akrons youngs restaurant (Portage Lakes, Portage: lease, hotel, YMCA)

[htlong]

Akron's mayor and city council paid 750k for Young's rest. and 15k for a temporary roof, and another 15k for asbestos removal, now they are thinking of tearing it down? the building is appraised at 500k other than electing new leaders what do you feel should be done with this site?

[VO1ONE]

I think it should be placed on the register of historic places and donated to the Canal Coalition with the stipulation that they will restore it within x amount of time. The Canal Coalition can partner with Summit Co. Metroparks and the Trust for Public Land and seek state and federal funding along with a donation drive to assist them with the restoration. It would make an excellent museum for canal memorabilia. Perhaps lease space to a snack stand for towpath trail transients or even a bike repair/supply shop since there's a convenience store already nearby.

It would cost the city a lot of money to demolish the place and all the money they've put into it thus far would all be for naught. With it's historical significance it deserves to be preserved and with some TLC it can become the focal point of the area for all to enjoy.

[htlong]

I feel the historical value vs the monetary value... right from the start it should have been torn down. it was built at the turn of the century, the canal closed in 1913,
so it had 13 years of history .
it could make a great location for a nice restaurant and a visitor/gift shop .
my opinion is it would make for great training for the local townships fire dept.
that is what happened to the old hotel/dance hall across the street in 1987.

[VO1ONE]

But it wasn't torn down from the start. The city dumped all kinds of money into it and then just left it. If they use it for fireman training, they'll still need to clear the lot and will incur costs just as if they would demolish it. Why lose any more money on it if others are willing to take it on? If the city's (and its residents) concern is that it's a money pit, then donate it to someone who'll take care of it and turn it into something useful.

Young's was opened as a tavern in 1850 and expanded into a hotel and restaurant in 1905. There was a fire in 1907 but they rebuilt it to the original specification and enlarged it a few years later. If you only count the time the canal was still as a whole utilized before the flood in 1913 and only count the original structure, then you could claim that it only has 6 years of history. If you count the foundation, then that's 63 years of canal history. If you realize there's more to area history than just the canal, then it's 158 years of history. I only suggested that the canal associations would be interested in it, not asserting that its association with the canal is the only historical value the place has. While the canal as a whole may have been abandoned in 1913, the portage lakes were still widely used for recreation as they are to this day. You look at any set of historical photographs of the Portage Lakes area, you'd be hard pressed to not find a photo somewhere in that collection of Young's. There are a lot of things not nearly as old as the current Young's building on the National Register of Historic Places (i.e. the Akron YMCA). I don't know what you think it'd have to be for you to consider it of historical significance.

[ILOVEOHIO]

Originally Posted by VO1ONE

I think it should be placed on the register of historic places and donated to the Canal Coalition with the stipulation that they will restore it within x amount of time. The Canal Coalition can partner with Summit Co. Metroparks and the Trust for Public Land and seek state and federal funding along with a donation drive to assist them with the restoration. It would make an excellent museum for canal memorabilia. Perhaps lease space to a snack stand for towpath trail transients or even a bike repair/supply shop since there's a convenience store already nearby.

It would cost the city a lot of money to demolish the place and all the money they've put into it thus far would all be for naught. With it's historical significance it deserves to be preserved and with some TLC it can become the focal point of the area for all to enjoy.

I agree, I have always thought that Youngs would make an awesome museum of the area. Man!! To think of the history in the place. I am from around that area and have enjoyed MANY meals at Youngs. I would hate to see it demolished.

[htlong]

I too have enjoyed many good meals at youngs, but it would be cheaper to raize it and if you want reuse the original foundation from 1850 but enough tax dollars have been wasted.
"the don" just twisted arms to get 750 k for the owner..... everytime I drive by youngs all I thInk about is the wasted tax dollars "the don" spent for it.......

[ILOVEOHIO]

Originally Posted by htlong

I too have enjoyed many good meals at youngs, but it would be cheaper to raize it and if you want reuse the original foundation from 1850 but enough tax dollars have been wasted.
"the don" just twisted arms to get 750 k for the owner..... everytime I drive by youngs all I thInk about is the wasted tax dollars "the don" spent for it.......

"the don"---I like that!!

[floridaorbust]

Our nephew attends Akron U. And we have been through Akron. There are so many neat restaurants and stores. Who knew?! We never realized how many places there were. And a few great little markets. Very impressed about Akron.

[ILOVEOHIO]

Originally Posted by floridaorbust

Our nephew attends Akron U. And we have been through Akron. There are so many neat restaurants and stores. Who knew?! We never realized how many places there were. And a few great little markets. Very impressed about Akron.

I'm glad to hear you are impressed, not too many people say that. I'm proud of Akron but, I'm from Akron so....I'm a little biased. Have a good day.

[VO1ONE]

Originally Posted by htlong

I too have enjoyed many good meals at youngs, but it would be cheaper to raize it and if you want reuse the original foundation from 1850 but enough tax dollars have been wasted.

It'd be cheaper to spend $0 more dollars on it and donate it to a private organization who will raise the money to do something with it rather than costing the taxpayers any more money by razing it.