Downtown Towpath

 

outfield of Aeros Stadium

 

going under w. exchange st.

 

stone detail

 

pedestrian bridge

 

Howe House under construction

The University of Akron-night

 

E. Buchtel parking deck

 

 

 

 

Simmons Hall

 

Goodyear Polymer w/Chihuly sculpture

 

 

EJ Thomas fountain

 

Nice pics.

Wow, they have come a long way on the Howe House. Nice pictures, thanks for sharing.

Very cool!  Hope you post more

We need more pics of Akron, my hometown.

Good stuff.

More Akron!!!

Yeah, this Akron stuff is great. I love what the University of Akron has done in recent years to expand and grow in the central city (still, taking over Quaker Square was kinda uncool, but whatever...)

Very nice....I'd like to check out the UA campus someday.

New pavillions at the MetroParks Seiberling Nature Realm on Smith Rd. in Akron

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of all of Ohio's cities I (as do many others) think of Akron as the little city that could.  Cleveland could learn a lot from its south eastern sister.

Akron is quite possibly Ohio's least slummy city.

 

Ha, that's good, right?  Bad things still happen though.  A got was shot and killed at the gas station across from the new football stadium on St. Patty's Day.

Took some shots downtown and around campus since it was a nice day:

 

The new parking deck on Exchange St.  What a monolith of destruction for any public activity on the street there.  Not even any grade level retail.

 

 

 

 

Some demo of old and new private student housing going up on Grant St.

 

 

 

 

I think this is actually the "All-America Bridge" that I had mentioned earlier.  I kind of like these "off the shelf" walking bridges that are popping up.

 

 

 

Cascade area, taller building in background is City Center Hotel.  Love the modularity.

 

 

 

I don't know how I missed this new gem.  I can't say how often it gets used, but I would imagine it gets taken advantage of in the summer during lunch.

 

 

Yanni,  the All American bridge is actually the Y-bridge.  The "walking bridge" is actually part of the towpath as it seemingly dumps people into downtown Akron.  I think of it more as the gateway to the Cuyahoga Valley since its the start of a 3/4 mile downhill jaunt heading north to Peninsula.

 

  The last area you have pictures of is beneath the Civic.  A parking garage was tore out in order to expose this.  It is expected that 2-3 restaurants should be opening soon although I haven't heard a word about any of this.  The whole point of getting that area cleaned up was to create a patio area connected to the back sides of those buildings so they can have alfresco dining.  This looks like it is finally complete from your pictures.  Were you able to walk down the steps or was it still blocked off?

The students were demanding more parking near campus at an easily accessable location, and this spot meets that criteria.  I have to agree, however, that it is an eyesore.  Personally, I think they should have worked to build the parking garages near the railroad tracks.  It would have required quite a bit of road work (and money) to pull off connecting both Exchange and Wolfs Ledges, but I think that would have been a better location.

The students were demanding more parking near campus at an easily accessable location, and this spot meets that criteria.  I have to agree, however, that it is an eyesore.  Personally, I think they should have worked to build the parking garages near the railroad tracks.  It would have required quite a bit of road work (and money) to pull off connecting both Exchange and Wolfs Ledges, but I think that would have been a better location.

 

I understand what the students "demanded", but better master planning between the University and City should have been demanded as well.  Everybody wants to be able to park right next to the building they have to go to, no matter where it is, university, office building or the mall. 

Basically the length of that parking deck on a major street killed any sign of what was beginning to look like urban revitalization.  There is plenty of parking in Akron, you might have to show up 20 minutes early and walk a half mile, oh no.

 

Yanni,  the All American bridge is actually the Y-bridge.  The "walking bridge" is actually part of the towpath as it seemingly dumps people into downtown Akron.  I think of it more as the gateway to the Cuyahoga Valley since its the start of a 3/4 mile downhill jaunt heading north to Peninsula.

 

  The last area you have pictures of is beneath the Civic.  A parking garage was tore out in order to expose this.  It is expected that 2-3 restaurants should be opening soon although I haven't heard a word about any of this.  The whole point of getting that area cleaned up was to create a patio area connected to the back sides of those buildings so they can have alfresco dining.  This looks like it is finally complete from your pictures.  Were you able to walk down the steps or was it still blocked off?

