Howard Street in Akron used to be a vibrant, predominantly Black neighborhood and business district. Not much is left from its heyday, due to an urban renewal project in the 1970s.
“There was a feeling of community and safety,” said lifelong Akron resident GinaKaye Maddox.
Maddox’s father had a barbershop on Howard Street starting in the 1940s. Maddox spent lots of time there and at the surrounding stores, she said…