Good stuff!

http://www.13abc.com/home/headlines/Major-new-investment-in-Downtown-Toledo-hopes-to-bring-back-dying-neighborhood-372277732.html?device=phone&c=y

 

Major new investment in Downtown Toledo hopes to bring back dying neighborhood

 

Since when is St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center downtown? There is over a mile gap between the hospital and CBD, and that is significant in an older, mid-size city like Toledo.

 

*I'd like to see them develop Cherry further down towards the center city. What Promedica did with that grocery store in Uptown was pretty cool and unique. Infill housing in Warren-Sherman would also be good for hospital workers. The area around there is pretty dead.

http://m.toledoblade.com/local/2016/02/28/Greyhound-s-move-to-train-station-nears.html

 

Greyhounds move to train station nears

 

Good move, and hopefully the old lot can be developed into a nice infill building.

http://www.13abc.com/home/headlines/Jumpstart-to-Dorr-St-interchange-project-373896601.html?device=phone&c=y

 

Jumpstart to Dorr Street interchange project

I dont know what they intend to do with the Cherry St corridor but i hope whatever it is, is well thought out. I would hate to see them just build a bunch of new townhouses or mixed use streetfront buildings, because although that would be nice, i dont think it would take off. Theres demand for residential options as well as entertainment options downtown but if they arent in close proximity to the existing, thriving spots....i think its too soon.

 

I want to see investment poured into the CBD/Arena District still since the only thriving spots are those adjacent to Fifth Third Field / the Warehouse District. The intersection of Huron & Madison is basically the heart of the city and the 3 out of the 4 huge, tall, historic buildings on the corner are empty. Also the Fiberglas Tower doesnt seem to be coming along very quick. Its the tallest building in the city and its in a prime spot to be a catalyst for surrounding development and investment. I really feel like its essential for the downtown core to be robust before anyone attempts projects on the periphery of downtown.

 

I dont even know that the Promedica grocery on Madison will do much for growth Uptown. At least not yet. The same for the neighboring Uptown Green park or whatever its called. Its basically just a hangout for homeless folks which i doubt was the intended purpose. It just sucks because i know all the people behind these projects hearts are in the right place but the timing just seems off. As far as Uptown goes, i feel like it needs to become a more cohesive and dense entertainment district (Adams St) with more restaurants and bars before anything else has a hope of making it. At least in the case of Promedica, i think their mission with the grocery store was less about expediting the gentrification process of Uptown, than it was about giving central Toledo a good, healthy grocery option since the only decent grocery is all the way up at Bancroft and Cherry, effectively making downtown a food desert for low income people with limited transportation options. Luckily, Promedica has more money than they know what to do with, so sustaining this store should be nothing to them.

 

As far as necessary amenties to attract residents to downtown goes, we really need 2 or 3 things in my opinion. First and foremost, a quality grocery store, which the Erie Street Market would be perfect for. Next, a pharmacy/corner store like a Walgreens, CVS, etc for quick essentials and it should go in an existing building, not a suburban style new construction. And third, a good fitness center....which I could envision our great benefactor, Promedica blessing us with.

 

^Actually, I think that Uptown grocery store location makes sense since it's walkable to both Downtown and Old West End. It can pull from multiple neighborhoods that still have some middle class wealth. Though I'm with you about Erie Street Market. Even as a kid, I remember that being an underwhelming place. The building was great, but there was constant business turnover. Nothing ever seemed to work except the Libbey Glass Outlet. Cleveland has a good model. Detroit does too with Eastern Market. Erie Street Market is far enough away from the Uptown grocery store that they both should be viable.

 

Even in top tier, wealthy coastal cities, parks are homeless hangouts. I live in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the world in Downtown Oakland, and our closest park is nothing but homeless people and drug dealers. Everybody tries to avoid that park. When I lived in Mid-Market San Francisco, Civic Center Plaza was nothing but a homeless camp. People defecated and shot up heroin right in front of City Hall.

 

Even Golden Gate Park is filled with homeless people. That's gonna be par for course in the future all around America...

 

Toledo actually has a shockingly small visible homeless population since rents are so cheap and there are still tons of old-school Catholic missions that have empathy for poor people. When I was in Downtown Toledo last Christmas, the first thing I noticed was the lack of homeless people (or really the lack of any people lol). Toledo is pretty clean too for a big city, despite all the urban decay everywhere.

