January 24, 20232 yr Court to decide legality of Akron's sale of White Pond property Eric Marotta Akron Beacon Journal The courts are being asked to prevent the sale of the 68-acre White Pond property off Interstate 77 in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood, partly on the grounds City Council did not approve the measure by a two-thirds majority vote, as the plaintiffs say a city ordinance requires. The requested injunction comes after the city law department hired an outside law firm for an opinion on the matter. The law firm, Akron-based Roetzel & Andress, said the city's conduct in approving the sale was appropriate, mainly because City Council is not bound by an ordinance approved by a prior council. The opinion also stated City Council had actually complied with terms of the ordinance. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2023/01/24/opponents-of-akrons-sale-of-white-pond-property-take-case-to-court/69833841007/?utm_source=beaconjournal-DailyBriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=NABJ-OHIO-AKRON-NLETTER65 This is an amazing quote: "The project design has changed many times since June, due in great part, to citizen comments, and the issue of building on wetlands, but why does it keep changing?"
March 6, 20232 yr Akron receives $960,000 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grant to transform Innerbelt Published: Mar. 06, 2023, 2:49 p.m. By Megan Becka, special to cleveland.com Quote AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron will receive a $960,000 grant to guide the transformation of the vacated section of the Akron Innerbelt. The grant is funded by the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, which will allocate $185 million to 45 projects to reconnect communities that have been displaced or burdened by previous transportation infrastructure decisions. ... The grant will allow the city to create a master plan for the area, which includes short-term solutions that aim to improve residents’ lives and longer-term opportunities to transform the land into a usable space. https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2023/03/akron-receives-960000-reconnecting-communities-pilot-program-grant-to-transform-innerbelt.html
April 16, 20232 yr On 7/22/2022 at 11:13 AM, dski44 said: I live very close to that property. Earlier in the year, Pulte tried to get the land changed to a r-6 high density zoning. The residents strongly opposed it and City Council eventually denied the zoning change. I didn't realize that Pulte was back at it again. Cities need to start doing a better job educating their residents about the financial effects on cities from different types of development. People want smaller gov't. Well, the best way to do that is for cities to become less dependent upon state and federal handouts for infrastructure and services, which also comes with strings. The way to do that is with walkable, bikeable mixed-use development. People are knee-jerk reacting to quality, mixed-use development all over the country. A small minority of triggered residents show up to meetings, bitch and moan, then the city caves. Start first with educating residents.
April 16, 20232 yr 1 hour ago, gildone said: Cities need to start doing a better job educating their residents about the financial effects on cities from different types of development. People want smaller gov't. Well, the best way to do that is for cities to become less dependent upon state and federal handouts for infrastructure and services, which also comes with strings. The way to do that is with walkable, bikeable mixed-use development. People are knee-jerk reacting to quality, mixed-use development all over the country. A small minority of triggered residents show up to meetings, bitch and moan, then the city caves. Start first with educating residents. The land owner just brought suit against the City of Tallmadge for blocking this development in federal court. The citizens are not against development in general. However they are against very dense R-6 development with 8000 square foot lots and house fifteen foot apart from one another. Every other development close by is R-1. The large majority group against it in this situation are very well informed and constituted a large part of the community that will be directly affected.
April 17, 20232 yr You do realize this is the URBAN Ohio thread? 15 feet is spacious for a walkable, sociable community that wants to be fiscally prudent by having more valuable land per acre and less infrastructure to support per taxpayer. There are no negatives to this level of density except that it is not dense or mixed-use enough. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 17, 20232 yr 15 hours ago, dski44 said: The land owner just brought suit against the City of Tallmadge for blocking this development in federal court. The citizens are not against development in general. However they are against very dense R-6 development with 8000 square foot lots and house fifteen foot apart from one another. Every other development close by is R-1. The large majority group against it in this situation are very well informed and constituted a large part of the community that will be directly affected. 15 feet between units is 15 feet too much. What a waste of space. When land is inefficiently used, it becomes more expensive for governments to service the citizens who live there. We need a lot more dense infill and a lot less SFH sprawl. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 17, 20232 yr 17 hours ago, dski44 said: The land owner just brought suit against the City of Tallmadge for blocking this development in federal court. The citizens are not against development in general. However they are against very dense R-6 development with 8000 square foot lots and house fifteen foot apart from one another. Every other development close by is R-1. The large majority group against it in this situation are very well informed and constituted a large part of the community that will be directly affected. Affected how? How far should people be allowed to go to stop their communities from evolving? Separate question: Does Tallmadge have a master plan?
April 17, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said: 15 feet between units is 15 feet too much. What a waste of space. When land is inefficiently used, it becomes more expensive for governments to service the citizens who live there. We need a lot more dense infill and a lot less SFH sprawl. While this property is in the City of Tallmadge, it is about 3 miles away from the city center. It borders Stow to the north and Kent/Franklin Township to the east. There are no walkable sidewalks on the main street and everybody would be car dependent. The only access to the proposed subdivision would be off of Northeast Ave. (ST RT 261), which already has traffic issues. The proposed subdivision calls for 280 housing units. The property has the Freedom Trail, railroad tracks and the Cuyahoga River to the north. Growth in the area is limited by the MetroParks and industry to the east. This area does not have the infrastructure to handle this type of development at this time. I would normally agree with having as much density as possible...but not a R-6 development in this location. The people who would move here would be relocating from denser areas. The developer will make a quick buck and leave the City with a lot of problems. See parcel Number 6008558. I dunno, maybe I'm just being a NIMBY.
