Continuing with my pics yesterday, I was amazed to see the amount of construction going on near downtown.  Keep in mind that I think I missed some construction on Bowery street, just west of Main and none of the condo construction in University Park.  Also, my tour was just a short trip down Main and into the University.  Enjoy!

 

1:  New Akron Bus Depot.  I don't think it is a mistake that it is right next to the RR tracks.  This is really needed as the busses now all but block Main Street as they park near Cascade Plaza.

 

 

2: Howe House, one of the first "Mansions" in Akron is to serve as a visitor's information center for residents and visitors to the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway.  It's being moved to make way for new residential and retail on the corner of Exchange and Main.

 

 

3:  Slightly different angle.

 

 

4:  Future site of the Howe House (extreme foreground). 

 

 

 

5:  Here's what will be on the corner of Main and Exchange:

 

 

6:  An earlier rendering from the City of Akron site:

 

 

7:  The construction Site:

 

 

8:  More from the site:

 

 

 

9:  Howe House being pushed out:

 

 

10:  From the vantage point of the renderings:

 

 

11:  I think US bank is a new building (Don't remember it) and I don't know what is going on next door, but it is a  major rennovation.

 

 

12:  Something going on behind The National Inventors HOF.

 

 

Onto The University of Akron.  For those of you who haven't been following what has been happening in the past decade at UA, there has been a dramatic transformation of campus!  I don't think any area of campus has gone untouched! Just off the top of my head, I can think of 11 new buildings that have been constructed, 2 roads through campus that have been closed, and hundreds of trees that have been planted.  The transformation continues.... 

 

 

13:  Engineering building getting more upgrades.  Looks like they are closing down the parking deck and turning it into additional classrooms/labs/offices.

 

 

 

 

14:  The view from just outside the new student union at the current hotbed of redevelopment.

 

 

15:  Coleman Commons, aka The Outdoor Living Room.  Plan courtesy of The University of Akron

 

 

16:  View of the OLR from Buchtel Hall.

 

 

17:  Former site of Carroll Hall, recently demolished to free up space for OLR.  Oh, and don't worry about any beautiful old buildings being demolished.  Just lots of drab, 60's era box buildings.

 

 

18:  This view, 10 years ago would have shown 2 active roads, a parking lot, the old Spicer Elementary School, and a few BB courts. 

 

 

19:  Past, Present, and Future..  Arches saved from the old Spicer School now lead up to the new Student Wellness Center and are at the edge of the most recent phase of construction.

 

 

20:  From another angle.

 

 

21:  View across the new Softball field, back towards the new Student Union and Buchtel Hall:

 

 

Onto what REALLY gets me pumped, the new, on Campus Football Stadium....Infocision Stadium!

 

22:  First, a few renderings courtesy of the University of Akron:

 

 

23: 

 

 

24: 

 

 

25: Structural Steel anyone??

 

 

26:  Here's where my seats will be, about 1/3 of the way from the top of the picture!

 

 

27:  This is ONE BIG HOLE!  Pictures don't do it justice.

 

 

28:  The home side:

 

 

29:  Only a small portion of the steel is vertical right now.

 

 

30:  That's a pretty big crane.

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed.  More to come in the future too.  New Dorms along Exchange Street near stadium, Goodyear HQ down East Market, hopefully an new Bridgestone NA HQ, and possibly a new UA Basketball Arena Downtown??

 

 

 

 

Things are really happening in Akron; it's looking good.

 

That's a big change from when I used to visit there in the 80s; Quaker Square had just about died by then, the whole town was drab and dreary, except for the campus, maybe, and I never did find a really good restaurant that was open evenings.

Looking good. The new bus depot is interesting.

Awesome Zipsrife......man I have to get my season tickets!!!

 

Good Bye Rubber Bowl.

 

Wooohooooo.

Okay, I feel extremely stupid, but what is OLR. 

OLR Outdoor Living Room concept, pic 15.

My future employer is lookin great!

 

They're gonna do wonders wonders for downtown by moving the Bus Depot off of main. All the loitering & Bus traffic leaving may bring even more new development downtown.

My future employer is lookin great!

 

Is this sarcasm, or are you really going to be working a UofA?  Many people feel UofA is taking over the city.  In reality, it is only the East Side of the city. :wink:  Oh, and and some good video's of the house moving  available here:

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/22717999.html

 

 

Fantastic!

I had to take a picture of Downtown from an interesting view .. the St. V/M football field.. thats right.. where Lebron played the other sport.. I love this viewpoint..

