February 22, 20178 yr I don't see much more happening development-wise downtown until all these big construction projects are done on I76, innerbelt, sewer project, updating main st which includes State st bridge, and this exchange and Cedar update. The innerbelt project/road diet will give First Energy the option to build a new HQ on reclaimed land should they want to. That decision is probably a year or 2 away.
February 22, 20178 yr Akron plans to make 4 downtown one-way roads two-way By Emily Bamforth, cleveland.com on February 21, 2017 at 2:56 PM, updated February 21, 2017 at 2:58 PM AKRON, Ohio -- Driving downtown in Akron might look drastically different soon, as the city looks to convert four major one-way streets to two-way traffic, Mayor Dan Horrigan said. Work on W. Exchange Street is expected to begin in the spring. Converting it and its pair, Cedar Street, to two-way traffic could slow down traffic, said Mayor Dan Horrigan. That would make the area more pedestrian friendly, attracting businesses. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/02/akron_plans_to_convert_four_do.html#incart_river_home Looks like it would be Exchange / Cedar and Broadway and High. I am shocked. In a good way.
February 22, 20178 yr There is still a great deal of development potential downtown even without the completion of the Innerbelt or the sewer project, though of course the sewer project greatly handicaps the ability of the City itself to do much other than offer tax abatements (which the mayor strongly intends to do) for residential development. But downtown Akron is not at all land-poor even without the availability of reclaimed land from the Innerbelt diet. If anything, downtown Akron's weakness is that it is so spread out that there is not an obvious place for development to concentrate. It's actually a surprisingly long walk even from Cedar to Market, which is really only the "heart" of downtown, not the full thing.
February 23, 20178 yr My guess is that the city and developers will begin to look towards reactivating the neglected East Market/Perkins-MLK corridor, which has the potential to become a mix of residential and commercial space (plus Summa and UA) if done properly. This area needs density in the worst way.
February 28, 20178 yr Author My guess is that the city and developers will begin to look towards reactivating the neglected East Market/Perkins-MLK corridor, which has the potential to become a mix of residential and commercial space (plus Summa and UA) if done properly. This area needs density in the worst way. The City is aware of this and like many is surprised there are not more amenities in that area for the largest private employer in Summit County. Akron Children's Hospital welcomes two-way conversion on Exchange, Cedar streets By Emily Bamforth, cleveland.com on February 27, 2017 at 2:49 PM, updated February 27, 2017 at 4:59 PM "With the many changes occurring to the streets around the hospital and the increased activity in the downtown area, making Exchange Street two-way will help slow traffic and make it safer and easier for patients and families trying to navigate our campus," she said, in the press release. "The enhanced connection with downtown will also make it easier for our families and staff to enjoy downtown businesses and activities." The release also notes that the change could make it easier for safety vehicles to navigate the area, especially from Ohio Route 59. http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/akron_childrens_hospital_welco.html#incart_river_home
March 1, 20178 yr Author Developers working to reopen vacant Akron hotel Amani Abraham, WKYC 11:25 PM. EST February 24, 2017 AKRON - Developers in downtown Akron are jumping into a new venture with hopes of creating more living space in the area. The sky-high plan includes $25 million in renovations to the vacant 19-story Akron City Center Hotel that would make space for about 80 hotel rooms, and between 80 and 100 apartments (one and two-bedroom apartments.) Testa said the price to rent one of the apartments would range between $900 and $1,200. http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/akron/developers-working-to-reopen-vacant-akron-hotel/414085047
March 4, 20178 yr Author Akron Soul Train set to break ground on artists' rail car, tiny house village By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com on March 03, 2017 at 10:33 AM, updated March 03, 2017 at 10:34 AM AKRON, Ohio - Akron Soul Train is rolling ahead of schedule, with plans to break ground this spring for a residential artists' village in refurbished shipping containers, rail cars and tiny houses. A $150,000 Knight Foundation Arts Challenge grant winner, Akron Soul Train was able to meet its first match of $50,000 last October -- a year ahead of the deadline. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/akron_soul_train_set_to_break.html Joel Testa on New Downtown Apartments and Hotel with Kyle Kutuchief
March 13, 20178 yr Author Akron juice maker Country Pure moving corporate staff downtown By Katie Byard Published: March 10, 2017 - 07:09 PM A Downtown Akron office building is getting an infusion of new energy from a fruit juice company. That’s because Country Pure Foods — the Akron maker of more than 300 juice products — is moving all of its headquarters staff from its plant and office building on Waterloo Road in south Akron to downtown. http://www.ohio.com/business/akron-juice-maker-country-pure-moving-corporate-staff-downtown-1.752789#
