Ralph Capozzoli worked 37 years at The Quaker Oats Co "He lived in North Hill. He was an immigrant from Italy, barely spoke English and took a bus or walked here," said Capozzoli's grandson Joe Scaccio, standing in Akron's Quaker Square. The oat company's former factory was transformed in 1975 into a hotel although most of it has sat vacant for nearly two decades Now, Scaccio, who has various items from his grandfather's days working at Quaker Oats, is a member of a six-member team called Quaker Square Development Group that is in talks to purchase the more than 400,000-square-foot property from the University of Akron The group includes several area business leaders It's a full-circle moment for Scaccio and his family named after Scaccio's father and soon graduating with a degree in business management at Kent State to join the family business Carmen Construction and the Quaker Square project Scaccio said Capozzoli cleaned silos; a 1955 Beacon Journal article about the company honoring employees said he was in the package department at that time "He was one of the few people on the whole street that had a job during the Depression," Scaccio said Here's a look at who else is in Quaker Square Development Group and what's driving their involvement in the effort to renovate the property to include a hotel "I think there's just natural chemistry and friendships here," Dimengo said on an April tour of the property for the Beacon Journal with Craven and Scaccio The three partners giving the tour began talking about options to bring restaurant and retail spaces to the property and Scaccio made a couple references to gelato that sparked a friendly debate "You keep on saying 'gelato,'" Craven said I like complicated ice cream with nuts and almonds," Dimengo said "They have gelato like that," Scaccio quipped Plusquellic said via email that he doesn't have a stake in any other private development projects "I couldn’t think of a better way to invest in the future of a community I still love and hopefully leave whatever value that investment brings to my grandchildren." Plusquellic said he is investing less money in the project than the other partners with half of his investment being funded by his mother’s and stepfather’s estate distribution Plusquellic said he became interested in the project "because of the significance of this property not only as an iconic symbol of Akron’s past but for what it once was as an anchor in downtown." "All of the partners are Akron-area people who remember what this property was like and want to be part of bringing Quaker back to life," Plusquellic said Hysell said during a phone interview that Quaker Square is "an Akron icon" with a "rich history," adding that she enjoyed the Red & White on Thursday Night food-and-wine events that benefited the Arthritis Foundation Hysell said Briarwood Construction plans to participate in the project "and hope to be a developer and help with the construction and renovation through project management Riter said through email that he and his wife spent their wedding night at the Quaker Square Hilton in 1984 "We have many great memories visiting all the shops with our kids," Riter added Riter said Crano will be ready to perform any excavation work that may need done at the property such as creating a possible valet area that Craven said the group is considering near the corner of East Mill and Broadway streets Quaker Square Development Group plans to invest tens of millions of dollars into the project adding that the group is not currently seeking outside investment Property Assessed Clean Energy financing and bank loans could come into play Dimengo said his career in tax and business planning will serve the group He said he hasn't been a developer on other local projects but he works with other developers I want you to join me on something,'" Dimengo recalled of Scaccio Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X NEW PORT RICHEY — Josephine Antonello has had a rough few months “I never even thought I’d make it to 70,” she said like many here at the Gardens at Beacon Square The condo association told residents they’d have to leave for as long as a year while repairs were made But Antonello isn’t waiting any longer to move back into her home Attorneys for the condo association sent a letter to residents in October that said flood water infiltration is dangerous which handles the cost of remediation and reconstruction but not damage to personal property Antonello said more than three months later she hasn’t seen any work done to her place She said her condo was burglarized when she first left after the storms and a box of family jewels was stolen She said she has been cleaning herself and is waiting for an inspector to give her the all-clear as far as mold goes I called the management company that took over at Beacon Square in October to ask about progress with the repairs but have not yet heard back Antonello said she hasn’t heard anything either My son says don’t open the door to nobody.” and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Pasco County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Additional retail and a monument sign along Coit Road are planned for Beacon Square The planning and zoning commission recommended approval of a rezoning request to facilitate the changes during its Oct Connor is a government reporter covering city councils of Coppell He joined Community Impact in June 2023 and previously covered the cities of Wylie He graduated from Southern Methodist University with a degree in journalism and political science — New restaurants and businesses are opening up in a major new Annapolis development Beacon Square, off of Riva Road next to Annapolis Town Center, promises more than 93,000 square feet of retail, including a grocery store, and more than 500 apartment units. View this post on Instagram A post shared by H&R Retail (@h_r_retail) Jersey Mike's sub shop just announced that it will open July 24 in the new complex. It will be the first Jersey Mike's location in Annapolis. (The eatery does have a site in Severna Park.) Moby Dick House of Kabob, a D.C.-area chain, says it will open there July 29. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Moby Dick House of Kabob (@mobydickkabobs) The shopping center will also include Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Cold Stone Creamery, Inspire Nail Bar & Spa, Eggspectation, AspenDental, Dog Haus Biergarten, Ohm Fitness, Visual Comfort & Co. lighting company, GNC, Meg Fox Aesthetics, and Mighty Quinn's Barbeque (a New York-based restaurant that's opening its first Maryland locations in Annapolis and Columbia). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mighty Quinn's Barbeque (@mightyquinnsbbq) At a 2014 congressional hearing held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre then a congressman representing Minnesota’s first district recalled being in Hong Kong when the Chinese Communist Party crushed the student protests that had roiled the country since mid-April of 1989 The unforgettable crackdown came on June 4 of that year "I was just going to teach high school in Foshan in Guangdong and was in Hong Kong in May of ‘89," he said And I still remember the train station in Hong Kong." He went on: "There was a large number of very angry that we would still go after what had happened but it was my belief at that time that the diplomacy was going to happen on many levels." That anecdote has since been repeated, without scrutiny, by the New York Times, CBS News, and National Public Radio local news reports show that Walz was at home in Nebraska in May and June of 1989 as protests convulsed China and the government’s response turned the world’s attention to its gross human rights violations Contemporaneous news reports show Walz touring a National Guard storeroom in Alliance They indicate that Walz did not leave the United States until August of that year at least two months after the student protests ended with the Tiananmen Square massacre The discrepancy was first reported by Minnesota Public Radio’s APM Reports on Monday The Walz campaign "was unable to produce documentation to back up Walz’s statement that he was there during the uprising," the news outlet said Minnesota Public Radio also reported that Walz "was so proud of his extensive experience" traveling to China that he "occasionally used to exaggerate it"—claiming to have traveled there 30 times when his campaign now admits he has visited the country around 15 times Walz made the claims about his proximity to the Tiananmen Square massacre in a May 2014 hearing of the Congressional Executive Commission on China The student protests and the massacre "certainly had an enduring influence on me as a young man," he said The New York Times went on to report when People’s Liberation Army tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square to crush pro-democracy protests." Walz "settled into the cocoon of daily life on a small-town campus even as the chaos of the Tiananmen Square crackdown more than 1,100 miles away rippled across the country," reported the Times includes a photograph of Walz touring a National Guard storeroom in Alliance The article noted that Walz was "tak[ing] over the job" as a support specialist at the armory Minnesota Public Radio also cited a third local news article from August 11 that said Walz would "leave Sunday en route to China" after he had almost "given up participating [in the trip] earlier this summer during the student revolts in parts of China." The date of the Tiananmen Square crackdown holds a special significance to Walz The couple got married on the fifth anniversary of the massacre with Walz telling his wife that he "wanted to have a date he'll always remember." — Walking away from the home Jennifer McKown shares with her mother is tough The memories," she said as she held back tears took in water from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge But she said the repairs shouldn’t force her to move out for as long as a year that’s just what the condo association is telling people here attorneys for the condo association said flood water infiltration is dangerous People are now faced with finding somewhere else to live for six to twelve months and figuring out how to pay for it while still covering their mortgage I don’t know what we are going to do," Jennifer said Marc Salton is trying to handle things for his brother Stephan He feels getting everything out of this condo by Friday is impossible “I think this board has overstepped its boundaries by making everybody leave," said Salton Workers put signs on the doors after walking in on residents without knocking and there’s already been a report of at least one burglary Jennifer is going to pack up and leave with her mother “I’m putting things in storage that can be saved on Friday and I will be heading to Georgia and staying in a hotel until I have a plan.” to ask questions about the process but was told SJC Ventures a privately held real estate and retail development firm recently announced 11 new tenants have signed leases at Beacon Square Beacon Square is the project currently under construction along Riva Road across from the Annapolis Town Center “We are thrilled with how the market has responded to the introduction of Beacon Square,” said Justin Latone senior vice president of leasing at SJC Ventures tech-savvy mixed-use center in an energetic and well-established area in Annapolis. We’re currently negotiating several more leases for this project that will bring the center to 100 percent occupancy We’re excited to unveil those new additions in the coming months to the public.” SJC Ventures and AvalonBay Communities, Inc. closed on the land purchase in early 2022 and vertical construction started at Beacon Square in August 2022.  