After months of discussion, Akron officials have agreed to salvage parts of a historic Firestone plant slated for demolition.
Last year, Akron鈥檚 planning department proposed demolishing Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Plant 1, saying the aging former headquarters was too expensive to preserve.
In the months since, community members, elected officials and historic preservationists have repeatedly asked the city to save the front facade and clock tower, which they say is a symbol of the city鈥檚 rubber history.
In the new plan announced Tuesday, city officials proposed saving components of the clock tower, including clock elements and historic bricks, to create some form of recognition at the site.
鈥淭his approach allows us to carry forward the history of this site in a tangible way,鈥� Mayor Shammas Malik said in a news release. 鈥淲e heard clearly from residents that this property鈥檚 legacy matters deeply. By preserving elements of the clock tower, we can honor that history while creating new opportunity.鈥�
The rest of the building will be demolished.
Planning Director Kyle Julien presented the plan to the city鈥檚 Urban Design and Historic Planning Commission Tuesday. The board unanimously approved it.
The proposal will now be presented to the State Historic Preservation Office for final approval.
Akron City Council approved demolition plans in September on the condition that the city open a request for proposals for redevelopment of the building.
After no viable plans were suggested, the building was set for the wrecking ball 鈥� until the SHPO alerted the city in November that demolition would violate conditions of a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies, because the plant is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Officials halted demolition at that time.
Planning Director Kyle Julien presented updated language for the MOU to the city鈥檚 historic preservation commission Tuesday, which the board supported.
If the SHPO confirms the updated MOU, the city will confirm demolition funds with the Ohio Department of Development and the Summit County Land Bank, according to the news release. Officials will proceed with documenting the site, demolishing the buildings and salvaging clock tower components.
In February, the city held multiple listening sessions with residents about the potential options for the building鈥檚 future.
鈥淲hile residents expressed a strong desire to preserve the building鈥檚 history, there was also recognition of the significant structural, environmental, and financial challenges involved,鈥� city officials wrote in the news release.
Repurposing the building is not economically or physically feasible due to vandalism and years of disrepair, Julien said.
Removing environmental restrictions to allow residential redevelopment would require more than $8 million in additional remediation costs, Julien has previously stated.
