Clio Logo
Akron University and Downtown Driving Tour
Item 20 of 20

The Westmont Building

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Westmont building was and currently is an apartment building in Akron, Ohio. The Westmont was constructed in 1930 under its owner Dr. Fred M. Capron. Architect Lymann Walker designed the building in the Tudor Revival style. The Westmont was erected near the extensive Akron trolley lines; however, a key feature of the Westmont was its two-level parking garage. The building was sold to Dr. Norman F. Rodenbaugh in 1934; the Rodenbaugh family continued to own the building for the next 50 years when it was then sold to Harold Rasmussen Jr. Rasmussen renovated the building while still keeping the original style. The Westmont is now set to undertake a new purpose, NBA star Lebron James plans to convert the Westmont into the "I Promise Village by Graduate Hotels" for students and families of the I Promise School. The building is set to re-open in 2020, starting a new chapter for this historic building.

Images

The Westmont building as it currently stands

The Westmont building as it currently stands

The current Westmont lobby.

The current Westmont lobby.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Westmont building was constructed in 1930; the building was commissioned by Dr. Fred M. Capron. Cleveland architect Lymann Walker designed the Tudor style building. Walker was known for his designing of apartment complexes. The Westmont was designed in the Tudor Revival style, evident in its embellished masonry work and its projecting glass bay windows. 

The Westmont was constructed to be an apartment complex for the residents of Akron, Ohio. Its construction came during a boom of apartment complexes occurring in Akron at the time. Four new apartments were constructed over the course of three years, each with its own distinct style, Neo-Gothic for the Ambassador, Spanish Renaissance for the Seville and Hispano-Moresque for the Alcazar. The Westmont was constructed near the improving and expansive trolley lines in Akron. However, the Westmont offered a two-level parking garage for the cars of those living inside the Westmont.    

Dr. Norman F. Rodenbaugh bought the building in 1934. Dr. Rodenbaugh's family owned the Westmont for the next 50 years. The building was bought from the Rodenbaugh family in 1983 by Harold Rasmussen Jr. Rasmussen began a restoration of the building maintaining the architectural style of the Westmont while still updating the building. The Westmont is now set to undertake a new purpose, NBA star Lebron James plans to convert the Westmont into the "I Promise Village by Graduate Hotels" for students and families of the I Promise School. The building is set to re-open in 2020, starting a new chapter for this historic building. 

Sources

Rasmussen, Harold. The Westmont Building . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. Published April 4th 1984. National Register of Historic Places.

Schweitzer, Mark. Vintage Structures | Re-living Tudor times at the Westmont, https://thedevilstrip.com/. February 14th 2019. Accessed November 12th 2019. https://thedevilstrip.com/vintage-strucures-re-living-tudor-times-at-the-westmont/.

Goist, Robin . LeBron James Family Foundation to renovate Akron apartment building into transitional housing for I Promise School students and families, https://www.cleveland.com/. November 4th 2019. Accessed November 12th 2019. https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2019/11/lebron-james-family-foundation-to-renovate-akron-apartment-building-into-transitional-housing-for-i-promise-school-students-and-families.html.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2019/11/lebron-james-family-foundation-to-renovate-akron-apartment-building-into-transitional-housing-for-i-promise-school-students-and-families.html.

https://www.apartments.com/westmont-apartments-akron-oh/6lzsfcs/