Thread by @akronist

Helloooooo #Akron, it’s Benjamin Rexroad and I'm tweeting my notes from today's @AkronCouncil Ward 1 Meeting for #AKRdocumenters and @signalakron. They’re not live, but may contain some of my “in the moment” reactions.

Have questions? Think I got something wrong? Send any questions on the meeting or these tweets to [e-mail]

Interested in finding YOUR ward? Input your address on this interactive map on the city’s website:  akroncitycouncil.org/find-my-ward

Now that you know where to find your ward info, why don’t you meet your council person at a ward meeting? You can see when (and where) they’re meeting via this calendar: akroncitycouncil.org/upcoming-meeti…

Background: Ward 1’s Council Representative is Samuel DeShazior. DeShazior was appointed on 1/29/24 to fill a vacancy. He’s on several committees. A link to his info: akroncitycouncil.org/members/samuel…

Additionally, here’s some coverage by @signalakron from January when DeShazior took office. signalakron.org/samuel-deshazi…

@SignalAkron Today’s meeting took place at the Highland Square Branch of @AkronLibrary. We were in the large meeting room. If you’re interested in hosting a meeting in one of the ASCPL meeting rooms check out their meeting room info: akronlibrary.org/services/meeti…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary DeShazior was here before I arrived around 5:45. The mood was warm. People slowly trickled. While I’m sure this is an exaggeration, EVERYONE seems to know each other. The meeting started at 6:03 p.m.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary DeShazior welcomed us and introduced Fred Baerkircher, the manager of Highland Square Branch Library. Out of 19 branches, he said HS tends to be 5 or 6 in circulation and 1 or 2 in computer use. The library is also highly used for social gatherings- both formal and informal.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary Eileen Matias, an artist and resident of the ward, touted the library’s printing and copy machines. I may be biased- since I work for the ASCPL system- but I have to agree what the libraries offer IS pretty cool.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary DeShazior took the floor. He said that there’s some sort of Ward 1 special event next month on June 12 at the library. I’m not 100% certain, but I think it has something to do with the distribution of ring cameras.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary A community member asked about the ring cameras. If you don’t know, #Akron, here’s what they’re talking about: akroncitycouncil.org/news/2024-ring…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary Another community member brought up an email she just got. According to her, it said that they “got 75 applicants and had to shut down.” (I assume she meant the applications. But since I’m not 100%, I wouldn’t take my word for it.)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary #Akron has an active commission on treescapes. According to DeShazior: Jeff Fusco is on the tree commission. He said: “the only thing we need to, really, is to plant 17,000 per year until 2050.” Something said later leads me to believe that he meant 17,000 total trees by then. 🤷‍♂️

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary Apparently, Jeff Fusco (@fuscojeff), one of the at-large council members, was also present. He mentioned a 50-year old tree ordinance. (Honestly, I got a little lost.) There’s a “master tree planting plan.” Fusco’s words, not mine.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff A community member: “Are you saying that we need more trees?!?” The answer was a resounding “YES”. (From most of the people present.) Fusco said that #Akron’s goal is to get from 35% tree coverage to 40%. The CM offered the tree from his backyard. I’m dying, y’all. He’s funny.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff According to Fusco, part of the tree commission’s mission is to encouraging people to plant trees in their yards. He talked about “right-sizing” trees. For example, we’ve all see the tree roots pushing up our concrete sidewalks. He said “we didn’t do it right back then.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff Matias asked if the #Akron tree planting plan is online.  I think this is the link (you know, if you’re interested): cms2.revize.com/revize/akronoh…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff A community member mentioned the pollen (THE POLLEN!!!). She brought up the fact that there has been research done on trees that put out pollen, though she couldn’t remember if they’re the male or female trees.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff Here’s an article that also has a link to (at least) one study about this: verifythis.com/article/news/v…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff And another (Sorry! I actually find this quite fascinating): atlasobscura.com/articles/seaso…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff But maybe that’s not true. Here’s a link to a post (w/video) by @rebeccawatson that explains more: 
skepchick.org/2021/08/sexism…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Back to the meeting… Fusco said they’re working on a brochure and social media presence to inform citizens about the benefits of trees. Do people need to learn the benefits of trees? Do YOU need to learn the benefits of trees? TREES ARE IMPORTANT, Y’ALL.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Fusco said: “the estimated total pollutants removed from Akron’s air was 1.2 million. The estimated total of C02 from the air was 70,000 tons.” on an annualized basis. I think 1.2 million tons, but I’m not sure.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Another tangent: Algae actually seems to be one best plants for capturing C02. sustainablebrands.com/read/chemistry…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson The floor opened for questions. (And, I guess, comments.) About trees.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Chinese trees have been brought up as part of the problem. I had trouble keeping straight face. Both her words and her point made sense, it just sounded insensitive. The same woman who mentioned the Chinese trees said she doesn’t trust the council. At least one person applauded.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson A question was asked about fruit trees. There are some problems with planting fruit trees. BUT! Sharon Conner from Ward 10 is championing the fruit trees. According to Fusco It would allow kids to “grab an apple” as they’re walking to school.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Is this a ward meeting or a tree meeting? If it’s a tree meeting, why aren’t we climbing trees? Or at least sitting under them.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson Another community member has mentioned that upkeep of (especially older) trees is problematic for older and lower-income residents. Most interestingly, she suggested that the leaf pickup shouldn’t just be in the Fall, it should be in the Spring too.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson A meeting of the tree commission is happening next Tuesday at 1:30. People can attend via Zoom. If you want to be a part of it, contact city hall (or Jeff Fusco) for the link.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson (At the end, someone asked if the tree commission meeting is a public meeting that requires the agenda, minutes, etc. Fusco confirmed it was. Further questioning led us to the fact that the zoom link should be on the city website, somewhere.)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson DeShazior took back the meeting. It moved to talking about 88 S. Portage Path- across from Portage Path CLC. The property had a building that was torn dow years ago. There are guests from East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (@EANDC330)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Cheryl Stevens, Executive Director of EANDC, said that “what we have is a shortage of housing that regular folks can afford.” Partially because the price points are too high. They’re looking at building housing on the aforementioned property.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Our guests have set up 4- I mean 5- boards that show their preliminary designs for the property. They’re not the best quality, but here they are.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Did you know that @EANDC300 helped build the “I Promise” housing at Maple/Rhodes/Cedar? (I didn’t!) Check out this link from the EANDC website: eandc.org/i-promise

