Posted March 8, 200619 yr Related development, from the 3/7/06 Akron Beacon Journal: PHOTO: When the $32 million Exchange Street building opens in 2007, it will be the largest housing complex at the University of Akron. University of Akron's new housing complex will be edifying experience when complete Big plan on campus $32 million Exchange Street hall to open in 2007 for 470 students By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer Sure, you see dirt and mud and mess right now. But the new housing going up at Exchange and Grant streets should be the most glamorous ever at the University of Akron. From stackable washers and dryers to floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the Exchange Street complex is meant to go beyond anything now offered in UA's 14 residence halls, apartment buildings and town homes... more at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/14036636.htm
March 18, 200619 yr From the Akron Buchtelite: RENDERING: The new Auburn Science Center addition will feature machine shops and a glass display case. COURTESY OF UA PHOTO: The university plans on eliminating parking deck 36, which is attached to the Auburn Science Center on Carroll Street. WESLEY BOETTNER/THE BUCHTELITE PLANS: Interior COURTESY OF UA UA will close Auburn deck Buchtelite Staff Reporter [email protected] The University of Akron is in the planning stages of constructing a new engineering facility that will replace Parking Deck 36, the 230-space faculty deck on Carroll Street. The 10,000 square foot building will be added onto the Auburn Science Center, according to Ted Curtis, vice president of capital planning and facilities management. Curtis said the space will be used for classrooms and laboratory space. The building will also include a machine shop and a glass display case that will be visible from outside. "The first level of the existing parking will be used for the design center," Curtis said. "The second level will be used for biology expansion." The construction of the new building will be funded through donations. No date has been set for the start of construction. The loss of 230 spaces will put a strain on parking on the west side of campus, Jim Stafford, director of parking services said. "You take (the Auburn) deck away and there's going to be problems," Stafford said. Faculty aren't the only ones who will be hunting for more parking spots. He said 150 spaces have already been removed in front of Gallucci Hall, due to a new residence hall currently under construction. "What can I do?" Stafford said. "There's no place to put a big surface lot." Stafford said putting in another deck takes a year to build after plans are drafted. In the meantime, Stafford suggests faculty and students strap on their walking shoes. "This is not a big campus. From the East Campus Parking Deck to Polsky is a 15 minute walk," he said. "If you told someone at Kent State they can walk somewhere in 15 minutes, they'd think they died and gone to heaven." http://www.buchtelite.com/2006/0302/news_02.shtml
March 18, 200619 yr "This is not a big campus. From the East Campus Parking Deck to Polsky is a 15 minute walk," he said. "If you told someone at Kent State they can walk somewhere in 15 minutes, they'd think they died and gone to heaven." ^ Agreed. I used to walk from the main campus to the Polsky Building downtown and back all the time, it's not that far. I love all the changes being made on the U of A campus. It's looks so different now from the how it looked when I attended. It's still very much an urban campus, yet it feels much more like a "college campus" now; the campus seemed very bland when I attended.