The property will offer a total of 52,000 square feet of retail and office space and a 43,000-square-foot grocery store, and the first openings are projected in late 2024.  Another large project along the Riva Road corridor at Admiral Cochran Drive is called Aventon Hispanic Youth Art Exhibit at the Museum of Historic Annapolis Meade High School Student Found With Loaded Gun Eye On Annapolis is a community based site focusing strictly on Anne Arundel County These staff postings are general news postings made by our team of bloggers throughout the day and are not attributed to any one particular staff person Thank you for stopping by and hopefully for engaging with Eye On Annapolis with your comments and opinions both here and on our social channels There has never been a more critical time for community involvement than today–for any number of reasons Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are our homes and this site is about the quality of life we all share It is written for the local community by the local community 2023 at 3:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}SJC Ventures the developer behind Beacon Square in Annapolis announced the first round of businesses that will open when construction finishes on the mixed-use development MD — A new mixed-use development in Anne Arundel County on Wednesday announced 11 businesses that will open when construction finishes next year The tenants will all be part of Beacon Square The site is currently under construction in Parole across from the Annapolis Town Center Beacon Square will replace an office park off Riva Road This first batch of businesses to sign leases include: An unnamed grocer will anchor Beacon Square, which is owned by developer SJC Ventures Vertical construction at Beacon Square started last August The development will host 52,000 square feet of retail and office space The grocery store will span an additional 43,000 square feet A total of 508 multi-family units will round out the neighborhood The first openings are expected in late 2024 the senior vice president of leasing at SJC Ventures is "thrilled with how the market has responded to the introduction of Beacon Square." "This will be a transformative, tech-savvy mixed-use center in an energetic and well-established area in Annapolis," Latone said in a Wednesday press release "We're currently negotiating several more leases for this project that will bring the center to 100 percent occupancy and we're excited to unveil those new additions in the coming months to the public." Related: New Mixed-Use Development Named Beacon Square Coming To Annapolis Maryland real estate records show that Beacon Square LLC bought the land from 2500 Riva Trust The sale closed in January 2022 at a final price of $3 million The 7.5-acre property is located at 2500 Riva Road Businesses interested in leases at Beacon Square can contact Tina Howard by emailing Tina@SJCVentures.com or calling (404) 375-5626 Do you know a business that's opening, expanding or closing in Anne Arundel County? Email jacob.baumgart@patch.com with the details Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. It’s hard to believe that this historic building is the same place that packed in crowds and generated excitement in the 1970s and 1980s Quaker Square is a husk of its former self in downtown Akron who moved two years ago from Silver Lake to Scottsdale He conceived and designed the shopping center and hotel in the former Quaker Oats plant Quaker Square debuted 50 years ago — April 1 1975 — at South Broadway and East Mill Street “We decided to open April 1 and if we missed it we’d just say ‘That was April Fools,’ ” Curtis said He remembered going downtown as a little boy with his parents when the 100-year-old mill was in operation “You could always smell the oats,” he said The origin of Quaker SquareCurtis traced the origin of Quaker Square to a trip that he and his wife Andreoli on turning a former veterans hospital into a hotel when he visited Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco Developers had converted the 1890s chocolate factory into shops in the mid-1960s Curtis recalled reading about it in an architectural magazine Curtis was meeting with Akron Planning Director Jim Alkire about an apartment project when the city official asked: “Why don’t you do something with Quaker Oats?” The Chicago company had closed the century-old plant Jan The complex’s 10-story silos could hold about 2.5 million bushels of grain the plant produced about 25 carloads of rolled oats As Curtis toured the old factory with caretaker Roy Olhoeft “I apparently had filed Ghirardelli in my mind and that file drawer opened up,” Curtis recalled announced plans with real estate agent Richard Stanson and industrial designer F Eugene Smith to turn the factory into a retail/office center and the silos into apartments “This project could really stimulate development of downtown Akron,” Curtis told reporters at a news conference “We think this is one of the most unique developments in the United States today.” purchased the property for $325,000 — the equivalent of $2.3 million today — with a loan from Firestone Bank of Akron but they had trouble getting a loan to develop it “The banks just refused to embrace the concept,” Curtis recalled The business partners signed up tenants and made agreements to pay contractors a little at a time Curtis and Rasmussen set up their drafting tables among the sawhorses and worked day and night to map out specialty shops “We would design and build the space in a week,” Curtis said They repurposed Quaker Oats machinery into decorations and salvaged relics from oatmeal king Ferdinand Schumacher’s mansion on Fir Hill They built a main staircase with a wrought-iron handrail from old Central High School and added leaded-glass signs from the Palace Theater Workers sandblasted the brick walls to a rosy red and polished the oak floors to a gleaming patina The rustic beauty of the factory shined through Tenants paid the first month’s rent and another month’s rent as a security deposit The developers used the money to make more shops soon rose to president and major stockholder Quaker Square opened with nearly a dozen shops April 1 The first tenants included insurance agent Robert L Sunshine Yarn Mills and Barnhill’s Ice Cream Parlor & Hamburger Emporium Curtis received confirmation that Quaker Square was going to be a hit when he saw a distinguished-looking gray-haired judge licking an ice cream cone on the way back to the courthouse Soon the place was swamped with customers and curiosity seekers including former Quaker Oats workers who marveled at the changes “We had lines out both doors on the parking lot side and the Broadway side boutiques and restaurants began to fill the complex Quaker Square expanded its hours to 11 a.m the 1975-1976 restaurants included Blimpy’s featured stained-glass windows and the massive walls and timbers from the building’s 1890 construction The railroad-themed REA Express Restaurant a separate building featuring the Spaghetti Depot and Pizza Depot displayed old locomotives and train cars outside customers could view “The World’s Largest Model Train Display” from Mack Lowry’s Railways of America What were early shops at Quaker Square?There was so much to see Shops that opened during the first 16 months included:  Quaker Hilton built in silosAfter establishing the retail center Curtis and his business partners turned their attention to transforming the grain silos into living spaces Quaker Square Associates teamed up with Jaylar Corp. Private investors in the $7.2 million project included such Hollywood celebrities as Gene Hackman A demolition crew tore down 45 small silos and left 36 larger ones standing for an L-shaped hotel Curtis designed 144 circular rooms with a 24-foot diameter in the 120-foot concrete structures Workers added floors and cut out slabs for windows we were the construction manager,” Curtis said The Hilton Inn welcomed its first overnight guests July 15 Curtis and Rasmussen earned awards and received international acclaim for their work on the hotel Newspapers and magazines around the world wrote articles about it “We had buses bringing people who would stay overnight and shop and eat,” he said Curtis ended his involvement with Quaker Square in 1985 after selling his stock to Nusbaum and becoming chief corporate architect for Hilton Hotels He and his wife traveled first class as he worked on projects in London “Carol and I got to see the world and we got paid for it,” Curtis said the University of Akron hired Curtis as its architect He retired 17 years later as vice president of capital planning and facilities management having overseen construction of 22 buildings He was 78 when he stepped down in December 2015 Quaker Square’s fortunes faded over the decades The once-thriving complex lost longtime tenants Curtis thinks it was a mistake when Nusbaum began to