Jerry Egan, City of Akron Comprehensive Planning Administrator, presided at the meeting that began at 7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Mr. Egan reviewed planning objectives. A Land Use Plan with development standards will be prepared to guide future development. Public and private investment will be required to achieve development goals. Infrastructure will also be upgraded as necessary.

During a brief question and answer session, Mr. Egan clarified the definition of development standards (house types, densities, etc.) and answered that preservation could be a development objective. In response to questions, Mr. Egan explained that the construction on Cuyahoga Street is for Zion Terrace, a 40-unit low-income housing tax credit project for seniors by the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC). Future development on the other side of Cuyahoga Street is being pursued by the Signet Group and will consist of a mix of single-family and multi-family units. Soil conditions must be suitable. Other local initiatives include the Aggie Russell House project on Howard Street (potential museum) and the removal of the Beech Street Power Plant along the Cascade Locks.

Mary Stormer of Akron City Schools had a few questions on tax collection on properties sold by the City and on TIF (tax increment financing). Mr. Egan responded that taxes are collected at the time of closing and that sometimes TIF’s are necessary to encourage development.

Mr. Egan introduced speakers to highlight a few projects that will have an impact on the Hickory Street corridor. Michael Blakemore of the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority gave a brief synopsis on the submitted Hope VI application for Elizabeth Park. If funded, this will result in a $50--$60 million investment into the Valley. Two hundred sixty-nine new housing units will be constructed.

Questions involved feasibility, timetables and impact on schools. Mr. Blakemore answered that there is a market for the project, the project would be completed in three years (if funded), and that the schools would benefit from additional taxes. In response to a question on whether mixing income types in housing developments would work, Alan Burge of Burge Architecture stressed that this is a national trend and not to look at it provincially.

Bridget Garvin of the Cascade Locks Park Association briefly summarized the mission of the Association and forthcoming projects. The mission of the Cascade Locks is to develop a heritage park emphasizing the history of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the region. The completion of the Mustill Store and Mustill House renovation was the first major project. The Howard Street Corridor Initiative is in its early stages. This will document the history of Howard Street in the early twentieth century and through the Jazz Age. Archaeological work at the old Schumacher mill site (the southwest corner at the intersection of Howard Street and North Street) may result in development of this corner as an historic resource. The website is www.cascadelocks.org

Mr. Egan introduced two other nearby projects impacting the Hickory Street corridor, a proposed 95-unit apartment development near Luigi’s and the St. Vincent-St. Mary expansion. In response to a question citing market studies, Mr. Egan responded that a poll by University of Akron revealed that Summit County residents responded favorably to questions concerning "new urbanist" developments, lofts and apartments along the canal.

Kurt Mulhauser of the Akron Planning Department presented a short summary of existing conditions, including land use, zoning, infrastructure and topography, all of which impact future development.

Positive and negatives impacting the area and brainstorming of visions of development options will be discussed at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 13, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.