May 8, 200619 yr From the (UA) Buchtelite, 5/3/06: PHOTO: Students eat lunch in Robertson Cafe. The diner will soon undergo renovations that will cost the university $4.7 million. LISA KOPEC/THE BUCHTELITE Robertson Cafe to get facelift $4.7 million project will create restaurant environment on campus by Lisa Kopec News Editor [email protected] Walking to lunch is similar to going back in time when students eat at Robertson Cafe. Not much has changed since the north campus cafeteria opened in the 1960s. The faded pink walls and gloomy laminated flooring, though, will soon be a thing of a past. The University of Akron board of trustees gave the go ahead for a $4.7 million dollar reconstruction project to transform the dated dining facility last week. The university will work to create a more modern environment for the 450-seat dining facility. "It's going to change into more of a food court, like the Union Market," said vice president of capital planning Ted Curtis. All food stations will be refurbished and only the most popular ones will be kept. "We are looking for more display cooking," said Zia Ahmed, director of University Dining Services. Display cooking is when customers choose from a buffet of ingredients, then a cook prepares the meal in front of you. Ahmed hopes to see a stir-fry station in the new facility. Some display cooking is already being implemented in Rob's. "The bananas foster dessert we are currently doing has been very successful," Ahmed said. The bananas foster bar allows students to choose from brown sugar, butter, nutmeg and other banana coating ingredients. The banana is lit on fire then served over ice cream. "You see the action," Ahmed said. He said Dining Services would like to make the reconstructed cafeteria more entertaining. "Quality food taste and smell are important, but the surrounding environment plays a critical role," Ahmed said. The seating areas will completely change. "Seating is always very important because it is how you decide how much time you are going to spend in a facility," Ahmed said. "If you provide comfortable seating, people will come back. The current pull-out chairs and rectangle tables will be gone. "We may have a good balance of booth seating and other types of restaurant seating," he said. Although the cafeteria will have more of a food court atmosphere, dining prices will still be all you would like to eat. Individual meal prices are not expected to increase as a result of the reconstruction. Preparations for the project will begin with six to nine months of drawing, Curtis said. Dining services will collaborate with Student Life and Housing and other student organizations to engage in focus groups. The groups will give the university a better idea of what students are interested in seeing. The university will work for six to nine months with Hasenstab Architects to draw the blueprints. After drawings are complete, there will be two months of public bidding for a construction company. Construction is expected to take nine months. They plan to have the facility ready for fall 2007. "You will be pleasantly surprised," Ahmed said. http://www.buchtelite.com/2006/0502/news_04.shtml
August 5, 200618 yr From the 8/5/06 ABJ: UA painstakingly buying up land Plan for new university ball fields would remove some housing, including rowdy Kathryn Place By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer Tim Cameron wanted a cheap apartment, close to other University of Akron students. He found it in a modest house on Wheeler Alley, next to the infamous Kathryn Place, the site of student unrest in springs gone past. The Medina education major landed in what has been a Mecca for UA students over the years. The area south of UA is full of rental housing at affordable rates in turn-of-the-century homes... more at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/15205506.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
August 28, 200618 yr From the 8/28/06 (UA) Buchtelite: Renovations to enhance west campus Elise Wiens Staff Reporter [email protected] The University of Akron hopes the cavernous halls of the Polsky Building will be more vibrant this fall as recent renovations bring a new Starbucks and Barnes & Noble to downtown Akron. "We have wanted to make Polsky's feel, and in fact be, a much more enjoyable working and studying environment," said president Luis Proenza. "The new renovations do just that." The third floor of the former department store-turned-academic building has undergone a $1 million renovation, which includes the addition of a new Barnes & Noble store, a Starbucks coffee shop, the Summit Bistro food court, outside improvements, an information center and more. The new 1,200 square foot Starbucks coffee shop, though owned by the university, will offer all of the traditional Starbucks coffee and blended beverages. The 5,464 square foot Barnes & Noble store will also function as a more traditional store, selling not only textbooks, but best-selling books, snacks and other items as well. The new Mediterranean-themed Summit Bistro is an addition to the old food court and now includes made-to-order deli sandwiches, pizzas, burgers and other "comfort food" selections for quick meals for students between classes. "The addition of Starbucks, the new grill and Barnes & Noble will make it accessible to students to do a great deal of their classes there … it is expanding the amenities that students find valuable for discussion, grabbing lunch, accessing books, etc.," Proenza said. The new information center features a satellite Zip Card office, Zippy Express food delivery and a new DocuZip store, offering copying services, UPS shipping, faxing, document scanning and lamination. Developments on other floors of the building have also taken place, including more in the continuing expansion of the Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing located on the fifth floor. The new phase includes state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, a business incubator site, a library room, an infomercial studio and a student study area. "Bringing national retailers such as Starbucks and Barnes & Noble into downtown Akron is a terrific addition to the ongoing transformation of downtown," said Kimberlee McKee, president of the Downtown Akron Partnership. "Both of these establishments are assets to the businesses and visitors downtown and we expect even more retailers to follow their lead over the next several years." As usual, the university is pleased to grow downtown. "The University of Akron is delighted to be a part of the increasingly vibrant downtown area," Proenza said. "The presence of leading retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Starbucks, as well as the new and improved university stores, will undoubtedly help to spur the continued transformation of downtown Akron." http://www.buchtelite.com/2006/0828/news_08.shtml
September 1, 200618 yr There's a LOT going on at my Alma Mater...here's what's being done right now! Exchange Street Residence Hall Considering that The Honors Residence Hall just opened in 2004, this is a further step the school is taking to becoming more residential...470 beds, apartment style, with retail on the 1st floor! One of the on-going rumors is that the University will close 3 smaller halls on East Quad, to build this.. New Football Stadium Our stadium is 7 miles away from campus...this would be RIGHT THERE on the heart of campus! The word on campus is they have the cash, but they want to secure more money and funding so that the stadium is self-sufficient! Campus Living Room Currently the University has 2 central quads...this will likely be the main one when it is done. Polsky Building This is where the Community College of Akron is (known as Summit) although the exterior part was recently done, the major element is the food court/bookstore, where the food court was renovated, Barnes and Noble was expanded, and Starbucks was added. They are also building a UA Medina satellite campus and a workforce center in Barberton... Mind you, this is all after the massive Landscape for Learning project.
