Demolition crews started internal work today on the 95‑year‑old former Young Women’s Christian Association building at 146 South High Street in downtown Akron. The $37 million CitiCenter project, led by Welty Development, will transform the ten‑story structure into 115 apartments, with residents expected to move in by spring 2028.
Project details and timeline
Welty Development purchased the building from the city for $769,210 after water damage reduced the originally agreed price of $1 million. President Tom Charek said the team is preserving as much historic plaster and other original features as possible, noting that historic renovations are always challenging.
The apartment mix includes 93 one‑bedroom units, nine studios, five two‑bedroom units, five one‑bedroom lofts and three one‑bedroom units with dens. Average rent is projected at $1,398 per month, which Charek described as “an approachable number.”
City and development officials weigh in
Mayor Shammas Malik called the conversion part of Akron’s broader vision to turn downtown into a true neighborhood with a critical mass of residents. “The overall goal is to increase the population in a way that creates critical mass,” he said.
Christopher Hardesty, executive director of the Downtown Akron Development Corp., called CitiCenter the “first domino to fall” in a string of conversion projects that together aim to add more than 600 apartments downtown. He added that the progress on CitiCenter shows other projects are doable and that residential growth supports after‑hours social activity, attracting more visitors to local attractions such as the Akron Art Museum and the RubberDucks baseball team.
Other downtown conversions on the horizon
Hardesty listed several additional projects slated for conversion, including the former Philadelphia Rubber Works building at 123 Bartges Street, the second phase of the Goodrich project, the Akron Beacon Journal building, Huntington Tower and Quaker Square. “None are purely theoretical,” he said, emphasizing that each completed conversion will create demand for the next.
Amenities and future plans
CitiCenter will share amenities with Welty’s nearby Bowery project, including a gym. Unique features include a rooftop dog park on the adjacent parking garage and a rentable patio for events. The development will also provide incubator space for small businesses.
One element remains undecided: the former YWCA pool on the sixth floor. While the space will be mothballed for now, Charek said it could be repurposed later if resident demand and funding allow.
Financing and public support
The project’s financing relied on a mix of local, state and federal grants, including brownfield development money. Both Charek and Mayor Malik stressed that public assistance was critical; without it, the redevelopment would not have made financial sense.
“This deal would not have happened without support,” Charek said, calling the effort “a labor of love.” Malik added that while redevelopment is complicated, successful projects demonstrate a pathway for future residential conversions.
Impact on downtown life
More downtown residents are expected to boost foot traffic for local retailers, restaurants and nightlife venues. Hardesty noted that increased population will benefit cultural institutions and sports teams, creating a virtuous cycle of investment and community vibrancy.
As construction progresses, city officials remain optimistic that the CitiCenter conversion will inspire additional developers to look downtown again, further strengthening Akron’s economic and social fabric.
Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.