April 18, 20232 yr I don't think we should see higher density as necessarily better in all cases. If we're talking about rural/outer ring suburban areas with limited to no pedestrian infrastructure, public transit, or walkable destinations, is higher density really the best way to see it developed from an environmentalist or urbanist perspective? I would argue that good planning would be to increase allowable density in areas with multimodal transportation infrastructure and mixed uses, and to limit density in areas without those things. Otherwise we're just fostering more autocentric, inefficient land use for more people.
April 19, 20232 yr The same day Crain's ran an article about excess demand for apartments in downtown Cleveland they had an article on the continued population decline in Akron. Quote Akron continued to suffer population loss in 2022, according to data from a recent study of people moving in and out of U.S. cities. Perhaps worse yet, a recent survey found that 20% of Akron residents who responded said they were considering leaving the Rubber City. With what will functionally be the Mayoral election in a few weeks two candidates, Greer and Malik, a proposing revisiting zoning in Akron to allow for more multi-family and mixed use developments and both seem to be strong proponents of infill development as opposed to continuing to develop on the outskirts of the city. Quote Like others, including competing candidates such as Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik, Greer said the city should focus more on addressing issues with its existing housing and on infill developments on vacant lots, and less on residential development in places such as Merriman Valley. I would assume the proposed and controversial White Pond development would fall into the same bucket for Greer. (More info on Mayoral candidates here, if interested). Akron has a huge infill opportunity looming with the redevelopment of the former Innerbelt land. If done right, we could create a new, dense and dynamic neighborhood. Not suggesting that would be enough to turnaround the fortunes of Akron, but it could, hopefully, at lease stabilize the city. Link below for the full Crain's article. https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/population-loss-continues-challenge-akron
April 19, 20232 yr 28 minutes ago, Luke_S said: The same day Crain's ran an article about excess demand for apartments in downtown Cleveland they had an article on the continued population decline in Akron. With what will functionally be the Mayoral election in a few weeks two candidates, Greer and Malik, a proposing revisiting zoning in Akron to allow for more multi-family and mixed use developments and both seem to be strong proponents of infill development as opposed to continuing to develop on the outskirts of the city. I would assume the proposed and controversial White Pond development would fall into the same bucket for Greer. (More info on Mayoral candidates here, if interested). Akron has a huge infill opportunity looming with the redevelopment of the former Innerbelt land. If done right, we could create a new, dense and dynamic neighborhood. Not suggesting that would be enough to turnaround the fortunes of Akron, but it could, hopefully, at lease stabilize the city. Link below for the full Crain's article. https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/population-loss-continues-challenge-akron Where is the money for the infrastructure to develop a former concrete highway that is 10+ feet below adjacent land coming from?
April 19, 20232 yr 4 hours ago, yanni_gogolak said: Where is the money for the infrastructure to develop a former concrete highway that is 10+ feet below adjacent land coming from? This is one place.... The $1 billion push to remove highways dividing communities https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/highway-removal Akron received some money already for planning that will make the project eligible for capital/construction funding.... https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-02/RCP Fact Sheets 2022.pdf Planning City of Akron, Ohio - Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program City of Akron Ohio $960,000 City of Akron, Ohio - Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program City of Akron, Ohio Planning RCP Award: $960,000Estimated Total Project Cost: $1,200,000 Funds will be used to create a community-based master plan to guide the transformation of a vacated mile-long section of Akron's Innerbelt (State Route 59) into an asset that benefits all Akron residents. The master plan will look at short- and long-term strategies to address the challenges posed by the Innerbelt, which was never fully completed and is underutilized. Sometimes referred to as “Akron’s Road to Nowhere,” the Innerbelt never saw the promises of revitalization that came with its construction. Once a booming community thanks to the rubber industry, this highway split several existing Black neighborhoods in half, displacing thousands of residents from more than 700 homes while closing or relocating over 100 local businesses. The City of Akron has already created a thirteen-member Innerbelt Advisory group, which meets monthly, and has hired a contractor to conduct dialogues with the affected residents, some of whom are members the advisory group. The application mentions that seven census tracts in the affected area are low to moderate income. The application also includes 11 letters of support from businesses and community organizations, including financial support from a private foundation. The application describes multiple ways to improve the mobility and community connectivity in the area, including reconnecting the street grid, promoting multi-modal transportation, providing infill housing on the site, removing roadways, and calming traffic on frontage roads. It also discusses including trails, green space, and public art. The project intends to create a master plan rooted in community visioning to promote equitable development, possibly including infill development on the vacated highway, including affordable housing and local business development with attention to the area’s history "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 1, 20232 yr On 4/19/2023 at 1:22 PM, KJP said: This is one place.... The $1 billion push to remove highways dividing communities https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/highway-removal Akron received some money already for planning that