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By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 12:06 p.m. EST, Nov 30, 2009
Harris Cooley was struck by the beautiful surroundings — the rolling farmland, sparkling stream and untouched forest.
He had taken the train from Cleveland to Summit County in 1902 to scout a site for a new school for juvenile delinquents.
The rural area was an ideal setting for city boys to be rehabilitated, concluded Cooley, the Cleveland director of charities and corrections.
For more than 100 years, the Cleveland Boys' School — which later became the Cuyahoga County Youth Development Center — tended to the needs of troubled kids.
But the county closed the facility late last year, leaving behind 428 acres of pristine woods, fields and wetlands, and a large campus that includes brick dormitories, administrative buildings and school.
Not wanting the property — one of the largest single parcels remaining in Summit County — to end up in the wrong developer's hands, Hudson decided to become the developer. The community this month took the bold step of buying the land along Hines Hill Road from Cuyahoga County for $6.9 million.
City leaders want to preserve a majority of the site as parkland, and admit they now face a daunting task of deciding what to do with the already developed portion of the property.
Because just as Cooley once declared the site an ideal location, many people are stepping forward with their own perfect ideas, ranging from a U.S. Olympic training site to public gardens to a regional college campus.
''You're limited only by your capacity to dream,'' Councilwoman Kristina Roegner said during a recent tour.
Buying the land
City leaders had heard rumblings a few years ago that Cuyahoga County was interested in closing the center.
Hudson approached the county about buying the undeveloped acres on the north side of Hines Hill — the entire property straddles both sides of the road and abuts Interstate 80.
But the $7 million price tag at the time was too high, Mayor William Currin said.
The county opted to seek bids for the entire property but decided not to sell because the bid amounts were low. The county wanted to get rid of the land and approached the city. The two sides settled on the $6.9 million figure — a little more than $16,000 per acre.
''For Hudson property, that's an excellent price,'' Currin said.
The city is seeking federal grants to pay for the property with the help of U.S. Sens. George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, but will absorb the entire cost if necessary, the mayor said.
Summit County is holding onto the property in a trust while the federal money is pursued.
What to do
Hudson will set aside much of the undeveloped property, which includes highly-rated wetlands and mature trees, as parkland. A portion abuts the city's Maple Grove Park.
The city also is collaborating with Metro Parks, Serving Summit County and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, since the property drains toward the federal land.
''This land begs to be preserved,'' Currin said.
As for the 70 acres that encompass the former school campus, City Council plans to create an adhoc committee to explore potential uses. Currin said it's also likely the community will rename the property, now known as the ''Youth Development Center.''
The campus includes administration buildings, multiple residence halls, a barn, greenhouse, lake, former farm, one-time athletic fields and school with indoor swimming pool, auditorium and gymnasium.
''Clearly the property is an important investment in Hudson's future,'' City Council President David Basil said.
The possibilities seem endless and, considering the size and diversity of buildings, and the future use isn't limited to only one option, Currin and Basil said.
One of the proposals involves a U.S. Olympic training center for a specific sport.
Some of the other ideas are: a regional safety training facility; a regional campus for the University of Akron or Kent State University; adult education programs; community gardens; athletic fields; and an entrepreneurial training center and business incubator, given Hudson being home to the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
The only idea off the table is retail. There will be no big box store or shopping plaza, officials said.
There also will be no rush to make a decision. Basil said he hopes community leaders finalize their vision within a year.
''The key thing is to proceed very thoughtfully and bear in mind the significance for the future,'' he said. ''We've had a whole lot of suggestions. Some of them are very intriguing and we've certainly got a lot of work to do to identify the best and most appropriate uses for that property.''
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Harris Cooley was struck by the beautiful surroundings — the rolling farmland, sparkling stream and untouched forest.
He had taken the train from Cleveland to Summit County in 1902 to scout a site for a new school for juvenile delinquents.
The rural area was an ideal setting for city boys to be rehabilitated, concluded Cooley, the Cleveland director of charities and corrections.
For more than 100 years, the Cleveland Boys' School — which later became the Cuyahoga County Youth Development Center — tended to the needs of troubled kids.
But the county closed the facility late last year, leaving behind 428 acres of pristine woods, fields and wetlands, and a large campus that includes brick dormitories, administrative buildings and school.
Not wanting the property — one of the largest single parcels remaining in Summit County — to end up in the wrong developer's hands, Hudson decided to become the developer. The community this month took the bold step of buying the land along Hines Hill Road from Cuyahoga County for $6.9 million.
