G.A.B.B.

So this is Akron Garbage Amnesty Week, whereupon you can set out just about anything and the boys, and occasional lady, in fluorescent yellow pennies will toss it in their truck.

This act of amnesty, though, apparently taxed our sanitary warriors because when I came home today my city-approved-must-be-facing-the-right-direction-or-we-won't-touch-it trash can was in not in front of my house. Nope, it was visiting the neighbor's.

Brilliant.

Labels: Akron

Labels: Akron, Business, Neighborhoods

From a city press release:

During regular city trash pick-up the week of May 21, 2007, all refuse conforming to the city's rules and regulations placed curbside will be picked-up on trash days.

"Our residents have finally had a chance to get outside and get this work done and they have a lot of yard waste to deal with," said Mayor Plusquellic. "Similar to what we did over the Christmas holiday, we have instructed our sanitation crews to pick up everything placed curbside, regardless of whether it fits inside their regular trash container."

* * *

Valle said, "During Spring Cleanup Week, we will pick up any extra bags and all bulk items that are now permitted under our curbside trash and recycling program. They do not have to fit in the new trash carts to be collected."

This should again make Eric Mansfield say "Hmmm." Meanwhile, if you excuse me, I have some work to do.

Labels: Akron

The only real item of interest in the upcoming May primary election here in Akron is Issue 17, a proposed increase in the city income tax of .33 percent.

I pointed out earlier this week that the campaign has been essentially sub rosa. Village Green gives one indication of the potential problem with a quiet, turnout-centered campaign: She would be a likely yes vote if persuaded about the necessity of the tax, but isn't sure the case has been made. She is wrestling with the near-universal misgiving -- putting $9 million in a "jobs" (i.e. subsidies to corporations" fund. It's an idea guaranteed to bring out the gag reflex on both sides of the aisle.

On the other side of the spectrum, Boring Made Dull surprised no one coming out against it some time ago. Meanwhile, Redhorse and I each had thoughts about the Bob Dyer column making fun of a boiler room caller working on behalf of the campaign.

Labels: Akron, Akron Politics

From Eric's blog:

I do have one new nugget of news -- at least for some of you. I spoke with Joe Albrecht of the Acme family Friday to discuss rumors that Acme plans to buy the Highland Theater. The grocery store chain has an interest in the theater's future since it's opening a new store as part of the West Akron renovation project. Albrecht told me that as a rule, the company does not comment on future business or rumors, but that in this case he wanted me to know that Acme is NOT putting together a plan to buy the theater.

Since the blog is still technically crappy, I have to tell you that it's the Saturday, April 28 post about Bernie Kosar's jersey.

Labels: Akron, Neighborhoods

Redhorse picked up the story on ANN reviewing the turnout. And of course he has some thoughts of his own. I had noticed an ANN interview with Highland Square Theatre Corp. ED Lisa Bostwick in Saturday's preview story. Given that the event was at the American Legion hall, it's a safe bet that PeppermintLisa was there.

To clarify my reiterate what I said to Lisa and in my comments to the previous post, I would be very happy if HSTC makes a go of it. What they are talking about would be an asset to the neighborhood. I am skeptical it will work, but I'd love to be proven wrong. What I don't love is the insistence that saving the theatre is crucial to maintaining the character of the neighborhood. It does good to neither the effort to preserve the neighborhood nor the effort to save the theatre to exagerate the Highland's importance.

But they continue to make the rhetorical link. When, for example, did it become the Highland Square Theatre?

Labels: Akron, Neighborhoods

He asks a Darn Good Question:

Now, let me get this straight. Weren't we all scolded last year for not putting our new jumbo trash cans out on the devil strip facing the right direction? Didn't city hall warn us within an inch of our recycles that we had to position the Pac-man containers within a certain number of inches from the street? Wasn't it all so the new high-tech trucks could pick up the cans and dump them without city workers having to risk injury lifting them? I thought that the plan also included one-man trucks where the driver used a robotic arm and wouldn't have to even get out of the vehicle. So how come every trash day I see 2-3 guys in the trucks who physically grab my cans (after turning them around first to grab the handle), roll them out into the street, and then physically hook them on the truck? I thought we were going to save on manpower? I thought that the position of my cans was paramount to make trash-a-thon a success? For the love of blue bags I don't understand it.

I've been wondering the same thing. Fortunately Eric is more likely to get his Darn Good Questions answered, so keep an eye out.

