Kenmore leaders hope the state鈥檚 recent approval to designate the heart of Kenmore Boulevard a National Historic District will be the key to attracting the development they鈥檝e been seeking.
Once one of Akron鈥檚 busiest commercial districts, Kenmore Boulevard now has many empty storefronts.
Director Tina Boyes says to reenergize Kenmore, the boulevard needs places people can gather -- like a coffee shop, a restaurant or a brewery.
But it鈥檚 a catch 22. Eateries usually open where demand already exists. So Boyes sees the historic designation as a tool to attract developers.
鈥淭his was built for pedestrians,鈥� Boyes said of the boulevard, which was once a trolley line. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 have to walk far. They didn鈥檛 have to walk through a parking lot like we do now. So when a developer sees you have this form, you鈥檙e bringing pedestrians to a neighborhood, and I could potentially get federal and state tax credits to resurrect this building in a way that not only is historically appropriate but also meets a demand in the neighborhood. That鈥檚 huge.鈥�
As one of 10 neighborhoods in the city鈥檚 , which invests in areas with small business districts, the Boulevard has been repaved. Under the city鈥檚 competitive fa莽ade program, small business grants are paying for new signage and improved entryways for the some of the businesses as well.
For the historic designation, the alliance mapped out several blocks between 12th street and Florida Avenue in the heart of the boulevard. According to local historic architect Lauren Burge of , many of the buildings were constructed between 1908 and 1928 along and have retained the original workmanship.
The final decision by the on the historic designation is expected this spring.
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