September 1, 200618 yr It has been amazing seeing all the changes going on with campus. Numbers of incoming Freshman and applications to the law school have gone up tremendously. The University will be the engine for positive change in the city..... GO ZIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 3, 200618 yr Looks great! I know UA has a great polymer program, but what else is it known for? What are UA's biggest majors? Even though I graduated from OSU, I still get a kick out of seeing Ohio's other universities expanding their facilities and improving their repuatations because the OU's, UT's, UC's, UA's, etc are so important to Ohio's future.
September 6, 200618 yr Anything Communications-related (PR, Broadcast, Radio, Production) is Big at Akron...but not Journalism. That's Kent's department. :-) Law, Nursing, Dance, and of course, Polymer Science are some of the top rated programs in the region. We also have a great Business college, and Engineering is pretty big too. It's nice to see that an OSU alum sees the importance of the other Ohio schools...some don't!
September 12, 200618 yr From the 9/7/06 (UA) Buchtelite: World-class dance facility unites arts school by Aniqa Feerasta Buchtelite News Reporter Staff [email protected] The University of Akron's new dance facility leaves some people light- headed. Maybe it's the state of the art dance studios or perhaps it's the stunning three-story atrium. Dance instructor Cyndie Sophn said she thinks it's the contrast from the old dance studio that leaves them spinning. "The students realize it's a real privilege to be in a space like this," she said. Among the facility's features are seven technology-enhanced dance studios including an experimental performance venue, scene and costume shops, a design and lighting studio, trainer and physiotherapy facilities and technology-enhanced classrooms. When students first step in the 50,834 square-foot addition to Guzzetta Hall, they are in a daze, Sophn said. The addition was designed to be a center for dance and theater, which brings the School of Music and the School of Dance, Theater and Arts Administration under one roof. When Sara Shumaker stepped into Guzzetta Hall for the first time this semester, she said she was more than a little surprised. The colorful $11.1 million addition to Guzzetta Hall has already made her semester. Shumaker, a sophomore dance major, has been accustomed to rehearsing in the cramped quarters of a renovated church that once housed the Ballet Center on E. Market Street, which was at least a 10-minute walk from campus. When Shumaker returned to Akron this semester, she was thrilled to have a "dazzling, world-class facility right out the back door" from her residence in the Honors Complex. The physical proximity of the schools of dance and music, as well as the high tech environment, makes the creative and collaborative possibilities endless, said university spokesperson Cyndee Ramsthaler. Plans are already underway for distinguished choreographers in other parts of the country to instruct students in the studio via the building's new distance learning studios. Administrators also expect to attract renowned performers to utilize the building, further enriching the learning environment for students. The most important aspect of the building to sophomore Britney Egzili, however, is the ability to dance freely, "without there being a big metal pole or another person in your way." Sophn agreed. "Here students have more room to be creative," she said. "I hope the expansion of space brings an expansion in the way students move." Ultimately, the benefits of the project extend beyond the dance program. In addition to creating an impressive dance facility, the project complements the presence of E.J. Thomas Hall by enriching the cultural and artistic environment on campus, Ramsthaler said. http://www.buchtelite.com/2006/0907/news_04.shtml
October 10, 200618 yr From the 10/6/06 ABJ: UA to buy land for entrance University to buy site of Urban League, which is moving to new home By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer The University of Akron plans to buy the current home of the Akron Urban League and turn it into a new entrance for its campus. The one-acre property at 250 E. Market St. "will provide a nice vista for the campus,'' said Ted Curtis, UA vice president for capital planning and facilities management. "It will become one of our premier locations.''... more at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/15693318.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
