(08/10/06) - The look of Highland Square in
West Akron will begin its long-awaited transformation Monday, August 14, when City of
Akron crews begin rerouting utilities on a key residential street. North Highland
Avenue will no longer be a through-street for traffic to West Market Street.
Instead, it will be abbreviated to accommodate the Akron-Summit County Public Library
expansion.
City Engineering Construction Manager Jim Weber explained, "Neighbors and
motorists will be seeing quite a bit of activity in the coming months at the square. We
are constructing new utilities underground for the new developments and will be doing new
water main construction along West Market Street as well. It's going to be busier than
usual around Highland and Market."
This is the first of four phases in the redesign of Highland Square that involves
everything from new retail and parking areas to the return of grocery shopping to the
landmark community.
"We have had considerable input from the neighbors on this project, and we are all
excited and ready to see this work begin," said Leah Anglin, with the Mayor's
Office of Economic Development.
Coinciding with the closing off of the south end of North Highland Avenue Monday is the
demolition of the branch library that now faces Market Street. In the coming weeks, there
will be a ground breaking ceremony to officially signal the beginning of the Albrecht,
Incorporated development project that will give Highland Square its new look.
