Toledo Development News

[BGFalcon]

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 don't think it is the same location. The site FedEx is looking at is north of the airport near the Turnpike. The site where the warehouse, and hopefully other development, is going is south of the airport near BAX Global. Cedar Point Development is also planning a warehouse.

[Bonjourtoledo]

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 . .

Welcome Doug! I think it's a great idea and right now there is a cluster of developments and existing arts gallery/studios and such in the proposed Arts Zone area in Toledo (southern portion of downtown to the Warehouse District). It's a matter of time to organize the area and bring in the entrepeneurs, developers and artists to continue the momentum of the area. There are significant residential developments that are being proposed right now a 4-6 unit condominium on Lafayette in between St. Clair and Depot Streeets, and the redevelopment of Triangle Building on Lafayette and Erie Streets a 7-story former warehouse converting to a market-rate loft apartments. However, there are considerable amount of existing residential areas in the Arts Zone that have opened within the past 3-5 years: 1) River West Townhomes, 2) St. Clair Village, 3) Huron Lofts, 4) Bartley Lofts, 5) Commodore Perry, 6) Ottawa Lofts, and 7) The Event Center on Summit/Perry Streets.

It's a matter of time and I agree with you about long-term committment, but it's being shown over and over from the people who have invested heavily in the Warehouse District in the past 10 years and there are more developments on the way. It is such a good thing.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I don't think it is the same location. The site FedEx is looking at is north of the airport near the Turnpike. The site where the warehouse, and hopefully other development, is going is south of the airport near BAX Global. Cedar Point Development is also planning a warehouse.

Thanks for the insight BGFalcon. Hopefully we will see a story published on this development project to give us a clear indication of where it will be located. Also it's a matter of time within this month, FedEx should be making it's final decision of where they will be.

[toledo25]

Well I am absolutely exstatic about this Arts Zone. I was driving in downtown today and saw some signs about an Art something or the other, there was a small sign on the corner of monroe st (across from owens corning). I am not sure if that was just referring to Monroe st (because of the art museum)... However...

I have so many ideas for businesses being started in the Downtown area...

If anyone wants to help me get these started I would greatly appreciate any assistance possible.

1. Record Label
2. A top secret concept idea for an entertainment complex
3. Video Game Design Company
4. New Trendy and High Energy Dance clubs (a Gay and Straight club)
5. Fitness Center
6. A School for the Creative Arts for Graphic Design, Music Production, Video Game Design, Film Production, Special Effects etc...

Some of these are HIGH CONCEPT ideas that would require a TON of money to get started, however, these could bring hundreds of jobs to the downtown area and Toledo area.

If i could have only hit the Mega Millions jackpot last week I totally would have invested a lot of that money to revitalizing DTT.

I need a job w/ the city that will help bring businesses and people to Toledo I have soooo many ideas.

:)

Cheers!

[Bonjourtoledo]

toledo25, I have several recommendations: you could contact DTI or the Warehouse District which they are the CDC(s) in the central city to get information on economic assistance. Also look up at the Lucas County Economic Development Corp. which is located at the MLK Jr. Union Station or the City of Toledo Economic Development at Government Center. Even the federal program of SBA loans could be the key which you could contact U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur's office at the Maritime Plaza on Water Street. Good luck in your great ideas!

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Findlay is about 30-35 miles south of Toledo with a population growing over 40,000. It has a Marathon Oil headquarters, Cooper Tires, abundance of national stores, Best Buy Distribution Center, a new Owens Community College Campus, Whirlpool factory, private college Univeristy of Findlay and among other things. It is a growing city due to its low taxes, low unemployment rate in all of Northwest Ohio, conservative lifestyle, and located on the busy I-75 freeway.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Three articles in regards to the CSX Intermodal project with possible spin-offs in the North Baltimore area which is located in between Bowling Green and Findlay along I-75 freeway. This is an update to the previous post last month as they were proposing this mega intermodal project to be a major economic engine.

CSX plan chugs along
By GREGORY L. VAN VORHIS
Sentinel Staff Writer

(Credit to Aaron Carpenter for the map of Sentinel-Tribune)
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/9-5-2007-10-15-14-AM-9827935.jpg

NORTH BALTIMORE — Though the CSX intermodal rail yard project has not officially been confirmed, all indications are that plans are full steam ahead.
An intermodal rail yard is a location where trains leave the main tracks and pull off on spurs. There, containers will be removed from the trains and sorted out to different trains and semis headed to other locations for delivery.
In October, CSX announced its interest in 500 acres of property between Ohio 18 and the existing railroad tracks between Liberty Hi and Range Line roads. It is a stretch of property that spans two miles.
“We have nearly got all of the property optioned,” said Dan Murphy, director of public projects for CSX. “There are a couple of smaller pieces that we need to obtain and we’re confident we can work with the landowners to accomplish that.”
He also said that the environmental Phase I review of the site has been completed.
Last month, the Wood County Commissioners agreed to vacate portions of Potter and Wingston roads in Henry Township at the request of CSX Transportation. Two bridges with load limits that would prevent area farmers from pulling heavy equipment across them are said to be due to be replaced before the roads would be vacated. ##M:[read more]## The roads will not be officially vacated until after CSX has bought all the acreage it needs and has made a commitment to build.
“We’re working with the local government groups on permitting issues,” Murphy said of the continuing activity. “I guess we’re going through all of the processes. It’s positive. We’ll probably have an official announcement before the end of the year.”
“We’re about where we thought we’d be on schedule,” he continued. “It’s a long process to develop a facility this large. I’d say we’re right on-track so to speak.”
While he would not commit to the project proceeding in Wood County, he did say that “We’re optimistic that this project will go forward in North Baltimore.”
CSX had also announced in October that an alternative site in Indiana was being considered. Asked if similar work toward land acquisition and site preparation was being done there, he gave a simple, one-word answer: “No.”
North Baltimore Council Member Mike Julien said that it is not uncommon to address these types of issues prior to announcing such a project. “Regardless of what happens, the planning needs to be there,” he said.
Wade Gottschalk, associate director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, said that CSX “haven’t announced for good reason. There are several things that need to be done before they can locate on that site. Those things take a lot of time.”
“These are all of the necessary things that need to come together before we can have an official go on the project,” said Murphy.
“They have closed on one parcel of property” and have options that are due in October and November, according to Henry Township Trustee Ned Casey. “It’s my understanding that they are going to exercise those options.”
Murphy said that the next steps are to acquire the last two pieces of property and “continue the entire due diligence process so we’re ready to go. We’re in the process of designing the facility to greater specificity.”
If the project is given the green light, Murphy said he hopes construction will begin by mid-2008, with operation to begin by the end of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010.
Construction of the $60 to $80 million yard is expected to create 300 jobs, while the finished facility will create an estimated 100 full-time jobs, including trucking jobs.
“CSX wants to use as many Wood County and local business groups as possible throughout the entire process so we can contribute as much to the local economy as possible,” said Murphy. “Northwest Ohio has an infrastructure of construction and engineering that can contribute greatly to this project.”
Casey said that the Henry Township trustees are “going to work with CSX on some of the project such as a noise barrier and landscaping” and the entrance designing.
In January, Casey described himself as being “neutral” about the project. Now he says that he is “definitely in favor of it. I had some reservations to begin with, but I have worked out 95 percent of it. I want to see the final print of the sound barrier and entrance ... Other than that, I believe we have everything else sorted out.”
“In the long run, we hope it will be a plus for our community,” from spin-off businesses in the next few years, he added.
Julien hopes that the public meetings will continue as the project progresses.
“When CSX announces that it is a definite, then I want (more public meetings),” he said. “The public deserves to know how traffic will be affected and (have a say) in the planning.”



CSX spin-offs possible
By GREGORY L. VAN VORHIS
Sentinel Staff Writer

NORTH BALTIMORE — Two spin-off projects are in the discussion stage for southern Wood County, if the proposed CSX intermodal rail yard is built.
North Baltimore council member Mike Julien said representatives from the villages of North Baltimore and Hoytville, along with the trustees of Henry and Jackson townships have talked about creating a joint economic development agreement (JED) and the creation of a joint fire and rescue district.
According to Julien, property owners in a proposed JED area, along with government entities, and 51 percent of business owners (including CSX, if the project is given the green light) must agree to the agreement.
If approved, businesses would pay a tax to the nearest taxing authority. Residents of the district, however, are not affected financially. A percentage of the tax collected would be withheld for infrastructure work, including roads and electrical service.
Wade Gottschalk, associate director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, said that a JED would not be “forced on anyone. It only captures employment income, not residential. Only people working in the JED are taxed.”
The money generated in the JED would be split between the jurisdictions. Details of such a proposed agreement have not been worked out yet.
Julien said that a JED development district meeting will not even happen until the proposed CSX project is definite.
“We’re still working through the early process, working with CSX trying to get them to sign onto that,” said Gottschalk. “The other communities are involved know about the idea. We have had some meetings with them. The feedback has been positive.”
“We’re pursuing inquiring into that and hopefully can work with local groups with that and ensure the best economic development for this project,” said Dan Murphy, director of public projects for CSX.
Henry Township Trustee Ned Casey said the trustees have talked about the JED “briefly. It’s barely getting started. There’s been no serious negotiations at this time. We’re all aware of it and fully informed of it. We’re looking at it.”
“That would be a good thing for both the village and the township,” said Henry Township Trustee Tom Gazarek. “That’s a big chunk of money that would go into roads or the emergency system.”
The emergency system, or the joint fire and rescue district, has been discussed as having two locations built at the same time.
Julien said that there has been talk of one being in North Baltimore, and a second being constructed possibly in the area of Ohio 18 and Interstate 75.
“We can jump on I-75 (and get past the tracks),” said Julien, explaining that it will address concerns voiced by area residents that increased train and truck traffic may impede emergency response.
He said the other would be built “wherever the overpass is located, either Range Line or Liberty Hi roads. “Those are the two roads that are being discussed for the location of an overpass.”
“We want to put this at the west end of (North Baltimore) near the facility” to get more people from the area to staff it, said Casey. “So far, everybody has been on the same page.”
“CSX has made it clear that they will not pay for a complete additional facility, but he (Murphy) has been open to sharing in the cost of that,” said Julien. “He has asked several times about costs.”
Murphy confirmed his involvement in this discussion, saying that “CSX is committed to contributing to the development of an emergency response facility.”
Creation of a joint fire and rescue district would require a public vote.
The grade separation, or overpass, Julien referred to, was confirmed by Murphy.
“We’ve had a meeting and preliminary discussions with ODOT (the Ohio Department of Transportation), but other than that, I’m not sure what ODOT may be doing. I think what’s really needed right now is the final go-ahead that the facility will really happen, and ODOT will kick into gear and start the planning process.”
Another road change that has been mentioned is the rerouting of Route 18, along which the proposed facility is located. In fact, the rerouting project was listed as item 12 in the listing of “priority projects” released by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG).
Casey and Gazarek both said that such a rerouting project would not happen any time soon.
“It’s going to depend on the traffic and they won’t know what that will be until the (facility) is up and running for quite a while,” said Casey.
Julien said he was surprised to see the project included on the report.
“We’ve been members more than 30 years. They didn’t even inform us of an intent to provide a solution for diverting truck traffic,” he said. “In meetings, they told us they should have told us they were going to put it on a list of likely-funded projects.”
“They basically said that they had shot from the hip and didn’t do their homework,” Julien continued. “It was them putting it on paper so if it was decided that (the CSX project) would happen, the paper trail was there to support it.”
Mike Ligibel, spokesman for ODOT, said that while it might have been on the TMACOG report, ODOT has not received any official request to reroute the state highway.



Incentives offered to lure rail yard
By GREGORY L. VAN VORHIS
Sentinel Staff Writer

NORTH BALTIMORE — Several incentives have been offered to lure CSX to Wood County.
In an e-mail from Stu Nicholson, the public information officer for the Ohio Rail Development Commission, “ORDC has committed to $5 million for a grade separation project to eliminate a grade crossing and allow vehicular traffic to be carried over the railroad with an overpass. This, of course, is pending any environmental reviews that would identify the need for a grade separation.
“We have also committed to a $100,000 grant which would go toward the purchase of equipment; in all likelihood a “lift” vehicle which lifts containers on and off rail cars and trucks.”
There are also questions about incentives flowing the other direction — from CSX to local officials. For years, North Baltimore officials have struggled to get CSX to respond to requests to clean up their property and make improvements to the depot downtown.
Since the intermodal rail yard was announced in October, that work is now being done.
Dan Murphy, director of public projects for CSX, insists that the work is not being done to gain support for the project from area officials.
“It’s a new emphasis that CSX not only in Ohio but in our district, work better with communities to address their concerns,” he said. “Certainly as we go into a community to development like this, we become more aware of their needs and concerns and there is naturally an increased awareness and involvement. It’s just natural when you go into a community you become more aware of the needs of a community.
“As we become a greater part of a local community and have a greater presence, we’ll be able to react more quickly to address local concerns,” he continued. “It should pay long-term dividends and benefits to the local area.”
Ken Uhlenhake, who owns property that the railroad is trying to buy, however, takes issue with that statement.
“Murphy made a big deal that he was the one who had to take money out of his budget to paint the depot for the festival,” said Uhlenhake. “It should have come out of the repair budget. To me, that’s a negative, because after he’s gone, we have to deal with the real CSX.”

[Bonjourtoledo]

Pretty weak picture of the proposed plaza nearby the under-constructed Bass Pro Shops in Rossford. I'd rather see more high-density residential development in this area to support the retail economy of this area and to enhance a neighborhood "feel" instead of being saturated with big box stores and abundance of parking lots. There's only so many trees and flowers you can cover but enough is enough, do some smart-growth planning!

New shopping plaza in Crossroads receives approval
Posted on Rossford Record Journal website

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

The first phase of a shopping plaza to be located behind the Giant Eagle grocery store received approval from the Rossford Planning Commission last week.
Jerry Miller, vice president of Miller Diversified, presented a site plan for the Promenade South Retail at Meridian Plaza project at the August 23 meeting.
The development at 27250 Crossroads Parkway will be built on six acres immediately north of Giant Eagle, he said.
The plan shows an L-shaped complex that initially will house as many as five retail businesses and have 199 parking spaces.
Phase one of the project features construction of a building with about 12,000 square feet of space, Mr. Miller explained.

[nickw311]

Just what we need... Another strip mall surrounded by a parking lot :bash:

[Bonjourtoledo]

Just what we need... Another strip mall surrounded by a parking lot :bash:

It would be more attractive if the stores were upfront to the main road and put the parking lot behind it. I would think it makes sense by making it more inviting beyond private vehicles such as pedestrian, biking, and transit, but all in all, it shows you that the developers and the planning of Rossford/Wood County are simply lazy.

[toledo25]

Can i just say I am HATING all of these open air malls why cant we come up with something that is more community driven and more of a "complex" of living/working/playing in. All of these open air malls are just glorified strip malls. And the one thing toledo doesnt need more of is more strip malls..... oh and restaurants. Anyways, carry on :) Exciting news about the church finally getting its steeple. That is a beautiful church inside.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Yeah Baby!!!! :banana: I love it, love it, love it, aaaaand love it!

Here is the actual link to the new downtown arena with bells & whistles baby:

http://lucascountyarena.com/

[Bonjourtoledo]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=15287465#post15287465

Go to the link which takes you to the Sticky Thread of Toledo Developments in regards to the actual website of the new proposed downtown arena which open in Fall of 2009. The website has all the bells and whistles with real-time cam on the construction and renderings of the arena.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I've posted an online article that was posted today after the 10am press conference of the downtown development of a new arena with an extra picture in the Sticky thread of Toledo development forum.

Here is the link again: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=240455&page=39

[Unionstation13]

HOLY TOLEDO!
Thats amazing! :)

[Danillo]

^^ Any word on what the capacity would be? From the renderings it looks like it might be similar, or a bit larger than, the Resch Center (http://www.pmiwi.com/venues/resch/resch.php) arena that openend a couple years ago here in Green Bay. Looks very nice, way to go!

[Bonjourtoledo]

^^ Any word on what the capacity would be? From the renderings it looks like it might be similar, or a bit larger than, the Resch Center (http://www.pmiwi.com/venues/resch/resch.php) arena that openend a couple years ago here in Green Bay. Looks very nice, way to go!

From my understanding, it will be 9,000 seating for basketball, arena football and hockey, then for concerts and others will be 12,000.

[toledo25]

Fantastic design! Hope it goes a little more "modern" when the final design is complete... however.. this arena is going to be amazingly terrific. Can't wait to see some shows in it!!!!

[Mudhen419]

Completely satisfied with whats on the drawing. Maybe some glass sections on the roof so you can see up to the sky or view the skyline from your seat?

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=15305382#post15305382

In this morning's article, it explores the design perspective and how it will mesh in with the surrounding architecture of downtown. The link will take you to the Sticky Thread of Toledo Development forum.

[jpIllInoIs]

FYI, It is very confusing when you start a new thread that is a link to another thread.

Question. Is the arena going to require the teardown of any of those great loft buildings in the warehouse district? Also could someone post a birdseye view map or plot of the street grid pertaining to the new arena?

Thanks

[Danillo]

From my understanding, it will be 9,000 seating for basketball, arena football and hockey, then for concerts and others will be 12,000.

Sounds very similar to the Resch Center. If it's 9,000 for basketball, expect it to hold fewer for hockey, as the playing surface is so much larger. For example, the Resch holds about 11,500 for concerts, 9,729 for basketball, and about 8,000 for hockey (and I'd imagine the Arena Football 2 team).

[IndiexInxIndy]

How does Toledo's urbanity compare to say Indianapolis? I've never been there but from what i've seen i am quite surprised. Especially all the older buildings you seem to have. So may some perhaps answer that for me? It would especially help if you've been to Indy yourself. Thanks! :)

[cjfjapan]

How does Toledo's urbanity compare to say Indianapolis? I've never been there but from what i've seen i am quite surprised. Especially all the older buildings you seem to have. So may some perhaps answer that for me? It would especially help if you've been to Indy yourself. Thanks! :)

I just moved from suburban Indy to a small town near Toledo, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the setting and physical setting of downtown Toledo. The area between the new I-280 bridge to the Anthony Wayne suspension bridge is really amazing for a city its size. The bridges, the new Corning (?) headquarters along the river, the existing parks and boating recreation opportunities here mean that downtown Toledo has a much better setting to work with than Indy. Unlike Indy, Toledo is a shrinking city and a barely growing metro area - like old Indy, Toledo has lost about 90,000 people since the 1960s.

Like Indy, Toledo has lost a lot of its historic core, and it has not recovered its commercial vitality, despite some attempts with Portside. Indy has a thirty-year headstart on downtown revitalization, but the amount of public and private funds flowing into Indy cannot be matched in Toledo - it is the fourth largest city in Ohio, and perhaps the sixth largest metro area - most of what will be corralled here will have to come locally and regionally, especially given the tight Ohio economy. The recent attempts to reestablish sports and concert facilities right in the center of town is a welcome change. Improved hotels will also help. However, many of the large old downtown buildings are empty or nearly so, and outside of the arena areas, there is very little activity after business hours. Toledo has a long way to go, but its existing assets and current investments bode well for its recovery.

[Bonjourtoledo]

FYI, It is very confusing when you start a new thread that is a link to another thread.

Question. Is the arena going to require the teardown of any of those great loft buildings in the warehouse district? Also could someone post a birdseye view map or plot of the street grid pertaining to the new arena?

Thanks


Thanks for the FYI but if you continue to click on the links, it will lead you there. My purpose was to attract newcomers to the Arena Thread and integrate it into the Toledo Development Sticky Thread.

The only thing that they are tearing down or have already torn down is the : Subway restaurant, Bijou Theatre, Golden Lily Restaurant, vacant of Superior Street in between Jefferson/Madison Streets, and a row of storeftront old buildings along Huron and the rest of the two blocks is surface parking. They were very careful of where they wanted to place the new arena due to historic buildings and to figure the area with least amount of demolitions.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Sounds very similar to the Resch Center. If it's 9,000 for basketball, expect it to hold fewer for hockey, as the playing surface is so much larger. For example, the Resch holds about 11,500 for concerts, 9,729 for basketball, and about 8,000 for hockey (and I'd imagine the Arena Football 2 team).

The non-profit organization which is overseen by the county owns the famous AAA Toledo Mud Hens, earlier this year they had bought a ECHL Hockey team (Toledo Storms), and they are currently seeking a NBA Development team and an Arena Football team. At least we don't have to deal with a private owner who perhaps would threat to leave if money is not raised for their profits and the game revenue of Mud Hens and Storms would stay locally.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I just moved from suburban Indy to a small town near Toledo, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the setting and physical setting of downtown Toledo. The area between the new I-280 bridge to the Anthony Wayne suspension bridge is really amazing for a city its size. The bridges, the new Corning (?) headquarters along the river, the existing parks and boating recreation opportunities here mean that downtown Toledo has a much better setting to work with than Indy. Unlike Indy, Toledo is a shrinking city and a barely growing metro area - like old Indy, Toledo has lost about 90,000 people since the 1960s.

Like Indy, Toledo has lost a lot of its historic core, and it has not recovered its commercial vitality, despite some attempts with Portside. Indy has a thirty-year headstart on downtown revitalization, but the amount of public and private funds flowing into Indy cannot be matched in Toledo - it is the fourth largest city in Ohio, and perhaps the sixth largest metro area - most of what will be corralled here will have to come locally and regionally, especially given the tight Ohio economy. The recent attempts to reestablish sports and concert facilities right in the center of town is a welcome change. Improved hotels will also help. However, many of the large old downtown buildings are empty or nearly so, and outside of the arena areas, there is very little activity after business hours. Toledo has a long way to go, but its existing assets and current investments bode well for its recovery.

I would second most of what cjfjapan mentioned above. But however, the only two buildings around the arena that I know of are empty are Fiberglass Tower on St. Clair/Jefferson and Madison Building on Huron/Madison. They are both for sale and ripe for major job market to move in or expand into. The Lake Erie Center on Huron/Jefferson, Ohio Building on Madison/Superior, National City Bank Building on Madison/St. Clair, Western Union Building on Jefferson/Huron, Commodore Perry on Jefferson/Superior, Hotel Secor on Jefferson/Superior, Gardner Building on Superior/Madison, and Spitzer Building on Madison/Huron which surrounds the entire proposed arena are either full or almost full with mixed establishments (commercial, retail, residential, arts studio, education, law firms, misc. firms, etc, etc, etc).

