What's up with Akron? (Cleveland, Canton: best neighborhoods, real estate, lofts)

[The Wanderers]

One place we've been considering for our next move is Akron. Have not yet been there, but online it looks great. Good parks/trails, lots of outdoor stuff and some beautiful historic homes that are affordable.

What about the schools, areas, people, downsides?

Please, tell me what else I need to know.

Thanks!

[htlong]

I just moved back to akron after 25 years, the good side is the price of homes is lower than most anywhere in the country, it has great parks ,lakes and is rich with history.

the downside is you have a mayor and city council who feel we are lucky they let us live here they do what they want mostly for their cronies and the residents are to worried about beer basebal and the browns to register and vote them out of office.
the mayor and city council dont back the police dept, and the pres. of citycouncil lives in the heart of the hood where dope peddling is wide open on just about every st.corner

the biggest downside about the town is the mayor and council take vacations.... global vacations on tax payers money,and are supposed to be trying to influence companies to move here but they dont seem to be to good at that!
they want to sell the sewers to a private company(more than likely a friend of the mayor) and use the profits to put every student through college???? how will that work....just raise the sewer bill! isnt that backwards? shouldnt the govt own and maintain sewers and residents pay for their own college, oh well if you could get rid of the crooks running the city and bring in decent jobs this place would be the best town in america

[CityGrrl77]

I've lived in Akron for 10 years and although I don't follow the political circuit for the city or have any opinions on the supposed 'crooks' running the city, I can tell you that I love Akron. I am not a home owner, which is maybe why I don't seek out information on the sewers and property taxes.

Akron does have a lot of parks/trails. - Home

My fave is Sand Run Metropark:- SandRun

If you like the downtown scene, check out Downtown Akron Partnership | Home. We have the Akron Aeros with the field right in the city Official Web Site of the Akron Aeros and there are also free/$5 concerts in the summer from local various bands at Lock 3 Park Lock 3 | Akron, OH | Welcome!. The Civic Theater is also well known for plays - they refurbished it not too long ago and it is beautiful inside: Akron Civic Theatre.

As far as the schools, I don't have any kids, but I do hear that the Firestone cluster is good (Case Elementary for example) and King Elementary depending on how old your kid(s) is/are. I live in the Northwest area of Akron on the Highland Square/Memorial Pkwy/Merriman Rd corner. I love it here. I feel safe walking in this area at night and it's a well taken care of part of town. Highland Square is quite a diverse area. We have our own coffee shop Angel Falls Coffee Company, a brand new Chipotle and a new place that just opened up called Metro Burger Metro Burger - Highland Square - Akron, OH. The new library was just constructed in the last few years and we also have a old-school theater that was opened in 1938. It is still open and as a matter of fact a friend and I were sitting at Chipotle yesterday when the 'Dark Knight' movie let out. They were wanting to raze the theater but I think that has since been curbed, which is great because I think it would be pretty stupid on Akrons' part to tear it down for a parking lot. Aladdin's Eatery, Mary Coyles Ice Cream, Market Path The Market Path- a fresh new store in Highland Square Akron Ohio and a few other places round out the square.

If shopping is something you are interested in, you can head to Cuyahoga Falls to the north or Fairlawn to the west. Complete with big box stores like Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and a slew of fast food and sit-down restaurants - both areas also have malls. Fairlawns' 'Summit Mall' was just given a facelift to look more upscale. That is still the best mall in this area.

Hope all of this isnt super overwhleming and that the links work. Let me know if you have any other questions - I'd be glad to do any sort of research for you. If it'll work, Ill try to post some pictures as well. The people in Akron are great and I would say that the only downside is that there arent more things to do in the city on the weekends. There is some crime, of course, in some questionable areas/outlying neighborhoods but its typical (not every city is free of problems). Akron city limits as a whole is quite large and there are a slew of different neighborhoods. Let me know if you would like more info on that as well.

[CityGrrl77]

Hopefully these pics will work.
The first is downtown Akron taken from Waters Park in part of the North Hill neighborhood.
The second is of the Y Bridge taken from one of the Northside Lofts condos. 3rd is of the Civic Theater and the fourth is of Canal Park where the Akron Aeros play. The last 2 were taken in the winter, so of course they look a little drab.

[MR Stoner]

Akron and NE Ohio has a lot to offer. Chrissy Hynde's restaurant VEGETARANIAN is there. Cuyahoga National Park is really nice. Akron has a resurgent downtown. The people of NE ohio are a cut above IMO. Oh, Blossom Music Center...and LeBron, can't forget LeBron.

[The Wanderers]

Great information - thank you!
It does seem like the Akron area has a lot to offer, mind a few more questions?
Would you consider it to be an open-minded place? We're in the south now and are looking for a more liberal mindset.
Do you consider it a walkable/bikeable town? or any surrounding areas?
Best neighborhoods/towns for a historic house, with sidewalks, parks, good and safe for our boys? The Merriman area looks nice, at least online. Any others?
How bad are the winters, really? We lived in Colorado and miss snow but don't miss being cold til June. Are the lake/river water temps bearable in the summer, for water sports and such?
Again, we really appreciate the info!

[saba2r]

Originally Posted by The Wanderers

Great information - thank you!
It does seem like the Akron area has a lot to offer, mind a few more questions?
Would you consider it to be an open-minded place? We're in the south now and are looking for a more liberal mindset......
How bad are the winters, really? We lived in Colorado and miss snow but don't miss being cold til June. Are the lake/river water temps bearable in the summer, for water sports and such?
Again, we really appreciate the info!

I lived in Akron for a few years and generally liked it. Most folks I met were open minded. Good mix of politics. Just like anyplace, you never know from one individual to the next. There are a lot of mixed race families there. However, I would occasionally run into the old "I'm straight out of the fifties white mindset". Interesting, because one family I met like that had an actual jailed criminal for a son, while blasting all blacks for being criminals. You just gotta shake your head over that stuff.

The worst thing about Akron is the death of the old rubber industries. Much of the city has regained ground by becoming white collar, but many have been left behind. There also seems to be a large alcohol/drug problem, which may be related to the increase in poverty/loss of jobs.

All in all, I think Akron is a good city to live in. It seems clean and bright compared to others. Family oriented. Lots to do. Good public transport. Good luck with the path life takes you.

[saba2r]

Forgot to include weather. Akron does have nasty winters at times. Street care is pretty good, however. The best part is having four seasons, each with their own beauty.

[gentlearts]

Akron is a typical moderate city. It's no super duper tourist attraction, like San Francisco. It doesn't attract the best and the brightest, like NYC. It doesn't have especially good weather, like California. It doesn't have the historical attractions, like New England.
However, it has nice friendly people who care about their kid's education. Good real estate values which have not been subject to the huge swings of other areas. Just regular people going about their lives.
Akron has a fine Art Museum, a minor league ball park where you can always get a ticket and there are no bad seats, and many fine schools.

[chikaranotori]

having lived in Canton...i went to and through Akron a lot. i have to agree with the others here, as far as NE Ohio cities, it is a good place to live. not too small or as economically depressed as Canton and not as big or crowded as Cleveland. good university and eay to navigate.