The transformation of the historic Goodyear Hall in East Akron into apartments and a concert venue is among several area preservation and revitalization efforts receiving honors this week from the nonprofit Heritage Ohio group.
The redevelopment of Goodyear Hall, a Gothic Revival building dedicated in 1920, received an award for Best Commercial Rehabilitation from Heritage Ohio, a Columbus-based group that supports preservation across the state.
The hall — once home to educational, entertainment and physical recreation for Goodyear Tire & Rubber employees — is a key part of developer Industrial Realty Group’s East End redevelopment project of the former Goodyear campus. (A new Goodyear headquarters is nearby.)
Goodyear Hall’s large gymnasium was retained as part of the redevelopment. The building is at 1201 E. Market St.
Other area award winners are:
• Historic Farm Stead of the Year: Weygandt Farm (also known as the Ault-Weygandt Farm), Baughman Township in Wayne County. The farm, established in 1819 and on the National Register of Historic Places, features Colonial Revival and Queen Anne architectural styles.
• Public Private Partnership in Rehabilitation: Phoenix Block, downtown Ravenna. Mental health agency Coleman Professional Services is renovating this large 1853 building, opening storefronts and apartments in the landmark.
• Best Residential Rehabilitation: 530 S. Court St., Medina. Nonprofit group Renew Medina, formed by nonprofit Main Street Medina, oversaw restoration of this 1870 single-family home.
• Best Public Leadership: Kimberly Marshall, economic development director for the city of Medina.
• Best Main Street Business: Off the Wagon, Kent. This store, which opened in 2009, touts that it specialized in “gags, games and gifts for the young at heart.”
• Best Main Street Manager: Heather Malarcik, executive director of the nonprofit Main Street Kent, which works to revitalize and promote downtown Kent. Main Street Kent is an affiliate of the national Main Street program and Heritage Ohio.
• Best Main Street Committee Event: Main Street Kent Art & Wine Festival. This annual festival — which celebrated its 10th year this summer — features artists selling their works, Ohio wineries, local food vendors and live music. Proceeds benefit the Main Street Kent organization.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or on Facebook at www.facebook.com.