR at Northside
July 16, 20213 yr It would seem there’s close to 1500 apartments coming on-line downtown from 2020-2025. I’m looking at Mayflower which has been in a slow conversion for years. Philadelphia Rubber, BF Goodrich complex, Bowery district buildings, City Centre, Beacon Journal building, One Exchange, former YWCA at 146 S High st, and 30-40 new build at Main st by Market. Most of these conversions are 100-150 rooms. City Centre will probably be 200 or so as it was a 250 room hotel. Mayflower is 450 rooms moving from federally subsidized to market rate.
July 17, 20213 yr I suspect we will likely hear rumors of a new First Energy HQ in downtown Akron in the next year or so again. Last time there was interest was before they brought on their recently fired CEO in 2016. If management then felt there was a need for a new HQ then there will likely be a new vision with whatever new CEO comes in. There is currently an Interim CEO. Hard to say what actions the 85 year old Carl Icahn who is actively adding board members to the company is trying to ultimately do. The previous plan was to move onto the closed section of the innerbelt for the cheap spacious land and build an HQ similar to Goodyear’s new HQ. We shall see what changes time, scandals, covid, new management, activist investors, and a new CEO have to say about any of this. It could be a good branding strategy to be building a new energy efficient complex in downtown Akron that has an open and airy setting instead of their fairly brooding basic building they are in currently.
July 19, 20213 yr Author On 7/16/2021 at 3:03 PM, audidave said: It would seem there’s close to 1500 apartments coming on-line downtown from 2020-2025. I’m looking at Mayflower which has been in a slow conversion for years. Philadelphia Rubber, BF Goodrich complex, Bowery district buildings, City Centre, Beacon Journal building, One Exchange, former YWCA at 146 S High st, and 30-40 new build at Main st by Market. Most of these conversions are 100-150 rooms. City Centre will probably be 200 or so as it was a 250 room hotel. Mayflower is 450 rooms moving from federally subsidized to market rate. Mayflower is pretty well along. It's remaining with the same tenants from what I was last told. On 7/17/2021 at 1:27 PM, audidave said: I suspect we will likely hear rumors of a new First Energy HQ in downtown Akron in the next year or so again. Last time there was interest was before they brought on their recently fired CEO in 2016. If management then felt there was a need for a new HQ then there will likely be a new vision with whatever new CEO comes in. There is currently an Interim CEO. Hard to say what actions the 85 year old Carl Icahn who is actively adding board members to the company is trying to ultimately do. The previous plan was to move onto the closed section of the innerbelt for the cheap spacious land and build an HQ similar to Goodyear’s new HQ. We shall see what changes time, scandals, covid, new management, activist investors, and a new CEO have to say about any of this. It could be a good branding strategy to be building a new energy efficient complex in downtown Akron that has an open and airy setting instead of their fairly brooding basic building they are in currently. FirstEnergy lost a number of employees when they were forced to split into two companies between generation and transmission. One company took the old post office building on E. Market St. that Akron Children's was last in. Also, they are not yet required to come back to work. Will they be at some point? Probably, but it's an unknown. Less employees, more office hotelling spaces and recent legal issues doesn't scream like a new for a new office tower to me. Also: https://www.cleveland.com/business/2019/10/firstenergy-extends-lease-to-keep-headquarters-in-downtown-akron-through-2035.html
August 7, 20213 yr Author I hadn't seen all of these renderings. Check out the redesign plans for Lock 3 coming next year April 12, 2021 “This is not just a good parks project; this is an economic development project,” city officials say of the upcoming Downtown revitalization project. Reporting and writing by Abbey Marshall Lock 3 wasn’t meant to be Akron’s central park. Eighteen years ago, the downtown patch of grass where dilapidated buildings once stood was simply that. But hundreds of concerts and scores of festivals later, Lock 3’s 300,000-some annual visitors have turned it into a beloved site for summer entertainment, lunchtime walks, winter ice skating and more. “I refer to Lock 3 as the city’s most successful pop-up,” says James Hardy, the Deputy Mayor for Integrated Development. “The city acquired and demolished the buildings and parking structure there and erected a temporary entertainment venue as a way to draw people downtown. It was never meant to be a permanent park or venue. It ended up being wildly successful.” https://thedevilstrip.com/2021/04/12/check-out-the-redesign-plans-for-lock-3-coming-next-year/
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