focus on nightclubs “He chased all the good customers away,” Curtis said The remaining retailers consolidated on one floor by the early 2000s After Hilton’s franchise agreement expired The University of Akron bought Quaker Square from Nusbaum in 2007 for $22.7 million and rebranded the hotel as the Quaker Square Inn before converting it into dorm rooms in 2013 The final two shops, Quaker Square General Store and NewsStand Comics, now Rubber City Comics “That includes 3½ acres of ground and over a million square feet of occupiable space,” he said “That $800,000 is less than a dollar a square foot.” but he’s happily retired at 88 in Arizona with Carol He’s eager to see what happens next at the complex he opened in 1975 The place holds many happy memories for him — just as it does for those who shopped there Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com NEW PORT RICHEY — Josephine Antonello can handle a lot but she was so upset after going inside her condo in New Port Richey “I got dizzy and I threw up looking at everything," Antonello said was there as Antonello found papers and pictures thrown everywhere on the floor inside her condo Antonello was heartbroken knowing that her condo was burglarized Antonello is one of hundreds of people in The Gardens at Beacon Square who have been forced to leave as the condo complex handled flooding repairs She had stopped by to check on her place and quickly realized someone had broken in and stolen those precious heirlooms “You are supposed to have security," Rios said You take a lot of money out of these people that live here every month.” The repair work at the condo complex could take six to 12 months to complete people living at the complex still have to pay condo fees and their electric bill “It’s hard for me to find a room," Antonello said Even though Antonello has people like Rios looking after her The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said they are investigating the burglary 2022 at 1:50 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}SJC Ventures and AvalonBay Communities 2021 that they bought the land to build a new Parole mixed-use development will sit across from the Annapolis Town Center MD — Developers recently bought the land to build a new mixed-use development in Parole The community will feature a 43,000-square-foot grocery store as well as 52,000 square feet of retail and office space This construction is slated to finish next year The neighborhood will feature 508 luxurious multi-family units The complex will include 339 units available to anybody and 169 reserved for residents 55 and up An office park currently occupies the plot "This is smart growth - commercial and residential with community gathering space and parking near bus routes at a Town Center on previously developed land," Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman tweeted last Friday and everyone involved in putting this major project together." Georgia- based developer SJC Ventures and AvalonBay Communities announced on New Year's Eve that they bought the land from Corporate Office Properties Trust Maryland real estate records do not yet show the purchase price The state database estimated that the property was worth $26 million as of last July “Beacon Square will become part of our portfolio of transformative and high energy mixed-use centers to give residents in Annapolis a central gathering place for living shopping and entertainment,” SJC Ventures Partner Jeff Garrison said in a press release “We look forward to breaking ground immediately.” Cushman Wakefield handled the deal between SJC ventures and AvalonBay Communities Visit sjcventures.com/active-projects for more information Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County news A 37-year-old man surrendered to police Monday morning after an hours-long standoff in Highland Square members of the SWAT team as well as negotiators were called to a residence on South Highland Avenue after reports of a domestic incident He noted it was unclear if the incident happened at the South Highland residence or nearby Latest update: Man arrested in Highland Square standoff Monday was involved in similar incident in 2015 Miller said the man was accused of assaulted a woman who was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at around 2:40 a.m. and SWAT was called to assist police at about 5 a.m after the man refused to leave the property Police recovered a handgun from the suspect's possession The suspect faces numerous charges in connection with the assault West Market Street in Highland Square was closed during the standoff. Nearby Portage Path CLC closed for the day, according to the Akron Public Schools website Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com Downtown Akron's landmark Quaker Square is under contract for new ownership The University of Akron has signed an agreement to sell the former hotel university spokeswoman Cristine Boyd confirmed Wednesday The news was first reported by Signal Akron Details about the buyer and sale price were not immediately available Wednesday Quaker Square is also listed as being under contract on LoopNet where the property is described as having 411,000 square feet of building space split between six buildings a connected galleria and the Quaker Station conference center A parcel encompassing the entire property has been appraised at nearly $17.7 million according to the Summit County Fiscal Office The university sent the agreement to the Ohio Department of Administrative Services for review Boyd expects the Ohio Office of Budget and Management’s Controlling Board to review the agreement at its April 7 meeting Approval of the Controlling Board is required before the Department of Administrative Services can sell Quaker Square on the university's behalf was sold to university in 2007Quaker Square breathed new life into buildings long owned by the Quaker Oats Co. The redeveloped complex, known at its height for its fanciful Tavern in the Square restaurant and an assortment of shops, opened in 1975. A Hilton hotel opened a few years later. The university purchased the property in 2007 The dorms closed after the height of the pandemic The last of Quaker Square's retail businesses, the Quaker Square General Store and NewsStand Comics, closed in 2015, the Beacon Journal reported Quaker Station continues to be used as a banquet and event center "Growing up, that was a go-to place for fun and frivolity, to go and eat in a train car and go shopping in an old depot," said Julie Brandle, chair of the board of directors at the Greater Akron Chamber and founder and president of Metis Construction Services in Kent "The nightlife for downtown Akron was in that very place where you had a number of nightclubs and restaurants Considering the site had since fallen on hard times "To think about the exciting opportunity to have it refreshed and come alive again is exciting and just a great opportunity for downtown." and you add in some of the other activity that's happening downtown Beacon Nail Bar will go into a 3,242-square-foot space at Beacon Square Jonathan is a features reporter covering businesses and restaurants across the northern Dallas-Fort Worth region He joined Community Impact in July 2023 after earning a journalism degree at The University of Texas at Arlington and writing for the college newspaper JC Penney at the Annapolis Mall will soon be replaced with Hobby Lobby, Grocery Outlet, Onelife Fitness Bethesda-based H&R Retail, a highly specialized retail-only brokerage, is actively marketing two 3,500 sf (approx) stores adjacent to a yet-to-be-built Hobby Lobby, Grocery Outlet, and Onelife Fitness. H&R Retail also represents Beacon Square the mixed-use property nearing completion on Riva Road across from the Annapolis Town Center The mall is owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE a French multinational commercial real estate company headquartered in Paris they decided to offload most of their US investments to concentrate on the European market effectively putting the Annapolis Mall up for sale The deadline for the sale was the fourth quarter of 2023 It is unknown when JC Penney will close, and the company has not filed a WARN Notice with the State It is unknown when the other tenants will ultimately open We have reached out to Westfield Annapolis The Canines & Crosstreks Adoptable Pet of the Week Slow: Eastport’s Infamous .05K Bridge Run Returns An April 18 tour of Quaker Square in Akron and additional interviews yielded several insights about what could be coming to the historic property and what will stay put once a newly formed development group gets to work on it One of the development team's largest priorities is bringing in a hotel brand but where exactly the rooms would be located remains to be seen The group members shared other plans and ideas as well and train decor on the inside of the property will remain The property's basement, currently dark and barren, basement serves as more of a blank canvas, but it will likely be transformed in one way or another, said Kyle Craven, vice president of Craven Construction and one of six local businesspeople who is in talks to buy the property What about the old oat silos?Quaker Square previously housed a 200-room hotel Craven said cylindrical rooms that were first oat silos president of Carmen Construction and another of the six partners Other silos extending down into the basement could be used for rock-climbing walls or for installing lights to beam down on restaurant diners It all depends on the results of an upcoming market study In addition to Craven and Scaccio, the other partners in the Quaker Square Redevelopment Group are Steve Dimengo, managing partner of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs; Don Plusquellic, Akron's longest-running mayor from 1987 to 2015; Danielle Hysell, managing partner of Briarwood Construction; and Jim Riter, president of A Crano Excavating "All of the partners are Akron area people who remember what this property was like and want to be part of bringing Quaker back to life," Plusquellic said in an email Plans for the property include a hotel and restaurants One specific option is a wine bar with a patio Dimengo mentioned the possibility of an old-fashioned ice cream shop will continue to use the separate Quaker Station event venue on the eastern side of the