November 8, 200618 yr From the 10/24/06 ABJ: UA dorm ahead of schedule Exterior construction on track to be done by end of year; building expected to be ready for fall 2007 By Marilyn Miller Beacon Journal staff writer Construction of the six-floor, University of Akron housing complex at East Exchange and Grant streets is ahead of schedule. The Moser Construction Co. of Rootstown is the primary masonry contractor for the $32 million project, which will provide 195,320 square feet of space. "We are a month ahead of schedule,'' said project manager Matt Birch of Moser. "We started in March, but will have the outside structure completed by the end of the year.''... More at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/15834472.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business
May 9, 200718 yr From the 2/12/07 ABJ: UA envisions Greek Village Neighborhood on eastern edge of campus; fraternity and sorority use is one option By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer The University of Akron is in the very early stages of carving out three blocks near state Route 8 for a possible Greek Village. Eventually, all of UA's 22 fraternities and sororities could have their homes on the eastern edge of campus, just east of the proposed football stadium. Ted Curtis, vice president for capital planning and facilities management, envisions brick piers and iron fences to bound Greek Village and give it a sense of community unlike anything else on the campus... more at: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16679999.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
September 4, 200717 yr It's so nice to see an article about UA that's NOT "Ua is taking over Akron- Woe is us!" for once.... UA students living upstairs have stores downstairs Retail is new dorm detail By Betty Lin-Fisher Beacon Journal business writer Published on Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 One day last week, Rachael Tirpak and Kelley Valardo decided to go shopping. They didn't have to go far. In fact, they didn't really even have to leave their University of Akron dormitory. http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/9558017.html
September 4, 200717 yr I hope the University of Akron does take over Akron. They're doing cool, visionary things.
September 5, 200717 yr I hope the University of Akron does take over Akron. They're doing cool, visionary things. People in Akron tend to think that the "great manufacturing jobs" of days of yore will return. Therefore, there is an attitude that Higher Education=BAD, which is even reflected in some of the mayor's attitudes. Why it's like this, I haven't the slightest idea-because if UA wasn't there (or wasn't growing) I would shudder to think how Akron would be.
April 23, 200817 yr Quite a bit of construction going on the SE corner of campus right now. In addition to the stadium, construction has started on Spicer Village a block or two South of the Stadium. I didn't even know they had started on Spicer Village, but sure enough, they are building. Hopefully things in this area can stick even with a downturn in the housing market. Stadium Cams: http://www.uakron.edu/stadium/cams/videoFeed.html Spicer Village: http://www.spicervillage.com/spicernews1.asp
April 23, 200817 yr Good catch! That looks pretty sweet. I wasn't aware this had started either. Quite the diverse range of student living options now and coming on-line.
April 24, 200817 yr I was just in that area a couple of weeks ago looking at the stadium site and didn't even notice that they had started on Spicer Village. I noticed they cleared the South Stadium Square block on Main St. downtown as well. A lot going on around the UofA and downtown, great to see!
May 10, 200817 yr Well, Carroll hall at UofA came down recently, moving further along in "The New Landscape for Learning" project. Carroll was one of those old square, yellow brick building with little or no detail that was probably built when the State took over the Municipal University of Akron. Back then, all of the buildings were squashed between Buchtel Ave. and Carroll Street. Now that campus has expanded, the emphasis is on creating green space. Nothing will replace Carroll, I believe an "Outdoor Livingroom" will be going there. I sure wish I had pics of campus when I was there so I could compare them to now. See link for demolition pics: http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=9320&st=0
May 12, 200817 yr Great news!! That gives Buchtel Hall some much needed breathing room. Agree that area is ripe for more green space. Thanks for posting.
May 12, 200817 yr I was on AkronNewsNow.com earlier.. and they had audio about this area... plus something about a 150 million dollar project to be announced at the University later this year.!. Wonder what that could be...