 

Ah, I belive the bridge I took a picture of is this:

AES Trail Bartges St. Bridge, PID 80659

http://ci.akron.oh.us/engineering2/requestsconsultserv.asp

 

There was some temporary fencing up.  It looked like you could go through Lock 3 and get there, no?

 

The parking garage is a big giant step backwards in the effort to remake the campus.

 

My problem isn't so much it's existence, but rather its placement. It's far too prominent for a main street that should be lined with small scale retail.

 

I have to question the judgement of the University here. I'm not sure they "get" what makes a safe, beautiful, walkable community...the type of place that would make students want to stick around after class.

 

The students were demanding more parking near campus at an easily accessable location, and this spot meets that criteria.  I have to agree, however, that it is an eyesore.  Personally, I think they should have worked to build the parking garages near the railroad tracks.  It would have required quite a bit of road work (and money) to pull off connecting both Exchange and Wolfs Ledges, but I think that would have been a better location.

It could have been located a block or two away in a less visible location, true, but the reality is that Akron is still a very autocentric city, and there aren't as many truly out-of-sight places to hide parking as one might like.  In addition, the real eyesores are the surface lots that eat up a great deal of acreage in the heart of downtown; at least the garages go vertical.  This garage did not crowd out anything more valuable or productive; there is still a lot of developable land in good spots around downtown.  Walk High Street from 22 Exchange to Market sometime.  There is a similarly prominent parking garage there (ABJ?), but it's the surface lots that stand out as truly wasted space.

^Surely the university could have required a more attractive street-facing facade and that garage though, no?  It's looks completely bargain basement.

One would hope that that would not have been a dealbreaker, definitely.

^Surely the university could have required a more attractive street-facing facade and that garage though, no? It's looks completely bargain basement.

 

Its still under construction, there are going to "apply" some brick.

 

I wonder if that was part of the master plan done a while back by Sasaki Asssociates.  I have a feeling it wasn't and the University was pressured into more parking and that lot had the most free, usable space, as Gramayre said.

Does anyone have pictures of the new dorm going up by Infocision Stadium?

Does anyone have pictures of the new dorm going up by Infocision Stadium?

I can grab some this weekend.  Anything you want to see in particular?  It's as boring as the Exchange St. and Honors dorms.

 

http://www.dgcolumbus.com/our-work/education/honors.php

 

http://www.dgcolumbus.com/our-work/education/exchange.php

Here's the updated facade of the U of A-CBA Building located on Broadway:

 

 

 

 

Here is what it looked like before:

 

 

 

The area by Lock 3 has been done for months. I've actually been down there. You can access it by the cascade parking deck. They built automatic doors from the garagge to the patio area..Its wierd because the garage needs renovation and looks grubby but go through the doors and you see brand new stuff..

Here's the updated facade of the U of A-CBA Building located on Broadway:

 

 

 

 

Here is what it looked like before:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know why the decision was made to get rid of all the color on this building?  I liked the splash of brightness it added to the city.  Now it is rather drab.  Very disappointing. 

 

Does anyone know why the decision was made to get rid of all the color on this building?  I liked the splash of brightness it added to the city.  Now it is rather drab.  Very disappointing. 

 

It looked like an elementary school.  This is supposed to be a building where people go to educated on their career for the rest or their life.  The facade needed repair because it was letting water into the walls.  The University wanted something that more closely resembled their new buildings.

Does anyone know why the decision was made to get rid of all the color on this building?  I liked the splash of brightness it added to the city.  Now it is rather drab.  Very disappointing. 

I'm not a fan of the rehab either. It was interesting looking before. I never had a class in the building, but I used to cut through it all the time on my way to the polsky building when I went to Akron.

First phase of the new Multiplex Dorms next to the football stadium:

 

 

 

I'm very impressed, with the exception of the parking deck, with the buildings they have been building lately at UofA.  I believe the dorms pictured are the first of many which will eventually wrap around 1/2 the stadium.  I'm actually looking forward to the day when they finish all of these dorms.  Infocision stadium is partially below ground with the Stile Fieldhouse behind the North Endzone.  When the dorms are finished, they will enclose the South Endzone and that place will be LOUD! 

