There are two articles with pictures (one from The Blade and the second from ABC-TV 13, the first one indicating the letter from the city and the other was the after-math which spells out the current progression on the Steam Plant project. You can see previous posts in this thread in regards to this project. As I said before, politicians, media, and citizens needs to be PATIENT because planning and development takes take time and money. They all have to remember things do not build and rebuild over night with all sorts of zoning rules, permits, grants processing, public meetings, approvals, etc, etc. to consider. David Ball and Jimmy Jackson are good guys which they have redeveloped and developed other projects around the city. The Steam Plant project is by far the biggest for them as of today and I give them credit to invest in the city.

Proposed:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/WaterStreetStation12-11-2006.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/elevation-west.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/elevation-north-south-update.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/elevation-east-update.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/elevation-courtyard.jpg

Current:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/WaterStreetSteamPlant2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/downtown2.jpg

Steam plant project moving forward
WTVG ABC local affiliate (credit to www.13abc.com)

Developers of the steam plant project along the Maumee downtown say they are on track. There is not much change on the outside of the steam plant just yet, but developers say plenty of work is being done and they add it is important to remember that you only have one grand opening. They want to make sure this project is done right even if it takes longer than expected and costs more money.
Mayor Carty Finkbeiner fired off a letter to steam plant developers Dave Ball and Jimmy Jackson last week telling them they were behind schedule on the much anticipated multi-million dollar downtown housing project and that he expects progress.

Mayor Finkbeiner's spokesman Brian Schwartz says, "The purpose of the letter is to put them on notice that we expect to see some work getting done."

Ball and Jackson were surprised to get the letter without so much as a phone call from the Mayor.

Dave Ball says, "When I got the letter I was offended and shocked. We are doing everything we can do to make this happen."

Jim Jackson says, "When there's talk of nothing being done, it's disappointing what being done internally to the property."

The project is moving forward slower than expected but Jackson and Ball say that is due in part to higher than expected construction costs and they have to wait until July to apply for a state tax credit to help cover those costs.

Here is a timetable for the project: construction on the new flats and townhouses should get underway this fall and be finished in late 2008 or early 2009. There will be more than 70 units in the old part of the building and 32 new townhouses.

An official Apple Store would be great but I am surprised they didn't open one up at the Westfield Franklin Park Mall since that's where the money is.

I keep my eyes open on http://www.ifoapplestore.com/ and I have never seen any mention of an Apple store in Toledo. It is kind of surprising since the closest one is Detroit (Novi, MI) in a mall that is comparable to Franklin Park.

The Steam Plant looks like it will be incredible when it is done, I didn't know anything about it.

How much would the apartments cost in it once it is finished?

The Steam Plant looks like it will be incredible when it is done, I didn't know anything about it.

How much would the apartments cost in it once it is finished?

Here is the direct link to the Water Street Plant; from what I've understand these apartments and condos will be market rate especially if it's by the river:
http://www.waterstreettoledo.com/

Wind power plan for lake gains speed; efforts totaling over $1M seek to win new industry

http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20070323&Category=NEWS06&ArtNo=703230397&Ref=V2&MaxW=500&title=1

More than $1 million could be spent in the coming months pursuing offshore wind power in Lake Erie, even though the region just lost out on a bid to have East Toledo host the nation’s first testing laboratory for offshore wind turbine blades.

A $250,000 wildlife study, funded by a grant the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority obtained from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), recently began along the western Lake Erie shoreline.

The goal of that study is to get the region’s clean energy and wildlife proponents on the same page over the risks posed to birds and bats.

The next phase would involve putting two or three wind turbines along the western Lake Erie shoreline as early as the summer of 2008 to see just how lethal the devices might be.

Sites have not been selected, but they likely would be between Toledo and Lorain, Ohio.

The turbines themselves would cost several more million dollars, said Steve Watts, wind programs manager for Green Energy Ohio, a nonprofit group coordinating the study.

Called the Northwest Ohio Coastal Wind Initiative, the study looms big for a region looking toward renewable energy for jobs.

Western Lake Erie potentially is the Great Lakes region’s cheapest place to develop offshore wind power because of its shallow water and access to transmission lines.

But it also has two of North America’s largest migratory bird flyways.

Thinking even bigger are some Cleveland-area officials who claim they are on their way toward securing $800,000 for a feasibility report with a dual mission:

wExamining the viability of spending up to $50 million to install two to eight offshore wind turbines in Lake Erie north of Cleveland.

wConsidering a proposal to spend up to $10 million for a new research facility in Cleveland to be called the Lake Erie Wind Energy Center.

The University of Toledo would be part of that center, a facility that would “attract research talent for what will be a global offshore wind project in northern Ohio,” said Richard Stuebi, the Cleveland Foundation’s BP fellow for energy and environmental advancement.

“Five to 15 years from now, [offshore wind power] will be a huge industry,” he told 170 people yesterday at a clean energy workshop in Maumee. “Northern Ohio to offshore wind could be what Houston is to oil and gas.”

The foundation has been working with Cuyahoga County commissioners and Cleveland-area officials to secure funds, he said.

“We think the Great Lakes is a great place to do offshore wind, better than the oceans,” Mr. Stuebi said.

Offshore wind turbines typically are twice as large as their land-based counterparts and produce four times as much power.

Several exist in Europe. The United States has none, although Massachusetts and Texas — the two finalists for the lab East Toledo was trying to get — now have permit applications under way.

Mark Shieldcastle, an Ohio Department of Natural Resources biologist who runs many of the state’s migratory bird programs from the Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station in Ottawa County, said he can’t imagine wind turbines going up along the western Lake Erie shoreline in the summer of 2008 — let alone the prospect of offshore wind power any time soon.

He said the state DNR is seeking a study that costs in excess of $2 million and lasts at least three years. The Toledo-to-Lorain region should not be studied for less than $750,000 a year, he said.

“Migration is variable. You can’t go one year and say this is the way it is,” Mr. Shieldcastle said. “If you’ve got $250,000, you’re not going to be doing any studying.”

He said he has not seen any wind power studies to date that have adequately addressed the wildlife issue.

Megan Seymour, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who sits with Mr. Shieldcastle on the state’s wind-power advisory panel, said turbines should not be installed within three miles of the shoreline without extensive avian research.

Yet there was loads of enthusiasm yesterday over the potential of having Cleveland install the Great Lakes region’s first offshore wind turbines.

“This is cutting edge,” Bill Spratley, Green Energy Ohio executive director, said at the Maumee event.

Miss Kaptur, who was in Washington, said during a telephone interview that northwest Ohio’s wildlife issue will be researched adequately by the port authority study.

The region is “absolutely headed into the wind,” she said.

“We have a massive industry to give birth to here,” she said. “God gave us the resource. We just have to capture it.”

The Toledo Zoo is one of several new sites under negotiation for installation of tower gauges to help measure the region’s wind velocity, Mr. Watts said.

The upcoming research is in addition to a $1 million grant Miss Kaptur secured last year for the wind-wildlife issue to be studied at Bowling Green State University’s Firelands campus in Huron, Ohio, via the construction of one or two wind turbines.

Jim Smith, the campus dean, told yesterday’s forum he is eager for electricity to be generated.

“When I’m not buying electricity from FirstEnergy Corp., I’m lowering tuition costs,” he quipped. “When I’m lowering tuition costs, Governor [Ted] Strickland thinks I’m a good guy. So do the students on campus.”

The only thing that interests me with Fallen Timbers is if there will be an Apple Store there. Apple has a store in the new Open Air mall in Columbus, and it would be nice if we could get an official Apple Store here in Toledo.

There's no Trader Joe's in Toledo either, is that right?

Yeah you are right, and I really wish there was one.

Just 2 weeks ago I went to Detroit to visit their Trader Joe's.

Yeah you are right, and I really wish there was one.

Just 2 weeks ago I went to Detroit to visit their Trader Joe's.

Jsut a heads-up -- the Fallen Timbers web site is now up. It's thin on content, but at least it's an indication of progress.

http://www.theshopsatfallentimbers.com/

General Growth Partners' site has a few new renderings up (at least from what I've seen) as well, along with a revised bit of sales copy.

http://www.ggp.com/properties/ndFallen_timbers.htm

I'm not sure why GGP is being so coy with the remaining retailers. I know they were preliminarily announced many months ago (Gap, etc.) but they aren't confirming them. With 192 days left to opening, any new additions would be coming to the building party very late in the game.

Anyway, for what it's worth, here's my list of currently-missing and desired stores/eateries for our area (in no particular order). I hope that some of these places are in Fallen Timbers' plans, now, or in the future:

- Apple Store
- Anthropologie
- Whole Foods
- Trader Joes
- Patagonia (it gets COLD around here!)
- Crate and Barrell
- Cafe Express (www.cafe-express.com -- if you're ever in Houston, TX, seek it out)
- La Madaline (www.lamadaline.com.com -- if you're ever in Houston, TX or Old Towne, VA, seek it out)
- Design Within Reach
- Urban Outfitters
- The Cheesecake Factory (food)
- Maggiano's Little Italy (food)
- Macaroni Grill (food)
- Restoration Hardware
- Rockfish Seafood Grill (food)
- William Sonoma Home

I like to see the Apple Store, Whole Foods Market, Crate & Barrell, Cheesecake Factory and Urban Outfitters in our region.

A few years back, Macaroni Grill were to open up in the Franklin Park area but was unsuccessful due to lack of available land. Some of the new restaurants and others beat them to it perhaps they are still waiting for the opportunity. I know that Lone Star restaurant closed up on Monroe Street next to the vacant Pizza Hut--that would be a potential for them.

A proposed $320M mixed-use development agreement between The City of Toledo and Dillin Corp will go before Toledo city council in April. In the proposed agreement, Dillin Corp will provide the leadership, private funding and management of the Marina District Development. The city's role is to capture public funding from the state and federal government as well as create a TIF district and support the project going forward.

"The difference between this agreement and agreements the city has had in the past is that the developer isn't saying, 'give us the land, give us some money and wait and see what happens.' In this agreement, Dillin Corp has to bring private investment and the riverfront park to the table before the city turns over the land or any public dollars," explained Mayor Carty Finkbeiner.

After Dillin solidifies private funds of $50 million for vertical buildings and $15 million to fund the balance of the Riverfront Park area, the city will deed the land to Dillin Corp and invest $10 million in the Riverfront Drive and Park area.

"This is always the role we wanted Larry to play in the development of the Marina District," said Don Monroe with the City of Toledo. "Dan Steingraber and I originally called Larry to recruit him back to the project  that's when the City gave him a consulting agreement, but this way is better for everyone." "Better for the City, better for Dillin and better for Toledo as a place to live," Steingraber agreed.

Dillin is currently in negotiations with users on several parts of the site both commercial and residential. "When the Waterfront Park is delivered, there are several other interested developers for other areas of the land," stated Sarah Penner, project manager of the Marina District for Dillin Corp. "The backbone of this agreement is the Riverfront Park." The Riverfront Park would typically be funded as a "Public Works" project. In this case, the City, State and Dillin will all participate in the expenses.

The City, the citizens of Toledo and Dillin Corp benefit from the agreement. The most obvious are that the City gets a first class development, predominantly privately funded, with little risk for the City and the City will be able to collect taxes on the property. On the other hand, Dillin Corp has the opportunity to create a third regional attraction in northwest Ohio, keep local control of the property and the development, and possibly be the "tipping point" for the way people think about Toledo.

I'm really looking forward to the Jim Jackson projects in Toledo. The guy's a stud and his lounge downtown really kicks ass.

I'm torn on the Larry Dillin thing. I'm not a fan of Levis Commons (too many surface lots), and I hope the Marina District is not another suburban development masquerading as an urban development. I was really hoping Tom Chema would work on this project. That man understands truely urban development better than anyone in the state of Ohio.

Either way, private funding is a must given the financial situation in Toledo and the upcoming arena downtown. I personally am not too worried about competition out in Perrysburg or Maumee/Monclova. If done right, The Marina District will offer quite a unique (better) experience in the Toledo market. On top of that, Toledo's consumer market is roughly 1.2 million people, and Levis Commons/Fallen Timbers are a safe distance from the Marina District. Does anyone have recent renderings?

The Southwyck project is where Dillin will really have his work cut of for him, given the fact there will be two other lifestyle centers/shopping townes only a couple miles away...

I don't understand why they wouldn't announce more tenants for the Shops at Fallen Timbers either. On one of the television station web sites a while back they had a big list of the tenants, but who knows if they were correct. Plus, I can't remember which station it was. So far I am not too excited about stores, but Barnes and Noble should be nice. I don't see why another National Amusements theater is necessary though.

^I think National Amusements nearly has a monopoly on the Toledo market. Toledo is one of the most expensive cities to see a first-run movie. I now go to the Maumee Indoor to see flicks. There may only be two theaters, but the sound system is top-notch and I like the old-school experience.

More Toledo news:

For those interested, I have an inside source saying that Andersons is looking at building a store in Bowling Green. Andersons has been expanding the last couple of years and posted record profit in 2006. I think a store in Bowling Green would be a great addition. Andersons has outstanding beer and wine selections (best in Ohio), great meat/deli, and lots of other products unique to their "general stores". I would assume that Bowling Green is large enough for a store and it shouldn't compete with the Maumee location which is good distance away (over a 20 minute drive).

As far as future expansions? Who knows, but I would expect a general store in Southeast Michigan (maybe Bedford or Monroe) and a smaller store in downtown Toledo if the population continues to increase.

Pilliod, do you know anything about the Lima Anderson's? I am originally from Lima and I know that over the last few years there has been speculation about the store because the mall it is in is not doing well.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

I don't understand why they wouldn't announce more tenants for the Shops at Fallen Timbers either. On one of the television station web sites a while back they had a big list of the tenants, but who knows if they were correct. Plus, I can't remember which station it was. So far I am not too excited about stores, but Barnes and Noble should be nice. I don't see why another National Amusements theater is necessary though.

It was NBC 24 and I posted it awhile back in this thread which I believe it was last fall. Shops at Fallen Timbers will be more geared toward middle-class customers compared to Levis Commons which focuses on up-scale consumers. Barnes & Noble is much needed in the southern part of the region and I love P.F. Chang China Bistro which I cannot wait for it to open.

More Toledo news:

For those interested, I have an inside source saying that Andersons is looking at building a store in Bowling Green. Andersons has been expanding the last couple of years and posted record profit in 2006. I think a store in Bowling Green would be a great addition. Andersons has outstanding beer and wine selections (best in Ohio), great meat/deli, and lots of other products unique to their "general stores". I would assume that Bowling Green is large enough for a store and it shouldn't compete with the Maumee location which is good distance away (over a 20 minute drive).

As far as future expansions? Who knows, but I would expect a general store in Southeast Michigan (maybe Bedford or Monroe) and a smaller store in downtown Toledo if the population continues to increase.

Andersons would do well if they build one in Fremont, Tiffin, Findlay, Defiance and even Bowling Green. Their reputation and quality exceed's the expectations of the NW Ohio consumers. I'd love to see a smaller Andersons in downtown Toledo and they should open one in North Toledo to replace the vacant North Towne Square Mall--they have enough population to support it from Michigan and North Toledo area. There is a new Andersons Market building right now on Sylvania Avenue and King Road in Sylvania Township which will be a Whole Foods Market-like store. There are several posts about it in this thread with information and pictures.

Pilliod, do you know anything about the Lima Anderson's? I am originally from Lima and I know that over the last few years there has been speculation about the store because the mall it is in is not doing well.

The American Mall has always not done well in Lima but what's keeping it open is the Andersons. Back in the 90s and even today, they've only managed to open a cinema but no renovations to the mall. As long as the Andersons is there, the dumpy mall will chug on as usual.

I don't understand why they wouldn't announce more tenants for the Shops at Fallen Timbers either. On one of the television station web sites a while back they had a big list of the tenants, but who knows if they were correct. Plus, I can't remember which station it was. So far I am not too excited about stores, but Barnes and Noble should be nice. I don't see why another National Amusements theater is necessary though.

IMO that the Fallen Timbers will cater to the growing population of Springfield and Monclova Townships along with Waterville, Whitehouse, Wauseon, Napoleon, Maumee, Perrysburg, Swanton, and Bowling Green; because they cater to the middle-class consumers. Hopefully it will alleviate the year-round congestion and thrust of people at Westfield Franklin Park. However, Fallen Timbers' competition are Levis Commons and Spring Meadows because of the location and size; Southwyck is remain to be seen as much as I prefer they be an enclosed mall not open-air because the mall is so mis-managed as they have one advantage that Fallen Timbers, Levis Commons and Spring Meadows does not have which is POPULATION. Last but not least, Westfield Franklin Park Mall is so big they are in a league of their own and it is the death star of the Toledo region retail scene.


Fallen Timbers mall construction underway
March 28, 2007 credit to ABC TV 13 website

A new mall will be open by the end of the year in Maumee and there is new information tonight about what you can expect. We now know more about the stores that will be setting up shop in Maumee, in fact, two new retailers signed on today and construction is right on track for the October grand opening.

The list of stores ready to do business here at the shops at Fallen Timbers is growing. Today, two more retailers were added to the list, Hallmark and Claire's.

Maumee City Administrator John Jezak says, "Now whether or not it is 100 percent leased at the time of opening is a question. They are on the way and they have the major tenants. Now they are just filling in specialty retailers and restaurants."

The multi-million dollar development will create hundreds of jobs and pour money into both Maumee and Lucas County's coffers.

Many have wondered if the new mall is too close to Levis Commons and Southwyck for all three to be successful. Maumee leaders believe competition is a good thing.

