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Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
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Zips favored on road against MAC West leader
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Blogmail response on Hafner
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Stallworth's contract terminated
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KSU Notes – February 9
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NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
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Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
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Five local gridders to play in Big33
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Law, Love and Chocolate
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Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
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Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
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OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Gina Mace
Special to the Beacon Journal
POSTED: 05:42 p.m. EST, Nov 14, 2009
CUYAHOGA FALLS: If a Thursday night brainstorming meeting of residents over what to do with the State Road Shopping Center is any indication, it appears there's no consensus.
Some voiced concerns about another drugstore. Others said no more grocery stores. And there was an anti-low-income housing contingent.
Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Klinger, who hosted the meeting attended by several other council members and Falls development director Sue Truby, wanted to give residents a chance to air their opinions about the city-acquired site.
''The information will be passed along to other council members, the administration and the developer so that as we go forward, we will have a clear direction as to what the public is looking for,'' Klinger said.
Truby said she hopes to have the agreement between the city and developer Robert Stark in City Council's hands within a few weeks.
Among the businesses residents say they would welcome were a Kohl's department store, a Crate and Barrel and a Panera Bread.
Many expressed a desire for a development with plenty of trees and other plantings and places for the community to gather.
Gary Motta, whose family lives on Archwood Place, said he's waiting for development that will make him want to stay in Cuyahoga Falls.
He said what preliminary plans he has seen so far from the developer have left him not very impressed.
''There's no pop, no zing,'' Motta said. ''I'm not really married to the area.''
The initial plans unveiled this year will probably be revised, Klinger said.
''What we saw initially probably won't be the end piece.''
The city's investment in the property — including a $2 million demolition grant — is around $13 million.
''I think Falls residents have a good handle on what they want to see there,'' Truby said. ''More importantly, they want to see the project developed. They want something new and unusual, retail that is convenient and nearby, but with amenities that are going to make it a good experience.''
Klinger said it is important that residents continue to share their views as the development moves forward.
''Obviously, the market will determine a lot of what will happen,'' Klinger said. ''The residents' input can influence some demands put on the developer.''
CUYAHOGA FALLS: If a Thursday night brainstorming meeting of residents over what to do with the State Road Shopping Center is any indication, it appears there's no consensus.
Some voiced concerns about another drugstore. Others said no more grocery stores. And there was an anti-low-income housing contingent.
Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Klinger, who hosted the meeting attended by several other council members and Falls development director Sue Truby, wanted to give residents a chance to air their opinions about the city-acquired site.
''The information will be passed along to other council members, the administration and the developer so that as we go forward, we will have a clear direction as to what the public is looking for,'' Klinger said.
Truby said she hopes to have the agreement between the city and developer Robert Stark in City Council's hands within a few weeks.
Among the businesses residents say they would welcome were a Kohl's department store, a Crate and Barrel and a Panera Bread.
Many expressed a desire for a development with plenty of trees and other plantings and places for the community to gather.
Gary Motta, whose family lives on Archwood Place, said he's waiting for development that will make him want to stay in Cuyahoga Falls.
He said what preliminary plans he has seen so far from the developer have left him not very impressed.
''There's no pop, no zing,'' Motta said. ''I'm not really married to the area.''
The initial plans unveiled this year will probably be revised, Klinger said.
''What we saw initially probably won't be the end piece.''
The city's investment in the property — including a $2 million demolition grant — is around $13 million.
''I think Falls residents have a good handle on what they want to see there,'' Truby said. ''More importantly, they want to see the project developed. They want something new and unusual, retail that is convenient and nearby, but with amenities that are going to make it a good experience.''
Klinger said it is important that residents continue to share their views as the development moves forward.
''Obviously, the market will determine a lot of what will happen,'' Klinger said. ''The residents' input can influence some demands put on the developer.''
They can read the article and comments regarding Chapel Hill for ideas of what NOT to do. People want a safe place to shop and good service. Price & quality are important but if they aren't safe then it doesn't really matter.
"Some voiced concerns about another drugstore. Others said no more grocery stores. And there was an anti-low-income housing contingent."
"Gary Motta, whose family lives on Archwood Place, said he's waiting for development that will make him want to stay in Cuyahoga Falls."
I think a lot of homeowners in that area of the Falls will be watching this project very closely. If there is even the slightest chance that the end result will further erode home values in the future, then you will probably see quite a few properties go up for sale.
I agree with the anti-low-income people and Mr. Motta. If they make bad choices with this development, the city of CFO can color me gone.
I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR ANY MORE GROCERY STORES - ALTHOUGH SHOPPING ATTRACTIONS SHOULD BE FILLING THE SPACE - NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING IN THE FALLS - BUT I THINK PRANG DRIVE SAYS IT ALL - AS - IN ENOUGH OF THAT IS ENOUGH - I DO HAVE TO SAY I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE WHATEVER FILLS THIS SPACE WILL BE MORE THAN SUITABLE
What can that spot really accomodate? It does not seem like that big of an area.
