AKRON, Ohio - Akron City Council has approved amendments to a measure that created Victorian Village in the West Hill neighborhood in 1991.

Victorian Village was created in the area of Maple and Crosby streets, which run between Glendale Cemetery and West Market Street. The original intent for creating for the village was to enable homeowners to open small businesses in their homes to encourage economic development in the neighborhood.

The amendments will expand those capabilities to create a live-work community, as well as the overall size of the village, which would be renamed West Hill Village.

Businesses such as bookstores, restaurants, art galleries, plant stores and day cares would be encouraged.

Ward 1 Councilman Rich Swirsky said he feels good about the limits of the types of business that could be developed there, and that the residents would have a say in the village through the West Hill Community Development Corp.

"I think this is a spark for positive things happening in the neighborhood and it's in a neighborhood that's lacking a lot of positive things," he said.

Akron Director of Planning and Urban Development Jason Segedy says any improvements to the residential portion of the buildings would be eligible for the city's property tax abatement. The commercial component of any project would not be eligible for tax abatements.

Any building redevelopment or expansion of buildings in the village would require approval from the Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission and the West Hill Community Development Corp. before permits could be issued.

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