In the past few weeks, one thing has become much clearer in the conversation around Firestone Plant 1:
This is not just a question of preservation, cost or design.
It is a question of environmental strategy.
At the recent community meetings held by the city, much of the discussion focused on construction costs and the challenges of reusing the building. But underneath that is a more fundamental issue that hasn’t been fully addressed: The level of environmental cleanup determines what is even possible on this site.
Right now, the existing environmental covenants restrict the property to industrial or limited commercial use.
Which means:
• Housing is not allowed
• Market demand is limited
• Liability remains high
• And demolition begins to look like the only viable path
What has not yet been clearly evaluated in the public record is whether those restrictions could be modified through additional remediation, and what that would cost relative to the broader redevelopment potential.
If a higher level of cleanup could allow residential or mixed-use redevelopment, then the future of Firestone Plant 1 is not being determined by the building itself. It is being determined by the choice of cleanup standard.
When environmental decisions shape what outcomes are even possible, those decisions deserve the same level of transparency, analysis, and public discussion as any demolition proposal.
With SHPO now requiring a new MOU and further review, there is a clear opportunity to fully evaluate this piece of the puzzle before irreversible action is taken.
The question is no longer just:
“What do we do with this building?” It is: “What level of cleanup are we choosing, and what future does that decision allow?”
If you believe that question deserves a clear and transparent answer:
• Attend a city council meeting and voice your thoughts.
Held every Monday at 6:30pm. Register here: https://www.akroncitycouncil.org/public-comment-form
• Write to your representative asking for a full evaluation of environmental remediation options alongside redevelopment scenarios.
This moment is not just about Firestone. It is about how Akron chooses to make decisions when things get difficult, and what kind of future those decisions make possible.