The city of Kent's sending out nearly 100 requests for proposals for a downtown redevelopment project is an important step in embarking on a bonafide effort to rejuvenate the city's historic center and it will be interesting to see who responds.
The request asks development firms to respond by Dec. 21. That is only three weeks away and that means any firm considering a major downtown Kent commitment better have already studied the situation and have its ducks in a row.
Since some firms have already gone public in making inquiries about Kent, presumably there are several companies waiting in the wings to tackle the downtown. Their interest is heartening and confirms what many have long thought, that a university town such as Kent with probably more than 12,000 students residing on campus or in Kent and attracting nearly 3,000 employees to the campus every day has unrealized economic potential.
Add to that dramatic improvements along the city's riverfront in recent years, the restoration of the historic Erie depot a generation ago, the underground utilities and historic street lighting, the flourishing of the arts plus an entertainment and restaurant district in the downtown, the location of the Kent branch of the Portage County Municipal Court, the location of numerous specialty stores, some of them upscale, in the downtown, their owners evidently seeing enough possibilities to gamble their private resources in investments -- all of these could be elements of a downtown turnaround.
If the KSU campus can somehow be drawn closer into this mix, the potential exists for a vibrant college town atmosphere that could make Kent a destination point for those who want to live in, shop in, do business in or simply visit an interesting municipality.
By refurbishing its historic campus during the last 15 years, Kent State has already contributed a lot to the town-gown formula. Its expanded esplanade, an attractive walkway through the campus that begins on South Lincoln Street shows off a campus made much more interesting than it was only a decade ago. The esplanade eventually may extend into the downtown tying campus and city further together.
University and college towns are becoming attractive alternatives for those in business who sense malls and strip shopping centers have become overly prevalent and in some cases boring. Hudson's First and Main development, which capitalizes on that city's beautiful town square and Western Reserve campus, is part of the new trend. The growth around urban campuses such as those in Akron and Cleveland, actively pushed by their universities, is part of that trend, too.
In that context, it is no wonder that Kent is getting some attention from developers who specialize in downtown rejuvenation.
Of course, that interest would be decidedly less if Kent City Council had not had the courage to proceed with acquiring the property bordered by Haymaker, South Water, Erie and South Depeyster streets so that a developer has to deal with only one property owner to proceed. Those on council who had the nerve to push forward, despite the negative and destructive comments from a few, are to be commended.
Once the Dec. 21 deadline has passed, members of council should continue to participate, giving City Manager Dave Ruller feedback, scrutinizing the proposals and channeling their thoughts into the mix. Although the push to rejuvenate still could fail, this is an exciting moment for Kent, one full of promise for a better future.