June 11 Vacant Building Board meeting
Covered by Documenter Wittman Sullivan (see his notes here)
Akron’s Vacant Building Board unanimously recommended the demolition of the long-vacant industrial building at 100 Beech Street — most recently home to the Ace Rubber Co. The decision from the June 11 meeting follows ongoing safety concerns and visible structural damage after a major fire in 2024.
City staff members noted during the meeting that the deteriorating structure has become not only an eyesore but also a liability because of its location in the high-traffic area adjacent to the popular Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. They also said the property is a blighting influence on the surrounding Cascade Valley neighborhood.
Fire-damaged and blighted structure
A June 9 inspection revealed numerous hazards at the property, including: unsecured access points; a missing rear wall; large debris piles; and old equipment scattered across the 1.7-acre site.
The property backs up to the Towpath Trail and remains accessible because of broken gates and windows.
Tony Troppe, who represents the property’s owner, Ace Restoration Group LLC, did not oppose the demolition. He acknowledged that the building is in “deep disrepair” and said that, although redevelopment had been considered, the fire had rendered the structure unsafe.
The fire that prompted the current push for demolition occurred in February of 2024, sending flames and smoke into the sky for hours as firefighters battled the blaze. The building was vacant at the time.
Officials reported no injuries, but the structure sustained significant damage that remains visible.
A legacy site in decline
The building was formerly home to Ace Rubber Co. and, before that, the Akron Tire and Rubber Co. In recent years, the site has been neglected.
Ace Restoration Group LLC owes nearly $29,000 in delinquent property taxes, according to the Summit County Treasurer’s Office. The property was purchased for $100,000 in 2022 and is currently appraised at $88,000, including just $12,000 in building value.
EPA grant may support future cleanup
Last month, Summit County announced that the site was one of several included in a $1.2 million EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grant will fund environmental assessments to support cleanup and redevelopment planning at properties such as 100 Beech St..
Demolition will mark the next step in clearing a hazardous site and preparing the ground for potential future use.
