RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: Happy Highland Square News

12.29.2005

Happy Highland Square News

Those who've been frustrated with the lack of forward movement in Highland Square devolopment might be a bit more chipper with today's news. The city, Albrecht Inc., the library, & FirstMerit have finally - FINALLY - announced a new design plan for the Square that includes lots of pedestrian friendliness. Yea! No crappy front parking!

They will stroll. They will linger. They will spend time and money.

The design, by architect Bob White, with technical advice from University of Akron associate mathematics professor Laura Gross, who lives in Highland Square, encourages strolling and hanging out.

Outdoor public areas with tables and planters will invite them to congregate. The library will include an outdoor reading garden and will sit on top of where North Highland Avenue currently intersects West Market.

Mathematically-themed features such as a binary clock (blinking lights representing zeros and ones that will take some work to interpret) near the grocery store ties the development to the library thematically and hopefully encourages shoppers to explore the area.

The retail and grocery center at a vacant triangle bounded by Market, Portage Path and Edgerton Road also has parking in the back, but it's located close to the store entrance. The city is leasing that property to Albrecht for 20 years. FirstMerit Bank has agreed to share parking with the grocery store.

Now the plans need final approval from the Akron Planning Commission and the Akron City Council. If all goes well (please, please, please), the projected start dates are Spring 2006 for the grocery & retail spaces and Summer 2006 for the new library.

You can get a visual of the new plan here: Changing Highland Square

New design plan reflects residents' wants :: Akron Beacon Journal

(Mia :: Happy Highland Square News)

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