A coffee house, either Panera or Starbucks, would seem like a no-brainer. Panera would be preferred, since it's also an affordable eatery/bakery and nice place to hang.
Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce demands.
Every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of Fathers disqualified for affirmative action with white skin, Union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and Americas grandchildren’s children; fund $13 million city cost; with money; derived; from wages or independent business profit!
Isn't it considered spam if you post the same thing over and over again on different stories? I always get to the second line until I figure out it is a makes no sense reply by loren. You get me everytime Loren!!!
Just plow it under and level it off and let it grow over with trees and shrubs from mother nature like the Colliseum...That would be beautiful and all the little creatures would have places to live.
We don't need more stores !!
Oh, for goodness sakes! Please put in a decent store that everyone can enjoy. Not another Walmart. Put a Target there! Or I'm for a Harris Teeter myself. I work there and it is awesome!! Their only down south..... I miss Monkeys... that was a cool store long, long ago!
We are obviously beyond saturated with drug stores! Why can't we have different and affordable? Trader Joe's is not expensive and you can get things there that you can't find elsewhere. We just don't need more of the same and NO MORE DOLLAR STORES!
I grew up and went to school in cuy.falls.I now live in wv.I'm 52 and have a lot of memeries of going to the plaza when I was younger.I used to bowl at the bowling ally there.The plaza was a land mark.Quikey sad it best.State road has become nothing but stores and shops,From Graham rd. to north hill.There is no need for anymore stores.Don't need anymore.Cuyahoga falls is not New York.I remember when it was a nice friendly little town.You have riverfront mall.There use to be house's and nice little place's going south out state rd.You have expand into north hampton and bath.where chapal hill is use to be woods and a golf corse.The next thing you know Donald Trump will be wanting to get in on your develupments.LOL.Give the land back to the cathic church.Make a nice park out of it.No more stores,No more housing projecks.It wasn't a good idea when they built the housing on Graham rd.It's been nothing but truble since it was biult.Good idea"NOT"I moved here to a little town in wv.Because of the truble that followed when they biult those APTS.I got robbed at the shopping center a few months after those dog gone apts.where opened.Any ways,Make it a park or someplace were people can go and relax.If you can keep the rif-raf out of there.
What about relocating the Acme store to the south side of the parcel, making it the size of the on in Norton. Also, what about a clothing store such as Filene's Basement
A Trader Joes or a Whole Foods would be outstanding!!! Our nearest one of either of those stores is about 40 miles away! Trader Joes is like a poor mans West Point Market - gourmet, organic foods at bargain prices - everyone would benefit from having them there. I would have to agree on the no-low-income housing - I grew up in the Falls and have been disgusted at what has been happening there for the past 10-15 years. Keep the garbage out and make it a pleasant place to shop and socialise for the residents. Make it nice enough and they will have all the business they can handle.
Harris Teeter?? Where the heck are you located? Those are generally in the South and we have NONE anywhere near here!! Once again people, can we make actual relevant comments -instead of the off the wall kookiness that seems to be the running trend on here?
What about a Cabelas? They seem to have something for everyone and their prices are reasonable. They don't sell food or drugs either.
How about Meijer's...better than a SuperWalmart or another Target...one stop shopping at it's finest!!
I moved down here from Michigan back in 2003 and the only store that I really miss is Meijer's. The closest one here is in Mansfield...
No dollar store,no check cashing stores and other stores like that ,that just scream to the wrong people to come in.
You do that an it will work.
Another thought on this,
They put over 13 million into this,and now they are making layoff threats?????????????
its is setting up meetings like this that keep Ms. Klinger in office.She is worth every nickel the taxpayers are giving her.
Thank you very much for orginizing this!
Maybe had the other at large councilpersaon put the effort into her job that Carol does she might had been relected too.
A Whole Foods or Trader Joe's would be fantastic! Why are people against a new grocery store? We lost Tops, which was in this area. My partner and I drive up to Woodmere every other week to go to both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, up there. They would give West Point and Mustard Seed some competition. There is nothing comparable to those stores on the north side. We would definitely shop at a new grocery store on that site, if it was one of these.
Between Howe Rd and graham Rd, one would think that CF has enough shopping areas already.
Housing and grass is all that's needed over there. That shopping district died when the xway opened up years ago.
Great idea quikey!!! Let the creatures move in and then open it for hunting season. Love it.
I know I wouldn't want to see anymore low income housing developments there. We don't need to attract lower income, they have plenty of that to the south across the bridge. What ever the development progresses to be, I hope they'll make it attractive for the members of our community, provide ample parking, and space to come and meet with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors. I hope the community will keep it clean and make it an area that we can all be proud of. I have many memories of the State Road Plaza from my childhood, and hope the city makes great improvements there. It was time to renovate!
My question is: What are they going to do with the old Rick Case dealership location? I'ld like to see the JAYCEE's come in and make it a haunted house.
SERIOUSLY...do we need another shopping center in the falls????
