WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY

Um, the waste was doing nothing with it. Caps lock too ?

I'd like to know if the city and design folks include the public in the early design stages.

My hope is for a great design that brings in moolah, and strengthens the community bond that is The Falls, :).

Eleven million dollars for an empty parking lot while they cut the salaries of the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. No wonder morale in the department is at an all-time low.

This is the same group that did our little "gem" here in North Canton called the Strip. We have lost the Coldstone Creamery and Joe's Crab Shack. It is also the place to go on the weekend if you want your stereo stolen right out of your car. You, Summit County need a place like this too! Oh and the traffic has never had planning and is a nightmare as well.

@ Canton Bachelorette...I had no idea the Coldstone Creamery was gone from the strip. Wow! Lol...

At least The Strip in Canton is right by the freeway. This place is only going to be a short 10 lights from the Portage Trail exit ramp @ 25 mph & an already overcrowded road. Good luck attracting people to your "upscale grocery store" with that kind of trip!

Personally, I'm waiting for them to decide to put in an underground tram system surrounded by sharks like Sea World.

Hey, why not? They'll just throw money at it and reduce the police and fire departments to a guy walking a beat with a nightstick and a guy with a bucket filled with water.

So lemme get this straight - The City that purchased this "Shopping Center" for over 10 million dollars is now singing the blues and demanding concessions from its employees? At the same time that they are building a new park and putting in an all important street on Front St? Crime is increasing in this city yet the Police Dept is understaffed and the empty houses are increasing. Something smells fishy here and I don't think it's the river...

Too late to return something to Montgomery Wards?

Glad to get rid of the eye sore. Let's see what the city has instore for this area before jumping to conclusions. The businesses had already gone from there long ago. So, lets see what the future holds!

The police dept. and the fire dept. haven't been compromised like Akron has, I know cause I have friends in upper level positions in both departments. Every city has to tighten it's belt in these hard times, luckey for the falls that we have a Mayor that has a BRAIN and looks toward the future and knows how to budgett. None of our police or fireman have to face a layoff.

That area went downhill once the interstate was put in. The best thing they could do is build homes there.

ohio cities need to learn legal limits in many areas. PLEASE READ THE CONSTITUTION!

I don't think the intention of "upscale shopping" is to attract the recent influx of falls trash or stowbillies. Look west to find the target. Merriman Valley, Northampton, Bath, Penninsula, etc.

Plusquellic said last week he giving up all rights to Bass Pro, so Robart is free to negotiate. Now, that is a gesture of goodwill from one Don to another.

@Canton Bachelorette
Don't businesses come and go? Joe's Crab Shack was replaced by a Japanese Steakhouse and Coldstone will likely be replaced as well. So goes the cycle of business.

Thunderdome: You're from Stow ... why should you care how Cuyahoga Falls spends their money. Stow's facing big time problems of its own! ... School system!

Proud Conservative: Who would want to live in Barberton?

I have to say I am sad it is gone, but relieved! I have many of good memories as a child. But it has needed a change since the late nineties when JC Pennies left. Now maybe my children will have good memories of the new one?

Good Job. Now do something entrepreneurial and put in a store(s) that people want to go to. Do something innovative and creative....that's what this region needs....not another bank, pizza shop, or gas station!!! BE CREATIVE and take a risk!!

@ohioblues, what are you talking about? What provision of the Constitution did CFalls violate?

Wasn't the developer fault Joe's Crabshack or Coldstone closed-Joe's closed multiple locations-see the CF location on Howe Rd. It reopened as another resturant. Coldstone is losing money so they closed under performing locations as well. A person that runs their mouth on nothing they know about.
Stow is no long "Stowbilly" as the other ignorant poster claimed-try Hudson South, and Northampton no longer exists-that IS the Falls now too.

Ignorance is trying to class up Stow as Hudson South. An influx of $200,000 build by numbers housing developments does not class up an area.

It never ceases to amaze me, the capacity for people to complain.

For years that blighted mall has been a community eyesore. Someone is finally doing something about it, and there is a problem with that too.

Lighten up a little bit people, it's going to be all right. I promise.

Wow what a nice city to live in, people are unemployed and the falls are cutting police officers pay and messing up on the peoples utility bills and making unemployed people pay more now then ever on utilities, BUT THEY CAN GO BUY PROPERTY FOR OVER $10 MILLION BRCAUSE ITS AN EYE SORE. what a joke of a city the Cuyahoga Falls is.

If we can't all agree that an aging blighted mall without any businesses in it has to be torn down, then what are we even DOING here?

