Why the machine gun emoticon? Do you not like this project?

 

Nope...

 

Care to elaborate? This is a project that Akron could use. It's taking a bunker like store in West Point Market, tearing it down and opening it up to a modern shopping plaza anchored by a Whole Foods. The presence of WF will draw other retailers. This is an area that could use a little brushing up. What's not to like?

^ Single use and a sea of parking? That would be my guess. Plus the small outlot buildings are on the opposite corner of the parking lot which hurts walkability. And the gas station at the corner but that's not the developers fault.

^ Single use and a sea of parking? That would be my guess. Plus the small outlot buildings are on the opposite corner of the parking lot which hurts walkability. And the gas station at the corner but that's not the developers fault.

 

That's pretty much what's there now. Anything is an improvement over the West Point Market building.

^ Single use and a sea of parking? That would be my guess. Plus the small outlot buildings are on the opposite corner of the parking lot which hurts walkability. And the gas station at the corner but that's not the developers fault.

 

The place is single use with a sea of parking now.

 

 

It's definitely a lot of parking and that parking will be more visible from the street and sidewalk than currently with WPM shielding most of its parking lot from view from most angles.  But overall, I don't think it's a step backward, though it could definitely have been more of a step forward in terms of more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly form factors.  It was never going to be mixed-use or very tall, unfortunately, and it was always going to be parking-dependent.

That's pretty much what's there now. Anything is an improvement over the West Point Market building.

The place is single use with a sea of parking now.

 

I won't get excited that a development is not worse than what was there before.

 

Though I agree it is a small step forward but that is more for the new grocery than the site plan.

Why the machine gun emoticon? Do you not like this project?

 

Nope...

 

Seems to me like a potential missed opportunity to really add some newer architecture and a streetwall to the Wallhaven area. A parking lot along a major street is just lazy and typical of a Baby Boomerish 1950s developer mindset. Put the damned cars behind the building, not out in front of it in open view from the street.

Sadly the current building does have a wall blocking the view of the parking lot. I enjoy winding through the west point market as you move through different departments it has a totally different feel. The new building is set as a square abutting the art gallery property. I feel this is a net negative. I get west point will be reinventing itself. A location going from an active experience that doesn't use the typical formulaic grocery layout to one that will in a basic square is boring and annoying.  I hope the new wpm plan works great and they add a mini shop in northern summit co.

Article said apparently there is a sewer main running down the center of the property which is why it is laid out the way it is.  Had the sewer main collapsed or had major issues they would have had to tear through the center of West Point Market. 

 

The gas station is what really wrecks the possibility of an interesting project.

 

As much as I would like to be upset it isn't a better design, the reality is Wallhaven is a sea of parking lots anyway.

Article said apparently there is a sewer main running down the center of the property which is why it is laid out the way it is.  Had the sewer main collapsed or had major issues they would have had to tear through the center of West Point Market. 

 

The gas station is what really wrecks the possibility of an interesting project.

 

As much as I would like to be upset it isn't a better design, the reality is Wallhaven is a sea of parking lots anyway.

 

I guess it would take a much more aggressive public-private planning and investment approach to change this and do something about parking lots in general around Wallhaven, something that seems unlikely in the near future since the city isn't exactly growing by leaps and bounds these days.

A couple posters touched on my thoughts.

The existing building, while is a solid wall along W. Market, still created a sense of place in front with a slight stepback from the road with trees which was nice for people waiting for the bus. The height was respective of the area and related to the road stepback I just mentioned. Also, the cafe addition added some much needed life and engagement to the street side. Grocery stores in general are focused inwards and are not conducive to transparency. The new Mustard Seed in Highland Sq. is another example of this. It's focused inward and at the intersection is solid walls on two streets.

 

I don't blame West Point for taking what I would assume was a nice payout. What West Point provided was a locally owned, family operated, unique shopping experience in Akron. There really is no need for another grocery in the area sandwiched between an Acme which provides the essentials and the new Mustard Seed which is more organic commodities. Both of which again, are locally owned businesses. They also mentioned creating more jobs. I don't see how they are going to "create" jobs, rather just transplant them from one of the other grocers that I just mentioned. There are no more housing developments or different transportation routes planned that would demand more jobs to a grocery.