Chapel Hill - vacant spots open
Portage Trail - vacant spots open
Graham Road - tons of vacant spots open
State Road (between Portage Tr and Broad) - vacancies
Front Street Mall - vacant spots open
And what are we thinking of doing? Open more retail. Zoning has to be out of their mind. Take the Tops/Sears plaza on Graham. CVS was in the building. Closed. And now build a new spot less than a mile down the road????? Make a nice park. Reinvest in the areas already established. We are in the middle of the great depression part II and with no one spending money we are gambling on more retail where again people won't spend money.
quikey: I agree. Just plow it under and let it become another nature reserve. Who knows, have the Metroparks take it over, and buy out the remaining businesses in that area....just my views....
I like the Trader Joes idea...how about a Tim Hortons too! I'd drive from West Akron for that.
Whatever you guys do, do not allow low-income housing at all costs!
I think a nice green park area would be cool too, with a skate bowl, BMX park...It's not quite secluded enough for a complete reversion to the wild.
Stand strong on the no low-income housing, people of the Falls!
How about building a new school there? Steve57 can bone up on spelling, punctuation, and grammar skills!
@Thunder31;Amen! Hence,the reason for a move to WV!?
Chipotle, Kohl's and Target!!!
As a Falls resident, I would like to see a movie theater. I don't feel comfortable going to the theaters at Chapel Hill, so I've been taking my business to the Cinemark in Macedonia. A Kohls would also be nice as it would draw in business not only from the Falls, but from West Akron/Fairlawn too. We certainly don't need another grocery store or drugstore in this area. That includes Trader Joes, which would take business away from our fantastic and locally-owned Krieger's Market. Create something unique and practical to the residents, or make it a green space.
I KNOW, HOW ABOUT A SUPER WALMART? lol
Then we in LA (lower Akron) can sit and watch the folks in Caucasian Falls worry about that.
Personally, as an ex Falls resident, I like the green space idea. Then everyone can complain about higher taxes due to the lose of revenue from retail. Actually, build, build, build. Every business brings opportunity for employment.Many of you complain you have to go outside of CF for shopping, theater, restaurants etc. This is your chance, don't mess it up.(as in downtown riverfront mall)
How about putting in an Aldis, Dollar Store, Liquor Store, BigLots, and Drugstore surrounded by some really nice apartments/condos, but convert the apartments/condos to Section 8 housing when it gets tought to get full occupancy after the first month...this way the developer can get immediate full occupancy and make a ton of cash while the area deterioates into a ghetto. That would make the most sense since the city already has experience with that type of thing.
No dollar store! No big lots! No tattoo parlors! No anything wireless store!
Seriously, every neighborhood that has this conglomeration of businesses seems to be just a 'hood.
CF, Do something innovative and creative. A reason why people will want to travel to CF. This means survey people in Akron to find out what they want and how far they would be willing to travel. I heard this over and over again and see it on this post that people want a Trader Joe's...I like this, as long as Kreiger's does no take a hit as that is a landmark here. Also, just because you want something, doesn't mean they will set up shop there.
@Thunder31,
I agree,and those check cashing places always seem to draw the wrong crowd too.Theres plenty of them around,dont need no more.
In this new plaza,they should have a kids store,an ice cream shop,maybe a pizzeria,and how bout getting some local designers in to sell there clothes?That would be awesome.Theres lots of good designers now at Kent state and Akron u that im sure could use the cash.Being they could afford the rent.I'd like to see an art supply store,thats small and affordable.Of and of course a good shoe store,good ,not like the others that are around lol.
Wow. Crate and Barrel? Call me a jerk, but C Falls is not a Crate and Barrel town. Crate and Barrel or Trader Joe's would fit in First and Main in Hudson, or in Fairlawn... But C Falls is a blue collar town. An Aldi and a plus sized women's clothing store would fit in C Falls. I am not trying to be a jerk. But how many people in C Falls shop at Crate and Barrel? It is more of a Marc's kind of town.
The only stores I frequented in the Plaza the last few years were Dollar General (now down the street) and Save A Lot. Know your market before you start building overpriced stores and condos. The Falls can't afford to get this wrong. They have one chance to make a splash, so plan, do extensive studies, get focus groups, re-think....and then move. Don't be a Randy Lerner.
Big M: You forgot Church's Chicken. That would top off your list.
Maybe not, but for those of us with more taste than money, we are an Ikea kind of town ;) Another great store with low prices. Trader Joe's does not belong at First and Main. It's not that expensive. It's cheaper than the big bird!
Love the idea of a movie theatre. I'm really surprised they didn't build one where the Hobby Lobby is in Stow-Kent. As has already been mentioned, probably the closest decent theatre is the Cinemark in Macedonia. The last time I went to Chapel Hill to see a movie, I swore I'd never go back. The theatre in Hudson is ok, but doesn't have stadium seating like the newer ones.
People who think they're gonna put in a Crate & Barrel are dreaming. In all honesty, it doesn't really matter what the residents want. It's a matter of what businesses City Council can attract. They're going to need to "sell" the city to these businesses if they want anything remotely high-end.
Big Bird=Little Pigeon
Maybe they can build whatever they're going to build fast enough to offer the people they're going to lay off some jobs.