Amazing ignorant comments here.....the place had a relative short life cycle and needed to go. It was not built to last 100 years...not much is in the U.S. Now move on to a new use. And if the city doesn't step up and take the lead on this then most likely no developer would. If you want to continue with a declining tax base which translates into a smaller safety force then just let the place fall down on its own someday. Congratulations to Mayor Robart for taking the initiative.

Leaving the key kiosk standing till last is a nice touch.

Wow, people are surprised that CF is having money problems too? Wake up America, the good old USA is in Deep DooDoo.

I agree with Tim & Geazer :)

I'm a Falls resident and I think the project was a great idea.

My only request is a Chipotle. I hate driving to through Chapel Hill traffic when I need a fix.

A Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain would be different too. Maybe some better sit down restuarants such as Carabos or Macaroni Grill, or maybe even another Quaker Steak (closest one is North Canton).

They were losing lots of taxes they weren't getting from the non-existent stores, the city was losing money year after year. They made a great move by buying it. Now they can either sell the property or lease it out for years to come and let the taxes roll in.

New taxe income includes property tax as well as sales tax from the new businesses. You need to look at the big picture folks.

Those of you who are complaining about the city workers not getting a raise... you've very narrow minded. THEY KEPT THEIR JOBS AND THEIR CURRENT PAY RATES! In today's ecomony, that's a victory.

No no, leave the mall alone! Put it back! Add even more deserted stores, if anything. I don't care if they're just cardboard standups.

Tony Z, that was just about the same thing I implied a bit earlier. I'm glad you agree. And your right, some people just dont listen.

@ Retired: First off I have a vested interest in CFO. Secondly, you won't even put down where you reside. Third It is funny how people like you (and I am assuming that you are a resident of CFO) think poorly of a place like Barberton. Barberton just raised over half of their AMHA homes - over 170 homes - gone. Guess where many moved....The Falls. Besides Akron, the Falls now has the overwhelming majority of AMHA. Over half of the south end of CFO and all of the east side is nothing more than a "little akron". Rentals are EVERYWHERE in your city. Lets look in the mirror before we cast the stone.

ohio cities violate domain laws everyday. maybe you should read what the home-rule limltations are. cities moving foward have private investment.

just make it more friendly for private bus. to thrive, developers and department stores. It is time to restore the area, its just not the city's job... smells like good-ol-boy...

My fondest memories of the plaza are of the Scott's 5&10 Store. For a small store they always had just about anything you would want.The help was usually local and friendly,not like most stores of today.Are there any Scott Stores still in the Akron area???

FOLLOW THE MONEY !!!

Lots of fond memories here too. Worked for a short time at monkey wards, did lunch at the red barn across the street and the Hacienda restaurant. Jewel Mart, jc penney's, midwest auto, stambaugh thompsons. Watching Rex's tower go up.

Miss you Liz Humbard.

No data on how many years; it will take; Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; to pay Summit Enterprises; the $30 million to $50 million; needed to develop Portage Crossing; with money; derived ; from the $7.20 per hour; government mandated; labor wage?

Place should have been razed 10 years ago.

Good Job CFO and Administration getting this done. It should ba a huge improvement to your community.
Bob Stark class guy and developer.

The Strip-I read somewhere at Coldstone was reopening. I don't recall when but I am thinking it was this Fall or before the end of the year.

I think the bowling balls belonged to the Big Lebowski. He never even used them.

Afterwards, I hope the demolition team hightails to Rolling Acres and tears it down, and after that, tears down Chapel Hill....Change I CAN believe in......

Good grief...malls are an outdated retailing concept. They are nothing more than crime magnets.
Summit Mall is an exception, only because the criminal element finds it to be quite the drive to go to......most people there are suburban....

All three areas though, in my opinion, should be brought back to parks, not unlike what happened to the ruins of the Richfield Colliseum....

Couldn't happen to a nicer place. I enjoy reading all the comments that "trash" NE Ohio.

How about a little positive nostalgia about what once was? I remember spending hours at the bowling alley, my Mom pushing me in the shopping cart at Krogers, and every year making a trip to Montgomery Ward to buy a new pair of Skips tennis shoes. Firestone Tire was at State Road for ages. I remember Kresges. What was the name of the other "dime store" that came in a little later? I am also trying to remember the name of the greeting card/stationary store that was there for many years. My family purchased EVERYTHING at State Road Shopping Center before Chapel Hill Mall was built in the early '70s. My first bank account was at Akron Dime Bank, which was across the street from the Red Barn. Are there any 40to 50-somethings out there who remember? I live out ot Ohio now and drove by State Road Center during the summer. Sad to see how things have changed, but at least Rex Humbard's concrete tower (lovingly referred to as Rex's erection) is still standing straight and tall. Did they ever come up with a use for that tower?

