Canal Square is a good choice for persons who are business people, young couples without children, and/or retired.
The building is well-made (albeit old) with good basic materials, thick walls, and lots of windows. Somewhat modern updates include mid-grade kitchen and bath fixtures, central heating and cooling, in-suite washer and dryer combo and water heater, ample sprinkler system/fire alarms, decent kitchen appliances (not new, but mid-grade, not cheap), decent wall-to-wall carpeting (mid-grade), tile walls in bath and kitchen, mid-grade linoleum flooring in bath and kitchen.
Perks: maintenance and office staff- always available and helpful; city views (especially on the Canal Park and Lock Three sides of the building); triple-secured entry (building entrance, apartments entrance, and individual apartment locks) and constant lighting in hallways; hotel-like hallways between apartments on each floor; garage entry and parking, 2 elevators to all floors (this can also be a "con" when elevator(s) aren't working); windows and wide window sills (almost like built-in bookshelves); character and uniqueness of each apartment; trash chute on each floor; all-electric; water included in rent.
Cons: windows leak air (openable windows with screens- picturesque but old); depending on which side of the building you are on, you will either have a larger winter or summer electric bill (i.e. apartments that get morning sun stay warm and those that don't stay cool- we get morning sun and seldom have to use heat except during the very coldest times- while our air conditioning cost is very high when it's hot); if you don't have parking in garage and/or in the lots attached to building, then parking could be frustrating to say the least; if you happen to have noisy neighbors (which doesn't happen often- and they have to be PRETTY noisy to be heard) then the proximity can be annoying, especially during "open window" season; the individual apartment "front" doors aren't insulated (halls are heated/cooled) which allow sounds to issue into the hallways, possibly making neighbors (if they are in the hallway) prviy to conversation coming from your apartment (sounds can only be heard in hallways and don't appear to penetrate into actual apartments); elevators have a tendency to break down and or "shake" which can drive the faint of heart to the stairways (quite a feat to the higher floors). I can't really think of any other "cons".
I love living here at Canal Square. My husband and I don't want to bother with the issues that come with owning, and we are both so busy we consider our rent buying us the privilege of time, the only really scarce commodity in our lives right now. In addition, being close to the restaurants downtown, watching Aeros games, concerts, ice skating, and fireworks from our windows is an enjoyable plus. With a Starbucks and the newly opened Art Museum a block away, it just gets better. The downtown library is the best in the area, and the tow path is just outside the door. In addition, more renovation plans for Akron's downtown are in the works right now, which is exciting.
For the money, I'd recommend this place to anyone who is inspired by the unique (both aesthetically and experience-wise) and to those who want a comfortable, quiet, and safe place that doesn't feel like a college hangout or "just another apartment building".

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates