July 26, 201113 yr Haha don't let the name of the place fool you. I talked to one of the workers renovating it and he said a guy actually owns and started the place, so I have no idea. I really wish a bagel shop would open around that area. Every time I go to NYC there is always a bagel shop I stop in to get a bagel and coffee, before jumping on the subway. That would be perfect that side of town.
July 26, 201113 yr /\/\/\ Someone else told me that girl was a really good barista. I wish I would have know that before I went there, I just got a coffee from her. If it's the same girl I'm thinking of, I'd agree, she was good. She took a little extra time with each specialty drink, but not too much, and it was worth the extra minute or whatever.
July 26, 201113 yr Maybe you are talking about Muggswigz in Canton? It's owned by a young couple. The girl that I am thinking of is Lindsey, I think she actually won some regional barista contest.
July 26, 201113 yr Downtown Akron hotel takes Ramada name Beacon Journal staff report Published: July 26, 2011 - 12:36 PM Downtown Akron has a national brand-name hotel again. The 243-room Akron City Centre hotel has been sold and renamed the Ramada Plaza, Mayor Don Plusquellic announced Tuesday during a news conference. He said it was “vitally important” to have a brand-name hotel downtown for businesses and to attract visitors. http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/downtown-akron-hotel-takes-ramada-name-1.226756
July 27, 201113 yr /\/\/\ Someone else told me that girl was a really good barista. I wish I would have know that before I went there, I just got a coffee from her. She was so good I had her make the same drink twice and since she was there alone I stayed and talked with her. Good thing I did because a homeless guy came in and was bothering her. So I offered to buy him something and he tried to take all the food in the showcase. Greedy unappreciative homeless folk.
July 27, 201113 yr Maybe you are talking about Muggswigz in Canton? It's owned by a young couple. The girl that I am thinking of is Lindsey, I think she actually won some regional barista contest. I doubt it. When I was talking with her she said she was about to break up with her boyfriend and that it was her shop. I wonder if it's the Carolyn mentioned as head baker at Caroline's.
July 27, 201113 yr /\/\/\ Someone else told me that girl was a really good barista. I wish I would have know that before I went there, I just got a coffee from her. She was so good I had her make the same drink twice and since she was there alone I stayed and talked with her. Good thing I did because a homeless guy came in and was bothering her. So I offered to buy him something and he tried to take all the food in the showcase. Greedy unappreciative homeless folk. haha Alternate site proposed for controversial apartment project By Stephanie Warsmith Beacon Journal staff writer Published: July 26, 2011 - 12:28 AM Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced Monday that he is supporting an effort to move the complex — which would house the homeless, disabled and veterans — to Tallmadge Avenue, away from the residents who don’t want it in their backyards. He is proposing that the complex be built in front of the Job Center at 1040 Tallmadge Ave. rather than south of Sorin Avenue and east of Vane Avenue. http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/alternate-site-proposed-for-controversial-apartment-project-1.226680
August 1, 201113 yr First wind turbine for Summit County approved Cuyahoga Falls City Council to allow Juzo Manufacturing to build new energy source no taller than 141 feet for factory By Gina Mace Special to the Beacon Journal CUYAHOGA FALLS: City Council Monday paved the way for the first business in Summit County to construct a wind turbine to provide energy to its factory. Council voted unanimously for a conditional use permit for the property of Juzo Manufacturing — also known as Julius Zorn Inc. — at 3690 Zorn Drive. http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/first-wind-turbine-for-summit-county-approved-1.227384
August 15, 201113 yr Perhaps not the right place to ask, but I'm looking for the scoop on all things Akron-Canton. I take in Cleveland development news like a bad drug habit, but know next to nothing about what's going on in Akron-Canton. Mostly curious if the downtown populations are increasing like in Cleveland. On a side note, very badly wish we had 1.) RTA service to CAK and 2.) A train going back and forth between the three cities!