 

I find myself finding excuses to go downtown now. I'm excited for my hometown. too bad I'm moving back to the nati at the end of the year. I'm going to atleast go to one UA game each season.!.  BTW.. a new downtown hotel should be announced this year. and I still keep hearing buzz about a basketball arena.

 

Word is that the arena will be a joint venture between UA and the City. It appears that Akron is trying the lure a NBADL team. and no doubt it will have something to do with LeBron.

Good for Akron, but I'll never know why the Inventors HOF is there...good thread.  I look forward to seeing the progress.

Oh and other Downtown construction not mentioned are the Canal walkway bridge over the Akron innerbelt and also the addition to the superblock parking deck with tunnel for Dart Ave.

So there is a tremedous amount of construction Downtown..

 

The construction behind the inventors hall is the math and science school.

Good for Akron, but I'll never know why the Inventors HOF is there...good thread. I look forward to seeing the progress.

Yeah, a recent article even stated that maybe the HOF should have started off smaller. (and will be so when it reopens) But it's great that the building is being reused.

 

 

They're gonna do wonders wonders for downtown by moving the Bus Depot off of main. All the loitering & Bus traffic leaving may bring even more new development downtown.

 

You said it. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the greyhound station being moved from Wolf Ledges to this as well?

 

#11 is not a new building- it's a re-facing of an older one (looks MUCH better BTW).

My future employer is lookin great!

 

Is this sarcasm, or are you really going to be working a UofA? Many people feel UofA is taking over the city. In reality, it is only the East Side of the city. :wink: Oh, and and some good video's of the house moving available here:

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/22717999.html

 

 

 

I will be working there...

JM, that is an awesome picture of downtown.  I had no idea that SVSM had the FB field facing that way.  Unfortunately, I don't think the view of Downtown will be quite what I had hoped it would be from ICS.

zipsrifle.. yea.. there wont be a good view of downtown form infocision stadium.. The press boxes will be blocking the view.. but as stated before.. if the Akron football program grows and they change to a more sought after conference.. The stadium is expandable.. and yes I think the city will get behind UA and show up to games now..

Wow, there is a lot going on down there, good for Akron.  Don't forget the Northside Lofts and Chrissie's new veggie restaurant and the new art museum (which I really like).  Now, if only the mayor would get his wish and get that Interbelt freeway to nowhere torn out and made into a boulevard.

metro... I would rather see the interbelt completed to rt 8 via tunnel.. that would be sweet

metro... I would rather see the interbelt completed to rt 8 via tunnel.. that would be sweet

 

If a tunnel werent so danged expensive, i would agree.

Is the stadium to be completed by this fall's football season?

metro... I would rather see the interbelt completed to rt 8 via tunnel.. that would be sweet

 

While that would be a cool thing to have, it's not needed at all when the Central Interchange is a few miles away and does a fine job of connecting 76/77 and rt 8.  I think money would be better spent on turning it into a great boulevard that opens it up to development and re-connects the city to the neighborhoods to the west.  Imagine how much cooler it would be if Goodyear developed it's new headquarters right along the boulevard with room to expand.  Might be an opportunity to get Goodyear located right Downtown and possibly Firestone.

metro... I would rather see the interbelt completed to rt 8 via tunnel.. that would be sweet

 

While that would be a cool thing to have, it's not needed at all when the Central Interchange is a few miles away and does a fine job of connecting 76/77 and rt 8. I think money would be better spent on turning it into a great boulevard that opens it up to development and re-connects the city to the neighborhoods to the west. Imagine how much cooler it would be if Goodyear developed it's new headquarters right along the boulevard with room to expand. Might be an opportunity to get Goodyear located right Downtown and possibly Firestone.

 

Which would be nice, except Goodyear's already committed to the part of town they're currently in.

Firestone, i do believe is still open...:-)

Nice stuff.  You know what a good excuse would be to go downtown...live there.  Now that would be awesome (coming from the guy who is currently a nomad and does not live downtown anywhere).  :-D

This town has so much potential!  I truly hope the big A can addapt to exist and even thrive in Ohio's current economic sh!tstorm.

 

Awesome pics!  Please keep us updated.

Is the stadium to be completed by this fall's football season?

 

No, next season.

Insert Quote

This town has so much potential!  I truly hope the big A can addapt to exist and even thrive in Ohio's current economic sh!tstorm.

 

Awesome pics!  Please keep us updated.

