Login | April 29, 2025
Residential and commercial development growing in Cuyahoga Falls
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: October 11, 2012
If a business had been around for 200 years, and had grown considerably, most people would label it a success. Now imagine that this business has over 50,000 residents and is continuing to develop, adding attractions and housing, and the success story would be that of Cuyahoga Falls.
“I think the city has not only grown, but has developed its own character,” said Mayor Don L. Robart. “I have lived here my whole life, and I have witnessed the changes.I can remember when Silver Lake and Howe avenues were just cow paths, now there is $150 million worth of development in these areas.”
Cuyahoga Falls is the second largest city in Summit County and is actually older than Akron––the largest city. Founded in 1812 by William Wetmore, it was originally called Manchester, but the post office requested this be changed since there were already several other Manchesters in Ohio. It was named after the Cuyahoga River and the series of waterfalls that run along the southern boundary of the city.
Robart’s election in November 1985 took place at the same time the city merged with neighboring Northampton Township. Voters approved the change in a 1984 referendum, and it was the first successful merger between a township and a city in the state of Ohio.
When Robart took office, Cuyahoga Falls was mainly residential, but that has changed as both industrial and commercial development has grown substantially, although the bulk of residents continue to work in Akron.
The city’s largest employers include GOJO Industries Inc., which makes skin health and hygiene products like Purell; Alside Inc., a producer of residential exterior building products; Schwebel Baking Co. and the school system.
“From a development perspective, the city is divided into four quadrants and each district is unique and our planning efforts reflect that,” said Cuyahoga Falls Development Director Susan Truby. “The planning areas are entitled the Bailey/Munroe Falls Area, State Road/Portage Trail Area, Cuyahoga River and Northampton Area.”
One of the largest projects in the history of Cuyahoga Falls is the construction of Portage Crossing, a $60 million retail neighborhood marketplace being built on the site of the former State Road Shopping Center, which the city purchased in 2008.
“We were successful in obtaining $2 million in Clean Ohio funds to demolish the 70 percent vacant center, and we have partnered with a prominent northeast Ohio development team Stark Enterprises, which built Crocker Park in Westlake, to build an almost 400,000 square-foot-retail center. Retail buildings will face Portage Trail on each side with parking in the back, and the center will be anchored by two big-box stores, Giant Eagle and Menards,” said Truby.
“The project will create over 600 new jobs, and the spin-off effect will increase surrounding property values and spur more new investment activity on State Road.”
Another important area that the city is paying particular attention to is South Front Street.
“In 2005, we had a multitude of old, vacant industrial buildings,” said Truby. “We began working with the state to obtain CORF (Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund) funds to purchase, clean and demolish properties,” said Truby.
“In 2009, the former Prospect Mold and Die building was replaced with a state-of-the art park (High Bridge Glens Park), and we are continuing with our planning efforts to attract development of mixed-use buildings. The east side of South Front Street is adjacent to the Cuyahoga River, and we want to capitalize on only one of 14 national heritage rivers.”
In fact, the river has been a major focus since the construction of the Sheraton Suites in 1989, which Truby said utilized “its features by cantilevering its restaurant over the river.”
In 2004, Falls River Square was constructed.
“It includes an outdoor amphitheatre, interactive water fountain and indoor pavilion that is open all year round,” said Truby. “People often hold wedding receptions, birthday parties and class reunions here. The year after its grand opening we added an ice skating rink.”
The district is home to antique and vintage clothing stores as well as pubs and restaurants, with the newest one being the Diamond Deli, which is a second location for the owner, Chuck Magilavy.
“The Falls River Square District comes alive in the summer with major festivals such as the Riverfront Irish Festival, the Festa Italiana and Oktoberfest. Having created Rockin’ on the River with the Cuyahoga Falls Jaycees in 1986, I am especially proud of its continuing success now in its 27th year,” said Robart.
When the city celebrated its 200th anniversary in early August, a large portion of the festivities took place in the Falls River Square District.
Residential development projects are also going up. This year, people began moving into the $10 million Front Street Watermark building, which Testa Companies erected. The four-story mixed-use project is across from the Sheraton Suites and features 40 units of affordable senior housing as well as market-rate condominiums.
“Eight of the 12 condominiums have been sold and about 60 percent of the retail space has been leased,” said Chief Executive Officer Paul Testa.
“My office is located in Cuyahoga Falls, and I have lived in the community for the past 35 years. We did a number of projects in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and this one has worked out very well for us.
“We recognize the need for affordable senior housing, and the city assisted sales by offering a 50 percent tax abatement.”
