AKRON, Ohio - The Trailhead Event Space at Cascade Lofts is more than a sleek new party space in a cool, old tire factory. It's designed to feature sustainability while drawing visitors into downtown.

On the corner of Howard and North streets, and adjacent to the Towpath Trail, Cascade Locks Park and the Mustill Store Museum, the Trailhead is just over a stone's throw from downtown Akron.

"We want to tie the Trailhead with Main and Market," said Tony Troppe, Trailhead owner and Akron developer. "This is about connecting the dots."

Many of those dots are Troppe's nearby establishments, whose titles all include BLU: the BLU Jazz+ live music venue, the BLU Plate Southern style restaurant and the BLU-tique Hotel, planned to open next year.

Troppe envisions the people coming to use the event staying to explore downtown Akron, the Towpath Trail and the Cuyahoga Valley national Park, and staying overnight in the BLU-tique Hotel.

"This is not your grandmother's Akron," he said. "It's a city of the future."

In keeping with a modern approach, the building that houses the Trailhead Event Space, Cascade Lofts and the Lock 15 Brewing Co. is grounded in sustainable features.

Events held there will be planned using recycled or sustainable materials, said Kaley Foster, Trailhead events manager.

The building itself, the former Swinehart Tire & Rubber Co. built in in 1904, is recycled, as it was originally scheduled for demolition. During the renovation in 2015, construction debris was kept for reuse, such as crushed concrete, which became fill material.

A 300-year-old sycamore that once stood out front was taken down to make way for the city's Akron Waterways Renewed! sewer project. But rather than chip the wood, the tree was cut into lumber and used to decorate parts of the event space, Foster said.

Just outside the building, renters in each of the 24 lofts have their own garden and the rooftop has space for planting as well. Renters have an annual potluck dinner, moving from apartment to apartment, sampling dishes made with produce grown there, Foster said.

Also on the property is the Akron Sustainer, which is a project using an 8 x 20-foot shipping container built from reused and repurposed materials. The container is an educational hub for Akron residents and visitors, promoting sustainability and green living through workshops.

The building was also designed to retain much of its original character, earning it a 2018 Architectural Heritage Award by the Summit County Historical Society of Akron and Progress through Preservation.

The Trailhead Event Space can accommodate 25-250 guests and is available for private parties, wedding receptions, corporate events and other gatherings. An outside patio also offers seating.

The Trailhead is located at 21 W. North St. For more information, call 330-957-0006 or send an email.

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