 

Actually, Akron is one of 2 major cities in Ohio that has actually increased the number of jobs in the city in the past 10 years, and as mentioned last week, it has the lowest vacancy rate in downtown in the state.  If anything, Akron has already adapted and things aren't looking too bad for Akron, relatively speaking.

Don't forget the billion dollar Goodyear HQ project and we're still waiting to find out about the multiple hundreds of million dollar project for Firestone Research center.  That decision should be some time at the end of July whether a far out suburb of Nashville gets it or Firestone Park area gets it.  Its slightly expected that Firestone will announce during the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC that they are staying in Akron..

 

The construction going on by the Inventors HOF is the new magnet school going in.  Its a consortium of UA, Akron Public Schools, and HOF to create a school devoted to Science and Math.

 

Plans are still on the drawing board for expanding the Northside Lofts with a second larger building.  They chose a bad time to build the first one and now they're waiting for the building that houses Vegetaranean to be mainly filled before they start on the second phase. www.northsidelofts.com

 

Also, by the Civic, including the Landmark building, there is major refurbishing going on of all the buildings there.  New offices, condos, apartments, retail, and restaurants should start popping up in the next few months.  I expect in coordination of the bus meeting place moved off of Main St. at the end of this year, downtown is going to catch fire.  There will be no more beat up buildings downtown on S.Main St by the end of 2009.  Case in point, the massive Ohio Brewing/Damons just opened inside the Oneils building and thats adding to some new nightlife downtown as it builds off of the Lock 3 and Aeros game day crowds.

Great set of pics zipsrifle!  Akron is looking good, it's so exciting to see all of the recent development.

What is going on with this big hotel announcement that is suppose to be an almost certainty? And there was also talk of a big retail development. Anyone have any news about either?

There has been no active chatter about a hotel but I have no first hand knowledge or really even second hand knowledge.  There's other rumors going on about a potential new arena in downtown to replace the JAR.  This absolutely has a serious LeBron factor tied in to it.  This could be the reason why no one has heard anything lately about a new hotel if there is a move afoot to combine a hotel/arena in downtown.  If you didn't know, LeBron was spending some more quality time in Akron again for his basketball training camp at the UofA that ran 4 days and had many premier college freshmen and coaches/scouts.  Recently, he also hooked up the UofA basketball team with top Nike apparel bearing his likeness..

 

The only major retail development I can think you're speaking of is part of the Goodyear EastGate or whatever they're calling it.  Its still in the planning and design stages.

This is one of the spots along the canal where a new restaurant will be built. (foreground grass) Right behind Canal Park Staduim. Word is (not confirmed) that it will be a 6 story building with the first 2 floors being a entertainment venue, 2 foors for office/retail (access from the bridge) and the top 2 floors for apartments/condos. What I have beent old is that the city is trying to lure dave and Busters into this building. If so it will full alot becuase Akron is in need of this kind of atmosphere. wouldnt have to travel to cleve/cbus for it. plus be a hit with the UA students.

Continuing with my pics yesterday, I was amazed to see the amount of construction going on near downtown.  Keep in mind that I think I missed some construction on Bowery street, just west of Main and none of the condo construction in University Park.  Also, my tour was just a short trip down Main and into the University.  Enjoy!

 

1:  New Akron Bus Depot.  I don't think it is a mistake that it is right next to the RR tracks.  This is really needed as the busses now all but block Main Street as they park near Cascade Plaza.

 

 

 

Is this for city transportation or Greyhound?

Is this for city transportation or Greyhound?

 

City for sure...but Greyhound is rumored to be moving there as well.

This is one of the spots along the canal where a new restaurant will be built. (foreground grass) Right behind Canal Park Staduim. Word is (not confirmed) that it will be a 6 story building with the first 2 floors being a entertainment venue, 2 foors for office/retail (access from the bridge) and the top 2 floors for apartments/condos. What I have beent old is that the city is trying to lure dave and Busters into this building. If so it will full alot becuase Akron is in need of this kind of atmosphere. wouldnt have to travel to cleve/cbus for it. plus be a hit with the UA students.

 

Thats a pretty interesting rumor you got there!  I would be doubtful of a D&B coming in.  It sounds like they want their Jillian's back..  I'm not sure I'd want to live in a building that had a D&B in it either.  Also that whole canal walkway is going to be totally saturated with restaurants in the next few months.  Interesting how the PD had an article a few months ago talking about what to do in downtown Akron right at its lowest point when several bars had shut down and before several new ones that have opened. 

