An artist's rendering shows what one of the apartments inside the CitiCenter building downtown will look like once construction is completed in 2028. The project to convert the 95-year-old former Young Women’s Christian Association building into more than 100 downtown apartments began Thursday. (Rendering courtesy of Welty Enterprises)
“No one’s ever given me a sledgehammer!” Greta Johnson exclaimed, rubbing her hands together with glee.
Johnson, the assistant chief of staff to Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and the county’s communications director, also donned a hard hat and protective glasses before whacking holes into a wall of the CitiCenter building in downtown Akron with three quick strikes.
Johnson’s destruction — as well as gashes made by Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Welty Enterprises Chairman and CEO Donzell Taylor — marked Thursday’s long-awaited start of the CitiCenter project, which will convert the 95-year-old former Young Women’s Christian Association building into more than 100 downtown apartments.
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, left, Don Taylor, chairman and CEO of Welty Enterprises, and Greta Johnson, the assistant chief of staff to Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and the county’s communications director, hold sledge hammers as they wait to smash a wall during a groundbreaking ceremony for downtown’s CitiCenter building. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)
Malik noted that he once took early-morning spin classes in the building, which the city used for offices beginning in 1993. Welty bought the CitiCenter building last year for $769,210 and Taylor said he expects to spend $37 million to convert the building into about 115 apartments. It represents Welty’s ninth investment in Akron, Taylor said, and will bring tax dollars to the city and a positive impact to the economy.
“Truthfully, we could make more money investing in other places,” Taylor said. “But CitiCenter and all of our investments in Akron are personal to me. I grew up here, this is my hometown, and this holds a special place in my heart. I want to give back and do my part to make the next version of Akron the best version yet.”
Ohio Senator Kristina Roegner laughs as she slams a sledge hammer into a wall during a kickoff ceremony for the CitiCenter downtown. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)Construction to convert the vacant CitiCenter building at the corner of East Bowery and South High streets into 116 apartments began Sept. 10. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)An artist’s rendering shows what the lobby area of the CitiCenter building downtown will look like once construction is completed in 2028. The project to convert the 95-year-old former Young Women’s Christian Association building into more than 100 downtown apartments began Thursday. (Rendering courtesy of Welty Enterprises)An artist’s rendering shows what the rooftop area of the CitiCenter building downtown will look like once construction is completed in 2028. The project to convert the 95-year-old former Young Women’s Christian Association building into more than 100 downtown apartments began Thursday. (Rendering courtesy of Welty Enterprises)Michael Taylor, vice president of Welty Enterprises, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the CitiCenter building downtown. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)
Economics of Akron Reporter (she/her)
Arielle is a Northeast Ohio native with more than 20 years of reporting experience in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She joined Signal Akron as its founding education reporter, where she covered Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron.
As the economics of Akron reporter, Arielle will cover topics including housing, economic development and job availability. Through her reporting, she aims to help Akron residents understand the economic issues that are affecting their ability to live full lives in the city, and highlight information that can help residents make decisions. Arielle values diverse voices in her reporting and seeks to write about under-covered issues and groups.
