History in Motion

This is one of the most exciting times of year at Leadership Akron. We are right at the starting line with Class 25, our silver anniversary class. One of their first experiences was the City Tour, which provides an annual snapshot of what is changing on the City’s landscape. One of my favorite parts of the City Tour is that each year we see things that were not there just one year before.

For instance, on my first City Tour I remember being with Tony O’Leary on a clearing that would become AMHA’s Elizabeth Park Hope VI project. We had to visualize the possibilities based on a partially completed model. Last week, we visited the same location, this time looking at the entire neighborhood that has materialized “right under the nose” of downtown. Put it together with the Northside Lofts, the expanding Cascade Locks Metropark, and old standbys like Luigi’s, and you have the recipe for resurgence north of downtown. Last year, the new Akron Urban League became the latest example of something we saw that was not there just a year before. Now, this year, we saw the new AMHA Edgewood neighborhood taking shape right across the street, yet another new asset on the landscape of the city. And don’t forget Spicer Village, a new urban living space in University Park.

In addition to new things, the City Tour also gives us a chance to observe lasting landmarks that are adapting to modern times. Last month provided a compelling example when the Howe House moved to a new resting place on the Canal. In a win-win, the house took its place adjacent to the canal that provided its notoriety; and made room for new investment downtown. And you have to imagine that Howe, an engineer, would have appreciated the logistical feat of the move itself. It’s not every day that you see a 175-year-old house barreling down Exchange St.

In addition to the relocated Howe House, we’re celebrating two major employers who are lasting landmarks adapting to modern times. Goodyear and Firestone, two of the most significant landmarks in Akron’s history, will continue to stand out on the city’s landscape. With Firestone’s announcement last week, Akron went from a big win (Goodyear) to a big winning streak.

All of these assets not only provide our class an orientation to the City but a testament of leadership as well. Each of the assets above—the Urban League, AMHA’s Hope VI projects, the Howe House, keeping Goodyear and Firestone—stand as tribute to the leaders who made them happen. We are honored to know many of those leaders as our graduates. Next week, Class 25 surveys Akron’s landscape on the City Tour. Into the future, it will be impressive to see how the shape of the city is influenced by the strength of their leadership.

To comment on LeaderLog, e-mail Mark at mscheffler@lakron.com.