Displaying items by tag: Rolling Acres Mall

The long-awaited demolition of Rolling Acres Mall is in progress, and the spot on Romig Road will soon be a vacant rubble lot. So what is next?

Dan Horrigan, the mayor of Akron, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss the past, present, and future of the land. The factors for its downfall, according to the mayor, vary from suburban sprawl to online shopping. The area is roughly 55 acres in Southwest Akron, and the city is looking at the best use for the land and the best return for their investment.

Horrigan still believes in the importance of “brick and mortar” stores, and going forward, the city is looking to do what they can to keep their assets in town, rather than allowing it to spread out.

Rolling Acres Mall is coming down.

The Beacon Journal reports that demolition of the interior part of the long-closed mall has gotten underway, with the area between the former Sears and Dillard's stores the first target of the demolition crews.

The city of Akron took over the mall property after a long foreclosure process ended earlier this year.

Most of Rolling Acres' former department stores are not coming down - they're owned by private businesses now.

But the former JC Penney store was donated to the city of Akron, and will be torn down separately.

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On the Web: Akron Beacon Journal, www.ohio.com

One of the topics that many Akron residents have been thinking about for the last few years is what will be the next use for the former Rolling Acres Mall site on the city's west side.

Akron Beacon Journal writer Rick Armon joined the Sam Bourquin Show to talk about the possibility of the former mall being used as a sports complex to add the city of Akron to the ever-growing youth sports tournament industry.

Armon said that the decision regarding the land is one of the biggest that city leaders will be facing in the months to come, but it certainly won't be an easy one.

"I don't know that I see it going forward," Armon said. "There would be a lot of hoops to jump through."

According to Armon, developers came to Akron City Council with plans of developing the land for a multi-sport complex at the former mall site, which has been vacant since 2008.

For the full interview with Rick Armon and Sam Bourquin, click here.

The City of Akron isn't very happy with those urban explorations inside the ruined Rolling Acres Mall. The city now owns the hulking old shopping center after numerous sheriff's sales for back taxes came up empty; Rolling Acres has been a magnet for photographers and thrill-seekers skateboarding and biking inside the mall. Mayor Dan Horrigan issuing a "public safety" message warning people to stay out and says violators will be fully prosecuted.

It hasn't gotten much better since this authorized RCExplorer drone video shot in the winter of 2015.

 

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(City of Akron) The City of Akron has taken ownership of Rolling Acres Mall and has secured the building. While the City understands there is public interest in the space, there are no plans to give any future tours.

“For everyone’s safety, I request that citizens stay clear of the area. Police will have an increased presence,” stated Mayor Dan Horrigan.

Any trespassers may be prosecuted.

The celebration in Akron continues, from the LeBron James party at Lock 3 last week to the Bridgestone Invitational this week. As the mayor said, there is a lot of civic pride going around the area.

Dan Horrigan, the mayor of Akron, joined the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss all the bells and whistles that go into the Bridgestone week. The mayor talked about the commitment by the volunteers, and how the area prepares itself for such an event.

Speaking of the area surrounding Akron, the city is in possession of what is left of Rolling Acres Mall. Horrigan says the city is researching how much it will cost to demolish the decrepit structure, and assures the listeners they have plenty of ideas for the site. “[We’ll see] what’s the best fit for the city, the best fit for the future,” says the mayor.

Once again, the vacant area that was once home to Rolling Acres Mall is on the selling block. The retail space deteriorated in the 1990s, with the mall closing in 2008. What will the future hold?

Mayor Dan Horrigan called into the Ray Horner Morning Show to discuss the large property over on Romig Road. Talking about the area, Horrigan believes the Rolling Acres strip is “fairly well located, and [has a lot of] good amenities,” as he and the city try to find the best use for it long-term.

Horrigan stressed that the city does care about the Roming Road area, saying they want to take advantage of the quality of life opportunities.

Outgoing Akron city planning director Marco Sommerville isn't leaving City Hall next year.

He'll fill a new role as Deputy Mayor for Intergovermental Affairs, and serve as a senior advisor to new mayor Dan Horrigan. He says Horrigan "likes to listen more than he likes to talk".

One issue that'll be on the city's plate is the long-vacated Rolling Acres Mall, no matter if it's finally sold, or goes back to the city.

Whatever happens, Sommerville says the main priority for the former mall is to bring in new jobs.

"We in the city are landlocked as far as land, there's not a lot of land left in the city of Akron," Sommerville tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol. "And if we could have that land to develop it for jobs, that would be priority number one."

Sommerville says he'd like to see light industrial space or office space at the former mall site.

But he says the city will have to work with the owners of space once taken by the mall's former department stores. Those buildings won't be directly involved in any sale or sheriff's sale of the main part of mall itself.