Site work gives impression of building's size
Construction has been under way at the site of the new Kent courthouse for a few months now, but there's a unique perspective that gives you an impression of the building's size. The view of the construction site from the Kent Historical Society shows more than what's visible from East Main Street — the view most drivers and pedestrians see of the project.
In this Article:
City issues demolition permit; site prep work already under way
Portage County officials are ready to demolish the old Jimmy John's location on East Main Street for construction of the new Kent courthouse. The Kent Community Development Department issued the demolition permit for the former restaurant at 313 E. Main St. this week. Jimmy John's relocated to the Kent Stage building earlier this summer. Meanwhile, city building officials are reviewing plans for the new courthouse, which already has site plan approval from the Kent Planning Commission and design approval from the Kent Architectural Review Board. PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
In this Article:
Kent Planning Commission approves site plan for 30,000 square foot building
Altered plans for the new Kent courthouse — with the main entrance moved to the center, front of the building — were approved unanimously by the Kent Planning Commission Tuesday night. The big change in the plans moved the main entrance from the southeast corner of the building to the center of the building's southern face, which faces East Main Street. Architect Allan Renzi of Richard L. Bowen & Associates in Cleveland, the firm designing the building for Portage County, said the Portage County Commissioners agreed to move the main entrance at the recommendation of the Kent Architectural Review Board. "The site plan was revised … based on recommendations that came from (the architecture board)," Renzi said. The initial proposal to put the…
In this Article:
10:35 am on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Well said, Logan! And the fraternity houses on Main Street look a whole lot better than a lot of owner occupied houses in Kent. The members of them must be proud of them. As an old townie I would be more than happy to see them stay where they are rather than disappear somewhere back on campus.. It is nice to drive by and see the youg people enjoying themselves in the front yards on nice days. … more ›
Parking spaces cut from 144 required by code to 109
For the second time, a request to reduce parking at the new Kent courthouse was approved by the Kent Board of Zoning Appeals Monday. The zoning board voted unanimously to approve a variance that allows the project to move ahead with 109 parking spaces — 34 fewer than the 144 required by city code for that size a project. Architect Allan Renzi of Richard L. Bowen & Associates in Cleveland, the firm designing the building for Portage County, said the variance request stemmed from a recommendation by the Kent Architecture Review to move the building further back from East Main Street so it was more in line with its neighbors, the Kent Historical Society and Cuttin' Loose salon buildings. "In doing so, because the site is so limited in size, …
In this Article:
5:48 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Per my letter in this morning's R-C you can see that I agree with the "factory" resemblance. more ›
New building on East Main Street has planned corner entrance; Kent Planning Commission will review project Aug. 21
Kent's Architectural Review Board issued a certificate of appropriateness Tuesday for Kent's new courthouse — but with opposition to the building's main entrance. Members of the ARB voted 3-1 to issue the certificate and recommend the Kent Planning Commission approve the project plans at its Aug. 21 meeting. But the ARB suggested the commission approve the site plan and building design with the main entrance in the center, front of the new courthouse rather than at the southeast corner as planned. "I think it's important that building have a front presence," ARB member Allan Orashan said. Portage County Commissioners and judges agreed late last month to make some changes the architecture board recommended in mid July, such as fewer parking…
In this Article:
3:09 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Tom, that's exactly what the architect said. Moving the entryway would not effect the floor plans. The front of the building is largely hallway space on both floors, according to the plans I saw. more ›
Final design of building planned for East Main Street up for consideration
Portage County officials continue their review and consideration of final designs for the new Kent Municipal Courthouse, which will be built on East Main Street at the site of Jimmy John's restaurant. Late last month county officials were given three options to consider from the project architects. Images of those three options are attached. The options include: a building with a pitched roof with no peak over the corner entrance; a pitched roof with a peak over the main entrance; and a completely flat roof over the entire building. Portage County Commissioner Maureen Frederick said in an email county officials appear to be close to a decision. "Nothing has been finalized as of yet," she said.
In this Article:
5:49 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I agree with you Sarah on all these points, plus why select a Cleveland architect? more ›
Deadline extended for sub shop to move into Kent Stage building
Jimmy John's has until the end of July to finish its move further into downtown Kent in order to get $15,000 in assistance from the city. Kent City Council voted recently to again push back the deadline for the sandwich shop to make its move from 313 E. Main St., the future site of Kent's new courthouse, into the Kent Stage building and former home of Spin-More Records. In March, council first voted to give the business $15,000 to aid in its move about a block west. The assistance came with an original relocation deadline of June 1. Then as the June 1 deadline approached officials with the city and county agreed to give the restaurant at least until July 1 to finish the move. But the restaurant still hasn't finished its move, so council …
In this Article:
Restaurant was supposed to vacate for new courthouse by June 1
Editor's note: this story was updated at 8 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. June 5. They were supposed to be out Friday, but Jimmy John's has a one-month extension to move out of the way of Kent's new courthouse. A court settlement reached in December between the owner of Kent's "freaky-fast" sandwich shop and its landlord dictated the restaurant had until June 1 to make its move into the Kent Stage building. But the owners of the SMJJ II franchise and the property owner, Schweigert Properties Inc. of Akron, agreed last week that the eatery can stay at 303 E. Main St. for at least another month until the new location a block away is finished. Schweigert Properties agreed to give Jimmy John's until June 30 to make the move, according to a filing in the …
In this Article:
Restaurant will be demolished next summer to make way for Kent's new courthouse
Attorneys for the Kent Jimmy John's owner and the restaurant's landlord reached an out-of-court settlement this morning in the sandwich shop's eviction case. The popular eatery will stay at its East Main Street location until May 31 of 2012. Starting June 1, the property owner has the right to start razing the sub shop to make way for the new Kent courthouse. Under the settlement agreement, reached before a hearing set this morning at 8:15 a.m. in the Kent Municipal Courthouse, the property owner, Schweigert Properties Inc. of Akron, will pay an undisclosed amount to the restaurant. David Hilkert, an Akron attorney representing Schweigert Properties, said the payment to the restaurant owner will be held in abeyance until May 31. "That …
In this Article:
4:48 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011
My family eats a lot of Jimmy John's subs, so I hope they find another location nearby. But I'm also really excited for the new courthouse groundbreaking! more ›
Restaurant's attorney says eviction case is a conflict of interest for Portage County court
Owners of the Jimmy John's sandwich shop in Kent are fighting the restaurant's eviction to make way for the new Kent Municipal Courthouse project planned for the shop's East Main Street property. The owners of the restaurant building and site, Schweigert Properties Inc., filed an eviction notice Nov. 15 in Portage County court after the restaurant's franchisee failed to give a six-month notification that they wanted to renew the restaurant's lease, which expired Oct. 31 of this year. Dave Lowry, the attorney for the restaurant's owners, said the case — which has motions filed in courts in Portage County, Summit County and now the Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals — is far more complex than it looks. "My principle issue in this case, the …
In this Article:
10:25 am on Monday, December 5, 2011
Click on this link to read the updated, full story about the settlement that allows the restaurant to stay until May 2012. http://kent.patch.com/articles/update-settlement-in-eviction-case-gives-jimmy-john-s-until-june-to-move more ›
Delbert D. Flowers
11:32 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
I still think they could have torn down the buildings at the corner of Depyster and Summit, and built the new court house there, but, you know what they say, you can't fight city hall. more ›