We’ve seen more major momentum on Firestone Plant 1 the last few weeks. Through ongoing advocacy and public records review, Progress Through Preservation helped bring attention to SHPO’s (State Historic Preservation Office) dispute letter and ensure it was shared publicly, contributing to the City’s reconsideration of preservation options. The State Historic Preservation Office raised concerns about whether the City was honoring the Memorandum of Understanding that required saving the clock tower and parts of the front building, the City has now reopened consideration of preservation options. These considerations include retaining the clock tower or portions of the historic structure. Until the issue is resolved, the demolition of Firestone Plant 1 cannot proceed until preservation commitments are agreed upon and met.
The City is now evaluating a range of possibilities, and those options will be presented to the Urban Design & Historic Preservation Commission in the coming weeks.
While challenges remain, this moment shows that following historic preservation policy protocols matter and community voices can make a difference.
Community Town Hall — Feb 5 @ 6:30 PM
Join us for an open discussion next week about what this means and the future of Firestone Plant 1. We’ll cover:
- Why preservation of the building -- not only the clock tower matters
- The ecological and urban design legacy of Firestone Park and how preservation and adaptive reuse fits into a future vision for the area.
- Precedents, constraints, and realistic reuse possibilities
- Q+A session and survey on what you want to see happen with the site
- Ways to say informed and engaged
When: Feb 5 @ 6:30 PM
Where:📍 St. Vincent de Paul Parish School / Corrigan Hall
17 S. Maple St, Akron, OH 44302
If you care about Akron’s history, cultural identity, and thoughtful planning practices, we want to hear from you and this is a moment to stay engaged. Thank you for continuing to stand with us for meaningful preservation and community-informed development.