 

Look at the rendering of W. Market and the side of the "Organic Foods Market". If the people are the correct scale, the building will be 25-30 feet tall. It is also roughly 10-15 feet from the road, a sidewalk and planting bed. Very out of scale for the surroundings.

 

The strip malls on the lot look like they are from "Anytown, USA". Very bland, unoriginal and unispiring. Also, there is again a building scale issue. They appear very tall and we have now created a "vehicle tunnel" on both sides of the site.

 

The "tabletop traffic calming" was basically a way to say, we can't figure out what to do with this portion of land. While the existing gas station is nothing great, it is a necessity of life. The area is not walkable and no matter what they did with this land, it would not have improved Wallhaven in that aspect.

 

Does any of that seem out of line?

A couple posters touched on my thoughts.

The existing building, while is a solid wall along W. Market, still created a sense of place in front with a slight stepback from the road with trees which was nice for people waiting for the bus. The height was respective of the area and related to the road stepback I just mentioned. Also, the cafe addition added some much needed life and engagement to the street side. Grocery stores in general are focused inwards and are not conducive to transparency. The new Mustard Seed in Highland Sq. is another example of this. It's focused inward and at the intersection is solid walls on two streets.

 

I don't blame West Point for taking what I would assume was a nice payout. What West Point provided was a locally owned, family operated, unique shopping experience in Akron. There really is no need for another grocery in the area sandwiched between an Acme which provides the essentials and the new Mustard Seed which is more organic commodities. Both of which again, are locally owned businesses. They also mentioned creating more jobs. I don't see how they are going to "create" jobs, rather just transplant them from one of the other grocers that I just mentioned. There are no more housing developments or different transportation routes planned that would demand more jobs to a grocery.

 

Look at the rendering of W. Market and the side of the "Organic Foods Market". If the people are the correct scale, the building will be 25-30 feet tall. It is also roughly 10-15 feet from the road, a sidewalk and planting bed. Very out of scale for the surroundings.

 

The strip malls on the lot look like they are from "Anytown, USA". Very bland, unoriginal and unispiring. Also, there is again a building scale issue. They appear very tall and we have now created a "vehicle tunnel" on both sides of the site.

 

The "tabletop traffic calming" was basically a way to say, we can't figure out what to do with this portion of land. While the existing gas station is nothing great, it is a necessity of life. The area is not walkable and no matter what they did with this land, it would not have improved Wallhaven in that aspect.

 

Does any of that seem out of line?

 

I agree with most of what you are saying about the design. It's not ideal. However, this isn't just another grocer. This is a Whole Foods. There is something called "the Whole Foods effect" (really!). People want to live near a WF and other businesses want to be near them as they are a major driver of retail traffic. Also, who's to say "there is no need for another grocer"?  I'm sure the market will support this by drawing from all over the Akron area. Whe Foods are destination stores in areas that don't have many.  This can only be good for the retail prospects of that rather tired area.

I agree with most of what you are saying about the design. It's not ideal. However, this isn't just another grocer. This is a Whole Foods. There is something called "the Whole Foods effect" (really!). People want to live near a WF and other businesses want to be near them as they are a major driver of retail traffic. Also, who's to say "there is no need for another grocer"?  I'm sure the market will support this by drawing from all over the Akron area. Whe Foods are destination stores in areas that don't have many.  This can only be good for the retail prospects of that rather tired area.

 

Sure people want to live near a Whole Foods, but the types of people in that class are also more concerned with walkability and most importantly good schools and neighborhoods. Also there is already a Whole Foods in Akron, it's called Earth Fare in Montrose, where is can support the traffic demand. I will admit, I'm really expounding my case of NIMBY, which I am typically against.