March 30, 20178 yr Six stories is a "tower"? Summa Health unveils renderings for new $350 million patient tower By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com on March 30, 2017 at 11:21 AM, updated March 30, 2017 at 11:22 AM AKRON, Ohio -- Summa Health today revealed renderings for its 300,000-square-foot West Tower, which will serve as the new front door to the Summa Akron Campus. A groundbreaking is planned for May, with construction expected to be completed in spring 2019. The centerpiece of the $350 million project is the six-story patient tower designed by Akron-based Hasenstab Architects and Cleveland firm Perspectus Architecture. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/03/vintage_pictures_of_bridge_bui.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 30, 20178 yr ^It appears that you've shared the wrong link. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/summa_health_unveils_rendering.html
March 30, 20178 yr Author Breaking New Ground – Hospital Expansion Officially Begins March 9, 2017 by Kathy Johnson Today, employees, hospital and business leaders, patient families and community dignitaries gathered under sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures for the official groundbreaking of our Considine Professional Building’s expansion. “As an independent, freestanding children’s hospital we are 100% focused on children and families,” said Bill Considine, president and chief executive officer. “We view every project we do through the eyes of a child and the Considine expansion is no exception.” http://inside.akronchildrens.org/2017/03/09/breaking-new-ground-hospital-expansion-officially-begins/
March 30, 20178 yr Six stories is a "tower"? Summa Health unveils renderings for new $350 million patient tower By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com on March 30, 2017 at 11:21 AM, updated March 30, 2017 at 11:22 AM AKRON, Ohio -- Summa Health today revealed renderings for its 300,000-square-foot West Tower, which will serve as the new front door to the Summa Akron Campus. A groundbreaking is planned for May, with construction expected to be completed in spring 2019. The centerpiece of the $350 million project is the six-story patient tower designed by Akron-based Hasenstab Architects and Cleveland firm Perspectus Architecture. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/03/summa_health_unveils_rendering.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 31, 20178 yr Author It's also "Modern architecture".... Modern architecture: Summa reveals what its new, six-story tower will look like By Amanda Garrett Published: March 30, 2017 - 06:04 PM Summa Health on Thursday unveiled architects’ renderings of its new front door — a modern-looking, curved, six-story tower that will redefine its main campus in Akron. The 300,000-square-foot building — which Summa calls its West Tower — will be the centerpiece of the health system’s $350 million facilities plan announced a year ago. http://www.ohio.com/business/modern-architecture-summa-reveals-what-its-new-six-story-tower-will-look-like-1.757255#
April 1, 20178 yr Author Downtown Akron church building sold after seven years on market; Burning Bush congregation will relocate to High Street property By Katie Byard Published: March 31, 2017 - 07:04 PM Fernandez, with NAI Cummins, said that in addition to the group that proposed tearing the High Street building down to make way for a hotel, the building had been looked at by other churches, as well as a local developer who considered putting a medical facility on the site. The plan to tear down High Street Church for a hotel was revealed at a news conference in July 2013. Local investors and officials with Amerimar Realty of Philadelphia said they had teamed up to bring a 160-room hotel to the site near the John S. Knight convention center. But the project fell apart after Amerimar dropped out. http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/downtown-akron-church-building-sold-after-seven-years-on-market-burning-bush-congregation-will-relocate-to-high-street-property-1.757579
April 5, 20178 yr Author Akron to transform shipping containers into a village of tiny houses for traveling artists By Doug Livingston Published: April 4, 2017 - 02:27 PM The first of many transient artists could move into shipping containers in a wooded lot near downtown Akron this summer. Akron Soul Train, a proposed village of tiny homes for traveling artists, is moving full-steam ahead. The project secured $150,000 from the Knight Arts Challenge last year. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-to-transform-shipping-containers-into-a-village-of-tiny-houses-for-traveling-artists-1.758208#
April 10, 20178 yr Author Filling up downtown Akron's storefronts 'Pop-up' program aiding small businesses April 09, 2017 By BETH THOMAS HERTZ As Akron pushes to create more walkable neighborhoods to help lure more residents downtown, one aspect of the plan, filling vacant storefronts, is seeing success. A program that began in 2015 to fill vacant storefronts in downtown Akron by helping local entrepreneurs get on their feet has launched three businesses in recent weeks, bringing the program's total to 13 — and all but one are still operational. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170409/NEWS/170409851/filling-up-downtown-akrons-storefronts