General growth is the developer of the project and Maumee leaders say the Chicago based company spent years researching this project to guarantee it's success.

The two anchor stores at Fallen Timbers will be JC Penney and Dillard's.

Some of the other stores and restaurants include:
Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks
Charlotte Russe
Children's Place
The Gap
Lane Bryant
Lids
Limited Too
PF Chang's
Select Comfort
Showcase Cinema
Victoria's Secret
Wet Seal

This short news bit has been confirmed this morning in the Toledo Free Press as the redevelopment of Westgate continues. This certifies the progress of the redevelopement project as Costco comes to Toledo.

Costco pays $5.5 million for Westgate property
By Justin R. Kalmes
Toledo Free Press Metro Editor
jkalmes@toledofreepress.com

The west Toledo property where discount wholesaler Costco is building a store has officially changed hands, according to Lucas County's online real estate information system.

Costco Wholesale Corp. purchased 13.4 acres of land from the Westgate Village Shopping Center for $5.5 million, a representative of the Lucas County Recorder Jeanine Perry confirmed March 28. The property transfer was notarized March 21.

Mud Hens negotiating to purchase Toledo Storm
By Justin R. Kalmes
Toledo Free Press Metro Editor
jkalmes@toledofreepress.com

The Toledo Mud Hens organization is in negotiations to purchase the Toledo Storm hockey franchise, members of the Storm's front office have confirmed.

Toledo Storm Vice President and General Manager Pat Pylypuik said the Mud Hens organization has offered to purchase the ECHL franchise from current owner Tim Gladieux. He said this would be the last season the Storm would play in the Toledo Sports Arena.

“[The Mud Hens] are probably not going to operate the hockey team for the next couple of years,” Pylypuik said.

The Mud Hens would own the rights to the ECHL's membership for the Toledo market, Pylypuik said. But as part of the deal, he said, the organization would drop the Storm name and rename the team when it begins play in the new proposed Downtown sports arena.

“From my understanding, they don't want anything to do with the past history of hockey in Toledo,” Pylypuik said. “They want to do it their way.”

Team president Barry Soskin confirmed Pylypuik's statements, but said he's unsure this would be the Storm franchise's final season after 16 years of existence.

“There's nothing signed,” Soskin said. “I just know Gladieux is negotiating with [the Mud Hens organization].”

City offers to delay Arena demolition
By Justin R. Kalmes
Toledo Free Press Metro Editor
jkalmes@toledofreepress.com

The City of Toledo will delay demolition of the Toledo Sports Arena if it means another season of professional hockey without interruption.
According to a March 22 news release, the city “remains open to any discussion that will assist retaining Toledo Storm hockey in our community.” The statement followed news first reported by Toledo Free Press March 21 that the Toledo Mud Hens organization was negotiating to purchase the ECHL Toledo Storm franchise.

The city news release said the Storm's ownership was considering the city's offer to delay razing the Toledo Sports Arena in exchange for another season of Storm hockey, but no final decisions have been made.

Members of the Toledo Storm's front office confirmed March 21 the Triple-A baseball organization is negotiating with owner Tim Gladieux to purchase the minor league hockey franchise. Team president Barry Soskin and vice president and general manager Pat Pylypuik gave conflicting statements as to whether there would be professional hockey in Toledo next season.

“[The Mud Hens] are probably not going to operate the hockey team for the next couple of years,” Pylypuik said.

Soskin, who founded the Storm in 1990, said he's unsure if this would be the team's last season in the Toledo Sports Arena.

“I hope not,” he said.

Joe Napoli, vice president and general manager of the Mud Hens, was unavailable for comment March 22. In a statement issued through his executive assistant, Tracy Evans, Napoli said the Mud Hens organization is actively seeking a hockey franchise, but would not address specific negotiations. More news on the matter should come in two to four weeks, Evans said.

Gladieux did not return calls seeking comment at press time. A representative of the ECHL declined to comment on the possible sale.

As part of the deal, the Mud Hens would own the rights to the ECHL's membership for the Toledo market, Pylypuik said. But, he said, the organization would drop the Storm name and rename the team when it begins play in the new proposed Downtown sports arena.

“From my understanding, they don't want anything to do with the past history of hockey in Toledo,” Pylypuik said. “They want to do it their way.”

Soskin confirmed Pylypuik's statements, but said he's unsure this would be the Storm franchise's final season after 16 years of existence.

“There's nothing signed,” Soskin said. “I just know Gladieux is negotiating with [the Mud Hens organization].”

Soskin has an option to purchase the club from Gladieux as part of a management agreement he signed in September 2005. As part of that deal, Soskin said he was to begin making payments at the start of the fourth season of the agreement with all payments made by the end of the fifth season. The Storm is nearing the end of the second full season under the arrangement.

Soskin won't attempt to exercise his option because he wouldn't have a building to house the team when the Downtown arena opens in fall 2009 as planned. He said Lucas County leaders have made it clear they want the Mud Hens organization to run any team that plays in the new facility.

“I understand their model works,” Soskin said of the Mud Hens. “I just don't see why it can't work with me in the new building.”

Lucas County Administrator Michael Beazley said it is up to the city when the Toledo Sports Arena is demolished to make way for its Marina District waterfront development project. He did confirm the county does want the Mud Hens organization to operate teams at the new arena as the project moves forward.

Beazley said the Mud Hens have created a positive fan experience in Downtown Toledo with Fifth Third Field. He said he hopes that synergy would carry over to the new arena.

“There's not going to be any positive fan experiences in that place,” Beazley said of the Toledo Sports Arena.

Pylypuik said he suspects Gladieux will sell the team at a low price in exchange for a contract that would make his catering company the concessions vendor at the new arena. He did not mention a specific dollar amount, only saying, “It's probably nothing.”

Because Soskin returned the team close to profitability, Pylypuik said he feels Lucas County politicians are driving Soskin out of Toledo.

“They have never contacted Barry Soskin once,” Pylypuik said.

Pylypuik said he and Soskin may work to start up another hockey team in Toledo that would compete at a different level than the team that will play at the new sports arena.

“If you think we're going to roll over and die, we're not,” he said.

It was NBC 24 and I posted it awhile back in this thread which I believe it was last fall. Shops at Fallen Timbers will be more geared toward middle-class customers compared to Levis Commons which focuses on up-scale consumers. Barnes & Noble is much needed in the southern part of the region and I love P.F. Chang China Bistro which I cannot wait for it to open.

Thanks. I'll look back through the thread.

The American Mall has always not done well in Lima but what's keeping it open is the Andersons. Back in the 90s and even today, they've only managed to open a cinema but no renovations to the mall. As long as the Andersons is there, the dumpy mall will chug on as usual.

That pretty much sums it up.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Hello Toledo thread members!
I was ecstatic to discover the existance of the Toledo thread.
For the last while home was on the Toronto threads, being my hometown before coming state side about a dozen years ago.
I'm now in Toledo managing the big building and look forward to participating in this discussion board.

Howdy partners,
I've been a frequent contributor in other areas; I'm moving to NW Ohio (BG?) later this summer to start a new job. I'm looking forward to to getting to know the region, Toledo, and SE Michigan...and maybe buying a nice old house in the city.

Hello Toledo thread members!
I was ecstatic to discover the existance of the Toledo thread.
For the last while home was on the Toronto threads, being my hometown before coming state side about a dozen years ago.
I'm now in Toledo managing the big building and look forward to participating in this discussion board.

Welcome! We are looking forward to your discussions and posting of pictures and development news around the Toledo region. What part of Toledo you reside at?

Howdy partners,
I've been a frequent contributor in other areas; I'm moving to NE Ohio (BG?) later this summer to start a new job. I'm looking forward to to getting to know the region, Toledo, and SE Michigan...and maybe buying a nice old house in the city.

Welcome to our regional thread and looking forward to your postings. This part of the state is considered "NW Ohio" if you are referring to moving to Bowling Green (BG)? Which city are you looking to buy an old house? There are abundance of gorgeous, historical, old homes in Toledo, Perrysburg, Bowling Green, and Fremont that are affordable. I would avoid looking for an old home in Maumee, Sylvania, Ottawa Hills because they are pricey IMO.

This part of the state is considered "NW Ohio"

Damn, and embarrassing start - I knew that! :D

Regional planners want to turn NW Ohio and SE Michigan into a global logistics center. A major part of this is development around Toledo Express Airport. Land has been cleared in the area north of airport highway, west of the turnpike interchange and south of the railroad tracks. Could this plan work and bring jobs to NW Ohio?

We know that this area has the potential to be a 21st-century transportation, logistics and supply chain center for global sourcing. The Lake Erie West Global Logistics Hub is our vision. The Hub encompasses four major transportation complexes all focused on transportation services, distribution, and value-added operations that take advantage of the unique intermodal terminals in our area and their proximity
to each other. The areas are: the Toledo Express Global Logistics Park (with air cargo, rail accessibility, and direct Ohio Turnpike access for triple truck trailers);
the Golden Triangle Distribution Corridor (with rail accessibility and access to strategic north-south and east-west interstate highways serving all of eastern North America); the Trans-Pacific Inland Port (with direct three-day rail access to uncongested ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert); and the Toledo Seaport (with direct water access to Saint Lawrence Seaway and European ports).


The above info and more can be found at http://www.tmacog.org/Transportation/Leg_agenda6_06/trans_agenda_6_26_06.pdf

Welcome! We are looking forward to your discussions and posting of pictures and development news around the Toledo region. What part of Toledo you reside at?

My wife and I are currently looking at a potential house outside of Perrysberg. I have been here now about seven months making a long commute, managing a notable landmark in the city.

My wife and I are currently looking at a potential house outside of Perrysberg. I have been here now about seven months making a long commute, managing a notable landmark in the city.

I gather that you are the manager of One Seagate from your profile, how is the transition going with 5/3 moving in there? I also heard that they were putting their sign on top of the building, do you have any details about that?

Thanks

I gather that you are the manager of One Seagate from your profile, how is the transition going with 5/3 moving in there? I also heard that they were putting their sign on top of the building, do you have any details about that?

Thanks

That's me. Fifth Third signed their lease last Friday making it official, and their move into One SeaGate will certainly have a positive impact not only on leasing the building (both office and retail) but in making the building the focal point of a revitalized downtown Toledo. We have been making some improvements over the past few months, and the building will be renamed Fifth Third Center at One SeaGate. Their brand will be at the top of the building and I'll post the mock-up online as soon as it's official (unless the Blade bets me to it); their signage looks very good.

Regional planners want to turn NW Ohio and SE Michigan into a global logistics center. A major part of this is development around Toledo Express Airport. Land has been cleared in the area north of airport highway, west of the turnpike interchange and south of the railroad tracks. Could this plan work and bring jobs to NW Ohio?

We know that this area has the potential to be a 21st-century transportation, logistics and supply chain center for global sourcing. The Lake Erie West Global Logistics Hub is our vision. The Hub encompasses four major transportation complexes all focused on transportation services, distribution, and value-added operations that take advantage of the unique intermodal terminals in our area and their proximity
to each other. The areas are: the Toledo Express Global Logistics Park (with air cargo, rail accessibility, and direct Ohio Turnpike access for triple truck trailers);
the Golden Triangle Distribution Corridor (with rail accessibility and access to strategic north-south and east-west interstate highways serving all of eastern North America); the Trans-Pacific Inland Port (with direct three-day rail access to uncongested ports in Vancouver and Prince Rupert); and the Toledo Seaport (with direct water access to Saint Lawrence Seaway and European ports).


The above info and more can be found at http://www.tmacog.org/Transportation/Leg_agenda6_06/trans_agenda_6_26_06.pdf

Well there has been some "hush hush" about a land transaction recently that FedEx has bought 200+ acres near the airport. I do think this is a smart move with this plan to make it a global logistics center because of the location of where Toledo is in the midwest area. It will definetly bring new jobs depending on who's who is involved in this project and who's moving in. I'm sure we will know soon of what's going on with this project because this is supposed to the next biggest thing in our region since the new I-280 Bridge project.

That's me. Fifth Third signed their lease last Friday making it official, and their move into One SeaGate will certainly have a positive impact not only on leasing the building (both office and retail) but in making the building the focal point of a revitalized downtown Toledo. We have been making some improvements over the past few months, and the building will be renamed Fifth Third Center at One SeaGate. Their brand will be at the top of the building and I'll post the mock-up online as soon as it's official (unless the Blade bets me to it); their signage looks very good.

I love this building and I remembered when I was kid as this building was being built. I hope the improvements also involves the underground concorde that connects COSi, Four Seagate, KeyBank, Toledo Edison, multiple parking garages and the former Wyndham Hotel. I remember during the Portside days that there used to be multiple freshwater aquariums and shops to venture which was neat; the murals were cool as well but needs to be touched-up. I'd like to see Starbucks or Caribou Coffee to occupy the One Seagate concorde along with a bakery, Subway, Jamba Juice, a cafe that serves breakfast all day, Walgreens or Rite Aid store, book/magazine store, and a fitness center which could not only serve the employees that work in the building but also serve the downtown residents (like me) all year round.

With 5/3 Bank moving in, it will help other businesses to fill up from outside of the region. You can get businesses who wants to get away from the high cost of the Detroit Metro area. I am also impressed that 5/3 Bank plans to keep their branch office at the Madison/Huron Building which I love old buildings. With a new downtown arena being built the next block over, this building will have no problem filling up.

I love this building and I remembered when I was kid as this building was being built. I hope the improvements also involves the underground concorde that connects COSi, Four Seagate, KeyBank, Toledo Edison, multiple parking garages and the former Wyndham Hotel. I remember during the Portside days that there used to be multiple freshwater aquariums and shops to venture which was neat; the murals were cool as well but needs to be touched-up. I'd like to see Starbucks or Caribou Coffee to occupy the One Seagate concorde along with a bakery, Subway, Jamba Juice, a cafe that serves breakfast all day, Walgreens or Rite Aid store, book/magazine store, and a fitness center which could not only serve the employees that work in the building but also serve the downtown residents (like me) all year round.

With 5/3 Bank moving in, it will help other businesses to fill up from outside of the region. You can get businesses who wants to get away from the high cost of the Detroit Metro area. I am also impressed that 5/3 Bank plans to keep their branch office at the Madison/Huron Building which I love old buildings. With a new downtown arena being built the next block over, this building will have no problem filling up.

The retail concourse is one of our focuses. You will see a coffee shop and a soup/sandwich place open in the upcoming months, and new furniture (including tables and chairs) is scheduled for arrival in May. There has also been some interest shown by three larger restaurants. We would love to secure a drugstore and florist down here as well, and are looking at making the theater and courtyard destination locations for events, shows or small concerts (and are discussing bringing back the skating rink). By 5/3 coming into the building, the daytime population will increase to over 1,000 and that in itself will be the catalyst to get all this going in the right direction.

The City of Toledo is suing the developers of the steam plant in toledo due to a lack of progress at the site.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6354955

The City of Toledo is suing the developers of the steam plant in toledo due to a lack of progress at the site.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6354955

seems like a double standard considering i havent seen Dillin make any progress on southwyck for about a year.

redacted

seems like a double standard considering i havent seen Dillin make any progress on southwyck for about a year.

No it isn't, the developers for the Steam Plant received taxpayers' money of $300,000 to use for the project from former mayor Jack Ford. Since they currently have the money, they have not done anything with the project as of today. I can see why the city had no choice but to file lawsuit since the developers did violate the contract and its agreement.

The developers (Dillin) for Southwyck has not received any money from the city nor state as of yet so it is not the same situation as with the developers with Steam Plant. The progress on Southwyck is in Dillard's court because they own portion of the Southwyck Mall. Dillard's have yet to make a decision of what to do with their property which is not Dillin nor city's fault. Dillin has been pretty proactive on the Southwyck redevelopment which they've been working with the Toledo-Lucas County Planning offices in the last twelve months to apply for TIF grants and other grants to redevelop surrounding infrastructures (i.e. roads, street lights, sidewalks, sewer/water lines, etc).

The City of Toledo is suing the developers of the steam plant in toledo due to a lack of progress at the site.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6354955

Which is justified because the developers have accepted the taxpayers' money of $300,000 when Jack Ford was mayor.

So what is the possibility of the development completely falling through?

So what is the possibility of the development completely falling through?

It depends on who's doing the development, if the city wants David Ball and Jimmy Jackson (current developers) out of the project and if the city has someone else to redevelop it then it won't fall through. But if there is no one else to redevelop it then the project falls through. It saddens me that if the current developers treat the Steam Plant as a top priority then they would do everything to communicate with the city to ensure that even the project is delayed yet it is still on track. With the $300,000 taxpayers money being involved, the developers must be responsible reporting and communicating the progress at all times which is normal in most public entity projects (i.e. constructions of roads, bridges, subsidized homes, schools, etc that involves public dollars).

If you read the actual document posted on nbc24.com which they provided the direct link to the original document of the lawsuit, it clearly states that the developers did not meet the agreement clauses in the contract. Best bet for the developers is to return the public dollars back to the city if they cannot meet the criteria in redeveloping the steam plant.

Here's the Blade's version on the story, it's funny how councilman Szollosi defends the developers since it was the former mayor's project and he's J Fo's cheerleader. All I can say to Szollosi is...pot calling its kettle.......

Title of this article is a bit misleading but it's encouraging to read it after knowing that this company is very solid and a huge part of our region. Let's hope their success continues and perhaps expand their business/workforce in Toledo in the near future.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[QUOTE=Bonjourtoledo;12624365]Here's the Blade's version on the story, it's funny how councilman Szollosi defends the developers since it was the former mayor's project and he's J Fo's cheerleader. All I can say to Szollosi is...pot calling its kettle.......QUOTE]

In a way i agree with szollosi. I could see if the Mayor has someone lined up for the development but he doesnt. So few decide to invest in Toledo, and as soon as someone does we make it as difficult as possible (see Costco). We can either get no development or be patient and possibly get development. I think anyone with average intellegence would take the latter.

