Before the November 2nd Vote: Contact Council About Firestone

Hello,

I’m writing with an update on the proposed demolition of Firestone Plant 1 and a new $2 million borrowing measure for economic development projects, which council will vote on next Tuesday, November 2nd.

Akron is asking Council to approve up to $2 million in borrowing under the broad label “economic development projects.” While Firestone has been discussed in meetings as being on the committee’s project list, the ordinance published does not name the site or explain what share of the money may go toward it. 

This landmark building embodies Akron’s industrial and neighborhood history. Yet it continues to be pushed toward demolition through layers of bureaucracy and a process residents cannot fully see or evaluate.

The city still has no signed MOU with the State Historic Preservation Office, which is required for demolition. Reuse alternatives were never studied, and a feasibility study was never pursued. The city has not publicly presented a comprehensive environmental strategy addressing demolition and the site’s future. Community meetings came after the decision to demolish had already been made, and focused on carrying it out rather than seriously examining alternatives.

These are serious gaps and failures of due diligence in a decision involving substantial public spending and a shared cultural landscape. Government officials must be held accountable for decisions the public is being asked to accept without the basic documentation needed to judge them. 

Please contact your council representative before the vote. Ask the city to disclose the proposed Firestone funding and cost basis, publish the timeline and analysis behind the decision, and hold a public discussion of the item before moving forward.