University Park is Looking Up

Community development organization sees progress for 50-block area in Akron
University Park Alliance eligible for certain grants

By Betty Lin-Fisher, Beacon Journal business writer

Published on Sunday, Jan 16, 2011

The University Park Alliance is in the midst of a rebirth.

Although the organization dedicated to revitalizing the 50-block area around the University of Akron is 10 years old, there are a lot of new things this year.

The organization has moved its offices out from UA, one of the founding partners of the alliance.

It is now renting space at the renovated Andrew Jackson House on Mill Street.

The organization had five employees who were all UA staffers until Dec. 31. Now it has three full-time employees and an intern. The group is looking for a director of strategic initiatives, a part-time accountant and an additional staff assistant.

The changes started more than a year ago. Last spring, the former University Park Alliance and the former University Park Development Corp., a smaller community development organization that had a similar mission, merged.

It was significant because as a community development corporation, the UPA now can qualify for certain city, state and federal grants.

''This is a huge difference,'' said Eric Anthony Johnson, the executive director who was hired last summer. ''We don't have to just rely on waiting for the right opportunity.''

Johnson was previously real estate director at the Cleveland Port Authority, where he came up with a plan to redevelop Cleveland's water front in five months.

The organization can now progress ''from an organization that's like a cheerleader to one that's actually going to carry out substantive activities,'' said UPA Board President Tony O'Leary, executive director of alliance partner Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority.

The AMHA has been involved with UPA since its beginning, first serving on a local advisory board for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the UPA's major funder.

''Now you can clearly tell there's a sense of anticipation, a sense of immediacy that people say, 'Come on, what are we doing? What is it we have to accomplish?' '' O'Leary said.

Johnson says the goal is to connect the work that separate institutions are already doing. While the focus remains on the 50-block area, planning includes a larger area, including nearby Akron Children's Hospital and Akron General Medical Center.

''Our master plan will capture the synergy of Akron's major anchor institutions and how they connect together and how we create a synergy of walkable, dense neighborhoods that will attract talent, business and investment,'' Johnson said.

Johnson wants plans to be ready for unveiling at the UPA's annual Spring Awards Luncheon in May.

Participation is coming from the top executives from all three hospitals (including Akron City), the university, the Akron Public Schools, city and county government and businesses.

The UPA's new offices are now within the same building as the local offices of the Knight Foundation, which has supported the alliance since its inception.

UPA is in its fifth year of its most recent Knight grant — a $10 million, five-year grant awarded in 2006. On Friday, Knight Foundation Akron Program Director Jennifer Thomas said Knight is committed to the UPA and said there is $4 million still left in the grant.

''Knight Foundation's goal is to support the development in the University Park area to make it a great place to live, work and play,'' she said.
The UPA also has a goal to be self-sustaining and is already working on more funding opportunities, Johnson said.

University of Akron President Luis Proenza, who formed the alliance with Summa Health System, the city of Akron and the UPDC in 2001, said he's thrilled to see the UPA has taken on a life of its own.

Proenza said while many partners have made investments for their own organizations and businesses, other projects within University Park have been modest. But he thinks that will change.

''All of these little pieces are getting to where there will be a tipping point here shortly where other things will begin to happen. We're having discussions not only between the university and private developers and property owners, but also now the UPA is in a position to both join with us and others,'' Proenza said.

Creating a sense of place is key, Johnson said.

''The economy is driven by place, not by industry. Place matters. Because all things being equal, people will choose to live in great places. As a result, business and investment follow place. We are not led by industry anymore,'' Johnson said.

Johnson foresees a plan that will show 10 years of development for the area. But action needs to be taken within three to five years, he said.
The various partners in the alliance have been hard at work the last 10 years building and creating the stage for the next phase, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said.

''There's more of an understanding that this group has the potential to do more . . . because we've established this as a priority,'' Plusquellic said. ''Eric is in a position because of his background and experience to bring a focus that hopefully we continue at a faster pace to see progress.''

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