Community members can share their thoughts about the demolition options for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. Plant 1 building at three upcoming meetings.
Akron is asking community members to share their thoughts about five demolition options for the former Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. Plant 1 building. The options seek to strike a balance between historic preservation, fiscal responsibility and safety.
AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron is seeking community feedback on the planned partial demolition of the former Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. Plant 1 building, located at 1200 Firestone Parkway. The historic building and its iconic clocktower have been part of the city’s skyline since 1910. The building was added to thein 2014, but its deterioration has forced the city to consider demolition options that retain some portions of the building. The city announced the asbestos remediation of the property is nearly complete, but it is waiting to resolve issues with the State Historic Preservation Office to move forward with demolition. The city has been working with the state office since the summer of 2025 to come to an agreement on the demolition of the property as the estimates to retain the full front bay of the building are unfeasible, according to a news release. In December, Akron City Council passed a resolution asking the city to continue exploring options to save some or all of the building’s clock tower. Five preservation options are being considered that seek to balance safety with fiscal responsibility and historic preservation. They include:Retaining the clock tower only on-site.Preserving the clock elements to be included in a new development that is yet-to-be-determined on site. Community members are invited to share their feedback on the proposed options at one of several meetings that will be held at the Firestone Park Community Center:“I want to thank our Economic Development and Planning teams for the sheer number of hours they have dedicated to finding a solution to this complex issue. I am optimistic there is a solution that finds the right balance between addressing a nuisance property and preserving our history,” Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said in the release. The Urban Design and Historic Preservation Committee will meet on Feb. 17 to discuss the options, according to the release. Akron has contracted with Hasenstab Architects to develop costs for the proposed options.Megan Becka is a freelance reporter covering Akron and Summit County news for cleveland.com. Her work covers a wide range of topics that impact county residents including: government, education, healthcare and...
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Akron Police say several gun thefts from cars have happened in recent weeksAkron Police say several gun thefts from cars have happened in recent weeks
Read more »
Changes coming to Akron's East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue this summerPosition: Multimedia Journalist
Read more »
Akron nonprofit museum hosting events with ‘Goosebumps’ cover artist soonKiller Video will host two events with “Goosebumps” cover artist Tim Jacobus this month.
Read more »
Marshals arrest man who barricaded himself in Akron house that caught fire during standoffThe Akron Police Department and negotiators are working with the U.S. Marshals Service in resolving a standoff Wednesday morning.
Read more »
Akron seeks suggestions on which park to upgrade for 8th annual challengeOrganizations and residents have until Feb. 23 to apply for the Akron Parks Challenge 2026 by submitting their name, email address and the name of the park they would like to improve.
Read more »
Akron to Aurora to the big game: Northeast Ohio’s Vrabel and Barner take center stageReporter at News 5 Cleveland
Read more »