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Preservation advocates urge council to save Bowen School building
Summary
A preservation group representative told Akron City Council the 1916 Bowen School is a protected historic asset that should be repurposed rather than demolished, citing its National Register status and WPA murals as cultural assets.
Joshua Blythe, speaking for the group Progress Through Preservation, urged Akron City Council to preserve the Bowen School building, saying the 1916 structure is "more than just an old building" and noting its appearance on the National Register of Historic Places and association with WPA‑era murals by William Sommer.
Blythe described the school’s historical role through Akron’s industrial boom and the Great Depression and argued the structure offers cultural and architectural value that could support adaptive reuse rather than demolition. He asked the council to allow broader community input about options for Bowen and said a previous developer faced obstacles from the city in repurposing the building.
No formal action on Bowen School preservation or demolition was taken at the meeting; the topic was raised during public comment and entered the public record.