I will say that I already heard one partner at my firm admit that she's really excited for a Whole Foods to come into that space, even though she lives out in Copley and therefore is much closer to Earth Fare, and it sounded like she never really patronized West Point Market, even though she liked having it there.  Of course, no guarantee that she'll patronize the Whole Foods, either.

 

The grocery wars in Akron have gotten crazy in the last couple of years.  Mustard Seed expanded to Highland Square, Whole Foods is replacing West Point Market, Acme has expanded or is expanding multiple locations (including the West Akron one and the Cuyahoga Falls one), and the Giant Eagle Market District opened at Portage Crossing.  Craziness.

I will say that I already heard one partner at my firm admit that she's really excited for a Whole Foods to come into that space, even though she lives out in Copley and therefore is much closer to Earth Fare, and it sounded like she never really patronized West Point Market, even though she liked having it there.  Of course, no guarantee that she'll patronize the Whole Foods, either.

 

The grocery wars in Akron have gotten crazy in the last couple of years.  Mustard Seed expanded to Highland Square, Whole Foods is replacing West Point Market, Acme has expanded or is expanding multiple locations (including the West Akron one and the Cuyahoga Falls one), and the Giant Eagle Market District opened at Portage Crossing.  Craziness.

 

Everybody wanted to shop at the new Mustard Seed too as we were told there would be more affordable items available than their typical store....nope. If someone who lives in Copley doesn't already shop at Earth Fare, I find it hard to believe they would go to this location. It's not that convenient to get to.

Whole Foods confirms plans for West Akron; some concerned store might hurt new Mustard Seed

 

By Stephanie Warsmith

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: July 29, 2015 - 05:06 PM | Updated: July 30, 2015 - 07:37 AM

 

One of the worst-kept retail secrets in recent history is out: Whole Foods is coming to West Akron.

 

The developer of a new retail complex that will be built where West Point Market now stands had been unwilling to name the organic grocery store that will anchor the site. City officials and many others thought Whole Foods was that retailer, and a marketing piece showed it as the store’s name.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/whole-foods-confirms-plans-for-west-akron-some-concerned-store-might-hurt-new-mustard-seed-1.611855#

Roth, though, thinks Whole Foods might not hurt Mustard Seed because the two stores have different formats. She said Mustard Seed is more like a Trader Joe’s — convenient and easy, with everything needed to make a meal readily available.

 

HUH??

I had a post that was of my more typical length half-written, but I think yanni's is more succinct and sums up what mine would have said.

I had a post that was of my more typical length half-written, but I think yanni's is more succinct and sums up what mine would have said.

 

Thanks for not making us get out our dictionaries as well.  :wave:

Roth, though, thinks Whole Foods might not hurt Mustard Seed because the two stores have different formats. She said Mustard Seed is more like a Trader Joe’s — convenient and easy, with everything needed to make a meal readily available.

 

HUH??

 

Maybe The Mustard Seed has decided to cut all of their prices by 30% to be more like TJ's but just haven't told anyone yet;). I worked at the MSM in Montrose when they did their first expansion back in '94 or '95 when they were the only game in town for organic food. I loved it at the time.

Roth, though, thinks Whole Foods might not hurt Mustard Seed because the two stores have different formats. She said Mustard Seed is more like a Trader Joe’s — convenient and easy, with everything needed to make a meal readily available.

 

HUH??

 

Maybe The Mustard Seed has decided to cut all of their prices by 30% to be more like TJ's but just haven't told anyone yet;). I worked at the MSM in Montrose when they did their first expansion back in '94 or '95 when they were the only game in town for organic food. I loved it at the time.

They definitely fit a niche market for decades, that now is not so "niche". My beef is when they were selected as the grocery for Highland Square, they said they would cater to the area and offer more everyday, regular items and brands, which they have not. The bar / eatery area is one of the best atmospheres in Akron and the patio is THE best. A definite asset just for that.

