City of Akron to Host Innerbelt Engagement Event at House 330 with Four Planning Firm Finalists

Akron, Ohio, July 18, 2024 - On Thursday, July 25 from 5-8:30pm the City of Akron is hosting an Innerbelt engagement event for the community to meet and hear presentations from the four finalists the city has selected to complete a Reconnecting Communities Master Plan for the Akron Innerbelt study area. The four experienced urban design consultant firms are Sasaki, PORT, Cooper Carry, and Agency. The four firms will each have an opportunity to present to the community about their qualifications and their ideas for the Innerbelt. The community will be able to provide feedback on which firms they think best encompass their wishes for the decommissioned highway. Learn more about the city's work with the Innerbelt here.

"In 1970, construction of the Innerbelt began, erasing a vibrant neighborhood and displacing residents and businesses. Now, we are working with our community as we determine what the future of the Innerbelt holds," said Mayor Malik. "This event is an important one for our residents to hear from the finalists and provide feedback. We'll use that feedback as our team makes their decision and chooses the firm we will partner with on the Reconnecting Communities Master Plan."

Doors will open at 5pm at House Three Thirty (532 W Market St.) and residents will be treated to ice cream and light snacks as they mingle with the four finalist firms. Beginning at 6 pm, each of the four finalist teams will provide a 15 minute presentation to the audience. Following the presentations, the open meet and greet format will resume for additional questions and discussion through 8:30 pm. The city will livestream the presentations on the Mayor's Office Facebook page for those who can't attend.

History of Construction

In the 1960s, planning began for the Innerbelt as one of a growing number of urban renewal projects that were happening across the country. These projects were intended to redevelop what were considered to be blighted areas, in order to build new infrastructure. However, due to economic and planning policies and practices that were often rooted in systemic racism, these urban renewal projects primarily targeted and displaced largely Black communities. Construction began on the Innerbelt in 1970, tearing apart a once thriving neighborhood and center of Black commerce.

In 2016, the Ohio Department of Transportation vacated a portion of the highway between Market and Exchange Streets and returned it to the city for public use. The area consists of 30-acres adjacent to downtown Akron.

Reconnecting Our Community Initiative

In late 2020, the city hired architect and spatial justice activist Liz Ogbu to spearhead a community engagement process so that community preferences for the site's future could be identified to inform a future master planning process. As part of this process, an Innerbelt advisory group was convened in 2021 in order to gain community perspective and historical background. This group brought together a diverse range of community members and has helped frame the context for the engagement work. This group has included City council representation, nonprofit leaders, downtown and business community representatives, and most importantly, persons who have either lived in, or have strong family ties to, the neighborhoods displaced by the Innerbelt.

The engagement work included 18 engagement stations at events around Akron, 25 virtual panels to discuss the oral history and stories of the old neighborhood, 13 focus groups, 2 events on the Innerbelt itself, a reunion event for former residents of the neighborhood, a citywide survey with over 600 responses, and over 8,000 visitors to the Innerbelt website.

To learn more about the community's feedback please click here.

Reconnecting Our Community Phase 1 Innerbelt Report

In Dec. 2023, the city released the Reconnecting Our Community Phase 1 Innerbelt Report. This report documents the history of the Innerbelt, the community engagement work of the Reconnecting Our Community initiative over the last two years, and recommendations for short and long term-term opportunities provided by Liz Ogbu. To view the Innerbelt Report Executive Summary click here.

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