After all, it was their jobs or Portage Crossing.
And the city chose Portage Crossing.
Harris Teeter! LOL! They're in NC, too cold for them up here!
Unfortunately, the City of Cuyahoga Falls doesn't fall into the demographic sector needed to make retail spots like Trader Joe's, Ikea or Crate & Barrel viable options for develompent.
@ sick of it all: I'd like to see the same thing happen...using the vast amount of vacant retail spaces used rather than build something else that will probably end up just as vacant in a few year's time.
I'd like to see it become green space as others have mentioned but I know that's very unlikely. If it's going to be developed anyway, I'd like to see a Starbucks and Chipotle too! I also think a small sporting goods store may work there with it's somewhat close proximity to the CVNP.
Another great idea: LET'S MOVE KRIEGERS TO IT! Much bigger area in which to stuff more yummy stuff into...and with much better parking. Perhaps they could expand their little nursery area too.
How about turning it into a park with a gold plated statue of CF's mini-me version of Akrons' The Don?
I fully understand the place was an eyesore and it's time was beyond past but the amount of money they paid for it was criminal.
I don't understand why residents aren't asking for the mayors head on a stick.
Maybe it's because the Falls is now mostly rental property???
Trader Joes would not hurt Kriegers or Giant Eagle - their niche is entirely different. I hate having to go to Woodmere and spending my money there instead of supporting local jobs. Why couldn't we have shopping and a park? That way local people are getting jobs AND a green space to enjoy. Parks are great, but don't really provide much in the way of local jobs. If there could be both, everyone would be happy. Some nice local restaraunts would be nice too - I am sick to death of the Applebees and Olive Garden thing - lets' get some small local restaraunts in with some original ideas!!
WOW! Just read a story that says CF's is one of the top 100 places in America to relocate to. Haven't been back in years but from the posts above I picture low income rentals, Dollar Stores on every corner, empty storefronts and drive up check cashing booths.! Maybe I should re-read the story to see who they are saying it's best for!
Hey, Harris Teeter is in Nashville,TN right now!!! There comming to an Ohio city in the future. Anyways, have any of you heard of triple coupons? or super doubles? Do you know how much that Harris Teeter gives back to the community or schools? When, if ever has Acme's done a triple coupon week or Giant eagle,Marcs,Save alot, any of them? Or had 3.99 footlong subs on fridays? Or for that matter had a 6in special sub on everyday of the week? They also, cut your deli meats to order. If you can't find something. You can go to customer service and they will order it for you. People would come for miles around for a store like that. Hey Mr. Mayor of Cuyahoga Falls!!! Get a Harris Teeter!!!
This really is an important point in the cuy falls timeline....this will make or break the city. We are on the verge of turning into a mini Akron.
Monkeys was good for circus peanuts and shoplifting, thats all.
Feeks good to post again, I promise I'll be good.
Hey "OH Steelers Fan"..
Chipotle.. yes. Too much traffic at Chapel Hill for such a small popular eatery.
Kohls... maybe. Nearest one is deep in Stow.
Target... no way. It's way too close to Chapel Hill location. Too big of a store to be that close.
Quaker Steak.. YES! Closest one is North Canton and it's a money maker.
Incorporate a nice wooded park area.
Possibly a small art gallery that could display local artists, to bring the community back and involve everyone again. I don't know.....
NO GROGERY STORE! There's an ACME down the road, a Marc's across the street and a Giant Eagle around the corner.
NO DRUG STORE! Too many drug stores in america to begin with.
There has to be more ideas other than storefronts as well.
There should never be a check cashing, dollar store type of business placed in the new development. Absolutely not one sq. ft. of low income anything! I believe this project will either make or break the Falls for any future gains. I hope the wisdom of the ages influence the powers in place to move this community back to what it once was and not make it worse than it has recently become foder for.
Absolutely no dollar stores or check cashing and no low income anything. These kind of places have brought this city to the low point it has reached now.
If I remember correctly, CF lost a lawsuit regarding low-income properties. The owners of these properties should do a better job in renting to low-income people. Everyone who is staying or visiting one of these properties should be checked to see if they have an arrest or conviction. There are a lot of low-income people who would like to be living in a better place, but can't afford it.
TRADER JOES!!! TRADER JOES!!!!
PITA PIT!!! PITA PIT!!!!
@a different tony z: Isn't there a Kohl's at Chapel Hill? I'm not sure, but I thought there was.
How about moving "Arsenic and Old Lace" there? C Falls needs more "head" shops. They fit in well with section 8 housing, and one at the plaza would bring more business out of the Waterford neighborhood.
Hey Monnie, does your last name begin with "O" ?
Maybe an old friend !
jimdandy478:
"Housing and grass is all that's needed over there. That shopping district died when the xway opened up years ago."
I agree 100 percent. We don't need more places to blow our money and definitely don't need more empty storefronts in the city.
Build some nice homes and a small park, and please say NO to Ryan Homes.
I would like to see gay bars, fetish bars, strip clubs, book stores, gambling, lots of red lights, a sort of Viagra Triangle and a big neon sign that flashes SIN STRIP at the buffet across the street.