 

Did a wee bit of research in to your rumors and it looks like its Ferchill/Main St Partners/Terremark Partners that are all working on redeveloping Main St. and Bowery.  From their webpage you can pick up a lot of info and renderings. http://www.terremarkpartners.com/

 

Here's a snippet of the Main st project I'm guessing including the Landmark and Whitelaw buildings:

"Scope: 135,000 square feet of retail, residential units, loft office space" A mixed-use historic redevelopment of seven buildings in downtown Akron, adjacent to the Lock 3 development. The project features street front retail, new public space and waterfront dining."  I know they've been renovating and I believe doing asbestos abatement.  Rumors I had heard is they were looking to start getting restaurants in by end of August.  I think thats a pretty fast time frame at this point since nothing has been announced.  More likely nothing will get in before 2009 as Brubaker comes back from the wrecking ball and into its new digs on Main and Exchange.

 

Their original plan of "lock 3" is dead.  They wanted to put an Aquarium and imax in downtown with new condos.  That would've been lame.  Here's a funky pic of the courtyard

The jillians that was here didnt have the "Pop" like the one I went to all the time in Covington, KY..that one was multi-level.. and had several clubs on top.. But I would love something of a family friendly adult arcade to be downtown. and it is for sure that there will be an arena downtown.. the only question is when..

The first step is the selling of the Radisson.  Once that goes forward and everyone knows which flag its going to fly then the stage will be set for the 2nd downtown hotel to be built.  There are many factors and catalysts to adding a second hotel:  moving of the bus pandemonium off of Main St., the potential of a Biomedical Corridor, Main St. Redevelopment, towpath coming into downtown Akron, potential association with a new arena, consistent crowds downtown on weekends at Lock 3, shrinking downtown office vacancy, potential NEOUCOM expansion into Akron, and the upcoming Firestone Research center decision.  Perhaps a 20+ floor boutique hotel would be in order considering all the celebs that arrive in Akron for Firestone golf, various LeBron events, Canton Football Hall of Fame...

Though there are renderings of the new arena, I think it is quite a few years off.  The Zips aren't selling out the JAR consistenly and it isn't falling down (literally) like the Rubber Bowl is, so there just isn't anything forcing a new arena. 

Last summer that University and the city made an agreement that when Akron is ready to build a new arena it will be built downtown. In all due consideration that was a smart move by the Don! So eventually it will happen.

Akron looks good.  Love the idea of not having term limits on the Mayor.  He is a great asset to the city.

It took Don Plusqualic a very very long time to warm up to the University.

Yeah, but it takes mayors a very long time to get it right and warm up to the right people.  Just when they have it figured out, they have to leave...at least in most places.

It took Don Plusqualic a very very long time to warm up to the University.

 

Something that has always befuddled me.

 

Their original plan of "lock 3" is dead.  They wanted to put an Aquarium and imax in downtown with new condos.  That would've been lame.

I'm actually curious...why would this have been lame? The aquarium maybe, but Currently all of the multiplex theaters in the area are in the suburbs. This would have been downtown, walkable and accessible to the University Park area. 

Now if this were a single Imax theater by itself, then I would understand it being lame.

 

Oh yes...I've heard that the Radisson is this close to being sold.

It took Don Plusqualic a very very long time to warm up to the University.

 

Personally, I think this is just smoke and mirrors.  I think he actually has MORE issues with UofA now, but can't show it.  Why?  Well, University President Louis Proenza's dramatic transformation of the University gives him the aura of being able to make big things happen quickly, something the Don hasn't been able to do.  This isn't a shot at the Don, actually, UofA had the advantage of being relatively large University shoehorned in the center of a Midwestern, rust belt has-been of a town.  It has undergone the transformation by accumulating a mountain of debt and taking over the vacant and underutilized areas near campus. 

 

The University started its massive building program by razing many of the old buildings on campus and replacing them with dramatic results.  This bolstered UofA and president Proenza as the community saw what a huge difference a few nice shiny buildings did to a very compact campus.  The Don obviously approved of all of this as it made the downtown look a whole lot better.  President Proenza then started the University Park Alliance with Summa, got some big grants from the Knight foundation and got some things rolling with some private proposals and actual construction projects just off campus  This only added to the UofA's sway in downtown and, of course, The Don approved. 

