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Do IT this week: Layering
Young's future in limbo as city seeks developer
By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Friday, Oct 24, 2008
The Internet offers some interesting restaurant reviews.
Sites such as the Dining Channel, the Dining Guide and Pubcrawler all provide valuable insight into the venerable Young's Restaurant, a 158-year-old establishment on Manchester Road next to Nesmith Lake.
For instance, DiningGuide.com tells us the restaurant features American fare and offers takeout service.
Pubcrawler.com gives us the phone number: 330-745-6116.
Trouble is, the place has been closed for more than a decade.
The Dining Guide says I can ''earn reward points'' by writing a review. Cool. Here goes:
Young's Restaurant is the ideal place to kick off a major diet. One look inside and you won't want to eat for a week. Sure, those big rats look meaty, but the presentation leaves a bit to be desired.
The ambiance is, um, interesting. The sign out front is so rusty that the bottom sections flap in the breeze. The doors are boarded up. Most of the windows are broken out. The ''roof'' is a random mix of blue and green tarpaulins.
On the north side, a light fixture dangles near the ground. The south side features a piece of charred plywood placed horizontally across a door.
In short, the place looks like a very large crack house.
Now, I realize good things take time. But how long do you think the city would wait for a typical homeowner to clean up a mess like this? If you or I owned it, the place would have been bulldozed eons ago.
Building in sad shape
Given the fact that its current owners — the taxpayers of Akron — coughed up $760,000 last year to buy this thing and have sunk another $30,000 into it, the building's condition is a bit disappointing.
But that's not the worst part. The worst part is this: Now that Akron has dropped nearly a million bucks to save this place, it might well be torn down.
Seriously.
Bill Marras, an engineer and architect for the city, says Akron will try to sell the landmark to someone who wants to rehabilitate it. But if such a person doesn't surface, the property will be sold to someone who could nuke the entire 21,000-square-foot structure and put up something else.
That ''something else'' would have to be at least somewhat related to its immediate neighbors, the Ohio & Erie Canal and the future Confluence Park, that will link the Portage Lakes to the Towpath Trail.
''We want to control the use,'' Marras said. ''It doesn't seem reasonable to take down Young's and put up a CVS. That's not what we're looking for.''
Repair tab growing
The city has spent $15,000 putting Band-Aids on the sagging roof. By the end of this week, workers are expected to be finished removing asbestos, carpeting and all of the old furnishings, tasks that will add another $15,000 to the tab.
''Certainly it has a leaky roof, and the heating system would have to be replaced, as well as electrical, but the shell itself is pretty sound,'' Marras said.
The county auditor pegs the value, including the 1.9-acre lot, at $496,700.
Now, preserving history is a wonderful pursuit. And this restaurant is tied directly to the single most important element in all of Akron's annals: the Ohio & Erie Canal. The city grew up around it and because of it.
Young's opened as a tavern in 1850, when Akron was a mere 25 years old. The hotel and restaurant were completed in 1905. After a 1907 fire, it was rebuilt to the original specs, and then enlarged a few years later.
Happy family meals
Marras is one of countless area residents who can vividly remember happy family meals there, especially the clam chowder specials on Friday nights.
''The one thing I looked for when we went into the building to clean it out was the treasure chest,'' Marras said. ''It was right by the cashier. The kids could take one thing out of it. [The contents] were always Crackerjack-type toys. I was a little disappointed it wasn't there.''
There's no doubt the building is dripping with history. But before we drop $1 million on something, shouldn't we figure out what we're going to do with it?
Initially, we were told Young's would be converted to a visitors' center. But now we are told that role will be played by a revamped Richard Howe House, which this summer was moved from its century-old perch on East Exchange Street to the shores of the canal.
Howe House (which will double as the headquarters of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition) cost the city another million bucks to acquire and move.
Last March, city officials said moving Howe House would cost about $250,000. Four months later, they pegged the moving costs at $800,000.
When it comes to Akron history, apparently, money flows faster than canal water.
But at least we know Howe House has a future.
Bob Dyer can be reached at 330-996-3580 or bdyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Internet offers some interesting restaurant reviews.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 01:56 AM, 10/24/2008
Un freaking believable, How can I get the city to buy my worthless properties for more than double what they are worth, how is the Mayor not in jail? Doesn't anyone care that his administration is so dirty and corrupt? Anybody that voted for that POS should be committed!
akron, oh
Posted 05:07 AM, 10/24/2008
The mayor would be happy to tear it down and be down with it. But then you get all the
Bostwicks of the world screaming that it is historical, blah blah blah, and has to be saved - regardless of the fact that it is junk and nobody wants its.
Dalton Ave, Henderson, NV
Posted 06:34 AM, 10/24/2008
How can anyone who reads about a blunder like this by the mayor, honestly believe the sewer proposal will turn out any better...
- Uncle Ed
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:16 AM, 10/24/2008
Just another example of why Donny Boy should not have been elected. He doesn't have a grasp of where to spend the city money. How could anyone vote for his issue 8 for the sewer lease which will cost the taxpayers 75% more in sewer bills? Vote no on 8 and yes on 9 and take back you city Akron from Donny Boy.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:28 AM, 10/24/2008
Youngs restaurant is an example of why the City of Akron is nearly $1 Billion in debt, as a result of the city hall hero's frivolous spendin' habits.
Thank y'all Dyer, for revisitin' this blunder by the city hall hero.
somewhere near you, US
Posted 07:39 AM, 10/24/2008
I'm all for the Howe house as it is the original structure, will add to the downtown and complement the immediate area. It's more critical mass for the revival of the downtown area.
The Youngs building is not original and that area isn't the place to draw visitors to for many reasons.