@ Buckeye at heart: Rex's R*d is now a platform for cell transmitters. I think they need to cover them up with a large Trojan

I went back to Cuyahoga Falls about 5 years ago after being gone for 15 years. I barely recognized the area. Lawsons is gone. So is Fazios and many other names that I remembered from when I lived there. Time goes on and things change except for Rex's erection. When are they going to tear down this eyesore? It's probably the states tallest smoke stack!

@Machinery Man,

I hear ya' brother! Why is it that everything else in Cuyahoga Falls can fall down, but not Rex's Erection!

VIVA VIAGRA!

:0)

@Machinery Man,

P.S. - Haven't seen you around here in awhile. Don't be a stranger!

:0)

RE:Jabarten-Malls are thing of the past. Maybe in some areas,but i'm in the New York metro area and here they are still strong.The problem here is lack of space to build bigger ones.Because of no tax on clothing and sewing,materials,and any items used in the making or repairing of clothes,New Jersey is a magnet for NY,PA,CONN,and more for the savings.Weekends are like Christmas week every week.You normally have to wait for a parking space. I lived in Akron until 86 and remember State Rd. well. I asked earlier if anyone remembered the 5&10 called Scotts? That is the store I remember the most!!!

@ retlaw in nj

Hmmm, I don't remember Scotts. I thought there was a Woolworth's 5&10 right next to Krogers. Perhaps I am mistaken. Of course then there is Miracle Mart- a person could find anything in that place.

Scott's was 3 or 4 stores up from Firestone Tire and directly across from the Cathedral. I think later in years their changed to TG&Y before Walmart bought out TG&Y Company. This I think was early 80's.

scott's was 3 or 4 stores down from Firestone Tire which was on the corner of PT. I think they changed their name to TG&Y until Walmart bought out TG&Y in the early 80's.

Whenever I drive through Stow, I have to hold my nose.

That plaza was a starship for me as a kid when my family first drove past it while taking my brother to U of A. I will miss that Montgomery Wards and recall doing some Christmas shopping there when I lived in Stow.

The life cycle of American retail continues to become shorter and shorter as people get older, children grow up and move out and new people move in with different life styles and standards of living. This is the way it is today. A retail center cannot prosper more than 40 years. What will become of all those Wal-Mart stores in 30 or 40 years from now? Who will emerge as the next mega store? Will it be Exxon-Mobil, Sheetz, or some enterprise out of the grave yard like Sears? Will we even have a McDonalds in 30 years? It could be just a vending machine cafe in some mega store. You would place your order by way of your mobile computer strapped on your wrist like in Dick Tracy. Our rapidly evolving technology brought on by demands of our children is changing the way we eat, shop and travel and 30 years is comparable to 100 years of shopping evolution for past generations.

The wealth & health of our children will dictate where and how our shopping will evolve. Lets hope they find a path to prosperity as we did in the 60's, 70's and 80's and lets hope this recession we are in ends soon so we and our children can move on.

I am from Stow living in the Falls now and I would like some shops like Stow has in the Stow-Kent shopping area. I second the Chipotle vote, too. Whatever they build will be better than the nearly-empty strip that it had become.

Retlaw: I'm not saying the mall concept will not survive, but let's be blunt; in dying urban areas in the Rust Belt, this is not guaranteed. I often joke that Summit Mall, when I am in my older years (I am 39 now....and no not 39 and holding, I am actually 39), will be on the National Registry of Historic Places circa 2030 only because of what it represented oh sometime @1980....just my views.....

It sickens me to know that OH Steelers Fan agrees with me on the Chipotle topic.

Here's to a good game this weekend my foe.

lol@geazer!!!!
weve made so much fun of that kiosk thru out the years!!!

No ones gonna come shop at these uppity stores..whos going to afford it? the low housing people behind this mall? or the low housing down the street from it?Use your head Truby.

@machinery man.
Nice pic!

Voltman,,
We've got to know each other..I have friends in the same positions.we use to live in the Falls forever till we came down here.
You by chance werent an electrican were ya? hubby knows lots on the electric dept.

'm a Falls resident and I think the project was a great idea.

My only request is a Chipotle. I hate driving to through Chapel Hill traffic when I need a fix.

A Bass Pro Shop or Gander Mountain would be different too. Maybe some better sit down restuarants such as Carabos or Macaroni Grill, or maybe even another Quaker Steak (closest one is North Canton).