 

I'm planning on making the spring game here next week and hopefully, take a few pictures.  Nice work.

I like Akron, and, as someone mentioned, it is remarkably not rundown for an Ohio city. There is a lot of evidence of dismantlement in and around downtown, though, and, although Akron is very lucky to have the university so close to and integrated into its downtown, the university has a typical (for a large institution) bulldozing attitude regarding its surrounding neighborhoods.

 

The city has enough going for it to put together an interesting overall vibe and yet it doesn't quite have one. I often travel the 39 miles to Akron for specific reasons--to see a show usually--and never feel as if I am in an uninteresting place. The city has many attractive elements--I could list a dozen without even thinking about it--but it has not managed to assemble the elements into an overall magnetism.

I don't think a "bulldozing attitude" is necessarily a bad thing.  Whether it's good or bad depends on what's getting bulldozed and what's going in instead.  There are demo/rebuild projects that are definite trades up and other that are definite trades down.  (And I'm sure there are some that are in between.)

UofA is very much landlocked.  Old pictures of the University show how small it used to be, sandwiched between Buchtel and Carroll.  You could walk the length in probably about 5 minutes, the width in about 2.  The surrounding area was all residential.  So, to grow, UofA has had to gobble up the surrounding land and take nearby buildings that were donated such as Polsky's. Expansion in an urban area is messy business as acquiring the land for the new stadium shows.  Most of the housing around campus now is student housing owned by "Slum lords", so I don't get to upset when these houses get bulldozed.  I do feel bad for business owners who have served the University for years and get booted out....... 

 

UofA will continue to grow, though this most recent expansion has racked up a lot of debt.  They will bring more green space into the city as students want a picturesque campus.  I believe that UofA is the city's greatest asset.  It cannot simply move if somewhere else if it gets a better deal.  It brings thousands of young people into the city, is a source of innovation for the area and attracts businesses. 

Earthwork happening at the new Bridgestone project.

 

 

Akron Zoo

 

 

 

New Conservation Carousel under construction

 

 

I think this is the 2nd Phase of a new affordable housing community located just outside of the entrance to the Akron Zoo

 

 

Very nice....I'd like to check out the UA campus someday.

 

I promise that I will take some pics of campus.  My summer officially starts this Friday so I will do my best to get down there sometime this May(one of the many perks to living in Akron year 'round:) ).

Snapped some photos on a gloomy Saturday

 

Akron Art Museum

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CIppSdAEbSRpgxC2MqCL5Kt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-Xr_NPnL8I/AAAAAAAAANI/5iV5hGbClys/s800/Art_Museum-Panorama.jpg" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Rdaapw5M57H1ZefF6RuSM6t6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsAvkoLPI/AAAAAAAAANM/OiFFaxXJJdk/s288/IMG_0685.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gUZfTRvJLzeeOUxA8meEtat6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsBmM28HI/AAAAAAAAANQ/t3rKitZPBW8/s288/IMG_0686.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/x99iVJZPHioNV_QXKyqYTKt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsC9rWbVI/AAAAAAAAANU/K9DJ8mh312I/s288/IMG_0687.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/n5NdcKLhd62610Ya5CmKkat6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsD8ciTkI/AAAAAAAAANY/feYtygi4smM/s288/IMG_0689.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NXNtPXh64lIaicDgbcVltqt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsEugBKPI/AAAAAAAAANc/6BR2v7bDZA0/s288/IMG_0690.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WWwcv-oXsRPY754hcXsNi6t6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsFtjErDI/AAAAAAAAANg/lvKAdGIdTio/s288/Art_Museum-Panorama-2.jpg" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ox0M9lC73mI3qlw99cbiSKt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsG6zMtSI/AAAAAAAAANk/q0sfwxT9VuQ/s288/IMG_0716.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1CxgzQ7Gg4ASJQDeA8-AqKt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsHx1O7MI/AAAAAAAAANo/4mtHaSCHOX4/s288/IMG_0717.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/29XIQEX04WjXQMcwGqLq5qt6DiivQMnZKjAJLB25ppA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsIvmWtKI/AAAAAAAAANs/oAeelspECMk/s288/IMG_0719.JPG" /></a>