Former Rolling Acres Mall again scheduled for sheriff’s sale

 

By Betty Lin-Fisher

Beacon Journal business writer

Published: August 18, 2015 - 02:26 PM

 

http://www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher/former-rolling-acres-mall-again-scheduled-for-sheriff-s-sale-1.617170

You have to wonder what Premier Ventures is even praying for at this point, filing bankruptcy twice, apparently just to buy time.

Cleveland Clinic to take on full ownership of Akron General Health System

August 28, 2015 Updated 3 hours ago

 

By Timothy Magaw

 

After merely a year as a minority investor, Cleveland Clinic is exercising an option to take on full ownership of Akron General Health System.

 

Last year, the regional health care giant purchased a minority stake in Akron General — a deal that infused $100 million into the Summit County-based hospital system that now boasts operating revenue of close to $700 million.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20150828/NEWS/150829810/cleveland-clinic-to-take-on-full-ownership-of-akron-general-health#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccl-akronmorning&utm_campaign=ccl-akronmorning-20150828

Senior housing nearing completion in Kenmore; first new housing in Akron neighborhood in 50 years

 

By Stephanie Warsmith

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: September 2, 2015 - 11:53 AM | Updated: September 3, 2015 - 07:26 AM

 

The wait will soon be over for a senior housing development in Kenmore, the first new housing built in the Akron neighborhood in at least 50 years.

 

Kenmore Place will be connected by a covered walkway to the Kenmore Senior Community Center, already a popular spot for local senior citizens.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/senior-housing-nearing-completion-in-kenmore-first-new-housing-in-akron-neighborhood-in-50-years-1.620914

EANDC takes possession of EACH building, starts improvements; agency hopes to move in toward end of September

 

By Stephanie Warsmith

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: September 3, 2015 - 07:35 PM | Updated: September 3, 2015 - 11:21 PM

 

East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation soon will go home.

 

The agency was started as an offshoot of East Akron Community House, but moved out of the EACH building two years ago when the parent agency began a downward financial spiral that resulted in the building being up for foreclosure.

 

EANDC bought the EACH building, located at 550 S. Arlington St., in June and signed the final paperwork and got the keys this week. EANDC wasted no time and immediately began working on making repairs to the inside and outside of the building in hopes of moving in toward the end of this month.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/local/eandc-takes-possession-of-each-building-starts-improvements-agency-hopes-to-move-in-toward-end-of-september-1.621364#

I just skimmed the Plain Dealer and read that U of A hopes to raze two "church properties."

 

If I'm not mistaken the addresses were on Market and Forge. Anyone here know the details?

I just skimmed the Plain Dealer and read that U of A hopes to raze two "church properties."

 

If I'm not mistaken the addresses were on Market and Forge. Anyone here know the details?

I missed that part. It's the buildings next to the BP station, corner of E. Market St. & Forge. It was last used as the Ballet Center. Really nice looking building(s), but churches are very hard to do adaptive reuse.

I just skimmed the Plain Dealer and read that U of A hopes to raze two "church properties."

 

If I'm not mistaken the addresses were on Market and Forge. Anyone here know the details?

I missed that part. It's the buildings next to the BP station, corner of E. Market St. & Forge. It was last used as the Ballet Center. Really nice looking building(s), but churches are very hard to do adaptive reuse.

 

Any news on what they intend to put there?  I'm not necessarily opposed in principle, but like you said, those are really good looking buildings (at least on the outside, I've never been in any of them) and I'm surprised that the university's capital budget is supporting still more construction activity at this point, given everything else that's happened there.  That said, churches are still just buildings.  Akron Children's is going to be taking down one at Bowery & Cedar, IIRC, and I'd never say anything against it; I even met a couple of the people from that church randomly out on the Towpath Trail one bike ride, and they admitted that the congregation was basically too small now for a building that size anyway.  The ones by UA might be in similar situations; it wouldn't surprise me.  But I'd still be surprised just because of UA's other publicized issues from its other ambitious construction projects.

I just skimmed the Plain Dealer and read that U of A hopes to raze two "church properties."

 

If I'm not mistaken the addresses were on Market and Forge. Anyone here know the details?

