Jan. 8 Innerbelt public forum
Covered by Documenter Wittman Sullivan (see his notes here)
The future of the Akron Innerbelt took center stage at a recent public forum, where residents gathered to voice their hopes and concerns for the decommissioned highway’s redevelopment.
The City of Akron has partnered with urban design firm Sasaki to conduct community engagement sessions. A final design plan is expected by summer 2025.
The initiative builds upon prior outreach efforts by Liz Ogbu’s Studio O and is backed by a $10 million federal grant recently secured through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Mayor Shammas Malik addressed attendees at the newly renovated Ed Davis Community Center, emphasizing the importance of inclusive planning.
“Meetings like these are the first step to building a more responsive and collaborative city government,” Malik said.
This approach contrasts with the well-documented, exclusive processes that led to the Innerbelt’s construction.
The Jan. 8 open house featured interactive stations. Community members shared input via written notes, maps and direct conversations with city officials and Sasaki staff members.
Documenter Wittman Sullivan heard suggestions from community members on these issues:
Transportation and accessibility:
- Improve walkability and bikeability with protected bike lanes and safer sidewalks.
- Enhance public transit, with some advocating for a transit right-of-way on the Innerbelt.
- Address navigation challenges caused by the highway’s presence.
A community member asked Dawn Distler, the CEO of METRO RTA, about the possibility of putting a rail line on the Innerbelt. Distler said she wants transit right-of-way to be present in the project but thinks that buses would be a better option.
A Sasaki staffer said they are working with METRO to meet shared goals and build from each other’s work with bus rapid transit (BRT) and transit-oriented development (TOD).
Community needs and services:
- Increase food access, including the addition of grocery stores and fresh markets.
- Expand entertainment options, such as movie nights and gathering spaces.
- Create more local job opportunities and support small businesses.
A coalition builder said they want to utilize the resources that already exist in the Innerbelt area. This includes hospitals and the Akron-Summit County Main Library.
Public space and recreation:
- Develop outdoor recreation amenities such as dog parks, connector trails and a skate or bike park.
- Provide more green spaces, including ADA-accessible playgrounds.
- Consider options for canal kayaking and additional parkland.
Respondents said they rely on green spaces and parks to experience nature. These types of recreation spaces are missing from the area, according to residents.
Economic and housing development:
- Ensure new developments create wealth-building opportunities for all ages.
- Support affordable housing initiatives and artist live-work spaces.
- Encourage policies that promote local business growth and economic sustainability.
A person identified as a Sasaki real estate finance expert said they looked at recently built housing in Akron to set expectations about what future development might look like.
The individual said due to the cost of construction, it is difficult to bridge the gap between housing costs and household income.
Building projects such as dedicated artist housing, due to the lack of federal funding and support for those projects, would be a challenge as well.
Historical context and community healing:
- Recognize and address the lasting impact of the Innerbelt on displaced communities.
- Preserve historical landmarks and integrate community history into redevelopment plans.
- Engage displaced residents and their descendants in discussions about the future.
A community member said that, before the Innerbelt, the Lane-Wooster neighborhood was “all business.”
Now called Sherbondy Hill, the neighborhood is home to the Akron Zoo but is considered by some residents at the forum to be a high-crime, underserved area.
Once vibrant, the area contains many abandoned homes and buildings. Hopes are that the Innerbelt project could revitalize the once-thriving business district.
A city staffer said this project and others like it in the United States were built through “blighted” communities, which were often communities of color that saw historical disinvestment due to white flight and redlining.
She said, “This has not always been the Innerbelt.”
Future planning
City and Sasaki staff noted that the meeting marked the transition from research to design, with initial concepts expected in the spring.
Future community meetings will refine these plans before a final proposal is unveiled next summer.
An urban designer from Sasaki said the meeting stemmed from a new approach to urban planning that starts with community engagement before design concepts are created.
They said it is “interesting” because the Innerbelt resulted from the old way of doing planning, where communities were shut out of the process.