May 13, 200817 yr "The Odd Corner" came down today to make way for the Stadium. :clap: Also Jillians in Downtown came down to make way for a new downtown student housing development. I'll tell you what, I'm not gonna recognize that place the next time I'm there. The construction in Akron is really picking up. Can't wait to see what the new Goodyear complex is going to look like. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=S8qkiLcJRFs&feature=related
May 13, 200817 yr Tearing down Jillian's was an awful idea, symbolic of very bad planning practices. Why tear down a building that was completely renovated when downtown is filled with vacant lots? Not good.
May 13, 200817 yr I disagree. Downtown Akron is not filled with vacant lots. The area across the Stadium will eventually be an arena. The options are limited, short of tearing down some other renovated structures. Although Jillian’s was a fine renovation, it was an unmemorable building. What is going in its place is a vast improvement, including filling in the other half of the block which is surface lot parking. This will bring new life to that section of downtown, and hopefully spawn other infill projects.
May 13, 200817 yr Tearing down Jillian's was an awful idea, symbolic of very bad planning practices. Why tear down a building that was completely renovated when downtown is filled with vacant lots? Not good. Because they struggled to fill the building in it's current state- no one wanted to take the space as large as it was. Although I'm somewhat sad to see it go, this new development will have street-level restaurants and shops, and a small-high rise of living space. Very urban. And Zippo's right...there is a JAR replacement arena in the works for one of the very few spots of vacant land in downtown akron. Surfohio, when was the last time you've been to Downtown Akron?
May 13, 200817 yr I was down there in Akron last night. Listen, I'm not anti growth, but for smart growth. Just because it was hard finding a tennant for Jillians right now doesn't mean it's a bad building. Akron has tons of gaping holes downtown that need filled.
May 13, 200817 yr Keep in mind, I'm promoting a healthy conversation, not calling you out :-) But name these said gaping holes that will fit the need of the developer. EDIT: here's a map link! http://www.downtownakron.com/downtown_maps/elements/pointsofinterest.pdf
May 13, 200817 yr I don't mean gaping holes like empty craters, but gaping holes of inactivity. There is space right next to the Jillians complex toward Canal Place. It would be better to relocate the suburban looking Tire retail store than destroy a whole block of urban storefronts of a fully restored building.
May 13, 200817 yr I don't mean gaping holes like empty craters, but gaping holes of inactivity. There is space right next to the Jillians complex toward Canal Place. It would be better to relocate the suburban looking Tire retail store than destroy a whole block of urban storefronts of a fully restored building. When you talk about the empty space next to the former Jillian's, I'm trying to think- what's there now? Is it just an empty lot? I swore there was a building there of some sort-even a credit union. I agree with you on that other one- the tire place does look very suburban...HOWEVER, it does do very good business and how exactly would you go about making them move from a prime spot to somewhere else to fit another need?
May 13, 200817 yr All right, we can go back and forth all day about what the best use is for a certain lot near campus/downtown. Agree to disagree on this demolition I suppose. My point is this, it wasn't like Jillian's was vacant for many years. Just recently that building's renovation was a vital building block for a more vibrant downtown. I've been there many times and the crowds were often spilling onto the streets from the busy sidewalk. Next, like every other Jillians, the place closes. It's empty for what, less than a year, and all of a sudden it's a bad building? I am not convinced that the new student housing couldn't adapt to the pre existing surroundings. The "just tear it down" mentality has done such irreparable injustice to Akron, Canton, Cleveland....
May 13, 200817 yr I believe Brubakers is set to be razed later this month also. I have a little bit of mixed feelings about this block being torn down, but at least something worthwhile is being built in its place. I guess I would be more upset if it was being razed for a parking lot or a walgreens, but from the renderings I have seen it looks as if there will be more storefronts than before, and also have three or four floors of apartments. Why on earth are they replacing the jar? It was built in the mid 1980's and was renovated a few years ago. It also sits right in the middle of campus. I agree that a new football stadium was needed because it was in a terrible location and was in poor condition, but replacing the jar seems kind of wasteful to me.
