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The Papers of Julian Suso; Department of Planning and Urban Renewal Collection


Reference Code:

Repository: University of Akron Archival Services

Title: The Papers of Julian Suso; Department of Planning and Urban Renewal Collection

Dates: 1956-1975

Extent: 8 cubic feet

Creator: Julian Suso; The Department of Planning and Urban Renewal

Language: English

Access: Collection is open for research.

Finding Aid prepared by: Archival Services Staff, 1982; edited and updated by Nicole D. Laflamme, October 26, 2006.

Related Material: Akron Area Housing Authority

Administrative History:

The City Planning Commission was established by the Akron Charter, for purpose of acquiring and maintaining public grounds; to open, construct, clean and extend public streets; construct, maintain and extend sewers, and bridges; make public improvements for the safety or welfare of inhabitants; formulate plans for development and improvement; and provide a six-year capital improvement budget. On June 11, 1957, City Council passed an ordinance creating an Urban Renewal Commission. The Urban Renewal Commission was formed because deterioration of property values in Akron had become a problem. The purpose of this agency is to function as a general community improvement organization and transform industrious neighborhoods showing advanced economic and physical deterioration into a bright modern community. The Department of Planning and Urban Renewal of the city of Akron came under the direction of Julian Suso in 1962. Mr. Suso was formerly a member of the University of Akron faculty.

Scope and Content:

The Suso papers in this collection contain the plans of the Akron-based renewal projects of Grant-Washington (R-18), Cascade (R-57), and Opportunity Park (R-89). The Suso papers (Series 1) contain materials relating to the Akron Department of Planning and Urban Renewal essentially from the years 1962-1966. Series 1 consists of four subseries: Operations (1), Dept. of Housing (2), Utilities and Wiring (3), and Urban Renewal Projects (4).

Operations (Subseries 1) includes the organization, charter, planning department, and capital budget of the urban renewal center in Akron. Also incorporated in this series is a speech made by Mayor Ballard concerning the nationwide sentiment of Akron. Subseries 2 consists of the documents of the Department of Housing, including the housing code enforcement program, fair housing, and zoning court cases.

Utilities and Wiring (Subseries 3) comprises letters, memorandums, bulletins, and news articles relating to the utility company of Akron.

Subseries 4 by far the largest group in the collection , contains material dealing with specific urban renewal projects, including the Hartford Connecticut "Constitution Plaza", the Grant-Washington. Proposal, Cascade, and Opportunity Park. The bulk of the papers are from the Opportunity Park urban renewal project and include correspondences, plans, housing relocation proposals, and various

agreements with Akron Public Schools, B.F. Goodrich, and railroads; in addition to appraisals, news articles, and maps.

The majority of this collection consist of the reports relating to urban renewal projects. These reports are divided into six series: Akron City Planning Commission, Akron Department of Planning and Urban Renewal, Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, Urban Renewal Commission, Akron Planning Staff for a Joint Committee, and Miscellaneous.

Arrangement:

Series 1 – Julian Suso Papers

Subseries 1 – Operations

Subseries 2 – Department of Housing

Subseries 3 – Utilities and Wiring

Subseries 4 – Urban Renewal Projects

Series 2 – Reports: Akron City Planning Commission

Series 3 – Reports: Akron Department of Planning and Urban Renewal

Series 4 – Reports: Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study

Series 5 – Reports: Urban Renewal Commission

Series 6 – Reports: Akron City Planning Staff for a Joint Committee

Series 7 – Reports: Miscellaneous

Series 1 – Julian Suso Papers

Subseries 1 – Operations

Box 1

   

Folder

1

Organization/Charter/Planning Department

 

2

Capital Budget

 

3

Mayor Ballard's Speech on Akron

Subseries 2 – Department of Housing

Folder

4

Housing Code Enforcement Program

 

5

Fair Housing

 

6

Zoning Court Cases

Subseries 3. Utilities and Wiring

Folder

7

Utility and Underground Wiring- Letters and Memorandums

 

8

Lights and Wires-Bulletins, news articles

 

9

Public Improvement-Code Enforcement, Arlington-Archwood

Subseries 4. Urban Renewal Projects

Folder

10

Hartford "Constitution Plaza"

 

11

R-18 Grant-Washington Project

 

12

R-57 Cascade-Homer Hoyt Correspondences

 

13

R-57 Cascade-Larry Smith and Company

 

14

R-89 Opportunity Park

 

15

R-89 Diagnostic Survey

 

16

R-89 Urban Renewal Planning

 

17

R-89 Non-Conforming Permits

 

18

R-89 Correspondences from Willig

 

19

R-89 Miscellaneous Correspondences

 

20

R-89 Marketability/Buildings not to be Acquired

 

21

R-89 Planning Dept. Approvals

 

22

R-89 Modification Proposals

 

23

R-89 Akron Public Schools Agreements

 

24

R-89 Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority-Relocation

 

25

R-89 B.F. Goodrich

 

26

R-89 Canals and Innerbelt

 

27

R-89 Railroad Agreements

 

28

R-89 Appraisals

 

29

R-89 News Articles and Maps

Series 2 – Reports: Akron City Planning Commission

Box 2

   
   

Population forecast to 1956-1975

   

Population and other Selected Data: Akron Standard Metropolitan Area, 1957

    

A Study of... Annexation Northeast Copley Township, 1956 Dup.