Here's the Blade's version on the story, it's funny how councilman Szollosi defends the developers since it was the former mayor's project and he's J Fo's cheerleader. All I can say to Szollosi is...pot calling its kettle.......

In a way i agree with szollosi. I could see if the Mayor has someone lined up for the development but he doesnt. So few decide to invest in Toledo, and as soon as someone does we make it as difficult as possible (see Costco). We can either get no development or be patient and possibly get development. I think anyone with average intellegence would take the latter.

The reason I say "pot calling its kettle..." because recently Szollosi voted to take business from private ambulance companies in favor of city ambulance service. I agree that the politicians make it difficult for Costco for an example; IMO it's up to the voters to decide in whether we keep them in office or not. But also it is also up to us to pick up the phone or write letters to the elected officials to voice our concerns; however, I've done this in the past and they've responded to my concerns every time. I see and hear people b*tch all the time yet they don't make time to vote or voice their concerns about their community.

I think the development projects in Toledo is extremely underrated, unappreciated, and underwhelmed by the local media and negative residents of our region. We have a quite a bit of developments in this region more than a lot of places in the country. That's my two cents on this topic.

I looked at Park Lane Apartments today to possibly move into them this summer. Does anyone here know anything about the place? The rent seemed reasonable and it seemed nice but there were a few concerns I had.

First: New owners just took over, and I didnt get the impression that it was by a company that was experienced in doing this. I think it is run by individuals. This concerns me because I don't want them to go bankrupt or run into issues that will disrupt my quiet enjoyment.

Another thing that made it seem unprofessional was that there were a lot of differences from apt to apt. For example, the doors are all different and the guy showing the place said that he got them from the attic and they were original doors. This concerns me again because I know there are fire regulations - I would assume that they would be required to have fire-proof doors. These didnt seem fire proof.

I then asked him about the sprinkler system and he didn't have a lot of information about it or whether it was in operation.

There were a few other minor things that I wondered about but aren't worth mentioning.

Overall I will say that I liked the place, it seemed quiet and was reasonably priced. I just want to get more information on all places before I commit. Any information would be great.

I looked at Park Lane Apartments today to possibly move into them this summer. Does anyone here know anything about the place? The rent seemed reasonable and it seemed nice but there were a few concerns I had.

First: New owners just took over, and I didnt get the impression that it was by a company that was experienced in doing this. I think it is run by individuals. This concerns me because I don't want them to go bankrupt or run into issues that will disrupt my quiet enjoyment.

Another thing that made it seem unprofessional was that there were a lot of differences from apt to apt. For example, the doors are all different and the guy showing the place said that he got them from the attic and they were original doors. This concerns me again because I know there are fire regulations - I would assume that they would be required to have fire-proof doors. These didnt seem fire proof.

I then asked him about the sprinkler system and he didn't have a lot of information about it or whether it was in operation.

There were a few other minor things that I wondered about but aren't worth mentioning.

Overall I will say that I liked the place, it seemed quiet and was reasonably priced. I just want to get more information on all places before I commit. Any information would be great.


Yes, it was taken over by new owners (local) about a couple of years ago who were from Bedford Twp., MI area and they are committed in the building (according to the papers). However, I do have an article posted in this thread somewhere, you may want to hunt it down. The previous owners sold it due to bankruptcy and I don't think you need to be worried about the new owners.

Unprofessional could mean inexperience, as I stated above they are local and new to this type of venture but very committed to the building. I've heard through the neighbors throughout the Old West End neighborhood that they are pleased with the new owners and their involvement. The owners have hosted tours for the OWE festivals and other antique events in the building.

About the doors and fire sprinkler, they have to be up to code despite of the person's lack of knowledge because the building wouldn't be able to change owners without a proper permit through the city as it is required to do an thorough inspection. I would contact Park Lane again and speak with the actual owners with your concerns.

From other people that I know who knows other people that lived or have lived in that building have had good experience.

Hope this helps.

The guy that helped me may have been the owner's son. He was pretty young. He was very helpful and all, I just thought he could have known a little more.

An in-depth article at looking the Steam Plant project, and it gives all sides of the story of how stressful it is to redevelop an older/historical building. I am all for redeveloping but if the developers are to receive public dollars, they must and I mean MUST communicate with the government about the progress of the project consistently.

WOW, let's say I am surprised considering that the Mud Hens have bought the hockey team, now talking with the NBA minor league basketball, and the arena football. This arena will definetly be a sure-fire hit with all-year round sporting/concert events in the downtown area. IMO, having the Mud Hens organization get teams for the new arena is by far the smartest move since the city/county officials have decided to move the arena from east side to downtown.

This will be announced today by our mayor and U.S. Representative by this reputable magazine that gears on globalization, economics, investment, and bio tech industries. Toledo has been named as most friendly business and here is the link to the site: http://www.gdi-solutions.com/fdi/2007awards/usa_large_cities.htm. I will post for further news story on this thread.

Seems it took too long for Southwyck to get going, so Stautzenberger is moving to Maumee.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6424676

Seems it took too long for Southwyck to get going, so Stautzenberger is moving to Maumee.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6424676


Yep I agree with you, but the two buildings Stautzenberger College occupies were being leased and the existing buildings were sold recently which the new owner was not renewing their lease according to the WSPD Talk Radio show this evening. With the lease not being renewed and Southwyck still in the planning phases, they really had no choice but of course the naysayers and the doom-and-gloom folks are groaning that it's Carty's fault and the sky's falling like its the end of the world.

Ultimately, I don't understand how this owner of Southwyck from KC name Sherman (don't remember his last name) can get away with this when Larry Dillin of Dillin Corp. and the city is trying to assist in redeveloping the area. This Sherman guy is still the ultimate owner of this neglected mall along with the Dillard's owner, so where is their responsibility???? Sherman has shown us for years that he's using this property as a tax write-off and IMO the city should be sending every available city inspectors to fine him to the sky's limit for everything that wrong which is violating the building codes. This would force him to sell the mall since he is the real culprit of Southwyck being an eyesore. He could perhaps sell it to Dillin Corp. and they can develop it to its glory because the location is still viable and it's located in a high populated area.

Good riddance if the city would use my advice about using the city inspectors and drive Sherman to sell the mall. Enough of my two cents for the night.

Has anyone heard of an opening date for the new Starbucks on Airport and Reynolds or which other business are going into the adjoining spaces?

tt

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Has anyone heard of an opening date for the new Starbucks on Airport and Reynolds or which other business are going into the adjoining spaces?

Last I read in a tiny blurb, sometime this summer.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

This is a follow-up post in past thread in regards to this project. This store concept is similar to the popular Whole Foods Market which I am dying to have in our region. Hopefully with the success and loyal following of the Andersons, they would build a few more Andersons Market stores (hint: build one in downtown!)

Andersons Market opens
By Autumn Lee
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer

The Andersons, Inc. has made a departure from the norm of its general food stores by officially opening its 31,000 square feet specialty food market in Sylvania on April 26.

The Andersons Market, located at 7638 W. Sylvania Ave., employs about 85 people and equals about twice the food areas available in the 140,000 square feet Andersons general stores that offer additional items for home improvement, lawn and garden care, pet care and sporting goods.

The market has a “broad selection of fresh quality foods ranging from every day to gourmet items,” John Hoover, director of marketing and new business development, said.

Within the market, customers will find an atmosphere of warm tones of yellow, orange and red with natural-looking décor elements that extend throughout the store.

Various departments of the market include the House of Meats butcher shop, a bakery, a deli with an array of meats, cheeses and other items, a coffee bar, a well-stocked wine section and a wellness center that featurs vitamins and health supplements.

President of Retail Dan Anderson said during the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony, “We hope to be a part of the community for a long, long time.”

“We're proud of this effort to get this far. …We've had a wonderful team working on this [project],” he said.

Prior to cutting the ribbon to symbolize the official opening of the market, Anderson asked employees from different departments to come up and cut into various items including a pineapple, a two-foot sub sandwich and a linked sausage, before having another employee finally uncork a bottle of champagne.

Hoover said the continued success of the Andersons food sales in its general stores led them to study a food-only store concept for about the last two years where they visited various types of food stores across the country.

The Andersons, Inc. identified about 30 potential sites within the area before narrowing it down to six and then finally choosing to develop at the Sylvania Avenue location, according to Hoover.

The Design Forum, based out of Dayton, provided the market's design concept and facility development, and the Novi, Mich.-based PPC Retail Design completed work on interior development.

The Tomahawk Development Company constructed the Andersons Market that serves as the anchor of a complex called Harvest Place that contains an adjacent seven available spots for lease totaling nearly 14,000 square feet.

Six of those spaces range from 1,540 to 1,575 square feet in area and the other contains about an area of about 4,000 square feet.

Mark Rasmus, Tomahawk president, said they have received much interest particularly since Andersons soft opening occurred on April 20.

Rasmus said Harvest Place would most likely attract businesses “very typical to any shopping center” that has a food store anchor as he speculated the complex could draw some restaurants, a beauty salon and possibly a financial institution.

While Rasmus could not identify interested parties, he did say two letters of intent have been executed and suspects they will probably have two lease agreements signed within the next 10 to 14 days.

Since the soft opening, Hoover said they have received an “outstanding response” and the customer response has been “overwhelmingly positive.”

During the grand opening, first-time Andersons Market customer, Michelle Fall, a Toledo resident, described the store as “beautiful.”

Fall commented she liked the spaciousness of the market, and it reminded her of an expanded version of the produce/food section found at The Andersons Talmadge Road location.

As part of its grand opening celebration, The Andersons, Inc. will be supporting Sylvania service organizations with a gift-matching program of 5 percent of daily receipts (up to $2,500 per organization) on designated days during the month of May.

anyone see the real estate section of sundays blade? big article on everything goin on out at Put in Bay.....good pictures very informative..... remember reduced dock price on B dock till may 15!!!!!!!!!

Last I read in a tiny blurb, sometime this summer.

The Starbucks Coffee on Airport and Reynolds is now officially opened. They just opened this past Thursday as I went in Sunday morning for coffee and I spoke with the manager to see what other locations they will be opening in the next nine months.

1) Shops at Fallen Timbers
2) Central Avenue in the Sylvania area
3) Monroe, Michigan

I am still waiting for them to add a downtown Toledo location to the list since Starbucks are usually open 7 days a week 6am to midnight which would meet the needs of the majority of downtown residents. We currently have two coffee shops downtown which are Downtown Latte and Beaners; Downtown Latte and Beaners closes too early and not open on Sundays. With longer hours like Starbucks will definetly bring in the downtown dwellers, and I know for certain Sundays would be good business.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

This hotel is an embarassment and kudos to the mayor stepping it up. This hotel is a dive and it is well-known for it's crap through websites where hotel consumers write and rate their experiences such as Trip Advisor, Orbitz and Hotels.com. If I was mayor, I'd shut it down with no notice and tear it down since it is close by COSi, 5/3 Field, the convention center, and even the proposed downtown arena. It's amazing the manager of the hotel was ignorant by saying "oh the hotel is clean it's just dated"..puuuulease! Give me a break--you will never see my money or my out-of-town friends and family's money into this crap hole.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Riverfront.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Radisson.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SummitStreetSkyline.jpg

And the way we gooooooooooooo...........

Sports Arena demolition possible in July
County would pay costs in a deal with Toledo to vacate street, alley

By TOM TROY
BLADE STAFF WRITER


Lucas County would likely pay for demolishing the Toledo Sports Arena, and the work could start in July, participants in negotiations between the city and the county said yesterday.

The demolition would be in exchange for the city's vacating of Superior Street and Frogtown Alley between Jefferson and Madison avenues for the new multipurpose arena downtown.

Robert Reinbolt, chief of staff for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, said, "there's going to be a trade-off."

"There's some other things we're looking at how they can help us on the Marina District and things we can legally and appropriately help with on the arena project," he said.

He said the right-of-way and the city's help in shutting off water and sewer connections have an estimated value of $300,000 to $350,000.

County officials are expected to seek bids on the demolition of the sports arena and seven or eight downtown buildings. The cost of including the arena has been estimated at between $400,000 and $500,000.

Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken said the county wants to help the city with the Marina District project. He said combining the sports arena razing with the county's demolition objectives is an opportunity to do that, as well as save money by using one contractor.

The county's plan is to begin demolitions in July and start construction on an $85 million sports and concert facility in October.

Mr. Gerken said there may be an opportunity for the public to pay their final respects to the sports arena.

"We want to retire the building in a dignified way, maybe let the public in one last time in a way that's safe and meaningful," he said.

Still to be decided is how much salvage value the building has.

Former owner Tim Gladieux, who has continued to use the arena under his lease with the city, is entitled to recover personal property that relates to the hockey and concession businesses, such as the Zamboni, goal nets, and pop-dispensing equipment.

Mr. Reinbolt said there is a tentative plan to set aside about 100 of the red spectator seats to offer as souvenirs, in response to inquiries.

Mr. Gladieux said most of the more than 5,000 seats are original to the 1947 building. He said the seats could be of value to a seating manufacturer to have available as replacements in other old buildings and auditoriums, and that some Storm and sports arena fans might also be interested.

"I know I'd like to have a row of four," he said.

He said the light fixtures and structural steel also have salvage value.

The arena hosted its last Toledo Storm hockey game April 14.

Mr. Gladieux sold the building to the city in late 2005 for $5 million, along with a 25.5-acre parcel. The property is slated to be developed as part of the Marina District, a proposed shopping, residential, boating, and commercial project on the Maumee River's east bank.

In a written opinion provided to city council last week, City Law Director John Madigan said the city is free to provide vacated city right-of-way to the arena project.

Section 79 of the Toledo Charter prohibits city participation in "construction, acquisition, or leasing" of a sports arena, as well as of a convention center, exhibit hall, or municipal theater, unless the arena is in the Marina District project, without a vote of the public.

Mr. Madigan concluded that vacation of streets or alleys would not qualify as "construction, acquisition, or leasing" of a sports arena. Also not prohibited by Section 79 is infrastructure improvement, such as to utilities, streets, and curbs.

Council President Rob Ludeman, who had questioned whether the city could donate its right-of-way to the arena project, said the trade-off seems fair.

"I just want to make sure the city's compensated for [the vacation]," he said.


Where will the Storm play while the new arena is being constructed if they start tearing it down in the summer?

The Storm will not be playing until the new arena is built and they may have a different name at that time.

Are these hotels even full very often? Every time I go to a Mud Hens game they look almost empty with only one or two rooms lit? Do the opposing teams sometimes stay there? That seems to be the only conclusion I could come up with as to why they are always dark during the games.

Ms. Fielder said the hotel gets complaints because guests arrive expecting a higher level of luxury than is available in the $59-a-night hotel.

While I too have heard complaints about Hotel Seagate, don't expect the Ritz with $59 room rates. It should be clean, but luxury (which you can get right next door at the Radisson for a higher price) should not be expected with such cheap rates, particularly in the downtown of a major city. Hotel Seagate has always been the cheaper option in downtown Toledo.

GM is investing more in Toledo and Defiance.
Here is info from the Blade article.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/BUSINESS02/705180360

General Motors Corp. said today it will invest $332 million in a Toledo factory to add production of more fuel-efficient front-wheel-drive transmissions, and it plans to invest millions more in a Defiance powertrain plant.

As part of a program affecting five GM plants and that will help secure the future of the Toledo factory on Alexis Road, the automaker said it will spend $332 million for the equipment and other costs to add the front-wheel-drive six-speed transmissions to the rear-wheel drive variety soon to be made there. A $600 million project is under way to build an addition and buy equipment to build the rear-wheel product. The six-speed powertrains are better performing than the four-speed variety made at the plant now.

The latest project, to be under construction in July and be finished by 2010, will retain 600 jobs, GM officials said. The company said it would invest another $57 million for vendor tooling and other purposes to support the transmission plant.

Are these hotels even full very often? Every time I go to a Mud Hens game they look almost empty with only one or two rooms lit? Do the opposing teams sometimes stay there? That seems to be the only conclusion I could come up with as to why they are always dark during the games.

Between Park Hotel and Crowne Plaza Hotel (former Wyndham Hotel) are always booked in between conventions, business trips, and regional events and have consistently maintained the popularity of lodging in the downtown area.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

We're almost here! With less than a month a way before we all can drive on this new glorious bridge (I-280) and what a wonderful bright lights coming from the main pillar of the bridge. You can see previous posts in this thread of the entire process for this construction project from the start to finish.

Credit to WTOL Channel 11 for the pictures of last night's gala:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SkywayBridgeII5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SkywayBridgeIII5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SkywayBridgeIV5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SkywayBridgeV5-2007.jpg

I drove by last night just before dark..... Lots of people everywhere down by the river.....But the thing that caught my eye the most was.... BOATS DOCKED IN THE NEW MARINA!!!! now was this just temporary for the bridge celebration or are the boats in there for the season now??

I thought I read something in the Blade that said the new marina would be free thru this weekend. Also, I think it is supposed to have more berths added to what is currently down there.

Exciting to see this bridge project finally concluding! I have been driving downtown to check it out about once every two weeks since it began and it was an interesting project to watch develop. Can't wait for the old I-280 to be ripped out and all of the "green" features put in its place. I think you will see some major development along the 280 corridor over the next ten years.