 

Now, here's where it get interesting.  Due to all the construction and excitement generated, UofA's enrollment was steadily increasing.  An edict a few years earlier that all freshmen must stay in the dorms meant that there wasn't any room to house all the students so UofA started to expand off campus.  Dr. Proenza, all but finished with his "New Landscape for Learning", looked for the next feather in his cap.  The obvious choice was the crumbling (literally) Rubber Bowl 7 miles from campus.  An on campus stadium would put the spotlight on UofA for another 3 years, but UofA was now landlocked.  The location for the new stadium would require that 2 dorms be demolished and UofA would need a lot of housing quick.  Under The Don's nose, UofA cut a deal to purchase Quaker Square, taking a Downtown Akron landmark and major hotel off the table.  The Don was furious and to appease him, UofA gave part of the land back to the city for the future use for a new hotel.  UofA's influence over downtown grew when a developer for South Main Street proposed a major redevelopment on the corner of Main and Exchange, which was centered on private, off campus housing for students.  Unlike most proposals, this one actually materialized and you can see the results above.  In addition, the proposed move of NEOCOM to Akron, linked to UofA, potentially gives the University more control of land near downtown.

 

In the end, UofA has slowly been eroding The Don's control of Downtown and I think he really resents this. He can't show it because the East Side of Downtown is completely overhauled, there are lots of young people in the city and a brand spanking new stadium is opening in just over a year.  The downtown of a city is its showcase, and after many years of involvement, UofA just waltzes in and, with a blank checkbook, takes over.  Dr. Proenza has generated amazing results and as a result, his influence of what happens around the University is huge!

 

Obviously I'm a huge fan of UofA, but I also try to see things realistically.  UofA has done amazing things for the city, but they are WAY over extended and I think they need to focus on improving the education and not on building new sports facilities.  The Don has also done amazing things.  Look at Canal Park and the deal he put together to keep Goodyear in Akron!  That deal alone is as big as all of the construction that has gone on at UofA.  If he can keep Firestone in Akron he will have accomplished what few other Mayors of major Ohio city’s have been able to, actually expanding the white collar workforce of the old guard manufacturing giants!  I think this battle has just started between Proenza and The Don for control of Downtown Akron.  Dr. Proenza seems to be able to pull things out of a hat, while the Don has also done some amazing things in the past 15 years as well.  It's only going to get more interesting.

 

I really hope those plans become a reality! I looked at Terre Mark Partners website today and the status of the project was "Planning and predevelopement. The only thing I hate about this design is the color. I feel like the only buildings that should be pink are the ones in Florida. I really hate to see renders like these and not see them go through. It is the biggest tease ever! I've seen renders for the aquarium, a new Plaza near PNC Tower and First Merit, a new arena, and the lock 4 devolopement, but I feel like I'm going to be dead before I see any of this, or it wont even happen at all.

Uastudent12: I don't care for Pink either. I currently live in Tampa and they have projects that are painted pink. I feel like throwing up everytime I ride by them. However, I think NE Ohio could use some color. Just not pink!

It took Don Plusqualic a very very long time to warm up to the University.

 

Personally, I think this is just smoke and mirrors.  I think he actually has MORE issues with UofA now, but can't show it.  Why?  Well, University President Louis Proenza's dramatic transformation of the University gives him the aura of being able to make big things happen quickly, something the Don hasn't been able to do.  This isn't a shot at the Don, actually, UofA had the advantage of being relatively large University shoehorned in the center of a Midwestern, rust belt has-been of a town.  It has undergone the transformation by accumulating a mountain of debt and taking over the vacant and underutilized areas near campus. 

 

The University started its massive building program by razing many of the old buildings on campus and replacing them with dramatic results.  This bolstered UofA and president Proenza as the community saw what a huge difference a few nice shiny buildings did to a very compact campus.  The Don obviously approved of all of this as it made the downtown look a whole lot better.  President Proenza then started the University Park Alliance with Summa, got some big grants from the Knight foundation and got some things rolling with some private proposals and actual construction projects just off campus  This only added to the UofA's sway in downtown and, of course, The Don approved. 