Coming soon with the near completion of MLK Jr. Bridge, the Marina District, downtown arena, Water Street Steam Plant Lofts, Triangle Building Lofts, Swan Creek distribution/headquarters, redeveloped Promenade Park, ongoing redevelopments of the Warehouse District and Uptown District, Old Wonderly Bread Plant Lofts, TARTA/TARPS Paratransit Facility, Downtown Metroparks, and many more in the central city will give a huge boost in the long run for Toledo for many years ahead.

[Pilliod Njaim]

1. Record Label
2. A top secret concept idea for an entertainment complex
3. Video Game Design Company
4. New Trendy and High Energy Dance clubs (a Gay and Straight club)
5. Fitness Center
6. A School for the Creative Arts for Graphic Design, Music Production, Video Game Design, Film Production, Special Effects etc...

I got news for ya, Toledo already has a record label (actually more than one label). Toledo's Doghouse Records includes Meg & Dia, All-American Rejects, Get-Up Kids, etc.

Number 6 will never happen (other than what's at the Toledo School for the Arts, which is one of the top charter high schools in America). The reason for this is simple. Only one good school like you describe exists in all of the Midwest, and that's Ohio University's Scripps College of Communication. All the top Video Production, Music Production, Photography, Journalism, Film, Graphic Design, Computer Animation and Video Game programs in the Midwest are at Ohio University. Bowling Green has the second best such programs in Ohio (though, it's FAR behind OU). Toledo is not about to compete with that. None of the major cities can. Athens beat them to the punch and OU is untouchable as far as Midwestern schools go. The producer of Sublime, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, and Pennywise teaches audio production at OU. The creator of "Scrubs" went to OU. The animator for "Chronicles of Narnia" is a professor there. Tons of Emmy Awards have been won by faculty and students. The Film school also is internationally-acclaimed and holds Ohio's best festival. "How Ohio Pulled It Off" and "The Guatemalan Handshake" were made by OU students. Then there's Matt Lauer too.

I go to OU, and it's completely unmatched in Ohio. The Video Production, Journalism, Photography, and Film majors blow everything in Ohio clear out of the water. Lots of students from Chicago, Pittsburgh, and DC come to OU just for the video and audio production. It's one of the largest Tcom schools in the world, and also holds the top journalism and advertising programs in the Midwest. None of the large urban schools in Ohio (Toledo, OSU, Cincinnati) have anything remotely comparable. OU is well-known as a HUGE party school (also pretty unmatched in that category), but its Communication and Film students are serious about their work.

Number 4 should happen soon. There are some good clubs/bars in downtown Toledo, but most are hip-hop and rock clubs. With the birthplace of techno 55 miles away (Detroit), there is no reason Toledo should be lacking in techno/electronica clubs. Toledo's scene has always traditionally been hip-hop, hard rock, and punk. Jazz also has a good showing, and Murphy's is one of the best jazz clubs in America, period. I do wish Toledo had more techno though. It's right by Detroit.

I just moved from suburban Indy to a small town near Toledo, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with the setting and physical setting of downtown Toledo. The area between the new I-280 bridge to the Anthony Wayne suspension bridge is really amazing for a city its size. The bridges, the new Corning (?) headquarters along the river, the existing parks and boating recreation opportunities here mean that downtown Toledo has a much better setting to work with than Indy.

I agree. Toledo's has a great core with awesome architecture, and very good geography. Plus, there's no highway running along the river like in most cities! Waterfront access in Toledo is great, and improves by the day. It's very maritime, and it feels a lot bigger than it's metro/market size would lead you to believe. Its media market (DMA) is about 850,000 people, but I've been to cities with 2 million people that felt smaller.

Toledo's also has lots of diversity with Ohio's highest concentration of Arabs, Mexicans, and Poles. I've always been a fan of the Toledo's food, culture, women (there are a lot of hot chicks in Toledo), local music, art museum, zoo, independent stores, etc. And Toledo's got Muddy the Mud Hen. You can't hate on that.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Wow, those new arena renderings look ten times better than what we saw earlier in the summer. I'm glad they made the brick red, and I hope they keep a decent amount of glass.

However, I really was hoping Toledo would build a Maple Leaf Garden (Toronto) type hockey arena. It's in an area with lots of great historic architecture, and it'd be cool if it blended into the old office buildings (kind of like how the Hen House blends in with the warehouses).

[Pilliod Njaim]

Man, the Bass Pro Shop renderings look like ass. How sprawltastic. Maybe it's best they didn't come to the Marina District with their disgusting surface lots and all. The Marina District needs to be urban, not suburban.

[Pilliod Njaim]

From my understanding, it will be 9,000 seating for basketball, arena football and hockey, then for concerts and others will be 12,000.

I was informed 10,000 for hockey (a little more for basketball) and up to 14,000 for concerts. It actually will be just a little larger than the renovated Savage Hall at UT.

[jpIllInoIs]

I would second most of what cjfjapan mentioned above. But however, the only two buildings around the arena that I know of are empty are Fiberglass Tower on St. Clair/Jefferson and Madison Building on Huron/Madison. They are both for sale and ripe for major job market to move in or expand into. The Lake Erie Center on Huron/Jefferson, Ohio Building on Madison/Superior, National City Bank Building on Madison/St. Clair, Western Union Building on Jefferson/Huron, Commodore Perry on Jefferson/Superior, Hotel Secor on Jefferson/Superior, Gardner Building on Superior/Madison, and Spitzer Building on Madison/Huron which surrounds the entire proposed arena are either full or almost full with mixed establishments (commercial, retail, residential, arts studio, education, law firms, misc. firms, etc, etc, etc).


Well, Bonjour this is a litle bit on the glossy side. The fact that the Fiberglass Tower is the 2nd tallest building at 30 storeys and is completely vacant is significant. Also with 5/3 moving to Seagate, that will leave the old Madsion street HQ with a HUGE vacancy. And to describe the Spitzer as full or nearly full is also a reach since most of retail is vacant. In fact with Owens/Illinois moving to Perrysburg, the building vacancy in DT Toledo is a major issue, and is the catallyst for the conversion to residential.

Here is a report fromn the Blade
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/BUSINESS05/70505027

Office 'musical chairs' creates vacancies in downtown Toledo

Rental experts are closely watching the situation at One SeaGate as a result of the pending departure of prime tenant Owens-Illinois Inc.
Vacancy rates for prime buildings are not bad, he said, although the signature 32-story One SeaGate will still have more than 175,000 square feet empty once Fifth Third Bank moves its headquarters to the tower on the riverfront.

Plus, another prime office building called Four Seagate is more than 40 percent vacant, with 95,000 square feet empty.

Those and other prime offices downtown rent for $16 to $20 a square foot per year.

Marty Gallagher, an office specialist with Toledo’s Michael Realty Co., said the problem is that downtown office space in Toledo is a no-growth market.
“The suburbs and downtown usually experience the same problems. When one makes a nice gain, the other loses.”

Overall at the end of last year, the vacancy rate for downtown Toledo offices was 20.4 percent, up from 16 percent thecent, up from 16 percent the year before and the highest in three years, according to a CB Richard Ellis report.

Those rates don't include the former Fiberglas Tower, which has been vacant for nearly a decade and which many real estate professionals have written off as not rentable.

When UBS moves out of One SeaGate this year and before Fifth Third moves in, the tower’s vacancy rate will soar again to much more than 50 percent.

Four SeaGate 224,000 sq. ft. 42% vacant rent: $18.50/sq. ft.

Other prime office space downtown includes One Maritime Plaza, with a 12 percent vacancy rate, and Edison Plaza, 10 percent vacant.

Empty space in prime offices gathers attention. Allowing One SeaGate to become more than half-empty, as it is now, makes it hard for downtown overall, experts said.

To head that off, the city allocated $75,000 in cash incentives to attract businesses to One SeaGate’s ground floor, which once was lined with restaurants, stores, and services. It also gave cash incentives to four tenants upstairs for renewing leases.

In what is considered second-tier office space downtown, vacancy rates are higher. The long-empty Fiberglas Tower, with nearly 400,000 square feet, is considered unfit for renting. The Louisville Building is 47 percent vacant, One Lake Erie Center is 35 percent vacant, and Fifth Third Center will have at least 50 percent vacancy when the bank moves this year to One SeaGate, the Michael Realty report shows.

“I’m not going to lead you to believe it’s a wonderful environment downtown. But overall it’s good downtown,” said developer Dave Ball, owner of the Ohio, Woolworth, and Hylant Group buildings.

[cjfjapan]

I had read here and elsewhere that Fiberglass tower is completely empty, and just walking around I got the sense that other buildings were less than full. Part of that was the empty feeling on the streets on weekends. I havent spent much time there - in part because I didnt feel there was much to do, or even many places just to hang out with other people.

It might be wise to start thinking of UT and BGSU as a pair - and think of the opportunities BGSU has as part of Toledo. Im saying this because there is talk of combining a lot of their programs under Fingerhut's new University System of Ohio. Though I doubt it will happen, there is even talk of creating a "new" two-campus University of Northwest Ohio. I don't think that name would fly, but in a way its exciting to think of Toledo having one 45,000 student university with urban and suburban campuses. Owens and the other community colleges are really cutting into the traditional 4-year market.

While the board is so active, let me ask - is there a small, urban commercial strip in Toledo? Not necessarily downtown, but Ive been looking around for one of those old, intact neighborhood commercial strips. Are there any in Toledo? The few that I've seen so far - maybe Five Points? - seemed dead or just starting to revive. Any really active ones?

[Bonjourtoledo]

Well, Bonjour this is a litle bit on the glossy side. The fact that the Fiberglass Tower is the 2nd tallest building at 30 storeys and is completely vacant is significant. Also with 5/3 moving to Seagate, that will leave the old Madsion street HQ with a HUGE vacancy. And to describe the Spitzer as full or nearly full is also a reach since most of retail is vacant. In fact with Owens/Illinois moving to Perrysburg, the building vacancy in DT Toledo is a major issue, and is the catallyst for the conversion to residential.

Here is a report fromn the Blade
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/BUSINESS05/70505027

Office 'musical chairs' creates vacancies in downtown Toledo

Rental experts are closely watching the situation at One SeaGate as a result of the pending departure of prime tenant Owens-Illinois Inc.
Vacancy rates for prime buildings are not bad, he said, although the signature 32-story One SeaGate will still have more than 175,000 square feet empty once Fifth Third Bank moves its headquarters to the tower on the riverfront.

Plus, another prime office building called Four Seagate is more than 40 percent vacant, with 95,000 square feet empty.

Those and other prime offices downtown rent for $16 to $20 a square foot per year.

Marty Gallagher, an office specialist with Toledo’s Michael Realty Co., said the problem is that downtown office space in Toledo is a no-growth market.
“The suburbs and downtown usually experience the same problems. When one makes a nice gain, the other loses.”

Overall at the end of last year, the vacancy rate for downtown Toledo offices was 20.4 percent, up from 16 percent thecent, up from 16 percent the year before and the highest in three years, according to a CB Richard Ellis report.

Those rates don't include the former Fiberglas Tower, which has been vacant for nearly a decade and which many real estate professionals have written off as not rentable.

When UBS moves out of One SeaGate this year and before Fifth Third moves in, the tower’s vacancy rate will soar again to much more than 50 percent.

Four SeaGate 224,000 sq. ft. 42% vacant rent: $18.50/sq. ft.

Other prime office space downtown includes One Maritime Plaza, with a 12 percent vacancy rate, and Edison Plaza, 10 percent vacant.

Empty space in prime offices gathers attention. Allowing One SeaGate to become more than half-empty, as it is now, makes it hard for downtown overall, experts said.

To head that off, the city allocated $75,000 in cash incentives to attract businesses to One SeaGate’s ground floor, which once was lined with restaurants, stores, and services. It also gave cash incentives to four tenants upstairs for renewing leases.

In what is considered second-tier office space downtown, vacancy rates are higher. The long-empty Fiberglas Tower, with nearly 400,000 square feet, is considered unfit for renting. The Louisville Building is 47 percent vacant, One Lake Erie Center is 35 percent vacant, and Fifth Third Center will have at least 50 percent vacancy when the bank moves this year to One SeaGate, the Michael Realty report shows.

“I’m not going to lead you to believe it’s a wonderful environment downtown. But overall it’s good downtown,” said developer Dave Ball, owner of the Ohio, Woolworth, and Hylant Group buildings.

jpIllinoIs, I posted this article in this thread back in May. I'm not disputing the "theme" of vacancy in downtown but Toledo Blade is not the most accurate paper even on their good days. So I appreciate the reporting that the Blade covers, but I always stay subjective about their reporting (same goes for all medias) because they are not necessarily non-bias or have a good record in covering all sides of the story.

I live and work in downtown so I'm quite familiar of the developments and activities. The Blade did not cover all the facts of the shifting of corporation from one building to the next as it allows existing tenants to expand.

The Fifth Third Center is 17 floors and 5/3 regional bank offices only occupies 7 of those floors which leaves 10 floors of mixed offices that are occupied with law firms, financial firms and etc. The 5/3 Bank will still keep their retail banking on the first floor as they will expand another retail banking on the concourse of One Seagate Tower. The vacancy opportunity of 7 floors in Fifth Third Center will open opportunities for existing businesses to expand and new businesses to relocate since the building is in excellent condition.

Spitzer is full yet their retail first floor is spotty yet there are ample of opportunity to open small businesses. Quizno's, Madison Bistro, and some floral shop has opened up in the last few years. Subway's old location was demolished for the new arena, they will be opening at the vacant building at the corner of Superior and Adams across from the Valentine Theatre. Another business which is the Libbey Glass Corporate store and it was demolished to make way for the new arena, will be relocated to a space on St. Clair and Adams across from HCR Manor world headquarters.

With 5/3 regional office moving into One Seagate Tower with 50 financial advisors from Sylvania joining them as well will occupy 8 floors, what the Blade has failed to report even though UBS is moving to Sylvania, the other existing firms in One Seagate is expanding and they've gained new tenants as well. This is something that the Blade does not like reporting because they'd rather report on something about a corporate company to expand thousands of jobs instead of 50 or 60 here and there. I think generating new jobs at a scale of 10-100 is wonderful considering the globalization economy and the sluggish economy across the country.

One Erie Center, Ohio Building, National City Bank tower, and all the buildings around the new arena are nearly full or full, and I will vouch for that. Yes, the Fiberglass Tower and Madison building is vacant but I always say..."when one door closes, there's another door opening.." I see a viable bright future because with the addition of Seagate Convention Center in 1985, the Erie Street Market in 1996, Fifth Third Field in 2002, the Marina District currently coming along and now the downtown arena for 2009, which they all have and will transform downtown in many ways. Residential developments are in full swing as it will build the retail scenes and support existing restaurants as well as opening new ones.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Man, the Bass Pro Shop renderings look like ass. How sprawltastic. Maybe it's best they didn't come to the Marina District with their disgusting surface lots and all. The Marina District needs to be urban, not suburban.

I agree with you about the sprawlish development of the Bass Pro Shops, however, I don't believe the Marina District will be suburban setting, it will be very urban and integrated with the existing nearby Garfield neighborhood which is on the north side of Waite High School.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I had read here and elsewhere that Fiberglass tower is completely empty, and just walking around I got the sense that other buildings were less than full. Part of that was the empty feeling on the streets on weekends. I havent spent much time there - in part because I didnt feel there was much to do, or even many places just to hang out with other people.

It might be wise to start thinking of UT and BGSU as a pair - and think of the opportunities BGSU has as part of Toledo. Im saying this because there is talk of combining a lot of their programs under Fingerhut's new University System of Ohio. Though I doubt it will happen, there is even talk of creating a "new" two-campus University of Northwest Ohio. I don't think that name would fly, but in a way its exciting to think of Toledo having one 45,000 student university with urban and suburban campuses. Owens and the other community colleges are really cutting into the traditional 4-year market.

While the board is so active, let me ask - is there a small, urban commercial strip in Toledo? Not necessarily downtown, but Ive been looking around for one of those old, intact neighborhood commercial strips. Are there any in Toledo? The few that I've seen so far - maybe Five Points? - seemed dead or just starting to revive. Any really active ones?


cjfjapan, I understand your feeling about downtown when there's an empty feeling but it's truely eye-opening experience for me after I moved to downtown a few years back realizing that is not the case at all. From the weekend festivals, boating, The Docks, Adams Street restaurant corridor, Farmer's Market, Warehouse District activities, Promenade Park, Oliver House activity, COSi (it may look dead on the outside but check it out once you are inside, it is a mad-house with screaming kids), downtown library opens on weekends, Oak Openings trail park along the river by OC heaquarters, etc, etc...I found quite a bit of activities (depending on the season) after living so long down here and I was just in your position of thought of "empty feeling"...I'm wrong.

Some of the areas with small, urban commercial strip (which will have abundance of old, gorgeous buildings) in Toledo (outside of downtown) you should check out:

1) Five Points area which starts from Phillips/Detroit intersection along Haverhill to Sylvania Avenue corridor to Secor Road (longest commercial strip in the region, IMO)

2) Point Place area which starts 101st Street to 131st Street along the Summit Street corrdior

3) River East area which starts Front/Main intersection to E. Broadway/Starr Avenue intersection

4) Old South Toledo which starts Broadway/Segur intersection along Broadway to Prouty Avenue

5) Lagrange area which starts Lagrange/Manhattan intersection along Lagrange to E. Delaware Avenue

6) Harvard Terrace which starts Glendale/Anthony Wayne Trail interesection for about 2 blocks east toward Abbott Avenue

7) Pickford Neighborhood which is about 2 blocks along S. Detroit Avenue at Medford Drive

8) Highland Park Neighborhood which is about 2-3 blocks at South and Spencer Street intersection

9) Old West End Neighborhood at the intersections of Collingwood and Delaware

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Here are today's (9-14 at 10:20a.m.) real-time camera shot of the continuation of demolitions to make way for the new downtown arena:

Credit to Buckeye Cablesystem Live Webcam


Facing west from top of the Secor Hotel Building on Jefferson Avenue:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Arena9-14-2007.jpg

Facing south from top of the Ohio Building on Madison Street:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Arena29-14-2007.jpg

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[BGFalcon]

It was pretty ridiculous that Bedford is considered in the Detroit Metro. It is clearly Toledo Metro and not having makes the Toledo Area seem smaller. It be like saying Maumee was not in the Toledo metro area.

[BGFalcon]

According to Channel 13, FedEx has delayed their decision on whether to move to Wood County or not. I wonder if this means they are looking at other sites (i.e. near Toledo Express) or if they are just hoping things will cool off. Hopefully it doesn't mean they are thinking of moving out of the Toledo Metro area entirely.


http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5656749

[Bonjourtoledo]

According to Channel 13, FedEx has delayed their decision on whether to move to Wood County or not. I wonder if this means they are looking at other sites (i.e. near Toledo Express) or if they are just hoping things will cool off. Hopefully it doesn't mean they are thinking of moving out of the Toledo Metro area entirely.


http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5656749

I saw the story too, but I feel it's all pure speculation knowingly that Fed Ex will more than likely either stay on Reynolds Road with the expansion or simply move to Buck Road in Perrysburg Township. Other media has said, that there will be a tax-sharing agreement with Toledo and Perrysburg Township, 13abc is very good at making their stories a shock-like narration.

The delay of making a final decision based on Carty's latest comments back in July, IMO may not be a bad thing because the City of Toledo, State of Ohio, and Lucas County is going all stars and moons to keep Fed Ex in Lucas County, in result of that, there are more viable locations and packages to consider. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it turns out, despite of the media giving us a play-by-play speculations of what might or might not happen based on their "source". If my hunch is correct, Fed Ex will stay in the region either way on Reynolds Road or Buck Road or somewhere in Lucas County.

[Bonjourtoledo]

It was pretty ridiculous that Bedford is considered in the Detroit Metro. It is clearly Toledo Metro and not having makes the Toledo Area seem smaller. It be like saying Maumee was not in the Toledo metro area.

I agree, I think Erie, Whiteford, and Bedford Townships should be part of the Toledo MSA and leave the rest of Monroe County to Detroit MSA. MSA boundary is typically designed on commuting patterns (job-wise), local business network, media market, and where most people spend their money and time in. If Toledo does get those three townships, it will add 50,000 people count to the metro population of 640,000 (Lucas, Fulton, Wood, and Ottawa counties).

[Pilliod Njaim]

Some of the areas with small, urban commercial strip (which will have abundance of old, gorgeous buildings) in Toledo (outside of downtown) you should check out:

1) Five Points area which starts from Phillips/Detroit intersection along Haverhill to Sylvania Avenue corridor to Secor Road (longest commercial strip in the region, IMO)

2) Point Place area which starts 101st Street to 131st Street along the Summit Street corrdior

3) River East area which starts Front/Main intersection to E. Broadway/Starr Avenue intersection

4) Old South Toledo which starts Broadway/Segur intersection along Broadway to Prouty Avenue

5) Lagrange area which starts Lagrange/Manhattan intersection along Lagrange to E. Delaware Avenue

6) Harvard Terrace which starts Glendale/Anthony Wayne Trail interesection for about 2 blocks east toward Abbott Avenue

7) Pickford Neighborhood which is about 2 blocks along S. Detroit Avenue at Medford Drive

8) Highland Park Neighborhood which is about 2-3 blocks at South and Spencer Street intersection

9) Old West End Neighborhood at the intersections of Collingwood and Delaware

Those were the ones I would list too. My favorites are the La Viva/Old South End corridor along Browdway, as that's the heart of Ohio's largest Mexican enclave, and I love LaGrange (the old Polish enclave).

I agree, I think Erie, Whiteford, and Bedford Townships should be part of the Toledo MSA and leave the rest of Monroe County to Detroit MSA. MSA boundary is typically designed on commuting patterns (job-wise), local business network, media market, and where most people spend their money and time in. If Toledo does get those three townships, it will add 50,000 people count to the metro population of 640,000 (Lucas, Fulton, Wood, and Ottawa counties).

Honestly, Toledo should (and will probably will) have Monroe County in the near future. MSA's are measured by whole counties, which is stupid, but that's how the government wants it. Commuters in Monroe County split pretty evenly between Toledo and Detroit, though the majority work in Monroe County. Monroe is an employment center in itself, but I'd say the city of Monroe is more Toledo than Detroit. It's closer to Toledo (20 miles) than Detroit (35 miles), and it gets the Blade, all Toledo media, etc.