August 15, 201113 yr On a side note, very badly wish we had 1.) RTA service to CAK and 2.) A train going back and forth between the three cities! There is SARTA express bus to service to CAK from the Akron Intermodal Transit Center (served by Akron Metro RTA's North Coast Express and Megabus from Cleveland): http://www.sartaonline.com/pdf/routes/081_Dec2010_web.pdf If you're interested in commuter rail between the three cities: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11978.0.html If you want to take a train between the cities today, you can. This service operates 10 trains a day (six north of Akron, four south of Akron), five days a week June-October, with weekend-only service north of Akron only November-May: http://www.cvsr.com/TrainSchedule.aspx "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 15, 201113 yr On a side note, very badly wish we had 1.) RTA service to CAK and 2.) A train going back and forth between the three cities! There is SARTA express bus to service to CAK from the Akron Intermodal Transit Center (served by Akron Metro RTA's North Coast Express and Megabus from Cleveland): http://www.sartaonline.com/pdf/routes/081_Dec2010_web.pdf If you're interested in commuter rail between the three cities: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,11978.0.html If you want to take a train between the cities today, you can. This service operates 10 trains a day (six north of Akron, four south of Akron), five days a week June-October, with weekend-only service north of Akron only November-May: http://www.cvsr.com/TrainSchedule.aspx I've thought about (and have chatted with Akron Metro/SARTA via Twitter) about connecting to CAK with Megabus. But they don't offer the service during the weekend, which would be troublesome for me. Plus AirTran has plenty of delays, so would be risky to book a bus ticket with Megabus. The Rockside station is actually a sorta quick bus ride... except the 77 drops off a little over a mile away. I really need a bike! Is there any talk of continuing the CVR to Cleveland?
August 15, 201113 yr Is there any talk of continuing the CVR to Cleveland? There was, but it got put on hold -- again. BTW, every other trip (hourly) of the RTA #35 bus goes from downtown to Garfield Mall via Rockside. It passes a short walk from the CVSR station which is due to reopen this month. But this is a discussion for the transportation section...... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 15, 201113 yr Is there any talk of continuing the CVR to Cleveland? There was, but it got put on hold -- again. I've chatted with Cimperman before about similar developments. I believe the Towpath is getting linked to the Flats...? Any timeline on the CVR to Cleveland or is it on hold indefinitely?
August 15, 201113 yr Indefinitely. See my added comments in my prior message. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 201113 yr Perhaps not the right place to ask, but I'm looking for the scoop on all things Akron-Canton. I take in Cleveland development news like a bad drug habit, but know next to nothing about what's going on in Akron-Canton. Mostly curious if the downtown populations are increasing like in Cleveland. On a side note, very badly wish we had 1.) RTA service to CAK and 2.) A train going back and forth between the three cities! In regards to Downtown housing, they're aren't really many options unless you are a student. They have filled 22 Exchange with 470 students and have another under construction, 401 Lofts, which is another 468 beds. Both of those are almost all student restricted. There are a few other options, like Northside Lofts and Townhomes, but their price points are out of the range of a young professional and established families don't have the inclination to live there.
August 16, 201113 yr How safe is walking around Downtown Akron? I know Cleveland has long had a stigma of it being unsafe, but after forcing myself to explore and now living here, I can vouche (along with fellow UrbanOhio folks) that it's very safe. I ask, because I'm interested in starting to take trips down there on random weekdays or weekends and will soon be car-less. I'd be taking the Megabus down to the Metro Station, which seems to be walking distance to Canal Park and the Art Museum. Thoughts?
August 17, 201113 yr How safe is walking around Downtown Akron? I know Cleveland has long had a stigma of it being unsafe, but after forcing myself to explore and now living here, I can vouche (along with fellow UrbanOhio folks) that it's very safe. I ask, because I'm interested in starting to take trips down there on random weekdays or weekends and will soon be car-less. I'd be taking the Megabus down to the Metro Station, which seems to be walking distance to Canal Park and the Art Museum. Thoughts? You won't have any problems with that. Everything is pretty safe Downtown. I walk around downtown all the time and I know there are others on this forum that do as well.
