The Project
See it. Support it. Build it.
A permanent cultural, economic, and community anchor for Akron.
Built to Revitalize the Community
This project is designed to function as both a cultural anchor and an economic engine supporting programming, entrepreneurship, and long-term community development.
A visible investment in culture.
A permanent investment in the future.
A permanent investment in the future.
Location
restoring presence, ownership, and opportunity
Located in the Sherbondy Hill / Lane Field community—an area shaped by historic displacement—the Legacy Building Project restores presence, ownership, and opportunity.
Overview
A Cultural Anchor for Akron
The Legacy Building Project is a planned 25,000 sq. ft. African American Cultural Community Center & Museum Complex located in the Sherbondy Hill / Lane Field community, an area historically impacted by redlining, urban renewal, and displacement.
Designed as a state-of-the-art, multi-use facility, the project preserves history while advancing sustainability, innovation, and economic resilience.
Museum & Galleries
Spaces dedicated to preserving and sharing Black history in Akron.
Trade, Investment and Technology Center
Focusing on financial literacy, economic empowerment and technological training for youth and the entire community.
Business & Workforce
Incubator and co-working spaces supporting entrepreneurship.
Community Spaces
Auditorium, events, gardens, and shared gathering areas.
Together, these elements create a destination that honors the past while actively powering the future combining cultural preservation with green infrastructure, workforce development, and community wealth-building.
Why It Matters
This project is about restoring community.
Why Now
Impact
Designed for Long-Term Value
The Legacy Building Project aligns culture, education, and economic opportunity into a unified system. Programming integrates history with modern skills in clean energy, food systems, technology, and civic leadership making the project relevant to employers, universities, healthcare systems, and public agencies.
This is not a one-time development. It is designed to become a permanent civic institution where history is preserved, opportunity is cultivated, and community wealth is built across generations.
Be Part of Building Akron’s Cultural Future
Support the creation of a permanent home for culture, opportunity, and community ownership.
Phase One is active. Community support will determine how quickly this vision becomes reality.
Momentum
Built on Public Investment & Community Leadership
Phase One of the Legacy Building Project has been seeded by public investment and community leadership. The State of Ohio has committed $400,000, providing early validation and momentum for the capital campaign.
This investment is supported by Legacy’s 3,000 Campaign an elder-led initiative mobilizing community ownership and the Village Ball, an annual fundraiser recognizing those advancing the Black community in Akron.
Together, these efforts establish both public confidence and grassroots commitment, creating a strong foundation for institutional funding and long-term success.