City leaders want to preserve a majority of the site as parkland, and admit they now face a daunting task of deciding what to do with the already developed portion of the property.
Because just as Cooley once declared the site an ideal location, many people are stepping forward with their own perfect ideas, ranging from a U.S. Olympic training site to public gardens to a regional college campus.
''You're limited only by your capacity to dream,'' Councilwoman Kristina Roegner said during a recent tour.
Buying the land
City leaders had heard rumblings a few years ago that Cuyahoga County was interested in closing the center.
Hudson approached the county about buying the undeveloped acres on the north side of Hines Hill — the entire property straddles both sides of the road and abuts Interstate 80.
But the $7 million price tag at the time was too high, Mayor William Currin said.
The county opted to seek bids for the entire property but decided not to sell because the bid amounts were low. The county wanted to get rid of the land and approached the city. The two sides settled on the $6.9 million figure — a little more than $16,000 per acre.
''For Hudson property, that's an excellent price,'' Currin said.
The city is seeking federal grants to pay for the property with the help of U.S. Sens. George Voinovich and Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, but will absorb the entire cost if necessary, the mayor said.
Summit County is holding onto the property in a trust while the federal money is pursued.
What to do
Hudson will set aside much of the undeveloped property, which includes highly-rated wetlands and mature trees, as parkland. A portion abuts the city's Maple Grove Park.
The city also is collaborating with Metro Parks, Serving Summit County and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, since the property drains toward the federal land.
''This land begs to be preserved,'' Currin said.
As for the 70 acres that encompass the former school campus, City Council plans to create an adhoc committee to explore potential uses. Currin said it's also likely the community will rename the property, now known as the ''Youth Development Center.''
The campus includes administration buildings, multiple residence halls, a barn, greenhouse, lake, former farm, one-time athletic fields and school with indoor swimming pool, auditorium and gymnasium.
''Clearly the property is an important investment in Hudson's future,'' City Council President David Basil said.
The possibilities seem endless and, considering the size and diversity of buildings, and the future use isn't limited to only one option, Currin and Basil said.
One of the proposals involves a U.S. Olympic training center for a specific sport.
Some of the other ideas are: a regional safety training facility; a regional campus for the University of Akron or Kent State University; adult education programs; community gardens; athletic fields; and an entrepreneurial training center and business incubator, given Hudson being home to the Burton D. Morgan Foundation.
The only idea off the table is retail. There will be no big box store or shopping plaza, officials said.
There also will be no rush to make a decision. Basil said he hopes community leaders finalize their vision within a year.
''The key thing is to proceed very thoughtfully and bear in mind the significance for the future,'' he said. ''We've had a whole lot of suggestions. Some of them are very intriguing and we've certainly got a lot of work to do to identify the best and most appropriate uses for that property.''
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 12:33 PM, 11/30/2009
I would hope there wouldn't be retail given the fight that took place over Boston Hills CC nearby.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:42 PM, 11/30/2009
It should be made into an orphanage for all the pitiful, innocent kids who need to be taken away from their drug addict/abusive parent that keeps them in squalor, crime and sex trafficking.
For 100 years, kids had a chance to live in safety and discipline at this site. But now, that idea is mocked by the system.
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 12:58 PM, 11/30/2009
How about a family style bed and breakfast? They could have nature walks,or wagon rides,bon fires,something to do with family anyhow..I think this would work if you made it affordable to all .
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:50 PM, 11/30/2009
What about a rec center like Cuyahoga Falls has? Public golf course, tennis courts, batting cages, mini-golf, parks, sledding... everyone could get something out of it then.
Canton, OH
Posted 02:01 PM, 11/30/2009
Very bucolic. . .
Orrville, Oh
Posted 02:04 PM, 11/30/2009
The American Dream fully equipped with a wood shed is a great site to bring boys attitude into compliance with realities demands!
Hudson, Oh
Posted 02:17 PM, 11/30/2009
Loren, this site is not an outlet for your private fantasies.
Hudson, OH
Posted 02:48 PM, 11/30/2009
@ BG - yes - a nice retreat that all of the nice little youth kept escaping from - well at least the neighbors won't have knocks at their doors by barefoot kids - and the Turnpike traffic can just worry about dodging the wildlife - and not the misguided teens who were able to call this country club retreat - "home"
Akron, OH
Posted 02:49 PM, 11/30/2009
peebs02,
No way on bed & breakfast. The buildings look like small schools built in the 1930s. Not much on aesthetic value. As a last resort, I would think facilities for Boy Scouts or something similar. The first priority would be to raze the buildings and leave it wild.