August 17, 201113 yr Great! What would you all say are the most exciting things going on in downtown Akron right now? Also, I'm putting on a RTA Bar Crawl showcasing Cleveland's public transit and encouraging people to move into Cleveland proper. I've been tweeting with Akron Metro. Anyone want to come up and see how you could do one for Akron?
August 17, 201113 yr Like many cities this is the festival time of the year. There is the Hamburgerfest going on this coming weekend. There are various sporting events that can be watched in Akron like Aeros-AA team, Racers-women's pro softball, soon the nations top collegiate soccer team in the Zips, as well as Zips football.. I'd suggest you follow www.downtownakron.com for updates on events.. For a quick lay of the land since you're interested in bar crawling.. There are basically 5 "party" areas of Akron: Downtown of course and that will stretch from Northside area down Main st to I guess Spaghetti Warehouse.. Zip Strip- E. Exchange college bars that are starting to come back after several were torn down for the new stadium. added-(There are "Roo buses" connecting the two above areas when class is in session well into the evening..) Highland Square area would be the next closest to downtown just up W. Market st. "The Valley" or Merriman Valley is about a 5-10 minute drive from downtown depending on which way you go. This is in the Cuyahoga Valley. The lakes in the Portage Lakes area of Akron. This is about a 15 minute drive south down Main St. My thoughts on getting Metro to "work" with you are highly doubtful. I would be very surprised if Metro were to designate a bus to go on a crawl. There are currently party buses that come down from Cleveland area and drop people off in the Valley and downtown. Metro is more concerned about maintaining service to the hinterlands of Summit county. If you want to get to a mall I guess Metro will be fine. Partying past 1am, I doubt you will see a bus anywhere. You can do a couple brewery tours in Akron at Thirsty dog and Ohio Brewing. They are about a half mile from each other. It depends on what you think is exciting. There are events going on constantly at Stan Hywet, Lock 3, Musica, Civic Theatre, Art Museum, even the Zoo, Library, and Convention center have random events going on. You might want to look into Meetup.com
August 17, 201113 yr How safe is walking around Downtown Akron? I know Cleveland has long had a stigma of it being unsafe, but after forcing myself to explore and now living here, I can vouche (along with fellow UrbanOhio folks) that it's very safe. I live and work in downtown Akron. In the past week, I've walked, biked, and driven to work. I'm out and about in Akron at basically all hours. (There have been times when I'm leaving work after the bars close.) I've never had a problem. There are a couple of panhandlers that are known to frequent the area, but they've become fewer in number even in the two short years I've lived here. There is a good police presence and there are also <a href="http://www.downtownakron.com/clean-and-safe/safe">Downtown Akron Partnership Safety Ambassadors</a> out there during most waking hours. I ask, because I'm interested in starting to take trips down there on random weekdays or weekends and will soon be car-less. I'd be taking the Megabus down to the Metro Station, which seems to be walking distance to Canal Park and the Art Museum. Thoughts? It's doable for healthy people. It's in the 20-25 minute range walking from the Transit Center to the Art Museum. The most annoying part is getting out of a the Transit Center itself, actually; it was built more on a park-and-ride model than on a walk-and-ride model. That said, it's still not bad. (There are also numerous Metro buses that head up in the direction of the art museum from the Transit Center, both along Broadway and along Main.)
August 17, 201113 yr Thanks for all the info! Any "young professional" drinking festivities coming up? Would love to come down and finally explore Akron beyond the Spaghetti Warehouse to Canal Park walk.
August 17, 201113 yr ^ Some slow walkers there.. I'd say about 6-7 minute walk to Canal Park from the metro multi modal hub. Ohio brewing is en route btw. Maybe a leisurely 10 minute walk to the Art Museum. I believe there are free trolleys that cruise about downtown during the weekdays. Otherwise, I'd say bring a bike if you are wanting to get around..
August 17, 201113 yr Would love to take a bike aboard the CVR and bike around Akron to explore, drink and crash somewhere!