I missed that part. It's the buildings next to the BP station, corner of E. Market St. & Forge. It was last used as the Ballet Center. Really nice looking building(s), but churches are very hard to do adaptive reuse.

 

Any news on what they intend to put there?  I'm not necessarily opposed in principle, but like you said, those are really good looking buildings (at least on the outside, I've never been in any of them) and I'm surprised that the university's capital budget is supporting still more construction activity at this point, given everything else that's happened there.  That said, churches are still just buildings.  Akron Children's is going to be taking down one at Bowery & Cedar, IIRC, and I'd never say anything against it; I even met a couple of the people from that church randomly out on the Towpath Trail one bike ride, and they admitted that the congregation was basically too small now for a building that size anyway.  The ones by UA might be in similar situations; it wouldn't surprise me.  But I'd still be surprised just because of UA's other publicized issues from its other ambitious construction projects.

 

The University has owned them for a while and they have not operated as a parish. I have not seen anything as to future land use. I would not be surprised if it was part of the new "entry" plans to the University. The only thing on that side of the campus is a portal sign near there.

Hibachi Japan moves

 

There’s a lot more to be written on this, but wanted to get the main morsels out as soon as I could, dear foodies: Hibachi Japan has moved to its new location — a sleek structure with exterior red lights that make it stand out at night, at 1803 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. It’s the first building in the planned $10-million Riverwalk development.

 

Testa Cos. is the developer of Riverwalk, a residential/retail project near the company’s Watermark, a condominium-apartment-retail complex.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,19677.175.html

 

Dante's Inferno & Dante's Speakeasy news as well in that article.

Progress being made on the NOHO Cascade Lofts.

 

 

Ran into an old friend on a flight the other day. As a consultant, she was instrumental in getting the food truck scene up and running in Cleveland and in Portland, where she now resides. Anyhow, at one point in our catching-up conversation she expressed displeasure that after ten years the city of Akron still had food truck regulations "under review process."

 

 

 

I think I read some history about her a few years back when the food truck issues started to arise.

At any rate, I'm not sure what is under review. They have regulations in place and there is a yearly registration fee. I think it's at least $1,000 and trucks are not allowed to be parked on public property.

 

It must be the public property restriction. I mean, that does seem like a considerable drawback.

If you want the complete food truck regulation scheme and have the visual stamina needed to read them (it's not prohibitively long, but it's still legislation), it's here:

 

https://www.municode.com/library/oh/akron/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11BURE_ART10ADOBO_ART21BMOREFOES

 

The fee is actually $1750 for operating within the Biomedical Corridor (which basically includes all of downtown, which is where you'd actually want to operate) plus a $225 nonrefundable application fee, which is far higher than anywhere else I've encountered, though I haven't done a comprehensive survey.  Oh and it gets worse: even once you get that permit, you'll be assigned a space either on Locust south of Cedar, or Park west of Forge.  There is a reason why no one ever wants to try setting up a brick and mortar establishment in those locations.  They are low-traffic and low-visibility.

 

There's also the requirement of a $1M mandatory minimum insurance policy naming the City of Akron as an additional insured, which basically means getting a second, separate general insurance liability policy because your regular business one of course isn't going to name Akron specifically when you might operate in seven or more different cities in the course of a week.

 

Also, regardless of whether you're operating on public or private property, the location restrictions are draconian, and I doubt the City ever actually had a map drawn up of how much of the city's visible commercial corridors these restrictions put off-limits:

 

Permit or no permit, no food trucks are allowed ...

 

• On a public sidewalk (OK fine)
  
• Within fifty (50) feet of a property occupied by a residence, excluding residences with ground-floor retail space and excluding residences located on the opposite side of a public street (I get what they're doing here, but still ...)
  
