I hope the plans for the future of Akron, Ohio will move south towards the Firestone/Bridgestone building. I hope the people that have the job are smart enough to see they can't keep the focus on the 'downtown area'. There are two things that make this a bad idea.

1. The University of Akron is taking up as much space as they can get and are spilling into the downtown area (Main Street that is. The university is kind of in the downtown region of the city).

2. The hospitals are taking up as much space as they can get. All four hospitals are in the downtown region of the city. There is no more space in the downtown area for growth unless they start raising buildings. If they do that the university or the hospitals will want the space.

This makes looking at the downtown area as the place for growth foolish at best. South Akron is the best place for growth. Tall buildings will not interfere with the helicopters going to the hospitals and it is far enough away from Akron Fulton Airport as not to cause a problem with aviation.

Most of the commercial property north and west of the Firestone/Bridgestone building is un-used or dilapidated. Many of the houses are vacant and boarded up. As you go east of the Firestone/Bridgestone building you will find much the same thing. This is a large area between Lakeshore Blvd and Switzer Ave.

I don't think they will listen to me, however, I know I'm right on this one.

cj1404