will make the project eligible for capital/construction funding.... https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-02/RCP Fact Sheets 2022.pdf Planning City of Akron, Ohio - Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program City of Akron Ohio $960,000 City of Akron, Ohio - Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program City of Akron, Ohio Planning RCP Award: $960,000Estimated Total Project Cost: $1,200,000 Funds will be used to create a community-based master plan to guide the transformation of a vacated mile-long section of Akron's Innerbelt (State Route 59) into an asset that benefits all Akron residents. The master plan will look at short- and long-term strategies to address the challenges posed by the Innerbelt, which was never fully completed and is underutilized. Sometimes referred to as “Akron’s Road to Nowhere,” the Innerbelt never saw the promises of revitalization that came with its construction. Once a booming community thanks to the rubber industry, this highway split several existing Black neighborhoods in half, displacing thousands of residents from more than 700 homes while closing or relocating over 100 local businesses. The City of Akron has already created a thirteen-member Innerbelt Advisory group, which meets monthly, and has hired a contractor to conduct dialogues with the affected residents, some of whom are members the advisory group. The application mentions that seven census tracts in the affected area are low to moderate income. The application also includes 11 letters of support from businesses and community organizations, including financial support from a private foundation. The application describes multiple ways to improve the mobility and community connectivity in the area, including reconnecting the street grid, promoting multi-modal transportation, providing infill housing on the site, removing roadways, and calming traffic on frontage roads. It also discusses including trails, green space, and public art. The project intends to create a master plan rooted in community visioning to promote equitable development, possibly including infill development on the vacated highway, including affordable housing and local business development with attention to the area’s history Yes, I am aware of it. And there have already been conversations about removing the Market St. bridge and bringing the road down to the innerbelt grade. That would be at least $1 million right there I would guess. And that would not be developing anything else that is talked about. Providing infill housing and business is a great pie in the sky idea that may have had for years. However, there is not demand for that downtown already, so why develop more? I would much rather see the North Hill area have some real money invested into it to revive interest and community in an already established neighborhood.
May 1, 20232 yr On 4/19/2023 at 7:51 AM, yanni_gogolak said: Where is the money for the infrastructure to develop a former concrete highway that is 10+ feet below adjacent land coming from? What is bothering me about most of the Mayoral candidates is they all seem to be leaning toward the Nimby mindset. That is to limit new developments to intercity areas of Akron. I think the city should build citywide, just like Columbus, many younger people want to live in urban and mixed -use developments near Merriman valley and the White Pond development areas.
May 2, 20232 yr Preservation group hopes to save Akron Beacon Journal building from wrecking ball Ideastream Public Media | By Jeff St. Clair Published May 1, 2023 at 11:31 AM EDT "Its clock tower has watched over Akron for 93 years, but the future of the Akron Beacon Journal building is less lofty. The newspaper moved out of its long-time home in 2019 and its new owner, Capstone Real Estate Investments, LLC, an Alabama-based developer, wants to tear it down to make way for a parking lot. That's something Dana Noel with Progress Through Preservation of Greater Akron believes is a waste." https://www.ideastream.org/community/2023-05-01/preservation-group-hopes-to-save-akron-beacon-journal-building-from-wrecking-ball
May 2, 20232 yr 4 hours ago, vulcana said: What is bothering me about most of the Mayoral candidates is they all seem to be leaning toward the Nimby mindset. That is to limit new developments to intercity areas of Akron. I think the city should build citywide, just like Columbus, many younger people want to live in urban and mixed -use developments near Merriman valley and the White Pond development areas. From what I've heard there are more than a few candidates that are advocating for revisiting the city's zoning to make it easier for mixed-use and multi-family developments. Sure, they favor in-fill developments, but I wouldn't say that's anything like leaning towards a NIMBY mindset. For a city the size of Akron it can't afford to spread out much more than it has already and the best way to add density and vibrancy is multi-family, mixed use in-fill.
May 3, 20232 yr Update on the former Beacon Journal building, and it's seemingly good news! Commission denies request to raze Akron Beacon Journal building By Jeff St. Clair Published May 3, 2023 at 6:05 PM EDT "The historic former home of the Akron Beacon Journal in downtown Akron gained some breathing room after a panel this week unanimously rejected a request to tear it down. The city’s Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 against the request by property owner Capstone Real Estate Investments to raze the 93-year-old structure to make way for a parking lot. The Alabama-based company can appeal the decision to Akron City Council, but there’s no indication of when that body might take up the request." https://www.ideastream.org/community/2023-05-03/commission-denies-request-to-raze-akron-beacon-journal-building
May 8, 20232 yr On 5/1/2023 at 4:45 PM, vulcana said: What is bothering me about most of the Mayoral candidates is they all seem to be leaning toward the Nimby mindset. That is to limit new developments to intercity areas of Akron. I think the city should build citywide, just like Columbus, many younger people want to live in urban and mixed -use developments near Merriman valley and the White Pond development areas. I wouldn't say that. Malik that was elected is the current council person for the ward where the White Pond housing development is happening. From what I read on social media many of his residents were not happy with his stance, or lack thereof, on the project.