April 10, 20178 yr Filling up downtown Akron's storefronts 'Pop-up' program aiding small businesses April 09, 2017 By BETH THOMAS HERTZ As Akron pushes to create more walkable neighborhoods to help lure more residents downtown, one aspect of the plan, filling vacant storefronts, is seeing success. A program that began in 2015 to fill vacant storefronts in downtown Akron by helping local entrepreneurs get on their feet has launched three businesses in recent weeks, bringing the program's total to 13 — and all but one are still operational. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170409/NEWS/170409851/filling-up-downtown-akrons-storefronts Dayton has had a similar program for a while and it is quite successful. Some of the newbie beloved Dayton-area products have started in those vacant storefronts like Fronana and De'Lish Cafe. I think all cities should have this sort of program, to be honest. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 18, 20178 yr Author Filling up downtown Akron's storefronts 'Pop-up' program aiding small businesses April 09, 2017 By BETH THOMAS HERTZ As Akron pushes to create more walkable neighborhoods to help lure more residents downtown, one aspect of the plan, filling vacant storefronts, is seeing success. A program that began in 2015 to fill vacant storefronts in downtown Akron by helping local entrepreneurs get on their feet has launched three businesses in recent weeks, bringing the program's total to 13 — and all but one are still operational. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170409/NEWS/170409851/filling-up-downtown-akrons-storefronts Dayton has had a similar program for a while and it is quite successful. Some of the newbie beloved Dayton-area products have started in those vacant storefronts like Fronana and De'Lish Cafe. I think all cities should have this sort of program, to be honest. Yes, I hope there is continued success with the program.
April 18, 20178 yr Great move for Akron, glad it's seeing so much success! I've read of similar successes in Pittsburgh and Philly. In my eyes this is the best bang-for-buck a city can get from any direct investment.
April 20, 20178 yr Author Community college president makes the case for Stark State’s fit in Akron By Doug Livingston Published: April 19, 2017 - 06:11 PM | Updated: April 20, 2017 - 08:07 AM By the numbers, cheap college makes sense in Akron, where Stark State is making room for 5,000 students when its $14 million campus opens on Perkins Street in the fall of 2018. Federal grants for some low-income residents — of which there are plenty in Akron — cover nearly half the annual cost of the commuter college’s two-year degree and job certificates. Stark State “aggressively” steers students away from debt. Less than half of students at most community colleges, including 43 percent at Stark State, take out federal loans. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/community-college-president-makes-the-case-for-stark-state-s-fit-in-akron-1.761588
May 1, 20178 yr Author Akron Main St to be Revitalized Thanks to Federal Grant Author Mark Urycki Published April 27, 2017 Downtown Akron is going through a traffic revolution. Some long-time plans and brand new ideas are all coming to fruition at the same time. The 6 lane freeway that runs through the downtown is quiet now. The Innerbelt was closed this year after just 30 years in operation. It’s being replaced with slower boulevards. http://www.ideastream.org/news/akron-main-st-to-be-revitalized-thanks-to-federal-grant
May 2, 20178 yr Author Akron's Bowery project at Lock 4 plans grocery store for historic Landmark Building on May 01, 2017 at 3:05 PM, updated May 01, 2017 at 3:52 PM By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio - A grocery store is slated for downtown Akron, as part of the $33 million Bowery redevelopment project. "A fresh food producer is critical for the success of this project," said Beth Borda, vice president of development for DeHoff Development Co. "It's going to be one of our main goals." http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/05/akrons_bowery_project_at_lock.html#incart_river_index
May 16, 20178 yr Author SummaCare Center in downtown Akron hits the market for lease or sale as insurer plans move By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer on May 15, 2017 at 10:35 AM, updated May 15, 2017 at 11:17 AM KRON, Ohio -- With SummaCare set to move its headquarters from downtown Akron to the East End project later this year, the insurance company's longtime landlord is trying to find takers for 90,000 square feet of offices in the central business district. Signet LLC, which owns the five-story SummaCare Center building at 10 N. Main St., has started marketing the 16-year-old property for lease or sale. SummaCare is the sole office tenant in the building, which also has street-level storefronts occupied by Subway and Einstein Bros. Bagels. http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2017/05/summacare_center_in_downtown_a_1.html#incart_2box_business Summa breaks ground on new patient tower by CRAIN'S AKRON BUSINESS May 15, 2017 Updated 3 hours ago AKRON, Ohio -- With SummaCare set to move its headquarters from downtown Akron to the East End project later this year, the insurance company's longtime landlord is trying to find takers for 90,000 square feet of offices in the central business district. Signet LLC, which owns the five-story SummaCare Center building at 10 N. Main St., has started marketing the 16-year-old property for lease or sale. SummaCare is the sole office tenant in the building, which also has street-level storefronts occupied by Subway and Einstein Bros. Bagels http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2017/05/summacare_center_in_downtown_a_1.html#incart_2box_business
