Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael & Jodie Owen. They and their team share their story with us below:
Coming from a background in Arts-based redevelopment & real estate both Michael & Jodie were thrilled when they learned of the opportunity to redevelop the former Shriber Auto Parts Building in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Jodie has a 30-year background in real estate and construction. Michael’s background is in Real Estate Law and Urban Recycling & Redevelopment. Cuyahoga Falls is Michael’s hometown, so it seemed as if the Jenks Building was the perfect fit for a project.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anything but a smooth road. lol When we began the project at the Jenks Building in October 2019, we were planning on tenants, however, not conventional ones. We were searching for people who were looking for Opportunities & Possibilities in their lives. Finding constructive dreamers, with a vision for their next steps, is always a difficult search. One that proved even more difficult during Covid.
We knew we needed the right mix of tenant/entrepreneurs in order to promote the collision of creativity & commerce… No one was knocking on the door. Our nation, and the world, were at a standstill. This presented an additional challenge to an already unique vision.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a Business/ Practice/ Firm as Owen Real Estate Services. (Additionally, Jodie is the Executive Director of the Remodeling Industry in Northeast Ohio & Michael carries a Juris Doctor of Law from the University of Akron.)
We have served our community for over 30 years in the real-estate & redevelopment industries.
We are Employees & Professionals. Both at the Jenks Building and in our other ventures. (True North, Trust Books, The Northside District.) Michael was heavily involved in the Development of the AES Building, Canal Place, Cascade Village, Millworks Gallery, Bluff Blue Door Gallery, the Akron Ice House & More.
We are Artists & Creatives. Michael is a Published Artist. Jodie a Published Poet.
We specialize in Arts-Based Development, Urban Recycling, Saving & Up-cycling Old Buildings & building communities around the aforementioned to help lift the properties, and the neighborhoods, into their highest & best use.
We don’t know that we would use the word proud, but we are pleased as punch with all of those who have come along beside us. Musicians, Artists, Creatives, & Entrepreneurs. through attraction, rather than promotion, we have been able to build a community in the Jenks Building unlike any other arts-based development project we have done in the past.
Any big plans?
It’s hard to say what the future holds. There will always be changes & we are always searching for new ideas and development projects as well as continuing to program the current and previous ones with the arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenks1929.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenksbuilding/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jenks1929/