MSA and DMA (media market) are completely different measures. Monroe County is in neither Toledo's MSA or DMA. Toledo actually gets Lenawee County in its DMA (as it should), but it should also have Monroe.

MSA is strictly measured on work commuting patterns, nothing else. It's a very weak measure of a "metro" size, because most commuting is actually suburban-suburban. To qualify for being part of an MSA, the county has to show commuter exchange with the core county (including all suburbs there), or just a county ADJACENT to the core county! That's ridiculous. MSA mainly measures suburban-suburban commuting today, and this is greatly amplified in 15-county MSA's like Cincinnati.

[Mudhen419]

Sad sight on that webcam pic. Only about a wall left of the old bijou. Many good memories there. Great place to see a concert and probly was good for movies way back when they used to do that there... The last concert i saw there was Too Live Crew back in January, some of my friends opened for them an we got to see a lot of the club a lot of people dont get to see. Blazin backstage was always fun. Even though its sad to see this place go I'm glad the arena is finally being built...

[Bonjourtoledo]

Here is the latest news in regards to Fed Ex as they talked about it today on the news radio.

Fed Ex Still Considering Options
Extends Decision Deadline to October
Posted on WSPD 1370 AM Newsradio on 9-14-2007

A Fed Ex spokesman tells WSPD political in-fighting is not behind its 30-day delay in making a decision whether to move out of Toledo. David Westrick emphasizes there are other main factors to consider such as highway access, a large employee pool and location. Westrick wouldn't say whether Fed Ex is considering a move out of state or not. Its decision affects 600 local jobs.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Sad sight on that webcam pic. Only about a wall left of the old bijou. Many good memories there. Great place to see a concert and probly was good for movies way back when they used to do that there... The last concert i saw there was Too Live Crew back in January, some of my friends opened for them an we got to see a lot of the club a lot of people dont get to see. Blazin backstage was always fun. Even though its sad to see this place go I'm glad the arena is finally being built...


Too bad that the Bijou Theatre wasn't maintained as a downtown cinema or perhaps a community theatre and IMO it wouldn't be demolished. Boy, can you imagine if it was still kept as a theatre?

I do however remember clubbing in the Bijou Theatre in the Red Underground club, so much fun.

Golden Lily Restaurant has yet to re-open their restaurant elsewhere around the city, I guess the family loved the money payout to move out. I heard they received over $600K for the property.

Subway is relocating to Superior & Adams and the Libbey Glass Corporate Store is relocating to St. Clair & Adams, so I'm glad businesses are staying downtown despite of the soon-to-be-coming new downtown arena.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Johnny's Lunch hungry for growth, sets ambitious expansion schedule
By Duane Ramsey
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

Johnny's Lunch is expanding beyond its local restaurant with multiple franchises in Ohio, Michigan and across the country, and the location of its corporate headquarters in Toledo.

Johnny's Lunch started as a single diner serving hot dogs and hamburgers in 1936 as the country emerged from the depression. Johnny and Minnie Colera founded Johnny's Lunch in Jamestown, N.Y., offering their customers quality, quantity, price and service.

Johnny always said, “Give the customer great quality and value, and they will always come back for more,” said Anthony Calamunci, Colera's maternal grandson. With his brother, John, as chief of operations, Calamunci is continuing the family's 70-year tradition in the restaurant business.

Their parents, Dianne and Gus Calamunci, still operate the original Johnny's Lunch in Jamestown. The Calamunci brothers formed Johnny's Lunch Franchise LLC with the goal of expanding the business with hundreds of units across the country.

“We are evolving to establish Johnny's as a national brand,” said Calamunci, president of Johnny's Lunch Franchise.

Johnny's Lunch is now expanding in Toledo and Michigan with plans for 160 franchise units in the next five years. Calamunci said the firm's corporate headquarters will be located in Toledo.

“We have hired some executives and are in the process of locating our headquarters in the National City Bank building near the Toledo store,” Calamunci said.

The corporation sold the Toledo “designated market area” to Nick Guerro, a Detroit area restaurateur. The market includes Toledo and 12 counties in the Northwest Ohio region.

Calamunci said he and his brother have a letter of intent for a new location on Dorr Street across from UT and are looking at three additional sites in the Toledo area.

“Toledo's faithful have accepted Johnny's and our signature prototype at the corner of Sylvania and Talmadge is doing very well with many return customers,” Calamunci said.

Guerro also owns the franchise for the market in Lansing, Mich., where there are plans for at least three locations. One unit is under construction in the student union at Michigan State University with others planned in East Lansing and in nearby Okemos.

Johnny's opened its first Michigan location on Dixie Highway in Waterford Township outside Pontiac in June. Two other locations are scheduled to open in the Detroit suburbs of Livonia and Novi in October or November under the franchise owned by JBV, LLC in Clarkston, Mich.

“With four additional locations under construction right now in Michigan, we are very excited about our growth in that state,” said George Goulson, chief development officer for Johnny's Lunch Franchise.

With the 75 stores under contract in the Detroit market over the next five years, Michigan will soon have more than 100 Johnny's Lunch restaurants across the state, Goulson said.

Calamunci said the company just signed a contract with Mike Basone and his group of investors for 54 additional stores in Michigan by 2011, including 28 in the Grand Rapids market, 16 in the Flint-Saginaw market, nine in Traverse City and one in Alpena.

Calamunci said a firm in Plymouth, Mich., researched the demographics for the entire country to determine the best markets for immediate and future franchise expansion.

An area representative purchases the right to develop a designated market area with the number of Johnny's Lunch restaurants determined for each territory at a cost of $2,000 per unit. The Detroit market franchise with 75 stores would cost $150,000 with the area rep splitting all franchise and royalty fees with Johnny's Lunch Franchise.

As part of the franchise agreement, an area rep will agree on a development schedule that will legally bind him or her to open a determined number of units per year until the territory is built-out. It will take 12 franchise units to recapture the investment outlay, not including royalty and income, according to the firm.

An attorney by profession, Calamunci previously worked in a private law practice in Toledo and as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Anthony Pizza in Lucas County.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Tall order: Regulating wind turbines with zoning
By JAN LARSON
Sentinel County Editor

With more wind turbines on the horizon in rural areas of Wood County, township officials have given county leaders a tall order — find some way to regulate the towering turbines.
“They are looking for some teeth,” so there are some rules to possibly rein in the height, noise, light and vibration of the fixtures, said Dave Steiner, director of the Wood County Planning Commission.
So this past summer, Steiner went on a search for wind turbine regulations in the state. He quickly found that Wood County wasn’t alone in having wind velocities that attracted the spinning giants.

Logan County, sitting in central Ohio, is the proposed location for up to 150 wind turbines reaching 500 feet high. A glacial ridge stretching through the county has made it attractive to wind power companies.
The Logan County proposal has been met with vocal support and opposition, according to Gerald Heaton, Logan County prosecuting attorney.
“There’s a strong contingent of people who want them, and a strong contingent of people who don’t want them,” Heaton said.
Since wind turbines are a relatively new source of energy in Ohio, the state has no regulatory guidelines for them. But Logan County couldn’t wait for the state to catch up with the alternative energy demands.
“We’re in the process of developing reasonable zoning for them,” Heaton said. “Dependent upon what the courts find, we want to be prepared with zoning in place.”

The zoning regulates such issues as turbine height, setbacks, noise decibels, vibration, and effects on avian life.
But Heaton realizes the zoning efforts may be for naught if the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio or the courts rule that wind farms are public utilities.
An opinion written by Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Linda Holmes comes to the same conclusion.
“A public firm which leases or buys land to install wind turbines with the intent of selling the electricity generated to the power grid is likely to be a public utility,” Holmes wrote. However, public utility status would have to be determined on a case by case basis, she continued — emphasizing the term “likely” in her written opinion.
“A private company seeking ‘public utility’ status bears the burden of proving that their business meets the ‘public service’ and ‘public concern’ tests for a public utility under the township zoning exemption,” Holmes’ opinion stated.
It was one day after issuing that opinion that Holmes found out a wind farm of more than 30 turbines was proposed west of Bowling Green — possibly near her Euler Road home. The turbines would generate power for Bowling Green electric customers.

“At the time, there was no inkling,” about the turbines possibly being erected near her home in Plain Township. But since then, Holmes is joining neighbors in protest of the wind farm.
“People see this as a real detriment to their property values,” she said. “I’m also right out there, underneath these things.”
But Holmes realizes her written opinion states that the turbines planned for her neighborhood may not be able to be regulated. “There is a possibility” it would be considered a public utility, she said.
Holmes’ opinion, however, does state that individual wind turbines generating power for a residence or a business can be regulated. Those structures could be limited in height and distance from buildings, Steiner suggested.
Steiner compared wind turbine regulations to cell tower restrictions in the state. When cell towers started dotting the landscape, the state had no regulations in place. But after insistence by local leaders, he said, state rules were written.
“There’s a couple years lag time,” Steiner said.

[Bonjourtoledo]

New shopping plaza in Crossroads receives approval
Posted on the The Messenger Journal website 9-15-2007


The first phase of a shopping plaza to be located behind the Giant Eagle grocery store has received approval from the Rossford Planning Commission.
Jerry Miller, vice president of Miller Diversified, presented a site plan for the Promenade South Retail at Meridian Plaza project at the August 23 meeting.
The development at 27250 Crossroads Parkway will be built on six acres immediately north of Giant Eagle, he said.

The plan shows an L-shaped complex that initially will house as many as five retail businesses and have 199 parking spaces.
Phase one of the project features construction of a building with about 12,000 square feet of space, Mr. Miller explained.

Later phases will complete the rest of the buildings in the complex, totalling about 40,000 square feet, he added.
"We'll present each of those future phases to you as they come in," he said.
Mr. Miller said his company plans to break ground in mid-September.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Springfield Local School is located in west of Toledo in Springfield Township and Village of Holland with a population of nearly 25,000 residents. This area is truely the "sprawl of it all" in the metro area.

Artists rendering of the proposed athletic field improvements
Posted on the Holland Springfield Journal
9-15-2007

Last month the Springfield Board of Education voted to place a "no new bond issue" issue on the November 6 ballot.
The issue will not result in higher taxes if passed, and the $7 million it generates, will be used to repair the district's aging and deteriorating athletic facilities.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SpringfieldAthleticField9-15-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/SpringfieldAthleticField29-15-2007.jpg

Above is an artist's rendering of the improvements that will be made to the football field, including a new entrance.
The rendering below is a view from the football field of the renovated conditioning facility, which will feature a full wall of windows.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Oh man, I hate Springfield. It's Toledo's worst suburb. Granted, Anthony Wayne and Bedford are not much better (they're all former rural areas chock full of modern sprawl).

Maumee, Perrysburg, Rossford, and even old Sylvania have much better areas with cute downtowns and some nice historic neighborhoods. Sprinfield has nothing but suburban sprawl.

Springfield High might be the ugliest high school in all of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Most suburban high schools are hideous, but Springfield wins the ugly contest hands down in metro Toledo. Who the hell designed that thing? It literally looks like a jail, which makes sense considering Springfield High's "suburban ghetto" reputation. I seem to remember the rich kids in Springfield (there are a lot of them) mostly go to the Catholic schools in Toledo.

[BGFalcon]

To be fair, Anthony Wayne does have historic areas and downtowns in Whitehouse and Waterville. There is a lot of sprawl though.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

This is an aftermath article in regards to the flash floods that wreaked havoc in the area about 30 miles south of Toledo. It took place in late August as communities such as Carey, Ottawa, and Findlay are recovering.

Findlay’s downtown bouncing back from flood
Associated Press
Posted on Fremont The News-Messenger website
9-17-2007

FINDLAY, Ohio — Downtown restaurants, gift shops and offices that took the brunt of last month’s historic flooding are beginning to open back up.

While a handful of storefronts are relocating or closing for good, the city’s downtown will bounce back, said Douglas Peters, who leads the area’s main economic development agency.

Business owners began ripping out waterlogged walls and floors and making repairs as soon as the water receded last month. Now dozens of shops are open. Others that took on extensive damage have set up temporary shops elsewhere.

The downtown, Peters said, is well-positioned to recover because it has been a vibrant area and a focal point for the community.

“We’re a whole different breed of people,” said Elaine Bruggeman, who owns a bookstore and a deli downtown. “We do it because our passion is here. It’s going to take more than a little water to drive us out.”

Heavy rains dumped up to 10 inches during a few hours three weeks ago, bringing the city’s worst flood since 1913. The Blanchard River, which flows along the edge of downtown, rose eight feet above flood level.

Peters, who is president of GreaterFindlayInc., said business owners in the downtown area have not waited for others to help.

“Most of the merchants up and down that street are of the entrepreneurial spirit,” he said. “It makes them by nature risk takers.”

There were about 25 restaurants alone in the area that catered to office workers and employees from the county courthouse and related offices. Marathon Petroleum Co. has about 1,500 employees at its downtown building.

“There are a lot of things in place that will help us maintain our downtown,” Peters said. “It’s always been a very vibrant place.”

He and a group of city and business leaders will travel to Washington this week to talk with federal officials about solving the city’s flooding problems.

Record store owner Greg Halamay said it would take too long and too much money to rebuild Finders Records Tapes & CDs, which has been downtown for 32 years.

“Putting a store that size together again, the whole idea is just overwhelming to me,” he said.

It would take four to six months to rebuild, Halamay said.

Water filled his basement and soaked the ground floor. He had 10 employees who are now out of work.

“The flood brought an overwhelming experience to a lot of people,” he said. “I’m one of them. This isn’t how I wanted to depart a city that helped us for 32 years.”

The owner of a diner that has been in the same spot since the 1940s plans to stay downtown but in another location.

Miller’s Luncheonette owner Greg Miller said his restaurant always seems to get hit hard when the river overflows and that it has become too costly to keep making repairs

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Good to see Findlay bounce back. That's the healthiest downtown in Ohio. It's remarkable how much they have for a city of 40,000.

I watched the national news coverage and was shocked by how bad the flood looked. Luckily, it looks like permanent damage was minimal.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Southwyck Mall future
Posted WTVG website September 18, 2007

Toledo city council is busy working on a plan to get control of the Southwyck Mall site. The city may use Eminent Domain to get a redevelopment project off the ground. Those projects have been in the works for some time, the marina district and Southwyck mall.

City council is looking at authorizing the city to take over the mall through Eminent Domain. That would allow the city to go in and put a road through the center of the property, connecting the north and south ends.
On that same note, the city is considering authorizing $1.1 million from a $5 million loan. It may go to the marina project, another project under the leadership of developer Larry Dillin, where the cash could be used to construct riverside drive.

What perhaps is a joint development committee formed by the city of Perrysburg Township in an effort to keep FedEx in the area, council has unanimously thrown its weight behind that idea.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Archbold is part of the Toledo MSA located in the farthest west side of the Fulton County about 45 miles. It has a population of 4,500, the famous Sauder Farms (a huge furniture-maker) and a campus of Northwest State Community College. Good news that the closing of a plant has been reversed.

ConAgra to remain open
Archbold factory to remain open despite announcement of closure
Posted on NBC 24 website Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 12:52 p.m.

ARCHBOLD, OH (AP) -- ConAgra Foods Inc. has decided not to close its Archbold factory. Last September it was announced that the factory, which produces the Healthy Choice soup line and La Choy products, was to be closed in January.

The factory employs 350 workers. Veteran workers at the plant are paid $15 to $23 per hour, according to Union leaders.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Fostoria, the Train City USA is about 30 miles southeast of Toledo in the very corner (southeast-wise) of Wood County. It has a population of about 14,000 and it's known for its trains. Here is a link in regards to about their developments of a Fostoria Iron Triangle Rail Park for y'all train ethusiastics:

http://fostoriairontriangle.com/railPARK.htm

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Nice renderings for the new UT business school building. It fits in nicely with the older campus buildings.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[toledo25]

why not do something reallly awesome like do an open air mall / living area but in an enclosed biosphere sort of thing... kind of like a city is doing in the middle east (i forget the name of it, they are enclosing an entire city in this material that makes it summer year round for swimming, and shopping and walking out on the streets in this enclosure) I read about this in WIRED magazine i believe.

[Mudhen419]

Went downtown yesterday to visit a friend and noticed they have started putting up the new 5th 3rd signs on the OI building..

[Bonjourtoledo]

why not do something reallly awesome like do an open air mall / living area but in an enclosed biosphere sort of thing... kind of like a city is doing in the middle east (i forget the name of it, they are enclosing an entire city in this material that makes it summer year round for swimming, and shopping and walking out on the streets in this enclosure) I read about this in WIRED magazine i believe.

Mmmmmm...kind of like the Golf Dome on Heatherdowns and Eastgate area?

[Bonjourtoledo]

Went downtown yesterday to visit a friend and noticed they have started putting up the new 5th 3rd signs on the OI building..

I did too this morning coming home from church, they started specifically on the northside of the building. I am certain that it will be bright at nighttime along with the Glass City skyway lights, Park Inn lights and the St. Patrick's new steeple light.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

City invokes eminent domain for mall
By Duane Ramsey
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
news@toledofreepress.com

The City of Toledo's proposed use of eminent domain for taking the Southwyck Mall properties for redevelopment will be the subject of a public hearing on Sept. 24. The issue of eminent domain became official with a resolution presented to City Council Sept. 18.

The resolution (603-07), calling for the use of eminent domain for the roadway extension at Southwyck Mall, was discussed and held for the next Council meeting on Oct. 2, due to the hearing, according to City Council Clerk Gerald Dendinger.

Eminent domain for Southwyck is the topic for the Environmental, Utilities and Public Service Committee meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 24 in City Council chambers. The public is invited to attend and voice its opinion on the proposed use of eminent domain.

City Council member Rob Ludeman said eminent domain is a tool the City of Toledo can use to get Bill Dillard and Buddy Hering, who own parcels at Southwyck, to complete the deal with Larry Dillin, president of Dillin Corporation.

“Dillin's offer to them is above fair-market value for the property so Larry has gone as far as he can,” Ludeman said. “The city would have to pay them fair-market value,” if it purchased the property through eminent domain.

Ludeman said he has attended meetings with Dillard and Hering, and they are aware of the city's possible use of eminent domain and they did not react well to it. Ludeman said he believes they may be dragging their feet to avoid the issue until Dillard's opens its new store at Fallen Timbers.

“I don't want the city to own that property, but I want to do what's necessary to move forward with this project,” Ludeman said, referring to the redevelopment of Southwyck.

Councilman Frank Szolosi said he has “a fundamental opposition to the city's use of eminent domain.” He cited situations where the city's collaborative efforts with the owners and developers of Westfield Center and Westgate resulted in positive results.

“They [the owners of Southwyck] have a history of not cooperating and running Southwyck Mall into the ground. Those uncooperative owners are the reason we have to look at eminent domain. We can't let them hold us hostage,” Councilman George Sarantou said.

Dillin said his firm is attempting to purchase the parcel that includes Dillard's store and parking lot from the private investor to whom Dillard's sold it. They are also trying to buy Dillard's' 50-percent interest in the 50-50 partnership that owns the other two parcels at Southwyck.

“There's a lot of misconception about what's going on and who's responsible for what,” Dillin said.

“I think the city is frustrated just as I am that we have received no response to the offer we made in May. We made an offer in excess of what the market value would be with no response to our offer,” he said.

With the purchase of the one parcel and 50-percent interest in the other two, Dillin would have controlling interest of the property. Dillin declined to disclose their offers for buying interest in those properties.

Three of the four parcels that comprise the Southwyck Mall site are the target of the city and Dillin for redevelopment of the site. A McDonald's restaurant is located on the smallest and fourth parcel on the total site of Southwyck Mall.

The three parcels the city and Dillin wish to purchase have a total assessed market value of $13.95 million for 2007 taxes, according to the Lucas County Auditor's Office. The total taxable value or 35 percent of those parcels is nearly $4.9 million.

A total of $383,742 in net general taxes was paid on the properties in 2007. The City of Toledo's share, based on the 5.99 millage rate, was $46,206, according to the county auditor.

If the city proceeds with purchasing the property through eminent domain, it could issue bonds for economic development through the Port Authority, Sarantou said. The city hopes Dillin would then purchase the property from the city, he added.

Dillin's firm is ready to move forward with its plans for redevelopment of the Southwyck property once it gains controlling interest in it.

“We feel very strongly about our plans to rejuvenate the Southwyck property and want to move forward with them,” said Bill Thomas, director of real estate services for Dillin Corp.

Dillin's plans for the Village at Southwyck presented to the City of Toledo, involved demolishing most of the larger buildings of the existing Southwyck Mall, Thomas said.

At press time, Thomas was unsure whether anyone from Dillin would attend the Sept. 24 meeting. They have attended meetings in the past when the city has asked them.

“If the city asks us to attend, Larry [Dillin] or I would attend the meeting,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the Dillin firm had nothing to do with the city's latest plans for a connecting road through the Southwyck property. If the city has plans that show a connecting road, “We were not involved in them,” he said.

An engineer from the city's Department of Public Utilities unveiled the design for the proposed access road that would connect Brownstone Boulevard. on one end and Cheyenne Boulevard on the side of Southwyck Mall. Those plans were presented to City Council with no participation from Dillin's firm.

Dillin said their site plans for the redevelopment have remained the same as what has been shown to the city and general public during the past few years.

“Our plans for Southwyck never called for a road through the middle,” Szolosi said. “I'm just not sure it's good policy to act in this manner.”

“It appears that the city is using the necessity for the road to justify the use of eminent domain,” said Linde Hurst Webb, a local attorney with experience in eminent domain cases and study. “If they have appropriation for the road, the Ohio constitution allows government to take property for the road without proof of necessity [for it].”
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner did not respond to requests for comment.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Went downtown yesterday to visit a friend and noticed they have started putting up the new 5th 3rd signs on the OI building..

Oh man, the Seagate Tower was NEVER meant to have a corporate logo. Its sleek, all-glass design should be respected, not defaced with an ugly name.

[b1gh0u5e]

QUESTION:

What is the building on the SW corner of I-75 and Buck Rd.????

New high school?

New hospital?

Just curious...someone let me know if you have the answer.

[4silverrings]

Hey I remember a while back you had mentioned that you expected 5/3 to purchase One Seagate outright.