June 26, 20177 yr Author Are there too many Akron-area hotels? By Jim Mackinnon Published: June 25, 2017 - 10:37 PM | Updated: June 26, 2017 - 01:14 PM The City Center site will be renovated into 106 one- and two-bedroom apartments on its upper levels. Apartments will rent from $900 a month for the singles to $1,200 for the doubles. The still-unnamed 84-room hotel will be on the first four floors, Testa said. The hotel and apartments are being designed with millennials in mind, Testa said. The project also will involve changes in and around Cascade Plaza to make it easier to get in and out of the property and to make it more attractive, Testa said. Construction work inside and outside the hotel should start within the next couple of months and lead to an opening in either late summer or early fall 2018, he said. http://www.ohio.com/business/are-there-too-many-akron-area-hotels-1.776685#
June 27, 20177 yr "Whenever a headline asks a question, always stop to consider the strong possibility that the answer is no."
June 27, 20177 yr "Whenever a headline asks a question, always stop to consider the strong possibility that the answer is no." Also that you could be clicking through about 29 different screens to find the "answer."
June 27, 20177 yr Bettinger's law of headlines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines
June 28, 20177 yr Author This is good news. Akron to receive $7.5 million to replace State Street Bridge during Main Street Promenade renovation By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com Updated on June 27, 2017 at 5:42 PM Posted on June 27, 2017 at 5:41 PM AKRON, Ohio - Akron will receive $7.5 million from the federal government to replace the State Street Bridge that runs between Water Street and Main Street downtown. The bridge will be replaced between 2018 and 2019 in conjunction with the TIGER-funded $5 million renovation of the Main Street Promenade. The city has worked on plans to replace the bridge since 2008, said Public Service Director John Moore in a news release. With the initial funding award of $2.5 million, only maintenance was performed, and the bridge has continued to decline. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/06/akron_to_receive_75_million_to.html
June 29, 20177 yr Does this warrant its own thread? Pretty cool. Akron's Bowery project moves forward with $5 million in historic tax credits BY JENNIFER CONN, AKRON REPORTER, CLEVELAND.COM jconnCleveland[/member].com AKRON, Ohio - Akron's Bowery project, formerly the Lock 4 redevelopment, is progressing toward reality with more than $5 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits. The $38 million project led by the Bowery Development Group -- DeHoff Development Co. working with the Welty Building Co. -- will redevelop the historic 12-story Landmark building and five smaller retail buildings on Main Street next to the Akron Civic Theatre into a block of retail and office space with residential housing above. Four of the six buildings received the historic credits. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/06/akrons_bowery_project_moves_fo.html
June 29, 20177 yr Author This project has been in the works for over a decade. I think with the new developers there is some new life, but still skeptical.
July 12, 20177 yr Author $1.5 million Knight Foundation grant will help connect the dots, improve public spaces for a more vibrant downtown Akron By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 11, 2017 - 10:10 PM | Updated: July 12, 2017 - 08:20 AM A $1.5 million grant to the Downtown Akron Partnership is designed to bring the “icing to the cake” and “connect the dots” of various bright spots throughout downtown Akron, while encouraging new improvements. All of that will make downtown Akron more vibrant to retain and attract people, organizers said. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/1-5-million-knight-foundation-grant-will-help-connect-the-dohttp://www.ohio.com/news/local/1-5-million-knight-foundation-grant-will-help-connect-the-dots-improve-public-spaces-for-a-more-vibrant-downtown-akron-1.779747
July 12, 20177 yr Author Building an Akron with people and for people July 12, 2017 by Suzie Graham Suzie Graham is president of Downtown Akron Partnership, a nonprofit organization that builds and promotes the vibrancy and value of downtown Akron. Below, she writes about undertaking focused public space improvements in the downtown to improve neighborhood life. Downtown Akron Partnership is receiving $1.5 million in new support from Knight Foundation. Visualize a vibrant city. Several features typically come to mind: authentic architecture, distinctive destinations, inviting green spaces, delicious and diverse food, intriguing art, a variety of transportation options and one critical and consistent element— ever-present people. The ways that people interact with a place, and with other people in that place, define the character and quality of a city. https://knightfoundation.org/articles/building-an-akron-with-people-and-for-people
July 18, 20177 yr Author Akron City Council sells land for business, art project By Doug Livingston Published: July 17, 2017 - 09:15 PM | Updated: July 17, 2017 - 10:00 PM City Council sold two pieces of public land Monday to private interests who will build a 22,000-square-foot freezer and tiny homes for traveling artists. The purchase agreements have been vetted by Akron city’s planning and economic development departments. The first would allow Country Pure Foods Inc., which makes more than 300 types of juice products, to build a $6 million cold storage facility beside its Waterloo Road property in Kenmore. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-city-council-sells-land-for-business-art-project-1.781064
July 20, 20177 yr This project has been in the works for over a decade. I think with the new developers there is some new life, but still skeptical. Not unwarranted. City Council member says financing for the project is still a problem for the new developers... even with the tax credits.