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Stevens, in relation to the development’s landscaping and putting up more trees, said: “I’m a firm believer in the contribution of trees and the kinds of vegetation that help our community simply breathe better.” (Can we ever escape the tyranny of the trees?)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Tom Mignogna, the Chief Real Estate Development Officer from @EANDC330, took the “mic”: He said that they’re developing it as “workforce housing” but they want their buildings to feel like “luxury housing.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Swinging back around to our favorite topic, he also mentioned that they “will be using native plants and trees… and for every 1 one tree we take down, we’ll put 2 back in.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 A community member asked if what they’re planning to build is, according Matias, “crap.” Mignogna responded that they’re “not planning on building crap.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 Stevens: 85% of the houses in the neighborhood have porches. Every single unit had to have a front porch. That’s where the name “Porches on Portage” came from. If all the units have a porch, every single unit can participate in Porch Rokr Festival (@HSNAPorchRokr)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Stevens said the idea of this property is that they participate in neighborhood life sooner rather than later.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Stevens: “After you get your boxes out of the house and into the garbage can, you are already a member of the neighborhood.” Additionally, EANDC wants to encourage people to grow into home ownership.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr A community member: “you said these are affordable homes, how much is a unit?”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Mignogna said that a current estimate is: $1.20 square foot all the way down to $0.83 a square foot. The units run from around 1,200 to 2,000 square feet. The vibe from the community seems to be “that price is too high.” Stevens: “we have to pay for what we build.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr A community member: it would take making around $7,200/month to afford a $1,800/month rent. She doesn’t know that many people in #Akron who make that kind of money. Stevens: “the market study told us that some of your friends are not telling you exactly how much they make.”

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Fran Wilson, community organizer, was there too! They wanted to know if there’s a website about this project and if EANDC will make the market and environmental studies public. Stevens said that they will for the environmental, but not the market. No mention of a website.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Stevens said that EANDC owns 647 units. 80% of which are occupied by single moms with 1 - 5 children. She said: “I’ve got to have a couple projects that bring in cash” to offset other EANDC’s projects.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Following a question from a community member, Stevens seemed like she’s getting passionate. There was a lot of talk about cash flow and how projects get funded. Sounds like it’s a good time plug the recording of this meeting: documenters.org/documents/ward…

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr This was the second meeting I’ve covered where houses being LEEDS (LEADS?… Some other spelling?) certified was mentioned. Can anyone in #Akron explain what this is? (Or send a link?)

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr This eventually led to a convo about who was in the room- a lot of the people had gray hair- who can afford to live in these homes, and who the city is trying to attract. According to the community member, the city isn’t doing much to keep retirees and #seniors in the city.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Back to the community member who asked about the price of each unit. According to her, “calling this affordable housing is slightly misleading.” She brought up the fact that this property might help fund other EANDC projects as proof.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Once they get some financing, they will come back to a ward meeting to update everyone.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Wilson asked Stevens and Mignogna for their 4 takeaways from this meeting. Here’s what what was said, in no particular order: affordability, landscaping (the trees are back!!), quality of the construction, and sustainability.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr DeShazior took control of the meeting. It was rapid-fire: High Hampton is part of the ward, somewhere- both Portage Path & Portage Trail were mentioned- sidewalks are being put in, Swirsky Park will have trash cans next week, & permanent speed tables are being installed on Maple.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr DeShazior said that the plan for the next meeting on June 12 includes updates on: “how and when we can help the homeless population that is in our ward” and the West Hill planning document he’s mentioned before.

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. This concludes the Ward 1 meeting for May 15, 2024. The next meeting is scheduled for June 12. For more meeting coverage, check
out .akron.documenters.org

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr REMINDER: Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any questions on the meeting or these tweets to [e-mail]

@SignalAkron @akronlibrary @fuscojeff @rebeccawatson @EANDC330 @HSNAporchrokr Lastly, and perhaps most importantly…