Kickoff event marks beginning of transforming historic building into apartments
DOWNTOWN AKRON — After years of planning, financing challenges and delays, redevelopment of the historic CitiCenter building officially got underway Sept. 10.
More than 60 people gathered at the 10-story Art Deco landmark at 146 S. High St. for a ceremonial kickoff marking the beginning of construction to transform the former Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) building into 115 market-rate apartments.
The building was originally constructed in 1931 as a YWCA, later converted into mixed-use office space, and had been owned by the City of Akron since 1993 until it sold to Welty Development Group last year. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said the sale was “a significant step toward new jobs, increased income tax revenues, greater tourism, higher population in the core of our city and a renewed sense of energy and pride in Akron.”…