 

I think that Uptown development was a big step in the right direction. If Uptown can get some infill on key streets like Jefferson, Madison, Adams, and Monroe, it could reconnect Downtown to Old West End.

 

*Madison and Huron was heartbreaking to see. That's arguably the best pre-WW2 urban intersection in Ohio, and it's really dead now. Madison and Huron used to be quite a lot more active back in the 90s and early 2000s. Those are dense, narrow streets loaded with outstanding architecture. The urban potential is huge...

 

Toledo's economy got hit so incredibly hard over the last decade, it did a ton of damage to the entire metro area. Only Perrysburg seemed to have escaped unscathed. I noticed even Maumee and Sylvania lost a lot of businesses. It's really sad what's happening to Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. It was bad when I was a kid, but it's way worse today. The poverty is so much more extreme and widespread. And water pollution on Lake Erie is much, much worse. I don't think Toledo can recover until Lake Erie is cleaned up and there is no longer any risk of toxic algae shutting down the city's water supply. That was a national PR disaster as bad as the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland. :|

Anyone local to Toledo have any updates on the Fiberglas Tower? I did a quick Google search, and couldn't find anything new.

 

Also, are there any plans for the demolition site of the Hotel Seagate? It seems like that's still a great place for a hotel, so hopefully Marriott or Hilton come in and build a high-rise property there.

I like the concept of the Promedica store. I dont really know if it gets much business but it at least helps nourish an underserved area. I dont think its really the type of store to attract people with money or anything though (such as Whole Foods at Westgate).

The city has been pursuing the idea of a grocery store at the ESM. There was talk of a Luckys eyeing the location (similar to Trader Joes i think) but i havent heard anything about that lately. A small positive development in the neighborhood though is the owner of The Blarney on Monroe, is opening up a little deli store next door so that will definitely be desirable for folks around there.

 

I also like the idea behind the park next door too. Its small so its not really a place where people will go to "enjoy the outdoors" but it more serves as an outdoor, neighborhood gathering place for things like movie nights, etc...little fun community things. The concentration of homeless people is because its literally across the street from the soup kitchen. The new Middlegrounds metropark on the river will be attractive to new residents downtown looking for a green space to go jogging and such.

 

The biggest thing recently has been the Mud Hens investments. The restaurants and bars they just made by the stadium called Hensville. Im particular excited with what their doing with the old Keybank building at the corner of Madison and Superior. Theyre repurposing it into a more intimate size  music/performance venue, something thats lacking in Toledo. We have large venues like Huntington Center where big name country and classic rock artists come through, and we have local bars where local bands play, but we dont have like a comfortable size hall that can host several hundred to a couple thousand. We have theaters like the Stranahan and the Valentine is downtown (a great place) but not the kind of places new artists play. Headliners still exists but never looks like anythings going on and is in a crappy location. Think like St Andrews, the Fillmore, or Majestic in Detroit.....the Agora or Beachland in Cleveland....or Newport in Columbus. The new venue downtown will be the kind of place.

Lucky is better than Trader Joe's lol. Trader Joe's is overrated, but I know it's considered a big deal in Midwest redevelopment. "We got a Trader Joe's! We're back!"

 

I think Andersons or Churchill's is the perfect fit since they're regional to the Toledo area, and honestly can hang with any of the California chains.

 

That historic Keybank Building actually could make a great music venue, so that's very encouraging to hear.

http://www.presspublications.com/17844-developers-of-electric-plant-seek-major-expansion

 

Developers of electric plant seek major expansion

http://m.toledoblade.com/Retail/2016/04/23/Panda-Express-buys-area-location.html

 

Panda Express buys area location

I think Andersons or Churchill's is the perfect fit since they're regional to the Toledo area, and honestly can hang with any of the California chains.

 

That historic Keybank Building actually could make a great music venue, so that's very encouraging to hear.