===================================================

Oh yeah, all first class places. Get real!

@peebs02

I agree with you on the demographics. If they plan to build an upscale shopping plaza, then they should raze the State Road apartments and some of the other low rent housing around there, and build new upscale apartments. The State Road corridor is gradually improving, but there are still plenty of properties that are eyesores.

ok then Simpleman. What would you bring in that people in the area would actually pay to go to over and over again?

I tried to think of places that would be new to the area as well as ones that prove profitable. A grocery store is dumb, I can throw a rock from the site and hit Marc's and Giant Eagle.

Its easy to criticize when you don't share your answers.

What are your thoughts?

Jim Carney, thanks for the article. Please keep us up to date when the deconstructioners munch their way across Portage Trail.

Those of you complaining of up scale store and only the low income to shop-how absurd. I would hope the idea is to draw "upscale" people from "upscale"neighborhoods to shop in C.F.'s.It would be kind of redundent to bring in Dollar General,99 cent plus,Close Outs Plus,Salvation Army etc. etc. I'm sure the plan is to help the economy not to continue the downward spiral that was obviosly taking place that an entire plaza was empty!!!

Asbestos we know.......it's safe to breathe now

@retlaw in nj

Sure, the idea is to bring in shoppers from the surrounding areas, as well as to serve the local community. The fact is though, upscale shoppers will not patronize businesses that are located in bad neighborhoods. Look at what happened to Rolling Acres mall. The place was beautiful when it opened back in the 70's, and it was busy--every storefront had an occupant. But over time, the neighborhood had a significant impact on the viability of the mall. People just refused to go there because of all the crime and the riff-raff hanging around. This new development might be a jewel, but if it is stuck in the rough then people still won't come. It's sad, but let's face it--areas with low income housing usually have a higher crime rate, so middle and especially upper income folks will avoid those areas whenever possible.

@bibliophile

if you build it, they will come !!!

@bibliophile: Give me a break! We're talking Cuyahoga Falls here not E.Cleveland or Newark,N.J. What you call the rough and low income housing is far from the "Projects".Here in metro N.Y. you can qualify as low income if your family makes less than 50'000$ and we still have "upscale" shopping nearby.Low income does not mean riff raff and as I said your "low housing" is not the projects. I have not seen your housing but I am willing to bet that some high income people would like to live as well.I know what government "low income housing "looks like here and I wish!! And the people are no more trash than in any other neighborhood.I've been away from C.F. since 82 but I don't remember any real $$$$$ areas!!!

Tony Z and Crime of the Century:

How DARE you guys inject logic and common sense to this topic! What in the wide wide world of sports were you thinking? Any sort of reason and pragmatism is totally off topic!

Don't get me wrong. I'm not dissing this project at all. I hope it turns out to be very successful for the community and the developers. But the critical question is, will it be a long term success? People will probably come in droves in the beginning, when it is first completed. But what about 20 or 30 years from now? Will we have just another vacant strip mall? You're correct, the low income housing in the Falls is far from being like the "projects" in any large city. But I have lived in this area for quite some time, and the prevalence of low income housing, and rental properties in general, is on the rise. How do you think that trend will impact this area in the long term? Any thoughts on this from people who actually live here, and not in some other state?

If you think this is a "visual shocker", then take a drive North on Rt43 thru Kent.

They are really doing a number on the Crain Ave/Gougler area.

I too, hope the project is a success but I also have seen a relatively drastic decline in the overall housing stock within CFO. I own several rentals within CFO and try to maintain them to the highest of standars. Unfortunately, the type of clientele that I am getting on my doorsteps has changes quite a bit. I was forced, three times in two years to decrease rents b/c people know they can go to another rental within a block and pay less. I am all about basics. Safety, Schools and Streets - if you maintian those everything else falls into place. What concerned me was the fact that the city is stretching themselves pretty thin which is going to force their hand in areas you don't want to cut. I am amazed that Mayor Robart (whom I admire and respect) has jumped on Akron's bandwagon by forcing his superior city services to take, what appears to me as unnecessary cuts. The Police union JUST signed their contract one month ago - what changed in a month??? Seven months ago the mayor was touting "Safe Sound and Secure" in a speech saying that CFO was in the best "financial shape it has ever been in." What happened in those short few months. One can't blame the economy - it has shown nothing but steady improvements since these contracts were signed and these speeches given. The downtrodden areas are not as bad as Akron but it is a slippery slope. They are having nightly shootings not two miles from this proposed area of redevelopment - the only thing keeping that element out (and I have news for you it is already rearing its ugly head on an increasingly more frequent basis) is your top notch Police Department. I am biased, I know a couple of Police Officers and they take a great deal of pride in the city they work in. They are understaffed and forced to hide crime statistics to present the appearance of Mayberry. Take care of your city workers Mr. Mayor - they take care of you...