May 8, 20232 yr Akron Public Schools facilities plan would require a levy, diversion of stimulus funds Jennifer Pignolet Akron Beacon Journal EDUCATION Akron Public Schools facilities plan would require a levy, diversion of stimulus funds Jennifer Pignolet Akron Beacon Journal If Akron Public Schools is going to pull off a multipoint facilities plan over the next five to 10 years, it's going to need some financial help from the public. The board is reviewing options for a long-term facilities plan that would close a handful of older buildings and build two new ones. Nothing has received the green light yet, except for a small rezoning in the East cluster. But if the board moves forward with the plan in full, it will almost definitely require passing a levy. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/education/2023/05/06/akron-public-schools-news-facilities-plan-levy-request-north-high-kenmore-esser-stimulus/70184150007/?utm_source=nabj-DailyBriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-briefing&utm_term=Content List - Stacking - optimized&utm_content=OHIO-AKRON-NLETTER65
May 8, 20232 yr Neighbors ask city to block plan to turn Highland Square mansion into hotel, microbrewery https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/07/plan-for-microbrewery-hotel-restaurant-highland-square-mansion-upsets-neighbors-carkhuff-twin-oaks/70183462007/ A proposal to convert a historic mansion and carriage house into a hotel and microbrewery at the western edge of Akron's Highland Square area has sparked opposition from neighbors who say it will be a bad fit for the community. ... City Council could vote as soon as Monday on whether to allow the project to move forward. Jaime Delapaz, the lessee of the property at 1221 and 1225 W. Market St., recently filed the plan with the city seeking to give the site a commercial makeover. The first floor of the mansion would be used for premium dining and event space, while lodging for guests would be available on the second floor. In what planners describe as a "high-quality, low volume" eatery, the restaurant would serve breakfast in the morning, "while in the afternoon and evening the space would be prepared and used as a limited, white tablecloth restaurant establishment featuring European recipes prepared by a renowned chef." There would also be a large back patio used for outdoor dining. The adjacent carriage house would be repurposed into a microbrewery with an indoor and outdoor restaurant. =================================== If this goes through, might end up with posts about this place spread between this thread, the Beer & Alcohol thread, and the Restaurant News thread for this area!
May 8, 20232 yr Look, l don't live in Akron but l used to be married to an Akron girl and we spent a lot of time in that area when we visited. It's actually very inviting and quite close to an upscale, old school neighborhood. The problem is some of those old mansions are money pits. It takes the right owner with the right kind of wallet to maintain them. While I'm not familiar with this particular home from the pictures it takes either a very wealthy owner or some kind of business to keep it from ultimately being abandoned. The proposal sounds like a great idea. Plus, there aren't a lot of rich people looking to move there and take on that home as a residence. It sounds though that the local NIMBY'S will have their short-sighted way. Frightened, clueless people pulling up the drawbridge. What they can't comprehend is their position is ultimately a losing one. Rather than invest in their neighborhood and adjust to changing times they turn inward. One day they'll look around and wonder why they now live in a declining neighborhood.
May 8, 20232 yr There's like one house that is even close to this property... I don't even see how it would create any more traffic than there already is. It seems pretty distant from any dense neighborhood...
May 8, 20232 yr 5 minutes ago, ASPhotoman said: There's like one house that is even close to this property... I don't even see how it would create any more traffic than there already is. It seems pretty distant from any dense neighborhood... The Georgetown condominium complex is just across Twin Oaks from here and is on the medium-to-large size, but I still agree. Though I do wonder if some of those condo owners are the leaders of the NIMBY faction on this or if it's people who are even farther away.
May 9, 20232 yr On 5/8/2023 at 4:44 PM, ASPhotoman said: There's like one house that is even close to this property... I don't even see how it would create any more traffic than there already is. It seems pretty distant from any dense neighborhood... It's accessed off W. Market St. / St. Rt 18. The amount of traffic seen because of this will be negligible. ODOT shows over 10,000 cars a day go past that site. The posts I've seen on the infamous Nextdoor talk about "noisy bars". Basically all NIMBY opposition from the comments I have seen.