May 13, 200817 yr Why on earth are they replacing the jar? It was built in the mid 1980's and was renovated a few years ago. It also sits right in the middle of campus. I agree that a new football stadium was needed because it was in a terrible location and was in poor condition, but replacing the jar seems kind of wasteful to me. Because the JAR was never built to correct UA specifications. In fact the original size of the JAR was the same size as the Wolstein Center (I heard a story from a very reliable source that the blueprints for the Wolstein Center actually said "Akron University Arena"). The JAR can't be used for anything else but college basketball games- no concerts, ice-skating, WWE, arena football, nothing. The facility is just too small. A new arena, I feel is still a LONG ways off. And from the sound of it, it wouldn't be an exclusive "UA Only" arena- it would probably be an sgreement akin to Heinz Field. However, since Memorial Hall is to be repurposed/torn down, I would imagine that the JAR wouldn't be replaced, but repurposed.
May 13, 200817 yr I'm torn over the JAR. The layout is horrible and was created without any kind of thought whatsoever. It is a glorified high school gym. But the place is loud and the Zips win there. I would hate to see the Akron basketball team end up in a Cleveland State type situation playing in front of 8,000 empty seats in a big arena.
May 14, 200817 yr The Mayor has been after a arena for awhile now.. and just recently UA signed an agreement with the city that when it builds a new arena to replace the JAR it will be built downtown... Maybe something similar to this .. http://www.osborn-eng.com/sports_akron_arena.html On that site there is also plans for a university soccer stadium.. Which wouldnt be too much of a stretch because UA is nationally ranked and would liked to stay that way.
May 14, 200817 yr The most likely spot for this arena is the intersection of E. Buchtel and Maiden Lane essentially obliterating whats left of both roads. I would expect nothing short of a 10,000 seat arena. The JAR's capacity is around 5,000. But enough with knocking down buildings in downtown Akron. This would fit nicely on all the parking lots there except for maybe that closed down old diner. Why would that developer of the new luxury student housing be so eager to build on Main and Exchange if there wasn't going to be a nice arena practically across the street. But then who's going to take ownership of this arena? UA doesn't want to own a brand new arena while building a new stadium. Akron doesn't want to be on the hook to own/build an arena while dealing with Goodyear and Firestone/Bridgestone developments. Perhaps First Merit and LeBron will bankroll a new arena together. He could let St. V play their home games there and use it as a staging place for all his downtown Akron events. Another thing that could happen is a hotel/arena package since downtown could be hotel-less pretty soon.
May 14, 200817 yr Audidave, you're description appears to match the osborn link that C-Dawg posted, previously mentioned above. Sure looks like the Mayflower Hotel next to the proposed arena/building.
May 14, 200817 yr The Osborn design has room for a multi-level mall.. and its not like chapel hill or summit.. it would be similar to whats on the Ohio river in Newport, KY. Something with a multiplex cinema and a dave/busters type enterainment to create a sports/entertainment district in Downtown.
May 14, 200817 yr While I'm not sold that the Zips need a 10,000 plus arena, Downtown does desperately need some kind of project of that scale. Sports entertainment district sounds like a great, worthwhile idea. Hope it is sooner than later. I am a strong supporter of the U and its students creating a stronger, more vibrant presence downtown. And Dr. Proenza has some kind big announcement coming...we shall see. It would be such a great thing to see that complete turn around, but while conserving as much of the existing character as possible. I am still sick from the 3/4 teardown of the Oneills building!!!
May 14, 200817 yr Well, a quick google, and I found some stats from 2005: http://www.ncaa.org/stats/m_basketball/attendance/2005_basketball_attend.pdf Alright, they don'y need a bigger arena by any means. 2005 3,369 a game 2004 2,760 a game The average in the MAC is 3,755 a game. Toledo and OU are generally way above average. Akron is generally below average. 2006 and 2007 were 3469 and 3593. Granted it's lower than the rest of the schools, but much closer to the MAC average, but like I mentioned earlier, the arena would likely serve as a multi-use facility that would allow other money-making events like concerts and such. I would personally like to see something more akin to this built instead...http://www.nuttercenter.com/ Except with a little more zing. SIDEBAR: When i was on the programming board, people used to ask why we didnt have concerts except once in a blue moon, and it was usually someone on the rise or on their way..back down. The biggest reason is lack of facilities. EJ Thomas is not really a "Concert Hall" (at least the college concert type) and the JAR is too small.
