A tent city in Akron has been issued a notice by city officials to shut down within the next 30 days if the it does not file another application to rezone the property.
The notice from the city’s planning director, Jason Segedy, issued the letter to Sage Lewis, founder of the Homeless Charity and Second Chance Village at 15 Broad St. in Akron. The letter was sent about three months after the city issued its first notice to Lewis in November.
His tent city was not operating legally according to the city’s zoning code.
The Homeless Charity, a non-profit aimed at finding ways to end homelessness in the city, has provided free tents for those in need behind the facility in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood. The non-profit, created by Akron businessman Sage Lewis, also houses a thrift store, kitchen, showers, and a computer lab for the homeless community.
Lewis told WKYC Saturday afternoon that he has been directed not to comment about the city’s latest request. There is also a pending lawsuit from a neighbor, who has since moved, citing concerns over tent city’s operations.
According to court records, Samuel Adkins filed the lawsuit on Nov. 14 to close the facility and request $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit alleges the facility is a "nuisance."
The city's most recent notice to Lewis noted that there are "permanent and transitional housing available to every single resident" at the property and that some residents have been given housing vouchers but opted out of using it.
Lewis has maintained that he would like to work the city to come up with a solution, beyond tent city, to end homelessness in Akron.