May 10, 20232 yr "Akron Names Interim Planning Director" may have been a better headline for the article. He doesn't have too much time to work with, but hopefully he is able to be effective and keep his job in the new administration. Akron names new planning director DAN SHINGLER May 10, 2023 01:44 PM Quote Thomas A. Tatum has been named director of planning and urban development by Mayor Dan Horrigan, the city announced Tuesday, May 9. He replaces Jason Segedy and will serve until at least the end of the year, when Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik is expected to take office as mayor and will be able to select his own cabinet. ... Tatum was most recently division manager for the city's Department of Neighborhood Services. But the Brooklyn, New York, native has been with the city since 1989 and has long been involved in planning and housing rehabilitation work with the city. "Thomas has overseen a variety of neighborhood revitalization projects including most recently the ARPA Home Repair Program," the city stated in a release. "Thomas excels in community development, project planning and evaluation, and leadership development." Also reported in the article, Catey Breck, Director of Strategic Development for the Office of Integrated Development, has left to take a job as director of economic development at inSITE Advisory Group. https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/akrons-new-planning-director-boasts-plenty-experience
May 11, 20232 yr 17 hours ago, Luke_S said: "Akron Names Interim Planning Director" may have been a better headline for the article. He doesn't have too much time to work with, but hopefully he is able to be effective and keep his job in the new administration. Akron names new planning director DAN SHINGLER May 10, 2023 01:44 PM Also reported in the article, Catey Breck, Director of Strategic Development for the Office of Integrated Development, has left to take a job as director of economic development at inSITE Advisory Group. https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/akrons-new-planning-director-boasts-plenty-experience While I don't know anything about the incoming replacements, it's a shame to see both of them move on. inSITE is a Welty company.
May 13, 20232 yr Desecrating indigenous culture sites of the Akronite people! ‘Sword in the Stump’ removed from Wallhaven neighborhood in Akron https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/11/sword-in-the-stump-removed-wallhaven-akron/70208456007/ “The Sword in the Stump,” a local landmark at West Exchange Street and Elmdale Avenue in the Wallhaven neighborhood, has been taken down. A two-man crew from Haymaker Tree & Lawn Service removed the rotting stump for the city Thursday morning. “There’s a lot of people asking about it,” crew member Justin Howard said before grinding the giant stump into a pile of splintered wood.
May 17, 20232 yr On 5/13/2023 at 12:43 PM, Gramarye said: Desecrating indigenous culture sites of the Akronite people! ‘Sword in the Stump’ removed from Wallhaven neighborhood in Akron https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/11/sword-in-the-stump-removed-wallhaven-akron/70208456007/ “The Sword in the Stump,” a local landmark at West Exchange Street and Elmdale Avenue in the Wallhaven neighborhood, has been taken down. A two-man crew from Haymaker Tree & Lawn Service removed the rotting stump for the city Thursday morning. “There’s a lot of people asking about it,” crew member Justin Howard said before grinding the giant stump into a pile of splintered wood. There was a time when someone stole it. But they ended up bringing it back.
May 17, 20232 yr Akron breaks ground on $9.5M fire station in Wallhaven neighborhood Updated: May. 16, 2023, 4:52 p.m.| Published: May. 16, 2023, 4:49 p.m. AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron on Tuesday broke ground on a new fire station in the city’s Wallhaven neighborhood. The station will be located at 112 South Hawkins St. https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2023/05/akron-breaks-ground-on-95m-fire-station-in-wallhaven-neighborhood.html?e=04b384150ba93fa19e5b286d3d9842f4&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter_rubber_city_daily 2023-05-17&utm_term=Newsletter_rubber_city_daily
May 30, 20232 yr Ouch!!!!! https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/30/summit-county-property-values-historic-increase-ohio-property-taxes/70256117007/
June 2, 20232 yr 'It's a beautiful place': Firestone Stadium opens after $1.15 million renovation Joe Scalzo | June 1st 2023 1:30 PM "The [$1.5m] stadium renovations included upgrades to four restrooms, new HVAC for the entire structure, painting inside the building, renovation of the concession areas, installation of LED lighting throughout the stadium and a new perimeter fence. The city also installed two new artificial turf fields utilizing FieldTurf’s Triple Threat Natural Turf. Most of the funding came from Akron’s general fund, although Bridgestone Americas (whose technology center is across the street from the stadium) donated $200,000 and Kenmore Construction donated labor and equipment for site preparation and grading. Thursday’s dedication came just before the start of Ohio’s state softball tournament, which has been held at Firestone Stadium since 2008. During a brief speech, Ohio High School Athletic Association commissioner Doug Ute recalled standing at the stadium two years ago when rain made field conditions dicey." https://www.crainscleveland.com/sports-business/akrons-firestone-stadium-completes-115-million-renovation
June 6, 20232 yr Though they don't know what they will do with the land yet Akron has announced that they do not plan to develop the 45 acre plot of land at the intersection of Theiss Rd and Hardy Rd. Western Reserve Land Conservancy has already submitted a proposal to turn the lot into a park, likely turning it over to Summit Metro Parks to manage. The Hampton Hills Mountain Bike Area is directly across Theiss Rd, so I would think that is the natural connection. That mountain bike area extends north to Akron-Peninsula and Bath Rds, so this property could, in theory, be connected to the towpath and CVNP. From Previous comments, the incoming Mayor is likely onboard with conserving this property. In a win for environmental advocates, Akron won't develop Theiss Woods Ideastream Public Media | By Abigail Bottar Published June 5, 2023 at 5:48 PM EDT Quote Akron will not develop a 45-acre plot of public land near Cuyahoga Valley National Park. However, the future of Theiss Woods is still unknown. Akron was considering a proposal to develop housing on the Theiss Woods property, a plan that drew backlash from residents and spurred the creation of the environmental advocacy group Preserve the Valley. The city told the group last month that development of the land is off the table, Preserve the Valley's Jodie Grasgreen said. ... One option could be turning the property into the next Summit Metro Park. The Western Reserve Land Conservancy submitted a proposal to the city to preserve the property and turn it into a park in 2021. https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2023-06-05/in-a-win-for-environmental-advocates-akron-wont-develop-theiss-woods Edited June 6, 20232 yr by Luke_S