property through at least the end of 2026 What is Quaker Square's footprint?Sitting on more than nine acres Quaker Square has over 400,000 square feet of building space ballrooms and multiple as-of-now-vacant restaurants and kitchens; and Quaker Station In addition to a possible rock-climbing setup Craven said he also likes the idea of installing pickleball courts in one of the ballrooms and for Quaker Square to host a pickleball club Strongsville native Corey Mach is really happy to be playing a goofball as Shakespeare in the North American tour of the hit musical "& Juliet," which lands at Playhouse Square Tuesday for a three-week run a 2010 Baldwin Wallace musical theater graduate he's been seen largely for "pretty boy" roles But his role in this jukebox musical is different "I really didn't get to stretch my goofy muscles a lot because I was really only seen as like (the) handsome leading man just based on what I looked like they're not written to be goofballs," he said Tuesday from the tour in Providence "I think that the humor of the role is something that I just really gel with I think it's something that I haven't really had a chance to explore throughout my career just being like an absolute clown on stage," Mach said Director Luke Sheppard was adamant about Mach bringing his own humor to the new touring production as Shakespeare Sheppard trusted the actors to bring their own sense of humor and ideas to each line rather than copy what had been done successfully before "You're not hearing these lines like you would on Broadway It really is a completely new production with new ideas and new people and new takes on the characters," said Mach which has been running on Broadway since 2022 It's the only Broadway show that opened that year that's still running The musical had its world premiere in Manchester The North American premiere was in Toronto writer David West Reads flips the script on "Romeo and Juliet" by asking what would happen if Juliet didn't end her life over Romeo In "& Juliet," a romantic comedy that celebrates girl power Juliet (Rachel Simone Webb) goes on a journey with friends that include nonbinary pal May and nurse Angelique to discover life and love her way The idea for a new ending to the greatest love story ever told comes from Anne Hathaway is not happy about changing the ending of his "Romeo and Juliet," which is done He considers himself the master of his craft and now his wife is taking over and telling him he's wrong This leads to Shakespeare having temper tantrums "The fighting with his wife kind of turns him into a child which leaves room for all sorts ofinteresting comedic takes," Mach said As Shakespeare and Anne's relationship goes through many ups and downs throughout the story their relationship as husband and wife is juxtaposed with the story of Romeo and Juliet "There are so many interesting parallels drawn between Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare and Anne throughout the show that the audience may notice," Mach said it's pretty obvious that the Romeo and Juliet relationship is kind of a blueprint for their relationship as a real-life couple." Juliet's journey is set to anthems written by Max Martin that were made famous by pop stars including the Backstreet Boys They're the songs that Mach grew up listening to as a millennial "If you're a millennial and you come into the show I have no doubt that you'll know every single song," he said Mach's favorite album growing up was the Backstreet Boys' "Millennium," which came out in 1999 "Larger than Life," which was his favorite is now the song that he opens "& Juliet" with as Shakespeare "I'm just like living my boy band fantasies," Mach said "& Juliet" transfers brilliantly from scene to song "It's genius the way that they go from scenes to songs and back into scenes without losing the storyline And for songs in a jukebox musical to increase the stakes Five Baldwin Wallace musical theater graduates are in this cast of 24 all trained by the school's musical theater director That includes three of the show's eight leads so Mach's in good company with 2023 grad Mateus Leite Cardoso as Francois and 2020 grad Nick Drake as May The other Baldwin Wallace alumni in the show are 2020 grad Shelby Griswold who just graduated last spring and is an ensemble member and Juliet understudy "I think it's just a testament to the program that Vicky runs and the fact that straight out of school Camille (Brooks) can jump into a show of this stature," Mach said He praised his fellow Baldwin Wallace actors including Cardoso's "great pop voice" and Drake's "beautiful presence." Griswold an understudy for Anne who will perform the role for the last of the tour's three weeks in Cleveland "sings the hell out of these songs," the actor said he's happy to be coming home and has heard that his dad has arranged for tickets for friends and family "in the hundreds." "Let's just say my dad is like best friends now with the group sales guy," Mach said Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com musical supervision/orchestrations/arrangements; Soutra Gilmour additional orchestrations and arrangements; Andre Cerullo Information: playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000 Getting unanimous approval from Bloomington’s plan commission on Monday night was a site plan for the supportive housing and shelter facility that Beacon is planning to build on 3rd Street south of Rose Hill Cemetery A $7 million grant that Beacon received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA will go some way towards covering the cost of the land purchase and the construction Beacon CEO Forrest Gilmore indicated to The B Square that there is a big amount of fund raising left to do and nothing is a “done deal” until that is complete “There’s still much to be done on that end as we prepare for our community appeal.” Gilmore indicated that the nonprofit is hoping for a spring 2025 groundbreaking Beacon also operates an overnight shelter called Friends Place The concept for the new project is to co-locate Beacon’s existing day shelter and overnight shelter which will be located on the first floor of the new two-story building The first floor is planned to include a commercial kitchen The new program of supportive housing units will occupy the second floor of the new building The second floor will include 20 one-bedroom apartments for supportive housing and another five apartments for staff who will be able to live there as part of their compensation for working at the facility Gilmore described several partnerships planned for the new facility Gilmore added that he believes it will be possible to have a recovery therapist and case managers from Centerstone working onsite Gilmore reported that Beacon is in conversation with the city of Bloomington police department to have a downtown resource officer (DRO) onsite Glimore also described the possibility that the Monroe County probation department would have a regular office as a part of the facility Indiana Legal Services will have space for temporary visits about once a week Gilmore also described the outreach that Beacon had done to nearby residents and businesses which included one-on-one or small group meetings with over 60 residents Beacon also described how Beacon staff had walked door-to-door and spoken with 90 residents and businesses near the new property The community outreach had helped provide input to the site plan design that was in front of the plan commission that night No one spoke against the Beacon site plan during public comment The site plan won praise from plan commissioners “I’m just impressed with your community outreach and communication with all the neighborhoods with all the different groups.” Smith added “To have no one here talking about this [in opposition] is just a testament to how much work you put in.” who is the city council’s appointment to the plan commission And I’m thrilled by the different services that you guys already offer.” Stosberg added “But being able to offer them all under one roof is just going to make everybody’s lives so much easier And I’m just really happy for this development.” The 37-year-old Akron man involved in an hours-long standoff with police in Highland Square on Monday morning was involved in a similar standoff with law enforcement in 2015 according to officials and previous Beacon Journal reporting In 2015, Thomas Blanton was arrested after nearly seven hours of evading police custody Officers were attempting to serve a warrant to Blanton at a Seward Avenue duplex at about 10:30 a.m He was then charged with felonious assault according to Beacon Journal partner News 5 Cleveland Blanton has previously been charged with a number of criminal offenses dating back to 2005 in both Stark and Summit counties, according to court records. Some of the charges include arson aggravated assault and receiving stolen property What happened in Highland Square Monday?On Monday, Blanton reportedly attacked a woman outside a Highland Square business on West Market Street at about 2:40 a.m. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Blanton barricaded himself inside a former barber shop on Highland Avenue where police attempted to negotiate with him for several hours Michael Miller confirmed police eventually deployed tear gas and knocked down the front door of the building inadvertently ran into the battering ram and was briefly stunned before officers were able to apprehend him Blanton, who was briefly hospitalized, faces a number of charges, including felony strangulation, domestic violence and felonious assault, according to court records. and an Instagram-famous cobblestone alley (#acornstreet) make this property the apotheosis of genteel luxury including a private garden and greenhouse—delivers a luxurious (and envy-inducing) living experience in the heart of the Hub Louisburg Square against the home of former Secretary of State John Kerry and Teresa Heinz / Photo by John Blanding/The Boston Globe via Getty Images this gorgeous Greek Revival–style townhouse boasts 6,876 square feet of space Inside you’ll discover lavish finishes and expansive dimensions amid the elegantly renovated residence which includes 6 bedrooms and 7 baths (5 full The entry floor provides an inviting introduction to the home There’s a formal living room ideal for entertaining and a library perfect for quieter pursuits and a plaster ceiling of close to 12 feet that features intricate decoration There’s also a sizable eat-in kitchen with private garden views—it lies adjacent to the formal dining room with a conveniently located butler’s kitchen nearby the entirety of the second floor is reserved for a master suite which is designed for complete comfort with an opulent bathroom On the top floor is a two-plus bed and two bath au pair/rental unit with a two-story artist’s window showcasing those Louisburg Square views It pairs perfectly with a deck that also highlights the cityscape When you want to venture away from the neighborhood public transportation is convenient and close while weekend escapes to the Cape are breeze as well For more information, contact the Rebecca Davis Tulman and Leslie Singleton Adam Team, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, www.gibsonsothebysrealty.com The patio entry from Acorn Street, America’s most photographed alley On the Market: The Octagon House in Provincetown On the Market: A Residential Cape Cod Church With a Working Organ a distinctive "Blue Blob" has become more than just a symbol—it's a sign of revival for New Orleans Square a once-struggling area now experiencing a surge of economic growth and community support you understand that it's New Orleans Square," said Broken Arrow Vice Mayor Christi Gillespie it's hard to miss the unmistakable logo adorning banners and even along the streets of Broken Arrow the logo represents a collective identity for the area signaling a renewed sense of community and purpose attests to the positive impact the revitalization has had on the community McDaniel's family embarked on their entrepreneurial journey three years ago with a home bakery eventually expanding to a market and café of their own—Handmade—which recently soft-opened to the public it felt like we had the entire city behind us "Not only the residents but also the city officials are really investing in New Orleans Square." The investment in New Orleans Square in the past has included efforts to officially name the area and redefine it something Gillespie underscored as a crucial step in the city's commitment to rejuvenate this once-struggling community but overall expansion plans were put on hold; and occupancy of businesses in the area fell to less than 50% Gillespie noted that since her election in 2019 and city efforts to turn things around with support from the community occupancy across New Orleans Square has consistently risen to above 90% Gillespie attributes this success to a combination of economic investments in infrastructure Various promotional videos can be found on social media promoting the square and businesses that call it home Gillespie said there are also annual events held there that she believed truly showcased what it had to offer; and the growth still to come The transformation of the intersection came with a hefty price tag cost between 4 and 4.5 million dollars," said Gillespie "Citizens voted for part of that as part of our general obligation bond." She said the "Blue Blob" has been a central part of that project actually a medallion prominently displayed in the middle of the square's intersection While some residents have questioned its aesthetic value in the past and have suggested alternative ways the funds could have been used Gillespie sees it as an integral part of the area's branding "What I love is that any time somebody's talking about it whether it be questioning or negative or most of the time positive they're talking about it and that is part of branding," said Gillespie Regardless of differing opinions on the "Blue Blob," McDaniel also sees it as a unifying symbol "It really connects the four different quadrants of this intersection in unity and I think that this intersection is really special because it's made up of a lot of small businesses and the blue medallion really represents that," said McDaniel Take a first look inside the new Starlite atop the Beacon Grand Hotel at Union Square Lisa Marchese, chief commercial officer of Northview Hotel Group says it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring back such a storied piece of San Francisco history the team hopes to reinstall the bar as a fixture for both visitors and locals: a destination for out-of-town guests to experience a bit of old-school glamour and a place for service workers from around Union Square to come for a post-shift drink “It kind of mirrors the city in a lot of ways,” Marchese says “It’s been through a lot of manifestations The idea is reinventing it and being respectful of what was there in the past We’ve got the legacy and the heritage to lean into and we’ve got the reinvention — which feels like where San Francisco is now.” Baird, who co-founded Trick Dog, the Mission District cocktail bar named among the World’s 50 Best in 2019 says he was thrilled to get the call to help reopen the once-popular Union Square watering hole [the Starlight Room] was really a part of the cocktail zeitgeist in San Francisco,” Baird says so it was the aspirational place to either go and learn Baird says the menu aims to keep things relatively simple focusing on classic drinks — but with a touch more technique and a little bit of drama the Cable Car Redux gets rolling as a riff on a traditional sidecar then heads through San Francisco’s Chinatown picking up spiced rum Then it gets wrapped in a “Muir Woods-scented fog” that billows around customers’ glasses when the cocktail arrives tableside “It’s so quintessentially San Francisco and the color of the drink is the color of a cable car,” Baird says but it was really fun to reimagine that drink and then make the theatrics surrounding it.” expect fun bar bites such as a hot fried chicken bun seasoned with Szechuan spices and pickled daikon or baked oysters shrouded in a sauce made of cider Everything should be easy to eat even as you relax into the bar’s jewel-toned chairs or perch at one of the low-slung cocktail tables — which is to say: there’s no silverware required head up to the 21st floor for churro tiramisu deep-fried coffee-flavored churro that’s dusted with chocolate Crumeyrolle leaned into a rich green color palette with pops of pattern and playful touches like swinging tassels and fringe Cozy nooks and intimate seating areas throughout the space make the bar an ideal backdrop for a date night out while the sweeping views and lively music aim to attract large groups celebrating birthdays or any special event Marchese says Crumeyrolle and the design team also worked to give the bar texture by layering new and found items while some of the furniture was custom-made for the new Starlite some items from the bar’s eclectic art collection and miscellaneous objects scattered through rooms came from local vintage stores and the Alameda Point Antiques Faire “We wanted to create a space that felt intimate that embraced the skyline but wasn’t just about looking out the window,” Marchese says the team hopes a relatively approachable price point and an eye-catching design will make the new Starlite a shining beacon for downtown tourists and locals “It’s not a special occasion bar,” Baird says “It just happens to be a special bar on the top of a hotel.” Starlite is located at The Beacon Grand (450 Powell Street San Francisco) and will be open from 4 p.m Thursday through Saturday and from 2 to 11 p.m 2021 at 5:39 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A rendering shows a proposed housing development on Beacon Square CT — A new affordable housing development is planned for northeast Fairfield although some residents worry the project could create traffic problems in the area The proposal for 2-6 Beacon Square would replace two duplexes on the roughly 36,000-square-foot property with 26 townhome-style units eight of which would be set aside as affordable “This project started as a much bigger project,” said architect Phil Cerrone representing developer Beacon Square Properties LLC at a public hearing Tuesday before Fairfield’s Town Plan and Zoning Commission which is considering a zoning compliance application for the site The developer wanted to build something that fit in with the neighborhood “as best as it could,” Cerrone said noting the property’s proximity to the Pine Tree senior housing complex The new units would be spread across three buildings and would range in size from 780-1,800 square feet Each would have a first-floor single-car garage plus two additional stories of living space and be about 30 feet tall Another six parking spots would also be available in the development “We’re not taller than we would be allowed to build by the zoning regulations,” Cerrone said “There are basically 26 single-family homes.” predicted the units would be occupied by single people empty nesters and members of the workforce such as firefighters and teachers The zoning application was made under state law Section 8-30g which applies to towns where less than 10 percent of housing stock meets the criteria to be recognized as affordable the only way Fairfield can avoid approving housing proposals consisting of at least 30 percent affordable units is by proving a project poses a threat to public health welfare and safety that outweighs the need for affordable housing Residents and at least one commission member had concerns during Tuesday's hearing “The area’s too dense already,” said Paula Gallo a small building at 1-3 Beacon Square would remain “There is no adequate parking as it is right now,” said Mary Ann Greco “To put that there with 1-3 Beacon Square being a ranch on the opposite side I would really like to see what all of it looks like.” The project would add 13 vehicles to the roads during the morning peak traffic hour and 19 in the afternoon peak according to traffic engineer Michael Galante “It has minimal impact on the area roads,” Galante said although he did recommend adding a stop sign at the Beacon Square exit The commission is expected to vote on the application Jan Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The article said the development would house budget grocer Aldi stir-fry restaurant Honeygrow and beauty studio Salon Loft among other businesses dubbed "The Shoppes at Riva," would replace a six-story building already being demolished at the corner of Riva Road and Holiday Court The site is expected to