WKSU News: Akron plans to renovate 100-year-old high rise

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Akron plans to renovate 100-year-old high rise City will relocate residents while building is under construction by WKSU's GRANT ENGLE	Reporter Grant Engle

The city of Akron is taking steps to renovate a 100-year-old apartment building for low-income, disabled and elderly residents.

Mayor Don Plusquellic announced a plan to temporarily relocate the residents of Mayflower Manor in downtown Akron while the building is renovated.

But the city has to wait on the approval of a loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The loan will pay for the city’s acquisition of the building, the relocation of its residents and part of the renovations.

Stephanie York is a spokeswoman for Plusquellic. She says the owners of Mayflower Manor could have chosen to continue to collect money from the federal government while the building deteriorated.

Stephanie York on Mayflower Manor's ownership working with the city

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“The place really needs to be gutted and refurbished and renovated. And he’s not just going to take the subsidy. He’s going to work with us so that it can be rehabilitated, and these residents can move somewhere else.”

Residents of the 233-unit high rise won’t be expected to relocate for 18 months at the earliest, and York says the city is planning to meet with residents soon.