August 17, 201113 yr The <a href="http://www.downtownakron.com/getting-around/free-friday-downtown-lunch-trolleys">Downtown Akron Partnership trolleys</a> only run on Fridays, sadly. They probably aren't slated for expansion anytime soon, either, until ridership on the existing ones gets a little more robust. I ride them to lunch on Fridays when I can, both because they're fun and to support DAP, but they're not quite frequent enough to make me comfortable if I might need to get back to my office quickly, which can sadly happen in my profession. Also, Google Maps walking directions pegs it at 22 minutes from the Transit Center to the Art Museum. That sounds about right to me.
August 19, 201113 yr ^ Some slow walkers there.. I'd say about 6-7 minute walk to Canal Park from the metro multi modal hub. Ohio brewing is en route btw. Maybe a leisurely 10 minute walk to the Art Museum. I believe there are free trolleys that cruise about downtown during the weekdays. Otherwise, I'd say bring a bike if you are wanting to get around.. Thanks for all the info! Any "young professional" drinking festivities coming up? Would love to come down and finally explore Akron beyond the Spaghetti Warehouse to Canal Park walk. Great one tomorrow actually, about 200-250 yp's: http://www.torchbearersakron.com/Akrun/ ^ Some slow walkers there.. I'd say about 6-7 minute walk to Canal Park from the metro multi modal hub. Ohio brewing is en route btw. Maybe a leisurely 10 minute walk to the Art Museum. I believe there are free trolleys that cruise about downtown during the weekdays. Otherwise, I'd say bring a bike if you are wanting to get around.. Yes, he stated 20 minutes from the transit station to the Art Museum, Canal Park is half way between the two.
August 19, 201113 yr I was downtown yesterday and was able to get some good shots of the new Mill St. bridge. Rumor has it that they hope to have the bridge complete enough for people to drive on it before school starts. Their is still a lot of work that needs to be done on the walls of the bridge.
August 23, 201113 yr Cross-posting this from when I posted this on the Random Akron Mass transit forum.. Below is a link for a 20 year master plan survey for Metro RTA. They supposedly have everything on the board as far as what they are looking at including BRT, commuter rail, street car, and light rail. Please take the time to fill out the survey and speak your mind.. http://www.akronmetro.org/20-year-transit-master-plan.aspx Oh, and KJP or anyone really, they are looking to hire a planning manager... Thanks
August 24, 201113 yr Sweet Mary, I would love rail service in Akron connected to Cleveland's. I would be much more likely to make day trips down to Akron if it had more of a "twin city" feel to it. Just took the survey! Anyone know of an approximate timeline on when they'll select one of the options and get going on construction?
August 25, 201113 yr Anyone know of an approximate timeline on when they'll select one of the options and get going on construction? Assuming they consider rail, a typical timeline for any federally funded transportation project, from the start of planning to a ribbon cutting ceremony, is 10 years on average. The larger project, the more likely it is to exceed that 10-year average. Sorry. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 25, 201113 yr Haha don't let the name of the place fool you. I talked to one of the workers renovating it and he said a guy actually owns and started the place, so I have no idea. I really wish a bagel shop would open around that area. Every time I go to NYC there is always a bagel shop I stop in to get a bagel and coffee, before jumping on the subway. That would be perfect that side of town. Bagel / quick breakfast place (Panera!), barber, and pharmacy would all be beneficial to the Main / Exchange area.
August 26, 201113 yr Akron church to be torn down for McDonald’s, office complex By Katie Byard Beacon Journal business writer A vacant church on a high-profile downtown Akron block is to be torn down to make way for a McDonald’s and an office building. The former Church of the Good Shepherd at Main and Thornton streets, near Interstate 77-76, will be leveled. McDonald’s franchise Rubber City McDonald’s is spearheading the project, buying the church for $500,000. http://www.ohio.com/news/local/akron-church-to-be-torn-down-for-mcdonald-s-office-complex-1.231715 I was going to mention I saw them taking some cores in the parking lot of the old Verizon store on S. Broadway. Usually they do that to make sure the land is suitable for new construction. Looks like it was for this project. Also, across Market St. from Summa, there is an office building, the existing Pizza Hut, and the closed Country Kitchen. I'm pretty sure Summa has purchased all of this land. The office building had a "for rent" sign up for a while, that is now gone. The Pizza Hut is moving West to the location of the old KFC. Construction has started and the new exterior is almost done. Summa will probably use the land for more administrative offices and keep the medical campus all on the same side of the street.