Kohls is buried deep in Stow? It's on 59, 10 minutes from my house! Target's right next door. Moving Acme only only deserts and deteriorates another section of State Rd. Crate and Barrel? So I can run to Marcs for cheap, almost expired food, then go pick up my armoire and designer bath towels?
And whoever said Walmart- Seriously? Because the one at Graham and Hudson is too far for you?
Robarts folly is about to come to fruition and this is the best you people can come up with?
Who in their right mind would visit green space on State Rd. next to the Graham road projects? Honey let's go do lunch at the park, BTW do you have a CCL?
Cabella's IS the most viable suggestion I've seen so far.
Nice to see a council person that cares about the community and will at least initiate the conversation, as opposed to politicians like the mayor who will make decisions and jam them down the citizens' throats.
"Robarts Folly"?
The best post yet.
I would love to see a Babies R Us, I am tired of having to driving to Canton whenever I need to buy a baby gift.
MR. PUGGSLY, I completely agree. We need a Pita Pit. I know where I'd get lunch every other day, when I'm not going to the new Penn Station in Chapel Hill.
mmm.... Quaker Steak! Good call! And a White Castle, too! The closest one of those is all the way down Arlington near Green!
And an RSVP Food and Party Outlet! The other nearest one is out Rt.59 near Fishcreek.
I agree w/bubblehead...think outside the box !!!
Put a low income apartment complex there. The Falls needs to be more diverse. All the other low income units are on the fringe areas. Let's bring it all together. We have enough police to take care of any problems.
No Kathleen, the people in LA (Lower Akron) will either work at, or rob the Walmart. We just need to put a wall up around the falls.
And discontinue that awful bus line that busses em in by the dozens all day and night.
I've changed my mind, as a resident of Akron I agree with northcoastbreeze. Low income housing, liquor store, barber shop and nails place, small corner market where you can buy movies in that are still in theaters and crack pipes, a couple check cashin' places, a beauty shop that's mostly hair weaves...that will give CF some diversity. The gun store down the street will do a booming ammo business
edf has never been to c falls & is too embarassed to post the city he currently lives in.
Bubblehead gets my vote. Then when I'm in town for a visit it'll feel more like home!!!
I don't know ras13ras, I've owned homes in both cities, and I agree with edf.
Let's build a bunch of churches for offbeat, wacko cults. Personally, I would build a church to Ozzy. Maybe a temple to Iggy Pop. Even an alter to the Allman Bros.
One of the biggest reasons our city is one of the "100 Nicest Places to Live", according to our illustrious mayor, is our safety forces. He choses to suggest lay-offs so he can fund all his other projects; the State Road shopping center being one of them.
stleo - i am so there. but we have to also have an Aerosmith shrine.
and maybe reopen Alice Cooper's restaurant there.
I love Cuyahoga Falls. My father used to own a restaurant and I have great memories of going for a ride with him as a young child to get restaurant supplies. I remember shopping at Montgomery Wards (and thinking it was a big deal when it really wasn't). As an adult, I still like the area and wish it well.
Cuyahoga Falls has a nice mix of blue collar and white collar residents that can help support the area. I have to be honest and say that I cannot see any stores that typically cater to a higher disposable income demographic surviving. I am not saying that people wouldn't shop there or that they CANT afford it, it's just not that kind of an area.
Whole Foods is a great supermarket but not ideal for this end of town. I would be highly concerned of it not only hurting Krieger's but also Mustard Seed Market. I also acknowledge that Trader Joes is a fun place to shop but I do not think it would be well supported. I would just hate to see certain businesses move in and not succeed.
"The New Church of Neil Young"
"The Congregation of Crosby, Stills, and Nash"
"First Baptist Beastie Boys"
"The Devine Deciples of Devo"
Reverend Run's House of Worship.
The Temple of the Stone Pilots?
I have no idea why people are opposed to putting in something that would actually be pleasant to go to. Using Hudson as an example, the shopping center they put in is attractive, has a small park - the stores are a little off and boring, but that can easily be remedied. Cuyahoga Falls has quite a few parks - the don't employ very many people, though! What would be wrong with having a mix of the two schools of thought and creating some jobs? If you don't like it, don't go there!!! I wouldn't worry too much about Trader Joes or Whole Foods putting Kriegers out of business - Kriegers has been there forever, as has Acme - and even with Giant Eagle being a more recent addition - I really don't think they are threatened. Most of you commenting that Trader Joes would be so awful and put the other stores out of business have probably never been to one. Don't start knocking it until you actually go to one - I really think you would be pleasantly surprised!!
"the Worship Retreat of Warren Zevon"
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"Mosque Miley"
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Look, I'm a Former Fallsian (1951-1989), and I really don't have a dog in this fight, but up here in the great (cold) north, I'm surrounded by empty storefronts, defunct strip malls, and one nearly-dead full-size mall (Brookdale) that has the same disease that State Road SC had - Sears is the only anchor left at Brookdale; JCPenney, Macy's, Barnes & Noble, Carson-Pirie-Scott, Steve & Barry's, all gone; there are only about ten other stores left.