open in January 2024 Eye On Annapolis said in its story published last Friday the property is slated to bring more construction to the already-busy Parole neighborhood The Annapolis Town Center sits on a diagonal from the site and the Festival At Riva is directly across the street Beacon Square, a mixed-use development, is also under construction a block away. That shopping center announced its first batch of tenants this February See Also: Beacon Square Announces 11 Businesses Opening Next Year In Annapolis To learn more about The Shoppes at Riva and see sketches of the project, read the full story from Eye On Annapolis By Steve BrownReal Estate Editor the 110-acre project is on Coit Road just north of Bush Turnpike The development will have a combination of office apartments and retail and is a project of Billingsley Co The developer has broken ground on 539 apartments in the project vice president Carey Morgan said that 19,914 square feet of speculative retail will break ground in March and April D-FW Real Estate NewsGet the latest real estate news you need to know GoogleFacebookBy signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Designed by architects Hensley Lankin Rachel, the more than $4 million retail project at Coit and Mapleshade is set to open late this year, according to planning documents filed with the state. Plans for Beacon Square call for more than 1,100 apartments and about 800,000 square feet of offices and retail. More than 7 acres of parks are also planned. The property is one of the largest undeveloped tracts in that area of Plano. The land was previously zoned for light industrial warehouse and office use. Billingsley has built some of North Texas’ most successful developments, including Cypress Waters and Austin Ranch. The Dallas-based developer is also planning to break ground late this year or in early 2023 on the first phase of a new mixed-use development at the southwest corner of State Highway 121 and U.S. Highway 75 in Allen. Join the conversation Thank you for reading. We welcome your thoughts on this topic. Comments are moderated for adherence to our Community Guidelines Please read the guidelines before participating occupying the remaining 77,413 square feet of space “We have been searching for the right organization to share Building E with Cargill and we have found it,” said Ana-Marie Codina Barlick “We thank Unified Logistic Services for becoming our newest partner at Beacon Logistics Park which provides a prime location to air and sea ports in Miami Dade and Broward County and access to Hialeah’s robust workforce.” was founded in 2005 as a privately owned and operated logistics company that specializes in local and nationwide logistic services The company provides a variety of logistical solutions including LTL is relocating from Medley and is expected to move into their new space at Beacon Logistics Park this summer e-commerce fulfillment saw explosive growth with surges of over 44% We quickly realized that we needed a larger facility to position us for future growth and Beacon Logistics Park offered the right setting “We firmly believe that this partnership is the optimal solution to help us meet the demand as we continue to grow this core part of our business.” Fairchild Partners’ Jose Juncadella and Sebastian Juncadella represented the landlord Codina Partners and USAA Real Estate; and Savills’ Peter Starr and Thomas Capocefalo represented the tenant Codina Partners and USAA Real Estate announced the leasing of 70,000 square feet in Building E to Cargill the largest privately-held corporation in the United States by revenue located at NW 145th Place and NW 107th Avenue will span more than 1.3 million square feet of space The Class A distribution and logistics center is within Free Trade Zone 281 and is ready to accommodate tenants’ foreign trade zone needs managed by the seasoned team of professionals at Codina Partners is located within proximity to Okeechobee Rd providing easy access to all of Miami-Dade County and Broward County Downtown Akron is now home to five vacant or nearly empty buildings collectively saturating the market with 1 million square feet of mostly office space that looked more profitable before the pandemic where intervention by public and private officials staved off a lengthy tax foreclosure case this year These towering office buildings on Cascade Plaza which is also home to the empty City Center Hotel have been quoted as nearly half empty in recent years In the shadow of Huntington Tower, FirstEnergy Corp. is buying out the 10-year lease at its 15-floor 424,000-square-feet downtown headquarters immediately north of Cascade Plaza With 90% of employees still working from home the energy company will move everyone to the West Akron campus on White Pond Drive leaving another giant office building empty in the heart of downtown When asked about future plans to sell or redevelop one of Akron’s largest holdings of Class A office space company spokeswoman Jennifer Young said: “It’s too soon to speculate what that may encompass but we remain committed to transitioning from the downtown Akron office.” Chris Burnham with the Development Finance Authority told the Beacon Journal last month that the plan is to sell 1 Cascade Plaza for redevelopment as offices or residences in the next couple of years A spokesperson for Huntington Bank did not comment on the development status or vacancy rate at the company’s white tower on the plaza Here’s the background and current development status for each of the five largest completely empty office buildings in downtown Akron Former Beacon Journal Editor Ben Maidenburg introduced the developers who built and opened the Cascade Holiday Inn on Mill Street in 1971 The president of the Ruhlin Co. — partnering on the project in a broader effort to build out Cascade Plaza — dubbed the 20-story hotel at 20 W. Mill St. a “baby United Nations building.” Industrialist David Brennan — “The Wizard of Main Street" — purchased the 306-room hotel with a 66-inch-diameter crystal chandelier in the lobby for $900,000 in 1993 the new 243-room hotel emerged as Ramada Plaza Hotel in 1996 and was renamed the Radisson Hotel Akron City Centre in 1998 Texas businessman Jack Saheid took over in 2011 Saheid told officials he lacked the money to fix the fire suppression system after multiple citations from the Akron Fire Department The hotel closed abruptly in the winter of 2016-17 Developer Joel Testa pitched plans in 2018 to develop 146 modern units who would have handled the financing as a 50-50 partner A pin that stuck through the pandemic was put in the project Testa has reengaged the Brennan family to move forward with the project which would stay true to Testa’s original plan to create more affordable apartments than the luxury units he and other developers offer elsewhere downtown having just launched an aggressive tax break program for the development of residential property had high hopes for new apartments in its CitiCenter office building adjacent to City Hall Weston Inc. of Cleveland placed the only bid to buy the old YWCA building from the city for $2.6 million in 2018 Cleveland-based developer Ed Asher personally took over the project to rehab the 113,400-square-foot building which was constructed in 1933 as a rooming house for single and indigent women The $20 million redevelopment plan grew from 60 apartments to 95 apartments for $28 million the building would have to be 90% empty for two years the city moved its staff to right-size its footprint and closed the indoor swimming pool and the former CitiCenter Athletic Club Asher secured $3 million in historic tax credits in December 2020 and said construction would start the following June as demand for office space plummeted and the developer worked with the city to hedge its bet The city has now brought in Welty Building Co. whose owner Don Taylor led the renovation and historic preservation of six buildings in the The Bowery on Main Street during the pandemic The plan now is “100% apartments,” Taylor said While rising interest rates drive up borrowing and construction costs Taylor is designing 117 apartments or more with hopes to list the cheapest at $1,200 to $1,500 a month A response on the reapplied historic tax credits should arrive before Christmas with Taylor’s timeline of more than 12 months of construction beginning by July Quaker SquareOriginally a Quaker Oats factory built in 1932 with 36 round silos designed to store grain Quaker Square was developed by private investors into a dining shopping and entertainment complex that opened in 1975 UA bought Quaker Square from Akron businessman Jay Nusbaum in 2007 for $22.7 million setting aside rooms for a short-lived student residence hall and renting the rest under the name Quaker Square Inn UA Dining Services continues to cater ticketed and other events at Quaker Station. But retailers in the arcade quickly closed up shop, first the Pie Factory and Schumacher’s Restaurant and, finally Quaker Square General Store and NewsStand Comics in 2015 A “small footprint of tenants” still occupy office space in Quaker Square The hotel with round silo rooms briefly served as quarters for sick students during the COVID-19 pandemic And the future of the entire complex is still to be determined “We are still working with a prospective buyer and it is progressing,” said Cristine Boyd senior director of External Communications for UA “The city of Akron is involved in terms of some of the tax mechanisms that might be available to the developer.” Black Press sold the Akron Beacon Journal to newspaper chain GateHouse Media in 2018 The sale did not include the old ABJ building (GateHouse later acquired and assumed the Gannett name.) The newspaper moved to the seventh floor of the AES Building in late 2019 and, after two years on the market, Black Press sold 44 E. Exchange St. to Capstone Development Co., a developer out of Birmingham, Alabama, for $1.1 million in July 2020 Original development plans included apartments and then offices Capstone founder Michael Mouron successfully lobbied city officials in 2021 to list the property on the local historic registry unlocking tax breaks for redeveloping old buildings But after proposals that included a new Akron Police Department a FedEx Custom Critical site and an apartment complex all fell through Mouron sought to sell the