Testa said he is in the process of discussing other projects in the downtown area with the city.
“The riverfront is amazing and there is easy access via the expressway going north to Cleveland and south to Akron and Canton, putting it in the perfect position to grow,” said Testa.
Testa is also intrigued by the new opportunities that will be created when the city completes its dam project, removing two low-head dams in the Cuyahoga River. Dams in Kent and Munroe Falls have already been removed, improving the water quality and habitat. The dams in Cuyahoga Falls are expected to follow by the end of this year.
Once that happens, the river will be able to move faster, perhaps creating class 4 or 5 rapids, making it a kayakers and rafters heaven, and drawing a whole new element of tourism to the area.
“I think this will bring in a new business model, and we are looking at what projects we can bring to the table,” said Testa.
The city already has a number of tourist attractions including over 4,800 acres of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the professional 18-hole Brookledge Golf Course, the outdoor Water Works Family Aquatic Center and Blossom Music Center.
“We receive a 3 percent entertainment tax from Blossom Music Center,” said Robart. “It is not as important of a revenue source as it is a cultural and artistic attraction. When I became mayor it was still part of Northampton Township and we had a lot of problems with noise and other complaints. When it became part of the city I clamped down, and I can’t recall the last time I’ve gotten a complaint.”
The mayor said he is also proud of the $26 million state-of-the-art Natatorium Health & Wellness Center which includes a 5,000-square-foot orthopaedic and sports therapy clinic that is staffed by Summa health professionals.
“The Natatorium is a fabulous facility that caters to everyone’s needs, young or old, with state-of-the-art equipment, four pools, a gymnasium and community rooms,” said Truby.
While the city is doing well now, it did not escape the downturn.
“Most people believe the recession began in 2008, but I would say we saw the impact in the spring of 2006,” said Robart.
“We began taking immediate action by reining in spending aggressively. We cut back on unnecessary travel and began looking at all our expenses diligently.
“We did have some layoffs. About five years ago, we had 450 employees. Today we have about 400. Only a few of those people were actually laid off, some were transferred to similar jobs at the county and we also combined many job functions doing more with less,” said Robart.
The mayor said property taxes have not increased and have actually gone down.
“Our laws require us to put almost 30 percent of our total revenue into capital purchases,” said Robart. “I’m glad because that forces us to invest in capital projects such as infrastructure, which is long term for our residents; rather than salary increases for employees. If you don’t do that, eventually it catches up with you.”
Robart said the city’s approach during those hard economic times has served it well.
“The tough measures we took allowed us to stabilize our balance somewhere between $6 and $7 million,” said Robart. “However, with the state budget cuts, we will be spending approximately $1.5 to $2 million more than we bring in, thus bringing the fund balance down in 2013.”
The city did not experience a large number of foreclosures and was not left with many vacant properties, however, it is receiving about $53,000 in Moving Ohio Forward demolition money from Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office.
“We have been very aggressive in keeping up with blighted properties from a commercial and residential standpoint,” said Robart. “If we feel something is blighted, we tear it down.”
The Acme Fresh Market No. 10 on State Road is currently revitalizing its own property. The store, which has been in the city since 1949, had been falling into disrepair and the company is now in the process of an $8.5 million expansion/redesign project that will add footage, amenities and employees to the store.
State Road itself is part of a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA), which allows property owners to receive tax incentives for making improvements to properties. The council approved legislation in March, creating the CRA, which runs from Graham Road, south along State Road to the Akron city line.
“We have already begun receiving inquiries from developers and property owners in this area,” said Truby. “A CRA can be a very useful economic development tool when trying to remodel or build new and we believe it can help an owner who wants to reinvest.”
As for the future, the mayor said he would continue to focus on keeping the housing stock in good condition.
“Some of our Cape Cod homes were built after World War II,” said Robart. “We are taking advantage of federal money from a neighborhood stabilization program that allows cities to buy homes and redevelop them and sell them. Programs such as this always help to improve our neighborhoods.”
Robart said he would also like to see the high school and middle school replaced in the next 10 years.
“The high school has fallen into disrepair,” said Robart. “We are looking at tearing it down and moving it to where the middle school is. We would tear that building down too and put in a new football stadium. This should coincide with the time that we are up for state funding.
“I am also looking forward to the success of Portage Crossing. I want to see South Front Street flourish and our downtown redeveloped into a mini Crocker Park.
“In my opinion, we are Middle America at its very best,” said Robart. “Our community is a healthy mix of white and blue collar workers, our services are second to none, our utility rates are low and the amenities we have to offer rival any larger city.”