Well that got me thinking.
The old logo went well with 5/3 HQ in Cincy.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7683/fifththirdbankrf8.gif
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5390/800pxcincinnatififththifl8.jpg


Yet the newly designed logo doesn't match Cincy, but rather Toledo. What do you think 5/3's plans are for their Cincy HQ?
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/3479/hptoplogo01uc5.gif
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1134/180pxoneseagatetallal6.jpg

[Mudhen419]

Its the new Penta Vocational school... theres probly something posted on it in this thread few months back

[Bonjourtoledo]

QUESTION:

What is the building on the SW corner of I-75 and Buck Rd.????

New high school?

New hospital?

Just curious...someone let me know if you have the answer.

Penta Vocational School Campus is the new building for that location. Their current and soon-to-be-old location is nearby the Owens State Community College campus on Oregon Road. Once Penta makes their move next fall (2008), Owens SCC will be taking over the former building of Penta as they will expand once again.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Its the new Penta Vocational school... theres probly something posted on it in this thread few months back

Oops, sorry didn't see Mudhen419's response. I second in what he says. However, I like to add that the Rossford, Perrysburg Twp. and ODOT folks better look at the Buck Road, Lime City Road, and I-75 area in terms of expanding for future growth. With the new Penta school, proposed FedEx, Bass Pro Shops, the growing Owens SCC, and new residential areas, they will need to once again improve the interchange and the intersections in those areas. In the early 2000, they did improve the Buck Road interchange by going from stop signs/single lanes to traffic signals, bridge expansions, turning lanes on ramps which was a huge improvment to what it was before. I'm afraid they will need to expand and improve again.

[Bonjourtoledo]

silverrings says: Yet the newly designed logo doesn't match Cincy, but rather Toledo. What do you think 5/3's plans are for their Cincy HQ?

That is what I was wondering as well, not only are they putting the new logos on the One Seagate Tower, but what about the Fifth Third Field on Washington and Huron where the Mud Hens play at? There are so many 5/3 logos they will need to replace if they are going to be rolling out the new and improved greenish logo. However, I will be sad once they remove the neon-cool looking logo that sits on the current Fifth Third Center on Madison and Huron, it's so bright at night and very neon-groovy.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Mudhen419]

Your definatly right about that area booming Bonjour. A lot has changed out that way in the past few years. I just recently drove over the new train overpass on Oregon road right before owens. Didnt really know it was that far along. Lots of new businesses out that way. I was also wondering about that Westfield expansion. i was out there last night getting the new Halo 3 and remembered herein about them tearing down the apartments to expand the mall even more. so thanks for that update... i saw theres an article about it in the paper

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Yet the newly designed logo doesn't match Cincy, but rather Toledo. What do you think 5/3's plans are for their Cincy HQ?

They're not about to leave Cincinnati or anything like that, though they do have a hell of a lot of office workers in downtown Toledo.

If anything, Fifth Third would move to a white collar suburb of Cincinnati before Toledo.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Yet the newly designed logo doesn't match Cincy, but rather Toledo. What do you think 5/3's plans are for their Cincy HQ?

They're not about to leave Cincinnati or anything like that, though they do have a hell of a lot of office workers in downtown Toledo.

Then again, stranger things have happened and banks are constantly merging/buying each other out. The more likely scenario would be a large banking corporation like Keybank, Huntington, or National City would merge/buy out Fifth Third. That could move the corporate HQ to Cleveland or Columbus. Toledo's big banks have mostly merged with National City, and the formerly independent Skybank is now merged with Huntington. The Skybank merger actually won't hurt downtown Toledo, but the suburbs will lose some jobs.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Here are the most recent photos of the arena project as the demolition is about to be completed:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Arena9-28-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Arena29-28-2007.jpg

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I have two local TV media chiming in about the controversy in regards to the redevelopment project of Southwyck Mall, there is three seperate articles on it:

Southwyck Dillards controversy
WTVG 13abc.com--September 27, 2007

In less than a week, the new Dillard's store at Fallen Timbers opens for business, but not without controversy. 13abc's got a sneak peak at the new store, that some hope is not a place you choose to shop, at least not yet. The main reason is there are still hard feelings over what's not happening at the Dillard's store at Southwyck.

A lot of care goes into a new store opening. The new Dillard's store is a jewel to the company and they showed it off today.
Dillard's store manager Chuck Thomas says, "Offering really compelling merchandise and offering the latest in fixture and design, hopefully they will check us out and stay for the day."

Councilman Rob Ludeman knows Dillard's does not need three stores in the Toledo area. He is frustrated Dillard's refuses to let a developer take over the Southwyck property. So he believes the threat of eminent domain may be Toledo's best play.

"I think that we could move him off dead center and finally make Southwyck go."

Making Southwyck go again would be good for people like Robert Lagger who lives near what's now a dying mall.

Councilman Frank Szollosi goes so far as to encourage a boycott of the new Dillard's store. He says if the storeowner insists on acting irresponsibly at Southwyck, Dillard's shoppers should fight back.

A boycott may be a tough sell to shoppers, but all agree something needs to be done about a mall site.

It might be Dillard's is just delaying a decision on Southwyck until the store at Fallen Timbers is up and running. Official opening therefore Fall Timbers is next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Southwyck store is still open, but for how long.



Dillard's at Fallen Timbers opening this week
Sep 27, 2007 07:18 PM posted on WTOL CBS website

Dillard's employees are keeping busy....setting out the jewelry, the cosmetics, the clothing. Getting ready to open at fallen timbers.

Chuck Thomas said, "Location, location, location. I think it's great you come off the road and look to your right, and there's Dillard's. That's a good place to be."

Dillard's is planning for a "soft opening", starting on Saturday, to give the staff time to smooth out operations at the new store. The old store at Southwyck is targeted for closing, and councilman Frank Szollosi says he's frustrated with the company for not selling off its stake in the struggling mall so it can be redeveloped. He said, "The citizens of Toledo, and really the citizens of this region who care about and have a vested interest in the success of Toledo, shouldn't shop at Dillard's until they become a more responsible corporate citizen."

Speaking with shoppers at Southwyck, many say they're holding no hard feelings about the move. Nick Bierlacki said, "It's sad to see this go for me. At least it's convenient, but what can you do... business is business. I do plan to shop at the new store."

Jane Raab also plans to shop there. "Absolutely. I think they'll have the same name brands that I love, and absolutely I'll give them my business."

That's exactly the attitude the Dillard's management at Fallen Timbers is hoping for.

Dillard's spokesman Chuck Thomas said, "I think we have a loyal customer, and I think they'll see that we're very committed to the area. Hopefully they'll see that and give us an opportunity to prove it again."



WTOL Editorial: The situation at Southwyck
Sep 28, 2007 05:15 AM EDT posted on WTOL CBS website

The mess at Southwyck is complicated and may not be resolved anytime soon. That's too bad. This area of Reynolds road is a gateway to the city for drivers getting off the turnpike. The first impression of Toledo is not pretty.

It's clear the Dillard family and the owners of the mall are not going to cooperate. Even an offer of $11 million dollars from developer Larry Dillon did not get them to the negotiating table.

They have very little incentive to end this deal. They can sit on the property, pay the taxes and watch the city squirm. What they want is for the taxpayers to bail them out at a nice profit. They have done so in other cities, and made a lot of money.

So the mayor is threatening to acquire the property through eminent domain. That's a tricky option. It can be tied up in court. The legal fees add up quickly, and Toledo will have a tough time justifying its case.

I'm Bob Chirdon. Long ago, mayor Finkbeiner promised to resolve the Southwyck situation. Well, he hasn't. And he seemed so sure it would happen. I think he may have overestimated his ability and underestimated his opponents.

[Bonjourtoledo]

St. Luke's Hospital breaks ground for northwest Ohio's only comprehensive, fully-integrated diabetes care facility
Posted on the The Messenger Journal website 9-28-2007

When a patient is diagnosed with diabetes, his or her life changes from that moment forward, said Dr. Stephen Bazeley, family practitioner and chairman of the St. Luke's Diabetes steering committee.
Last Thursday, St. Luke's Hospital broke ground for northwest Ohio's only comprehensive, fully-integrated diabetes care facilityÐthe Diabetes Care Center. The 5,300 square foot, $1.5 million facility, located on the St. Luke's campus, Monclova Road in Maumee, will offer medical services, support facilities, wound care and function as a clearinghouse for education and information.

St. Luke's Hospital CEO and President Frank Bartell III told the more than 100 guests attending the ceremony that it is an exciting day for St. Luke's and the community of northwest Ohio.

"As we began talking about a diabetes center a few years ago with our physicians and staff who treated our patients with this disease, it became very clear that our patients needed more than what was currently available to them. They needed one place to lean on as they faced the facts of this disease and learned to live with it. They needed a reliable source of information and some big shoulders to lean on, especially early in their diagnosis. And they needed services of a hospital they trusted to help them as they confronted some of the complications they can experience with diabetes," said Mr. Bartell. "Today's groundbreaking will directly affect the lives of thousands of people in our communities."

He stated that by the end of 2007 approximately 21,000 people in northwest Ohio will be diagnosed with diabetes.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Ottawa County is the most eastern county of Toledo MSA district and the county has a population of over 40,000 residents. This proposed site is located about 20 miles east of downtown Toledo along State Route 2.

$200M ethanol company considers Ottawa Co.
Posted on Toledo Business Journal website September edition

NexGen Biofuels Inc. is considering a 60-acre Ottawa County site in Port Clinton’s Lake Erie Business Park for the location of a $200 million ethanol production plant. According to Jamie Beier Grant, director of the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (OCIC), her organization has been working with NexGen for the past year and a half in efforts to bring the company’s multi-million dollar investment to northwest Ohio.

NexGen Biofuels representatives have confirmed that the company has been in discussions with State and local officials regarding a financial incentives package for the project and has begun the permitting process with the Ohio EPA. The Erie Township site is one of several being considered by the company, which will make its decision once State and local incentives have been confirmed and proper permits have been issued.

“I believe that once [the proper permitting, financing, and incentives] are secured, the company would make the decision to locate here,” Beier Grant added. “The State and local incentives have not been negotiated or approved. My estimation is that by the end of this year, we’ll know an answer from the company.”

The plant would create an estimated 45 jobs at startup with average pay rates ranging from $15 to $18 per hour. According to the company, corn that is used as the feedstock – or input – for the ethanol refining process will be purchased mostly from within a 60-mile radius of the plant. At full capacity, the plant is projected to produce more than 100 million gallons per year (MGPY).

NexGen Biofuels Inc., with offices in Tampa, Florida and New York City, is a renewable fuels company that plans to develop four 100 MGPY ethanol plants and two 50 MGPY biodiesel plants in six states, according to the company. The plants will be built in two phases with the first phase yielding two ethanol plants and two biodiesel plants and the second phase yielding two more ethanol plants.

The plants will be located in Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The intended plants will have an initial annual capacity to process 36.4 million bushels of corn each for the ethanol plants and 500 metric tons per day of vegetable oil / animal feed each for the biodiesel plants. The ethanol plants will also produce 275,000 tons of distiller dried grains (animal feed), 15,000 metric tons of corn oil, and 270,000 tons of raw carbon dioxide, each per year as byproducts. The biodiesel plants will produce over 16,500 tons of glycerin each per year as a byproduct. The plants will take from 12 to 18 months to build – from design to operation; the first phase is scheduled to commence construction this year.

Ram Ajjarapu is president and CEO of NexGen Biofuels. He most recently co-founded two 100 MGPY ethanol projects, including obtaining all necessary permitting and raising all of the debt and equity. In addition, he also negotiated the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts for both projects and set up procurement and off-take agreements for each site. He obtained Tax Increment Financing (TIF) of $10 million each along with securing sales tax refunds and community grants. He then sold the two projects (Wahoo and Sutton, both in Nebraska) to American Ethanol, Inc., which later announced its merger with a public shell. He has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of South Florida. He has more than 15 years of experience in a range of management aspects, including sales, finance, and administration.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I'm going to provide my insight of what's going on in downtown, there is a huge banner put on the historic Western Union building recently on Jefferson and Huron indicating they are going to be redeveloping this 5-story building. It will be housing the non-profit regional law firms of Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. and Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. which will be making its move from the Spitzer Building to expand their firms according to several of my sources.

I think this will be announced during the downtown arena press conference on October 1, 2007 in regards to surrounding redevelopments around the new arena.

[Bonjourtoledo]

The redeveloped former Toledo Heater Company building on St. Clair and Lafayette Street now house the Martin Wood Appraisal firm which they've done a great job with the new St. Clair Village clock tower, restoring the original bricks, new windows, etc, etc...they had a grand opening this past Thursday night and it sure was a busy event. Now the other end of this soon-to-be redeveloped building will be finished soon with the Paul Sullivan Architect firm and other use and also will be building a 4-6 unit three-floor townhouses anchoring to the former Toledo Heater Company facing Lafayette in between St. Clair and Depot Streets in the green space portion of the block.


Downtown Toledo sports arena
Posted on the WTVG 13abc.com--September 28, 2007

Demolition is nearly complete at the site so Monday construction crews begin work on the new downtown sports arena. While that's happening, there is an effort to attract new businesses to that area. 13abc was at the new arena site where there is a model of success to follow. That model naturally is Fifth Third Field. The success there could mean success here. Who can argue, Fifth Third Field has not made a huge difference in the warehouse district.

Kathy Steingraber from the Toledo Warehouse District Association says, "I think it created a lot of excitement."
Excitement that enticed restaurants and nightspots into vacant buildings just steps from the ballpark that will help turn St. Clair into a vibrant neighborhood again.

"In the early 90's we said we could do it and it's coming around."

It came around last night when an old warehouse reopened as the new appraisal firm with 31 employees spending time down here everyday.

President of Martin Wood Appraisal, Ken Wood says, "There's been a lot of other companies that have already made the move and we hope a lot more continue to come."

Toledo has another shot of replicating the success at Fifth Third Field once the sports arena is built; right across from the arena, and all around the arena, is a lot of available space. Space where restaurants, clubs, and even small retail stores could thrive. The vacancy rate is roughly 20 percent. By keeping downtown streets clean and crime free, the Toledo downtown improvement district hopes business owners will seize an opportunity.

With Fifth Third Field its guide, the sports arena could enhance a growing entertainment district and change how we feel about our city.

The groundbreaking for the new arena is Monday morning. Work has already begun to get businesses thinking about moving down here.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Business Advantage Development News
October Edition Overview

I will give you the highlights of the developments per this paper which publishes monthly and they haven't quite been an internet savy publisher yet for me to credit, copy & paste the latest developments in our region:

1) Mercy Memorial Hospital of Monroe, MI, 15 minutes north of Toledo will be expanding a southern wing of an Ambulatory care center of $16M

2) Incentives encourage downtown growth, relocation in Toledo--with various of grant, loan and incentive programs and great location for new businesses or existing businesses to expand due to its infrastructure support and centrality

3) Fat Fish Blue (popular Mardi Gras musical venue restaurant establishment) and Funny Bone (comedy club) to invest $2M at the Levis Commons (Perrysburg) second expansion; Fat Fish Blue is based out of Cleveland and will be their second location for this business

4) $5M + University of Toledo area construction to include retail and housing with 3,000 sq. foot commercial/residential mix development of Campus Village Center on Secor north of Dorr Street across from the Rocket Hall and Rocket Center on Dorr Street west of Douglas/Westwood corridor a 15,000 square foot with coffee cafe', tanning, hair salon, small businesses along with residential apartments

5) Spartan Logistics (out of Columbus, Ohio) and Cedar Point Development LLC will be breaking ground with Port Authority for a 80,000 square foot, a $4M warehouse at Toledo Express Airport and new job creations up to 80; they will be moving into second phase in the next five-years of additional 500,000 square feet of warehouse and light manufacturing with more new jobs added

[Bonjourtoledo]

Bryan, Ohio is about 40 miles west of Toledo right close along I-80/90 Ohio Turnpike and it's part of Toledo and Northwest Ohio region. It is also the home of the famous Ohio Art Company, think Etch-A-Sketch and Betty Spaghetti Noodle. It's a good thing 200 new jobs is planned to be created with the expansion of this company. They are opening a Menards Distribution Center for the eastern Midwest region nearby Bryan as well.

[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

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[ddp]

Isn't Mr. Dillin obligated to announce nearly $50 million in development commitments by tomorrow? See this article: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS16/707030346/-1/NEWS

Hopefully the news outlets won't let this deadline pass without a follow-up. If the Marina District doesn't get going soon, there won't be any retail to put there. With Fallen Timbers, the Downtown in general and new Arena, Southwyck (IF it ever moves forward), Levis Commons, Perrysburg Point (across 475 from Levis Commons), Bass Pro and Rossford area, etc. we're fast running out of first-to-market retail and restaurants that aren't here already. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of higher-end retail stores, etc. that are not here yet (Saks, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods, Apple, Crate & Barrel... and why can't we get a Zingermann's store here, they're in Ann Arbor!), but we do seem to be close to having one of everything. It's like Noah's Ark around here.

Hopefully, Larry Dillin will come through and secure some tourist-attracting stores for our beautiful waterfront some time in my lifetime. Yup, I'm an optimist.

[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

Isn't Mr. Dillin obligated to announce nearly $50 million in development commitments by tomorrow? See this article: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070703/NEWS16/707030346/-1/NEWS

Hopefully the news outlets won't let this deadline pass without a follow-up. If the Marina District doesn't get going soon, there won't be any retail to put there. With Fallen Timbers, the Downtown in general and new Arena, Southwyck (IF it ever moves forward), Levis Commons, Perrysburg Point (across 475 from Levis Commons), Bass Pro and Rossford area, etc. we're fast running out of first-to-market retail and restaurants that aren't here already. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of higher-end retail stores, etc. that are not here yet (Saks, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods, Apple, Crate & Barrel... and why can't we get a Zingermann's store here, they're in Ann Arbor!), but we do seem to be close to having one of everything. It's like Noah's Ark around here.

Hopefully, Larry Dillin will come through and secure some tourist-attracting stores for our beautiful waterfront some time in my lifetime. Yup, I'm an optimist.

Love the idea of having California Pizza Kitchen , Cheesecake Factory, Whole Foods, Apple, Crate & Barrel, Zingermann's to be part of the Marina District but I could do without Saks. Adding to the list Eddie Bauer Home Store, IMAX theatre, Border's or Barnes & Noble, and Trader Joes would be a huge plus for me.

I think Dillin will be making the Marina District announcement very soon even though it stated Oct. 1st or soon afterwards. IMO, I think they will be making the news sometime once the new Ferry Terminal is near completion. If you notice, the Arena groundbreaking press conference took the thunder of today's news.

By virtue of the developments of Marina District, I want to see high-rise structures of residential developments along the river which would bring in additional population and income into the core of the city.

I guess we'll have to stay tune...with much anticipation......

[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

Marina District Update
Posted on WTVG 13abc.com--October 2, 2007

The deadline has come and gone and we still haven't heard from developer Larry Dillin regarding the next step for marina district revitalization.

Three months ago it was down to the wire, but the city of Toledo delivered, presenting developer Larry Dillin with a $10 million check to be used for the marina district project. Dillin then had 90 days to secure $50 million from private investors.

That deadline expired on October 1 and we still have no definitive word on whether Dillin secured the money. 13 abc talked with city representatives today, and we've learned that there is an announcement planned for next Wednesday afternoon, October 10. We also know that the announcement was delayed for two reasons. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's spokesperson says the city wanted to wait until after the groundbreaking for the new sports arena and also needed a bit more time to plan, because next Wednesday's announcement will be marked with another groundbreaking for the second half of the marina project, closer to the MLK Bridge.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Following up to the earlier post about the news today in regards to the Marina District, the city indicated an October 10th meeting to talk about the latest development. I posted two more media reports about Dillin meeting the goal of reaching $50 million for the project:

Dillin Meets Marina District Goal
Posted on WUPW Fox website
Created: Tuesday, 02 Oct 2007, 3:40 PM EDT

FOX Toledo News has learned that developer Larry Dillin has met his goal of raising at least $50 million for the East Toledo marina district project.

Dillin had until Oct. 1 to raise that money, and since no announcement was made, some were starting to wonder if he had raised enough. As the deadline approached, there were rumors that certain city officials was thinking about switching developers.

In a news release sent to FOX Toledo News by the City of Toledo, officials say the announcement was put on hold due to the groundbreaking of the new Downtown Arena, which took place Oct. 1.

On the heels of the new arena groundbreaking, another groundbreaking is expected to take place next week, Wednesday, Oct. 10, for the marina project.

"We will disclose details of Larry's progress at the groundbreaking of the retail and residential portion of the Marina District," said Todd Davies, the city's commissioner of economic development, in the news release.

"We have currently set that date for October 10 when th city will begin the installation og infrastructure at the south end of the Marina District near where the Sports Arena was located."


$50 million Marina District goal met
Dillin meets stated objective of $50 million in Marina District investment
Posted on WNWO NBC 24 website
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 at 3:49 p.m.

TOLEDO, OH -- Developer Larry Dillin has met his goal of attracting at least $50 million in private investment for the Marina District development according to Todd Davies, Commissioner of Economic Development for the City of Toledo.

Davies met with Dillin at his Perrysburg office yesterday evening to discuss Dillin's progress.

An agreement between the City of Toledo and Dillin required the City to produce $10 million of public funding by August 1st and for Dillin to attract $50 million in private investment by October 1.

No announcement was made yesterday due to the groundbreaking on the new arena.

"We will disclose details of Larry's progress at the groundbreaking of the retail and residential portion of the Marina District," said Davies. "We have currently set that date for October 10 when the city will begin the installation of infrastructure at the south end of the Marina District near where the Sports Arena was located."

[Bonjourtoledo]

UGH! Just what we need more urban sprawl in the height of the nationwide foreclosures, bankruptcy and housing slumps. :bash:

More housing proposed in Perrysburg Township
By CHRIS MILLER Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted on website 10-2-2007

LIME CITY — A local development company is seeking residential rezoning for 180 acres located in the area of Neiderhouse and Thompson roads here in Perrysburg Township, including high density zoning that could open the way for apartment buildings on the east side of Thompson Road.

Three separate parcels are involved in the rezoning request — two each of about 41 acres and one parcel that’s nearly 100 acres.

One of those 41 acre sections already secured rezoning last year following objections from local residents. Perrysburg Township officials rejected the developer’s request for more dense R-3 residential zoning last year.
Now the same developer is again seeking R-3 rezoning for just over 30 acres of that same contentious section. The classification, considered “medium density,” also is being sought for about 37 acres of the other 41 acre section along the north side of Neiderhouse Road, while “high density” R-4 zoning is wanted for a nearly 100 acre section of land located on the east side of Thompson Road near the Neiderhouse Road intersection.

The R-4 classification — “suburban residential” — is high density zoning permitting the construction of apartment buildings.

The area being targeted for development lies just south of the city of Perrysburg between Ohio 199 and Thompson Road. Residential development already exists just to the north on both sides of Eckel Junction Road between Route 199 and Thompson Road. Retail development is just to the north of that along U.S. 20.
The developer involved in these latest rezoning requests, Kurt Miller of Velocity Development, last summer secured rezoning for Miller Diversified development company on one of the 41 acre parcels currently up again for rezoning consideration.

Township officials twice delayed action on that rezoning request last year before ultimately approving a combination of lower density R-1 and R-2 zoning but rejecting the R-3 classification.
Many residents who last year objected to higher density development live in single-family homes situated upon larger five acre lots. Other property in the area remains zoned for agricultural uses. Residents last year voiced concern over increased traffic and decreased property values if high density development is allowed to proceed.

The rezoning request tonight goes before the Wood County Planning Commission. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the township’s planning commission, which meets next Monday at 6 p.m. at the township hall on Lime City Road.

Township trustees Gary Britten, Bob Mack and Craig LaHote, like last year, have the final vote on any rezoning.
During the trustees’ Monday night meeting, township resident Barb Harbauer, who lives near the area up for possible rezoning, asked the trustees to delay next week’s township planning commission hearing because an incorrect hearing date was posted on the township’s Internet Web site.
Township Planning and Zoning Administrator Grant Garn said the correct date was included in letters sent to nearby residents advising them of the rezoning request, as required by law. The correct date also was posted on signs on the targeted property. Township Administrator John Hrosko agreed with Harbauer that the Web site needs to be updated with more accurate information.

[Bonjourtoledo]

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[Bonjourtoledo]

I read that there was an approval for zoning change a couple of weeks back to allow Kroger Company to build a store at the southeast corner of Route 25 and Roachton Road. It is adjacent to the Town Center at Levis Commons area. This will be Perrysburg's second Kroger store since they have one on Route 20 (Fremont Pike Road).

I will post any further details in regards to this project as it becomes available to me.

[Bonjourtoledo]

UGH! Just what we need more urban sprawl in the height of the nationwide foreclosures, bankruptcy and housing slumps. :bash:

More housing proposed in Perrysburg Township
By CHRIS MILLER Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted on website 10-2-2007

LIME CITY — A local development company is seeking residential rezoning for 180 acres located in the area of Neiderhouse and Thompson roads here in Perrysburg Township, including high density zoning that could open the way for apartment buildings on the east side of Thompson Road.

Three separate parcels are involved in the rezoning request — two each of about 41 acres and one parcel that’s nearly 100 acres.

One of those 41 acre sections already secured rezoning last year following objections from local residents. Perrysburg Township officials rejected the developer’s request for more dense R-3 residential zoning last year.
Now the same developer is again seeking R-3 rezoning for just over 30 acres of that same contentious section. The classification, considered “medium density,” also is being sought for about 37 acres of the other 41 acre section along the north side of Neiderhouse Road, while “high density” R-4 zoning is wanted for a nearly 100 acre section of land located on the east side of Thompson Road near the Neiderhouse Road intersection.

The R-4 classification — “suburban residential” — is high density zoning permitting the construction of apartment buildings.

The area being targeted for development lies just south of the city of Perrysburg between Ohio 199 and Thompson Road. Residential development already exists just to the north on both sides of Eckel Junction Road between Route 199 and Thompson Road. Retail development is just to the north of that along U.S. 20.
The developer involved in these latest rezoning requests, Kurt Miller of Velocity Development, last summer secured rezoning for Miller Diversified development company on one of the 41 acre parcels currently up again for rezoning consideration.

Township officials twice delayed action on that rezoning request last year before ultimately approving a combination of lower density R-1 and R-2 zoning but rejecting the R-3 classification.
Many residents who last year objected to higher density development live in single-family homes situated upon larger five acre lots. Other property in the area remains zoned for agricultural uses. Residents last year voiced concern over increased traffic and decreased property values if high density development is allowed to proceed.

The rezoning request tonight goes before the Wood County Planning Commission. Their recommendation will be forwarded to the township’s planning commission, which meets next Monday at 6 p.m. at the township hall on Lime City Road.

Township trustees Gary Britten, Bob Mack and Craig LaHote, like last year, have the final vote on any rezoning.
During the trustees’ Monday night meeting, township resident Barb Harbauer, who lives near the area up for possible rezoning, asked the trustees to delay next week’s township planning commission hearing because an incorrect hearing date was posted on the township’s Internet Web site.
Township Planning and Zoning Administrator Grant Garn said the correct date was included in letters sent to nearby residents advising them of the rezoning request, as required by law. The correct date also was posted on signs on the targeted property. Township Administrator John Hrosko agreed with Harbauer that the Web site needs to be updated with more accurate information.

YEA! Now let's hope the trustees reject it as well.

Dense developments rejected
By JAN LARSON Sentinel County Editor
Posted on BG Sentinel-Tribune website

The Wood County Planning Commission made it clear Tuesday evening that its goal is to promote good land use — not make money for developers. The board also let a developer know that asking for the same zoning change over and over will not weaken the commission’s convictions, but rather will just annoy some of its members.

Kurt Miller, a partner in Velocity Development, submitted three zoning requests to the planning commission involving a total of 180 acres southeast of Perrysburg, along Thompson and Neiderhouse roads in Perrysburg township.
Miller asked that 98 acres on the east side of Thompson Road be changed from agricultural to R4-A zoning to allow for a high density housing development. He asked that 41 acres at the northwest corner of Neiderhouse and Thompson roads be changed from R-1 and R-2 zoning to R-1 and R-3 zoning. And he asked that another 41 acres also on the north side of Neiderhouse Road be changed to A-1 along the frontage and R-3 in the interior of the property.

In each case, the county planning commission voted down the higher density zoning and suggested that Perrysburg Township approve lower density developments.
Builder Brian McCarthy told the commission that its action could halt development in the area.
“Times are tight right now,” he said. “If these don’t happen, everything stops. If that’s what the board wants, that’s what’s going to happen.”
“The township needs the development and we’re the guys out there trying to make it happen,” McCarthy said.
Miller and McCarthy both said that it wouldn’t be economically feasible to build lower density housing developments there.
“If we could do it, we would do it. But we can’t,” McCarthy said.
But Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown, who is also a member of the planning commission, said the developer’s profit isn’t the concern of the planning board.

“We ought to be looking at how we ought to be zoning it,” Brown said.
One of the three properties has come before the planning commission twice before, with Miller asking that the acreage be changed to R-1 and R-3 zoning. Twice, the commission denied that request because of the high density of the R-3 zoning.
The third time for the same request did not weaken the board’s resolve, but just made some members testy. A motion was made to actually change the previously approved R-1 and R-2 zoning to all R-1 — allowing even fewer homes to be built.
“You’re making us go through this for a third time, and frankly I’m getting a little tired of it,” Brown said.

The neighbors of the proposed developments are also getting tired of fighting the dense housing subdivisions. Many of the homes on Neiderhouse and Thompson roads sit on sprawling five-acre lots. Though some of the residents seem to have accepted that development is inevitable, they don’t like the thought of crowded subdivisions.
“I believe this is way too dense for this area,” neighbor Tammie Lajoie said of the R-4A zoning. “It could be a trailer park or apartments.”
Resident Don Smith, of Thompson Road, expressed concerns about the already increased traffic in the area. “Right now it’s a race track,” he said. The zoning would allow houses to be crammed onto the acreage, like “postage stamps,” he added.
Tom Schwartz said the developments would ruin the rural atmosphere of the area.

“I basically moved out there for the five acres, and the peace and quiet,” Schwartz said, adding that the developments would push him to move further out into the country.
Miller said the denser housing developments actually help save farmland by using less land and preventing urban sprawl.
“If you want to protect farmland,” the denser zoning should be approved, Miller told the planning commission.
Though conscious of that theory, the commission members were more sympathetic to the neighbors already there.
Richard Kohring, of the planning board, said he had recently driven through the area and observed the nice suburban settings.

“I think this would not fit in,” he said of the denser zoning proposals.
When it was all over, the planning commission suggested R-1 zoning for the 98 acres on Thompson Road, stuck with R-1 and R-2 on the 41 acres at the northwest corner of Neiderhouse and Thompson roads, and recommended A-1 and R-2 for the other 41 acres further west on Neiderhouse Road.
The final decision on the zoning requests will be made by the Perrysburg Township Trustees.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Hospital buying U.S. 224 land
By MICHELLE REITER STAFF WRITER
Posted on Findlay Courier website

After heated arguments earlier this year over the future zoning of the Ohio Farmhouse property on U.S. 224, Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has decided to resolve the issue by buying the property.

BVHS will pay a hefty price -- about $1.5 million -- to buy the 23-acre parcel of land owned by Larry and Darlene Hammond, which is next to the Birchaven complex that BVHS owns.

The latest development comes just months after BVHS fought a potential buyer’s attempt to change the zoning of the property.

“It was contiguous property to the Eastern Woods property (owned by BVHS), and Eastern Woods has been very successful property,” explained John Bookmyer, BVHS executive vice president and chief operating officer. “When the frontage became available, we decided to buy it.”

For now, the hospital doesn’t have any plans for the land.

But Barb Lockard, BVHS public affairs and marketing director, said buying more land next to the 133-acre Eastern Woods property makes sense.

“We are investors out there as well,” Lockard said.

BVHS decided to buy the property when a previous land deal, between the Hammonds and an unnamed buyer, fell through.

Rumors that the unnamed buyer was Promedica Health System -- a competitor of BVHS -- were never verified, but a medical complex was expected to be constructed on the property when the sale was completed.

However, it never did become complete.

The unnamed buyer had wanted the zoning on the property changed from A-1 to the much less restrictive B-3 before buying the 23-acre parcel, but attempts to approve that change in zoning sparked an uproar in the community and among BVHS representatives.

Normally, zoning changes are approved in steps -- the Hammonds’ property may have been approved for B-1 before moving to B-3, for example.

Last year, when the rezoning request first went before them, the Hancock Regional Planning Commission (HRPC) and the county’s advisory zoning committee, along with the Marion Township Zoning Commission, gave their stamp of approval.

However, a procedural error forced the Hammonds’ attorney, Steve Roepke, to begin the rezoning process all over again, and the rezoning plan met with more opposition the second time.

BVHS representatives argued earlier this year that when they built Birchaven, Marion Township held BVHS to more rigid zoning standards, saying it could not jump from B-1 directly to B-3 zoning.

BVHS representatives also argued that the anonymity of the potential buyer made them leery of the sale, and they wondered what the new owners would build there.

Those arguments were echoed by Marion Township residents, and the request for B-3 zoning received a cooler reception from the HRPC and the county’s zoning advisory committee the second time around. Both decided not to recommend the jump in zoning, saying that without knowing who the buyer was, they were hesitant to skip zoning levels.

The Marion Township Zoning Commission then voted in favor of the zoning change, despite the recommendations to do otherwise.

When the final decision fell into the laps of the Marion Township Trustees, two trustees voted to overturn the zoning commission’s decision, and one trustee voted to uphold it.

Overturning the zoning commission would have required a unanimous vote by the trustees, so the decision to allow the zoning change was upheld.

Marion Township residents protested the zoning change with the only tool they had left -- a petition that would put the decision on the ballot.

About 141 township residents signed a petition that only required 107 signatures in order to take the issue to the fall ballot. After the county board of elections certified the list, about 121 names were still valid.

The issue will still be on the ballot next month. Bookmyer confirmed Wednesday that the hospital still opposes B-3 zoning for the property, and is still supporting a “no” vote in the November election.

If voters don’t overturn the zoning decision, the property will automatically be zoned B-3 after the November vote is certified.

Whatever the zoning, plans for the land are undecided for now. Hospital officials will determine how the land will fit into the retirement community’s future, Lockard said.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Business Advantage Development News
October Edition Overview

I will give you the highlights of the developments per this paper which publishes monthly and they haven't quite been an internet savy publisher yet for me to credit, copy & paste the latest developments in our region:

1) Mercy Memorial Hospital of Monroe, MI, 15 minutes north of Toledo will be expanding a southern wing of an Ambulatory care center of $16M

2) Incentives encourage downtown growth, relocation in Toledo--with various of grant, loan and incentive programs and great location for new businesses or existing businesses to expand due to its infrastructure support and centrality

3) Fat Fish Blue (popular Mardi Gras musical venue restaurant establishment) and Funny Bone (comedy club) to invest $2M at the Levis Commons (Perrysburg) second expansion; Fat Fish Blue is based out of Cleveland and will be their second location for this business

4) $5M + University of Toledo area construction to include retail and housing with 3,000 sq. foot commercial/residential mix development of Campus Village Center on Secor north of Dorr Street across from the Rocket Hall and Rocket Center on Dorr Street west of Douglas/Westwood corridor a 15,000 square foot with coffee cafe', tanning, hair salon, small businesses along with residential apartments

5) Spartan Logistics (out of Columbus, Ohio) and Cedar Point Development LLC will be breaking ground with Port Authority for a 80,000 square foot, a $4M warehouse at Toledo Express Airport and new job creations up to 80; they will be moving into second phase in the next five-years of additional 500,000 square feet of warehouse and light manufacturing with more new jobs added

Follow-up on the Business Advantage Development News #4 in regards to UT campus area projects:

$5M+ UT-area construction to include retail and housing

Recent development near the University of Toledo (UT) is aiming to revitalize areas most frequented by students. Current construction by local companies includes Campus Village Center student housing and a Rocket Center retail strip; the overall investment of the projects exceeds $5 million.

According to UT, it has increased its impact on economic development in the area since merging with the Medical University of Ohio (MUO). One aspect of this impact involves the institution’s capital spending on major projects; the university is planning to spend an estimated $130+ million dollars over the next three years on its facilities. Additionally, talks continue regarding a possible Dorr Street exit to be constructed off I-475. As a result, developers are finding the area ripe for growth.

Campus Village Center
At the corner of Secor Road and College Drive, Campus Village Communities is building a $3 million mixed-use facility to include 13 apartment units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space. The apartments will range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom and sit on the two stories above the first floor commercial space.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/CampusVillage10-4-2007.jpg

According to Ernie Schaefer, president of Campus Village Communities, construction will begin soon, and completion is expected early next year. The building will include wood frame construction and a brick exterior. SAF Construction Services is the general contractor for the project and Design House Architecture is the architect.

Campus Village Communities also owns the apartment complexes neighboring the new development – Campus Village at College Drive, Valleston Manor, and University Park – as well as apartments on other college campuses in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

“It’s actually a combination of three sites, Schaefer stated. “There were two homes and then there’s a little warehouse… The student rental homes were in pretty bad shape. They were an eyesore and sat right next to our properties, and we decided to buy them and do this project. One of the things we want to do is move our rental office into this commercial space.”

The warehouse will be salvaged and the rest of the purchased buildings will be knocked down.

“We think it’s an excellent location and will hopefully be a very good project for us,” Schaefer added.

Rocket Center
Approximately a half-mile from the Campus Village Center is the Rocket Center retail strip on Dorr Street. Construction has begun and it is expected to open this month.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/RocketSC10-4-2007.jpg

Plans for the $2 million, 15,000 square foot facility include a tanning salon, a hair salon, and a coffee bar with a cafÈ. Twelve two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments will be located on the second floor and parking will be available for 100 vehicles. Limited space is still currently still available.

Five Star Premier Properties is the owner of the property; it also owns Rocket Square and Wonderbread on Dorr Street as well as Timberstone Commons in Sylvania (a 60,000 square foot, full leased property). The Delventhal Company is the general contractor and Architecture by Design, Ltd. is the architect.

“We have tried to make the Center resemble the architecture of buildings on the UT campus, specifically Rocket Hall and the new dorms across the street,” stated Rod Noble, Five Star Premier Properties. “We’re currently looking at plans to redevelop the Wonderbread and Rocket Square properties. They are adjacent to one another.”

Noble explained that the site selected for Rocket Center was based on an absence of quality retail space in the vicinity of UT on Dorr Street.

[Bonjourtoledo]

State-of-the-art technology, patient-centered care key as UTMC Orthopaedic Center set to open
Posted on UT website By Staff Oct 4, 2007

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/orthocenterUT10-4-2007.jpg

For many patients, seeking a doctor’s appointment is synonymous with waiting. Waiting on the phone to schedule an appointment and waiting in the exam room for the doctor to arrive is the rule rather than the exception.

The new Orthopaedic Center at the UT Medical Center offers more than world-class facilities and outstanding university-quality health care. It also offers patients a guarantee that office visits will be scheduled within 24 hours of an appointment request.

“Orthopaedic conditions are painful — patients shouldn’t be concerned about waiting for relief,” said Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, professor and chair of orthopaedic surgery at UT Medical Center. “The new Orthopaedic Center is designed to eliminate barriers; we respond to patient needs quickly and efficiently, and strive for a higher degree of orthopaedic care by providing access, service and convenience.”

The center is scheduled to open Monday, Oct. 15. Celebratory kick-off events include a public open house Sunday, Oct. 7, featuring educational workshops, children’s activities and family fun with food and refreshments.

Additionally, UTMC has scheduled an event for the UT community from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3. The open house will feature self-guided tours, music, food and door prizes to celebrate National Customer Service Week.

“While the UTMC Orthopaedic Center is something for students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters to be truly proud of, it is also a facility designed to deliver to them and their families university-quality orthopaedic care,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, provost and executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine. “Nothing could speak as highly of the center as those at UT who know it best regularly utilizing its services.”

A $10 million project with state-of-the-art technology geared to a comprehensive patient-centered experience, the Orthopaedic Center is adjacent to the George Isaac Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, providing easy access for patients from the initial visit to outpatient surgery and physical therapy.

Billed as a “one-stop shop,” the new center is equipped with the latest imaging and radiology technology, exam and procedure rooms, and physical therapy and patient education areas. Plus, patients soon will be able to schedule appointments via e-mail, and a staff member dedicated to connect patients with therapists.

UTMC is the first orthopaedic practice in northwest Ohio to offer “neck-to-toe” care, from fractures and dislocations to joint replacement and trauma. Many health-care experts say the all-inclusive offering is the wave of the future for orthopaedic medicine, and it’s something the patients say they greatly appreciate as well.

“The health-care market in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan is one of the most competitive in the country,” Ebraheim said. “The Orthopaedic Center will allow UTMC to not only remain one of the top teaching hospitals, but also to continue raising the standards for patient care. It’s our responsibility and our pleasure to provide such comprehensive, high-quality service for our patients.”

[nickw311]

I'm pretty excited to see these developments around the campus area since I am in law school at UT. The Rocket center with the mixed residential/commercial looks particularly interesting. I like how they are putting it close to the road rather than 100 yards back with a huge parking lot in the front. The Campus village development also looks interesting but I can't get real excited about that because I lived there last year and it was the most dreadful living experience ever. I wouldn't wish upon my enemies to have to live at Campus Village.

[Mudhen419]

I was wondering since the groudbreaking for the arena was monday does this mean there are final plans drawn up? Or are the most recent drawings we have seen on the Lucascountyarena site going to be it? i've been thinking about this since sunday night when a friend and i walked the blocks around the arena and saw the stage and chairs set up for the event....... Go Tribe!!!!

[b1gh0u5e]

Went out to Fallen Timbers today and had lunch at PF Chang's...its nice and I think I actually like this mall better than Levis Commons.

I'm curious why Cousino put his son-in-law's name on the offer to buy the docks. Considering that their bid is the lower of the two, you'd think Cousino's name would be needed since he was the first to take the Dock's gamble.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Campus Village Center
At the corner of Secor Road and College Drive, Campus Village Communities is building a $3 million mixed-use facility to include 13 apartment units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space. The apartments will range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom and sit on the two stories above the first floor commercial space.

YES, that is EXACTLY what UT needs. Just look at Athens, Oxford, and Bowling Green to see how a college area is supposed to be.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I'm pretty excited to see these developments around the campus area since I am in law school at UT. The Rocket center with the mixed residential/commercial looks particularly interesting. I like how they are putting it close to the road rather than 100 yards back with a huge parking lot in the front. The Campus village development also looks interesting but I can't get real excited about that because I lived there last year and it was the most dreadful living experience ever. I wouldn't wish upon my enemies to have to live at Campus Village.

I'm an Alumni from UT, and I've heard stories about Campus Village from fires, multiple break-ins of cars, etc, etc. Perhaps with the infuse of developments with retail and residential will make it more safe, friendly, and secure. It's all about residential complexes should have security in place (i.e. cameras, alarms, etc) and students do have to work together as a "Block Neighborhood" but again, they need "time" to be part of that. But I'm all for developments and more retail/restaurants around the campus. Caribou Coffee should be looking at these sites at either Campus Village or Rocket Plaza.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I was wondering since the groudbreaking for the arena was monday does this mean there are final plans drawn up? Or are the most recent drawings we have seen on the Lucascountyarena site going to be it? i've been thinking about this since sunday night when a friend and i walked the blocks around the arena and saw the stage and chairs set up for the event....... Go Tribe!!!!

I think the current designs and architecture is a sure thing but it will be enhanced over period of time through the construction. They will heavily emphasize on "going green" of all the aspects of the building which includes solar, energy turbine, recycable water, etc, etc. Whatever you see on the website will be what they will be doing and will provide any updates to the progress of the project.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Campus Village Center
At the corner of Secor Road and College Drive, Campus Village Communities is building a $3 million mixed-use facility to include 13 apartment units and approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space. The apartments will range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom and sit on the two stories above the first floor commercial space.

YES, that is EXACTLY what UT needs. Just look at Athens, Oxford, and Bowling Green to see how a college area is supposed to be.

I agree and in the long-term I would like to see that development to go from UT Main Campus along the Dorr Street corridor expanded into downtown. Similar to High Street in Columbus in between OSU campus and their downtown.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Went out to Fallen Timbers today and had lunch at PF Chang's...its nice and I think I actually like this mall better than Levis Commons.