I drove by last night just before dark..... Lots of people everywhere down by the river.....But the thing that caught my eye the most was.... BOATS DOCKED IN THE NEW MARINA!!!! now was this just temporary for the bridge celebration or are the boats in there for the season now??

This a new addition of the boat slips for the boating season along the Maumee River. It will soon have a new Ferry Terminal which cruise lines and ferries will be making a port-a-call stop.

I thought I read something in the Blade that said the new marina would be free thru this weekend. Also, I think it is supposed to have more berths added to what is currently down there.

Exciting to see this bridge project finally concluding! I have been driving downtown to check it out about once every two weeks since it began and it was an interesting project to watch develop. Can't wait for the old I-280 to be ripped out and all of the "green" features put in its place. I think you will see some major development along the 280 corridor over the next ten years.

The big Governor's speech, a la important people speaking and masses of people will be on the bridge to partake the scenes on June 24th which is kinda like a red-ribbon cutting day. The actual driving over the bridge will be in the later afternoon on June 24th.

With the grand opening of Shops at Fallen Timbers coming up later this year (October 2007), I've stumbled on some rendering pictures of the new open-air mall that is being built in the southwestern suburb of Toledo called Maumee. You can see previous posts in this thread of the construction progress pictures as well.

Give credit to the General Growth Partnerships for the pictures from their site:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/FallenTimbersIII5-30-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/FallenTimbersII5-30-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/FallenTimbers5-30-2007.jpg

Not sure is this is an "Oops. Wasn't supposed to post those yet" moment, but this 3D rendering company out of Texas must be doing work for Lathrop (arena construction company, located in Maumee--division of Turner Construction).

http://www.designvizgroup.com/index.html

There are still images and an animated quasi-fly-through QuickTime movie showing how the arena will be built. It's hard to see any details, excpet that the outside skin looks to be red brick, not unlike Fifth Third Field (which makes some sense, since HNTB is the architect of record for the new arena, and also did the baseball field). There also appears to be one facade completely drapped in glass. I heard rumors about such an idea months ago--again, makes sense, seeing we're the Glass City, and the Glass Museum just opened to such fanfare. I'm not sure of the boxey shape overall, but hopefully the final design will be elegant and modern, just like Fifth Third. And if HNTB is consistent, the details will be there. I haven't seen a public facility like Fifth Third executed so well in years--such attention to the minute details: like the manhole covers and the sculptures, not to mention the beautiful hanging white cylindrical lamp-shaded lights that run along the top cantilevered roof line.

Anyway, anybody have any clue about what these images are? Is this the design?

Not sure is this is an "Oops. Wasn't supposed to post those yet" moment, but this 3D rendering company out of Texas must be doing work for Lathrop (arena construction company, located in Maumee--division of Turner Construction).

http://www.designvizgroup.com/index.html

There are still images and an animated quasi-fly-through QuickTime movie showing how the arena will be built. It's hard to see any details, excpet that the outside skin looks to be red brick, not unlike Fifth Third Field (which makes some sense, since HNTB is the architect of record for the new arena, and also did the baseball field). There also appears to be one facade completely drapped in glass. I heard rumors about such an idea months ago--again, makes sense, seeing we're the Glass City, and the Glass Museum just opened to such fanfare. I'm not sure of the boxey shape overall, but hopefully the final design will be elegant and modern, just like Fifth Third. And if HNTB is consistent, the details will be there. I haven't seen a public facility like Fifth Third executed so well in years--such attention to the minute details: like the manhole covers and the sculptures, not to mention the beautiful hanging white cylindrical lamp-shaded lights that run along the top cantilevered roof line.

Anyway, anybody have any clue about what these images are? Is this the design?


Yes, these are the images of the new proposed downtown arena. It is to be a "green" or you could call it environmental-friendly facility. I heard through the grapevine that they will incorporate as much glass as possible to represent the reputation of Toledo and the region.

Plans of sculptures, outdoor walk-ways, underground walk-ways, skywalk, manholes, transit station will all be incorporated into the project as we type.

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Nice updates and finds everyone..... Anyone have anything more on this proposed light rail system toledo is looking at? There was an article in the paper about it a week or so ago but i really didnt get to read all of it.... On another note a few buildings in oregon have been cleared away to make room for the new rite aid on navarre. The Speedway gas station on Navarre aand Coy has been raised along with the old EM Smith buidling next door and another building behind the gas station that used to have a once upon a child sort of store. Oregon has also made the intersection of Wheeling and Starr more attractive looking with new decorative traffic light posts brick crosswalks and new light posts that match with the traffic light posts. One more thing.....The Sterling Store at the corner of Wheeling an Starr is being changed into a Circle K..... are all sterlings doing this??

Nice updates and finds everyone..... Anyone have anything more on this proposed light rail system toledo is looking at? There was an article in the paper about it a week or so ago but i really didnt get to read all of it.... On another note a few buildings in oregon have been cleared away to make room for the new rite aid on navarre. The Speedway gas station on Navarre aand Coy has been raised along with the old EM Smith buidling next door and another building behind the gas station that used to have a once upon a child sort of store. Oregon has also made the intersection of Wheeling and Starr more attractive looking with new decorative traffic light posts brick crosswalks and new light posts that match with the traffic light posts. One more thing.....The Sterling Store at the corner of Wheeling an Starr is being changed into a Circle K..... are all sterlings doing this??


Here is the link to the Regional Core Circulator Study that indicates the possible light rail/trolley/monorail-like project for the Toledo region: http://tmacog.org/Transportation/Regional%20core/regional_core_circulator_study.htm


Sterling has been company-wide bought out by another company a few months back. That's nice to hear about Oregon, but how about getting a downtown first? It's ridiculous to have a senior citizen center up at the bay and the city hall in the middle of nowhere when most of the population is long the border of City of Toledo. By not having a downtown of some sort, doesn't really give an identity to Oregon except for the retail-commercial littered corridor called Navarre Avenue.

^I agree. Oregon needs a downtown, and needs one bad.

Where would you put the downtown for oregon?

Public invited to offer ideas on new arena..... This is in todays (6/7) blade...There will be 3 meetings one next wednesday at the Seagate Center June 19 at the Oregon City council chamber and June 20 at the Sylvania Branch of Lucas County library all meetings start at 6pm

I'd put it on the lake front(downtown Oregon).

While we're on the topic, can anyone explain to me why we have vast stretches of undeveloped/vacant waterfront property in this area? It seems like every other place I've ever been, people want to live closer to the water, but the little growth we do see in this region continues to go South and West away from the water.

I understand the river and lake are not the cleanest waterways, but they are still waterways that have deep water access to the largest concentration of fresh water in the world, oh yeah, and access to the rest of the world. Doesn't this seem like a tremendous waste of natural resources?

I'd put it on the lake front(downtown Oregon).

While we're on the topic, can anyone explain to me why we have vast stretches of undeveloped/vacant waterfront property in this area? It seems like every other place I've ever been, people want to live closer to the water, but the little growth we do see in this region continues to go South and West away from the water.

I understand the river and lake are not the cleanest waterways, but they are still waterways that have deep water access to the largest concentration of fresh water in the world, oh yeah, and access to the rest of the world. Doesn't this seem like a tremendous waste of natural resources?

That's why the Marina District project is underway. As for the development of waterfront property along the lake, I'd say because it's friggin' cold in the winter. LOL! J/K, you got me and it is interesting why there's little development but if you look at the Point Place neighborhood of Toledo, there is an abundance of waterfront properties along the Maumee Bay, Ottawa River and Maumee River. However, for the east side in the Oregon area, you have vast amount of industrial properties such as Coal Power Plant, oil refineries, rail yards up the wazoo so IMO it is not residential friendly to live nearby.

Where would you put the downtown for oregon?

IMO, I say along Dustin Road which runs parallel-wise by Navarre Avenue and Pickle Road; you can have the St. Charles Hospital campus on the westside of the downtown and develop a "main-street" along Dustin Road going toward east. They also can get rid of the vacant Food Town Store, and the excessive asphalt that dominates around the Dustin Road area; perhaps convert the vacancies and asphalt into greenways and pedestrian connectors as you develop a grid-style downtown.

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The Science & Tech Corridor development has been ongoing for number of years, and I have posted several posts in regards to this project in this thread. Great article in the Toledo Free Press about the potential of light-rail of some sort, tech corridor of hi-tech industries, collaboration between UT, BGSU, OSCC, and other major insitutions in the region that would great impact the livelihood of the midwest.

Plan to transform regional economy
By Duane Ramsey
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

Transforming the regional economy from manufacturing-based into a diverse knowledge-based economy is the primary goal of the Northwest Ohio Science and Technology Corridor.

The corridor's mission is to facilitate economic development by leveraging the assets of higher education to transform and improve the economy and quality of life in Northwest Ohio through business, educational, governmental and regional partnerships.

“Toledo's current economic infrastructure is geared largely toward a manufacturing economy. We need to develop a new economic infrastructure geared toward a knowledge-based economy by leveraging our considerable university assets,” said Dan Johnson, chairman of the board of directors for the Science and Technology Corridor.

The corridor is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization closely aligned and integrated with academic institutions and economic development sources in the Northwest Ohio region.

That region contains significant assets in research, technology, education, workforce and infrastructure required for transforming and expanding its economy, Johnson said.

Johnson is also president emeritus and distinguished professor of public policy and economic development at UT.

“The contributions of the University to the economic development of the region involves our commitment through workforce development, discovery in research, transfer to commercialization and development with the incubator process,” said Lloyd Jacobs, president of UT.

“We are actively reorganizing the concept and work of the Science and Technology Corridor and reconsidering the distribution of that work,” Jacobs said, indicating that the Regional Growth Partnership could become more involved in its operation.

Regionally, the corridor intends to link the expanding science and technology assets of the area's colleges and universities to develop greater economic diversity. It encourages companies within the region to capitalize on the discoveries, innovations, and talent in the region's academic research facilities.

“We think research is important to the entire region. We have made a major effort to invest in research programs that will benefit the economy and society in the community and Toledo region,” Frank Calzonetti, vice president for research development at UT, said.

Collaboration
More than $100 million in research funding is spent at the academic institutions in the region and the amount is growing each year. More than 20,000 students, one-fifth of the total enrolled in higher education, are engaged in scientific study and research.

Two major public research universities, BGSU and UT, are within a 20-mile radius with seven other major research universities within a 120-mile radius. Land located near university research facilities is available for development.

“We are leveraging the $100 million of research brought in each year by our institutions of higher education in northwest Ohio to strengthen our regional economy,” Johnson said. “The level of collaboration is so important when we leverage these assets.”

More than 25 advanced research centers and institutes involved in alternative energies and fuel, biomedicine and pharmacology, engineering and science are located within the region.

The region also includes a major medical school and three of Ohio's largest health care systems.

“The corridor provides a way to diversify and stabilize our region's economy,” said Steven Weathers, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership. “I see it as the branding of an area like Silicon Valley where we can bring together all the components of economic development within Northwest Ohio, becoming a center of innovative technology in addition to automotive manufacturing.”

The Toledo region offers a top transportation hub for air, sea, rail, ground and other infrastructure to serve national and international distribution chains.

The corridor is developing links and collaboration for new industries to create global science and technology business opportunities.

“We've had conversations with 25 companies that came to us expressing interest in the corridor's science and technical arena, specifically in the alternative energy, health and medical, software and transportation fields,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Toledo was identified with Austin, Texas, Boston and the Silicon Valley region in California in an article about America's clean tech clusters.

“Venture Capitals: Which city or state will emerge as the Silicon Valley of clean technology?” was published in the May 26 edition of The Economist.

“The University of Toledo's researchers in photovoltaics, alternative energy and others working to disseminate information on the latest developments in emerging technologies made this possible,” Johnson said about the article.

“Our task is to continue to provide the strongest possible support for this globally important field of ‘clean technology.' We have an opportunity to be a global leader in alternative energy and I believe that we should aggressively go for it,” Johnson said.

Expanded corridor
“We need to more clearly define the geographic boundaries of the corridor,” Jacobs said.

Geographically, Johnson thinks the corridor could extend from Ann Arbor and Detroit south along I-75 to Findlay with Toledo and UT in the center.

The expanded corridor would include more than 16 public and private institutions of higher education with combined budgets of

$1.25 billion and 100,000 students. In addition to BGSU, UT and Owens Community College, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University and University of Findlay would be included.

Johnson wants to leverage those assets by capturing the economic benefit from those colleges and universities, the knowledge of the faculty and students, funding, research and technology. The region needs to attract investment from companies that will reap value from partnering with the colleges and universities.

The corridor provides collaboration for new and existing industries to expand across borders and oceans, creating global science and technology-based business opportunities through the Office of Global Initiatives at UT.

“Higher education takes the lead and promotes economic development and not the other way around,” said Bob Cryan, executive director of the Office of Global Initiatives.

“We attract foreign scholars to come here to learn and become researchers who contribute to technology for the region's economy. It's an incubator in itself. We need that globalizing of our region.”

The enrollment of international students is an economic issue as well as an academic one. Cryan said those students bring money into the economy while attending school and later contribute to economic development through research and technology conducted at institutions of higher education.

“We need to capture the economic impact of those funds and talent so it stays here to help the regional economy grow,” Johnson said.

Cryan also serves as the CEO of the Strategic Education & Economic Development Corporation (SEED) which was created by UT, BGSU, local governments and businesses. SEED is a nonprofit organization charged with helping Toledo area companies to sell their products and services around the world.

SEED already helped one local firm, Unique Tool and Manufacturing Company of Temperance, Mich., to find opportunities for new business in China.

Last week, The Greater Toledo Offices in Shanghai and Beijing, operated by SEED, hosted the Toledo area's representatives in China and several high-ranking Chinese economic development officials. The visitors were recognized at a reception May 29.

Cryan led a delegation of BGSU and UT faculty members that departed for China June 2. He intended to introduce them to academic partners connecting with universities in China that are compatible for exchange programs and students. Cryan said SEED will open offices in other locations around the world to help Toledo companies prosper globally.

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The arena would only hold 10,000 people? Isn't that on the small end for a city like Toledo, where more space would be needed to attract bigger name concerts?

I like the urban location though.

under a week till the new bridge opens....... anyone wanna bet that when the bridge opens the pylon will be lit up red white n blue? Also..... Went down to the new marina a few days ago an actually got out of the car an did some exploring. I wasnt sure if i was allowed to walk on the property at first but when we crossed Front we saw a boy hop out of a van with a fishing poll and he headed down to the water so we pretty much followed him... The docks are beautiful and have all your accessories like power water an fire extenguishers.. plenty of cletes to tie off on.... nice land scaping as well..... the cruise ship terminal is coming along pretty fast..... that was the only area we couldnt access because of a fence and a sign that said hard hat required or whatever.... walked by a bunch of construction guys who didnt say anything so i imagine as long as u arent in there way you can go down there. getting to see the old edison plant upclose was pretty cool as well

heading up to the bridge celebration in a few mins here...... anyone else go up there today?

The arena would only hold 10,000 people? Isn't that on the small end for a city like Toledo, where more space would be needed to attract bigger name concerts?

I like the urban location though.


According to the official market study with comparing other regional facilties such as Stranahan Hall, Seagate Convention Centre, Savage Hall, and Valentine Theatre, they felt the new downtown arena with 10,000 seating with expanding to 12,000 for concerts would be beneficial for the region.

heading up to the bridge celebration in a few mins here...... anyone else go up there today?

I've got to watch the light show from our rooftop patio and it was great, a huge once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch from beginning to end of this project.

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Here are direct links to the local media with videos, news and pictures of the new bridge:

WTOL 11 CBS
http://wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6701823

WNWO 24 NBC
http://nbc24.com/Global/story.asp?S=6687126

Toledo Free Press
http://toledofreepress.com/?id=5833

WUPW 36 FOX
http://www.myfoxtoledo.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3578476&version=6&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

However, we do have a WTVG 13 ABC affiliate but seems that they didn't bother posting the news, photos nor the videos on their website which doesn't surprise me. Kudos to Free Press, The Blade, radio channels, NBC, CBS, and FOX for giving such a great media coverage on the bridge opening via websites. Great weekend to celebrate a milestone in the opening of a long-awaited new bridge.

Just drove over the new bridge and it is spectacular! They only have two lanes open in each direction, but it is an unbelievable improvement over the old drawbridge. The view North is one we have never really gotten to experience before.

That's a sweet bridge!

I'm sure it's in the article, but I really didn't feel like reading it ... but how long did it take to build it? ... and how many lanes is it in each direction?

Just drove over the new bridge and it is spectacular! They only have two lanes open in each direction, but it is an unbelievable improvement over the old drawbridge. The view North is one we have never really gotten to experience before.

I drove it this morning for the first time about 4 times and then later in the day I went back out again. The view 360 degrees around the new bridge is phenomenal. I can see Davis Besse Nuclear Power, UT Clock Tower, the new Toledo Hospital Tower, Monroe County Power Plant, and the new Jeep Plant smoke stacks.

That's a sweet bridge!

I'm sure it's in the article, but I really didn't feel like reading it ... but how long did it take to build it? ... and how many lanes is it in each direction?

The bridge project began in early 2002 which came out of a long-range planning of 10+ years to make it a reality and it's 3 lanes each way.

Toledo, home of Sanctus Real. I saw them this Saturday and they rocked!!!

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Any chance they do anything with the Glass Bowl? I don't even know how they draw for the games anyway.