@proud conservative: I had to respond to your comment about having to lower your rental price.What do you expect? The overall home value in the Falls, not counting the Wyoga Lake Rd. development has also decreased.I just went on homes for sale and homes in the original "Cuyahoga Falls" demographics are a high of 139 to a low of 33,000! Some of these homes have the same shrubs out front from the 80's when I was there.The renters you attract are just starting out will eventully move out and up. I often say if I could move those little houses up here to metro N.Y. I would be rich. That same house here sells for 350-400 in a C.F. type neighborhood,but the drawback is the taxes, about 10,000 yr. on same house. Goodluck tho trying to find a rental under 1500 that is livable!!

I just saw a video online by author-economist Robert Kiyosaki who said the USA will soon be a third world country, two classes,upper and lower, no middle. The middle class is sinking into poor class and the rich class is thriving at their expense. So I hope all these elite stores and housing they have planned can find enough wealthy customers to keep them in business or they'll end up like so many other places, empty. When ever I go past those luxury condos by Luigis that sell for a quarter mil they almost all look empty. And they're building more just down the hill next to the others. Who in their right mind would spend that much in that area when you could go out to the exurbs and buy a nice house with some land and not have all the crime that's rampant in King Don's fair city.

Great posts just above here. Challenging times for sure.

Drove by today geazer, the south side of the mall has started coming down.

Sure wish I was on the planning comittee.

Thanks for bearing with me if youre still reading my rambling, lol.

I wonder what the area would be like, had Rex completed the rotating restaurant atop the tower?

Maybe more of a religious destination? Other business's prospered?....darn. Now to tie it all together, ha.

Hopefully, the Mayor will get some folks who also think outside the box, in attempting to revive this area into a warm, long term destination again.

(I should write brochures)

machinery man

Rex's erection is privately owned and used as an antenna farm for communications.The owner leases out
antenna space

I've lived the Falls for almost 54 years now. Back when I was growing up here in the 60's, there was a strong family unit and the State Road plaza was very family oriented. With the introduction of the malls and the freeway,combined with advertising geared at young people to shop at stores more likely to be inside the malls, the plaza started to lose customers. It's very simple economics and marketing. I doubt very much that Humbard's restaurant would have attracted more shoppers to the plaza without building some new hotels in the area for out of town guests. Even with the Sheraton Suites being located right next to the Front St. mall, downtown never had the business that it had back in the 50's and 60's. So the key here with regards to what will replace the plaza would be to bring in a nice big company who will provide jobs and build on the site. I think retail is not the way to go there anymore. We have enough stores and restaurants as it is. In regards to the low income housing here, I wish it had never started. But tougher laws prohibiting discrimination allowed it to happen. Go hang out at Walmart on Hudson Drive sometime and watch the freaks that shop there now.Just a block down Hudson Drive is a housing unit for recovering drug addicts. Then Graham Road has the low income housing. My old neighborhood on the east side now has low income housing. And Studio City is a haven for crime now. The people who live in Ivy Park have to worry about crime all the time now.

It seems to me that about the only thing a lot of folks in Akron do anymore is complain about things they have no understanding of. Just because you can open your mouth doesn't mean you know what you're talking about.

Thanks for the infor, connelly. I'll be heading toward Ohio tomorrow (Friday) for a week or two and will head up to CF on Saturday or Sunday to check out the progress (?) of the demolition.

With all the smoke and mirrors being thrown around the State Road shopping center, (carnival promoting the demolition, facepainting? free food, (I'm being serious))

Why no mention yet of the $11 million dollar parking lot being sold??????? Not going to happen!

How much money is the Natatorium losing every year? And why did the city recently hire a new director for the Natatorium when the position sat vacant for almost a year?

The brain dead fiscal hawks(right) on city Council have all voted in lockstep for all of this:


Isn't there anyone out there who will stand up for the Cuyahoga Falls homeowner??

Grew up in the Falls, would sit in the back of the bowling alley and throw snowballs at cars going down Lillis Drive and then run thru the Bowling alley out the front on to State rd just in case anyone decided to chase us when we hit their cars......Memories. Quit crying about the money Fallsites, come to Cleveland and you'll really wake-up to corrupt money! It's funny to hear Falls police crying about not getting enough pay??!!! What, go to Prange drive and arrest someone already......Lightweights!