By the way, the Time Warner people haven't done anything to make his blog more bloglike, so the link is always the same. If you are reading this many months hence, happy scrolling.

Labels: Akron, City Government

Police have arrested a registered sex offender for rape and aggravated murder. Details.

Labels: Akron, Crime

Though they haven't specifically gone at each other, two of my favorite people in the Akron sphere are approaching the discussion about what should happen to the Highland Theatre from decidedly different angles.

First, Village Green posts the email a lot of us got from the Save the Highland folks, without further further discussion. After a discussion of logistical moves, we get to the guts of the email:

We have throughly researched the issues that have hindered urban neighborhood theaters’ commercial success. Urban flight has left city neighborhoods with a population possessing a lower disposable income, rising crime rates, and a lack of parking, while the “megaplexes” in the suburbs have kept patrons from coming to the classic movie theaters. However, the film distribution system has been the leading cause of the urban neighborhood theaters’ failure to compete. This scenario has led to the destruction of thousands of historic landmarks across the country. However, our research has found older theaters that have turned this trend around. We have contacted the owners and proprietors of these theaters to learn how they have been able to remain open and profitable. The answer is that nearly all of these theaters operate under a “community center” business model using their theaters for a wide variety of events and programming. This model has also enabled the theaters’ restoration, as it makes them eligible for funding from a variety of sources, and after restoration the theaters have attracted significantly more patrons. This “community center” business model has proven to be the savior of many historic theaters.

We have adopted this business model for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are eligibility for restoration funding and the security of a proven track record, and we feel confident that it holds the key to the future of the Highland Theater’s success. In addition, we have working with a national provider of digital cinema systems (the digital systems cost less than traditional film distribution), as well as a company that specializes in alternative energy systems which are so efficient the heating and cooling costs would be minimal. In the short term, we have a parking agreement with Oriana house and are currently working with the other businesses in Highland Square to produce a parking map. In the long term, we are investigating grants and low/no interest loans to help pay for a parking structure underneath the Portage Path School playground. The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission also has programs available for parking.

While VG stops at Submitted for Your Approval, Redhorse shares his reservations:

Speaking of those fired up folks, on Sunday the Highland Square Neighborhood Association deposited their newsletter upon your humble stable's doorstep. It is...interesting [PDF file]. The flier reveals pure hearted, if grandiose, local activists and de rigeur bogeymen -- politicians and developers, oh my!

Regardless, after being cloaked in rumor, the HSNA's vision/plan for the Highland is there for all to see and comment upon. Go, marvel, shake your head.

I still have issues with the "right size" notion of the theater. The Civic and EJ are thought to be too large for smaller production companies to rent and fill. That's true. But what makes one think these smaller productions, with their smaller staffs and budgets can fill 1000 seats? How is that profitable for the Highland and the company? And judging from their "possibles" list, the only item mentioning theater productions is for children's theater. To fill 1000 seats, you'll need about 300 kids in each production. Not happening.

Meanwhile, PeppermintLisa hasn't updated her post expressing ambivalence. I share that ambivalence. The first problem with the Highland is expressed by Redhorse and can be seen in the photo above -- over 1000 seats. And by the way, no parking.

The second problem is the Highland just isn't that nice a building. It has a storefront facade with promise, but past that, it's a big brick blob that glowers over the other storefronts on the south side of market.

But most importantly, a community center Highland would compete with a similarly modest-sized venue -- the auditorium in Main Library. The Highland needs renovations that will easily run into seven figures just to be a pleasant venue. Main Library's auditorium right now is a spanking new, clean space with a better rake, state-of-the-art acoustics and presentation electronics and ample parking. And it's more convenient to Akron generally as opposed to just the few neighborhoods around Highland Square.

All other things being equal, I wouldn't begrudge people their quixotic mission to save a building I don't care that much about. But in a world with finite money and volunteer energy, I wish people would leave the Highland to its fate and concentrate on rescuing the Civic -- truly an Akron jewel -- from its apparent difficulties.

UPDATES: For a blog that gets -- this is true -- an average of three hits a day, this post is already well travelled. I just got of the phone with Lisa Bostwick who is leading the effort. First off, a clarification of sorts. I posted the photo from the opening of the Highland with the big "1700 seats" sign. Apparently some seats have since been eliminated so now the theatre is down to around 1000.

Lisa and I talked at great length about the the issues I raised about the viability of the theatre. I'm not convinced, but understand that the Save the Highland folks have considered those issues and feel they have resolved them. If you are interested, read up on their website.

Labels: Akron, Highland Square