 

Now, here's where it get interesting.  Due to all the construction and excitement generated, UofA's enrollment was steadily increasing.  An edict a few years earlier that all freshmen must stay in the dorms meant that there wasn't any room to house all the students so UofA started to expand off campus.  Dr. Proenza, all but finished with his "New Landscape for Learning", looked for the next feather in his cap.  The obvious choice was the crumbling (literally) Rubber Bowl 7 miles from campus.  An on campus stadium would put the spotlight on UofA for another 3 years, but UofA was now landlocked.  The location for the new stadium would require that 2 dorms be demolished and UofA would need a lot of housing quick.  Under The Don's nose, UofA cut a deal to purchase Quaker Square, taking a Downtown Akron landmark and major hotel off the table.  The Don was furious and to appease him, UofA gave part of the land back to the city for the future use for a new hotel.  UofA's influence over downtown grew when a developer for South Main Street proposed a major redevelopment on the corner of Main and Exchange, which was centered on private, off campus housing for students.  Unlike most proposals, this one actually materialized and you can see the results above.  In addition, the proposed move of NEOCOM to Akron, linked to UofA, potentially gives the University more control of land near downtown.

 

In the end, UofA has slowly been eroding The Don's control of Downtown and I think he really resents this. He can't show it because the East Side of Downtown is completely overhauled, there are lots of young people in the city and a brand spanking new stadium is opening in just over a year.  The downtown of a city is its showcase, and after many years of involvement, UofA just waltzes in and, with a blank checkbook, takes over.  Dr. Proenza has generated amazing results and as a result, his influence of what happens around the University is huge!

 

Obviously I'm a huge fan of UofA, but I also try to see things realistically.  UofA has done amazing things for the city, but they are WAY over extended and I think they need to focus on improving the education and not on building new sports facilities.  The Don has also done amazing things.  Look at Canal Park and the deal he put together to keep Goodyear in Akron!  That deal alone is as big as all of the construction that has gone on at UofA.  If he can keep Firestone in Akron he will have accomplished what few other Mayors of major Ohio city’s have been able to, actually expanding the white collar workforce of the old guard manufacturing giants!  I think this battle has just started between Proenza and The Don for control of Downtown Akron.  Dr. Proenza seems to be able to pull things out of a hat, while the Don has also done some amazing things in the past 15 years as well.  It's only going to get more interesting.

 

 

Excellent analysis, zipsrifle. It shows that you have real data that goes beyond personal speculation. Eventually, we will see UA develop even further and while it will continue to have a major impact on downtown, if not the only impact, it will not "take over" downtown in the direct way many like to think it will. Proenza has assured us of this. The agreement between the city and UA over a downtown arena is not as black and white as some have illustrated. The original agreement did not commit UA to putting an arena downtown. The exact language was, "in downtown or close to downtown in a location that is acceptable to the city and the university" (remember, the city of Akron and the ABJ and county government all consider UA's on-campus football stadium as being in downtown, so there is a lot of wiggle room for what may be dubbed a "downtown arena").

 

Also, this agreement hinged on UA owning and operating a hotel (Quaker Square) as a favor to the city for only two years. As most may know that hinge (term) is now null and void since UA has now owned and operated the hotel longer than two years and will continue to do so for the "foreseeable future" making the whole agreement null and void.. Also, even though many believe that UA took Quaker Square off the table, the truth is the owner, Jay Nausbaum took it off the table when he attempted to sell it to UA on two other occasions. No one else wanted to buy QS, so UA took it off Jay's hands and prevented another Akron facility from shuttering itself. UA did not give the city any land aquired through the QS purchase. Instead UA made a land trade with the city. This involved a portion of QS parking and the site of the former Urban League. However, I believe that deal is no longer in effect as well.

 

While we all want to see the university and downtown work in tandem, it is true that there continues to be much animosity toward UA coming from downtown and specifically the mayor. He wasn't booed by the crowd on opening day at InfoCision for nothing. Doc Proenza has his eyes on the big picture and will not let city hall push him around as it wants to do. It is sad that it is this way but the flip side is that we have a university president who is more than reasonable with downtown while knowing that UA has a commitment to the greater good.

 

All in all it is exciting to see UA excel and the consequential growth of the downtown area. I like seeing how downtown benefits in a collateral and natural way from UA's progress. In my opinion, it is a more authentic and lasting way for a downtown area to grow and stay preserved.

As I was walking out of work today I was reflecting on how rare it is for Midwestern cities to retain their large employers.  Seems that everyone is moving South, or to the major Northern cities.  Just recently I learned that Navistar-International was closing their Engineering facility in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and moving 1200+ well paying jobs to Chicago. 

 

The last few times I was in Akron (to watch the Zips lose!), I drove by the Bridgestone NAHQ currently under construction, was detoured around construction near the Goodyear HQ and drove by the construction site of yet another private Student apartment complex.  I'll have to get some pictures next time I'm in town.