Findlay: Random Development and News

December 8, 200816 yr

Challenges greet Findlay's new chief of development

Cooper Tire, agency funding cuts on agenda

Article published December 8, 2008

By JENNIFER FEEHAN

BLADE STAFF WRITER

FINDLAY - Before Ray DeWinkle was even on the payroll as GreaterFindlay Inc.'s new president and chief executive officer, he was in a town meeting with Cooper Tire about the future of its Findlay manufacturing plant. With 19 years experience in economic development in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. DeWinkle knows retention and expansion of existing business is at least two-thirds of the job. Retaining Cooper Tire and the 1,100 manufacturing jobs it provides in Findlay, has been his No. 1 priority.

On the job officially just three weeks, Mr. DeWinkle walked into a debate among city and county officials over just how effective GreaterFindlay - a combination of the community development foundation, the chamber of commerce, and the convention and visitors bureau - has been and whether the city was getting a good return on its investment in the public-private organization.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081208/BUSINESS03/812080343

October 30, 201014 yr

Future use of Central Auditorium debated

By DENISE GRANT, Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Central Auditorium got mixed reviews on Monday from the performers who use it, but most said Findlay should keep it. About 15 people attended a meeting hosted by a committee working to save the old auditorium. They sat on the stage, each giving their opinion about the future use of the auditorium. Also in attendance was Findlay Schools Superintendent Dean Wittwer, city Auditor Robert Sprague and Findlay Councilman Randy Van Dyne.

Central Middle School, 200 W. Main Cross St., was originally built as a high school in 1924, with the auditorium being added in 1939. The school sits on four acres of land in downtown Findlay. The building, which served as Findlay High School until the early '60s, will be closed to students by the city school board in 2013.

City government is considering acquiring the Central building from the school board, with the goal of converting it into a downtown civic center. The city is considering moving its health department to the building. School officials have said they need office space there, and the Hancock County commissioners also have been asked to commit to using office space at Central. Sprague said it will take the commitment of all three "anchor tenants" for the project to move forward.

MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2010/Oct/19/ar_news_101910_story3.asp?d=101910_story3,2010,Oct,19&c=n

October 30, 201014 yr

School board: Many options for Central building, property

By DENISE GRANT, Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Findlay school board may have a "plan B" for the future use of Central Middle School that would allow the building to be developed into a civic center without the need for a change in ownership. During the school board's regular meeting Monday, board member Jeff Shrader said the schools could keep the Central building until at least 2016, move school offices into the building, and also lease space to the city government.

A plan first made public by city officials earlier this month called for Findlay to take ownership of the school building and then set up a condo arrangement for other government and community groups. Shrader, however, questioned the need for the school board to pay condos fees, as much as $190,000 a year, to occupy office space in a building the school board already owns.

Central Middle School is expected to be closed to students in January 2013, when two new middle schools open. Central Middle School was originally built as a high school in 1924, with the auditorium being added in 1939. The school sits on four acres in downtown Findlay. The building served as Findlay High School until the early 1960s.

MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2010/Oct/26/ar_news_102610_story1.asp?d=102610_story1,2010,Oct,26&c=n

February 11, 201411 yr

Frpom the 2/3/14 Findlay Courier:

Marathon Petroleum announces $80 downtown expansion

Findlay’s downtown will get a major boost in the next three years thanks to Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Marathon CEO Gary Heminger announced Monday that the company will spend $80 million to add two office buildings to its complex, two multi-story employee parking garages, and green space.

Down the road, Marathon may add a combination corporate hotel/mixed use building on Main Street, Heminger said.

http://thecourier.com/breaking-news/2014/02/03/marathon-petroleum-announces-expansion/

February 11, 201411 yr

Well, I feel better about this now.

February 12, 201411 yr

I don't think this is bad at all for urban infill, but aren't there some historic buildings on the block?

*This does look like an incredible project for a city the size of Findlay. You don't see this much in Ohio's big cities...

**Upon viewing Google Streetview, it looks like the site is mostly surface lots. The two buildings I was thinking of do look historic, but not all that impressive. This plan is a big improvement and expands density south along Main in Findlay. It's a huge win for the city and absolutely shocking to see this kind of project and vision in a small town. Well done, Marathon. Findlay does have an excellent downtown for a city its size, and this only makes it better.

March 23, 201510 yr

Very impressive for a city of its size. Now why the heck isn't there more development talk/streetscaping?!

Findlay now firing on all cylinders

"Findlay and Hancock County are coming off a year in which a number of companies announced or completed significant development projects that will add hundreds of jobs.

McLane Co. Inc., a Texas grocery supplier, announced it would spend $119 million on a distribution center. Marathon Petroleum Corp., which last year was No. 25 on the Fortune 500 list, embarked on an $80 million expansion of its downtown headquarters. Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. moved ahead with a $40 million project to build a global technology center next to its headquarters.

Based on those investments and others, Site Selection magazine named Findlay as the most active small city in the United States for development projects last year. The magazine counted 20 new or expanded corporate facilities that involved an investment of at least $1 million, added at least 20 jobs, or created 20,000 square feet of new corporate space."

http://www.toledoblade.com/Economy/2015/03/22/Findlay-now-firing-on-all-cylinders.html#QyvU130RvExdAtmf.99

May 14, 201510 yr

Even before the collapse of the auto industry and the Great Recession decimated Northwest Ohio, Findlay was always an outlier. Its economy was not only stronger than the region, but most of the state of Ohio.

It's a small town in the middle of nowhere, but somehow lands a lot of investment. It also has always had a very stable population in a region with more than its fair share of comparable cities that have declined immensely (Lima, Mansfield, etc.).

September 2, 20168 yr

Marathon Petroleum opens expanded headquarters in downtown Findlay

render.htm?m=1035836969&width=320

A recently completed expansion of the Marathon Petroleum Corporation headquarters was unveiled in Findlay Thursday.

Findlay Mayor Lydia Milhalik praised the $90 million investment as proof of Marathon’s commitment to not only Findlay, but the region.

“It’s been a real boost for us. We’ve done some amazing things downtown because of what they’ve been able to contribute here and we’re thankful that we have a company like Marathon in the heart of downtown Findlay," said Mayor Milhalik.

More below:

http://m.wtol.com/toledonewsnow/db/347256/content/6KdE3mAd

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

September 2, 20168 yr

Major expansion for Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Findlay

marathon+building.JPG

Marathon Petroleum Corporation is more than halfway complete with its multi-million dollar expansion projects in Findlay.

Don Malarky, the Project Manager on the campus expansion, said construction started between South Main Street and East Avenue in May of 2014.

More below:

http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Major-expansion-for-Marathon-Petroleum-Corporation-in-Findlay-392102571.html

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers

September 2, 20168 yr

Marathon’s MPLX opens headquarters

Amid a gathering of company executives, employees, and local dignitaries, Marathon Petroleum Corp. entered a new phase in its brief history on Thursday with the official grand opening of a grandiose new headquarters building for its MPLX LP subsidiary, part of a $90-million expansion of the oil refining company’s footprint in downtown Findlay.

“Our headquarters has undertaken quite a transformation,” said Marathon’s Chief Executive Gary Heminger as he stood at a podium in one of the building’s many conference rooms.

More below:

http://www.toledoblade.com/business/2016/09/02/Marathon-s-MPLX-opens-headquarters.html

"You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers