The city plans to construct senior citizen housing units at the location of a former elementary school on Kenmore Boulevard. Proposals were recently approved by City Council and the Akron Public Schools Board of Education for a land swap agreement at the location of the former Heminger Elementary School in Kenmore.
The city will apply to the Ohio Housing Financing Agency to build the proposed 40-unit complex. Once the property is transferred, the city plans to partner with Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, a nonprofit affordable housing development organization, to construct the three-story building, of which half will be one-bedroom units and the remaining will include two-bedroom units.
Amenities may include an activity room, computers and exercise equipment and a courtyard and garden, according to a city news release. There also are plans for educational and recreational programs, which will make use of the adjacent Kenmore Community Center, owned by the city.
The City Council legislation calls for the city to acquire the property on Kenmore Boulevard in exchange for the Akron Public Schools using property on Greenwood Avenue, near Lawton Street, in West Akron. The Akron Public Schools have been leasing the Glenwood Avenue property to build a community learning center (CLC), said Leah Nemeth, communications manager for the Akron Public Schools. She added that Heminger Elementary was closed down after the 2006-2007 school year.
“I have been working on providing this type of amenity for the people of Kenmore since even before I became mayor,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic. “I am very excited that this project is moving forward. The developers are experienced in this type of construction, and I am confident that the development will achieve two of my long-standing goals for that area of our city -- providing high-quality housing for our seniors, and supporting the continued investment along Kenmore Boulevard.”
The city hopes that the project will benefit residents of the housing units as well as local businesses, like banks, stores and restaurants, as the potential investment by Buckeye Community Hope Foundation will enance the Kenmore Boulevard Business District.
“The Akron School Board and the City of Akron are continually reviewing and discussing opportunities where the re-use of school owned properties can benefit our community in a positive way,” said Akron Public Schools Superintendent David James. “This is exactly the type of project that makes sense for our community.”
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