I'd hate to see another development doomed by the false promises of a new, New, NEW, bright and shiny replacement, especially if it's done with tax abatements, which basically suck business away from one area and plant them in another, without adding any real new jobs or resultant income taxes. And with retail, income taxes on low hourly rates won't really add a significant amount to the tax base. (Does CF have an income tax yet?) Now the old area has a vacant store, and the relocated business is exempt from paying sales or property taxes for a negotiated period of time, and who wins? And no, the answer is not 'nobody,' but it surely isn't the taxpayers of the area of the bright and shiny new building!
While I'm glad the the eyesore is gone - the south end was still standing when I was in town last - I thought that the re-design of the area was already decided (remember parallel parking on Portage Trail??), so I'm not really clear why this discussion is taking place NOW instead of several years ago.
I would hope that, given the non-residential nature of the area, someone would consider a light industrial area, or some type of business incubator, perhaps with city-funded loans to be used for startups.
Or, at least until some creative individual(s) can come up with something that will actually draw people to Cuyahoga Falls, some trees. A cleaned up area won't generate any revenue for the city, but, as has been previously noted, how much shopping do you need?
I think a cheap bar/strip club would work just fine in that area. Have a state store/lottery agent there as well. Perhaps Danny Gilbert can put slots there as well. Don't forget the crown jewel, a buy here/pay here car lot!
Retail just went away in that area.I want another big green slide.
It will be great having the plaza back. We don't need a theatre we have 16 or more at Chapel Hill, and Hudson more we don't need anymore theatres. Kohl's would be alright but there is one in Stow. Trader Joe's would be awesome, Penzey's Spice would be nice. Fast food should maybe get a Rally's up there an Aldi's which is grocery. I'm sure it will be a wonderful thing.
I wanna slide!
All for Trader Joe's! I am tired of driving to Crocker Park and Chagrin Rd. Panera works as well, but admittedly I can hit a driver over two of them right now. Definitely, NO Section 8 housing! Too much of that on our side already.
Cuyahoga Falls has a once-in-our-lifetime chance to do something great for the area with this land. Sadly, they are caught between "Rocks" and "Hard Places". North Hill to the South, Section 8 (Valley) to the West, nothing to the North, and Cuyahoga Falls (hangin' but strugglin') to the East.
Still, they have the chance to redefine the area with a decent open-air mall/commercial/residential development. As I recall, this is how is was all sold to us when the city paid for the destruction.
Oh yeah, hikin' the speed limit on State Rd. into the city wouldn't hurt either.
:0)
Peebs, I like your thinking. I forgot about the check cashing places, good catch! How about a garden center similar to Donzell's, Petitti's, or Stone QC? Maybe a places for the youth like Laser Quest of Fun 'N Stuff?
Barneys Frank, good to see you back. I thought what got you in trouble was innovative and hilarious, but I knew you'd get busted!
Whole FOods did a market survey for the Highland Square area and they wouldn't build a store there.
The AKron area is full of old, old people who do most of their shopping at Discount Drug Mart. The kids today don't want to cook or they don't know how so a grocery store of any type on State Road will be a tough sell.
bubble, have you spent any time in H Square? Its definitely the most vibrant, youthful part of the city outside UA. No space for a big grocery store though...
Your idea of sex clubs was not bad, although Brittian rd has that covered.
Seriously, a nice little residential area of townhomes might be nice. Made to look like a city block, sorta like they are doing down by luigis...with a Tim Hortons
Make sure it attracts old, poor, wealthy, young alike and you will have a winning development. But I know everyone is thinking, "What will keep the poor out?" But the fact is the poor have disposible income and want to live nicely also. Not to mention the area is a little on the poor side so the poor are part of the demographics to begin with.
With all these negative posts about how bad it is in Cuyahoga Falls; why does relocate .com list it as one of the top 100 places in America to relocate to? Anyone..Anyone..
@connelly Nope, I am from the area though. My mommy lives there and so does my daughter. I myself would like to see it the way it was back in the 90's or early 80's... If I could take pictures of the small shopping center where I live. I could post them here. I don't think I can though. Anyways, it has a Harris Teeter, a nail place,coffee place,hair cut place,pizza place, a sports bar, a wine tasting resturant, then a few small shops. It is not very big. It would fit perfect there. I even have a denist office there and a investing edward Jones.Even the one down the street is another shopping center. Only it has like townhomes around it. Mine is in front of a housing develpoment. I see it working with a park too added.
and putt putt golf!
@retlaw
They don't live here, and neither do you.
I can't help but think that the leaders of this project know not to bring in check cashing stores and the like. Let's hope so anyway.
How about: Corky & Lenny's style restaurant, relocate Kriegers, Tuesday Morning or Kohls style shopping, Fashion Bug, Babies R Us (Canton closest), day care, Panera, Chilis, hair salon, glow in the dark put put. Luigis II? Wait, now I'm dreaming...