I'm curious why Cousino put his son-in-law's name on the offer to buy the docks. Considering that their bid is the lower of the two, you'd think Cousino's name would be needed since he was the first to take the Dock's gamble.

IMO, Levis Commons caters to the entertainment and upper middle-class folks for their retail and restaurants, because you cannot really shop anything for guys like me at Levis Commons. Fallen Timbers is good because it will restore loss of revenue and jobs from the Southwyck Mall and also it is in Lucas County which means restore of taxes and they are located in the JDEZ district with City of Toledo. It's a win-win all around.

Cousino and his family is all involved in the business, however, they work well with the Main Street Venue company who owns Zia's Real Seafood, Ciao's and several A2 businesses. So they both compliment to one another with their success of the Docks. I would love to see the "curse" to be removed from Gumbo's-Oasis space and fill it with a new exciting restaurant. I think a Chinese Bistro similar to P.F. Chang would do well at that location.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Group brings art to Warehouse District
By John Dorsey Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
Posted on Toledo Free Press website

Toledo's Warehouse District is about to get a bit of an artistic facelift, thanks to the members of the Toledo Warehouse District Assocation. The community group, which is composed of volunteers who live and work in the area, recently unveiled its latest work in progress, window art located at 411 Washington St. across from Fifth Third Field.

Diane T. Keil-Roe, vice president of Knight Crockett Miller Insurance, who also serves as the Warehouse District Association's secretary, coordinated the project.

Things first got started after building owner Carol Caple told her insurance agent she was interested in offering her window space to a community arts project and funding was secured through Knight Crockett Miller. Brent Lohmann, owner of the B Creative graphic design company, created the artwork. Roe said Lohmann donated a large amount of his time to the design, much like he did when helping to create the logo for the Uptown area.

“Our goal was to come together and to help raise the profile of the Warehouse District,” Roe said.

The Warehouse District Assocation has also been involved in the development of St. Clair Village, events such as Wander the Warehouse District, the creation of free walking maps of the area and has done neighborhood advocacy work with city government.

Lohmann's work isn't done yet — the Warehouse District Assocation is asking that area businesses and individuals consider coming forward to help fund the design of artwork in the six remaining window panes in Caple's building. The cost is $175 per pane. Lohmann has offered his design services for the artwork on the remaining panes.

“Funding really is the hard part in taking on a project like this — the actual artwork can be completed rather quickly,” Roe said.

The group is planning to place similar artwork in the windows of Otto Buehler's old building, which is located at 24 N. Erie St. next to Knight Crockett Miller. Other future projects include a Web site to be used for community networking purposes.

[Bonjourtoledo]

*Standing Ovation* Great article in regards to the Dillards being a "stick-in-the-mud" for Southwyck's development:

GUEST COLUMN
Dillard stalls Southwyck progress
By Rob Ludeman Special to the Toledo Free Press
Posted on Toledo Free Press 10-5-2007


In last week's Toledo Free Press, President and Publisher Tom Pounds made special note that I had called for a boycott of Dillard's locations in Toledo. I challenged Mr. Pounds' analysis of this issue and thank him for offering me the opportunity to clarify and expound on the Dillard's/Southwyck issue.

At an Environment, Utilities and Public Service committee hearing of Toledo City Council on Sept. 24, regarding the status and future of Southwyck, I stated that “I would not set foot in the Dillard's store at Fallen Timbers as a ‘personal protest.' ” That is my choice, and I will stick to it. This was apparently misconstrued by some, including Mr. Pounds, that I was calling for a full boycott of Dillard's in the Toledo area. Although many in our community, especially those who live near Southwyck, have expressed that they support a boycott; that was not my purpose. My statement of personal protest, however, does not come close to the feelings of extreme frustration I have had in trying to deal with Dillard's for the past seven years.

In 2001, I was contacted by Susan Russell of Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Chicago, who was interested in a new Sears store in the vacated Montgomery Ward building at Southwyck. I, and others, worked diligently with Ms. Russell to make that a reality and use Sears to help redevelop Southwyck and Reynolds Road. To that end, I created an Enterprise Zone and received quick State of Ohio approval to allow assistance in future financing for the ventures. The State of Ohio Department of Development, Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, the Lucas County Commissioners and the City of Toledo all worked cooperatively on this venture. I pushed legislation, which was passed in 2002, to waive the “living wage” requirement of the city for the Southwyck mall to stimulate the project. That project, unfortunately, did not come to fruition in great part because of Bill Dillard.

Shortly thereafter, Westfield announced it intended to purchase and redevelop Southwyck to complement the Westfield Franklin Park project. The May Company was interested in a major anchor store at Southwyck. However, Mr. Dillard had a controlling interest in Southwyck, did not want that competition, and this deal also fell by the wayside.

Then in July of 2005, Larry Dillin announced plans to develop Southwyck with a mixed-use concept. This was an exciting opportunity with a successful local developer. I, and many others, have worked since that time to bring Larry Dillin's concept to reality. But at every opportunity, Bill Dillard and his team, while acting interested in Southwyck, moved full steam ahead with the Fallen Timbers project, knowing that they had no intention to stay at Southwyck. At this point, the Southwyck redevelopment is stalled simply because of Bill Dillard and business associate Buddy Herring and their over-inflated value of a nearly abandoned property. The city is discussing eminent domain in an attempt to leverage these two men out of that site.

I have personally met with Bill Dillard, his associate Wes Cherry and Buddy Herring. In the past, hundreds of neighbors and customers of Dillard's have sent letters of support for them to stay at Southwyck. But as I write this article today, all attempts to work with Dillard's have failed. They have not been a good corporate partner in the Toledo area. They are more responsible for the demise of Southwyck than any other entity, while exercising their control of South Toledo from corporate offices in Little Rock, Ark. They have not been forthright and honest with the citizens of our community. So, at this point, the city must use every tool available to move the Dillard-led coalition out and let Larry Dillin move forward to bring about a real rebirth of the Southwyck area.

In conclusion, I believe in the free market and competition to be the best for the citizen and consumer. But there has been no free market at Southwyck for some time. Dillard's has seen to that. So if any of you reading this article visit the new Fallen Timbers development and stop in to Dillard's to see their new store, you will not see me there. My “personal protest” is firm. And I will continue to do everything possible to assist in the Villages of Southwyck to make that project a reality.

[Bonjourtoledo]

A lot of changes to the Warehouse District that is located south of downtown Toledo. I went for a walk on Thursday early evening and took some shots:

Before shot of St. Patrick's Church (with no steeple):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StPatrick3-17-2006.jpg

After shot of St. Patrick's Church with the steeple (I loooooove it, it really brings back the skyline):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StPat210-5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StPat10-5-2007.jpg

Redeveloped old Toledo Heater Company on Saint Clair Street and still redeveloping the rest of the block with businesses moving into the neighborhood:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StClair10-5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StClair310-5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StClair410-5-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StClair210-5-2007.jpg

Soon to be condominiums to be built on (facing) Lafayette in between Saint Clair and Depot Streets next to the redeveloped Toledo Heater Company building:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/StClair510-5-2007.jpg

Shot of Superior Street in the Warehouse District with the skyline of downtown (looking north):
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/Superior10-5-2007.jpg

[Pilliod Njaim]

The Warehouse District is looking great! Even in the face of tough economic times (though that should change soon), Toledo's core neighborhoods continue to revitalize.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Such welcoming news since ThyssenKrupp decided to stay and expand in Fostoria. Fostoria is located about 35 miles southeast of Toledo within the MSA district and has a population of about 14,000.

ThyssenKrupp to remain in Fostoria and add jobs
Posted on Toledo Blade website
Article published Saturday, October 6, 2007


FOSTORIA – After a year of uncertainty about its future in Fostoria, ThyssenKrupp Crankshaft Co. said yesterday that it planned to stay and add employees.

Mayor John Davoli said officials at the company formerly known as Atlas Crankshaft contacted him and told him they planned to maintain their manufacturing plants in both Fostoria and Danville, Ill., rather than consolidate operations as had been feared.

Jim Bischoff, director of Fostoria Economic Development Corp., said ThyssenKrupp recently called back 45 laid-off employees, bringing the total work force in Fostoria to 356.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[b1gh0u5e]

Having known and worked with both parties involved in the "bidding war", I'd have to suggest going with Mainstreet Ventures. Gibbons and Co. just do it better and more professionally.

[Paddington]

I was underwhelmed by the new Fallen Timbers mall in Maumee. Maybe I'm spoiled by Easton in Columbus. Fallen Timbers is 1 million square feet, which is not much smaller than Franklin Park... But it felt tiny. It felt like Levis Commons with 2 department stores. It's far outside of town, and the area around it smells of dung for miles.

Franklin Park is still one of my favorite malls. I'm a big mall nut, and I've been to them all over the country, but I think overall Franklin Park is one of the best. Fallen Timbers is definitely no challenge to Franklin Park.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I was underwhelmed by the new Fallen Timbers mall in Maumee. Maybe I'm spoiled by Easton in Columbus. Fallen Timbers is 1 million square feet, which is not much smaller than Franklin Park... But it felt tiny. It felt like Levis Commons with 2 department stores. It's far outside of town, and the area around it smells of dung for miles.

Franklin Park is still one of my favorite malls. I'm a big mall nut, and I've been to them all over the country, but I think overall Franklin Park is one of the best. Fallen Timbers is definitely no challenge to Franklin Park.

That's why I prefer "enclosed" mall over open-air mall anytime. I see open-air mall nothing more than a glorified shopping center. Toledo metro can support 2-3 enclosed mall with the year-round weather that we have, Franklin Park, Woodville (they need to renovate and rebirth), and whomever is next would be sufficient to support the region.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[ddp]

I was underwhelmed by the new Fallen Timbers mall in Maumee... It's far outside of town, and the area around it smells of dung for miles.

That's just a silly comment. It's called landscaping, i.e. mulch. The smell will dissipate in a week or two.

[Pilliod Njaim]

I was underwhelmed by the new Fallen Timbers mall in Maumee. Maybe I'm spoiled by Easton in Columbus. Fallen Timbers is 1 million square feet, which is not much smaller than Franklin Park... But it felt tiny. It felt like Levis Commons with 2 department stores. It's far outside of town, and the area around it smells of dung for miles.

Franklin Park is still one of my favorite malls. I'm a big mall nut, and I've been to them all over the country, but I think overall Franklin Park is one of the best. Fallen Timbers is definitely no challenge to Franklin Park.

Well, the dung smell will go away, as said above. Plus, I think it's been like 90 degrees in Toledo over the last couple of days, which would make the smell worse.

Anyways, if Fallen Timbers sucks, that's good for the City of Toledo. Southwyck still has to be renovated, and with a 1 million square foot "shopping towne" only three or four miles away, that is too much competition in the southwest metro area. If Fallen Timbers is underwhelming, then hopefully it will fail. The Toledo market can probably only sustain one mall that size in the southwest area, not two, and I hope the one mall will end up being in the city limits.

Personally, I hate malls in general, but I do think there is something wrong when developers in Ohio think it's appropriate to build outdoor malls (they don't understand how the state hibernates during winter). Granted, Toledo doesn't have the worst winter in the state (Cleveland is certainly worse), but for about four months of the year, it's cold and there are good chances of getting large snow storms. I can't imgaine anyone wanting to be outside during December, January, Februrary, or March in Ohio. Even without a lot of snow, winters in Ohio suck. They're typically overcast and depressing. Not to mention the recent trend has been towards "white Easters". In Athens last year, we had a big winter storm on Easter (an April Easter mind you), and I'm guessing the same may have happened up north. In Ohio, it seems the state sort of slows down and hibernates during winter. A lot of people here just hate cold weather and dreary skies (maybe that's why so many Ohioans move to Florida and Arizona). I don't think it's a northern thing, just an Ohio thing. In Boston and New York, and any area with mountains, winter is not a time to hole up and become a hermit crab. In Ohio, it is. Other than ice fishing on Lake Erie, the state offers very little winter recreation. There are no mountains, and the so-called "ski resorts" are a complete joke (worst in America). Most northern states have more to offer in terms of winter recreation.

I like Ohio during the other three seasons, but during winter, it can be incredibly boring.

[Mudhen419]

No that smell is Dung.... I go out this way a lot to fish the jerome rd rapids..... There is a sewage plant on Jerome I believe about a half mile from TSAFT. But yea the smell willbe gone in about a month but it will return when the weather gets warm again.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[nickw311]

"Plans for the $2 million, 15,000 square foot facility include a tanning salon, a hair salon, and a coffee bar with a cafÈ. Twelve two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments will be located on the second floor and parking will be available for 100 vehicles. Limited space is still currently still available."

Bonjour - where did you get this information about the Rocket Plaza? From looking at the sketches outside the building it appears to be a one floor building. It would be nice if it were multi-level and was mixed residential and commercial though.

[Bonjourtoledo]

"Plans for the $2 million, 15,000 square foot facility include a tanning salon, a hair salon, and a coffee bar with a cafÈ. Twelve two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments will be located on the second floor and parking will be available for 100 vehicles. Limited space is still currently still available."

Bonjour - where did you get this information about the Rocket Plaza? From looking at the sketches outside the building it appears to be a one floor building. It would be nice if it were multi-level and was mixed residential and commercial though.

I got the information from the monthly publicated Toledo Business Journal, it does look like a one-floor structure at this phase of the construction but it is not completed as of yet. I could not find any rendering to this project, however, we will have to wait a little bit longer as the construction gets completed and we would see the full extent of what was mentioned of what it will actually be.

[nickw311]

There is also a building on bancroft being remodeled a little east of the campus. Any idea what is going to happen there?

[Bonjourtoledo]

There is also a building on bancroft being remodeled a little east of the campus. Any idea what is going to happen there?

Are you referring about the area of Maxwell's Coffeehouse, 7 Eleven and Gatorz Club? If so, I've noticed something was starting there a couple of weeks back, they torn down a body shop building and working on the little strip mall that had some sort of Southern Soul food restaurant before. I haven't come across any development news on this one as of yet.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Levis Commons to add 5 locally owned stores
Posted on Toledo Blade website
Article published Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Levis Commons shopping complex in Perrysburg has announced the addition of five retailers, all of them locally owned.

Emma Louise, a children’s and teen’s furniture store; Kidz Watch, a day-care center; Tri-Coast Title Agency; Fiddle Stix Boutique and Gallery; and C. Sterling Jewelers are to move into sites on Levis Commons’ southern side, where a $7 million building is under construction.

[Bonjourtoledo]

New water park in Sandusky
Hawaiian-themed indoor waterpark to open in Sandusky
Posted on NBC 24 website Tuesday, October 09, 2007

SANDUSKY, OH (AP) -- Construction is under way on Maui Sands Resort, the new Hawaiian-themed indoor water park set to open in Sandusky this spring.

A 30-million dollar expansion and renovation project will make the resort the second indoor water park in the amusement park town.

Rides at Maui Sands will include the SurfRider, a stationary two-foot-high wave for body surfing, four water slides and a lazy river.

The Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express on the water park's grounds will also undergo island-themed renovations.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Bonjourtoledo]

Toledo most livable US city?
UN committee says Glass City under consideration for honor
By Matt Trezza
Posted on NBC 24 website Monday, October 08, 2007

Would you call Toledo one of the world's most livable cities? That's what a United Nations committee is saying. The mayor is headed overseas next month to make his case. But will an award make any difference for residents?

Mayor Finkbeiner was all smiles as he made the announcement. “We just need to get the word out to so many of our brethren who live here, one of the most livable cities of 300,000 in the United States,” the mayor said. So used to being on the bottom of the list, city staff says the Glass City's got the chance to come out on top.

A UN committee's has Toledo in the running with five other cities for the title of most livable. Other five are Edogawa, Japan; Lyon, France; Malmo, Sweden; Manukau, New Zealand and Niagara, Canada. But can a neat title really change the city?

“I think it can make a difference,” says Sue Wuest, Assistant Director of the Urban Affairs Center at the University of Toledo, “especially if we work really hard to make sure that it's true.”

Schools and jobs are important factors in bringing people to a city. But for the people already here, urban affairs experts say morale is important. “You want to wake up every morning feeling good about yourself; people in Toledo want to wake up feeling good about the city. If we can make the top of the list, that's going to be better than being on the bottom of the list,” says Neil Reid, Director of the Urban Affairs Center.

The mayor will lead a delegation to London, England late next month to try and convince the committee that the glass city is the most livable. The mayor is looking for private donors to fund his trip overseas. He says he doesn't want to subsidize the visit with taxpayer dollars.

[Pilliod Njaim]

^If there's one thing Toledo has, it's some damn good and affordable housing.

[cjfjapan]

^If there's one thing Toledo has, it's some damn good and affordable housing.

No traffic, decent schools, good water, good recreational opportunities, excellent transportation. Hmmm...it's a pretty awesome place.

[Pilliod Njaim]

^that too. Don't forget Oak Openings. It's the most ecologically diverse part of Ohio and home to many species not found anywhere else in the Midwest. It also holds an ancient Lake Erie beach and is one of the largest Oak Savannahs on earth. Oak Openings is by far the best metropark I've ever been to. Most state parks can't compare. With the exapnsion of the park and state forest, it's forming Toledo's greenbelt.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

This is the biggest horsesh*t I've ever read in regards to a candidate stating that Wal-Mart is not right for North Toledo. Such HORSESH*T, pardon my language, but this guy defies logic. Wal-Mart is perfect for the area especially for the Alexis Road corridor and the large population of North Toledo and Bedford Township of Michigan. North Towne Square Mall is dead and it is needed to be redeveloped into some sort of commercial activity and Wal-Mart is perfect due to other stores being located far away (i.e. Sylvania Township, Holland, Oregon, Perrysburg, and South Toledo). Menards is building on Alexis Road and new hotel of Marriot Fairfield just opened, so it makes sense to keep tax dollars rolling into Toledo especially if you are going to serve 35,000+ residents of Bedford Township alone.

[Mudhen419]

Waiting patiently for Dillins anouncement..............

[Bonjourtoledo]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/MarinaDevelopment10-11-2007.jpg

A little blurb from WTVG 13 ABC local affiliate:

New plans for the Marina District to be unveiled

The City of Toledo held up its part of the bargain and today we will find out if developer Larry Dillin held up his. New plans for the Marina District will be unveiled.
The plans are big and expensive for the Marina District. This morning Larry Dillon will hold a press conference to lay down his vision.

It will include more than $75 million in new vertical projects. Dillon will also be unveiling new drawings that will give residents a look at the layout of the Marina District.

Construction will start later this month. Then vertical development will begin next spring. This is all in a plan to fill the area with retail, restaurants and market rate housing.

Still more to come in terms of details and such. Stay tune........

[Pilliod Njaim]

^totally badass.

[Bonjourtoledo]

^totally badass.

There's more.

[Bonjourtoledo]

A close up of the rendering of the Marina District:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/RowHouseMarina10-11-2007.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Decker9999/WaterFrontBoard.jpg

[cjfjapan]

Very nice - and only $125K for a "purchased building"? Does that mean a townhouse? Quite a bargain if true...

[nickw311]

Looks very exciting, I wish it was more vertical though.

[rustbeltrevival]

These renderings look fantastic! Investors seem to finally be acting on Toledo's potential. At first glance this seems to be pretty genuinely "new urban," too. And a relatively quick walk to work for those who work downtown.

I'm also curious about what's being put together on Bancroft next to Maxwell's, as another poster noted. It seems that they're adding another story to the building, or possibly a second story deck, but no clue as to what's going in. Would love to hear more if anyone finds anything out.

[nickw311]

While on the topic of new residential developments down town, does anyone know what is going on with the Water Street lawsuit? Are things going well for the development?

[Bonjourtoledo]

While on the topic of new residential developments down town, does anyone know what is going on with the Water Street lawsuit? Are things going well for the development?

"Grandstanding" is the simple word for that situation. It was a matter of further approval from historic board and paperwork in need to speed up at the State Historic Preservation bureau to release the historic grant monies. It is a very fickle situation since the building is declared as historic which has a lot of red-tape and by using the lawsuit is a common tactic to speed things up down in Columbus. At this point, the project is still on track with the redevelopment starting next spring.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Looks very exciting, I wish it was more vertical though.

I think it is not more vertical because of the Acme Plant, new ferry terminal, and Brenner Marina is in the way. They want to use those land area for commercial and retail developments which will surround the housing developments. Hopefully we will get more specific details in tomorrow's edition.

[Bonjourtoledo]

These renderings look fantastic! Investors seem to finally be acting on Toledo's potential. At first glance this seems to be pretty genuinely "new urban," too. And a relatively quick walk to work for those who work downtown.

I'm also curious about what's being put together on Bancroft next to Maxwell's, as another poster noted. It seems that they're adding another story to the building, or possibly a second story deck, but no clue as to what's going in. Would love to hear more if anyone finds anything out.

Thanks for the update on that mysterious project on Bancroft (lol), keep us updated as time goes by because I'm usually not in that part of town very often.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Very nice - and only $125K for a "purchased building"? Does that mean a townhouse? Quite a bargain if true...

This could perhaps be for studio-like townhouses or condos. If this is true, it would be very attractive for single individuals.

[Mudhen419]

Hmm I figured they would have said something about the cruise ship terminal today.... My dad told me its pretty much done ( He works for the edison as a meter mechanic) Hopefully he will get the east side route again next year so he can work on the bulk of the marina district project. One more thing..... Does anyone know what there doing with the building thats downtown with the guitar painted on the side? I wanna say its on the south east side of the Arena. Are they tearing it down? Does this building still have tennants? what was it originally used for??

[Bonjourtoledo]

Hmm I figured they would have said something about the cruise ship terminal today.... My dad told me its pretty much done ( He works for the edison as a meter mechanic) Hopefully he will get the east side route again next year so he can work on the bulk of the marina district project. One more thing..... Does anyone know what there doing with the building thats downtown with the guitar painted on the side? I wanna say its on the south east side of the Arena. Are they tearing it down? Does this building still have tennants? what was it originally used for??

Cruise ship (ferry) terminal will not be inaugurated until next spring as they are lining up some ferry operators to begin a line service to either Windsor, Cedar Point/Sandusky or the Erie Islands.

