7 things to watch in Portage in 2020 – Record-Courier

As we prepare for a new year, the Record-Courier examines what likely will be some of the top stories across Portage County in 2020. If you experience deja vu reading this list, its because a few of the items, including the Kent and Streetsboro city hall projects, were on last years list.

1. 50th commemoration of May 4, 1970

Kent State University will mark the 50th commemoration of May 4, 1970 with educational events, speakers and arts exhibits, leading up to the annual May 3 candlelight walk and vigil and the traditional noon commemoration on May 4. Expect media local, national and international to be out in full force.

The commemoration, which kicked off when students arrived for the fall semester, marked the first time the university has assumed responsibility for the commemoration since 1975, made official by a Board of Trustees resolution passed in March 2019. The May 4 Task Force organized previous commemorations.

Several events in 2020 are ongoing, including a national call for poems and a global community poem organized by the Wick Poetry Center; the Culture/Counterculture exhibit at the fashion school; an online social media project called @KSUvoices1970; and the "Our Brother Jeff" exhibit which is the final of four exhibits focused on the four students who were killed that day.

On Jan. 24, the Center for the Visual Arts will open a contemporary metals exhibit in honor of the students who were killed that day called "Constructed Answer," and on Feb. 29, the history department will host a research symposium called "New Directions in Scholarship on the Vietnam War."

In March, there will be a philosophy graduate student conference in memory of May 4 and a panel discussion called "Leading through Tragedy" that will bring together representatives from schools touched by campus violence, including Virginia Tech, Chardon High School and Northern Illinois University. Former Kent State President Beverly Warren will moderate.

In April, the Department of Pan-African Studies will hold its fifth biennial Africa and the Global Atlantic World Conference which will focus on the leadership and activism of college students and the militarized violent responses they faced; and Wick Poetry Center David Hassler will debut his play "May 4th Voices: Kent State, 1970" at the Stark Campus. On April 16, Taylor Hall Gallery will open "Witness: The Pivotal Role of Students in Documenting the May 4 Shootings."

2. A need to create space

The county is in the grips of what could be considered a good problem: So many of its industrial facilities are occupied that growth in many cases will require new construction.

However, that means businesses looking to move to the county sometimes have to consider planning and paying for their own building, according to Portage Development Board President Brad Ehrhart.

Both Ehrhart and Streetsboro Mayor Glenn Broska point to a 150,000-square-foot building on Wellman Road in Streetsboro as a potential answer to the business owners question: Where can I move in so I dont have to build my own building?

Broska said he believes that building will be filled this year.

"The outlook is very good for it," he said. "They are talking about some possibilities with a tenant."

Ehrhart said there also are several areas in the county with good industrial sites where companies could build, if necessary, including along Route 43 in Streetsboro on properties owned by Geis Co. and Philipp Parkway.

"There are also big parcels down in Brimfield right behind Maplecrest," he said.

In Ravenna, Springseal is planning to add 30,000-square-foot addition to its existing building, he added. Other businesses building additions include OEM Miller in Aurora, RP Gatta of Aurora.

Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said two businesses are moving to Aurora.

"One of them is Atlantic Water Gardens," she said. "Its relocated from Mantua to Aurora and bringing 22 or more employees with it."

Wellsville Carpet Town also is likely to move to an Aurora, said Womer Benjamin.

Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman said he believes there will be more work on the Chestnut Commerce Centers rail extension, which has potential to benefit companies in the neighborhood.

He also said he hopes to open negotiations with Ravenna Township regarding a joint economic development district.

"Im hopeful we can get some very active talks going with the township on the JEDD," he said. "We dont have a lot of ground left."

Ehrhart said the labor force in the area continues to be tight as companies look for more manufacturing workers.

"Thats a trend throughout the Ohio and U.S. 2019 labor force," he said.

Portage Countys potential labor force numbered 87,100 in 2019, and of those 83,600 were employed, said Ehrhart. Another 3,500 are looking for jobs.

He said more stability would help businesses locally, adding slightly fewer businesses reported they are growing this year.

In 2018, he said he visited 165 businesses, and 115 reported they were growing. This year, Ehrhart said hes visited 170 businesses, and about 109 reported they were growing.

"Theres always an issue with regards to uncertainty, and, in this case, thats in regard to tariffs," he said.

3. Downtown businesses

Kent Economic Development Director Tom Wilke said one hotspot in 2020 will be the Mill District, where the Star of the West Mill has been sold and other properties are poised to open to new businesses.

One of those new businesses will likely be the North Water Street Brewery, which Wilke said would be located at 107 Lake Street.

In addition, he said the city is planning a project aimed at providing greater pedestrian safety in the Mill District along N. Mantua Street.

Along Franklin Avenue, two six story buildings are planned, a 46-unit apartment building and a building that would house a restaurant, bakery, wine bar and 16 upscale apartments. Wilke said a ground breaking this spring is likely for at least one of those projects.

Seman said he believes businesses will continue to open in downtown Ravenna in 2020.

"Were optimistic about this coming year," he said. "We think well see some growth in the downtown area with some more businesses coming in. The retail businesses, you know, those are going to come and go."

Broska said more development of the old Shady Lake land on Route 14 is possible this year, and he said hes also hoping Dean Caputos Powerhouse Gym will help attract more business to Market Square Plaza, which has been underutilized since Giant Eagle tied up the anchor tenant lease following its move across the street.

"Im really looking for more interest in Market Square Plaza being developed," said Broska.

4. Streetsboro Fire Station and City Hall project

As plans for the new Streetsboro Fire Station are moving into place, it is clear thatthe City Center Project will not proceed as envisioned, leaving its future and its components undetermined.

