Akron, Ohio News Release...

NEW HOMES IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

(April 14, 1999) Mayor Donald Plusquellic announced today, at a ceremonial groundbreaking, that the unique partnership between the City of Akron and the Home Builders Association of Greater Akron has achieved yet another success. Only nine weeks ago an announcement was made that nine new middle-income houses would be built in the heart of the city on Coburn Street by five builders from the Home Builders Association.

The City sold the land at a reduced price to Construction Management, Inc., F. G. Ayers, Inc., Marochino Construction Company, P. J. Testa Builders, and Todd Wallace Builders. The builders agreed to a common construction schedule, unified design, and selling price range of $90,000 to $115,000. Construction barely started before all nine houses were sold. The Mayor said, "It is important to the City of Akron that new houses be built, but it is more important and significant that these houses become homes for our citizens. Many of the new home owners were at the ceremonial groundbreaking to turn a shovel of soil and break ground for their new homes.

The Mayor praised the HBA and the five builders for their innovative approach, vision and commitment to produce a high-quality, middle-income neighborhood. The buyers and builders attribute the success of this immediate middle-income neighborhood to a common architectural design theme, quality construction, generous size yards, sale price, and location.

The Mayor said, "I am encouraged by the success of the joint initiative on Coburn Street. It demonstrates that a collaborative approach to new home construction with the HBA and private builders as partners has obvious positive results. The City of Akron therefore commits to finding other potential home construction sites with the hope of more similar partnerships."

John Troike, Home Builders Association President, said, "The collaborative initiative on Coburn Street is a reflection of the HBA commitment and investment to provide quality, moderate priced housing in the heart of the city. The HBA looks forward to further collaborative efforts to provide housing city-wide."

Construction is expected to be complete by early summer. For more information, please call Carmine Torio, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association (869-6800), or Tom Long of the City of Akron (375-2750).

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