The building with the huge guitar on the side is not going anywhere, it will stay put as it will be part of the new plaza of the downtown arena along with Key Bank building and some law office building that used to be facing the now vacant Superior Street. In terms of who's who the tenant in the Guitar building, it is a high-end jewelry store that has been there forever since the early 1900s. I cannot think of the name of the store right now.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Mudhen419]

Thanks for the info on the building bonjour. Im glad to hear its staying I think it definatly fits in with this arts plaza i keep hearing about.maybe they can clean the facades of this building up like what was done to the building that the swamp shop is in at 5th 3rd.

And also..... These new plans for the marina district. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks. Is 700 housing units to much? I know this is really only residential part of the marina district but it looks like its taking up more than 21 acres to me.

One more thing... Was out in rossford today drivin down dixie hwyand i saw that they have the area pretty much bounded by 75 and pilkington cleared. Well almost cleared. I remember hearing about some development going back there a while back but don;t remember many of the details. Asked pops and he said he probly wont know anything till the time comes for him to mess with the power meters....

[Bonjourtoledo]

Thanks for the info on the building bonjour. Im glad to hear its staying I think it definatly fits in with this arts plaza i keep hearing about.maybe they can clean the facades of this building up like what was done to the building that the swamp shop is in at 5th 3rd.

And also..... These new plans for the marina district. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks. Is 700 housing units to much? I know this is really only residential part of the marina district but it looks like its taking up more than 21 acres to me.

One more thing... Was out in rossford today drivin down dixie hwyand i saw that they have the area pretty much bounded by 75 and pilkington cleared. Well almost cleared. I remember hearing about some development going back there a while back but don;t remember many of the details. Asked pops and he said he probly wont know anything till the time comes for him to mess with the power meters....


In my opinion, I don't think 700 is too much because the more available market-rate residential the better. The downtown area needs more of market-rate development due to a lot of existing built-up areas with limited open space for new developmental opportunities. This is why Marina District is so attractive along with connecting to the International Park, view and access of the river, proximity to downtown, etc, etc. The high number of houses to be built will enable mall-like retail and commercial businesses to come into the central city to cater the disposable income groups.

The land off of the Miami Street exit from I-75 nearby Rossford is another riverfront project that is spearheaded by Fifth Third Bank and the LOF company which will consists of market-rate residential and commercial developments.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[nickw311]

redacted

[b1gh0u5e]

Who exactly are these 700 residents with disposable income that will WANT to live in this Marina District??? Poor schools, an inept city government, all surrounded by the crap on the East side...what is the attraction???

[nickw311]

I somewhat agree, 700 seems high to me but then again I am not an urban designer.

As far as the school system, I doubt if these people will have kids. I think it will be more of an older crowd whose kids are grown, and/or a younger crowd who has not had kids yet.

If the marina district does well I think it will be good for the TPS because of the tax dollars brought into the city and the presumably high income residents.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Who exactly are these 700 residents with disposable income that will WANT to live in this Marina District??? Poor schools, an inept city government, all surrounded by the crap on the East side...what is the attraction???

b1gh0u5e, I will try to be straight-forward with you and thus far we've maintained positive, open-dialogue (after 40,000 hits) about development in our region. Let's not start bringing in negativities into this forum and it's totally unfair of you to call East Toledo crap. East Toledo is truely blue-collar, older neighborhood with tight density of housing and yes it is not a la' Levis Commons like, and it has a lot of older, ripe-to-be-developed buildings in the neighborhood.

Keep your politics and your dislikes out of this forum because some of us may disagree on certain development projects but we don't "dog" the entire system in our community based on personal ideologies. TPS is not poor, it is a huge school district (30,000+ students) and it's urban-setting and yes they do have challenges but what big schools doesn't? There are ample amount of great schools around the Marina District such as Toledo School for the Arts, Central Catholic Schools, Old West End Academy, other parochial schools, Maritime Academy, and yes even TPS have something to offer whereas many other rural or suburban schools does not offer.

Inept city government? No one's disputing that but we certainly do not bring that topic into this forum because with the ongoing developments in our region most businesses cannot exist without government assistance of some sort. In most cases, businesses would not be able to grow or retain without tax abatements, infrastructure improvements and support, and assistance. There are other websites for you to mingle on about city government, but this site is not the place.

As I have said in many, many posts of this thread, Marina District will cater to the singles, young couples, empty nesters, professionals, small family, urban dwellers, and others. There is a demand for it because Toledo and its region is dominated with suburbuan-style housing. With Larry Dillin's track record and the magnitude of the residential developments it will take steam in the long-run along with the new I-280 bridge, new downtown arena, redeveloping Warehouse District neighborhood, The Docks and International Park, new ferry terminal, new Locke Library, etc, etc. However, with the new developments of Marina District it will increase the new higher income population which will infuse a gentrification process into the neighborhood, and the retail and commercial will certainly follow because it is #1 rule in all of urban planner's books.

This is not some "flash-in-the-pan or an over-night" project to take place at the Marina District, this is a long-term developmental project that will change the face of East Toledo and river forever.

Too bad your negativities has clouded your thinking and with that type of attitude is what truely keeps this region back from its full potential. If you don't have anything constructive to post, don't post anything at all. I guarantee that you will be ignored.

[ddp]

Who exactly are these 700 residents with disposable income that will WANT to live in this Marina District??? Poor schools, an inept city government, all surrounded by the crap on the East side...what is the attraction???

Re-gentrification in any city takes commitment, assumes risk, and demands time. If governments, private developers, and individuals consistently took the position that "bad areas" should be left to rot, just because the "place" is not perfect, imagine what our society would be left with at the end of the day.

I, for one, am all for positive efforts that help to advance an area. All of the points you raise are fixable, but stating the past and current does nothing to improving the future. If not now, when?

[ToledoHokie]

Who exactly are these 700 residents with disposable income that will WANT to live in this Marina District??? Poor schools, an inept city government, all surrounded by the crap on the East side...what is the attraction???

Yes it will be risky and all 700 are not going to sell or be rented in 3 months, but despite what many people think the Toledo region has a great quality of life with many opportunities for recreation and a great potential for long-term business development. Creating a waterfront residential development in Toledo is sorely needed and making it an urban setting is even better.

I have lived in Connecticut, Virginia, and Alaska and everywhere has its great attributes, but Toledo as a whole has more to offer to greater portion of its population than any of these other places do either due to cost, distance, or crowds.

[ilovetoledo]

I just wanted to say that i am new to this and am glad to be on here voiceing my opinion to other people that love toledo!

[ilovetoledo]

I think that 700 is perfect due to the lack of population growth in the city. Downtown toledo is becomming a place where everyone wants to live work and play. This will draw middle to upper classes to the inner city to live. And if we take away from Perrysburg, who cares. Toledo is growing vastly with many projects such as the marina district, the arena, southwyck shopping center, new downtown developments (warehouse district), model block program, and the expansion of Toledo's premeir mall. Many things are happening here in Toledo i dont see why you wouldnt want to be apart of a growing community...

[toledo25]

Any update on if the proposal for Deveaux expansion/revitalization?! I know that Little Caesars is moving from their current location to next door to playmakers (making room for future expansion!?) and I have heard the LIFESTYLES on Monroe have been trying to sell their building and relocate to the plaza but were or are unable to sell the building. Any word on this?

I hope they tear down the old friendly's and build a little "community shops" place, with a cafe, coffee shop, small grocery store and or convenient store...

I love this place. I love this city.

Love Toledo.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I just wanted to say that i am new to this and am glad to be on here voiceing my opinion to other people that love toledo!

Welcome! We look forward to your constructive dialogues about our regional and local developments along with educating each other about the happenings in our area to emphasize growth and positiveness.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Any update on if the proposal for Deveaux expansion/revitalization?! I know that Little Caesars is moving from their current location to next door to playmakers (making room for future expansion!?) and I have heard the LIFESTYLES on Monroe have been trying to sell their building and relocate to the plaza but were or are unable to sell the building. Any word on this?

I hope they tear down the old friendly's and build a little "community shops" place, with a cafe, coffee shop, small grocery store and or convenient store...

I love this place. I love this city.

Love Toledo.


Hey toledo25, from what I gathered they are moving Little Caesars and a toy store down to the south side of the plaza while they will raze this portion to make room for the new Cedar Creek Church. It will infill the grass area toward the vacant Food Town Plus building and they wanted the Cedar Creek Church to be an anchor-like structure of the redeveloping shopping center. Also they will be building storefront, strip building along Sylvania Avenue west of where the vacant Friendly's is located and they had interest of a cafe, coffeehouse, and a small retail to occupy the new space.

Yes, Lifestyles have been wanting to go into DeVeaux to be closer to their clients and high population of the surrounding neighborhoods (Sylvania/Douglas/Laskey area), and I haven't heard anything different as of yet. IMO from what I see they seem to be doing well in business of where they are located at, but if they ever move away from the Monroe site, that property will be extremely valuable due to the forever-expanding mall across the street.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Toledo is growing vastly with many projects such as the marina district

It's not growing vastly, but is has an incredible amount of investment right now (one of the highest dollar amounts in the Midwest). Also, Toledo has added housing units since 2000, even if population estimates (and they are just estimates- wait until the real census) show population loss. Simply put, there is more housing going up than being torn down. City Council made sure to mention this when the census estimated population decline since 2000. It's great to see the Marina District taking off. This has happened much faster than in other cities with comparable projects (like The Banks in Cincinnati). The Marina District will add population and re-urbanize what was previously a wasteland.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Keep in mind, there is already a Hampton Inn & Suites project under construction nearby to the approved plans for Country Inn & Suities where the Bass Pro Shops will be making its debut next year.

Site plan for new hotel approved
Posted on Rossford Record Journal website 10-18-2007

Another hotel to be located in the Crossroads area received approval from the Rossford Planning Commission last week to proceed with construction.
Country Inn and Suites will be located at 9790 Clark Drive, on the cul-de-sac in between Courtyard by Marriott hotel and the former North Coast motorcycle shop.

The three-story, 80-unit hotel is owned by brothers Robert and William Nofar of Michigan.
Robert Nofar asked for the planning commission's approval for an 80-foot sign to be erected on their property along I-75.
Because the exit for State Route 795 is combined with the Ohio Turnpike entrance, he said motorists often are confused about where to exit.
"If you're going south, you don't see it until you get to it," Mr. Nofar said. "The exposure, being 80 feet, would be helpful for whoever is driving through."

The hotel hopes to attract guests from out of state and Canada, he added.
The city's zoning code limits signs to 65 feet in height.

[ilovetoledo]

now whats going on with this arts district. Everybody kind of made a big deal about it then i hear nothing about it. I hope that this will make people wanna live downtown and be apart of an arts based community. I hope that it will grow to one day be like Columbus'

[Pilliod Njaim]

My question is what is going on with the Seagate Center renovation that was talked about a few years back? With the construction of the new arena underway, a renovated Seagate Center would compliment it nicely.

[Bonjourtoledo]

now whats going on with this arts district. Everybody kind of made a big deal about it then i hear nothing about it. I hope that this will make people wanna live downtown and be apart of an arts based community. I hope that it will grow to one day be like Columbus'

This is a long-term project whereas properties will be bought, buildings will be rehabbed, and it will continue the momentum of this district. Keep in mind, this was just announced not too long ago and there are already abundance of artists and galleries in this zonal area. The Warehouse District is in the center of it all and it's coming along very nicely. The old Park Hotel nearby the Union Station will be converted into artists living quarters with studios and new TARPS/Intermodal facility will be built around Union Station will be constructed in a couple of years. There are a lot of things that are happening which will come through like Short North did since they began their redevelopment back in the early 80s.

[Bonjourtoledo]

My question is what is going on with the Seagate Center renovation that was talked about a few years back? With the construction of the new arena underway, a renovated Seagate Center would compliment it nicely.

Seagate Convention Center has a year or two as it will be paying off its 25-year loan bond and they will be beginning soon. As a redeveloping project, they will be adding another floor on top of the convention center as part of the "Ballroom" Auditorium, adding a tunnel/skywalk to the new downtown arena, and recently they've added gas turbines which is environmentally friendly and does not have to pay utility. The convention folks does not really promote their redeveloping efforts of their facility.

[ilovetoledo]

is there any pictures of what this might look like?
does segate really get that many people there to expand?

[b1gh0u5e]

Seagate doesn't get anything of any substance, if that is what you are asking.

Bonjour Toledo: My post did not break any rules. If you don't like what I asked, ignore it and move on. By the way, I'm still waiting for a legitimate answer.

[tk29]

I heard about plans for the old national amusements theater property on Monroe St a few weeks ago on 13ABC. They mentioned it would be torn down in the spring and some type of national retailer would replace it. They also said the other theater property on Secor was just put for sale.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Seagate doesn't get anything of any substance, if that is what you are asking.

Bonjour Toledo: My post did not break any rules. If you don't like what I asked, ignore it and move on. By the way, I'm still waiting for a legitimate answer.

Who cares if your post didn't break any rules, but you didn't have to downgrade the thread with your silly comments. Your question have been answered in numerous of responses and if you don't see that, may God help you.

If you can't be constructive in the post with your statements, views, and questions, you will be ignored for sure. Usually by being constructive in discussions will enable a healthy ongoing dialogue not some ignorant comment like "who would want to live by crap, etc, etc".

[Bonjourtoledo]

is there any pictures of what this might look like?
does segate really get that many people there to expand?

double post

[Bonjourtoledo]

is there any pictures of what this might look like?
does segate really get that many people there to expand?

Nope, not that I have seen.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I heard about plans for the old national amusements theater property on Monroe St a few weeks ago on 13ABC. They mentioned it would be torn down in the spring and some type of national retailer would replace it. They also said the other theater property on Secor was just put for sale.

Are you referring to the National Amusements theatre in front of Target? I've heard that same story more than a year ago and I'm still waiting.

Former Showcase Theatre on Secor Road should be a viable location since Westgate is now resurging with new developments and newly-opened Costco. Whole Foods Market or Giant Eagle would be good there since the Kroger on Monroe & Secor is crowded 24/7.

[tk29]

Are you referring to the National Amusements theatre in front of Target? I've heard that same story more than a year ago and I'm still waiting.

Former Showcase Theatre on Secor Road should be a viable location since Westgate is now resurging with new developments and newly-opened Costco. Whole Foods Market or Giant Eagle would be good there since the Kroger on Monroe & Secor is crowded 24/7.
Yes Bonjour, they mentioned that the entire shopping plaza including Target would be renovated.

I think Whole Foods would be perfect for that area!

[Mudhen419]

Found a pretty cool headline and article while lookin up info for the new arena.... How does an 80,000 seat arena sound for toledo?http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D03E0D91E3BEE3ABC4151DFB0668382609EDE

[ilovetoledo]

I think thats cool that we were in the new york times. If only those people knew how much this arena is going to redevelope our downtown. Maybe they should write a story on that...

[ilovetoledo]

How about that empty fiberglass tower?
Whats going on with that because it just sits there with no tennants?
I heard possible demolition plans.
I dont understand how a skyscrapper like that can just sit empty.
Cant any smaller tennants go in like a law office of something? What would be perfect is a resturaunt at the top with housing on the lower floors.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Found a pretty cool headline and article while lookin up info for the new arena.... How does an 80,000 seat arena sound for toledo?http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D03E0D91E3BEE3ABC4151DFB0668382609EDE

Great find in a historical article, thanks so much! Toledo was thinking "big" in the 1800s and early 1900s which was orginally was supposed to be the "Chicago" of the midwest.

[Bonjourtoledo]

How about that empty fiberglass tower?
Whats going on with that because it just sits there with no tennants?
I heard possible demolition plans.
I dont understand how a skyscrapper like that can just sit empty.
Cant any smaller tennants go in like a law office of something? What would be perfect is a resturaunt at the top with housing on the lower floors.

We've covered this issue many times in this thread, there will be no demolition to the "Hytower" building because they are making huge profits on it due to satellites, antennas, and wireless on the top of the building and also the parking garage.

At one time, when Owens Corning occupied the building they had a high-class restaurant at the top floor and considering it is vacant there is so much potential to this building. Eyde company is the current owner since Owens Corning moved to the waterfront. I strongly feel it will change very soon once the downtown arena and Marina District is constructed.

A few ideas that IMO it would be great to bring life into the 30-floor building:
1. Condominiums at the top 10 floors then hotel the next ten floors and then commercial space the bottom ten floors which would be a mixed development style.

2. Charter One Bank or First Merit Bank could buy the building to expand its regional mark since Huntington has bought out Sky Bank.

3. Owens Corning could expand its research development department by moving into the Hytower building and redevelop it with other tenants.

4. HCR Manor expanding its world headquarters by adding workforce into the building.

5. Ever since the federal building was torn down at Summit & Jefferson in 2000, it hasn't had a home since then so perhaps they should move into the building along with the state government's committment to bring regional offices to Toledo instead of all their offices in Columbus something that Governor Strickland and Lee Fisher is strongly considering.

6. County offices to move out of the Government Center and create a Government Center II to centralize the location instead of spreading offices throughout the county--this would reduce cost of paying multiple locations by having one centralize location.

7. Dana Corporation will be emerging out of bankruptcy soon, perhaps they should bring back all corporate/research jobs outside of the region and bring them into the Hytower Building.

8. Market to the corporate companies in Detroit metro, Chicago metro and NYC metro to move their headquarters to Toledo with tax abatements and other business-incentives

[Paddington]

Isn't there a problem with asbestos in some of those downtown highrises?

It's not surprising since Toledo was something of an asbestos capital.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Isn't there a problem with asbestos in some of those downtown highrises?

It's not surprising since Toledo was something of an asbestos capital.

Yes, the Hytower building has asbestos but I think they cleared it out because you can see ceiling tiles, insulations, and etc removed which is in position to be redeveloped with a new potential owner.

As far as Toledo being asbestos capital, that is the first I have ever heard of in my lifetime.

[Hanker]

Isn't there a problem with asbestos in some of those downtown highrises?

It's not surprising since Toledo was something of an asbestos capital.

The building is still full of asbestos, together with having sustained severe water damage throughout (the owner forgot to turn off the water one winter when he decided not to heat the building), that the structure is economically unsuitable for any form of renovation. To make matters worse, with the asbestos, to tear down the building would cost a fortune.

The current owner covers his bills through the rental of rooftop space for communications equipment. Sad to say, the Hytower building will likely remain the way it is for some time.

[Bonjourtoledo]

The building is still full of asbestos, together with having sustained severe water damage throughout (the owner forgot to turn off the water one winter when he decided not to heat the building), that the structure is economically unsuitable for any form of renovation. To make matters worse, with the asbestos, to tear down the building would cost a fortune.

The current owner covers his bills through the rental of rooftop space for communications equipment. Sad to say, the Hytower building will likely remain the way it is for some time.

Thanks for the update and detailed statement about the HyTower building, I totally forgotten about the incident in regards to the water damage. The building IMO is still relatively new since it was built in the late 60s, and perhaps something could be done about it in terms of rebabbing inside and outside of this structure.

I know there has been numerous of talks about demolishing the tower for years but they backed off in terms of rehabbing it instead since the talk of building a downtown arena few years back. Perhaps they take an advantage of this building's vitality since the downtown arena will be making its debut in fall of 2009.

There has to be something happening to this building in terms of needing to rehab it incrementally with the revenue from rooftop communications and parking garage.

[Paddington]

Yes, the Hytower building has asbestos but I think they cleared it out because you can see ceiling tiles, insulations, and etc removed which is in position to be redeveloped with a new potential owner.

As far as Toledo being asbestos capital, that is the first I have ever heard of in my lifetime.

Hell I'd be surprised if it wasn't their marketing slogan back in the 1970's.

Toledo: The Asbestos Capital of the World!

[ilovetoledo]

what is up with all the negative threads on toledo lately?
How about toledo the GLASS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. i think that many of you need to rethink why you are downtalking the place that you call home?
Toledo is a great city working up slowly to its full potential. Maybe someday the Hytower will be redeveloped and it will prove all of you wrong.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Isn't there a problem with asbestos in some of those downtown highrises?

It's not surprising since Toledo was something of an asbestos capital.

In the 1970's, Owens Corning made pipe insulation called Kaylo that contained asbestos (hence why they had all those lawsuits in the 1990's and went into bankruptcy), but that doesn't mean Toledo has more asbestos-laden buildings than other cities. Every city has some asbestos left in its older buildings, but they've mostly been abated. It's the same story in Toledo. The Fiberglas Tower (aka Hytower) is far from the norm. Most of the downtown office buildings have been rehabbed, even the vacant ones. The Fiberglas Tower is one of the only, if not the only downtown building with an asbestos problem.

Last I saw, the Fiberglas Tower's asbestos abatement was estimated to cost $2-3 million. That's far less than the cost of demoltion (that would cost $10-12 million). It makes a lot more sense to renovate the tower than to tear it down. It is right in the heart of the CBD and has great views of the cityscape, river, and bay. It also is not overly ugly when compared to other skyscrapers from the 60's and 70's. The building has its own parking garage and high-speed elevators (fastest in the world when built), so it certainly has a lot of potential. It is still for sale on the Eyde website. The price is negotioable:

Thirty-Story Office Building, magnificent views of the Maumee River, Lake Erie and CBD abound! Fantastic site for conversion to condominium, luxury apartment, mixed use development. Attached 519 +/- space parking garage. Building is linked to cities walk-way system. Former Owens Corning world headquarters, built in 1969. 11 passenger/1 freight high-speed 1,000' per minute elevators serve the building. (Building contains asbestos fireproofing/pipe wrapping, remediation estimated btwn 2-3 million, monies are available at state level to assist in removal)

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?LL=true&LID=14185081&STID=eyde

[ilovetoledo]

Lets take a poll... Do you think, in your opinion, that Toledo will house another (Toledo's 3rd real skyscraper) skyscraper in the next 20 years?
Feel free to voice your opinion on the matter in the upcomming threads.

[toledo25]

I think we will get another skyscraper in the future... however, it will take a big company (i.e. google or microsoft or dana or toyota etc..etc..) to make this a reality. The cost of building skyscrapers in this day in age is somewhere around 3-5x what they cost to build in the 60's/70's. I am excited to see that once the arena is up and running what new businesses/company's it will bring to the Toledo area.

We need some high tech businesses downtown. A YouTube or Google headquarters in toledo so to speak. Or an Experience Music project (see seattle for more info) downtown. Tons of Ideas, I wish I had millions of dollars.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Lets take a poll... Do you think, in your opinion, that Toledo will house another (Toledo's 3rd real skyscraper) skyscraper in the next 20 years?

