Council approves METRO deal
By Stephanie Kist
At its May 21 meeting, Akron City Council gave its OK for the sale of city-owned land to METRO Regional Transit Authority. The 8.3 acres off South Broadway near Bartges Street will be sold to METRO for $1 for the construction of its main transfer hub.
Construction is expected to begin in 2008 on the 10,000-square-foot transportation center, which will provide an off-street location for transit users and also is intended to serve other transportation modes, such as taxi and Greyhound bus service. The hub will include 62 bus berths and 21 parking spaces, and fencing was added at the rear of the site, said Kirt Conrad, director of planning and development for METRO.
“We really feel this will be an improvement for our passengers and the general public in the long term,” Conrad said.
The city’s essential donation of the land to METRO demonstrates a local match required for federal funding for the project.
Also at the meeting, Council had a public hearing on and approved a request by Towpath Credit Union for a conditional-use permit to establish additional parking at 646-650 Elma Street in North Akron. Two vacant houses will be razed, and additional parking and a drive-up teller window will be added.
There also was a public hearing on a request to place rooftop antennas at 730 Callis Drive. No one spoke at the hearing, and Council took time on the request and will vote on it at a later date.
Council also approved a resolution honoring Richard Aynes as he concludes his 12-year tenure as dean of The University of Akron (UA) School of Law.
Council member Michael Williams (D-at large) said he had Aynes as a constitutional law professor in law school.
“He was a wonderful professor, and he has also distinguished himself as dean of the law school,” Williams said, adding the law school is an asset to UA and to the city.
According to the resolution, Aynes will continue to teach and publish at UA.
In other business, Council also voted to sell a pumper truck no longer needed by the city to the Milton Township Fire Department in Lake Milton for $2,110.
Council heard the first reading of the following items and will vote on them at a future meeting:
• the sale of the Gothic Building at the corner of South High and East Mill streets to developer Gothic City Revival Group LLC;
• an agreement with a contractor that will clean and package whole bricks from the city’s stockpile of whole and broken bricks, soil and broken asphalt at the Municipal Service Center;
• the purchase of an undercover police vehicle at public auction for an amount not to exceed $15,000; and
• an amendment to a previously issued conditional-use permit that would change the name of the owner of an office printing and supply shop and auto body and mechanical shops at 465 N. Main St.
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no Akron City Council meeting May 28. The next Council meeting is scheduled for June 4 at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the third floor of the Akron Municipal Building, 166 S. High St. in Downtown Akron. Committee meetings are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. that afternoon, also in Council Chambers.
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