Hudson, OH
Posted 02:52 PM, 11/30/2009
The fist picture say's it all - the pompous mayor - right out of the gate - steps way ahead of the rest. Very surprised he is not waving a small flag shouting "I Love Hudson"
To his left - our Dear Kristina - I look for a correction to this article as they have not listed her name correctly - Kristina DALEY-Roegner to reflect her equally pompous papa. With the way this City spends money - look for layoffs to follow.
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 03:02 PM, 11/30/2009
@TOJ,
Oh ok,I wasnt sure on the size of the buildings,ive never seen them.
I just hope they dont go to commercial on it.
akron, oh
Posted 03:08 PM, 11/30/2009
I have toured these acres many times. My ranch property is a block away. This is a VERY beautiful place. The old buildings here are well preserved, and should be preserved also.
Hudson, Oh
Posted 05:10 PM, 11/30/2009
I think they should make it in to a really nice community center like Twinsburg has. Hudson is supposed to be the upper echelon and does not have one! With all the money we pay in taxes it would be soooo nice.
It would be great for young couples without kids, retired couples,Stepford Wives/Wisteria Laners, kids, tweens, all those inbetween.
It would give the person who is in Hudson more options than sitting at Kepners, going to the "under budgeted" library or paying an arm and a leg for Life Center.
Hudson, Oh
Posted 05:12 PM, 11/30/2009
A lot of moms are actually MOVING to south Hudson because the drive is "too far and too long" to go to Barlow. Why not have a soccer field, baseball field in the North side of Hudson to balance it out!
Sin City, Oh
Posted 07:55 PM, 11/30/2009
Jenkins, I usually do not agree with you. I respect your opinions, however.
Gotta tell ya, you're Loren rebuke was outstanding!
akron, oh
Posted 11:24 PM, 11/30/2009
@thunder31: I concur. Touche' Jenkins
akron, Oh
Posted 04:25 AM, 12/01/2009
how about a juvie jail for all the kids shooting folks in akron an cleveland???? we can always use more places like that.
Posted 04:56 AM, 12/01/2009
I like the idea of parks and recreation in order to preserve the land.
One to think about it a possible state of the art sports complex. Something that could host state wide tournaments or some other type of events that would bring in people from other parts of the state/surrounding states.
I'm not talking some huge "Quicken Loans Arena" type thing, I'm leaning more towards the high school and small college level. There's plenty of smaller college schools in NEO as well as Western PA that could maybe conduct some tournaments against each other and bring in some dollars.
Just a thought.
Ravenna, oh
Posted 05:51 AM, 12/01/2009
I was told by some of the older residents of Hudson that this property was DONATED under the stipulation that it remained a youth center. pretty crappy if you ask me that now the once free land given to them is being sold off.
akron, Oh
Posted 07:14 AM, 12/01/2009
bulldoze everything an put up a mall oh thats what hudson didn't want, compatition for $$$
Beverly Hills, Ca
Posted 08:29 AM, 12/01/2009
I guess there's no recession in Hudson AND they haven't laid off any workers ...
Akron, OH
Posted 08:39 AM, 12/01/2009
wangchung,
That's because the budget is balanced every year and cuts are made along the way instead of waiting for the day of reckoning. It's called responsible leadership.
akron, oh
Posted 11:51 AM, 12/01/2009
Bill Currin has always looked out for Hudson, and parklands. He and his friends created the original Hudson Haunted House to raise enough money to purchase Hudson Springs Park, for the city.
Arnoldsburg, WV
Posted 09:26 PM, 12/01/2009
@TOJ, probably has less to do with responsible leadership and more to do with their property taxes and less city services. No way can you compare Akron's budget to Hudson's.
Hudson hasn't got near the services to provide as Akron does. Plus their unemployment is alot lower and their median income is alot higher. So, if you're going to use an analogy, then compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.
akron, oh
Posted 10:37 PM, 12/01/2009
@Todd65: Do you ever read what people say and think? When tax revenue is lost, in Hudson, due to unemployment, it is MORE money per person than the average Akronite's tax. It takes great skill to overcome such huge hits. TOJ was pointing out that Hudson is better prepared in this time of hardship, due to intelligent management. It isn't easier to manage a little town in bad times; it is harder. You offend...