June 26, 20231 yr Developer seeks approval for new Cuyahoga Falls town house complex near Chapel Hill April Helms Akron Beacon Journal While the price of the rentals is still being determined, owner Tony Pilla said they would be around $1,500 a month. The town homes would have three stories, with parking on the ground floor and the living spaces on the upper two floors. The area near Chapel Hill Plaza in Cuyahoga Falls could soon see a new spurt of residential growth. The city's Planning Commission has approved plans for Clyde Avenue Town Homes, a 40-unit multifamily development at Clyde Avenue and Buchholzer Boulevard. The development would consist of nine buildings with four to six three-story, two-bedroom rental town houses each. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/26/40-unit-town-house-complex-proposed-near-chapel-in-cuyahoga-falls-planning-commission-clyde-avenue/70343796007/?utm_source=nabj-DailyBriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-briefing&utm_term=Content List - Stacking - optimized&utm_content=OHIO-AKRON-NLETTER65 This is currently undeveloped land: https://goo.gl/maps/m6Hs2xG4qEShP1gf9
July 11, 20231 yr Akron Public Schools board approves new building in Kenmore, delays new build for North Jennifer Pignolet Akron Beacon Journal After decades of school closures and disinvestment by one of the city's biggest institutions, the Kenmore neighborhood will finally see a new school built within its community. The Akron Public Schools board voted Monday night to approve a new school building on the site of the former Kenmore High School property. The cost will be about $61 million, to be paid for with a combination of stimulus funds, dollars earmarked for permanent improvements and general fund money. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/education/2023/07/10/akron-public-schools-board-approves-new-k-8-building-in-kenmore-north-hill/70393195007/
July 12, 20231 yr Akron residents welcome the completion of park renovations, designed and driven by them Ideastream Public Media | By Kennedy Gotham Published July 12, 2023 Quote Two Akron neighborhoods are celebrating makeovers of community parks this week thanks to the hard work of community volunteers and the inspiration of kids. Morgan Park in South Akron and Jewett Park in Middlebury were both in need of improvement after years of disinvestment and neglect. Neighborhood residents had pursued grants to fix them up. Each year, the Akron Parks Collaborative holds a competition to select parks to receive grant money. The initiative also allows for people in the community to come together and create something that is their own. https://www.ideastream.org/community/2023-07-12/akron-neighborhoods-welcome-completion-of
July 14, 20231 yr Akron CDC The Well gets $8 million for housing rehab Dan Shingler July 14th 2023 "Akron’s community development corporation The Well got a huge boost in its effort to rehabilitate housing in the city’s Middlebury neighborhood. The city and the Knight Foundation announced they are each giving the nonprofit grants of $4 million to continue its work on what the city has dubbed the “Restoring Housing” program. ... Horrigan has committed $2.75 million from the city’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding along with $1.25 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants, the city announced. Knight is matching that amount." https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/akron-cdc-well-receives-8-million-housing-work
July 19, 20231 yr Akron Mayor Horrigan, with support of the Ohio EPA, requests to be released from the 2 remaining criteria of the US EPA consent decree to control it's sewer and stormwater runoff. Akron is proposing 4 alternative stormwater interventions costing roughly a combined $50m instead of building an enhanced high-rate treatment facility near the Towpath Trail north of downtown near the Little Cuyahoga River, costing around $200m. Akron takes on U.S. EPA over sewer mandates Dan Shingler July 18th 2023 "The city has spent more than $1 billion so far trying to satisfy federal mandates that at one point were projected to cost Akron more than $1.5 billion, before it came up with some creative ways to get those costs down. At a news conference on Tuesday, July 18, held along the Towpath Trail north of downtown near the Little Cuyahoga River, Horrigan said that’s enough and drew his line in the sand. ... With all but two of the 26 federally mandated components of the entire project completed, Horrigan said Akron has gotten the results it and the Cuyahoga River watershed need. ... Those alternatives include reducing discharge by treating wastewater at the city’s existing facility on Cuyahoga Street; adding sewers to the village of Peninsula in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park; working to provide sanitary sewer service to the Sawyerwood neighborhood in Springfield Township; and addressing sewer overflows to Springfield Lake from the village of Lakemore." https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/akron-fights-us-epa-over-huge-sewer-mandate
