Downtown Kent looks forward to new projects and reflects on historic past

Age-old residents and newly seasoned locals and lovers of the Downtown Kent area have watched it grow and expand as years go by. Additions such as new businesses, different styles and cultures of art, a variety of dining and a larger sense of community help the city move into a much more dynamic role in Northeast Ohio. When COVID-19 started impacting residents and businesses alike, Kent leaders and long-time natives, like Mitch Reed, reflect on their experiences and hope for the future.

Reed graduated from Kent State in 1997 and has been living in Kent ever since. His family ties to Kent go back further than just attending college here. Both sets of Reed’s grandparents lived in Kent, and his great grandparents on one side lived here since immigrating to the U.S. He moved to Mantua as a child, then moved back to Kent for college. Reed said his experience living here as a student has differed from his experience here as a resident post-graduation.

“The big difference is that you’re used to late nights and noises and things like that when you’re younger,” Reed said. “The older you get, the less you care for it.”

Reed said that during his time here he witnessed how Kent slowly morphed into more of a college town.

“Main Street used to be beautiful houses in the residential area,” Reed said. “Now it’s, you know, Burger King and Five Guys and all that stuff.”

Some semblance of the vintage architecture still remains in the Downtown area, such as the Franklin Hotel and The Kent Stage, where modern events and gatherings are held today. The Franklin Hotel Bar pays homage to the town that began, as developments and renovations popped up in an effort to put forth a new face on downtown.

“I think the downtown renovation was excellent,” he said. “They did a fantastic job pulling businesses back into the downtown area.”

The renovation to downtown Kent began in 2008 with the addition of Acorn Alley and wrapped up in 2013 with the opening of Buffalo Wild Wings in the former Franklin Hotel. Upcoming renovations include the East Main Corridor that will attempt to increase vehicle and pedestrian safety for those traveling to Ravenna or the university. Current construction projects in Kent include the Hasawai Building at the corner of Erie St. and Franklin Ave., as well as a new City Hall Building. The city recently completed updates to North Water Street.

“Within the city, we have a number of projects that are ongoing. Redoing North Water Street and the East Main Corridor for pedestrian safety,” said Gwen Rosenberg, Councilwoman at Large for the City of Kent. “We are using this opportunity to widen sidewalks for more pedestrian-friendly access. Those are major improvements. We plan for economic development as we are still trying to come out of the global pandemic and its effects on business.”

Many businesses closed during the heat of the pandemic, including the restaurant Treno and the Kent Cheesemonger. But Rosenberg has hope for the city as it evolves through and after the pandemic.

“Every city is going to have economic fallout from this pandemic. If our income taxes are coming in lower from the pandemic we have to trim some budget things, promote storefronts and available spaces for news businesses. Overall, we have fun, interesting events and a good relationship with the university,” Rosenberg said.

The university is a large part of the hub of activity around downtown Kent. Kent State University enrollment numbers for the fall 2021 semester top 27,000 undergrad and graduate students. In the 2020 Census, the City of Kent is listed to have a population of just around 28,000 residents. In the future, Reed says he wants to see more industries develop in Kent.

“It’s no secret that the city relies on the college,” Reed said. “If the college wasn’t here, we’d be Ravenna basically. But at the same time, you can’t let the college overtake every planning decision.”

Council people like Rosenberg attempt to keep the whole city in mind instead of one specific ward or region. Involvement in local government not only helps local leaders understand the issues citizens may be facing but can push for an increase in industries and businesses that boost personal and economic growth.

“Local government recently has been overlooked. It impacts every one of us every single day. I think that when you are on City Council it’s less about individual actions and decisions and more about the decisions of the city in general. My area of particular interest is the whole city instead of one specific ward,” said Rosenberg.