I dont think anything will be done to the glass bowl. I believe they updated that in 1990 and the seating capacity is around 26 to 28000 and I remember that at one of the BG Ut games the attendance was over 35000. They draw pretty good numbers every game and play a lot of weeknight games that are on national tv

I dont think anything will be done to the glass bowl. I believe they updated that in 1990 and the seating capacity is around 26 to 28000 and I remember that at one of the BG Ut games the attendance was over 35000. They draw pretty good numbers every game and play a lot of weeknight games that are on national tv

So where did the other 7 to 9,000 people sit?

Port Authority approves ethanol plant proposal
By David Steffen
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority approved June 28 the construction of an ethanol plant on the Maumee River.

If built, the plant would be the first ethanol plant with direct access to the Great Lakes.

“We are very pleased that the Port Authority feels that an ethanol plant would be a great addition to the City of Toledo and the region,” said Bob Spitler, an attorney for Buckeye Biopower. “We anticipate that the ethanol plant would have a significant positive economic impact on the region and help lead Toledo in the alternative fuels arena.”

The Port Authority, which owns the 120-acre site on the Maumee River, consented to Midwest Terminals of Toledo's request to sublease the property. Buckeye Biopower in turn will build the 30-acre plant on the site. Midwest Terminals President Alex Johnson said groundbreaking would likely happen between October and December.

“The land in the port has been underutilized,” Johnson said.

When completed, the $240 million plant will produce ethanol from corn and the grain Milo.

Johnson said it would be the first ethanol plant with direct access to the Great Lakes. The plant would have access to highway, railway and water connections, he said.

“Most of the ethanol plants are out in the country,” Johnson said. “I think this is the first ethanol plant with all forms of transportation.”

Deichert said the plant would be able to continue ethanol production during the winter season on the Great Lakes.

“It'll provide year-round employment opportunities for our employees,” Deichert said. “The shipping industry in the Great Lakes is a seasonal business.”

Johnson said the plant could result in more offshoot jobs in addition to those created directly at the plant.

“I think it's a great opportunity for East Toledo to improve the employment situation,” Johnson said. “There's not only the 40 to 50 direct jobs from this plant, but there are other opportunities that will create jobs that are support for the ethanol plant.”

So where did the other 7 to 9,000 people sit?

The Glass Bowl does not have individual seatings, they have benches which you can basically cram as many people as you want in the stadium.

I've driven by a bunch of times, but never actually looked at the stadium. Does the school make enough from football and other sports to possibly add capacity? Is it open ended on both sides?

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I've driven by a bunch of times, but never actually looked at the stadium. Does the school make enough from football and other sports to possibly add capacity? Is it open ended on both sides?

The Glass Bowl is beautiful with the cobblestone exterior all around the stadium and the entrance is on all sides. The UT games is consistently one of the highest attended games in the MAC league which averages between 25,000-35,000.

Last year, the Rockets averaged just over 20,000 fans per game, but it was also a down year. 26,248 is the capacity and it was expanded in 1990.

The problem that Toledo and Bowling Green both have is that they sit right in the middle of Ann Arbor, South Bend, and Columbus. I actually live about a mile and a half away from UT, but I drive the forty-five minutes to Ann Arbor to watch the Wolverines play. My parents, who live right between UT and BGSU, drive two hours to see the Buckeyes play. And my neighbor drives two hours to see the Irish play. Even with the driving time, most people I know around Toledo hit the road during college football season rather than watching the local teams.

The Port Authority, which owns the 120-acre site on the Maumee River, consented to Midwest Terminals of Toledo's request to sublease the property. Buckeye Biopower in turn will build the 30-acre plant on the site. Midwest Terminals President Alex Johnson said groundbreaking would likely happen between October and December.

“The land in the port has been underutilized,” Johnson said.



This guy should run for local government...he seems to understand something our elected officials can't grasp.

Last year, the Rockets averaged just over 20,000 fans per game, but it was also a down year. 26,248 is the capacity and it was expanded in 1990.

The problem that Toledo and Bowling Green both have is that they sit right in the middle of Ann Arbor, South Bend, and Columbus. I actually live about a mile and a half away from UT, but I drive the forty-five minutes to Ann Arbor to watch the Wolverines play. My parents, who live right between UT and BGSU, drive two hours to see the Buckeyes play. And my neighbor drives two hours to see the Irish play. Even with the driving time, most people I know around Toledo hit the road during college football season rather than watching the local teams.

Did you read the news that they are expanding the "Big House"?

Yes, the headline is a little bit misleading though. Actual seating capacity is only increasing by 500-2,000 seats. The big news is they are installing four story press/luxury boxes that run the length of the field on both sides of the stadium. In the bowl, they are going to widen the aisles, put in railings, and actually remove seats for added comfort. You will still see attendance figures stay at around 111,000-112,000 for games. My hope is the added press boxes will help to keep the crowd noise inside the stadium making the Big House much louder than it is now.

Yes, the headline is a little bit misleading though. Actual seating capacity is only increasing by 500-2,000 seats. The big news is they are installing four story press/luxury boxes that run the length of the field on both sides of the stadium. In the bowl, they are going to widen the aisles, put in railings, and actually remove seats for added comfort. You will still see attendance figures stay at around 111,000-112,000 for games. My hope is the added press boxes will help to keep the crowd noise inside the stadium making the Big House much louder than it is now.

That's a tough task considering most of the larger stadiums are built out much more now.

They're movin dirt over at the menards site in Oregon. They must have started it last week sometime. Noticed it goin to maumee before i went to detroit saturday for the game. Heard Cracker Barrel wants to put a restuarant over there as well. Does anyone know when the indoor water park in maumee is supposed to open?

They're movin dirt over at the menards site in Oregon. They must have started it last week sometime. Noticed it goin to maumee before i went to detroit saturday for the game. Heard Cracker Barrel wants to put a restuarant over there as well. Does anyone know when the indoor water park in maumee is supposed to open?

Yep, and Menards are moving dirt at the Alexis Road location across from Meijer as well. Cracker Barrel doesn't surprise me since now that the new I-280 bridge is open and you will see much more development in the next 10 years along I-280 to State Route 420 then U.S. Route 20 into Fremont.

The indoor water park of Maumee has been mentioned with photos in this thread, you will have to look back. The water park will be a Holiday Inn hotel which will be a huge boost to the interchange of U.S. 20 and Turnpike, a lot of out-of-towners stay in hotels along Reynolds Road and Dussel Drive all year-round.

Here are some photos of the Indoor Water Park in Maumee:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/MaumeeWaterPark212-27-2006.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/MaumeeWaterPark12-27-2006.jpg

The Marina District is going full-steam ahead and I'm really excited about this project. I am certainly curious of who the private investors are that are going to be investing into the Marina District with Larry Dillin (guru of a la' Levis Commons), because this project will definetly steer the region in the right direction economically-wise.

Remember folks, it's all too early to speculate! Don't you ever get tired of the media setting off the warning lights everytime there is a business change? Well you will see my hand raised, however, I may be awfully optimistic about this but I see this is a huge opportunity for job growth and development for the Toledo region. The buyout is simply a process of sweetening the pot and the Carlyle Group recognizes that the employees and the region has treated HCR Manor very well in terms of where they are today. I certainly like to see the renewal of confirmation to stay in the region for the long-term, give HCR Manor the opportunity to be part of the regional turnaround from the "rust-belt" image and support them to expand the company in Toledo by providing the system and infrastructure support. In most cases, as businesses change it does make people nervous especially in the Midwest but when HCR Manor has grew from scratch in the 1980s right here in Toledo, they've grew quite rapidly. I think HCR Manor will soon if not already recognize that being part of Toledo is the key to the success.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SummitPlace.jpg

You can see several posts in regard to this development recently, however I'm glad this region is diversifying its economy and we need to do more. We have to stop relying so much on one maunfacturing sector which can be a damaging blow to the region as the economic cycle goes downturn (i.e. Ford, GM, Chrysler, Delphi, Dana, Aeroquip, Eaton, etc, etc). Perhaps Microsoft, Google or Sony is ready to come knocking on our door? Eh mate?!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/TriangleBldg112005.jpg

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Wind energy potential draws interest for local business park
By Duane Ramsey
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

The owners of the Lake Erie Business Park were pleased to receive immediate interest in their commercial development after attending the Wind Power 2007 national convention in Los Angeles.

Local owners James McKinney and David Fahrbach knew the convention was a business opportunity they couldn't miss with more than 7,000 wind energy professionals and 420 corporate exhibitors converging on the convention, “Growing the Wind Energy Business,” hosted by the American Wind Energy Association June 3 to 6.

The Lake Erie Business Park includes 470 acres,
45 buildings and more than 2 million square feet of existing space on the site of the former Erie Ordinance Army Depot in Port Clinton. McKinney and Fahrbach teamed up to purchase the property in December 2005.

“There's a lot of interest in the park since we attended the wind energy convention,” said Steve Benko, a consultant who represented the business park at the convention.

Benko said that one business has already visited the park and another one was scheduled to visit later in June. The park has held conference calls with other companies interested in the site.

“These firms have a lot of experience and knowledge, not to mention the financial resources to invest in our local communities,” Fahrbach said about the contacts made at the convention and companies that have inquired about the park.

Some of the companies attending the convention included well-known names such as General Electric, British Petroleum, John Deere and Mitsubishi. Wind turbine manufacturers from Europe, where the use of wind power is far more common than in the United States, also participated in the event.

“I spoke with Swedish, German, Danish, Spanish and British companies at the convention,” Benko said. “Many of them are working to open assembly plants in the U.S. to reduce transportation costs and tariff fees.”

“The Lake Erie Business Park has available manufacturing space that can accommodate those plants. Companies were excited to hear about the combination of assets that the Lake Erie Business Park and the surrounding area can provide,” Benko said.

Located on Lake Erie in a no-boating zone between Camp Perry and the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, the park offers many amenities for potential tenants without opposition from its neighbors.

Environmental Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies are complete and the park is approved for development, Benko said. Tax incentives are available for potential tenants, including tax abatements and tax incremental financing.

“Ohio has some attractive financial incentives that are important to any companies hoping to relocate,” said Jamie Beier-Grant, director of the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, who also attended the wind power convention.
Access to transportation networks and adequately sized facilities are crucial components of the wind turbine business. The owners of the Lake Erie Business Park believe it offers all those elements and much more.

The park has direct rail access with a rail spur just off the main line of Norfolk Southern Railroad. Benko said the park hopes to attract an ethanol production facility there, but would need to extend the rail spur.

The four-lane State Route 2 runs in front of the park with two existing entrances onto the highway. The Ohio Turnpike is just 15 minutes from the park, which has an existing network of roads with heavy foundations.

A private wastewater treatment system currently services the site and public sewer connections with the City of Port Clinton will be available by the end of this year.

The park has two freshwater intakes from Lake Erie capable of processing about 1.5 million gallons per day. On-site storage includes a 100,000-gallon tower and two underground storage tanks with a total capacity of 1.2 million gallons.

The public water line for Ottawa County runs along state Route 2 in front of the park.

The Lake Erie Business Park has seven parcels of land, ranging from the largest two of 38.9 and 16.5 acres, to several smaller sites from four to five acres each. One site has already been sold, but the owners declined to identify the buyer at this time.

Another five-acre parcel includes a 24,000-square-foot brick building located right off the east entrance off Route 2.
More than a dozen existing buildings are available, including a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing or warehouse facility. Other buildings of 47,000, 40,000, 32,000, 30,000 and 24,000 square feet down to 10,000 and a brick office building with 4,300 square feet are available.

The owners also envision additional commercial, industrial, retail and hospitality components for the 470-acre Lake Erie Business Park.

“The auto industry helped our local workforce to develop skills ranging from metal fabrication, welding, tool and die applications to power generation. Those same skills can be applied in the manufacturing and assembly of modern wind turbines,” McKinney said.

He believes this knowledgeable work force base in the region gives Northwest Ohio a distinct advantage over potential plant locations in other parts of the country.

“We can re-tool to meet the demands of this growing industry,” McKinney said.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur said, “Wind energy is the fastest developing form of energy in the country and possibly around the world. The entire industry is expanding quickly and seeking qualified people in that field.”

Kaptur cited the research on the potential of wind energy being conducted at the nearby Firelands Campus of Bowling Green State University as an additional incentive for wind turbine manufacturers.

Wind turbine towers can be as tall as 100 meters with blades that are 50 meters long and can produce enough electricity to power about 1,000 homes

Field House renovation to give nod to future, veterans
By Matt Lockwood UT News
Jul 3, 2007

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/webveterans_memorial_option_2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/webveterans_memorial_option_1.jpg

The Memorial Field House has been vacant for years, but its renovation will fill important needs for both future and past generations.

This rendering by BHDP Architecture of Cincinnati shows one possibility for the renovated Memorial Field House.
The project — expected to meet the University’s 10-year projection for classroom needs — is being renovated in an environmentally friendly way with tomorrow in mind, and will include a site to remember military veterans throughout the community and the region.

A Veterans’ Plaza with plaques recognizing individual veterans and organizations will be located near the east entrance of the state-of-the-art classroom building. In addition to the plaques, the plaza will feature three flagpoles displaying the flags of the United States, Ohio and The University of Toledo.

“In the workaday world that surrounds each of us, there is little time and few places to remember those who have served our country and paid for the freedoms we all enjoy,” said Vern Snyder, vice president for institutional advancement. “The University of Toledo Veterans’ Plaza will stand as just such a place for our veterans, our community and, most importantly, our students.”

This BHDP Architecture rendering shows another possibility for the renovated Memorial Field House.
The University is requesting the assistance of veterans’ organizations and individuals throughout the region to offset the costs of construction of the plaza.

“We are asking each organization or individual to consider a gift or pledge of $1,000,” Snyder said. “These gifts will be acknowledged on separate plaques and the donors may choose the language to memorialize a group of veterans, loved ones or all of those who served.”

The Field House project also will look to the future by incorporating features expected to make it one of the most environmentally friendly buildings of its type.

The classroom rehabilitation project has been designed to meet standards that will qualify it for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Key “green” features include re-using the existing site and building, installing occupancy activated air and lighting systems, putting on a highly reflective roof, utilizing non-irrigated landscaping, and properly sorting and recycling construction waste.

“We’re doing this to be responsible to future generations,” said Chuck Lehnert, associate vice president for facilities and construction. “It is also very energy efficient, so there’s a calculated energy savings payback.”

The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable design and construction, and the LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

The Memorial Field House would be among the first in the state to receive the LEED Silver certification.

Environmental hazards are being removed from the Field House site, and a demolition contractor has been hired to gut the building. Lehnert said bids for the construction phase will go out in August.

Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2008.

Due to construction, the bus loop by the Student Union will be relocated to south of Wolfe Hall starting Monday, July 2. Foot traffic also may be redirected while work continues for the next 18 months.

I was looking into the Bartley Lofts before I moved back to California. My hope is that once the arena is completed and brings more life to downtown, people as a result will want to live closer. There are so many buildings downtown that have amazing potential. I wish half of those buildings were in San Diego.

Does anyone know what is going in at the corner of Airport Highway and Holloway in Springfield Township? They demolished all the buildings on the southwest corner. And also, what about the northwest corner of Albon and Airport?

Does anyone know what is going in at the corner of Airport Highway and Holloway in Springfield Township? They demolished all the buildings on the southwest corner. And also, what about the northwest corner of Albon and Airport?
Rumor has it, a Walgreen's.

Since we're asking... anybody know what's going in where the old Cooker was in the Spring Meadows shopping area off Airport Hwy.? New all-brick construction has been going up for a few weeks now.

Rumor has it, a Walgreen's.

Since we're asking... anybody know what's going in where the old Cooker was in the Spring Meadows shopping area off Airport Hwy.? New all-brick construction has been going up for a few weeks now.


I was worried it would just be a drugstore.

The site of the old Cooker will have a Chipotle and Panera Bread. Not sure if that is it or there is more.

Rumor has it, a Walgreen's.

Since we're asking... anybody know what's going in where the old Cooker was in the Spring Meadows shopping area off Airport Hwy.? New all-brick construction has been going up for a few weeks now.

Interesting that the rumor is Walgreen's, I checked the Auditor site and the developer who bought the land was in 3 seperate parcels. The three parcels used to be doctor's office, car wash and something else; however, the three parcels was bought back in last November which would make sense that Walgreen's would be coming into that area since it is only occupied by Rite Aid.

I am surprised that not a single grocery store has occupied the vacant Farmer Jack at the nearly new Orchard Centre Shopping area. It was less than a year that Farmer Jack opened and officially closed as a company-wide decision.

I was worried it would just be a drugstore.

The site of the old Cooker will have a Chipotle and Panera Bread. Not sure if that is it or there is more.

No Starbuck's? You noticed there is a brand new Starbuck's down the road at Airport and Reynolds.

Six more stores announced in the Blade for the Shops at Fallen Timbers.
"Clothing retailers American Eagle and Aeropostale, shoe stores Journeys and Payless, Osterman Jewelers, and coffee chain Starbucks recently filed site plans with the city building inspection office."


http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/BUSINESS10/70704007

Six more stores announced in the Blade for the Shops at Fallen Timbers.
"Clothing retailers American Eagle and Aeropostale, shoe stores Journeys and Payless, Osterman Jewelers, and coffee chain Starbucks recently filed site plans with the city building inspection office."


http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070704/BUSINESS10/70704007

It's sad that none of the stores that recently signed on meets my taste except for Starbuck's. How about an Eddie Bauer Clothing and Home Store? Sharper Image? Whole Foods Market? Jamba Juice? Cheesecake Factory? Urban Outfitters?

Rumor has it, a Walgreen's.

Since we're asking... anybody know what's going in where the old Cooker was in the Spring Meadows shopping area off Airport Hwy.? New all-brick construction has been going up for a few weeks now.