 

 

John S. Knight Center

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Cg08IyEPOMUH1SMC-TSPOX6xBz8hVwreAy5Ir0wlkqU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-Xrr4EcYTI/AAAAAAAAAMo/r0RlhBxpgz4/s288/JSK_Center.jpg" /></a>

 

 

Akron Public Library

 

Rear

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7E3ZdMfHyn5LYbqh7lvFj6t9907K6ouK6s3YA819Jns?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrwCivCzI/AAAAAAAAAMw/RHkEPq6ZscQ/s288/IMG_0693.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-Z8g66eEFyA6lJe-Svaalqt9907K6ouK6s3YA819Jns?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrxT9d_vI/AAAAAAAAAM0/iV2isGPliHg/s288/IMG_0698.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tiYyGNEizqmnT_Y-6Oj5vqt9907K6ouK6s3YA819Jns?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XryQStzFI/AAAAAAAAAM4/ymOTaN2di18/s288/IMG_0699.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sTgppvskdhrXiLTOLlQX_qt9907K6ouK6s3YA819Jns?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrzUyIP6I/AAAAAAAAAM8/IUgNuYnUJlE/s288/IMG_0700.JPG" /></a>

 

 

 

Main St.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V73OCw3Pwvik0g95XOriW49BKlmoOryRWgzYPPKr0Q8?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrYgKqQVI/AAAAAAAAAMU/wIqIQoCrDhM/s288/IMG_0701.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6Ghk6D4EUHTR39TyjAYyHY9BKlmoOryRWgzYPPKr0Q8?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrZTulDxI/AAAAAAAAAMY/LrsCUex7NN8/s800/Main_St-Panorama.jpg" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/irtGIsxz41_7YnfI74cV8o9BKlmoOryRWgzYPPKr0Q8?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XrbdksdVI/AAAAAAAAAMc/dzadXHq6h-4/s288/IMG_0711.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WP4cNE6y2xmgD4KE-pz-u49BKlmoOryRWgzYPPKr0Q8?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-Xrcg1ZosI/AAAAAAAAAMg/a5QLY3SDTVw/s288/IMG_0712.JPG" /></a>

Other random shots

 

Downtown Panorama

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yrMpC-FsPOEzVGetRBXRg7kaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XskEJ-WbI/AAAAAAAAAN0/hpOIz4TWWj4/s800/Summit_Center-Panorama.jpg" /></a>

 

The Gothic Building

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xHIybWrdoEunRz4UbxEbw7kaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-Xsl2DO1KI/AAAAAAAAAN4/IDcqdUiQ5zg/s288/IMG_0697.JPG" /></a>

 

Love how they installed the far bench.  Its on a hill and attached to the wall.  They attached it parallel to the grade slope, so if you sit on it you lean downhill, genius

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yaSATEHeb5R7vwZxHs0BFbkaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsnfcPK4I/AAAAAAAAAN8/v_YtwwISCsg/s288/IMG_0714.JPG" /></a>

 

Maiden Lane

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eyESWlDidzEp06YduY87KLkaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-Xsoo67API/AAAAAAAAAOA/f-khkoxce9A/s288/IMG_0715.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ESE0JD6amaPxJfBqvmk2RLkaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsqOgxdII/AAAAAAAAAOE/BHWaRbPrrYU/s288/IMG_0718.JPG" /></a>

 

Ocasek Office Building

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HYuEyHS_OchPV35NF6Bet7kaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XsrpYbQpI/AAAAAAAAAOI/YQw4d-y-yAw/s288/IMG_0720.JPG" /></a>

 

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AqALepuMAcWJv8CZJwOMubkaGHLcHLI-dWj2aBofO2M?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-Sagm0kEW5I/S-XstE9KYuI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/_WuCILeSyiY/s288/IMG_0688.JPG" /></a>

 

 

 

 

Keep up the good work!  Hope to add to this thread at some point this summer, whenever I can get to Akron.  Anything going on with the new Goodyear World Headquarters?