July 29, 20177 yr Author City engineers and developers say downtown is primed for 200 apartments By Doug Livingston Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 28, 2017 - 06:23 PM The major actors in the revitalization of downtown Akron met Friday morning to discuss the numerous public and private projects that are gelling in the heart of the city. Downtown Akron Partnership convened city engineers, civic leaders and private developers to talk about how to avoid stepping on each others’ toes amid what the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com estimates to be $177 million in planned or ongoing projects. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/city-engineers-and-developers-say-downtown-is-primed-for-200-apartments-1.783800
August 1, 20177 yr Author Cost of Main Street Corridor project doubles By Doug Livingston Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 31, 2017 - 10:38 PM City engineers on Monday released computer renderings for the Main Street Corridor. The images — produced by architects at GPD Group — show two-way traffic in two lanes, down from four in some parts, with left-hand turning lanes from Exchange Street all the way north to Mill Street, where landscaped islands will be brought forward to define the edges of a roundabout wrapping a perfect circle of grass and brick. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/cost-of-main-street-corridor-project-doubles-1.784416#
August 15, 20177 yr Author R. Shea confirms Canal Place as site of new production brewery, restaurant Published: August 1, 2017 - 11:25 AM | Updated: August 1, 2017 - 2:12 PM By Rick Armon R. Shea Brewing Co. is targeting Canal Place in downtown Akron as the site for its new production brewery and restaurant. The Akron nanobrewery, which hasn’t even celebrated its second anniversary yet, plans to open a 20-barrel brewery and eatery in the former B.F. Goodrich complex along South Main Street. It’s a $2.7 million project. He’s also pushing for the creation of an Akron brewery district, citing the future proximity of R. Shea, Missing Falls, Akronym, Lock 15 and Thirsty Dog in the downtown area. https://www.ohio.com/akron/pages/r-shea-confirms-canal-place-as-site-of-new-production-brewery-restaurant
August 16, 20177 yr I just want to point out that Akronym is an awesome name. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 16, 20177 yr One of my friends was actually in a band here in town called the Akronyms a while back. I actually was curious whether any of them were also later involved in the brewery, but I don't think so.
August 17, 20177 yr Author I posted this a while back: https://www.ohio.com/akron/pages/akronym-brewing-hopes-for-fall-opening-in-downtown-akron
September 5, 20177 yr Author Akron hopes innovation will jump ahead with planned BOUNCE district By DAN SHINGLER September 03, 2017 4:00 am Businesses are going to be key to the success of Akron mayor Dan Horrigan's new venture, the BOUNCE Innovation District, planned for the area around Canal Place on South Main Street. That's according to, among others, David Zipper, the main man who helped the city conceive of BOUNCE. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170903/news/134231/akron-hopes-innovation-will-jump-ahead-planned-bounce-district Akron Honey abuzz with new product focus By JENNIFER KARPUS-ROMAIN September 03, 2017 4:00 am Brent Wesley is known around Northeast Ohio for his hustle. He started Akron Honey Co. in June 2013 and gained a lot of local notoriety after appearing on CNBC's reality business show "Cleveland Hustles" in 2016. On the show, he turned down a $100,000 investment because he still needed to figure out where he wanted his company to go. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20170903/news/134236/akron-honey-abuzz-new-product-focus
October 4, 20177 yr Author Akron Public Schools consider buying SummaCare building downtown Published: October 3, 2017 - 5:39 PM | Updated: October 3, 2017 - 10:35 PM By Katie Byard Beacon Journal staff writer Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James said the district is considering acquiring the soon-to-be-vacant SummaCare building in downtown Akron as the possible new administration building. James said in a district newsletter released Tuesday that he, other administrators and board members have toured the building at Main and Market streets and “believe the building could be excellent for our needs.” https://www.ohio.com/akron/news/local/akron-public-schools-eyeing-summacare-building-in-downtown-akron
October 4, 20177 yr I guess that's better than having the building be vacant. Would like something a less less governmental there, but so it goes. Not like an insurer was really a big contributor to nightlife and vitality in that area anyway, and the giant federal building is also on that corner, so it's not like it's likely to develop into a thriving cultural area anyway (even with the Historic District literally less than a block away).
