'Greatly abused piece of land': Neighbors continue to fight White Pond development in Akron

Ever since plans to build nearly 250 rental units made up of town homes, one-story ranches and apartments on White Pond were presented in June to Akron City Council, concern about the project has grown from a buzz to a rumble.

Community activists and council members have called for more information and more time to digest what the plan, which mixes in retail space with the residential units, means for the West Akron neighborhood where the new housing would be raised.

More:White Pond developer, mayor and half his Cabinet answer questions on project

For some who live near the proposed development and others who don't, concern has evolved into opposition.

In the latest community meeting on the subject, overseen by Ward 4 Councilman Russ Neal, about 100 Akron residents including mayoral candidates, preservationists, organizers, Mayor Dan Horrigan and a cadre of city officials, gathered Tuesday night to go over the plans, express concerns and propose alternatives to the $1,600- to $2,300-per-month apartment units and condominiums.

More:Council members criticize mayor, call public meeting on embroiled White Pond project

The meeting was held at Zwisler Hall on the St. Sebastian Parish campus in West Akron.

'Somewhat tame' gathering sidesteps confrontation

As community meetings go, it was a relatively low-key and nonconfrontational gathering; community organizers spoke, the developer pitched Triton Property Ventures' vision for the property — "We're happy to be here; we're happy to invest here" — and an environmental expert from the University of Akron talked about the site's biodiversity.

The public comment portions of recent City Council meetings had been dominated by opponents of the project speaking out against it, sometimes angrily railing at Akron leaders. That set up the potential for a long and heated debate at Tuesday's community meeting, but none materialized.

Residents weren't given an opportunity to speak out or participate in a question-and-answer session. Afterward, some indicated that's the point of such a gathering: to get answers to their questions.

"It was somewhat tame," said Owen Hearty, a local minister who said he wanted greater transparency on the project from the developer and administration.

Instead of asking questions, attendees were encouraged to write their concerns and ideas on Post-it notes and place them on one of several tables labeled for different aspects of the project: infrastructure, economic, construction, etc. Their written comments, said speaker Marissa Little, would be used to guide future meetings and serve as examples of possible alternative uses of the White Pond site.

More:White Pond development plan drives wedge between residents, Akron city officials

Online, a change.org petition calling for City Council "to slow down and take time on the proposed development of the White Pond Drive property" had gathered 481 signatures by Thursday morning — five days after it was started. It seeks to postpone any council action on the project until April 30 of next year and adds a list of concerns.

"Citizens of Akron are concerned about increased traffic, economic impact, the chosen developer, tax abatements, unaffordable housing, and many ecological/environmental concerns. With so many unanswered questions and unaddressed concerns, we are asking that the city take time to find a better path forward."

How White Pond swelled into a public battle

People pushing back against the city's plan have questioned the need for such dramatic change to a long-idle property.

Over the years, the land was mined for peat and used to store concrete, asphalt, and road construction debris. It has since been brought into environmental compliance and was the site of a proposed office park for several years.

Gordon Keckler, an attendee Tuesday, said he lived on the site for 18 years when the surface mining and storage of road construction debris was occurring.

"It's a greatly abused piece of land," he said.

But nature has reasserted itself throughout much of the site since previous occupants vacated it.

Many longtime neighbors have leisured for years along the wetlands, walking their dogs on the public land.

Activists stepped forward as detailed plans emerged for development of the property, spreading word about the city's proposal and drumming up public opposition.

Meghan Lugo, an assistant professor at the University of Akron, who leads the Save White Pond group, has published several articles on climate justice and corporate responsibility and was a U.N. consultant at one time.

In a guest opinion piece in the Akron Beacon Journal Nov. 28, Lugo and co-author Shelley Pearsall, a leading force behind a Preserve the Valley group opposed to development in the Merriman Valley, argued that the council was moving too fast on the project.

"Given the current state of low-income housing in Akron, the rampant effects of systemic racism, and the deadly climate crisis facing everyone, it is difficult to see how the emergencies alluded to in the ordinance supersede these real emergencies," Lugo and Pearsall wrote.

On Tuesday, Lugo discussed other options for the site and called on Horrigan — who recently asked in a council meeting "how much" community engagement "is too much?" — to listen to residents' concerns.

"I don't think there is too much listening you can ever do with citizens in our community," Lugo said.

Miranda Florent, who started the online petition, also spoke at the meeting, advocating for a nature preserve.

"There is a real economic benefit to restoring the land," she said.

Amid the dispute over its future, the property has been closed off to neighbors who had strolled through it; the city posted no trespassing sign this month.

Little brought attention Tuesday to traffic concerns that many residents have expressed about the White Pond project.

The 245 units would bring hundreds of vehicle trips per day on what one resident called already stressed infrastructure in the area.

2023 election raises stakes for several public figures

At least three public figures planning to run for Akron mayor went to Tuesday's meeting, signaling the issue's potential importance in the race to replace Horrigan, who is not seeking re-election.

Council members Shammas Malik of Ward 8 and Tara Mosley of Ward 5 as well as Marco Sommerville, deputy mayor for intergovernmental affairs, attended but were not speakers. The three, along with Summit County Council Member Jeff Wilhite, have announced their plans to seek the Democratic nomination.

The three candidates who attended Tuesday's meeting mingled with residents, gauging their interest level and concerns. If residents persuade the council to put off any action on White Pond until April's end, the issue could remain at the forefront when voters cast ballots in a May 2 primary that will likely determine the city's next mayor.

Horrigan, who also attended the event Tuesday, did not speak. He has declined to discuss the project other than through emailed statements to the media or with the council during regular meetings, but his administration has put out an information sheet that details the recent history of the White Pond site.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: White Pond meeting doesn't quell concerns about proposed Akron project