AKRON, Ohio — Huntington Tower, Akron's tallest building, is up for sale, according to a report from the Akron Beacon Journal.
The Columbus-based bank is looking to sell the building built in 1931, also known in the area as the Cascade I building at 106 South Main Street in downtown Akron.
Huntington Regional President for Akron Nick Browning was notified of the pending-for-sale listing Wednesday. There is currently no asking price yet. The building that houses Huntington is close to 40 percent vacant, with the bank occupying 11 of the 28 floors, according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
Browning told the paper that he would be open to keeping offices in the building under the new owners, but Huntington has enough room in the Cascade III to house all the employees.
“I shared with colleagues today making them aware of the beginning of this journey...and sharing the why behind the what. We’ll be flexible regarding maintaining space in the tower depending on the needs of the selected developer and buyer and concept. It will depend on what the prospective developer sees in the building,” said Browning to Ohio.com, who is on the board of many Akron organizations looking at regional development including the Greater Akron Chamber, Downtown Akron Partnership and the Northeast Ohio Team NEO.
The regional headquarters for the former FirstMerit was transferred to Cascade III, and Brown said the Huntington Akron-based executives are spread across all the bank's downtown buildings.
Browning stressed to Ohio.com that the bank's regional headquarters will remain in Akron and the jobs are not moving downtown.
“We’re looking to grow in the city,” he said. “This has nothing to do with employment. ...We have continued to move and build up employment in the city of Akron.
