| Transcript | BFG Project 'Renewal of Faith'
By JAMES WEBER
"This is the breakthrough" said an enthusiastic George W. Brittain, executive vice president of the Akron Area Chamber of Commerce.
"This is tremendous" he said, looking at the model of B. F. Goodrich's proposed six-story office building.
"It's a restoration of faith in the community. Goodrich is the pacesetter. They're retaining and also bringing additional jobs to Akron."
ROBERT H. SCHMIDT, executive director of the Area
Progress Board, also saw the building as a "renewal of faith in Akron."
He said he hoped it would spur the other major rubber companies to similar efforts, particularly in the area of industrial development and additional jobs.
"This is the most exciting and encouraging development in a long time" said Leslie P. Hardy, member of the City Planning Commission and former director of the Area Progress Board.
"It should give us all great pride in the advances the city has been making since we started five or six years ago."
WILLIAM C. BECKER,
Planning Commission chairman, said "This structure will be a fitting keystone to the entire development.
Councilman Edward Davis, whose Third Ward includes much of the Opportunity Park area, said the project "will give confidence to the city. This attraction of jobs to Akron is most exciting . . . "
Council president Ralph Turner said the "beautiful building helps make the whole city attractive."
PLANNING Commission member Joseph Leyden, assistant to the president of General Tire, called it "a tremendous advancement" and said he hoped "we will see much more of this kind of development."
Beacon Journal managing editor William D. Schlemmer responded to Goodrich's announcement by saying that "The community does appreciate the time, effort, talent and great amount of money that the company has given to this development."
PHOTO CAPTION: MODEL OF B. F. Goodrich's new Opportunity Park office and park complex provides a look into the future. BFG president Harry B. Warner (right) and Mayor Ballard point to landscaping features, while George Brittain (left), Chamber of Commerce executive vice president, and Robert H. Schmidt, Area Progress Board director, get their first look at development plan. |