August 27, 201113 yr America: bringing you more mind-numbing, built-environment mediocrity like so many Happy Meals. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 27, 201113 yr I don't see this as a bad thing. There has been very little reinvestment in that area South of downtown for 30-40 years. Besides the new Bridgestone R&D complex which is almost complete there is the new IT co-location company building near there because of Bridgestone as well.. The area has been fairly blighted since Firestone moved out of Akron. To me this is a win since they are moving this outside of downtown. They are shutting down another McDonalds store that I'm sure probably needs to be shut down. I don't think they could find land in downtown to do this type of project anyways. I see this more as a harbinger of things to come. That area still has fairly inexpensive land very close to downtown. I think any service company that is downtown that is seeing its lease getting higher will be seriously considering that area to move to with its access to I76/I77 and downtown. McDonalds created back about 15 years ago their "McDonalds University" also with a new McDonalds just outside of downtown but to the West on Market St. Not sure when they sold it but it is now used by the Akron school system for hosting schools that are being rebuilt.
August 27, 201113 yr So there's no vacant land in that area on which they could have built a fast-food shack? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 27, 201113 yr Well they aren't just building a burger joint. They are building a 20,000sq ft office complex as well. There are a few vacant pieces of land in downtown but there are plans for some of them and I'm not sure of status of space next to GoJos. If anything this will take away the open sea of parking spaces that are on that block. It's a pretty nice piece of land being in between 2 one way streets as people either head in or out of Akron from the South. I'm sure the land will be far more productive and well kept in their hands than it had been previously. And you could go there on your lunch should you take the director of Planning job that's open at Metro...
August 29, 201113 yr So there's no vacant land in that area on which they could have built a fast-food shack? So they should have just left the two vacant buildings there. That makes sense. There is very little activity in that area as it is.
August 29, 201113 yr So they should have just left the two vacant buildings there. Yes. If there is other vacant land nearby, if the vacant buildings are in good condition and if they offer more architecturally than a McDonald's, then of course they should be preserved. Cities last for thousands of years. Preserving buildings for 10-20 years until a new user finds a new use for them is very reasonable, in my view. I wish we had the same kind of patience, desire for sense of place and interest in renovating our structures as they do in Europe. But we're still a young, immature country, and we act like it. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 29, 201113 yr I tend to agree with KJP. Leveling a well built historical stone structure and replacing it with a McDonalds isn't exactly my idea of progress. This deal is also going to create an abandoned restaurant on Wolfs Ledges and an empty office building on Grant. While it may be a good deal for Rubber City McDonalds, I fail to see how it improves downtown Akron.
August 29, 201113 yr Has anyone actually been in that church? Is it a well-built building in good condition? For whatever reason--maintenance, location, I have no idea--it was considered the less desirable of the two alternatives for the buildings when the Church of the Good Shepherd combined with the Church of the Master, according to that article. I'll admit that it did not look too bad from the sidewalk. I've walked and biked by there on Main on my way to the Aldi across Thornton from this building. However, it's set a long way back from the street and it consumes a massive amount of frontage that would have been generally lifeless at many hours of the week even before the building was abandoned. As for vacant land nearby: There's less truly vacant land near there than you might think. There are unused buildings, perhaps, and surface parking lots that could be repurposed (I don't think I've ever seen the Aldi's lot more than maybe 20% full, for example, and there is an enormous amount of wasted space at the Transit Center site, though that might be hard to build on), but purely vacant land along Main and/or Broadway right off the Interstate? Most of that land was at least used for something at some point.
