New initiatives to improve housing in Akron could be coming this summer.
Mayor Shammas Malik and his administration will soon propose several pieces of legislation to address Akron鈥檚 housing stock and city policies, he shared during his annual State of the City speech Tuesday night at the Akron Civic Theatre.
精东影业lessness has continued to rise in the city over the past few years. Advocates point to the lack of affordable housing as the cause.
The city plans to address mold violations in the Spring Hill apartments in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood and other complexes, Malik said. New legislation will also implement stricter rules for landlords to follow during mold-cleanup, he said.
Officials also plan to strengthen the city鈥檚 rental registration system for better accountability of landlords and address 鈥渕inimum lot sizes鈥� for new housing construction, which Malik said is often a barrier to housing developments getting approved, he said.
鈥淐ity policies should not be an obstacle to new housing,鈥� Malik said. 鈥淲e are going to work with our council to eliminate every piece of red tape we can.鈥�
Some of the new initiatives stem from input from the local activist organization, Freedom BLOC, Malik said.
Additional housing initiatives will come soon from the city鈥檚 first-ever civic assembly, Unify Akron, he said. Assembly delegates have researched and discussed solutions to housing challenges over the past few months, and will present their recommendations to Malik and city council Thursday night.
This year鈥檚 operating budget set aside funding for two new inspectors and a new code compliance division. The city is also using $4 million in federal funding for projects that will create 532 units of new housing, Malik said.
The city allocated $250,000 to support emergency services for homeless outreach in this year鈥檚 operating budget.
Focusing on balanced budget, safety services
Malik鈥檚 address came as the city is also right sizing its budget this year after approving raises for police, fire and city employees in 2025.
Malik reiterated plans to balance the city鈥檚 budget over the next two years. He plans to reduce overtime costs in safety forces and no longer immediately fill vacant positions.
鈥淭here are no easy answers to these tough challenges,鈥� Malik said.
City officials are also making changes to the police department鈥檚 use-of-force policy, after an independent firm unveiled dozens of recommendations earlier this month.
Malik touted the city鈥檚 Street Team gun violence prevention pilot, and said the program will be expanding soon, he said.
The city is also starting a new partnership with Summa Health and Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where counselors will respond directly in hospitals, he said.
鈥淲hen violence occurs, we will connect victims to services and support to prevent retaliation and break cycles of harm,鈥� Malik said.
Malik also acknowledged several accomplishments in the public service department.
Last year, the city replaced all of its lead service lines and water mains.
And the city is 鈥渃loser than ever鈥� to revitalizing its sewer systems and completing all of the projects mandated under a federal consent decree, Malik said.
Nearly half of the city鈥檚 roads have been resurfaced since 2017, Malik said, the year voters approved Issue 4, which raised the city鈥檚 income tax from 2.25 to 2.5% - of which 0.25% directly funds police, fire and roads.
Embracing the past and looking to the future
Malik also announced the city is launching a new Polymer Pathways Partnership.
The initiative will help connect students to careers in the polymer industry, Malik said.
"We will work to ensure any high school student in Akron who wants to pursue a career in sustainable polymers and advanced manufacturing can get credentials and certifications to do so," Malik said.
The program is a partnership with the Greater Akron Chamber, Stark State College, Akron Public Schools, Conexus NEO, Jobs for Ohio's Graduates and the Polymer Industry Cluster.
The goal is to make sure young Akronites can find long-term careers in the city, Malik added.
The city is also embracing a symbol of its rubber industry past to create a new city holiday: Blimp Day.
On June 6, Goodyear will fly two of its blimps over all of the city's 24 neighborhoods from 9 a.m. to noon, Malik said.
"We plan to host this event every summer, and while the specific day might change, you can get ready for a yearly Blimp Day holiday on your calendar," Malik said.
The city will host a photo contest this year, with prizes awarded for the best photos taken of the blimps, he said. Future events will include festivals and opportunities to get up close to the blimps, Malik added.
精东影业 live-streamed the speech in partnership with PBS Western Reserve and The University of Akron.