building for $2 million to his sons a mixed-use retail and apartment complex next door The sons planned to demolish the building and put up a parking lot Akron City Council unanimously denied Mouron’s request for permission to demolish the building Mouron and a local architect behind the plan were not available to comment on Capstone’s next move The developer could appeal the denial of the demolition request come back to the Akron Planning Department with another proposal or seal a deal with prospective buyers who were still mulling the property this summer Named after Akron Health Commissioner John DeWitt Morley the Morley Health Center opened in 1969 to house the city’s health department During recession-era consolidation in 2011 the county absorbed the city health department and the center closed After taking office, Mayor Dan Horrigan and city judges sized up the 277,864-square-foot building for a new courthouse until architects discovered that building on the parking-deck foundation would be structurally and financially unsound. The city first entertained legislation in 2016 to demolish the building Akron Public Schools explored the space as a permanent home for the STEM High School which leases space from the University of Akron The city briefly considered the site for a new police station which remains a possibility following the proposed $350,000 demolition of the existing structure In mid-November, the city applied for the demolition funds from the Ohio Department of Development Emails with comment or tips regarding this article can be sent to bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com The organizers of Sunday’s pro-Hamas demonstration in Times Square have no regrets In a lengthy statement to the Washington Free Beacon, six of the groups behind the All Out for Palestine rally—including American Muslims for Palestine New Jersey and the Palestinian Youth Movement—said Hamas’s attacks "shattered the myth of Israeli military invulnerability" and "demonstrated that the status quo .. is fundamentally untenable." The statement went on to say "the challenge now is to meet the current moment with moral clarity." Left-wing groups’ reactions to the atrocities in Israel have drawn outrage and condemnations from Republicans and Democrats alike More than 1,200 people have died since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel Saturday and an undetermined number of Americans are feared to have been taken hostage by Hamas Protesters at the Times Square rally chanted various anti-Semitic slogans and applauded Hamas’s attacks One attendee waved a picture of a Nazi flag on his cellphone But such imagery gave its organizers no pause they said "we defend [Hamas’s] fundamental right to resist an illegal occupation and defy the cruelty of the sixteen-year Zionist blockade." alongside similar protests across the world are expressions of an interna-tional [sic] spirit of solidarity that unites us across our differences," the groups said The Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter, which also promoted the event, did not sign onto the statement given to the Free Beacon. But the group issued its own statement saying it was "sorry for the confusion" the rally caused renounced his lifetime membership to the DSA following the event saying the "hate-filled and anti-Semitic rally" made it "impossible" for him to maintain an affiliation with the socialist group The Israeli government on Thursday released photos of the charred bodies of babies murdered by Hamas At least 447 children have been killed in the attacks Annabell's Bar & Lounge according to Akron Municipal Court documents first filed an eviction notice in January claiming that William Reynolds had failed to pay rent since September 2022 Reynolds told News 5 Cleveland Friday afternoon that Annabell's is scheduled to close Saturday but he is hoping to find a resolution with the owner The possible closure has stunned many of Annabell's fans and musicians "Annabell's was a really great and safe place that welcomed people from all walks of life and its closure is going to be a real detriment to the local music scene," said Miles Moore an Akron resident and musician who has visited and performed at Annabell's for over a decade "I know it's made an impact on a lot of the musicians who performed there and the community who came to see live music and socialize "I think it's going to be a lot harder for local musicians to grab a foothold in Akron's music scene; Annabell's gave so many opportunities for musicians to hone their craft on stage and honestly it's just sad to see it go," Moore said a musician and another longtime patron of Annabell's told News 5 she is very grateful for the times she's spent there as well as the friendships she has gained over the years "This place is a well-loved community safe space and I have been here in times of great personal triumph and tragedy and I've always been welcomed with open arms and always found a support system (at Annabell's)," O'Shea said "Personally I'm devastated — the loss to the community is tremendous "(Annabell's developed) a close-knit community; it didn't matter if your band was famous or nationally recognized or a touring band or just starting out everyone was given the same shot and the same amount of respect in an environment that was very supportive." Akron auto dealer Jack Cavileer opened One-Eyed Jack’s in a former carpet store with comedian Bobby Monahan serving as business partner The establishment advertised a “Quaint Olde English Atmosphere” and “Hot Sandwiches Served Daily!” The Danny Mazzocco quartet organist Geno and vocalist Carol Welch were among the weekend entertainers Pflueger took over the place and rebranded as Annabell’s by 1979 Freddie Salem bought the bar from Pflueger shortly before she died in 1991 at age 88 Salem reopened the basement and began offering live music He sold the club in 1997 to Anthony Polito added more music nights and introduced the Monday night $2.99 steak dinner especially with bars where generations have been raised in,” Salem told the Beacon Journal in 2015 “I see some of my customers who are now doctors and lawyers and they met their wives and spouses at Annabell’s “Annabell’s will be there for years and years to come That’s how these neighborhood places are.” Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com or on Twitter Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com Pictured Above: An artist’s rendering of the new design Riverhead Town is poised to move forward with a major redevelopment of the properties on East Main Street earmarked for a Town Square after the town board voted unanimously April 19 to appoint J as Master Developers for the project.  first pitched in public at an April 14 town board work session condominiums with pedestal parking underneath them a firehouse museum with community work space on the second floor Petrocelli Contracting has been involved in downtown Riverhead for more than 25 years building the Long Island Aquarium and the Seastar Ballroom a marina and the Preston House boutique hotel This is the only town our family invested in We put all our eggs here,” said Joe Petrocelli as the plans were unveiled at the April 14 work session.  “Our original plan was to create a tourism generator,” he added “Our studies at the time showed that about 800,000 visitors would come each year but everybody who visited walked out and went home That’s why we added the hotel and other structures to try to compensate to keep the tourists coming Our goal here is to create this destination “I’ve waited a long time to have the commitment of a board like yours,” he added Petrocelli had already been involved with the Town Square project last year when the firm was awarded a town contract for nearly $1 million to tear down the former Swezey’s department store annex building as well as another building most recently home to Twin Forks Bicycles The town had spent nearly $5 million in bonded and grant money to purchase those two properties along with the building that currently houses the Craft’D bar and restaurant which would also be demolished under the Petrocelli plan Riverhead had been seeking public input on the design of the town square after receiving $800,000 in Empire State Development Corporation grant funding for the project in 2020 resulting in several widely publicized drawings by its consulting firm of what the town square would look like.  the town was awarded $10 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants that can be used for public-private partnerships like the one the town hopes to form with Petrocelli The swiftness of the town board’s decision to designate Petrocelli the master developer took members of the public by surprise “This was only presented to the public less than five days ago and there’s been a holiday weekend in between,” said former Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith during the public comment period before the April 19 vote when Riverhead recently hired a master developer for the transit-oriented development project adjacent to the Riverhead railroad station the town issued a request for proposals and formed a community committee to vet proposals before choosing a master developer I would encourage you to do that with this process also,” she said Riverhead Community Development Agency (CDA) Director Dawn Thomas said the town board had already “spent considerable time and energy in creating a preliminary design for the Town Square.” asked which members of the town board had received campaign contributions from J and asked that any who had recuse themselves from the vote.  “With reference to the town’s conveyance of this property to this particular applicant — what consideration for the public will there be if an ownership interest is in fact conveyed to this applicant?” he added “I don’t want to denigrate the excellent work this applicant has undertaken in Riverhead but this process needed to be substantially more transparent Resident John McAuliff also questioned the process.  