What do you mean "third real skyscraper"? The National City Tower is a skyscraper at 370 feet tall. It's only 30 feet shorter than the Fiberglas Tower. Toledo's tallest, One Seagate, is 440 feet tall (sometimes printed at 411 feet), so that's not much taller than the 400-foot Fiberglas Tower or 370-foot National City Tower. National City (370 feet), Disalle Government Center (330 feet), and Toledo Trust (about 320 feet, though sometimes printed at 290 feet excluding the top two floors) are all skyscrapers in my book. Toledo has five of what I'd call "bona fide skyscrapers," and then about a half dozen other buildings over 200 feet tall (HCR Manor Care, Toledo Edison, Commodore Perry, Pilkington, Nicholas Building, Hotel Seagate, etc.) that straddle the skyscraper line. There are a good number of buildings around 100-200 feet tall as well. Even some of the warehouses in Toledo are over 100 feet tall (Bartley Lofts, Commerce Paper, Triangle Building, etc.).

It all depends on your definition of "skyscraper." I consider a building over 300 feet tall to be skyscraper. 200 to 300 feet tall is a transitional zone. Depending on design, a building in this height range can be a skyscraper if it emphasizes its vertical elements. Buildings between 100 and 200 feet tall are always what I consider to be regular high-rises. Under 100 feet tall is a low-rise or mid-rise to me. This seems to apply to most cities excluding NYC and Chicago (maybe double the numbers in those two cities due to the sheer enormity of their skylines). In Toledo, I'd say a building looks like a skyscraper if it's over 250 feet tall. Toledo has six or seven buildings that fit the bill (One Seagate, Fiberglas Tower, National City, Disalle Government Center, Toledo Trust, HCR Manor Care, Edison Plaza).

Now will Toledo house another skyscraper in the next 20 years? That's tough to say. The economy will probably turn around since Toledo is heavily invested in alternative energy, so I'd imagine a few new companies will set up headquarters downtown. I'd say it's more likely Toledo gets another regular high-rise before it gets another skyscraper. First off, there are still vacant office buildings downtown, so the market would need to be more saturated before anyone would put up a new office tower. If the Fiberglas Tower and Madison Building fill up, then new buildings could go up. I'd imagine the Fiberglas Tower will be renovated into the following:

floors 1-4: retail, restaurants, bar or club, pool, gym
floors 5-19: offices, maybe corporate HQ
floors 20-28: residential
floors 29, 30: maintenance/communications (it's already there)

The Fibeglas Tower and Madison Building will probably need to be renovated and occupied before any new high rises will go up. I think most of the new buildings within the next 10 years will be low-rises and mid-rises. They'll include residential and retail (hopefully at the former Federal Building site along Summit), small businesses (maybe at the former Paramount Theater site which is Toledo's worst surface lot), and possibly other uses. I think most of the buildings added downtown will be 2-10 stories tall within the near future. I don't expect any high rises soon, and that's not a bad thing. Infill is most important in Midwestern cities right now. Far too much has been torn down for surface lots. That is the most pressing problem facing urban neighborhoods in America.

A large anchor would be needed for the construction of a new tower. That would require a large corporation relocating to downtown Toledo or just incredible demand for high-density residential. That will probably not happen until the economy turns around completely and America gets off its suburban sprawl, oil obsession. Since Toledo is already a leader in the green economy, I can see lots of re-urbanization coming to the core neighborhoods. This will mostly take the form of shorter buildings with mixed uses (residential, retail, office, light industrial, etc). You will see a resurgence of pedestrian activity, and less dependance on cars. Toledo's new economy is banking on efficient living, not wasteful living. These upstart alternative energy industries will change the mindset of Toledoans, especially since they will be giving Toledoans jobs- jobs they may have lost from the auto industry. Toledo is on the brink of a major economic and cultural shift, a shift away from the wasteful mindset that has dominated America for the last 60 years. Toledo's new economy will likely push the region towards sustainable and green living, similar to what Portland has done. Toledo will still largely be an industrial city, but a much cleaner, high-tech, and more efficient industrial city- a model industrial city with one the continent's most diversified transportation infrastructures and outstanding cultural amenities.

Skyscrapers aren't all that important. Toledo has a great skyline as it is and needs to focus on filling surface lots Downtown and Uptown (especially Uptown). Toledo's skyline already has a good mix of height, a beautiful waterfront locale, and two big landmark bridges north and south of the downtown. Toledo looks damn impressive considering its metropolitan size and the economic problems facing similar industrial cities in America. You commonly hear visitors say that Toledo is surprisingly clean, and they marvel at the riverfront and integration of the city with its waterfront parkland. The lack of a freeway seperating the downtown from the waterfront is constantly a positive for Toledo. It's mostly moving in the right direction, despite recent job losses due to the Detroit auto industry. Toledo is one of the ONLY cities in the Midwest that did not build a freeway along its waterfront, and that gives it many advantages not found elsewhere. It was a great decision, because Toledo enjoys easy pedestrian access to its most valuable asset. That alone gives me the feeling that Toledo's redevelopment prospects are great. Most of the new projects in old Toledo are urban, pedestrian-friendly, and GREEN. Many of these projects are a short and easy walk from the mighty Maumee River. The big players are making smart moves and I expect to visit Toledo in ten years and see a much healthier city, a city that will hopefully be bucking America's suburban trends. America can't keep going on like it is. There just aren't enough resources to sustain our limitless level of consumption. We need to implement sustainable ways of living, and cut back on our use of land and fossil fuel. Toledo's alternative energy industries are one step in the right direction. New urbanism is another step, and the Marina District looks like a model example. The Marina District will be looked at by other cities as a prime example of infill, brownfield remediation, and new urbanism. I think it is the single most important and progressive project taking place in Ohio today.

[Pilliod Njaim]

Toledo's new economy is getting lots of national attention:

The search for renewable-energy sources is making clean-tech jobs hot.

By Daniel McGinn
Newsweek
Oct. 8, 2007

Brad Mohring had reached a crossroads. Until recently the 31-year-old design engineer had worked for a Toledo, Ohio-based company that builds manufacturing equipment for automobile plants. With the auto industry struggling, he figured it was only a matter of time before he'd be laid off. So this spring he began looking for a new job. In a few weeks he had four offers. Today he could have been working for a giant defense contractor or an established agricultural company. Instead, he chose the lowest-paying job - and became the 20th employee at Xunlight, a Toledo-based solar-energy firm. "I left a job I'd worked at for 12 years to join a start-up," says Mohring, who has a 1-year-old child and another due in February. "It's something of a gamble, but if it pays off, it pays off big."

It's becoming a common bet. With oil prices near record highs and more companies concerned about their carbon footprints, workers are finding job opportunities in the emerging green economy. Companies are hiring scientists to work on renewable-energy technology and business people to market earth-friendly products. Even if some of these nascent companies falter, there's widespread conviction that this sector will become one of the country's hottest employers. "This is the challenge of the 21st century ... and it's not going away," says Kevin Doyle, founder of the consulting firm Green Economy.

It's impossible to say precisely how many people work in green jobs- partly because there's no formal definition of the term. Does a clerk stocking organic produce at Whole Foods Market qualify? How about an engineer working to make a coal-fired power plant run more efficiently? Meanwhile, in sectors like solar energy and biofuels, payrolls are growing so rapidly it's hard for researchers to keep an accurate count. Despite the lack of precise numbers, all observers agree the ranks are growing quickly. Based on the flow of venture capital, K. R. Sridhar, CEO of the fuel-cell start-up Bloom Energy, believes the clean-tech sector could produce 50,000 new jobs by 2010. (By way of comparison, General Motors' hourly work force, which briefly went on strike last week, currently numbers 73,000.) Peter Beadle, president of Greenjobs.com, cites estimates that the solar sector alone could employ 2 million people by 2020- more Americans than currently work as elementary-school teachers.

During the last decade's dotcom employment boom, much of the job creation was concentrated in Silicon Valley. In contrast, green jobs are popping up all over - some of them in very unexpected places. A good example is Toledo, a rust-belt manufacturing center with no shortage of vacant downtown buildings. Historically, Toledo's big employers have been auto factories or auto suppliers - particularly glass manufacturers that make car windshields. But lately Toledo has established a growing national reputation as a hot spot for firms developing solar panels. Why Toledo? Glass is a key component in solar technology, and the University of Toledo has been doing hard-core solar-cell research for two decades. Local economic-development officials recently launched a $22 million venture fund to help launch more start-ups. The payoff from this combination of forces: according to the local Regional Growth Partnership, the Toledo area already has nearly 6,000 people employed in the solar industry. "We're seeing this transition of people moving from automotive to alternative energy," says Steven Weathers, CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership.

Walk the hallways of these energy firms and you'll meet a fair number of physicists and chemists. But as these technologies mature, they need traditional business people, too. First Solar, a solar-panel manufacturer outside Toledo that employs more than 550 workers, currently has 38 job openings. Some of those spots require a Ph.D., but the firm has also been hiring in human resources, accounting and information technology. "Just about every discipline has an opening or two," says Carol Campbell, First Solar's HR chief.

On college campuses, students are increasingly aware of these new opportunities. Some schools are adding programs to capitalize on student interest. Last month Duquesne University in Pittsburgh enrolled the first students in its Sustainable Enterprise M.B.A. program. New student Chris Togni, 29, is part of a team consulting with a local retailer on how to reduce the waste created by its reliance on plastic bags - and after graduation he hopes to find similar work at a consulting firm. Togni, the son of a steelworker, believes this focus will make him attractive to employers. "It's my differential advantage over other M.B.A.s," he says.

The focus on all things green may be getting a little ahead of itself. Between 2005 and 2006, venture-capital investments in the clean-tech sector jumped from $623 million to $1.5 billion, with solar and biofuel garnering the biggest infusions, according to analysts at Lux Research. That's led to talk of an alt-energy bubble. "From the perspective of investors and entrepreneurs, this is the new Internet," says Lux Research president Matthew Nordan. Even employees at alt-energy firms acknowledge that renewable energy has suffered false starts in the past. Still, even skeptics suggest that for young workers charting a career path, the industry's allure is hard to beat. "It's virtually impossible to beat the long-term trends in clean tech," says Nordan.

Inside Xunlight, that optimism is pervasive. The firm, founded by University of Toledo physics professor Xunming Deng, moved into new offices just a few weeks ago. Last week the cubicles still had a pristine, unsullied look to them, and some employees didn't yet have working phones. The firm hasn't even made its first sale, but employees say its product - a superthin, flexible solar cell created using sheets of stainless steel - should be in high demand. Within two years, Deng expects to employ hundreds. Many will be twentysomethings, but there are veterans, too. "The excitement of being in a start-up is the same whether you're 32 or 52," says facilities VP Stan Rubini, as he surveys the mammoth empty warehouse in which Xunlight hopes to manufacture more than $200 million worth of solar cells each year. As fuel costs rise and concern about climate change spreads, investors and employees aren't the only ones hoping firms like this one find a viable solution. Almost everyone is.

http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=1504

[Bonjourtoledo]

what is up with all the negative threads on toledo lately?
How about toledo the GLASS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. i think that many of you need to rethink why you are downtalking the place that you call home?
Toledo is a great city working up slowly to its full potential. Maybe someday the Hytower will be redeveloped and it will prove all of you wrong.

Negative threads? What do you mean by that? This thread is by far the most contructive forum in my web experience which we have a healthy dialogue to discuss the various developments around the region.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I think we will get another skyscraper in the future... however, it will take a big company (i.e. google or microsoft or dana or toyota etc..etc..) to make this a reality. The cost of building skyscrapers in this day in age is somewhere around 3-5x what they cost to build in the 60's/70's. I am excited to see that once the arena is up and running what new businesses/company's it will bring to the Toledo area.

We need some high tech businesses downtown. A YouTube or Google headquarters in toledo so to speak. Or an Experience Music project (see seattle for more info) downtown. Tons of Ideas, I wish I had millions of dollars.

Very true, we should be going to the west coast to "poach" and "pirate" corporate headquarters and jobs because we have low taxes, low cost of living, abundance of professional talent, no forest fires, and no earthquakes.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Lets take a poll... Do you think, in your opinion, that Toledo will house another (Toledo's 3rd real skyscraper) skyscraper in the next 20 years?
Feel free to voice your opinion on the matter in the upcomming threads.

IMO, I can see another hi-rise of probably 10-15 floors at the most of which would be condominiums or a hotel.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Pilliod, thanks for the Newsweek article! Such a great PR for our region and we deserve so much recognition since we are severly underappreciated.

And your opinion post in regards to if we will see another skyscraper within 20 years, is very detailed and interesting and I agree with your views. Are you a planner, BTW?

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.

[Mudhen419]

Wondered how long it was gonna take you to post this bonjour..... Just read this in the paper about 20 min ago. Walked by the building a few times over the past few weeks while checkin out the arena site. Was hopin they turned it into homes with shops on the ground level but this works. Atleast these guys will be in there for a while.

[ilovetoledo]

Here we go, buisnesses eating up property along the arena site. I knew this wouldnt take long and now we have first news on it. I think that Pilliod is right about the skyscraper. I didnt mean to say 3. I think that the clean tech jobs is going to take off here in the glass city. Now that the arena is going "green" so are other properties around it and i think this shows how alternate energy sources are going to take off. It was kind of interesting to hear your views on the poll. I agree with bonjourtoledo that we should be going to the west coast in hope of attracting new buisnesses. I have another question/poll to ask because i am interested in all of your opinions.

What in your opinion do you think downtown needs to attract more people than it already is? This is excluding the mudhens, marina district, and arena. What do you think it needs to get people to start going down there more on a consistant basis.

I think that people go down there a lot now. I think that with the help of a movie theater this could draw more people (teens) to downtown.

[cjfjapan]

Here we go, buisnesses eating up property along the arena site. I knew this wouldnt take long and now we have first news on it. I think that Pilliod is right about the skyscraper. I didnt mean to say 3. I think that the clean tech jobs is going to take off here in the glass city. Now that the arena is going "green" so are other properties around it and i think this shows how alternate energy sources are going to take off. It was kind of interesting to hear your views on the poll. I agree with bonjourtoledo that we should be going to the west coast in hope of attracting new buisnesses. I have another question/poll to ask because i am interested in all of your opinions.

What in your opinion do you think downtown needs to attract more people than it already is? This is excluding the mudhens, marina district, and arena. What do you think it needs to get people to start going down there more on a consistant basis.

I think that people go down there a lot now. I think that with the help of a movie theater this could draw more people (teens) to downtown.

For me, there needs to be more of a pedestrial, retail scene. I havent spend a whole lot of time in DT Toledo, but it looks overwhelmed with offices, social services, and bars. There are no places to just to wander in and out of, and few coffee shops, etc, where people can be seen sitting outside. At least, they don't seem obvious to casual visitor. There mostly needs to be a way to bring people in on a regular basis - casino, conventions, a way to put feet on the ground and make the place feel safe and loved.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Here we go, buisnesses eating up property along the arena site. I knew this wouldnt take long and now we have first news on it. I think that Pilliod is right about the skyscraper. I didnt mean to say 3. I think that the clean tech jobs is going to take off here in the glass city. Now that the arena is going "green" so are other properties around it and i think this shows how alternate energy sources are going to take off. It was kind of interesting to hear your views on the poll. I agree with bonjourtoledo that we should be going to the west coast in hope of attracting new buisnesses. I have another question/poll to ask because i am interested in all of your opinions.

What in your opinion do you think downtown needs to attract more people than it already is? This is excluding the mudhens, marina district, and arena. What do you think it needs to get people to start going down there more on a consistant basis.

I think that people go down there a lot now. I think that with the help of a movie theater this could draw more people (teens) to downtown.


Here are several things that we need downtown:

1) Video Store (Blockbuster) that is open until midnight 7 days a week
2) Book Store (Books-A-Million or Borders) that is open until 11pm 7 days a week
3) Coffeehouse (Starbuck's or Caribou Coffee) that is open until midnight 7 days a week
4) Scrambler's Marie that is open 7 days a week
5) FedEx Kinko's 24/7
6) Walgreen's with Pharmacy 24/7
7) Radio Shack that is open 6-7 days a week
8) Panera Bread that is open 7 days a week until 11pm
9) Full-scale grocery store to occupy the former Superior Antique at Erie Street Market that is open open 7 days a week
10) A second shop of Wixey Bakery open 5-6 days a week
11) Chipolte that is open 7 days a week until midnight
12) Meats & More open 5-6 days a week
13) GNC store open 5-6 days a week
14) Monnette's Produce Market open 7 days a week
15) Hardware Store (either ACE or True Value) open 7 days a week
16) Ben Franklin Store open 7 days a week
17) Veternarian clinic with boarding & grooming open 5-6 days a week

and last but not least,

17) Fitness Center with sauna open 7 days a week until midnight

[Bonjourtoledo]

Wondered how long it was gonna take you to post this bonjour..... Just read this in the paper about 20 min ago. Walked by the building a few times over the past few weeks while checkin out the arena site. Was hopin they turned it into homes with shops on the ground level but this works. Atleast these guys will be in there for a while.

I posted about this when I first saw the banner going up on Sept. 29, 2007 at 2:09pm. :wink2:

[ilovetoledo]

All of these ideas so far are great but the final say is not up to the retailors it is up to us to show them that we want it. We can do this by shopping downtown, hanging out dt, eating, living, and partying downtown Toledo. I wish DT had all of these things to that why when i need or want something that is also in DT i make the extra trip to help and show these buisnesses that i want them and more of them downthere.

[ilovetoledo]

I think that the Marina District needs a ferris wheel. Ever since they started ideas for this project a ferris wheel (all year round) came to mind. I think that this would draw even more people to the Glass City (Maybe even a Ferris Wheel made of Glass???). You could enjoy the views for the DT toledo skyline Alone with The Veteren's Glass City Skyway along with views of the East Side. I think this would be great. A survey a year ago said that Toledo was the worst spots for dates (does anyone remember that article?) This could establish a dating spot where you could shop live work party and ride rides all in one place. I want to voice my opinoin to them to get this to happen but i do not know how...

[Pilliod Njaim]

And your opinion post in regards to if we will see another skyscraper within 20 years, is very detailed and interesting and I agree with your views. Are you a planner, BTW?

No, but I'm pretty well-read and do have a background in urban sociology. I just am a strong supporter of urban redevelopment and rethinking the way we build our cities. Toledo is making some great decisions right now. The high-density Marina District proposals look nothing short of jaw-dropping. It will be Ohio's best example of new urbanism. The downtown arena was a good decision too. While I originally supported building the arena at the former Federal Building site along Summit Street, I've since changed my thinking. The Superior Street site did require the demolition of Bijou and two older low-rises along Huron, but it also will fill in a gaping hole in the CBD's core. The site was about 2/3rd's surface lot, so it's great to see that filled in. While the arena will create another superblock, that little stretch of Superior was already pretty dead to begin with (Bijou was the only popular attraction). Other downtown streets like Summit, Monroe, Huron, Erie, Madison, Adams, and Michigan seem to be much busier, and as long has they have uninterrupted pedestrian and traffic flow, downtown Toledo will be alright. Everything is within a short walk from Superior, so the creation of a superblock on that street (Fifth Third Field already did it anyway) is not that big of a deal. It will fill in surface lots and bring people downtown. The positives greatly outweigh the negatives.

The former Federal Building site just did not make much sense. Though no buildings would be torn down, it would take out a block of Water Street and cover some of Promenade Park. There's just no point in building an arena (100% internal focus) on the waterfront. The former Federal Building site needs something that takes full advantage of river and adjacent park.

[Pilliod Njaim]

A survey a year ago said that Toledo was the worst spots for dates (does anyone remember that article?

The other cities in Ohio always win those "worst city for singles" lists, though Toledo doesn't rank highly either. Personally, I think Toledo is fine for dates. There are nice beaches nearby, awesome parks, great ethnic restaurants, a world-ranked museum, nice small concert venues, and some good bars. Personally, I just prefer drinking and going to a bar, concert, or house party for dates, so Toledo offers enough for me.

My city (Athens) offers nothing in the way of real dating. People here get drunk and hook up, period. No one really dates in the traditional sense. We only have one respectable restaurant worth mention (Steven's), and everything else revolves around binge drinking and partying.

Most college towns are similar, but nothing else is on the level of Ohio University. It's America's immortal party school. Forget dating or relationships in this place. Toledo was more old-fashioned back when I lived there, and it seemed many people had "boyfriends" or "girlfriends." I'm assuming someone must be dating for that to be possible.

[nickw311]

A little over a year ago there was posted something about the bank foreclosing on $7.8M of debt on the Commodore Perry. Is there any new information on that? Are residents there in jeopardy?

It was on page 18, here is a link:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=240455&page=18

[Bonjourtoledo]

A little over a year ago there was posted something about the bank foreclosing on $7.8M of debt on the Commodore Perry. Is there any new information on that? Are residents there in jeopardy?

It was on page 18, here is a link:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=240455&page=18


Nick, I haven't read or heard any update since then. The Commodore Perry still seems to be full with residents and considering the source I think this story was hyped up at the time to sell papers.

[Bonjourtoledo]

All of these ideas so far are great but the final say is not up to the retailors it is up to us to show them that we want it. We can do this by shopping downtown, hanging out dt, eating, living, and partying downtown Toledo. I wish DT had all of these things to that why when i need or want something that is also in DT i make the extra trip to help and show these buisnesses that i want them and more of them downthere.

But also you have to infuse residential population with disposable income into the downtown and surrounding area to build up retail.

[Bonjourtoledo]

I think that the Marina District needs a ferris wheel. Ever since they started ideas for this project a ferris wheel (all year round) came to mind. I think that this would draw even more people to the Glass City (Maybe even a Ferris Wheel made of Glass???). You could enjoy the views for the DT toledo skyline Alone with The Veteren's Glass City Skyway along with views of the East Side. I think this would be great. A survey a year ago said that Toledo was the worst spots for dates (does anyone remember that article?) This could establish a dating spot where you could shop live work party and ride rides all in one place. I want to voice my opinoin to them to get this to happen but i do not know how...

Pardon my pun, you don't happen to be Opal Covey? She kept talking about a ferris wheel for the east side of the river during her run for mayor in 2000-01 endlessly.

[Bonjourtoledo]

Deleted due to Toledo Blade's request.