Akron council holds hearing on demolition of Firestone Plant 1; public and preservationists urge study, city cites structural risks and cost

On Sept. 11, 2025, Akron City Council held a special meeting and public hearing on an ordinance seeking a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the former Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Plant 1 at 1200 Firestone Parkway.

Mike Antonucci, a staff member speaking for the city, told council the building ‘‘was listed as an historic Akron historic landmark in 02/2013’’ and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Antonucci said the city is appealing an Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission decision that denied a full demolition certificate and that the administration is now seeking council approval to demolish the entire structure.

Travis Capper, the city engineer, described a third‑party feasibility process that looked at three options: demolish the whole structure, keep the front two wings, or keep only the clock tower. ‘‘You could keep the front bay,’’ Capper said, but structural reviewers reported ‘‘a lot of things were just honestly unknown,’’ and engineers recommended against retaining only the clock tower. Capper said public bids returned a roughly $5 million difference between demolishing the whole building and attempting to retain the front bays.

Sean Volman of the city’s economic development department reviewed the property’s acquisition history and regulatory limits. Volman said the city…