Also in the area, the 'For Lease' sign in front of the old Joe's Crab Shack says it's leased. I haven't heard what may be moving in, but there have been people down there cleaning up.

Agree 100% with those missing shopping experiences.

Add Crate & Barrel (yes, some folks actually appreciate good design, quality materials, and not buying the same thing again two years later because it fell apart), Anthropoligie, Apple Store (only a matter of time, in my opinion), Restoration Hardware, Macaroni Grill, etc.. I just got back from the Somerset Collection mall, up near Troy, MI, and I was humbled by the quality of the stores -- equal to, if not beyond what I lived next to in Houston, TX at the Galleria mall complex.

There is a ton of development happening in our metropolitan area. That's great. But someone needs to get Dillan's or GGP's ear and tell them to stop putting in the same thing over and over. Crate & Barrel in the Marina District would be THE shopping destination downtown -- if they came. It would make the Marina District a first-rate, progressive development with real legs. Heck, shoot for the stars and give Nike or Apple a tax abatement for 10 years to build a flagship store right next to the C&B. Then woo Banana Republic and Whole Foods as well (see the Baltimore Inner Harbor as a prime example of what could happen to our riverfront). Then, go to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York and offer very low-interest, city-backed loans to the first five restauranteurs who agree to open unique, quality eating establishments in the District. Then, then !! Then we have something great on the river -- a DESTINATION that people want to see!

But, I digress.

Semi-confirmed...

Not a Walgreens, rather a new, relocated Rite Aid. See this PDF (http://www.rlcos.com/RLP/properties/PDFFiles/6658%20Airport-Cooker.pdf) confirming the Airport Meadow Crossings "Panera/Chipotle/Aspen Dental" development. The aerial maps show a Rite Aid at the corner of Airport and Holloway, the other map confirms the "former Rite Aid" location (gray text and box) just off Airport at McCord, as well as the new location. This real estate developer is also responsible for the newer Chipotle off Conant at the Meijer shopping center as well.

Agree 100% with those missing shopping experiences.

Add Crate & Barrel (yes, some folks actually appreciate good design, quality materials, and not buying the same thing again two years later because it fell apart), Anthropoligie, Apple Store (only a matter of time, in my opinion), Restoration Hardware, Macaroni Grill, etc.. I just got back from the Somerset Collection mall, up near Troy, MI, and I was humbled by the quality of the stores -- equal to, if not beyond what I lived next to in Houston, TX at the Galleria mall complex.

There is a ton of development happening in our metropolitan area. That's great. But someone needs to get Dillan's or GGP's ear and tell them to stop putting in the same thing over and over. Crate & Barrel in the Marina District would be THE shopping destination downtown -- if they came. It would make the Marina District a first-rate, progressive development with real legs. Heck, shoot for the stars and give Nike or Apple a tax abatement for 10 years to build a flagship store right next to the C&B. Then woo Banana Republic and Whole Foods as well (see the Baltimore Inner Harbor as a prime example of what could happen to our riverfront). Then, go to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York and offer very low-interest, city-backed loans to the first five restauranteurs who agree to open unique, quality eating establishments in the District. Then, then !! Then we have something great on the river -- a DESTINATION that people want to see!

But, I digress.

Ooooooh I've forgotten about Crate & Barrell, I live for that place. I agree with your insights about our waterfront being reach to it's fullest potential.

Semi-confirmed...

Not a Walgreens, rather a new, relocated Rite Aid. See this PDF (http://www.rlcos.com/RLP/properties/PDFFiles/6658%20Airport-Cooker.pdf) confirming the Airport Meadow Crossings "Panera/Chipotle/Aspen Dental" development. The aerial maps show a Rite Aid at the corner of Airport and Holloway, the other map confirms the "former Rite Aid" location (gray text and box) just off Airport at McCord, as well as the new location. This real estate developer is also responsible for the newer Chipotle off Conant at the Meijer shopping center as well.

I'm surprised Walgreen's is nowhere near that area, the closest one is on Reynolds and Southwyck.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Today's the first day of the arena construction, Superior Street in between Madison and Jefferson will officially close and the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will move their southern designated bus loop from Jefferson to Monroe Street until the completion of the arena project. Boy oh boy, I can see the congestion now with Jefferson being limited street and portion of Superior Street being closed, it will be quite interesting for the next two years.

News bit from TARTA:
Downtown TARTA bus loop making way for arena project.
Jefferson Ave. closed to buses, new stop on Monroe as of Monday

Due to progress on the downtown arena project, Jefferson Ave. will be closed to TARTA buses and have limited access beginning Monday, July 9, 2007. Therefore, the Perry Station bus stop will be closed and the TARTA bus loop will be extended to Monroe Street until further notice.

As of Monday, July 9, a new bus stop will be available on Monroe Street between Superior and Huron Streets (across from the third base TARTA bus station at Fifth Third Field).

When post-game fireworks at Fifth Third Field, Monroe is closed to bus service and Washington St. will be used. There will be no bus stop service on Washington between Summit and Erie during the fireworks.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/loop2007.gif

Has any major work started at the Bass Pro Shops site?

Has any major work started at the Bass Pro Shops site?
No, and I'm wondering why.

I've driven by the open land a few times in the past month (the one with the ratty old 18-wheeler trailer holding the aging sign) and can't figure out what the hold-up is. But, then my mind quickly concludes that Bass Pro is probably lining up other retailers to begin the building around them at the same time. Just a theory, no hard proof, other than the fact that Bass Pro bought the land for "X" dollars and then quickly sold off the land they didn't need for the store (at a handsome profit, I might add). Brilliant real-estate-game-playing.

i drove by the bass pro site a few times last week while goin fishin out off jerome rd..... looked to me like they were movin dirt and installing sewer an water lines. i could be wrong though. does anyone know the exact location where the bass pro will be?

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

No, and I'm wondering why.

I've driven by the open land a few times in the past month (the one with the ratty old 18-wheeler trailer holding the aging sign) and can't figure out what the hold-up is. But, then my mind quickly concludes that Bass Pro is probably lining up other retailers to begin the building around them at the same time. Just a theory, no hard proof, other than the fact that Bass Pro bought the land for "X" dollars and then quickly sold off the land they didn't need for the store (at a handsome profit, I might add). Brilliant real-estate-game-playing.

Bass Pro Shops has been posted and discussed in prior posts of this thread and as of right now according to WTVG ABC 13 News, Bass Pro Shops are flying the dirt. Here is the news story from their site:

July 11, 2007 - One of the biggest developments in Wood County history has taken a major step forward, and it means a lot of new jobs for local workers. The new store should be open late spring or early summer of next year.

One of the biggest developments in Wood County history has taken a major step forward, and it means a lot of new jobs for local workers. This is an update on the $50-million Bass Pro project in Rossford. Right now, a small crew is on the job, but in the coming months, there could be more than 1,000 construction jobs in and around this site.

Brian McMahon has been working for more than a decade to have the land near I-75 and the turnpike developed into a major retail center.
"Today is the first day I have seen the work at the site, since I have been out of town. It is a significant event in the development business to go from concept to the moving of dirt."

The pad that outlines the store is already in place, and while we were on site today, crews were working on the lake.

Restaurants, hotels and other retail stores have already signed on to do business in the crossroads. McMahon says the construction crews working at the site should encourage others to sign on.

"They don't want to spend money on things like feasibility and traffic studies until they see some action at the main site. So this is a major event for our ability to bring other people to the area."

Each Bass Pro store is designed to highlight the region, and company leaders are already studying the history of northwest Ohio.

"Bass Pro will send a team of people who will start doing research to add local flavor to the store, but that is still preliminary no final decisions have been made."

McMahon also points out that Bass Pro has hired a number of local design and construction firms to work on the project. The new store should be open late spring or early summer of next year.

i drove by the bass pro site a few times last week while goin fishin out off jerome rd..... looked to me like they were movin dirt and installing sewer an water lines. i could be wrong though. does anyone know the exact location where the bass pro will be?

If you are in the Jerome Road area it is the Shops at Fallen Timbers with JC Penney and Dillard's and it's located in Maumee. Bass Pro Shops is located on Simmons Road near S.R. 795, I-75, 80 and 90 within the city of Rossford.

no no i was on my way out to jerome rd via 75 to 475.... I know where TSAFT is..... and i know Bass pro is in the crossroads. I was jw if u will be able to see it from 75 or if its gonna be in another area of the crossroads..... i dont get off 75 much in that area now..... sure that willl change when bass pro is built

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Downtown arena to focus on green
Commissioners see energy savings need


"We're going to go with it as far as we can," Mr. Hom said. "We have to leave this planet better than we found it."




Found it? I would have to argue that we created this mess!

But this is a good article and I can appreciate the city of Toledo doing their part to conserve and make the arena more eco-friendly.

Found it? I would have to argue that we created this mess!

But this is a good article and I can appreciate the city of Toledo doing their part to conserve and make the arena more eco-friendly.

Not only the city but county as well.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Not only the city but county as well.

Agreed!

Surprised no one has mentioned this one yet... Perrysburg Point. Direct competition for Levis Commons, although it's a bit smaller in Phase 1 & 2 and there's no word what retail is leasing space. Should be interesting to watch this and Levis Commons duke it out for shoppers. Hmmm, farm land is disappearing to retail development in these parts like wildfire these days.

http://www.visconsi.com/img/gallery/perrysburg_render.jpg


Approximately 200,000 square feet of quality retail with a specific architectural style, landscaping and attention to detail.
Strategically located at the Northeast Quadrant of Interstate 475 and State Route 25, just west of Interstate 75
Located diagonally across the highway from Levis Commons, Toledo's first lifestyle center.


Here's the developers web site development page: http://www.visconsi.com/dev_property_details.asp?id=37

Here's the article from the Perrysburg Messenger Journal...

Retail center proposed for former 'horse farm' property
Preliminary site plan approved for corner of SR 25/Eckel Jct.
By Deb Buker
Plans for the former horse farm property, located on the southeast corner of State Route 25 and Eckel Junction Road, show a 200,000-square-foot multi-phased retail center with an additional five outlots.
The proposed plan by owner/developer Visconsi Companies, Ltd. encompasses 30 acres and is considered to be within the central commercial "hub" of the city. Directly south of the property is the SR 25/I-475/US 23 interchange.
At a recent meeting of the Perrysburg Planning Commission, members approved the preliminary site plan for the proposed development slated as Perrysburg Point.

The preliminary site plan development [see drawing] shows two phases with outlots as follows:
Phase 1
·Retail A 31,000 square feet
·Sublet A 13,200 square feet
·327 parking spaces
·Associated truck loading/unloading area
·Access to and from Eckel Junction Road and SR 25
Phase 2
·Retail B 81,000 square feet
·Retail C 31,600 square feet
·Retail D 27,500 square feet
·623 parking spaces
·Associated truck loading/unloading areas
Outlots
·Number 1 1.20 plus acres
·Number 2 1.43 plus acres
·Number 3 1.38 plus acres
·Number 4 1.01 plus acres
·Number 5 2.20 plus acres

Because of the significant potential impact on traffic, the infrastructure and demands for public services, Visconsi Companies is required to provide an impact assessment prior to the submission of the final site plan review.
The site plan proposes two direct access drives from the property one to SR 25, Dixie Highway and one to Eckel Junction.

^^ Whoa! Thanks for the post on this development, I don't read the actual Messenger Journal paper since their online site is very amateurish with lack of substance news posting. I'm actually surprised that there will be another lifestyle development where the horse farm is, I knew someone had bought it but didn't know what it will become. Across the street (the Northwest quadarant of I-475/25) will the be Taylor Hyundai dealership; however, I hope there is enough demand to support another lifestyle a la' mall that they are proposing because Shops at Fallen Timbers is just across the river which will cater to the middle class consumers. This is really going to be a war of competing retail businesses in the southern metro area with retail around Bass Pro Shops in Rossford, retail along U.S. Route 20, Levis Commons, Woodland Mall in BG, and Shops at Fallen Timbers in Maumee.

It would make a huge sense if this development company build the lifestyle mall in the Sylvania/Ottawa Hills area because there is a huge demand for it especially with the population and income. The population is 60,000 which is much higher than Perrysburg area of 30,000. We all know that the Westfield Franklin Park dominates the "regional #1 mall" title and Westgate will resurge with Costco opening in August of this year.

I wish all the luck to this development company because Levis Commons is on their second expansion, Fallen Timbers is opening on October 3rd, and Bass Pro Shops will debut next fall. Let the competition begin!

Here's a link to MBH Architects, out of Alameda, CA. that I stumbled upon. Larry Dillin has used them for all of his recent, ongoing projects in our area: http://www.mbharch.com/portfolio/portfolio.htm

This firm has designed Levis Commons (Phase I and II), and The Village at Southwyck for Dillin (the projects are scattered across the company's portfolio, under different categories, most in "In Development").

I wonder if they're responsible for the Marina District drawings as well. It would make sense, since they do a large amount of coastline/waterfront property and lifestyle/mixed-use development.

Bass Pro Shops has announced that they will break ground in Rossford on Aug. 22.

http://www.wtol.com/global/story.asp?s=6812715

This news has begun last Thursday when Toledo mayor went off the handle finding out that we have people in our region that are willing to steal jobs within the same region. The township trustee Robert Mack of Perrysburg is the realtor representative of FedEx when they were working on expansion within the city of Toledo, and now the potential site is no other than a site in Perrysburg Township???!!!! FOUL! FOUL on Wood County and Perrysburg Township for pirating within the region! Shame on them for being crooked and not working together for regional economy to lure jobs from outside of the region. I am siding with the mayor and I totally empathized his anger at the Wood County fools for being somewhat underhanded.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

This is such a good thing to be able to reunite the neighborhoods that was ripped apart due to the birth of national interstate freeways during the 1950-60s.

$80 MILLION EXPANSION PROJECT
FedEx offered incentive to stay
Mayor proposes 3-trailer rigs on busy Reynolds Road

The secondary option of land near the airport with direct access to the turnpike might be the best way to keep Fed Ex in Lucas County. I don't think I would want to see triple trailers on Reynolds anyway.

The secondary option of land near the airport with direct access to the turnpike might be the best way to keep Fed Ex in Lucas County. I don't think I would want to see triple trailers on Reynolds anyway.

ITA considering that most of the land at and around the airport is owned by the City of Toledo. Perhaps this is the time for Toledo to start annexing the airport right through Springfield and Monclova Townships.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

^^ What's going on with the spot Jimmy Jackson and associate bought? I remember reading about it in the paper before I left. Any updates on that?

^^ What's going on with the spot Jimmy Jackson and associate bought? I remember reading about it in the paper before I left. Any updates on that?

Due to the Water Street Steam Plant being the historic designated preserved building, they have to abide the rules of the Ohio State Historic Society commission. Plus they are seeking permission to take out a wall to add on the extension of the newer townhouses toward the river according to the state regulations and awaiting for award in grants to cover some expenditures. So they mentioned the last time with all the hurdles, they will begin the construction this fall since the historic society commission have finally speed up the process.

^^ Do you believe that? That it will be track for construction during the fall?

I have to say yes, because they received $300K from the city as a contribution to the project and the city has put them on noticed to ensure that the money was not used for other purpose (outside of the Steam Plant project). David Ball who is one of the developer with Jimmy Jackson is a huge downtown booster since he owns quite a bit of properties and rehabbed them as well. When redeveloping any historic building with the Ohio State Historic Committee is truly a bitch to the max because they are the worst kind of bureaucrat on this planet (in my professional opinion). So with the delays and hurdles that Jackson/Ball had to deal with, it did not surprise me one bit.

What's the timeline like for the finished product if it gets on track in the Fall? Are these apartments, condos or lofts?

One other question while I'm thinking about Toledo. What are they going to do with the old Arena property? That should be pretty key, I would think.

What's the timeline like for the finished product if it gets on track in the Fall? Are these apartments, condos or lofts?

One other question while I'm thinking about Toledo. What are they going to do with the old Arena property? That should be pretty key, I would think.

Here is the website to the Steam Plant development and hopefully you could contact the developers for the timeline which they will assist potential homeowners: http://www.waterstreettoledo.com/

The old arena is being demolished on August 8th and it is to make way for the Marina District project. It is to bring and/or connect the International Park and The Docks together by removing the old arena. If I recall according to the renderings, the section of the old arena land will be for high-density residential development.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Grant spurs action for tech corridor
By Duane Ramsey
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

The Science and Technology Corridor and University of Toledo received additional financial support with a federal grant of $1.95 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for infrastructure improvements at the Health Science Campus.

Rep. Mary Kaptur announced the federal grant at a special ceremony held Aug. 6 on the site of a future research and development center on UT's Health Science Campus. The funds will be used to build a new road and improve the infrastructure at the site on Arlington Avenue.

“The corridor is already creating new economic opportunity in our community,” Kaptur said. “With this new impetus, the corridor can act as the main driver for new jobs and new businesses in growth industries.”

The corridor facilitated alternative energy and tech-based business development through its connection with educational expertise and new business incubation facilities at UT. Plans include development of additional biotechnology and mixed-use incubators through partnerships between the University and local businesses.

“New technology is the foundation stone for new jobs. The corridor is a pathway for collaboration between the University, the private sector and governmental agencies,” Kaptur said.

UT President Lloyd Jacobs called it a “great day as we begin a more concrete phase of this undertaking.”

“It's not about buildings or infrastructure. It's about the spirit of cooperation among UT, other educational institutions and community partners, which bodes well for Northwest Ohio,” Dr. Jacobs said.

UT's leadership in the Science and Technology Corridor involves connecting the knowledge resources with business and government for economic development in the Northwest Ohio region.

