CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - After 40 years as a pedestrian mall, Front Street could be open to vehicles by New Year's Day, months ahead of schedule.

Akron-based H.R. Gray has been selected to lead completion of the Downtown Transformation Design-Build Project, with Hammontree & Associates of North Canton managing project design, surveying and landscape architecture.

The project will go before Cuyahoga Falls City Council March 27 and, on approval, kick off April 3.

The project was reviewed Monday night at a Falls City Council meeting, where residents, community leaders and officials weighed in.

Falls Mayor Don Walters credited individuals and organizations for intense research and planning, as well as the public-private collaboration that has gone into the project.

"In 1812 the downtown live, work and play concept was alive and well, and ironically in 2017 the fascination still exists," Walters said. "The city is laying the groundwork to turn our collective vision for our downtown into a reality."

Officials and residents who took a bus tour in January of similar cities with now-thriving downtowns, spoke as well.

"At the chamber of commerce we are very pro business and we want this," said Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO Laura A. Petrella. "There's a lot of excitement."

Almost daily, residents either visit or call the chamber's office, expressing interest in their small businesses having a presence on Front Street, she said.

It's time to use the city's prime real estate to its fullest advantage, said Kathy Romito, Chamber of Commerce board president.

"We have all the ingredients to make it an amazing public space," she said, "one that can equally cater to retail, service and professional offices as well as providing for a safe and inviting public use and leisure area for residents and visitors."

Shorter time frame, lower cost

H.R. Gray's proposal features a nine-month construction schedule and a $10 million price tag, about $1 million less than original estimates. H.R. Gray's team includes subcontractors from Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Canton and Dover.

Locally, H.R.Gray has worked on the East Market Street Redevelopment, Highland Square Mustard Seed Market & Cafe, and Akron's massive sewer project.

Another plus for the developer was its definitive plans to use the commemorative bricks residents paid for in the 1970s, and to replace or renovate two existing fountains.

On Front Street, the city plans to invest in better-quality materials, said Planning Director Fred Guerra. Since 1998, the city has paid more than $1.3 million to replace Front Street's deteriorated bricks.

"In the 30-year period that this project is being funded, we'd spend about $12 million with inferior products," he said.

Economic benefits



Opening Front Street could create about 1,000 jobs downtown and generate more than $65 million per year in restaurant and retail sales, said Robert Gibbs, president of Gibbs Planning Group, which conducted early retail and residential studies.

With about 215,000 square feet of retail space available and about 3,000 people considered "underserved" for retail offerings, downtown will mostly draw smaller regional and local businesses, he said.

Once opened, about 9,000-10,000 cars are projected to travel on Front Street every day.

"[People] like the experience of being in an urban area rather than necessarily shopping online or going to a strip center, and the historic downtowns are exactly what they like" Gibbs said. "We're seeing a hint of that of that already with south Front Street."

Chicago-based a5 Branding & Digital and TRIAD Communications of Cuyahoga Falls are working on branding and marketing downtown. Interviews and surveys have taken place at several falls locations to find out what residents want in thecentral business district.

Project highlights

Plans for the revitalized Front Street business district include:

Front Street will be converted to a curving, 25 mph pedestrian-friendly road with two-way traffic.

Adjacent streets will also be converted to two-way

Amenities will include landscaping, classic lighting, more seating, game tables, bike racks and repair stations, and pet-friendly drinking fountains.

Festival space will increase from one area to three

Walkways will be paved with multi-colored brick pavers for durability and added interest, while tying the new construction into the historic nature of downtown.

Parallel parking will be included along both sides of Front Street, creating about 120 spaces with 48 spaces created on Second Street

The city's three garages, which hold about 600 space, will be repaired with lighting upgrades and an elevator added to the north deck

Part of downtown will be an historic district, with building facades restored to their original look

The first time the city considered reopening Front Street to vehicles was in 1987, seven years after the street closed, Guerra said.

There have been several studies since then, all recommending the mall be reopened to cars.

"It's just too bad it's taken us this long," he said.