   

Recreation Land Needs (existing and proposed), 1957 Dup.

   

A Survey of Industrial Land, 1957

   

Cherry Street Red development ,1959

   

A Survey of Akron Trailer Parks , 1959

   

Characteristics of Downtown Akron, (front footage property), 1959

   

Annexation Proposals, 1959

   

Proposed Detachment, 1959

   

Public Opinion Survey,1959

   

Annual Report of 1959, 1960

   

Neighborhood Analysis Series- Off Street Parking, 1960

   

Trends in the Growth and Location of Selected Personal and Business Services, 1960

   

Fire Station Plan and Improvement Program, 1960

   

Sewer plan and Improvement Program, 1960

   

Parks Recreation, 1960

   

Cascade Renewal Area No.1, 1960 Dup.

   

Downtown Employment, 1960

   

Tuscarawas Watershed Problems in Akron, 1960

   

Land Use Inventory of the CBD, 1960

   

Master Thoroughfares Plan, 1960

   

Survey of the Building Codes for the Least Restricted Single Family use in the SMAS, 1960

   

Ellet Community Recreation Report,1960

   

Retail structure of the Kenmore Community,1960

   

Physical Planning, 1960

   

Report on the Automobile Impounding Yards,1961


 

Zoning Use Classifications 1960,1961

   

Housing and Population Trends, 1961

   

Fairlawn Village Water and Sewer Line Report, 1961

   

A Physical Study of a portion of Northhampton township, 1961

   

Hyre School Area Land Disposition Report, 1961

   

J. Edward Good Park Golf Course,1961

   

Proposal for an Improvement, Old Portage Intersection, 1961

   

Portage Path/Diagonal Road Study, 1961

   

Study for Bids Submitted for Proposed Development Over Quaker Oats Garage, circa 1961

   

Catalog of permanent Improvement Needs,1962

   

Capital Improvements Program,1962-1967, 1962

   

Summary Capital Improvements Program 1962-1967, 1962

   

Prospectus: 1980 Comprehensive Transportation Plan, 1962

   

Site Study for the New Akron Safety Building, 1963

   

Action for Derby Downs,1963

   

Urban Renewal Street, Lighting Report, 1963

   

Elementary School Site Study, 1963

   

Capital Improvements Program 1963-1968, 1963 Dup.

   

Action For the Airport Area ,1963

   

Sidewalks for Akron,1963

   

Shopping and Service center, 1963

   

Northeast Akron Land-use Transportation Plan, 1964

   

Allotment Plan and Regulations of the City of Akron , 1964

   

Federal Court House Office Building Site Location, 1965

   

Staff Resume,1965

   

Cascade plaza, 1966

   

A Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Public Parks, 1966

   

Park Plan, 1966

   

Tax Budget, 1967

   

Special Report - on Downtown Akron Traffic Circulation and Street Patterns, N.D.

   

Akron Central Mall , N.D.

Box 3

   
   

Parking Demand Study for the CBD, 1961

   

A Study of Akron's Centra 1 Business District, 1962

   

Comprehensive Master Plan 1955-1962 , 1962

   

Catalog of permanent Improvement Needs,1962, Dup.

   

Fire Station Relocation Report, 1964

   

Tax Levying Powers and Major Sources of Revenue City of Akron, Ohio

   

Capital Improvements Program,1962-1967, 1962 Dup.

   

Summary Capital Improvements Program 1962-1967, 1962 Dup.

Series 3 – Reports: Akron Department of Planning and Urban Renewal

Box 4

   
   

Mayor's Committee on City Planning, 1957

   

Akron Tri-County General Hospital Study, 1961

   

Urban Renewal and the Church, 1961

   

Capital Investment Budget 1964-1969, 1962

   

A Perspective of the Akron Innerbelt, 1963

   

Akron Maintenance Systems, 1964

   

A Plan for the Summit Lake Neighborhood, 1964

   

Master Plan for the Akron Municipal airport, 1964

   

Criteria for Fire Protection, 1964

   

A Community Improvement Program, 1964

   

Community Shelter Evaluation, 1964

   

Design Criteria, 1964

   

Public Health Building - Design Criteria, 1964

   

Community Improvements Program, Fiscal Analysis, 1964

   

Modernizing Akron Through Urban Renewal, 1965

   

Chapel Hill Development, 1965

   

Land Utilization and Marketability Study, 1965 Dup.

   

Perspective on the International Center for Rubber and Chemicals, 1965 Dup.

