An 1893 soap factory that later made cereal and paint, and an attached 1919 warehouse, have been transformed into 53 apartments close to downtown Akron.
The $14 million soap factory project represents the first time that Oriana House, a community corrections and behavioral health agency, has moved into market-rate housing. The decision to do so came after the group acquired the old factory at 243 Furnace St., about a half mile northeast of Luigi’s and less than a mile from downtown.
“To me, it’s exciting,” said Bernie Rochford, the executive assistant for special projects for Oriana House. “We’re being able to contribute to [fixing] the shortage in housing.”…