October 9, 20177 yr Author Akron's new Northside Marketplace is place for retail and entrepreneurs to grow By SUE WALTON October 08, 2017 Joel Testa sees the new Northside Marketplace as an antidote to retail's woes. "This is how we bring retail back," the president of Testa Companies said on a recent tour of the project. He also sees it as a springboard for young Akron businesses to gain a foothold. And if those companies can do that, it's another step in revitalizing downtown and bringing in residents. http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20171008/news/138061/akrons-new-northside-marketplace-place-retail-and-entrepreneurs-grow
October 9, 20177 yr I guess that's better than having the building be vacant. Would like something a less less governmental there, but so it goes. Not like an insurer was really a big contributor to nightlife and vitality in that area anyway, and the giant federal building is also on that corner, so it's not like it's likely to develop into a thriving cultural area anyway (even with the Historic District literally less than a block away). The original plan was apparently for APS to move out of 70 N. Broadway and consolidate its offices into the 400 W Market building, which formerly housed McDonalds' corporate offices, and has since served as temporary "swing space" for schools that were being renovated or rebuilt. APS now owns that building outright. I can see how APS buying the SummaCare building might raise some eyebrows around the community though, particularly when the district was supposedly short of the money and students needed to rebuild Kenmore and Garfield high schools separately. So how do they justify purchasing a relatively new HQ building--and at a major downtown intersection at that--while the district continues to shrink? Administrative bloat, anyone?
October 10, 20177 yr Author I guess that's better than having the building be vacant. Would like something a less less governmental there, but so it goes. Not like an insurer was really a big contributor to nightlife and vitality in that area anyway, and the giant federal building is also on that corner, so it's not like it's likely to develop into a thriving cultural area anyway (even with the Historic District literally less than a block away). The original plan was apparently for APS to move out of 70 N. Broadway and consolidate its offices into the 400 W Market building, which formerly housed McDonalds' corporate offices, and has since served as temporary "swing space" for schools that were being renovated or rebuilt. APS now owns that building outright. I can see how APS buying the SummaCare building might raise some eyebrows around the community though, particularly when the district was supposedly short of the money and students needed to rebuild Kenmore and Garfield high schools separately. So how do they justify purchasing a relatively new HQ building--and at a major downtown intersection at that--while the district continues to shrink? Administrative bloat, anyone? Kenmore and Garfield were combined because both had declining enrollment. I think one of them only was about 50% full. Also, the State said they will only kick in for one more new school build. The State pays almost 60% of the cost.
October 11, 20177 yr Author Stark State buying land for gateway to Akron campus Published: October 10, 2017 - 9:19 AM | Updated: October 10, 2017 - 8:26 PM By Katie Byard Beacon Journal staff writer Stark State College is moving forward on its plan to create a prominent entrance off East Market Street to its under-construction Akron campus. Stark State has asked for the state Controlling Board’s approval to purchase 2.12 acres of land near Market and Forge streets at the northeast edge of downtown Akron for $660,000. https://www.ohio.com/akron/business/stark-state-buying-land-for-gateway-to-akron-campus
October 12, 20177 yr Author Wholly Joe Coffee to add downtown Akron location Updated on October 11, 2017 at 2:36 PM Posted on October 11, 2017 at 2:32 PM By Megan Becka, special to cleveland.com AKRON, Ohio - Wholly Joe Coffee House and Bakery will open its second Akron location at 333 South Main Street in November. The coffee house will feature fair-trade and organically grown coffees, along with teas, sandwiches, soups and baked goods. Like its Merriman Road location, all coffees will be roasted in-house and used within a week for optimal freshness. http://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2017/10/wholly_joe_coffee_to_add_downt.html#incart_river_index
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