MILL DISTRICT
Mill District names the unique business, arts, and cultural district on N. Water Street in Kent, Ohio. As an area filled with great coffee, art galleries, historic buildings, and friendly neighbors, the street is currently undergoing a collaborative revitalization that includes community members, local businesses, and the City of Kent. The Mill District is designed as a name to unite behind—beginning a new conversation about what the district is and has the potential to be.
Mill District names the unique business, arts, and cultural district on N. Water Street in Kent, Ohio. As an area filled with great coffee, art galleries, historic buildings, and friendly neighbors, the street is currently undergoing a collaborative revitalization that includes community members, local businesses, and the City of Kent. The Mill District is designed as a name to unite behind—beginning a new conversation about what the district is and has the potential to be.
THE MILL
The Mill District is named after the iconic Mill established by the Williams Brothers on North Water Street in 1879. With its distinct white grain elevators, the building has left an imprint on the skyline of the city. While the mill once produced hundreds of millions of pounds of flour, today it stands as a symbol of progress ready for the next era.
TODAY
The district is an area of Kent known for its tight-knit arts culture, but is also home to longstanding businesses, coffee shops, bars, and services—proving that the area can act as a foundation for diverse growth in business and arts culture. The area today is positioned to be a unique space for placemaking and thoughtful historical renovation.
N. WATER HISTORY
N. Water Street originated as an industrial district in Kent known for creativity and innovation.
N. Water Street is in the midst of a revitalization effort between the city and community.
N. WATER BETTER BLOCK
Community Members and the City of Kent gathered on September 29, 2018 to envision a Better Block for the Mill District on N. Water Street in Kent. Visit the Better Block page to learn more about the event.
Follow along with the progress on N. Water Street.
GET INVOLVED
N. Water Street is in the midst of a revitalization effort between the city and community.
N. Water Street is in the midst of a revitalization effort between the city and community.
THE STREET TODAY
Although the street has a rich history, there now exists many vacant spaces and buildings that have potential for revitalization, as well as many traffic and public spaces that need improvement. Art galleries, coffee shops, businesses, and services thrive here, creating potential for community action and placemaking.
THE SURVEY
Currently, an online survey is being conducted to better understand the culture and vision of N. Water Street in the eyes of the business owners and community members there. Share your voice by taking the survey below.
COMMUNITY VISION CASTING
This collaborative effort kicked off the first efforts of planning and strategizing for a future Better Block event in Kent. Local business property owners and employees, KSU faculty, and community influencers joined together in a conversation with the City of Kent about the revitalization of North Water Street as part of the Mill District. Combining the voices and visions of the community, hypothetical improvements using maps of N. Water were planned.
PRESS
Follow along with the progress on N. Water Street.
Follow along with the progress on N. Water Street.
APR 5, 2018 / THE RECORD COURIER
RENOVATION OF KENT MILL DISTRICT BUILDING MOVES AHEAD
By Diane Smith
The redevelopment of a 19th-century structure at 257 N. Water St. in Kent’s Mill District will be moving forward, despite some concerns about parking spaces next to the building.
MAR 30, 2018 / THE RECORD COURIER
Kent Mill District ponders Better Blocks plan
By Bob Gaetjens
A group of stakeholders along North Water Street gathered this week to learn about the Better Blocks program, which could help them find ways to make the business district more vibrant.
MAR 28, 2018 / THE RECORD COURIER
Kent seeks grant to improve safety on North Water Street
By Diane Smith
Kent is seeking nearly $1 million in grant funds to make North Water Street safer. City Engineer Jim Bowling recently applied for a federal Highway Safety Grant to improve the street.
MAR 6, 2018 / THE RECORD COURIER
Kent architectural board praises North Water redevelopment project
By Diane Smith
A redevelopment of a 19th-century structure at 257 N. Water St. in Kent’s Mill District area got approval from the city’s architectural review board. The panel issued a “certificate of appropriateness” for the two-story building.
MAR 3, 2018 / THE RECORD COURIER
Renovations in store for old N. Water Street building
By Bob Gaetjens
One of the properties in the Mill District area of North Water Street in Kent is about get a much-needed renovation, hopefully providing a catalyst for future development in the area.
OCT 14, 2017 / THE RECORD COURIER
What does future hold for iconic Kent mill?
By Bob Gaetjens
It’s been more than a year since Star of the West ceased operations in its mill on North Water Street, a site easily recognized with its grain silos prominent in the Kent’s skyline.
GET IN TOUCH
Do you have ideas, questions, or concerns? Please contact Each + Every, a local Kent design studio, by sending us an email. Thank you!