and whether you issued any requests for proposals or opened the door to other concepts or just assumed this is the one and only project that should be considered.” “When the buildings were torn down and the town invested money in it was that you were talking about an open space from downtown to the river,” he added “It was much more substantial than 70 feet across (as proposed with the Petrocelli plan) I don’t know whether the investment of money to tear down the buildings was to provide space to build a new hotel.” He added that initial proposals for a new building for the Long Island Science Center showed the science center adjacent to the square which would no longer be the case with the new proposal After the resolution to appoint the master developer was read Councilman Kenneth Rothwell made a statement telling the developers that “I think that you are more than qualified to lead this endeavor We’re in great hands,” but then asked “that the entire town board be part of this agreement “It sounds like it was just the supervisor with just Mr “Don’t make assertions when you have no knowledge,” snapped Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar Unless you talked to each other and are supporting each other “We first discussed this with the entire town board back in December,” she added “I believe there was individual talks prior to that That assertion you made is absolutely wrong.” “Was there a Request for Proposals?” asked Mr The board intended on a public/private partnership… That was always the concept in the original design We always knew proposals by an actual developer in business would be different than that.” In response to why the town didn’t issue a Request for Proposals Petrocelli has been a qualified and eligible sponsor in the past,” Ms “He’s a stakeholder and investor in downtown We had a good amount of momentum on this project was that it would be wise to explore the possibility of continuing with Mr there will be a lot of discussions and public engagement and it will probably look different when we’re done with it,” she added Square Scullery 13-seat Highland Square eatery after water damage from a burst boiler pipe on Christmas Day is now moving full steam ahead with a restaurant renovation at a new location — the former NoHi Pop-Up space in North Hill's Temple Square Square Scullery:'Pretty beat up right now': Square Scullery in Akron owners on potential loss of business Restaurant owners Heather and Matt Ulichney had been looking for a larger secondary Square Scullery location for several years amid all the uncertainty following the flooding at their Highland Square spot they've found just the right new location at 778 N will seat about 60 people inside plus more on the patio accommodating the popular Square Scullery's need for growth That's huge," Heather Ulichney said Tuesday The North Hill kitchen is 1,000 square feet compared to Highland Square's 450-square-foot kitchen The new space also has 2,000 square feet of dining space cozy Highland Square dining room is 400 square feet the Ulichneys plan to knock out half of the front wall and install a large window so diners on the other side can see into the kitchen The goal is for diners to feel connected to the kitchen where chef Matt works And after experiencing flooding at the Highland Square spot "there's floor drains" at their new North Hill kitchen known for its fresh and delicious mocktails in Highland Square will be getting a liquor license in North Hill whose new restaurant lease with owners Paul and John Wilson and Anna Lloyd of Akron Ventures started Monday the overall space isn't too big or too small it has an existing patio and the space is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act The interior's current beigey-gray walls will be gone The Ulichneys said their aesthetic will grace every room of their new spot "We're going to touch every inch of this space," Matt said The building was home to the former NoHi Pop-up for culinary entrepreneurs run by the North Hill Community Development Corp It also formerly housed Mexico City Restaurant and before that We're excited to work with them," Matt said NoHi closes:NoHi Pop-Up closing for good Saturday, but program won't end jewel-toned emerald color to the wood-faced curving bar and do something different with the bar top Each of the three dining/bar areas of the new space will have a different feel all of which she described as "tropical disco." That's a carryover from the Highland Square look which has disco balls hanging from the ceiling amid lush-looking greenery Guests can also expect more disco balls from the ceiling as well as plenty of greenery We really want this to be the next spot for Akron We're trying to change the food game and the food scene in Akron," Heather said Support local journalism:6 reasons why you should subscribe to the Akron Beacon Journal Square Scullery started a GoFundMe Jan 11 to help with its move to the former NoHi which has raised $11,212 of its $30,000 goal The Ulichneys estimate that creating their new restaurant space in North Hill will cost $150,000 creating a kitchen island work station and other startup costs The restaurant owners expect to start working on the North Hill space in the next month The original Square Scullery has been housed in the American Legion Wendell L. Willkie Post 19 building for four years A burst pipe on Christmas Day on the 1908 building's second floor flooded Square Scullery's kitchen on the first floor and through its tile floor to the basement below where the American Legion office area is located Another boiler pipe burst on the first floor on the other side of the building and flooded into another active Legion club area of the basement The tiny Square Scullery had been maxed out in its 850-square-foot space in Highland Square which was the reason the owners had been looking for a secondary "This opportunity that we've been searching for for three years lands on our lap at the most unexpected time," Heather said of the North Hill space Once repairs are finished at Square Scullery's Highland Square location the Ulichneys plan to run that space as a noodle and bao bar a "new-age ramen shop" that will sport a new name and have a "cats and neons" aesthetic Local Flavor:Square Scullery dishes delectable, creative fare in Highland Square The couple have no final timeline yet for repairs at the Highland Square space The Legion's insurance covers the building and its infrastructure while Square Scullery's insurance covers the contents of the restaurant both water and heat had been restored to the building the Ulichneys were working on getting appointments for quotes on tear-out and repairs in their kitchen More:Sonata hangs up Sinatra hat, returns to Barberton theater with 'Tuesdays with Morrie' the Square Scullery kitchen was sprayed for mold growth and commercial air purifiers ran for five days is seeking zoning changes to kick off construction on a major mixed-use development near Plano’s southern border the 86-acre project is on Coit Road just north of Bush Turnpike The development has been in the works for several years and is planned to have a combination of office Billingsley — which has built some of North Texas’ most successful developments including Cypress Waters and Austin Ranch — wants to amend existing zoning to make changes to the proposed retail space One of the proposals would allow shops planned under the apartments to be used as live-work spaces for small businesses “This is an interior street and spinal road without visibility. We do not believe retail can be leased or succeed in this location in today’s world,” developer Lucy Billingsley said in a letter to Plano’s planning commission. “Our request is to replace the retail space on Beacon Square Boulevard with work-live units. “These should be more likely to lease and at more reliable rental rates,” she said. “The work-live units still uphold the mixed-use status of the property.” Beacon Square, which was first approved by Plano in 2014, will have more than 1,100 apartments, about 800,000 square feet of offices and was originally zoned for more than 100,000 square feet of retail. More than 7 acres of parks are also planned. Billingsley Co. says that retail overbuilding in the area — let alone the pandemic — have caused the company to rethink the amount of shop space. They are also located in the sidebar on the site’s front page As we navigate through the ups and downs of the year gone by Eye On Annapolis extends warm wishes to our readers for a brighter Below are the ten most popular stories of 2023 and the number of times they were read the revelation of businesses coming to Beacon Square on Riva Road has garnered immense interest and set the stage for a transformative impact on our local economy and traffic A somber farewell echoed through Annapolis as Gordon Biersch bid adieu to the Annapolis Town Center The closure marked the end of an era for one of the original tenants of the Annapolis Town Center In a bid to add a touch of the tropics to our waterways a new Tiki Boat embarked on its maiden voyage on April 1st providing Annapolitans with a unique experience cruising the Harbor and creeks A devastating incident shook our community as an Annapolis woman lost her life while crossing Riva Road after attending a Super Bowl party The closing of Smashing Grapes left a void The change signified a shift in the culinary landscape of Annapolis An ordinary task turned harrowing as a couple faced gunfire while getting gas at a West Street gas station in Annapolis The incident raised safety concerns and prompted a community-wide dialogue on crime prevention One shocking incident with several dozen shots fired sent shockwaves through the community and prompted the police to establish a temporary increase in patrols in the area marking the end of an era for one of the oldest restaurants in Annapolis The grocery landscape in Annapolis evolved with the announcement of Aldi’s arrival promising a new shopping experience for residents it comes with traffic along that Riva Road corridor along with Beacon Square and Aventon A shocking incident unfolded in Edgewater as an elderly woman fell victim to an armed carjacking in her own driveway Please don’t forget that Eye On Annapolis is much more than the region’s largest online source of news and events; we offer plenty of ways to stay connected Stay informed, entertained, and connected – subscribe, listen, and elevate your Annapolis experience today! Our podcasts are available on Apple we would never be able to do any of this for our community Anne Arundel’s Plastic Bag Ban Goes Into Effect Tomorrow It is written for the local community by the local community.