Plotting the possibilities

Creating revitalization plan for area surrounding UA tops priorities for new head of University Park Alliance

By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal business writer

Sunday, Aug 15, 2010

Eric Anthony Johnson has begun his new job as head of University Park Alliance with some ambitious plans in only three weeks.

Johnson's organization wants to revitalize a 50-block area around the University of Akron. UPA is a collaboration of public and private organizations that include the University of Akron, Summa Health System, the city of Akron and other partners.

Johnson replaces Ken Stapleton, who returned to Miami after seven years of leading the UPA to re-establish a consulting practice.

Besides meeting with community and business leaders for introductions, Johnson said he's already begun discussions to work on a strategic plan. He wants to have that accomplished within six months to show to the community. Johnson said he was able to come up with a plan for redeveloping Cleveland's waterfront in five months in his last job while at the Cleveland Port Authority.

''The University Park Alliance area is a pretty large area. It's unmanageable if there's no strategy. You'll get piecemeal development. We need something in place and in doing so, we'll tap the synergies of all of the players,'' he said. ''There was a good foundation, but we really need the road map to the future.''

Johnson said the strategic plan will mean talking to the different partners in UPA and finding out their individual aims to create one vision.

''We need something to represent as a vision of what we are, who we are and what we want to the nation,'' he said. ''The key will be capturing the individual plans and linking them to our strategic plan, but not taking away from their individual plans.''

The idea is for Johnson and others, including Mayor Don Plusquellic, to have something concrete to offer potential businesses and investors.

''I want to give the mayor something to sell. I'm confident we'll get the investment,'' said Johnson.

''Quality places draw talent to the area. We can't just say 'come on in.' You have to have it together, then they'll come in,'' he said.

UPA Board President Tony O'Leary said Johnson wasted no time in getting started.

''On day one, I ran into him at a restaurant. He was meeting with local developers who have had actions pending in the UPA area. That was his very first day, and he was already into the job. He's off to a fast start,'' said O'Leary, executive director of the
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.

The blueprint will look at different types of development, such as retail or housing. Stapleton had begun parts of the ''mapping'' process, but in fairness, O'Leary said, Stapleton was focused on reaching objectives of the organization's main financial grant.

The focus has now shifted to making sure the organization is able to sustain itself long term and finding new funding.

Johnson said the UPA partners and Akron can build on the work already done.

''That was what was exciting about taking this job,'' said Johnson. ''Akron has what a lot of communities would die to have.''

UA, the city of Akron and Summa were the founding partners in 2001 and will remain active, leaders say.

''The challenge is that it really did start as a university-driven project and (UA President Luis) Proenza's vision is what started us down this road. If we're going to sustain the organization, we need to broaden the appeal to other partners,'' said O'Leary.

''Ten years from now, if this is successful, we won't be talking about University Park as a stand-alone, but the strategy of all of Akron has been transformed,'' he said.

Johnson comes to the UPA during a year of major transition.

In April, the organization merged with a similar community-based group, the University Park Development Corp., to eliminate duplication.

Since 2001, UPA has been housed at UA and funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with support from the university and other partners. UPA is in its fourth year of a $10 million, five-year grant awarded by the Knight Foundation in 2006.

The goal of the new organization is to become self-sufficient. Johnson said he plans on finding a new office away from UA but within the University Park area to move the staff to by the new year.

Johnson is also talking to the five-person staff, which was notified after the merger that their employment was guaranteed through the end of the year. Some employees are on the University of Akron payroll and receive UA benefits, which would not transfer once the organization moves on its own.

Johnson said he is not a fan of a large staff and doesn't see a need to add to it. He said he believes in using outside resources for projects.

Johnson is a New Orleans native. At the Cleveland Port Authority, he had been real-estate director since November 2008. His main project was leading redevelopment efforts for 100 acres on the city waterfront.

Johnson has a bachelor's degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan. He has a master's from Minnesota State University at Mankato and a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

He served as real-estate manager for the city of Charlotte, N.C.; director of housing and urban development for the city of Pompano Beach, Fla.; and a presidential fellow and community development policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He has also taught several university courses in urban policies and other subjects, explaining the ''Dr. J'' license plate on his car, referring to the name his students would call him. ''My ultimate favorite basketball player was Dr. Julius Erving,'' Johnson said.

Johnson played college basketball at Washburn and joked that when he couldn't be a basketball player, he earned his doctorate so he could become ''Dr. J'' (the same as Erving's nickname).

Johnson has moved to Akron and has signed a two-year lease for an apartment at Spicer Village, right in University Park.

Johnson, who is single, said he enjoys living in urban settings.

Spicer Village originally was to be a condominiums project, but last year converted to rentals until the economy improves.

''Talk about nice units,'' said Johnson. ''One look and that was it for me.''

Johnson, 44, said urban professionals like him and especially those dubbed as the ''millennial'' generation of 20-somethings are moving back to the cities.

''This is a move back to urban America,'' he said. The ''emerging population'' of younger adults, Johnson said, want to live in cities in revitalized or rehabilitated buildings.

''I'm right in the heart of everything,'' said Johnson.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.