“We must brand our region as one for research and technology. It will take time and effort, but this opportunity could have a significant impact on this entire area,” said Richard Stansley Jr., chairman of UT's board of trustees.

“This is what Northwest Ohio's future is all about. This is it,” said Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner. “We will play a leadership role in economic development. This University is the engine that drives the economy of our region.”

Finkbeiner said the area needs to extend the corridor and these partnerships across the border into Michigan. He cited the University of Michigan, one of the largest research institutions in the country, and the automobile industry as potential partners.

“Research and innovation means business. We need to keep that focus narrow to make the science and technology corridor a success. We're on our way,” Finkbeiner said.

The future looks very bright for Toledo and the university, said C. Robert Sawyer, director of the Chicago Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The government expects a return on its investment in this area, he said.

“This project makes a lot of sense to help the city and region diversify the economy,” Sawyer said. “The spirit of cooperation with the UT and City of Toledo partnership is critical for the region's success in the global economy.”

The federal funding of the project was supported by both of Ohio's U.S. Senators, Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich. Representatives from the offices of both senators read statements from them about the significance of the corridor to further economic development in the region.

The steadfast support of Congresswoman Kaptur, Brown as both a representative and now senator, and Voinovich as a mayor, governor and now senator made the funding of this project possible, according to Sawyer.

Sounds like they need to proceed the proposed project of the Erie Street Parking Garage which was to be constructed in between Adams and Madison Streets on Erie few years back. Now is the time boys, let the demo begin!

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

The latest rumor I heard was that Indianapolis is "poaching" and "pirating" this company to move into their city. Let me politely warn those Indy folks, you are in the fight of your life because you will be not only fighting with Toledo, but Lucas County and the state of Ohio as well.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Dussel and Salisbury road interchange multi-million dollar facelift

WTVG--August 14, 2007 - Major roadwork is on the way for a major intersection. The Dussel and Salisbury road interchange on I-475 and US 23 is about to get a multi-million dollar facelift.

Tens of thousands of cars pass through there every day. If you have been through there at rush hour you know what a mess it can be. Everyone we talked to thinks the construction project will help alleviate some of the traffic troubles. Some local business owners are concerned about the time it will take to finish the project. Getting from one side to the other isn't always easy at the Salisbury Road - Dussel Drive interchange.
Michael Stormer, the ODOT district planning engineer, says, "The original interchange opened in 1987 and some would say that it was outdated back then because there was so much traffic to Arrowhead Park at the time. If you ever travel this stretch of road you can definitely see what's going on."

A massive construction project will help cut down on the congestion...

"Right now construction is set to begin in April or May of 2008, so about nine months from now. It will take two years to construct the interchange."

The construction includes a widening of the road and new ramps.

"The interchange itself will end up having two cloverleaf ramps and then we will increase capacity in the driving lanes. It will be three lanes in each direction. We will also add turn lanes and in some cases, dual turn lanes."

Mary Ellen Helminski lives and works near the busy interchange. She knew nothing about the upcoming project, and while she thinks it will be a major improvement, she worries about businesses in the area.

"If it improves that will be great, but for two years it's going to be horrible."

The project will cost about $35 million. People like Mary Ellen are banking on that being money well spent.

Just to get an idea how busy the area is, on the Dussel Drive side of the interchange more than 38,000 cars pass through every day. That number is expected to jump to nearly 52,000 in the next twenty years.

Toledo mayor frustrated about Southwyck

WTVG-- August 14, 2007 - Toledo is trying to push the Southwyck project forward by spending $3 million over the next four months, but none of that money will change the mall.

When talk of redeveloping south Toledo began many years ago, at the heart of it was redeveloping Southwyck Mall. Well now, that mall is at the heart of the problem. There are signs of change along Reynolds Road, a new McDonalds, a new strip mall and even new potted plants. Not everything is going into the Marina District. Today, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is pushing for more change with plans to spend $2.7 million to make the stretch of Reynolds more beautiful with new lights, street signs and even more potted plants between Glendale and Heatherdowns, but Southwyck Mall is still the same.
Developer Larry Dillin began working with the city on the Southwyck project more than a year ago.

"I have been encouraging the city to take positive steps, including the renovations along Reynolds Road because that helps everyone along this corridor, not just the Southwyck property."

Dillin now has an offer on the table to buy Southwyck Mall.

"Within 30 days, it is my hope that we will have new ownership or ownership that is committed to moving forward with the redevelopment of the mall."

If not, the mayor is prepared to take legal action to get the property. The cosmetic changes the mayor is proposing will take place along Reynolds Road from Glendale to Heatherdowns. The work would start immediately and be done by December 31. As for Dillard's, The mayor is giving the company and the mall 30 days to either come up with a plan to redevelop the mall or accept a buyout offer from Larry Dillin.

After those 30 days, the mayor will look into possible legal actions to take the property. Finkbeiner wants to avoid a deadline to impose eminent domain because laws for that will change in October. It will then be tougher for governments to take control of property and the legal battle would get even harder for the mayor.

Bowling Green to Add 33 More Wind Turbines
Aug 15, 2007 on WTOL.com

More Wind Turbines Coming to BG

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/BGLogo8-16-2007.jpg

BOWLING GREEN -- Bowling Green already has four wind turbines generating electricity -- and has had them since 2003. Dozens more may be on the way, reports News 11's Dick Berry.

The tall, twirling turbines are easy to spot along US 6 near the Wood County landfill. If everything falls into place, rows and rows of wind turbines could be in place by 2009. And Bowling Green could become "Blowing Green."

Bowling Green and the company responsible for building the original four turbines are looking at adding another 33.

"Bowling Green and a number of other municipal electric utilities are looking at increasing the amount of renewable energy they use," explains Kevin Maynard, BG's utilities director.

The wind farm will generate 49 megawatts of power placed on an electric grid shared by members of a co-op in northern Ohio. Land for the turbines will be leased from local landowners.

"People around here are familiar with the wind turbines. It's not an unknown to them. We believe people are more accepting of the renewable technology here," says Maynard.

Both George Cole and and Eric Gray, Waterville zoning officials, are researching the placement of turbines in their community.

"I've just been to Europe. And they're all over Europe and so I think we're a little behind times," said Cole.

"And it makes a lot of sense to use a resource that is already there rather than gas and all that sort of stuff," said Gray.

Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) praises Bowling Green and says the area has the potential of becoming the Silicon Valley of alternative energy.

"It helps wean us from Middle Eastern oil. It helps with our trade deficit. It helps with the environment and job creation," Brown said.

Word should come within six months if the wind farm is a go for a town some people now refer to as "Blowing Green."

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Bowling Green is part of the Toledo MSA, and it is located about 20 miles south of Toledo and it's the home of Bowling Green State University. Its population is nearly about 30,000 residents.

There are changes in store for Woodland Mall in Bowling Green
By GREGORY L. VAN VORHIS
Sentinel Staff Writer

At 20, the Woodland Mall is beginning to show its age, and Woodland Mall Holdings of New York City is taking steps to make updates.
They’re trying to make it more competitive with other malls and work in a new more classy logo, mall manager Corrina Warren said.
Some progress has been made since the first of the year, including taking down the canopies across the front of the mall, and removing the trees inside, which blocked visibility for mall customers, making it difficult for them to see what stores are down each wing.
Additional interior changes that can be expected include repainting, lighting changes, and a shift in the kind of Muzak that is played through the mall’s speakers.
“They’re talking about new landscaping and changing the marquee,” said Warren.
The mall recently hired the leasing company CB Richard Ellis, Inc., of Cleveland to attract more stores. David Ralls, a representative of the company, also has shared ideas to expand the improvements to help draw both businesses and customers.
“We suggested looking at some wi-fi setup of some sort where students or people eating there would have online access,” he said. “The whole idea is to make it more user friendly so more people will want to come there and when they are there want to spend more time there.”
There is no word whether or not that idea will be implemented.

Having just signed an agreement with Woodland Mall Holdings, CB Richard Ellis is in the infant stage of drawing new businesses.
Ralls said that one focus will be on adding more restaurants “to draw traffic, which will help any existing shops and draw any future shops that may decide to come. The entertainment component is an important aspect at any mall.
“We’re going to start marketing the property to national and regional retailers,” he continued. “We’re going to try to capitalize on some of the opportunities that are available at the mall and help drive traffic there. If you look in the market right now, the other (south) end of town is where some of the boxes have popped up. They anchor the other end of town and the mall anchors the north end of town.
“We need to see if there are some box opportunities that are not in the area right now,” Ralls continued. “We are fortunate that they are the only theatre in the town right now. We’ll talk with the cinema and see if there are opportunities to maybe add more screens.”
“It’s in a great location at a main intersection in Bowling Green,” said Ralls. We’ve got to capitalize on the entertainment and the student population that are there.”
Ralls said there is a plan of action, and that they are in discussions with some potential businesses. However, he declined to name what stores they are. Instead, he spoke of them in generalities.
“We’re going to go stores that cater to the student population and accumulate some space to accommodate some larger box stores, and contact some businesses who were in the area and see if we can bring them back to the market.”
“Some of these are very big — college-drawn, high school-drawn,” said Warren. “Older people, too. I would shop at these stores.”
Ralls said that this is a slow process, and big changes should not be expected soon.
“It takes a minimum of six to 12 months to begin talks, to go through negotiations, to reaching an agreement to building a store,” he said.
“There’s a huge chain of procedures and protocol that we have to go through,” agreed Warren.
But it’s all part of the task to continue to make the Woodland mall successful.
“It has to do with good ownership,” said Warren. “The owners are determined to fill this mall to capacity. With CB Richard Ellis aboard, they are going after some well-known chains. If any company can do it, CB Richard Ellis can. They’ve been around for many, many years.”


Mall has had six owners
The Woodland Mall has had six owners since it opened May 13, 1987. The following is a list of those owners.
• The Mall Company, Birmingham, Ala., 1987 to 1990
• The Bank of New York, managed by J.J. Gumburg Co., Pittsburgh, 1990 to 1993.
• THF Realty, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., 1993 to 2001
• Green and Prephan, LLC (Al Green and Scott Prephan), local owners, 2001 to 2004
• Woodland Towne Centre, LLC, Eidi Properties, Toledo, 2004 to 2005. The name of the mall was changed to Woodland Towne Centre during this time.
• Woodland Mall Holdings, New York City, 2005 to present.

To credit the two sources, these two photos was taken by an anonymous photographer who sent it to our local WTVG 13 ABC local affiliate. The shots was taken from the Hi-Level (Anthony Wayne) Bridge and I thought it looks great. I don't know how this photographer did it, but I certainly couldn't do it at that height. Enjoy them.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/BridgeViewII8-16-2007.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/BridgeView8-16-2007.jpg

^WOW at those two photos. I've always wanted to ascend the cables, but it looks scary. Is this illegal?

^WOW at those two photos. I've always wanted to ascend the cables, but it looks scary. Is this illegal?

That is why ABC Channel 13 is respecting the photographer as anonymous person, so I have no idea if it's illegal or not. Maybe he's one of the light crew from ODOT?

I had a buddy who lived in the condos that used to be where OC is now. One night we were drunk and climbed the high level bridge(I would guess we were about 19 at the time). Probably not the smartest thing I've done in my life, but it was lots of fun! By the way, it was WAY TOO EASY to get up there(granted that was years ago) without getting caught.

I had a buddy who lived in the condos that used to be where OC is now. One night we were drunk and climbed the high level bridge(I would guess we were about 19 at the time). Probably not the smartest thing I've done in my life, but it was lots of fun! By the way, it was WAY TOO EASY to get up there(granted that was years ago) without getting caught.

:uh: times 100

I had a buddy who lived in the condos that used to be where OC is now. One night we were drunk and climbed the high level bridge(I would guess we were about 19 at the time). Probably not the smartest thing I've done in my life, but it was lots of fun! By the way, it was WAY TOO EASY to get up there(granted that was years ago) without getting caught.

I would have been right there with you! Not anymore. But back 14 years ago.

I would have been right there with you! Not anymore. But back 14 years ago.

Isn't time for both of you to come on home?

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

This is long overdue for the UT campus area since it lacks nearby retail developments at the UT main campus. Currently, UT main campus population (on-campus only) is nearly 4,000 with 20,000 students being enrolled.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Isn't time for both of you to come on home?


Each time I come back, I leave again. Just happens that way.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Good news to make way for an $80 million project of Intermodal facilities and railyard which will create jobs due to the overload in the Chicago area. It will be located in Henry Township which is the most southwest part of Wood County in the Toledo MSA.


Roads vacated for CSX facility
Posted on BG Sentinel-Tribune website
By JAN LARSON
Sentinel County Editor

The Wood County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to vacate two roads on the southern edge of the county to make way for a railroad facility that would cost up to $80 million to build.
The commissioners agreed to vacate portions of Potter and Wingston roads in Henry Township at the request of CSX Transportation. To calm the concerns of residents who use those roads, several conditions are being met by the railroad:
• The railroad will cause no acreage to be landlocked in the area, by buying all the affected land between Ohio 18 and the CSX tracks.
• At the request of Henry Township, CSX has agreed to pay for the building of cul-de-sacs at the south ends of Potter and Wingston roads.
• Since the railroad facility will have direct impact on four county ditches, CSX must work with the county engineer’s office to coordinate maintenance of the waterways.
During the public meeting with the county commissioners on Tuesday, some of the neighbors voiced concerns about the two roads being closed, since the nearest detours have bridges with load limits that would prevent them from pulling heavy farm equipment across them.
According to the commissioners, the county engineer stated those bridges with load limits are due to be replaced with structures that will accommodate heavier loads. Those bridges will be constructed before the roads would be vacated.
Concerns were also expressed by local residents about stopped trains blocking crossings. But Wood County Commissioner Jim Carter said CSX officials have made it clear that their goal is to keep the trains moving.
“They don’t want stopped trains,” Carter said. “They are going to do everything they can to keep the trains moving.”
Carter said the roads will not be officially vacated until after CSX has bought all the acreage it needs and has made a commitment to build in Henry Township.
Though CSX has not made a formal announcement that it will build on the 500-acre site between North Baltimore and Hoytville, Tuesday’s road vacation by the county was another step forward in the process, according to Dan Murphy, director of public projects for CSX. The railroad is continuing to work on an environmental review of the site and on drainage issues with the county, he said.
If CSX officials decide to locate the intermodal facility on the Henry Township site, they hope to have all the necessary acreage purchased by the first quarter of 2008, then start construction by mid 2008. The facility will take an estimated 18 to 24 months to build.
“We’d like to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2009 or early 2010,” Murphy said.
The site is expected to employ approximately 100 workers, plus employ up to 300 during the construction period, according to Wade Gottschalk, associate director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission.
The intermodal facility would stretch from Liberty Hi Road on the east to one-quarter mile of Range Line Road on the west. The Henry Township site will work well for the facility since it is on CSX’s main line to the Northeast, according to Gottschalk.
“The trains are on those tracks already,” he said.
An estimated 20 trains will come to the facility each day, where containers will be removed from the trains that originated further west, then be sorted out and put on the appropriate trains headed east to such destinations as Baltimore, Boston and New York City. That container transfer process happens now in the Chicago area, but may take up to two days for the move from one train to another, Gottschalk said.
“They sit there because Chicago is so busy,” he said.
Gottschalk said the containers will be picked off the train with large forklifts and then be moved by truck to long parking strips, where they will be picked up again to be placed on the appropriate trains. The process will be relatively quiet, he said.
“This is not a hump yard, they will not be slamming cars together,” he said.
The facility is expected to create a lot of spin-off development, such as distribution centers, warehouses and industries dependent on rail intermodal services, Murphy said.
“We think this would be a great benefit for Wood County,” Gottschalk said.

^^ You seemed to be so dialed in on everything in the city. You should take Marty's job!

Bonjour...I am back in Toledo living in Westgate area.

Is anyone else extremely disappointed with the new Barry's Bagels at Westgate. Everything that made that place a great deli-style shop has been taken away! Oh yeah, and they don't make the World's best chicken salad anymore---I actually used to have my parents send it to me when I lived in Phoenix. Shame on you Barry!

^^ You seemed to be so dialed in on everything in the city. You should take Marty's job!

Do you mean Carty? Oh...oh...oh...maybe some day but I like where my life is right now.

If I had more time, I would spin off from this site as a full-time blog on Toledo area development news and opinions. It sounds like a good idea to me but maybe or maybe not, we'll see in the near future.

Bonjour...I am back in Toledo living in Westgate area.

Is anyone else extremely disappointed with the new Barry's Bagels at Westgate. Everything that made that place a great deli-style shop has been taken away! Oh yeah, and they don't make the World's best chicken salad anymore---I actually used to have my parents send it to me when I lived in Phoenix. Shame on you Barry!

Welcome home. I love the Westgate area, I lived there for several years before moving downtown.

Barry Bagels certainly did changed from the old place, and from my understanding keeping up with salad bar and its content is the most expensive operation. But I thought their plasma screen menu board was quite cool.

I'd love to see Whole Foods Market or Trader's Joe move in the space next to Stein Mart.

Also another news to the Westgate area, the former Krispy Kreme store on Secor will be taken over by Del Taco restaurant which is very popular on the west coast. Costco will be opening August 29, 2007, which I anticipate a huge influx of consumers into the area to create a revitalization effect for redeveloping of the former Showcase Cinema and Food Town Plus space. Stay tune......