In May, Streetsboro voters passed Issue 14, which secured funding for a new fire station and a new service department garage.The building features 10,000 square feet of bay space for equipment and another 15,000 square feet of living space, according to a previous report. Previously, Broska said the station plans include an adequately sized conference room and office space as well as a training tower. The new station will be adjacent to the existing fire station to allow that station to stay open during construction.If all goes well, groundbreaking could happen in late March or early April with construction lasting about a year.

In October, however, plans for a public-private city center that would have included city offices, medical offices and a wellness center, fell apartbecause no development agreement between the city and the Welty Building Co. of Akron had been signed.

Councilman John Hannan said in October that the issues with the project were not due to the failure of one entity, but the failure to communicate. He added that he thinks council members want something to happen with the city hall property and that he wishes to continue working with Welty.

5. More school levies on the ballot

Following Novembers levy defeats, Waterloo again will ask voters for new operating funds, while Rootstown will continue to work on its levy schedule to reduce voter fatigue and have more financial security.

In March, Waterloo voters will see a five-year, 1.5% traditional income tax, which is anticipated to raise about $2.74 million and will keep the district in the black for five years. March will mark the districts third attempt at an income tax and the tenth straight attempt for additional operating funds.

Also in March, Rootstown voters will be asked to renew a 4.4-mill emergency levy that will not increase taxes, but they may see something different on subsequent ballots.

Several times throughout 2019, the Rootstown Board of eEducation met with financial advisor David Conley who suggested reorganizing the levy schedule to decrease the number of times the district is on the ballot. Among various options, the board could ask for renewals but increase the timeframes, combine several levies into one or present an income tax that would take the place of its three active emergency levies.

Conley noted that reorganizing the levy schedule would take years, but the board is continuing discussions and plans to meet with Conley again on Jan. 13 to look at best first steps.

6. Kent State Gateway Plan

Kent State University will undergo several major construction projects in 2020 as it wraps up Phase 1 of its $1 billion, 10-year Gateway Plan. The projects will change the way front campus looks to those passing by on East Main Street.

In June, the university expects to break ground on a new $29 million parking deck located just off Midway Drive that will serve the new College of Business Administration. The parking deck is expected to be open for the fall 2020 semester.

Additionally, the Board of Trustees approved closing Terrace Drive from Main Street and realigning 2,250 feet of roadway to connect to Midway Drive, which will lead to the new parking deck and the new business building. They also approved a $7.3 million addition to Rockwall Hall, housing the School of Fashion, but the groundbreaking is yet to be determined.

In May, renovations are anticipated to begin on the Student Center, including upgraded safety features, new student-centered spaces and updated interior finishes and furniture.

Phase 1 of the Gateway Plan also includes the new College of Administration Building, the Innovation Hub and Dining, additions to the Aeronautics and Technology building and renovations to White Hall, among other projects.

7. Kent City Hall project

As concepts for the building continue to become more defined, the city may be in a position to start bidding its proposed new city hall project by late fall of 2020.

With the completion of a public meeting in November, Kent City Council is anticipated to receive another update on plans around February. Kent Public Services Director Melanie Baker said citizens voiced a desire to see the city use sustainable building materials and solar panels while allowing for future growth if needed. Those comments are being used to hone the plans.

A memo submitted to Kent City Council by Nancy Nozik of Brandstetter Carroll Inc. states the schematics for the proposed project have close to 24,000 square feet of occupied space about 1,000 square feet above the range listed in the conceptual plan. Plans are still being refined, however.

Noziks memo uses estimates of $250 per square-foot and $300 per square-foot cost to estimate potential price ranges for the building. Baker previously said those costs are fairly high, but acknowledged that the company provided conservative numbers. Prices could go down to about $200 per square-foot, she added.

Other things coming our way in the new year.

Bio-Med expands

In January, Bio-Med Science Academy will open applications for the 2020-21 school year, expanding its grade levels down to second grade.

Starting next school year, the Shalersville Campus will house second-, third- and fourth-graders; the Ravenna Campus will have the fifth- and sixth-graders and the Rootstown Campus will have seventh- to 12th-graders.

EdChoice

The Ohio Legislature expanded the EdChoice voucher program in the latest biennium budget, which increased the number of Portage County schools on the list of eligible schools from three in the 2019-20 school year to 18 in 2020-21. School officials across the state are still advocating that there be a higher threshold to be on the list, but any changes to the criteria will have to be made by Feb. 1 when EdChoice scholarship applications open.

Ravenna reconfiguration

On Jan. 6, the Ravenna Board of Education is expected to make a decision about reconfiguring the district from neighborhood elementary schools to grade-level buildings after a year of research and meetings. The most discussed plan has West Park remaining the kindergarten building, turning Willyard into the first- and second-grade building and West Main into the third- and fourth-grade building. Carlin would hold the preschool on the first floor and central offices and special services on the second floor. Fifth grade would be moved to Brown Middle School, which currently houses sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

New Ravenna economic development director

Dennis West has been hired to serve as the new economic development director for Ravenna city and township. He is expected to officially begin his duties on Thursday.

His office will be located in Ravenna City Hall, but he will focus on commercial and industrial retention as well as promotion and expansion for both entities. His $103,000 annually salary will be split between the city, the township and the public-private Core Team.

Record-Courier reporters Bob Gaetjens, Krista Kano, Eileen McClory and Kaitlyn McGarvey contributed to this report.

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7 things to watch in Portage in 2020 - Record-Courier