• Within ten (10) feet of a fire hydrant, bus stop, mail box, telephone booth, building entrance, sidewalk elevator, fire exit or escape, or a police or fire call box (understandable)
  
• Within two hundred (200) feet of the parcel containing a food service business operating from a fixed and permanent location, during operating hours of such business (THIS IS THE BIG ONE.  It is pure insider protectionism and almost certainly makes operating a food truck, even after paying the insane permit fee, illegal just about everywhere you'd want to operate one.)
  
• Within fifty (50) feet of the property of a gas station (a 50' radius is much smaller than a 200' one, but note also that the gas station can't even choose to allow a food truck ... and no, food trucks are not fire hazards for gas stations any more than giant tanker trucks are)
  
• Within seven hundred fifty (750) feet of a park or City-sanctioned special event or community event, except for a mobile retail food establishment that has been authorized to participate at such event (this is another HUGE one, because a 750' radius is a huge area, and we have a lot of parks already, and more importantly, this puts food trucks in a position of direct conflict with the prospect of adding more pocket parks to the city)
  
• Within one thousand (1000) feet of a school (not sure why this would be necessary)
  
• In a location where on-street parking is prohibited
  
• Within five (5) feet of another mobile retail food establishment
  

 

They also have a long list of micromanaging regulations after the location restrictions.

 

Basically, this regulatory scheme is designed to ban food trucks in Akron without coming right out and saying so.

surfohio[/member] I wish we could take the corner of Downtown with Musica, the Art Museum, etc., connect it better with Northside and expand it all into a full-blown arts district with a mix of the old and new--renovated buildings along with mixed-use complexes with ground floor retail, residential and office units. This is the sort of grand-scale, bigger picture development that Akron has sorely been lacking.

 

Now that would be transformative.

 

What really floors me is how a city with an unlimited amount of solidly build warehouse space has managed to completely miss out on the whole urban/loft residential movement. You would think that the Hilton Quaker Oats project would have spurred some more creativity and interest, but apparently it did not.

My idea which is related to linking the Northside to downtown is lowering 59 by 5-10 feet.  This would allow multiple benefits.  The main expense would be to raise the Y-bridge on the downtown side by 10+ feet and extend it across the 59 intersection.  This would only inhibit left hand turns coming from the North or South.  Nobody NEEDs to go left.  The main benefit is it would do away with the 2 lights on 59 at the Y-bridge.  Those have been highly annoying to me since I was a UA student stopping there and watching the 1 or 2 cars that might go by on 59 while a pack of 20-50 cars are trying to get into or out of downtown.

 

By lowering 59, I believe that it would make it easier to walk across 59, likely with a lit up crosswalk,since visibility will be improved and there will be much less of an impediment to cross with the street lowered  It could become Akron's esplanade.  The spinoff to this is it could open up better land use than the current parking lots on either side of 59.

What really floors me is how a city with an unlimited amount of solidly build warehouse space has managed to completely miss out on the whole urban/loft residential movement. You would think that the Hilton Quaker Oats project would have spurred some more creativity and interest, but apparently it did not.

My thoughts exactly. There are also still many warehouses in the Middlebury area, too. East End is the first real attempt at doing anything new and constructive on a meaningful scale in one the key Rubber Capital Era shop districts, but then even that is actually more aimed at repurposing old corporate office space, rather than outright converting Goodyear's old factory space into lofts. The redevelopment potential of East Market and South Main is staggering. Kenmore and Barberton as well, for that matter. Maybe it's just location? If Akron were on the lake and a shorter distance from Cleveland than what it is now, Ohio City and Tremont wouldn't have anything on us. We'd be overflowing with investment and NY Times writeups. But for all that we have for where we are, we could definitely be doing more with what we've got.

My idea which is related to linking the Northside to downtown is lowering 59 by 5-10 feet.  This would allow multiple benefits.  The main expense would be to raise the Y-bridge on the downtown side by 10+ feet and extend it across the 59 intersection.  This would only inhibit left hand turns coming from the North or South.  Nobody NEEDs to go left.  The main benefit is it would do away with the 2 lights on 59 at the Y-bridge.  Those have been highly annoying to me since I was a UA student stopping there and watching the 1 or 2 cars that might go by on 59 while a pack of 20-50 cars are trying to get into or out of downtown.

