Kent City Council approves construction of outdoor patio on North Water Street

By Josie Bixler

A new outdoor patio is coming to the North Water Street Mill District by the end of December. 

This past Wednesday the Kent City Council unanimously approved the construction of a wrap around, fenced-in patio that will provide outdoor seating for the business coming to 257 North Water Street LTD. 

Jon Finley, the co-owner of a Lucci’s Place pizzeria in Kent, has rented out the entire building, including the new addition and the second floor of the location at 257 North Water Street. He plans to open up a restaurant and bar with the options of second floor seating on busy days and outdoor seating for warm summer months, said Patrick Madonio, one of multiple investors in the project. 

“Part of our lease agreement was that we would build the patio. So we will own the building and the patio and then our tenant will rent both floors and lease all the patio,” Madonio said. “It’s one tenant for the entire property.”

The additions to the 257 North Water Street location are privately funded by investors like Madonio that are then rented out to tenants. The 257 North Water Street construction project is estimated to cost $50,000 and take one to two months to complete, Madonio said. 

The aim of this project is to renovate and bring business back to North Water Street, but it is not part of the North Water Street improvement project. The North Water Street improvement project is an endeavor between the city of Kent and Kent Downtown Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation Inc. (Downtown Kent Corp.) to revitalize the businesses and street appeal of North Water Street. That project includes renovation work on multiple locations along North Water Street and is funded by the Downtown Kent Corp., not to be confused with the construction of the patio at 257 North Water Street. 

“We really appreciate the North Water Street Project. They’ve done a terrific job, but what we’re doing is a private development that’s on the same street,” Madonio said. 

Although these projects are funded from separate pools of money and involve different parties, they have the same goal in mind. 

“We want all of North Water Street to be a corridor where people can walk to stores, sit and drink coffee and do all of that kind of stuff comfortably,” said Roger Sidoti, a Kent City council member. 

Highlights of Wednesday’s Kent City Council Meeting

The Kent City Council members unanimously approved the expansion of the DORA to include the Kent Cycle and the recently opened Bell Tower Brewery Co., officially extending the DORA boundaries to include 310 Park Ave. and 115 Lake Street. 

The council also authorized the submission of a grant request of $230,843 to the Highway Safety Program. If the grant is awarded the council will move forward with the Ohio Department of Transportation to allocate the funds to improve River and Gougler Streets. 

There was much discussion about intergenerational development plans to the Allerton area of Kent, owned by Kent State University. The proposed developments would cover 43 acres and would have a great effect on Kent’s population and community, said a concerned resident, Barbara Hipsman Springer at the council meeting. Springer urged council members to attend a meeting to discuss the Allerton development project on October 27 at 6 p.m. at the Recreation and Wellness Center in Kent.

The council also approved an option for businesses to invest in public improvements to their properties instead of paying taxes. The improvements made must be the equivalent of what the taxes would have cost. Wednesday night, Dunkin Donuts was unanimously approved to begin public improvements in lieu of taxes. 

Lots and lots of discussion over a proposed #intergenerationalhousing development project for Allerton owned by Kent State University at the Kent city council meeting. #mdjrpp

— Josie Bixler (@BixlerJosie) October 21, 2021

The construction of a new outdoor patio around the building located at 257 North Water Street as part of the #NorthWaterStreetProject has been approved by the Kent city council members. What are your best guesses for the businesses going into that building?#mdjrpp pic.twitter.com/30AvYHUVf8

— Josie Bixler (@BixlerJosie) October 21, 2021

Certain businesses are now applicable to make service payments that improve their property instead of paying taxes. Just passed at the Kent city council meeting.#mdjrpp #dunkindonuts #kentcity

— Josie Bixler (@BixlerJosie) October 20, 2021

The Kent City DORA has officially been extended to include the Belltower Brewery Co. and Kent Cycle at the Kent city council meeting.

— Josie Bixler (@BixlerJosie) October 20, 2021