PRESERVATION COMMISSION REJECTS BJ DEMOLITION. CITY COUNCIL NEXT STEP FOR APPEAL.

 

Preservation Commission rejects plan to demolish BJ building.

The Urban Design and Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday against a proposal to demolish the former Beacon Journal building at 44 E. Exchange Street for a parking lot.

Michael Mouron, founder of Capstone Real Estate Investments in Birmingham, Alabama, bought the building for $1.1 million in 2020 after the Beacon Journal relocated to the AES Building at 388 S. Main St.

Mouron’s sons Drew Christopher and Lewis, who manage Capstone, own The Standard, an apartment complex at 22 E. Exchange St., and want to tear down the former newspaper office to accommodate parking.

John York, assistant director of law, said the owner had not met any of the criteria for demolition under Akron’s historic preservation ordinance

● Its integrity has deteriorated beyond saving.

● The building lacks historic or architectural significance or does not occupy a major portion of the historic landmark.

● Maintaining the historic landmark is not technically or economically feasible.

● The commission determines there’s no feasible alternative.

Commission members Jaunae Carter, Leianne Neff Heppner, Mark Schweitzer, Mark Smith and John Wheeler turned down Mouron’s request.

The Akron Times-Press built the downtown landmark in 1929, and it became the Beacon Journal’s headquarters after the two newspapers merged in 1938.

The Beacon Journal was Editor and Publisher John S. Knight’s first newspaper after he took over the business from his late father, C.L. Knight during the Great Depression. It grew into 32 newspapers employing 18,000 workers.

The Beacon Journal won four Pulitzer Prizes.

The owners can appeal the commission’s decision to Akron City Council.