Rip the sucker down, it was a bad idea and an absolute waste of taxpayer money.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:45 AM, 10/24/2008
Confluence sounds like a bowel problem.
akron, oh
Posted 08:38 AM, 10/24/2008
When it comes to old buildings the mayor likes. They have unlimited funds for them. What a misguided direction the mayor is taking.
But you Acornites... Keep voting for this guy.
Maybe the next to run will be smart enough to run in a full election..... To give everyone a chance to vote him out.
Stow, OH
Posted 08:51 AM, 10/24/2008
As a small investor , I was totally flabbergasted last year when i heard that Akron paid $760,000 for that wreck.Then to see our great Auditor has it valued at $500,000 just shows you how most of the property in this area is valued way too high.
This thing sits right on the edge of a very crime ridden area and I'm sure the owner was more than happy to let our stupid politicians buy it .This is why I don't invest in Akron ,I spend my money wisely and not in Akron.
Posted 09:40 AM, 10/24/2008
who got rich off the city buy buying this dump for 760k?
Why wouldnt you condemn it and charge the owners?
Posted 09:47 AM, 10/24/2008
I was not shocked when the city paid what they did for this Dump. The Mayor grew up in this area and the owner was a friend. Mr. Brown had let this place run down and needed to get out from under it. I still think the location has a lot of potential but We paid way more than it was worth. We really cannot point the finger only at the Mayor. I do believe that it was approved by City Council.
Posted 11:14 AM, 10/24/2008
I don't think this place has been closed for a decade. People were braving the haunt on Thursdays and Saturdays as recently as four or five years ago. The pigeons have gotten good use out of it. I hope it can be saved.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:15 AM, 10/24/2008
Thank Dyer again . . . . that fellow deserves any reporting prize that he has or will have written.
RMK
Akron
Posted 02:20 PM, 10/24/2008
I think the real reason the mayor wants to sell the sewers is to raise cash. I think he has the city in serious finacial trouble. This is a good example of it. With all the stipulations in place to use the "scholarship fund" nobody will be able to use it!! Sounds to me like more fun money for the mayor.
Barberton, OH
Posted 02:21 PM, 10/24/2008
That place might be a wreck, but with the right money that place could rake in some serious loot. I remember when it was open, (I used to live down the street from it) and the food was AMAZING, and the view of the lake is nice too. Perfect spot for someone who wants to get into restaurant owning. Lot of parking, size, and ambiance, but you need the right owner to turn that place around. It's a local landmark for crying out loud!
Stow, OH
Posted 04:14 PM, 10/24/2008
@ Ed
The first rule in investing in real estate :
Don't get emotional and let it cloud your thinking. You grew up down the street so you see memories ,there is a fine line between landmark / and eyesore .Plus Bill Marras says ;
"we want to control it's use " which tells me ,look out ,for another messed up bidding process controlled by the City Of Akron .Why don't we just give it to Testa and be done with it .
Posted 05:13 PM, 10/24/2008
I agree with Bob 100%. The mayor's sewer lease proposal is using 'scholarship' to hide his true intent for the money that is to be paid upfront by the business that would lease the system.
Thanks Bob Dyer - for writing this article to remind us how blind mayor DP and Council both are to the needs of tax paying Akronites.
medina, oh
Posted 11:21 PM, 10/24/2008
Here's another Dandy Don Dumb Move:
Remember the Mobil Station at Portage path and W market St. They leveled that and Taco Bell bought the property. However, they couldn't build because of the protests of the cultural and educational elite of Akron, the Highland Square Community Association, who didn't want that big drive thru all night! So it sat for several years until Don opened up his city wallet and bought it for $400, 000. Then Don and his merry men hired a garden expert and made a beutiful garden there. Then , to get rid of the $400 K debt, DonnyBoy made a sweetheart deal with Albright to "develop " the entire area, giving us the empty storefronts that exist now, driving out Star/Sparkle market, and giving us no grocery store in the Square and the same empty lot at the corner of Portage path and Market that we had 15 years ago!
DonnyBoy, at least we are lucky you are not Frank Jackson!
Posted 11:45 PM, 10/24/2008
Give me a Fanny Mae and I will buy it. I have absolutely no way to repay the loan, but the federal government could give me the money to keep it in my name.
Heck, if the economy tanks I can make it a flop house for "middle income" folks. We can weave blankets and thread beads to sell to the tourists--who of course will have no money either.
So then we can erect a statue of an Indian pointing towards the building with a snicker on his face. "White man build big tepee with no wampum to fix."
akron, oh
Posted 07:34 AM, 10/25/2008
Jeff - about half of your post is plain wrong. but I see no need in educating the willfully ignorant such as yourself.
Posted 08:22 AM, 10/25/2008
Anyone got a match?
akron, oh
Posted 11:16 AM, 10/25/2008
Yep they already set fire to the money that went to it. Might as well finish on the building... LOL
akron, oh
Posted 10:16 PM, 10/25/2008
another fine mess you've got us into Donnie...you spend money like there is no tomorrow or that it's not your's. The best that could happen to Young's is to set fire to it and let our firefighters train at it. and has far as mr Marras stating that the building is sound, yea the roof leaks, the heating system MAY need replaced, but other than that it's ok? Come on what building were you looking at?
Posted 05:52 AM, 10/28/2008
why dont doesnt John Q Public remember these stupid acts that Donny and City council make when it comes time to re elect them.....dumb and dumber,and the Akron voter is the dumbest!
Posted 08:36 PM, 10/28/2008
You people are just sad. Nothing but negative comments again. I don't think it should be destroyed i used to love going there for dinner and i can remember when it was the only place my parents would go on their anniversary dinner. If i had the money i would take it and revamp it myself.
