AKRON, Ohio - Seniors in Middlebury will have access to new, income-based housing in the heart of the Akron neighborhood, once Middlebury Commons opens its doors in spring 2019.

A project of the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp., Middlebury Commons is a three-story, 40-unit complex planned for the corner of Market and Broad streets where Solkol's furniture store once stood.

The development will feature one- and two-bedroom apartments on the top two floors, a health clinic, and retail on the ground floor, such as a restaurant, and a beauty salon or barber shop, said East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. President Grady Appleton.

With its proximity to Dave's Supermarket, the new senior development is planned to support a city-wide effort to improve residents' health by boosting walkability in Akron's neighborhoods. It also will benefit from investments made by nearby anchors University of Akron, East End Development and Summa Health.

"It's going to have a big impact and draw more draw investment to the area," Appleton said.

The $11 million project qualifies for $6 million in state tax credits and $2.25 million in U.S. HUD grants. The residential portion of the development also will quality for Akron's residential tax abatement, launched last spring, which exempts 100 percent of the property value on new residential construction for 15-years. The development will be designed by the Mota Design Group, a Testa Companies firm, and built by Welty-Testa Builders.

Middlebury Commons also will benefit from investments made by the city and its partners under an "Invest Health" initiative by Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Akron received a $60,000 grant to join other Invest Health teams to seek out ways to boost Middlebury residents' access to safe and affordable housing, places to play and exercise and quality jobs.

Under the Invest Health initiative, the city has worked with Testa Companies, Habitat for Humanity, The Well and East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. since the 2016 Middlebury Better Block.

"This project is actually considered to be our first real win, our first success," said Terry Albanese, city advisor on education, health and families.

As a result, Middlebury Commons will be designed to provide supportive services, such as making meals, light housekeeping and adequate transportation services accessible to residents. It will offer regularly scheduled activity programs and support a resident association.

In addition to supportive services, the project is planned to have a positive impact on the community through improvements to the real estate value and quality of life in the surrounding area.

"We can make a difference by bringing in some of the amenities the neighbors indicated they wanted to see at the Better Block," Albanese said.

Middlebury Commons' proximity to its neighbor, the Well Community Development Corp., will also bring benefits. The Well, located in Akron's First Presbyterian Church, is working to strengthen the challenged neighborhood by reinvesting in Middlebury's housing stock, creating jobs and strengthening the neighborhood's identity through place-making.

The Well houses Compass Coffee, which opened in February, is intended to be a place people can connect across racial, economic or social boundaries.

Middlebury will host part of the Rubber City Heritage Trail, a joint venture of the city, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, the Knight Foundation and Summit Metro Parks. The trail will begin in Middlebury near the former Goodyear campus on Market and move southeast to connect with the Towpath Trail in Kenmore along the Ohio & Erie Canal. The city also plans to donate a small, triangular park on Market Street to the development.

Construction on Middlebury Commons is expected to break ground in early 2018.

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