In many ways, Akron's future depends on the success of the Northside Lofts project (``Lofty ideas rising near downtown,'' Beacon Journal, May 11).
If it works, you can bet other builders will buy up old, unused buildings downtown and create new residential and commercial space, creating much-needed tax income.
Many have said we don't have the employment base to support this. The reality is, we don't have exciting developments like this to attract top graduates and professionals to Akron.
I am speaking from experience. As a young engineer at a local tire company, I've traveled to several career fairs to recruit top talent. At Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., last year, a career services officer informed me that my interview schedule was empty because no one was thrilled about the prospect of relocating to Akron.
I ended up pitching the city and begged them to ask interested students to reconsider and interview despite their reservations. You can be sure I talked about projects like Northside Lofts and Spicer Village, and all the money being spent on redevelopment of the downtown area over the past five years, because this is what young professionals care about.
They aren't interested in living in places like Fairlawn anymore. They couldn't care less that there are 1,001 plazas within a five-minute drive of their suburban home. Cultural habits are shifting. Cities across the Midwest (Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) are seeing a revival of downtown neighborhoods. Urban areas are where people choose to live, and they'll pay a premium to live there.
Other people have brought up the issue of crime downtown. What crime? I've lived in the Canal Square YMCA building for two years, so I believe my experience is fairly representative of what it's like to live downtown. I frequently jog downtown, safely. I walk to the library (through the bus transfer station) safely. I walk to restaurants and bars on Main Street safely. I don't worry about whether my car is safe parked on the street outside my building. professionals living in the other 54 apartments in my building and walk to work apparently feel safe, too.
At the end of the day, the important point is that this project may be opening the door for others like it. That type of downtown development and redevelopment is crucial to attracting businesses and professionals to our city.
If we aren't working to improve Akron, companies will continue to follow potential employees leaving the area, which means less tax money and the continued decline of our schools and cuts in public services. This is an investment that everyone who cares about Akron should support. |