July 19, 20231 yr 9 hours ago, Luke_S said: Akron Mayor Horrigan, with support of the Ohio EPA, requests to be released from the 2 remaining criteria of the US EPA consent decree to control it's sewer and stormwater runoff. Akron is proposing 4 alternative stormwater interventions costing roughly a combined $50m instead of building an enhanced high-rate treatment facility near the Towpath Trail north of downtown near the Little Cuyahoga River, costing around $200m. Akron takes on U.S. EPA over sewer mandates Dan Shingler July 18th 2023 "The city has spent more than $1 billion so far trying to satisfy federal mandates that at one point were projected to cost Akron more than $1.5 billion, before it came up with some creative ways to get those costs down. At a news conference on Tuesday, July 18, held along the Towpath Trail north of downtown near the Little Cuyahoga River, Horrigan said that’s enough and drew his line in the sand. ... With all but two of the 26 federally mandated components of the entire project completed, Horrigan said Akron has gotten the results it and the Cuyahoga River watershed need. ... Those alternatives include reducing discharge by treating wastewater at the city’s existing facility on Cuyahoga Street; adding sewers to the village of Peninsula in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park; working to provide sanitary sewer service to the Sawyerwood neighborhood in Springfield Township; and addressing sewer overflows to Springfield Lake from the village of Lakemore." https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/akron-fights-us-epa-over-huge-sewer-mandate This was an interesting article! It's always interesting to remember that being green/environmentally friendly generally still requires tradeoffs. Such as destroying important natural habitat to construct an expensive treatment center for runoff. I'm persuaded by the mayor's argument, primarily due to the relative infrequently with which this system would even be used. 200 million for a system that will be in use 1-2 times a year doesn't seem like a good use of funds. Hopefully the government bureaucracy and the EPA don't prove intractable in this instance. Personally I'd like to keep the area near the Towpath as nature rich as possible. I don't like the idea of cutting down a bunch of trees to build a water treatment center. If it's absolutely necessary that's one thing, but it's hard for me to see something that will only be used 1-2 times a year as absolutely necessary.
July 30, 20231 yr Downtown resuscitated: 5 years after Front Street revamp, heart of Cuyahoga Falls thrives https://news.yahoo.com/downtown-resuscitated-5-years-front-100110849.html This is an interesting counterpoint to the argument some make about making streets pedestrian only. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and they made the downtown area a pedestrian only mall decades ago and I always remember the area being a dead zone. It is surprising to see how much the area has been energized by opening the road to cars again. I’m not against pedestrian only roads. It works great on E4. Maybe the lesson is don’t totally shut down your main streets?
July 30, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, coneflower said: Downtown resuscitated: 5 years after Front Street revamp, heart of Cuyahoga Falls thrives https://news.yahoo.com/downtown-resuscitated-5-years-front-100110849.html This is an interesting counterpoint to the argument some make about making streets pedestrian only. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and they made the downtown area a pedestrian only mall decades ago and I always remember the area being a dead zone. It is surprising to see how much the area has been energized by opening the road to cars again. I’m not against pedestrian only roads. It works great on E4. Maybe the lesson is don’t totally shut down your main streets? Interesting article, and an important data point to keep in mind. Even though we too many of our streets are auto-centric doesn't mean every street is a good candidate to be pedestrianized. I don't know Cuyahoga Falls that well, so correct me here, but could part of the reason it didn't work here is the lack of population/density and alternate modes of transportation available (i.e. public transit options)?
July 30, 20231 yr 56 minutes ago, Luke_S said: Interesting article, and an important data point to keep in mind. Even though we too many of our streets are auto-centric doesn't mean every street is a good candidate to be pedestrianized. I don't know Cuyahoga Falls that well, so correct me here, but could part of the reason it didn't work here is the lack of population/density and alternate modes of transportation available (i.e. public transit options)? It's true that there's a lack of population density there (though not all that bad by the standards of suburbs). But also worth noting, there is still a lot of pedestrian-friendly walking space there and the form factor of the street is very pedestrian-friendly (no empty greenspace to increase walking times between storefronts, etc.). And it's not like they made it a 5-lane arterial or anything. It's almost a classic throwback Main Street USA. Of particular note, not a lot of space is taken up by parking along Front (and the spots that are tend to be places that wouldn't be particularly buildable anyway--sloped land close to the river and bridges, etc.). There are large parking garages a half block back (west) from Front, and easy pedestrian access via stairwells and elevators from those garages to Front. This reserves the maximum amount of walkable frontage on the main drag for human-scale activity. I've been to this stretch many times, usually parking my car at the free EV charging stations at the Sheraton, and I've walked from there all the way down to HiHo and all the way north to Ohio Brewing (there may be a pattern there in those destinations ... but those are also good bookends of this entire stretch, though there's more surface parking south of Broad that makes it slightly more of a chore to walk). I've also been to shows both at the amphitheater there and at The Workz. Front is never the problem in terms of pedestrian-unfriendliness. It's crossing Broad, and to a lesser extent, Portage Path, that are the psychological barriers.
July 31, 20231 yr 22 hours ago, Luke_S said: Interesting article, and an important data point to keep in mind. Even though we too many of our streets are auto-centric doesn't mean every street is a good candidate to be pedestrianized. I don't know Cuyahoga Falls that well, so correct me here, but could part of the reason it didn't work here is the lack of population/density and alternate modes of transportation available (i.e. public transit options)? The primary issue with the pedestrian-only street from my memory as a kid was there wasn't really a way to see what was there. It's a pretty long strip and without being able to easily drive by it was out of sight, out of mind.