Seems to me the city is trying to recoup this 13 million by doubling our utilities, which they say they have been under billing us. Is that really legal? Maybe I should call all of my customers and tell them oops! im sorry I under charged you for your service....you now owe me X $...what a crock...can you say Class Action Law suite? Any way how about a Mustard Seed, a Popeye's, a Movie Theater...
@bibliophile; Good answer. I know I don't live there. But that has nothing to do with what I asked. Also looking back on your other posts I see you have attitude issues, not just this story.
j:
I used to live in Highland Square when they had the Sparkle Market there. Highland Square is vibrant but the Whole Foods chain was recruited by the Mayor's staff and Whole Foods said no way. Trader Joe's would follow suit. When the Sparkle was there, owned by Albrecht at the time, there was so much theft going on that it reflected in the prices. There is a lot of foot traffic but most everyone has a car and that means they will go to Marks or the cheaper Acme.
AKron is Akron. WHile trying to shake the blue collar image, there are still plenty of blue collar retirees with ties to West Virginia. Need I say more?
retlaw in nj - as I recall, it was a matter of someone filling out a form and sending in a registration fee. If you got as far as http://top100.relocateamerica.com/ you find that you get to 'nominate' your very own home town. Maybe the first 100 candidates win - kinda like the old Soupy Sales gag about "first one here gets a box of Jell-o."
can we include the black Hood ie store too?
There are some way to funny posts on this subject and many of them!
Trader Joes would be nice - but do they want to come here?
Crate and Barrel - I love the store but never buy anything there - why - because everything costs 10 times as much as anywhere else.
Panera or something like that - good idea.
NO DOLLAR STORES!
If you haven't noticed Cuyahoga Falls has become a ghetto City as of late. I think it is time to get rid of the ghetto people infiltrating Cuyahoga Falls...not that just making a new shopping center is going to solve all of that but its a start. We need a Target, a Old Navy, a Chipotle, a Pei Wei, maybe a Cheesecake Factory or something like it. That way residence of Cuyahoga Falls will not have to go to the Chaple Hill area and or the Fairlawn area. We would probaly acquire new people from the Fairlawn area and the Akron people will stay in the Chaple Hill area. Make the shopping center have a little class but not to upity Crate and Barrel come on - no one can afford that place this isn't Beachwood.
hudson great example
ok how about the rick case store and the ponderosa? they could be filled with trees and benches. how about gettin rid of the strip club? we all know what they are sellin. lets get real people. in the new space we want younger people shopping there. bring in a legacy village. or a hudson village. bring in abercrombie, hollister chipolte,old navy stuff like that. make people want to shop there. put kohls in the shopping center by walmart. let them battle it out. keep the mom and pop joints in the falls. if we bring in sec. 8 or lowincome stuff, we are gonna end up like detroit or cleveland. get rid of chapel hill, make the good stores go to state road. turn the chapel hill place into a park with bmx and scateboard stuff. malls are back in the 70's, look at what rolling acres is. a waste land. if the new shopping center is like legacy, bad kids and trash cant hang out there cause they are outside. if it does go sec.8 my house is up for sale, and i dont think im alone. i love the falls, born and raised, keep it nice.
Am I the only one that thinks of the chapel hill area Cuyahoga Falls and Akron??? Target, Home Depot, Borders...are all cuyahoga falls. Take those stores out of that area then you have State Road all over again. makes no sense. The state road area is not big enough to support big box stores, etc.
I think they should put up some high tech meth labs
@retlaw
I just drove by the State Road apartments, and I noticed the parking lots are not as full as they used to be, so they must have a few vacancies. Why don't you move your family back here to CFO, since it is such a nice place to relocate. I know you would just love these nice section 8 apartments...you'll have many to choose from, like the ones on Graham Rd. and Portage Trail Ext. and Studio City, etc. As I drove by, I believe I saw Bubba sitting outside on his porch, smoking a doobie and looking really mean. If you still have young kids, perhaps you could trust him to look after them while you are busy posting on other out-of-town news web sites. It's great! Why would you ever leave this place for NJ? (That's a rhetorical question.)
An attitude problem? I'm as happy as can be in my inner world--it's the outside world I have a problem with. The daily news on here is pretty depressing, to say the least. I will soon come to the point where I will have to stop reading it for awhile. The story about the 5-year old girl they found murdered yesterday is one such example. A story like that is enough to make anybody's blood boil.
@Biblophile; Thank you very much for the information.I personally have no desire to live in Ohio, but I do represent a client who is being transferred to N.E. Ohio from N.Y. His employer gave him a list of possible areas within a commuting distance of their offices. They suggested Peninsula, Bath, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Silver Lake, Stow, Hudson, and Northfield. I was scanning the local newspaper sites and happened upon the Cuyahoga Falls story. Up until that point, he was leaning toward a development on Wyoga Lake in Cuyahoga Falls. He liked the lake idea for his kids. Have since changed directions due to all the negative comments from the local residents. We are now focusing on an area called Bath. Either way, this will be a huge upgrade while costing a lot less. One last thing, I hope you are not choosing to raise children here if it is as bad as you make it sound. If you like, I would be happy to help you relocate to a safer neighborhood.