May 14, 200817 yr UA is similar in size to UT and OU, and I'm sure they could support big concerts if they had a place to do it. Unfortunately, until they sell out more basketball games, they will have a hard sell in building a new, larger arena. If the team continues their success* on the court, this could very well happen. And the prospects are better to build this arena if the city has something to do with it. *Hey, 20 wins is something. So is an NIT apperence.
May 14, 200817 yr The university is trying to attract more students. They want to get the enrollment numbers close to and above the 30,000 range. That is why around the new football stadium there will be student housing. and a new Greek area for frats as well. Lebron is a major pull for a new arena. He is on campus at UA alot doing functions with youth at the JAR. UA's basketball program is getting better and attracting better talent and if a young high school kid sees a Shiney new arena .. its an awestruck type of feeling.. Plus with a bigger Arena They would possibly get better opponents (a major school in a away-home-away away deal kinda like what the football program had with Kentucky for the new stadium)
May 15, 200817 yr When replacing The Jar, you have to think of the future. AU's enrollment has experienced an extremely healthy increase every single year since I can remember. The multi-use of the arena will help pay the cost while the natural increase in enrollment slowly fills the seats during ball games. A new arena downtown may also attract more none college fans. A good season or two could help attendance, as well.
May 15, 200817 yr ^NIT is pointless (oh wow, you're ranked 66th if you win it). The Tourney is all that really matters. I know...notice the asterisk. :-) If my old camera decides to work right, I'll take some pics tomorrow when I go home for a visit.
May 18, 200817 yr With respect to the new student housing construction downtown, I agree that it is sad to see perfectly good, old buildings being destroyed. That is character that cannot be replaced is something that draws people to an area if it is refurbished properly. On the other hand, there is something to be said about downsizing. I will never forget my first experience in Downtown Akron, being "chased" by bums as I strolled past vacant store fronts and strip joints. I don't think I went back downtown for a year. Since that time in the early 90's, Akron has actively worked to eliminate these eyesores to revitalize downtown. IMO, the old buildings are nice if someone with $$$ is willing to come in and pour a lot of money into the structures. But, unfortunately, people would rather build something from scratch than fight with an existing building. Many times, it is less expensive and just plain easier. I don't think anyone was willing to throw a lot of money into the old, essentially run-of-the-mill buildings in Akron. I think Akron made the right choice in deciding to ditch it's architectural past to try to revitalize downtown. They began to demolish the buildings to free up space for new structures about 15 years ago now. The old BF Goodrich factory was partially salvaged, and partially remodeled. Several older buildings of significant height on North Main were demolished and Canal Park was built on South Main. Lock 3 Park was created by demolishing a row of old, vacant storefronts. What we are seeing with Jillians is just the continuation of the direction Akron chose 15 years ago. I think it has done a lot to help revitalize downtown. Though I would like to see more professional residential housing downtown, I think putting any kind of residential housing downtown is a step in the right direction. This is a private venture, not sponsored by UofA, and should help to make downtown feel more alive. As for the arena, I agree that it is not needed at this point in time. UA isn't selling out the JAR and it is not falling down like the Rubber Bowl was. When they do start selling out the JAR, raise the ticket price! The new football stadium is being constructed because it was simply a question of where to put 50+ million dollars. It could either have been put into the collapsing Rubber Bowl, 7 miles from campus, or it could be used on campus. I think they made the right decision.
November 4, 200816 yr New UA plan on horizon At state-of-the-university address, Proenza looks toward next 10 years By Carol Biliczky, Beacon Journal, November 04, 2008 University of Akron President Luis Proenza said Monday that he is taking the first steps to create a new 10-year strategic plan. The plan will require the tax-supported university to drive the economic competitiveness of the region in six ways...
January 10, 200916 yr Though this isn't technically a UA project, it's basically private student housing so I consider this a good place for it. Anyway, this site has some good updated pictures of the 22exchange project on the corner of Main and Exchange Street. Coming along nicely! http://www.22exchange.com/
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