Akron council approves conditional use to expand parking for Head Start sites

The Akron City Council on April 6 approved an ordinance authorizing conditional-use changes to expand parking and renovate two vacant buildings at 839 South Arlington Street and 1037 Wiley Avenue so they can be reused for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The measure passed unanimously, 12–0, after a public hearing and presentations from planning staff and project proponents.

Planning staff summarized the proposal, saying the two previously boarded buildings would be renovated with security entry vestibules, a larger commercial kitchen, laundry facilities and new restrooms, and would receive new doors, windows, security cameras and card readers. The Arlington Street building is planned to host three Head Start classrooms (described in staff comments as accommodating up to 40 children and 14 staff) while the Wiley Avenue building would house five Early Head Start classrooms (up to 51 children…