Akron weighing up non-downtown entertainment district option
The City of Akron is looking into the option of transforming the old headquarters of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. into an entertainment district.
According to an Ohio.com article, Industrial Realty Group (IRG) recently met with city leaders who were open to designating its 80-acre mixed-development as an entertainment district, the only one outside of Akron’s downtown.
Ohio limits D-5 liquor permits to 1 per 2,000 residents and according to the city planning department’s zoning manager, Mike Antenucci, there are no more liquor permits available. However, for every entertainment district 15 additional D-5 permits are created for establishments serving food.
Akron has already created two entertainment districts – one in the northern end of downtown and the other at the southern end. As there are no limits on how many “community entertainment districts” a city can designate, the city is considering adding a “district” to support East End development.
The added D-5 permits would enable IRG’s tenants to obtain a permit without having to shell out $30,000 or more to a private holder. Food establishments, free to contact their print shops to create menus including spirits, would see increased business and almost certainly a growth boost in Akron’s East End.
All of IRG’s 80 acres, except the Goodyear Bank, are either occupied or soon will be. The company’s executives say that among the tenants are two restaurants, a café theater, and a lobby pub, which would benefit from being able to serve liquor.
According to an Ohio.com article, Industrial Realty Group (IRG) recently met with city leaders who were open to designating its 80-acre mixed-development as an entertainment district, the only one outside of Akron’s downtown.
Ohio limits D-5 liquor permits to 1 per 2,000 residents and according to the city planning department’s zoning manager, Mike Antenucci, there are no more liquor permits available. However, for every entertainment district 15 additional D-5 permits are created for establishments serving food.
Akron has already created two entertainment districts – one in the northern end of downtown and the other at the southern end. As there are no limits on how many “community entertainment districts” a city can designate, the city is considering adding a “district” to support East End development.
The added D-5 permits would enable IRG’s tenants to obtain a permit without having to shell out $30,000 or more to a private holder. Food establishments, free to contact their print shops to create menus including spirits, would see increased business and almost certainly a growth boost in Akron’s East End.
All of IRG’s 80 acres, except the Goodyear Bank, are either occupied or soon will be. The company’s executives say that among the tenants are two restaurants, a café theater, and a lobby pub, which would benefit from being able to serve liquor.