This is speculation at this point as I have posted several posts in regards to this development project which began with city of Toledo mayor accusing Perrysburg Twp/Wood County for "poaching" and "pirating" jobs out of the city. If it comes down to the final decision of location, I am all for keeping jobs and expanding jobs within the region instead of losing the jobs out of the region. Good thing the top 3 choices for locations is all in Ohio which in the past the rumors indicated of moving FedEx to Michigan. The expansion of jobs will go from 600 to 1200 which is very, very good news for this region. I will post any further updates to this project.


FedEx expansion plans
Posted on WTVG website August 24, 2007

Federal Express appears to be close to making a decision concerning its northwest Ohio expansion plans. Of the three local sites under consideration one seems to be the preferred location. The Reynolds Road site in Toledo, the Buck Road site in Wood County and the Toledo Express site in Lucas County are in contention. It appears, this site at the Ampoint Industrial Complex in Wood County has emerged as the prime location. 13abc action news has learned Federal Express has sent site plans to the Wood County engineer, which is the next most serious step in choosing a new location.

Sources tell us that the Federal Express wants to grow into southeast Michigan so access to I-75 is important, which means the site at Toledo Express and the turnpike is not ideal. Expanding their current location at Reynolds Road is not likely, which means Toledo could lose 600 jobs. A source tells us while Federal Express has not made an official announcement, forwarding the site plans to Wood County indicates the company is leaning that way.

A FedEx spokesman told 13abc that all three locations are still under consideration, but access to a major highway like I-75 is valuable. He says FedEx hopes to make a final decision in September.

I posted two articles in this post in regards to the development news at Levis Commons in Perrysburg. I am encouraged by the growth and expansion of businesses in our region, but I hope the population is growing in the MSA region of Toledo to support the expansion of businesses and influx of new businessess, not so much in taking "piece of the pie" from elsewhere of the region which will cause businesses to close.

Regional businesses find homes at Levis Commons
Posted on BG Sentinel-Tribune website 8-25-2007
By DAVID DUPONT Sentinel Arts & Entertainment Editor

PERRYSBURG — When the Town Center at Levis Commons opened, it rounded up some of the best known names in national retailing.
For its most recent expansion, though, it didn’t need to look that far.
On Friday Larry Dillin, president and CEO of Dillin Corp., the Levis developer, announced new tenants for the Entertainment Annex of the 393-acre development.

The businesses will be located on the western end of the development near the Hilton Inn and Conference Center.
They are:
• St. Julian’s Fitness Center.
• Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi.
• Fat Fish Blue, which will include a Funny Bones Comedy Club.

Only Funny Bones, with 16 other locations, is a national franchise.
The others are regional enterprises for whom the Levis projects will be each’s second location.
Nagoya started in Port Clinton. St. Julian’s in Bowling Green. And Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland.
Dillin said that the move to regional retailers was intentional.
The regional shops will bring a new dimension to the Town Center, and help distinguish it from other lifestyle centers.
Last week, Dillin announced the development of Preston Place that will feature local businesses.
He said the company spent two years putting together this package of businesses.

Dillin officials studied each venture carefully, looking at its operations, to make sure it would fit with the Levis project.
Tom St. Julian said the St. Julian’s at Levis would be “a real upscale club” with an emphasis on one-to-one The decor will be like a country club, not a gym, and the amenities will include a cafe and a weight management facility directed by Shirley St. Julian, his wife.

The couple’s son, Shane, will continue to operate the Bowling Green gym.
The location, St. Julian said, is ideal because of both the growth in Perrysburg and because of the facility’s proximity to the hotel.
Steve Zamborsky, the founder of Fat Fish Blue, said the club opened in 1991, and opened to its current downtown spot 10 years ago.
The club features New Orleans cuisine and blues six nights a week.
The Funny Bones club will operate on weekends, Thursday through Sunday.
Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland has hosted such veterans as Koko Taylor and Taj Mahal as well as up-and-coming artist Janiva Magness.
Having a club in Perrysburg will make it easier for both clubs to attract talent, since it enables Zamborsky to book acts traveling from Chicago to New York City.
The club will also bring in performers from Detroit’s blues scene.
The music is not strictly blues, he added.
The venue features blues and world-music, but is open to other edgy music acts.

The comedy club will also attract national acts to the area, Dillin said.
The first of the new ventures to open will be Nagoya, scheduled to start serving Nov. 1. St. Julian’s will open by Jan. 1, and Zamborsky said his club will start operations in spring.
As part of the festivities marking the opening of the Entertainment Annex, the management is inviting people to sign the last beam that will be put in place on Tuesday.



Dillin adds businesses to Levis Commons
By JON CHAVEZ BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
Posted on Toledo Blade website 8-25-2007

In developer Larry Dillin's mind, his Town Center at Levis Commons retail center and adjacent housing complex in Perrysburg are "all about building a great community."

To that end, Mr. Dillin yesterday announced details of a $15 million entertainment annex that will be a key part of his second phase at the already successful Levis Commons, located off of State Rt. 25, just south of the U.S. 23/I-475 interchange.

The new annex's tenants are Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi, which features chefs who entertain with knife and spatula tricks while cooking; Fat Fish Blue, a Mardi Gras-themed restaurant that features live blues acts; the Funny Bone, a national comedy club chain with seating for 300 that will be connected to Fat Fish Blue, and St. Julian's Fitness Center, a locally owned upscale fitness center to serve the Levis Commons area and Perrysburg residents.

Mr. Dillin is also constructing an outdoor amphitheater, a seven story, 184-room Hilton Garden Inn with a 25,000-square-foot conference center, more stores, offices, and residential lofts. The second phase will cost $55 million.

The restaurants, comedy club, and fitness center will be open by next spring.

Toledo already has an existing comedy club, Connxtions, on Heatherdowns Boulevard at Reynolds Road, plus plenty of clubs where live music is played. But veteran Toledo entertainment industry executive Kip Diacou, whose clubs feature live rock and country acts, thinks the Levis Commons entertainment annex will be a success.

"Really, there's nothing like that around here," he said. "I don't see why it can't be successful. I think it's a great idea." He said the Toledo market is big enough to support another comedy club and a blues venue. An upscale site like Levis Commons should tap into a market other sites in town can't. "There's nothing for us older people to go to be entertained," he said. "I don't have any place to go to. I would go there."

Fat Fish Blue has a successful location in downtown Cleveland, but owner Steve Zamborsky said Toledo intrigued him and Levis Commons cinched the deal. His restaurant will have live regional and national blues artists six days a week. Promoters like the idea that name acts will be able to play Toledo in between weekend gigs in Chicago or Cleveland, he said. Funny Bone will be connected to Fat Fish Blue, and the restaurant will serve food to the comedy club's patrons.

"When I met [Funny Bone owner] Mitch Kutash, I knew I wanted to team up with him," Mr. Zamborsky said. "We agreed that this really makes sense. Most comedy clubs don't have a real established restaurant connection and it's never been done before. Levis will be the first," he said.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

I don't have much to say on this because I am at loss of words and so furious of the so-called possible delays about this historic bridge and IMO it needs to be done period. Without any bullsh_t involved, they need to just GET IT DONE and move on for the love of the Lord!

Gotta love the Blade reporter for writing this article because he love to speculate about the bridge that could or could not be done. This type of tactic usually rattles the residents of community that may be reading this. We know with the constant moaning from about lack of funding to blaming Mother Nature to engineering screw-ups to endless of media overhype to the political games to the citizens groaning, etc, etc, it just doesn't help this project's image or even complete it.

thats very creepy to be on from the passengers seat. looks to be a problem for quite awhile :/

thats very creepy to be on from the passengers seat. looks to be a problem for quite awhile :/

Not really since I've driven over it almost every day, but for some people maybe. I love this bridge because of it's historical design and location, and I wish they would just finish it if Mother Nature would cooperate for once.

Not surprised here, but this is the time for Dillard's to sell the property to Mr. Dillin so he can proceed the redevelopment plan for Southwyck. Southwyck still has the most viable location in the region but it's being hurt by the ignorant land owners who refuses to keep up with the competition. It's time to move on and let Mr. Dillin do his thing.

Do you mean Carty? Oh...oh...oh...maybe some day but I like where my life is right now.

If I had more time, I would spin off from this site as a full-time blog on Toledo area development news and opinions. It sounds like a good idea to me but maybe or maybe not, we'll see in the near future.

Yeah, sorry. I don't know what I was thinking! Good catch:)

There are two articles about our beloved team Mud Hens for clinching the West division title as they head to the playoffs.

Mud Hens Win 4-1 - Clinch The IL West Division For the Third Straight Year!!!
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August 26, 2007)
Posted on Toledo Mud Hens website

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/2007WestChamps.jpg

The Mud Hens did it again. A 4-1 win at Victory Field in Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon clinched the IL West division for Toledo. The Hens will celebrate and then get geared up for the IL South division winner in the first round of the Governors' Cup playoffs.

Way to go guys!!!

Toledo got on the board first in the 2nd inning when Andres Torres slapped a base hit into right field to bring home Jason Perry.

Erick Almonte upped the lead to 2-0 in the fourth frame when he singled to left and brought home Andrew Graham.

The IL West champs would get some insurance in the sixth inning when Andrew Graham singled home Jason Perry and then Almonte squeezed home Graham with a bunt and the Hens were up 4-0.

The Indians would get a run in the bottom of the sixth but that would be as close as they would get on this day.

RHP Virgil Vasquez (12-5) was brilliant again in the victory as he tossed 7.0 innings and yielded just five hits and one run while striking out five.

Jason Karnuth and Macay McBride held the Tribe in check before Aquilino Lopez came on in the ninth to earn his 24th save of the season.

The Hens will now travel to Louisville to begin a two-game series with the Bats on Monday night. RHP Jordan Tata is the probable starter for Toledo. Tune in to 1470-AM or listen live online at www.minorleaguebaseball.com for all the play-by-play action from Jim Weber.

Notes:
Toledo will play either Durham or Richmond in the first round of the 2007 IL Playoffs...The Hens have won the IL West division four of the past six years...Toledo finished the year with a record of 11-5 against Indianapolis...former Mud Hen, Don Kelly, made the final out of today's game for Indianapolis ...Mike Hessman and Jason Karnuth were the only two players in today's game that were also with Toledo when they won the 2005 Governors' Cup at Victory Field.

Not sure why the site at Toledo Express is not ideal because they want access to I-75. A short trip east is I-475 and I-75. They would also have direct access to the turnpike for their triple trailers.


Sources tell us that the Federal Express wants to grow into southeast Michigan so access to I-75 is important, which means the site at Toledo Express and the turnpike is not ideal. Expanding their current location at Reynolds Road is not likely, which means Toledo could lose 600 jobs. A source tells us while Federal Express has not made an official announcement, forwarding the site plans to Wood County indicates the company is leaning that way.

A FedEx spokesman told 13abc that all three locations are still under consideration, but access to a major highway like I-75 is valuable. He says FedEx hopes to make a final decision in September.

Not sure why the site at Toledo Express is not ideal because they want access to I-75. A short trip east is I-475 and I-75. They would also have direct access to the turnpike for their triple trailers.

I thought that too, but if they want to serve Southeast part of Michigan, then Buck Road at I-75 is more viable. But again, they could expand next to the airport by having air flights coming into Toledo Express, however, they are flying into Metcalf Field from what I understand. They have access to the turnpike from I-75 Buck Road as much as if they were to be by the Toledo Express Airport.

Also keep in mind, they hire college students to handle the distribution labor just like UPS and BAX Global, so my best guess is by having the advantage of I-75 with the proximity to Michigan but they are considering the location next to the campus of Owens State Community College which has over 20,000 students. It's a no-brainer IMO.

I thought that too, but if they want to serve Southeast part of Michigan, then Buck Road at I-75 is more viable. But again, they could expand next to the airport by having air flights coming into Toledo Express, however, they are flying into Metcalf Field from what I understand. They have access to the turnpike from I-75 Buck Road as much as if they were to be by the Toledo Express Airport.

Also keep in mind, they hire college students to handle the distribution labor just like UPS and BAX Global, so my best guess is by having the advantage of I-75 with the proximity to Michigan but they are considering the location next to the campus of Owens State Community College which has over 20,000 students. It's a no-brainer IMO.

That does make sense and there seems to be little doubt that is the way they will go. The Toledo Express site does seem like a good one, however. Maybe DHL will set up shop there. It is waste for it to sit there empty.

That does make sense and there seems to be little doubt that is the way they will go. The Toledo Express site does seem like a good one, however. Maybe DHL will set up shop there. It is waste for it to sit there empty.

I would not doubt if FedEx does leave Reynolds Road site (it is one of the three considering sites), it would occupied immediately because of the infrastructure and location of the region. Toledo is one of the most viable location rail-wise, highway-wise and shipping-wise that many companies are now finally realizing.

With the overflow of the Chicago metro, many shipping and distribution companies are looking at the Toledo area, but you could ask why not Detroit metro? IMO, Detroit is located out-of-the-way and it's geographically fragmented away from accessible transportation network. If and when FedEx do leave Reynolds Road, I can see DHL or even an expansion of BAX Global to move in. As a regional standpoint, we have to constantly improve and expand freeways, rails, and shipping to allow companies to move in; and from what I've been observing the past few years they are doing it. But I firmly believe it will pay off in the long run as they realize that Toledo region is a viable and accessible location. Interesting fact that within 500-mile radius of Toledo, we have a population of over 93 million.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Pardon my dust. Skip this post.

The Westgate Shopping Center redevelopment project is completed now that Costco opened up yesterday with huge success. We will be seeing a ripple effect through the Westgate area of new developments and redevelopments for a long period of time. It's a good thing that Westgate is back and alive.

Now if only we can get a whole foods in the area. I would LOVE it if they positioned themself in a more "neighborhood" setting like at the corner of Sylvania/Douglas in the old Food Town building.. knock it down and build a glorious whole foods store, easy access from 75 and to sylvania/monroe/douglas etc..etc.. anyways... Here's to hoping/wishing.

Now if only we can get a whole foods in the area. I would LOVE it if they positioned themself in a more "neighborhood" setting like at the corner of Sylvania/Douglas in the old Food Town building.. knock it down and build a glorious whole foods store, easy access from 75 and to sylvania/monroe/douglas etc..etc.. anyways... Here's to hoping/wishing.

I agree with you totally, sites of Secor/Executive Parkway (vacant Food Town), Sylvania/Douglas (you've mentioned above), Laskey/Tremainsville (vacant Farmer Jack), and Laskey/Jackman (vacant Cub Foods) are all excellent locations. They have the population density and income to support in all or either of those locations, Giant Eagle, Monnette's, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's would do well because the existing food markets in the West Toledo area are overrcrowded that I avoid it like plague.

I do sense that Whole Foods Market is possibly looking at two locations (based on rumbling rumors in the past year from reputable sources): 1) Westgate next to Stein Mart or 2) The proposed expansion of Westfield Franklin Park which are going to be outlots on Sylvania/Royer Road. The apartments in that location have been razed as of today.

But since we live downtown, we usually go to the weekly Farmer's Market, Monet's on Huron Street (different from Monnette's), Kroger on Woodville Road or Suder Avenue depending if we need fuel fill-up.

My wish is: the new Anderson's The Market which is on Sylvania and King Roads, they could expand a second store to be located in the Erie Street Market or the proposed Marina District. They have such great fresh, quality food and selections.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Toledo Breaks Single Season Attendance Record!
Posted on the Toledo Mud Hens website on September 2, 2007

New Attendance Record In Toledo!

The Mud Hens break the all-time record for single season in Toledo baseball history for third consecutive season!

For the fourth time in six seasons, the Toledo Mud Hens have broken the record for attendance in a single season for Toledo professional baseball.

The previous attendance record of 569,380 was set in 2006 at Fifth Third Field. This season, the Mud Hens played in front of 590,159 fans.

Toledo has played in front of 35 sold-out crowds during the 2007 season and have sold-out 175 games in the six-year history of the downtown ballpark.

Top Toledo Professional Baseball Attendance Figures
1. 2007 590,159 Fifth Third Field
2. 2006 559,330 Fifth Third Field
3. 2005 556,995 Fifth Third Field
4. 2002 547,204 Fifth Third Field
5. 2004 544,778 Fifth Third Field

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

Libbey Glass Renews Erie St. Market Lease
City Pursuing Other Businesses
Posted on WSPD 1370 Newsradio website

Libbey Glass has renewed its five-year lease at the Erie Street Market for its factory outlet store. Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner says it's important to keep what he calls the "cornerstone" of the market, as city officials try to bring in other businesses. The mayor calls the market an "incubator" for small operations trying to get their start in business. Market manager Connie Hoffman says the Louisiana Cajun Seafood Company will sign a lease next week. The mayor says he's also in talks for an exercise facility and a bicycle shop to locate at the market.

Airport Warehouse to Be Built
Start of Industrial Park
Posted on WSPD 1370 Newsradio website

A new warehouse is going up next to Toledo Express Airport. But the port authority's Matt Separa calls it the start of a cargo hub that can move goods by plane or trucks on the Ohio Turnpike. The agency plans to develop 350 acres next to the airport. Separa says the port authority has several prospects to lease the warehouse, which will open next spring. At least two more buildings will be constructed in the next few years.

I'm quite interested in who's who is going there once it is built. The location is one of the three consideration for FedEX Grounds to expand their regional business with new job creation of 600.

I am a former Maumee resident and hopeful supporter of downtown Toledo, now residing in Columbus. The Short North is an awesome area of Columbus - but it has also taken a long time for a lot of the economic development to come to fruition. I think the idea of an arts distict in Downtown Toledo is a good one . . . but it has to have a long term committment behind it for it to be successful. Beyond the updated storefronts and renovated housing in the Short North, new construction has just begun in the last three years with at least 4 projects either completed or near start that are mixed use housing and retail. This is the success indicator for me . .