 

By lowering 59, I believe that it would make it easier to walk across 59, likely with a lit up crosswalk,since visibility will be improved and there will be much less of an impediment to cross with the street lowered  It could become Akron's esplanade.  The spinoff to this is it could open up better land use than the current parking lots on either side of 59.

Definitely seems like a sound proposal to me. It really could be the pivotal point for the sort of large scale signature project that, if executed properly, could truly transform the character of the city center, and really go a long way towards changing how people feel about Akron. Maybe we can submit this to Mayor-Elect Horrigan?

Wanted to also add that there was so much optimism with University Park alliance. It's exactly the kind of momentum needed to finally save the campus area. The renderings were ambitious, but seeing the activity over at Kent made the whole thing seem very plausible. And it looked like the major pieces were in place!

 

Then what the hell happens?

 

Nothing. 

 

 

UPA was a definite disappointment, but unfortunately, one of the reasons it failed was spending a significant amount of its budget on slick presentations (often produced by expensive outside consultants).  And, of course, in hindsight, the university itself wasn't exactly the kind of cornerstone everyone hoped for, either.  Still, I don't think we've heard the last of the UPA mission, even if we've probably heard the last of UPA as an organization (or, if it comes back, it will be effectively a new organization with the same mission and name).

UPA was a definite disappointment, but unfortunately, one of the reasons it failed was spending a significant amount of its budget on slick presentations (often produced by expensive outside consultants).  And, of course, in hindsight, the university itself wasn't exactly the kind of cornerstone everyone hoped for, either.  Still, I don't think we've heard the last of the UPA mission, even if we've probably heard the last of UPA as an organization (or, if it comes back, it will be effectively a new organization with the same mission and name).

 

Hoping you're right.

However, in fairness, one of Akron's major costs of doing business/costs of living has been taken out of its control.  Because of a draconian EPA mandate that even the Democratic city administration of Don Plusquellic fought bitterly (and I really do mean bitterly), Akron's water and sewer rates are absolutely stratospheric.  The former mayor called them "unconscionable."  Many of the candidates for his seat made the rates central to their campaigns, knowing how large a source of pain for the city's poorer residents they are.

 

An EPA mandate that is the same as those that impact cities as disparate as Cleveland, Miami, Honolulu, and many others.  An EPA mandate that could have been dealt with 20 years ago for 1/3 the cost and at a nominal increase to residents' sewer rates.  Or the City could play kick the can for years until we have where we are today where it is a massive cost and doubled everyone's bill.  And for the record, it is only the sewer rates that are stratospheric.  If you are filling your swimming pool you are in good shape.

UPA was a definite disappointment, but unfortunately, one of the reasons it failed was spending a significant amount of its budget on slick presentations (often produced by expensive outside consultants).  And, of course, in hindsight, the university itself wasn't exactly the kind of cornerstone everyone hoped for, either.  Still, I don't think we've heard the last of the UPA mission, even if we've probably heard the last of UPA as an organization (or, if it comes back, it will be effectively a new organization with the same mission and name).

 

UPA still exists on paper for the lawsuits.  There may be another organization in the future with the same mission, but no one will be recycling the UPA moniker for a long, long time.

However, in fairness, one of Akron's major costs of doing business/costs of living has been taken out of its control.  Because of a draconian EPA mandate that even the Democratic city administration of Don Plusquellic fought bitterly (and I really do mean bitterly), Akron's water and sewer rates are absolutely stratospheric.  The former mayor called them "unconscionable."  Many of the candidates for his seat made the rates central to their campaigns, knowing how large a source of pain for the city's poorer residents they are.

 

An EPA mandate that is the same as those that impact cities as disparate as Cleveland, Miami, Honolulu, and many others.  An EPA mandate that could have been dealt with 20 years ago for 1/3 the cost and at a nominal increase to residents' sewer rates.  Or the City could play kick the can for years until we have where we are today where it is a massive cost and doubled everyone's bill.  And for the record, it is only the sewer rates that are stratospheric.  If you are filling your swimming pool you are in good shape.

