Review of New Downtown Construction Projects

See the building reviews for the projects as they progressed from bare lots to finished brick

Most Kent residents only see downtown's redevelopment on its face — in essence, construction workers, cranes and changing skylines. What most people don't see is the tedious reviews of building and construction plans, approval of permits and all the other countless, and necessary, paper work. Take a look behind the scenes by perusing through the building review reports above on five of the major projects downtown:

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Locke Lane in Downtown Kent Now One-Way Only

The former Alley 5 runs through the middle of the Davey Tree and AMETEK redevelopment block.

Locke Lane, formerly known as Alley 5 in downtown Kent, is now a one-way street for eastbound motorists only, according to the Kent Engineering Division. All traffic using Locke Lane must enter at South Water Street and exit at South DePeyster Street. The lane runs through the middle of the Davey Tree and AMETEK redevelopment block. Kent City Council voted in September to rename the alley "Locke Lane" in honor of Gary Locke, who died Sept. 16, 2012, following a 13-month battle with leukemia. Councilman Garret Ferrara, who suggested renaming the alley, said the gesture was appropriate given Locke's contribution to the downtown redevelopment as a member of the city's senior administration. For more information about Locke Lane's new one-way …

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Andy Koch

12:48 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

I agree. Let's just hope that drivers actually obey it. I can't count how many times a day I struggle with cars going the wrong way in Alley 4.   more ›

Editor's Picks: Top Stories of 2012

Editor's Picks: New Davey, AMETEK Buildings Open Downtown

Kent Patch gives you the editor's picks for top 10 stories of 2012.

Editor's note: this year marked the clichéd return to its roots for The Davey Tree Expert Company, which, along with AMETEK, moved about 90 employees to downtown Kent. Davey Tree got its start downtown, and the firm moved its Stow-based Davey Resource Group back to downtown Kent this year to anchor the first of two new buildings built by Fairmount Properties as part of Kent's redevelopment. AMETEK followed suit by moving into the second building. Combined, both firms brought closed to 200 well-paid professionals downtown. The two new buildings also brought with them about a dozen new shops and eateries. For 2012, the opening of these two new buildings is one of my picks for top 10 stories of the year. RELATED COVERAGE:

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Future Tenants at Former AMETEK Site Unclear

City-owned, former manufacturing complex on Lake Street to be redeveloped

One thing is certain, the city of Kent will redevelop the former manufacturing complex that was home to AMETEK on Lake Street before the firm moved downtown this year. What's unclear is who the tenant or tenants in the 288,000-square-foot, 15-acre former manufacturing complex will be and how they might use the old factory. Kent Economic Development Director Dan Smith said about half a dozen entities have approached the city with proposals for putting manufacturing operations into the space, which Kent City Council members voted to buy in April 2011 for $106,000 as part of a deal that moved AMETEK into the downtown redevelopment project. "Ultimately our goal is to get it into the hands of a private owner," Smith said of the property. He …

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Snapshot: Flags Represent Kent's International Connections

New flags installed atop AMETEK building downtown

Nine new flags, complete with poles and lighting, adorn the top of the AMETEK building in downtown Kent. Matt French, vice president and general manager for Kent's division of AMETEK, said the flags were installed this week and represent the nine countries where the firm has manufacturing operations that report back to Kent. "The flags are to highlight the international city that Kent has become," French said via email during a business trip to Serbia. AMETEK's international locations represented include: the U.S.; Great Britain; Brazil; China and Serbia. The firm isn't the only entity in Kent with international connections. At Kent State University, enrollment of international students has been climbing steadily in recent years to a high …

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PHOTOS: Inside AMETEK's new Downtown Offices

New downtown corporate tenant invites members of Kent Area Chamber of Commerce for tour

The second of downtown Kent's new corporate anchor tenants as part of the redevelopmen opened their doors for a glimpse inside their new offices recently. AMETEK invited members of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce to tour their new offices at 100 E. Erie St. last week. The firm signed a 15-year lease for space in the project. RELATED COVERAGE:

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Kent to Accept $2.4 Million in State Brownfield Grants

Money will pay to clean up former AMETEK, RB&W manufacturing sites

City leaders will formally accept more than $2.4 million from the state of Ohio this week as part of efforts to remediate two of Kent's oldest brownfields. Kent City Council will vote Wednesday on two grants from the Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund. One grant will remediate contaminated soil and repair an underground chemical containment system at the former RB&W site on Mogadore Road. The second grant will address soil issues at the former AMETEK complex on Lake Street. The RB&W grant totals more than $1.3 million, and the AMETEK grant amounts to more than $1 million. MORE COVERAGE:

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Building Permits: 'Signs' of Downtown's Redevelopment

All information is according to the Kent Community Development Department

Several of downtown Kent's new tenants recently got permission to install signs on their new store and business fronts from the city. Here's the latest batch of building permits issued by the Kent Community Development Department:

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Paxton Crenshaw

3:01 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012

although it probably makes it easier to swap out after a store goes out of business due to, among other things, poor signage. (note to dog squad: i'll never wait 20 minutes for a hot dog and fries again. in an empty restaurant, no less!)   more ›

WATCH: Fireworks Show at Dix Stadium

See entire 20-minute show timed to music

Last week, football fans of Kent State University witnessed what is believed to be the biggest fireworks show ever held in the history of Portage County. The show, at Dix Stadium, capped off a day spent celebrating downtown Kent's redevelopment. American Fireworks of Hudson, OH, launched 7,500 rockets during the display and shot this video of the show — in case you missed it. The show was sponsored by AMETEK and Fairmount Properties.

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Fed, Local Officials talk Downtown Kent's Redevelopment

Video aired during Kent State football home opener against Towson University

In this video, local and federal officials talk about downtown Kent's more than $100 million in redevelopment projects.

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