Christopher Hardesty knows there are issues facing Akron's downtown district. As the first executive director of Akron's nonprofit Downtown Akron Development Corporation (DADC) it's his job to guide revitalization of the area.

He said that means growing the residential population downtown from 3,000 people to 5,000 by 2030 by transforming commercial buildings into residences, better supporting existing businesses that have endured through Akron's hardship and more. He acknowledged that growing the downtown population means attracting businesses that can support that population, a grocery store for for example, which is already in the works.

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