 

You have to get a second water meter at your own expense for water that won't go into the sewer system, such as for watering the garden or filling a swimming pool.  By default, everything is run off a single meter, and they're going to assume that all water that goes through the primary residence goes into the sewer.  The second water meter would still be worth it for people with pools or major irrigation use, but even then, it's just yet another hassle on Akron residents.  As for the notion that this could have been taken care of decades ago for a fraction of the cost, that's not necessarily the case, but more importantly, even among those cities who are dealing with it now, the order imposed on Akron was uniquely punitive.  Are the other impact cities seeing it as a major issue in local races?

UPA was a definite disappointment, but unfortunately, one of the reasons it failed was spending a significant amount of its budget on slick presentations (often produced by expensive outside consultants).  And, of course, in hindsight, the university itself wasn't exactly the kind of cornerstone everyone hoped for, either.  Still, I don't think we've heard the last of the UPA mission, even if we've probably heard the last of UPA as an organization (or, if it comes back, it will be effectively a new organization with the same mission and name).

 

UPA still exists on paper for the lawsuits.  There may be another organization in the future with the same mission, but no one will be recycling the UPA moniker for a long, long time.

 

There is an organization called (University Park) Neighborhood Network that is still moving forward. They have some plans in the works even. Nothing big development related, but still community based.

UPA was a definite disappointment, but unfortunately, one of the reasons it failed was spending a significant amount of its budget on slick presentations (often produced by expensive outside consultants).  And, of course, in hindsight, the university itself wasn't exactly the kind of cornerstone everyone hoped for, either.  Still, I don't think we've heard the last of the UPA mission, even if we've probably heard the last of UPA as an organization (or, if it comes back, it will be effectively a new organization with the same mission and name).

 

UPA still exists on paper for the lawsuits.  There may be another organization in the future with the same mission, but no one will be recycling the UPA moniker for a long, long time.

 

There is an organization called (University Park) Neighborhood Network that is still moving forward. They have some plans in the works even. Nothing big development related, but still community based.

 

Good to know ... though if this is them, their Facebook page hasn't been updated since March of 2013 (and I didn't see any other Web site for them): https://www.facebook.com/University-Park-Neighborhood-Network-204816242997473/

Actually they are called NNUP. But yes, that is them.

Here is a recent article:

http://akronist.com/the-new-face-of-community-building-in-university-park/

 

Can't blame them for that one.  Their existing building was ... creative ... in its use of space, but it had some limitations, to put it mildly.

Where is "100 Rosa Parks Drive"? It doesn't come up on Google Maps.

 

edit: Never mind, I see the building number doesn't exist yet. It's a small road between Main and Broadway St near Gojo.

Where is "100 Rosa Parks Drive"? It doesn't come up on Google Maps.

 

edit: Never mind, I see the building number doesn't exist yet. It's a small road between Main and Broadway St near Gojo.

 

Yes, next to the GOJO parking deck. If you go buy there is a crane on site doing some work. Not sure what exactly, only thing that makes sense to me is installing pilaster foundations. Maybe there is bad soil there.

 

Can't blame them for that one.  Their existing building was ... creative ... in its use of space, but it had some limitations, to put it mildly.

 

Their existing building is being torn down as part of the sewer project.

Rolling Acres Mall deal moves county closer to end of eyesore

 

By Betty Lin-Fisher

Beacon Journal business writer

 

 

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise hopes an agreement she has reached with the owners of Rolling Acres Mall will stop what essentially has been a nearly two-year game of Whack-a-Mole. That’s on top of the fate of the mall, which has been closed for seven years.

 

The county foreclosed on Premier Ventures LLC, which owes nearly $1.1 million in back taxes, in July 2014 and has said it intends to give the mall property to the city for redevelopment.

 

http://www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher/rolling-acres-mall-deal-moves-county-closer-to-end-of-eyesore-1.647932#