Ohio Controlling Board, Aug. 25 — The Controlling Board approved a transaction allowing the University of Akron to move forward with redevelopment of the Martin Center property, a vacant, deteriorated building on the outskirts of campus.
Misty Villers, chief financial officer at the University of Akron, said the Martin Center has been vacant since 2013, is in very poor condition and the university is seeking a developer (Moore Plaza LLC was referenced in the agenda) to either demolish or rehabilitate the site to spur improvements near campus.
Why it matters: The transaction continues a multi-item effort by the university to reduce its campus footprint, consolidate operations and remove blighted properties. Villers said the property is separate from the larger Quaker Square transaction discussed at earlier meetings; the Martin Center is a different, smaller site on the campus outskirts.
Discussion vs. decision: Board members asked whether this was the same Quaker Square site; the university clarified it was a different property. The board approved the item after clarifications.
Actions: {"motion":"Approve item 26 (University of Akron property transaction)","mover":"not specified","second":"not specified","outcome":"approved","notes":"Item approved after clarification that property is the Martin Center (not Quaker Square)."}
Speakers:[{"name":"Misty Villers","role_title":"Chief Financial Officer","affiliation_type":"school","affiliation_name":"University of Akron"},{"name":"Senator Ingram","role_title":"Controlling Board member","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Ohio Senate"}]
Authorities: []
Discussion_Decision:{"discussion_points":["Martin Center vacant since 2013 and in poor condition","University is shrinking campus footprint and pursuing redevelopment or demolition","This property is distinct from the Quaker Square parcel discussed previously"],"directions":[],"decisions":["Controlling Board approved the acquisition/transfer as presented"]}
Clarifying_details:[{"category":"property_history","detail":"Martin Center vacant since 2013 and in very poor condition","value":2013,"units":"year","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Misty Villers"}]
proper_names:[{"name":"University of Akron","type":"school"},{"name":"Quaker Square","type":"location"},{"name":"Martin Center","type":"location"},{"name":"Moore Plaza LLC","type":"business"}]
searchable_tags:["University of Akron","real estate","redevelopment","Martin Center"]
provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"item26_intro","local_start":0,"local_end":40,"evidence_excerpt":"Item number 26, the Department of admin services. Welcome, Ms. Buccello. Senator Ingram.","global_start":860.22,"global_end":883.01,"reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"item26_villers","local_start":0,"local_end":206,"evidence_excerpt":"Good afternoon. My name is Misty Villers. I'm the CFO at the University of Akron...This particular piece of property, has been vacant since 2013. It is in very, very, very poor condition...This is going to be this company is willing to come in and just either demo or rehab the facility...","global_start":921.14496,"global_end":962.545,"reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}