The City of Akron announced on April 7 that it plans to preserve elements of the former Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Plant 1 by salvaging parts of its iconic clock tower at 1200 Firestone Parkway. The proposal was presented by Planning Director Kyle Julien during a meeting of the Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission.
The plan aims to maintain a visible connection to the city’s industrial heritage while addressing challenges associated with maintaining the aging structure. Under this approach, components from the upper portion of the clock tower—including historic bricks and clock elements—will be carefully removed and reused on-site as a tribute. The remainder of the building will be demolished due to structural, environmental, and financial concerns.
“This approach allows us to carry forward the history of this site in a tangible way,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik. “We heard clearly from residents that this property’s legacy matters deeply. By preserving elements of the clock tower, we can honor that history while creating new opportunity.”
Because Plant 1 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, demolition requires coordination with state officials through an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The salvage plan also includes commitments such as reviewing preservation policies with experts, holding educational sessions for staff and public, and documenting the site through a Historic American Buildings Survey archived at both local institutions and the Library of Congress.
The commission unanimously approved advancing this approach for SHPO review. If SHPO approves, Akron will secure demolition funding from state agencies before beginning documentation work, demolition activities, and salvage operations.
Public feedback gathered in February influenced these decisions. While many residents wished to preserve more of Plant 1’s history, there was recognition that retaining only key architectural features like those from the clock tower was most feasible given significant costs involved—particularly since environmental remediation needed for residential redevelopment would exceed $8 million.