July 31, 20231 yr 20 minutes ago, coneflower said: The primary issue with the pedestrian-only street from my memory as a kid was there wasn't really a way to see what was there. It's a pretty long strip and without being able to easily drive by it was out of sight, out of mind. That's the case with most pedestrian-only streets, though, right? Is it so easy to see what's hiding down E. 4th from a car driving by either of the ends?
July 31, 20231 yr 52 minutes ago, Gramarye said: That's the case with most pedestrian-only streets, though, right? Is it so easy to see what's hiding down E. 4th from a car driving by either of the ends? I mean, yeah probably. E 4th is a pretty short street. It's also surrounded by a large walkable area, and is very much buoyed by large crowds coming in for sports games. I'm not sure the two streets are very comparable. On 7/30/2023 at 10:11 AM, coneflower said: Downtown resuscitated: 5 years after Front Street revamp, heart of Cuyahoga Falls thrives https://news.yahoo.com/downtown-resuscitated-5-years-front-100110849.html This is an interesting counterpoint to the argument some make about making streets pedestrian only. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and they made the downtown area a pedestrian only mall decades ago and I always remember the area being a dead zone. It is surprising to see how much the area has been energized by opening the road to cars again. I’m not against pedestrian only roads. It works great on E4. Maybe the lesson is don’t totally shut down your main streets? I think this is a fascinating example to discuss, because, as you say, it's such a great counterexample to the general direction of this site. Personally I wonder if the press of changing up the downtown area, and this street in particular, helped to remind people it was there in the first place? Another interesting thing is that I remember there being a large parking garage that is free to the public within a block of this previously pedestrianized area. It's interesting that wasn't sufficient to support the area. One theory may be that because it wasn't drawing enough pedestrians, it created a negative feedback loop where it felt sketchy because it was nearly empty, and it was nearly empty because it felt sketchy? No idea if that makes sense or not. (I also wasn't down there really at all when it was car free so I can't personally attest to if it felt sketchy). Maybe the presence of a few cars helped it achieve the minimum density to break that negative feedback cycle? Again, I'm just spitballing, but I'm curious what other people think. In general, I agree with a lot of the above comments stating it's just harder to create pedestrian focused place if it will functionally be an island. Maybe the goal should be to move to car-light pedestrian focused areas first, rather than going straight to car-free pedestrian focused areas?
July 31, 20231 yr There wasn't much open there at the last days of the pedestrian mall. An antique store and Cashmere Cricket. Both are still there. What helped it come back was of course the vehicle traffic. (Because we live in NE Ohio and as was mentioned, people have to drive by a store to know it's there). The resurgence in business was due to two factors: city business grants and the creation of the historic district which allowed for property owners to submit for historic tax credits. So, would this have worked without subsidy? There was a recent proposal for new apartments with acceptance of a TIF from the city. (I believe) Without that the project did not move forward. So even with all of the good being done, subsidy is still necessary according to developers.
August 3, 20231 yr On 7/30/2023 at 10:11 AM, coneflower said: Downtown resuscitated: 5 years after Front Street revamp, heart of Cuyahoga Falls thrives https://news.yahoo.com/downtown-resuscitated-5-years-front-100110849.html This is an interesting counterpoint to the argument some make about making streets pedestrian only. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and they made the downtown area a pedestrian only mall decades ago and I always remember the area being a dead zone. It is surprising to see how much the area has been energized by opening the road to cars again. I’m not against pedestrian only roads. It works great on E4. Maybe the lesson is don’t totally shut down your main streets? In my opinion, you shouldn't make main roads pedestrian only, but side streets are still good to make pedestrian only - For example, Over The Rhine has been dead ending side streets and turning them into outdoor seating areas. Or in Cleveland for example, I think W. 29th in Hingetown would be a good candidate for pedestrianization because it's not a main thoroughfare but still has lots of businesses. As for Cuyahoga Falls, most of the businesses downtown were on Front Street, which made pedestrianization a terrible idea
August 5, 20231 yr I would assume this is being done now, at least in part, to strengthen Akron's appeal to the US EPA that they should be released from the last two covenants in the consent decree. Whatever the reason, I think this is probably a step in the right direction, though I would like to see more details/specifics. "The city is seeking feedback on the plan by Sep. 8. Public comments can be sent via email to [email protected] or via the city's Zencity Engage Platform." Akron proposes riparian setback ordinance to protect land surrounding waterways Ideastream Public Media | By Abigail Bottar Published August 4, 2023 "Akron is seeking feedback on a proposed ordinance that would protect land surrounding waterways. The plan would positively impact the health of Akron’s rivers and streams. The city is proposing a riparian setback ordinance, which would increase protection of land surrounding the city’s waterways. The setbacks would reduce the impact of runoff, as well as several other environmental benefits. ... The ordinance would not outlaw existing structures within the proposed setbacks but instead would regulate any new plans." https://www.ideastream.org/environment-energy/2023-08-04/akron-proposes-riparian-setback-ordinance-to-protect-land-surrounding-waterways
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