@retlaw
Thanks for the offer to help, but I can relocate anytime myself, within limits. I have family in the area that I will not move too far away from, including an aging parent who depends on me for maintenance on their home, yard, and other tasks. That is the crux of my problem...I want to stay where I am, but due to the prevailing trends with respect to the neighborhoods and crime, I will probably be out of the Falls within 5 years. I have an adult son who is away from home and doing well, and he can take good care of himself.
Sorry that I left out the Wyoga Lake condos--another hole in the making. A friend of ours just told us last week that she really regrets moving there. Some neighbor kids stood in front of her car for about 5 minutes one morning, so she could not get past. When she arrived back home that evening, the punks had called in a report to the police that she struck one of them with her car. That is the sort of nonsense that residents have to put up with when the vermin move in.
I'm really not a negative person most of the time, but I have a low tolerance for stupidity and I don't suffer fools at all.
@retlaw..: Sir/madam, I can help you make a good choice for your client. Bath and hudson are very expensive. Macedonia is as nice, but cheaper. Twinsburg has many good, and a few bad neighborhoods. Cuyahoge Falls has some great, expensive neighborhoods, as well as some great, cheaper ones. Silver Lake is the expensive part of Stow; Stow sucks. Northfield should be stayed out of, as well. These two cities don't have great schools. The best schools in Ohio are in Hudson. Twinsburg has good schools, as does Bath. Macedonia shares schools with Northfield. Penninsula is beautiful, but broke, and has no money for it's schools, or road care.
Wyoga Lake is a very low income part of CF. There is a Stow neighborhood behind Wyoga Lake that is nice. Walsh Jesuit High school, and CVCA are on wyoga Lake; two of the best private schools in NEO.
@Stelo; Thank you for the information. We have actually, in the past hour, made arrangements to fly into Cleveland, Ohio and are going to tour three homes in Bath, Ohio. We will also visit a private elementary school called Old Trail. It is very hard to make decisions from pictures, not being able to see surrounding areas and neighborhoods.Another concern is the fact that pricing seems quite low for the amount of sq. footage, acreage, bath/bedrooms the houses shown seem to have. My clients think they have died and gone to heaven. And they've only seen pictures at this point. You have to realize they're about to leave an 800 Sq. ft. Brownstone being marketed at $750,000. Thank you again.
@retlaw - when I moved from Akron to Minneapolis, the cost per square foot doubled. You (and your client) won't be disappointed.
What? That made no sense. We built a 2200 square-foot house for $63K (in 1988 dollars), sold it for $9300 in 1992; wound up paying $118 for 1680 square feet in Minneapolis, and a house that wasn't anywhere near as nice as the one we left. (I had an opportunity in Cincinnati as well, but the cost of living there was even higher!) Even considering that Bath is one of the pricier parts of town, the Akron area is indeed one of the lower-priced markets in the US, and if your client is relocating from New Jersey, I certainly understand the enthusiasm. They won't be disappointed. (now, find ME a job there, so I can move back home!)
(damm, it's late. suffering from zero-deficiency syndrome.) $63K, $93K, $118K.
@Retlaw: I forgot to mention one more thing about Hudson; it is full of snobbish attitudes. The schools are great, but drive many kids into bad behavior, for rich kids.
THANK YOU ONION! You are 100% correct in that State Road CANNOT support big box retailers.
If there are really so many, and I quote:
"bad kids and trash"
"Bubba (...) smoking a doobie"
"housing projecks"
"low income housing developments"
"Section 8 housing"
"sec. 8 or lowincome stuff"
why would ANY retailer ever want to be located there?
The generalizations I've read here are almost funny. You don't want section 8 or low income housing mixrd in to your neighborhoods and you complain that the majority of them are in one area. Believe it or not, not all people with low incomes who need assistance are evil or engage in criminal behavior! It's generally a matter of a few bad apples and unfortuantely, those bad apples are all people seem to SEE.
Another great quote:
"Keep the garbage out and make it a pleasant place to shop and socialise for the residents."
So, lemme get this straight, anyone whose income isn't as high as yours is "garbage?" They're not people, and surely not residents? Hmm. Almost enough to make me gald I don't live in the Falls anymore.
Bubblehead: I believe you were saying Cabella's.
FPDiana: No not all low income people, but odd how crime seems to gravitate toward these neighborhoods isn't it? Deal with reality. CF is going downhill and it's mainly because of low income housing, HUD purchases, and slumlords making a quiet, hostile takeover.
@SmartAlex: HUD housing has more to do with the housing crash and neighborhoods in NE Ohio, as I'm sure you know, have been hard hit. That doesn't mean anyone has any kind of right to prevent people from buying those houses. CF still has much lower crime rates than the vast majority of the area.
@stleo
you are dead on about the cities to retlaw. every city has scum, section 8, low income, no matter where you go. its just everyone doesnt want any more in there neighborhood. i live off state road so i am very courious to what they build.