   

AMTS Study - Financial Resources, 1965

   

Land Use and Development Proposal for Water Pollution Control Station, 1965

   

Census Index, 1965

   

Development Perspective for Akron East, 1966

   

Development Perspective for Akron East, (maps included)

   

A survey of Selected Land Use Allocation Models, 1966

   

AMATS Socio-Economic, 1966

   

Economic Analysis and Recommendations for Opportunity Park, 1967

   

Vacant Industrially Zoned Land, 1967

   

Comprehensive Regional Waste Disposal Program, 1968

 

Development Prospective, 1968

   

Akron Model Cities Program, 1969

Box 5

   
   

Capital Investment Budget, 1965-1970

   

Capital Investment Budget, 1966-1971

   

Capital Investment Budget, 1967-1972

   

Capital Investment Budget, 1968-1983

   

Capital Investment Budget, 1970-1975

   

Summit County Housing Development Plan, 1974

Series 4 – Reports: Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study

   

Akron's Program for Progress, 1959

   

Report and Study About Alternate Connections at Russel Avenue, 1959

 

Feasibility Survey Report, Downtown Parking Garage, 1961

   

Air Trade Study and Physical Development Program for Akron Municipal Airport, 1964

   

Financial and Operational Review for Akron Municipal Airport, 1964

   

AMATS: Land Use Classification and Measurement Manual, I964

   

AMATS: Transportation Facilities Manual, 1964

   

Operation Study of the Highway System of Akron, 1965

   

An Evaluation of Alternates A and D of Interstate 77, 1966

   

Accident Study, 1967

   

Existing Highway Deficiencies, 1967

   

Program Design Report, 1967

   

Existing Land Use and Development, 1967

   

Accuracy Checks: Household Characteristics and Travel Patterns, 1967

   

Railroad Safety, 1967

   

Travel Patterns, 1968

   

Financial Resources, 1968

   

Governmental Control Measures, 1968

   

Parking Study, 1968

   

Land Use and Development Forecast, 1968

   

Technical Study of Transit Systems in Akron Metropolitan Area

Series 5 -- Reports: Urban Renewal Commission

Box 6

 

LACKING

   

What Are Good Streets? 1958

   

Rehabilitation or Redevelopment, 1958

   

What about Municipal Auditoriums , 1958

   

From Here to Where, 1958

   

Civic Centers, Their Purpose and Function, 1958

   

City of Akron, Ohio Urban Renewal Study Area IA, 1959


 

The Deteriorating Areas of Akron, Ohio, 1959

   

Second Annal Report, 1959

   

Progress Report, 1960-1961, 1961

   

Miller Rubber Company, Urban Renewal Area, 1961

   

Building a Better Akron through Urban Renewal, 1961

   

Final Project Report – Application – University Site Area, 1961

   

Urban Renewal, Progress Report, 1962

Series 6 – Reports: Akron City Planning Staff for a Joint Committee

   

Origin Destination Studies Why-How, 1959

   

Origin- Destination, 1969

Series 7 – Reports: Miscellaneous

Box 7

   
   

Financial Report, Board of Education, 1949

   

A Study of Public School Building Needs, 1949

   

Financial Report, Board of Education, 1950

   

Financial Report, Board of Education,1952

   

Report on Improvement to the Ohio and Erie Canal, 1952

   

Study Report of Sewage Treatment Plant, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 1955

   

Proposals for Improved Transit in Akron, Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, 1956

   

Off Street Parking Commission, 1958

   

Downtown Akron Survey of Vacancies, 1958

   

A Workable Program and its Progress, 1959

   

Akron Program For Progress, 1959

   

Urban Renewal Study, 1959

   

A Study of Public Welfare Services, 1961

   

Community Renewal Program, 1961

   

Survey Federal Off ice Buildings, 196?

   

The Akron Economic Study, 196?

   

For a Better Akron, 1962

   

Report on Improvement to the Ohio and Erie Canal, 1962

   

Statement of the Akron Bar Association, 1962

   

Zoning Code – Opinions - Board of Zoning Appeals, 1962

   

Akron, 1963

   

A Survey of Akron's Water Resources, 1963

   

A Central Business District Plan, 1963

   

Servicing Requirements : International Rubber and Chemical Center, 1964 Dup.

   

Mayor's Talk to Business Leaders , 1964

   

Analysis of the Akron, Ohio Housing Market, 1965

   

Urban Renewal 1957-1965, 1965

   

Use Appraisal Cascade Urban Renewal Area, 1965

   

For a Better Akron, 1965

   

General Construction and Material Specifications for Highway, Sewers, Structures, and Miscellaneous Public Improvements, 1965

   

Site for. . . National Accelerator Laboratory Supporting Data Report Number two, 1965

   

Application for Code Enforce Grant Project Number A-I, 1966

   

Water System Report, 1967

   

Akron-Canton Primary Marketing Area, N.D.

   

The Ideal Location -- Hiram Commercial Park, N.D.

   

Downtown Akron Is a Good Investment Now, N.D.

Box 8

   
   

Reference Guide to the Planning Commissions within the Seven County region (Cleveland) Publications, 1968

   

NOACA Miscellaneous, 1971

   

Industrial Site Area Urban Renewal Project, N.D.

   

NOACA and Cleveland Related materials, asst.


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