Business owners in Akron’s Highland Square say they are out of patience with late-night chaos that has scared off customers and rattled neighbors. They are rallying behind a proposal for a Special Improvement District that would pay for better lighting, public programming and trained nighttime patrols. The push has taken on new urgency since the fatal shooting of Timothy Hutchinson on October 5, 2025, and as warmer weather approaches.
Business Owners Back a Special Improvement District
Ward 1 Councilperson Fran Wilson is leading a plan that supporters say would ask roughly 15 property owners along West Market Street to chip in over a three-year period to support daytime beautification, family-friendly events and nighttime safety patrols staffed by trained personnel, as reported by News 5 Cleveland. Wilson has said the goal is a welcoming environment without intimidation, with friendly, safety-trained workers helping to keep the atmosphere positive. Backers say the assessment would not move forward without formal approvals and clear buy-in from the businesses involved.
City Steps and What’s Already Changed
City officials have rolled out a series of short-term fixes, including towing illegally parked cars, gating the city-owned lot behind the Chipotle after hours, adding cameras and assigning extra officers on weekend nights, actions announced by the mayor’s office and reported by Cleveland19. Akron City Council records also show a resolution creating the Highland Square Special Improvement District was passed on February 9, 2026, and a council representative was later appointed to the SID board, according to documents from Akron City Council. Officials say these steps are intended to cut down on the uncontrolled parking-lot gatherings that can escalate into dangerous situations.
Neighborhood Reaction
Local business owners acknowledge that the recent changes have helped, but they say the fear has not disappeared. “I understand why people have become more fearful of the neighborhood,” Abraham Nabors of Mustard Seed Market said, reflecting on the aftermath of the October killing, as reported by News 5 Cleveland. Proprietors point to recurring, uncontrolled gatherings in parking lots and say the SID is meant to give businesses concrete tools to manage and prevent those problems.
How a SID Would Work and the Hurdles
A Highland Square SID would require support from a significant share of property owners. Organizers say about 60 percent of businesses, or owners representing 75 percent of assessed property value, would have to agree before assessments could be levied, according to Signal Akron. Supporters point to the downtown Akron SID as proof of how much money a compact district can marshal, but they also concede that boundaries, exact assessment formulas and a start date are still unsettled. Organizers say funds would be earmarked for patrols, lighting, cameras, cleanups and family-oriented programming, and that getting the necessary votes and finalizing the legal and budget details are the next big hurdles.
Investigation and Legal Status
Akron Police detectives are still investigating the October 5, 2025, homicide of Timothy Hutchinson and have urged anyone with information to contact the department’s detective bureau, city officials said in public statements reported by Cleveland19. The department has vowed to pursue those responsible while city and business leaders advance parallel prevention and public-safety efforts.
Organizers say they will continue meeting with business owners, residents and city officials to secure the required buy-in and approvals, and they emphasize that the goal is for Highland Square to feel safe and welcoming day and night, according to Signal Akron.
