For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Joan M. Williams
jwilliams@akronohio.gov or 330-375-2258
AKRON CITY COUNCIL RESPONDS TO
UNIFY AKRON CIVIC ASSEMBLY ON HOUSING 2026 REPORT
Affirms Alignment with Community-Driven Recommendations, Notes Several Already Underway
AKRON, Ohio, June 10, 2026 — Akron City Council today issued a formal response to the Preliminary Report of the Unify Akron Civic Assembly on Housing 2026, following a presentation made before the Housing and Neighborhood Assistance Committee on Monday, June 8, 2026. The report, produced by a group of randomly-selected Akron residents serving as Delegates to the city’s first-ever Civic Assembly, outlines nine community proposals collectively titled the Plan of the People — each receiving supermajority support of more than two-thirds of Delegates.
The Assembly’s work, which ran from March 14 to May 14, 2026, centered on a shared goal: helping Akron residents have better access to safe, affordable, and well-maintained homes. Delegates deliberated on a range of proposals — from creating a Housing Docket in Akron Municipal Court and adopting civil housing citations, to comprehensive zoning reform, tiny homes zoning, dedicated housing revenue through bonds, low-cost repair loans for homeowners, and down payment assistance for prospective buyers.
Council President Margo Sommerville welcomed the report’s findings and emphasized that the Assembly’s recommendations affirm the direction Council has already been charting for Akron residents.
“The voices of these Delegates reflect what we have been hearing from residents across our city for years — that Akron deserves safe homes, stable neighborhoods, and real pathways to homeownership,” said Council President Sommerville. “What is particularly meaningful about this report is that it confirms Council has already been moving in the right direction. We approved funding for additional housing inspectors in the 2026 budget, we have already passed legislation for form-based zoning in the Summit Lake and Kenmore neighborhoods, and we recently approved down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. The Plan of the People is not a call to start from scratch — it is a call to go further, move faster, and make sure every Akron resident can see themselves in the future we are building together.”
“I want to thank the 65 Unify Akron delegates for the time and care they put into this process”, said Housing and Neighborhood Assistance Committee Chair Bruce Bolden. “The Civic Assembly’s nine recommendations reflect real priorities we hear from residents — especially around code enforcement, vacant properties, and the proposed housing docket. Council’s Housing Committee will review each recommendation carefully and work with the administration to make progress in adopting these proposals. Not every idea will move at the same pace, but this kind of resident-driven input is exactly what should be shaping our housing policy going forward.”
Council members noted the significance of the Assembly process itself — a model of deliberative democracy in which a representative cross-section of Akron residents studied complex housing policy, weighed benefits and tradeoffs, and produced actionable guidance for elected officials. The post-Assembly experience survey reflected near-unanimous agreement among Delegates that the process helped them consider new perspectives and feel more invested in Akron’s future.
Akron City Council is committed to continued work toward the implementation of each proposal in a manner that is fiscally responsible and ensures the safety and well-being of all Akron residents. Just as the Delegates themselves carefully weighed the benefits and tradeoffs of every recommendation, Council will approach each proposal with the same deliberate care — advancing solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and reflective of the community’s vision. Council recognizes that meaningful housing reform requires not only bold action, but sound stewardship of public resources and a steadfast commitment to the health, stability, and dignity of every person who calls Akron home.
The Housing and Neighborhood Assistance Committee will continue to review the preliminary report as Unify Akron prepares its final report for submission later this month. Council members across committees have been encouraged to study the Delegate guidance accompanying each proposal as they consider legislation and budget priorities in the months ahead.
The full preliminary report, including all proposal details, benefits, tradeoffs, and Delegate guidance, is available at: www.unifyakron.org/assembly-resources.
About Akron City Council
Akron City Council is the legislative body of the City of Akron, Ohio, responsible for enacting local legislation, approving the city budget, and representing the interests of Akron’s residents across all 10 wards. For more information, visit www.akronohio.gov.
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