September 1, 201113 yr Glad to see some of the blight being removed. That church looks like it was a wonderful building in its hay day but its course has run. On a side note, burge architecture has done some interesting design concepts for projects in downtown. Check them out. http://www.burge-architecture.com/portfolio/cotter-urban-design-study http://www.burge-architecture.com/portfolio/united-commerce-center
September 1, 201113 yr I heard a rumor that they were suppose to be knocking down a building need the Cotter building. That would be great if it were to follow through with that plan. The United Commerce Center design looks great as well. I wonder how old these designs are...
September 1, 201113 yr Is the second of those links working for anyone else? It's broken for me, and that's a shame, because I liked the look (and really liked the general concept) of the first one. I walk or drive by the Cotter Block every day on my way to and from work (whether via the Towpath Trail or Bowery) and all I see is so much unfulfilled potential. Nice to know some others out there--possibly with the capital and vision to do something about it--have been looking at it as well, even if only casually. ETA: Link works if you add the "r" to the end of "center." Also, uastudent: Did you miss a word in your first sentence above? (Did you mean "next to" or "near" instead of "need," for example?)
September 1, 201113 yr So they should have just left the two vacant buildings there. Yes. If there is other vacant land nearby, if the vacant buildings are in good condition and if they offer more architecturally than a McDonald's, then of course they should be preserved. Cities last for thousands of years. Preserving buildings for 10-20 years until a new user finds a new use for them is very reasonable, in my view. I wish we had the same kind of patience, desire for sense of place and interest in renovating our structures as they do in Europe. But we're still a young, immature country, and we act like it. I'm not saying to just knock down every old building for new. Comparing Europe to the U.S. is near impossible, their buildings are a lot older and their city density is ridiculous compared to the U.S. How do you propose adapting a church into anything else? The only successful way I have seen a church renovated is into a nightclub or a small house. Otherwise is pretty much has to be a church and I have no idea where someone would come up with money to do a church renovation these days. I'm going to guess the Burge designs are about 10 years old.
September 1, 201113 yr The wrecking ball cometh to Akron. More destruction on the way this time at the Beacon itself: http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/beacon-journal-to-raze-parking-deck-1.232352 Beacon Journal to raze parking deck Beacon Journal staff report Published: August 30, 2011 - 10:34 AM The Akron Beacon Journal parking deck, a fixture on High Street for more than 50 years, will be torn down this fall, the company announced Tuesday. The structure will be taken down because of its deteriorating condition.
September 1, 201113 yr Is the second of those links working for anyone else? It's broken for me, and that's a shame, because I liked the look (and really liked the general concept) of the first one. I walk or drive by the Cotter Block every day on my way to and from work (whether via the Towpath Trail or Bowery) and all I see is so much unfulfilled potential. Nice to know some others out there--possibly with the capital and vision to do something about it--have been looking at it as well, even if only casually. ETA: Link works if you add the "r" to the end of "center." Also, uastudent: Did you miss a word in your first sentence above? (Did you mean "next to" or "near" instead of "need," for example?) Link is fixed. The cut and past cropped off the 'r' but once again I have restored order to the Akron area discussions.
September 1, 201113 yr I found another design concept in the downtown area for the state st bridge. Not sure if I'm sold on the cafe design under the bridge. http://www.cssboston.com/portfolio/Akron.html
September 2, 201113 yr ^^Considering the proximity to Lock 3 and Canal Park, that is a very creative idea to have the Cafe under the bridge. That is the perfect place to have as a stopping point for cyclists and walkers.
September 2, 201113 yr That's a pretty sweet idea! I would expect the more typical users would the sand volleyball players at the courts right next to that. It would give people a reason to stroll on the towpath there towards the baseball stadium. I'm curious who would've had this drawn up. Was it developers on their own being creative after doing a downtown study or was there somebody local that has an idea for a cafe in that spot? I would think there would have to be a lot of sign offs from city and county to set that up. Would the city lease the space? Would it be seasonal? Intriguing. I always like repurposed empty space.
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