 

I think the same thing about Andersons and Churchills. Good quality, local stores. Im surprised neither has expressed interest but maybe theyre just holding out to gauge the downtown market a bit more.

http://m.toledoblade.com/local/2016/05/04/Planners-to-suggest-SeaGate-renovation.html

 

Planners to suggest Seagate renovation

http://m.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2016/05/07/Secor-Building-may-return-to-luxury-roots.html

 

Secor Building may return to luxury roots

http://m.wtol.com/toledonewsnow/db/347256/content/NesjPX6a

 

New '365 by Whole Foods being built on Secor

http://m.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2016/05/09/Dana-to-open-Toledo-factory-to-supply-next-version-of-Jeep-Wrangler.html

 

Dana to open toledo factory to supply next version of JEEP Wrangler

http://m.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2016/05/15/Under-construction-Retail-center-on-Airport-Highway.html

 

Retail center on Airport Hwy under construction

i see this big $100m development is going to tie into the casino in rossford:

 

http://www.sent-trib.com/news/project-red-will-connect-casino-to-new-hotel/article_a8fa0316-2dba-11e6-a2c3-8f3ffdcbec49.html

I don't see that one happening... I can see a hotel possibly, maybe some shops, but no $100M development with a people mover. Sounds like Rossford is pipe dreaming again like they did w the arena/amphitheater

http://m.wtol.com/toledonewsnow/db/347256/content/VxWBMGGz

 

Downtown Toledo's Secor Building to be hotel again

That's great news!

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/07/14/ProMedica-finishes-campus-with-Edison-Plaza-purchase.html

 

Promedica finishes campus with Edison Plaza purchase

 

16 floor building consolidates downtown headquarters

^Wow, a third building. I'm impressed with ProMedica's efforts in Downtown Toledo. ProMedica and the MudHens are really driving a lot of change.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2016/07/14/Fiat-Chrysler-to-invest-700-million-in-its-Toledo-Assembly-Complex.html

 

Fiat Chrysler to invest $ 700M into its Toledo assembly complex

Now THAT'S great news!

That's always good news. I'm glad FCA is keeping its iconic Jeep Wrangler operations in Toledo. I'm curious as to how employment will rise considering that Cherokee production is moving to Illinois.

Office-space market set to soar

Changes point to stronger numbers in area, good news for downtown

By JON CHAVEZ  | BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Published on Aug. 14, 2016 | Updated 11:18 a.m.

 

On paper, the metro Toledo office space market at the end of June looked much like it appeared at the end of 2015.  But looks can be deceiving.  Leasing activity in the central business district is brisk, and businesses already in the downtown area no longer seem to look longingly at the suburbs, according to a recently released Toledo Office Mid-Year report by commercial real estate firm the Reichle Klein Group.

 

The movement of existing tenants is the reason why the office vacancy rate hasn’t budged since Jan. 1 - it stood at 14.8 percent then and now. ... But the market is undergoing subtle changes that point toward new strength and better days ahead for landlords. ... The balancing factor in the market equation between the suburbs and downtown can be summed up in one word: ProMedica.

 

“ProMedica has stabilized the downtown market. And it hasn’t come at the expense of the suburbs,” said Jason Westendorf, an office market specialist with Reichle Klein. ... In fact, of the two largest office space construction projects currently in progress, one is ProMedica’s steam plant redevelopment, the other is The Andersons’ new $53 million headquarters building in Monclova Township located just on the other side of the road from Maumee.

 

MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2016/08/14/Office-space-market-set-to-soar-Changes-point-to-stronger-numbers-in-area-good-news-for-downtown.html

http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Detroit-auto-supplier-plans-to-develop-on-former-Jeep-site-390256991.html

 

Detroit auto supplier plans to develop on former Jeep site

Detroit auto supplier plans to develop on former Jeep site

 

 

A new tenant has its sights set on Overland Industrial Park, the former Jeep plant site.

 

13abc obtained the preliminary site plans from the Lucas County Plan Commission. They show a proposal for a 120,000 square foot facility that would be home to a Detroit based auto supplier.

 

So far, key players in this newest development have declined to comment on the project, at least for now, but the plan for Detroit Manufacturing Systems has already been submitted to the Lucas County Plan Commission for approval.

 

More below:

http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Detroit-auto-supplier-plans-to-develop-on-former-Jeep-site-390256991.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/09/17/New-park-presents-firsts.html

 

New park presents firsts

 

Middle grounds metro park

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2016/10/26/General-Motors-Co-plans-a-major-expansion-of-its-Alexis-Road-transmission-plant-2-additions-to-grow-transmission-facility.html

 

General Motors Co plans major expansion at Alexis rd facility

http://www.toledoblade.com/business/2016/10/26/Renovations-suggested-for-SeaGate-Convention-Centre-Study-says-adding-ballroom-could-bring-in-more-visitors.html

 

Renovations suggested for Seagate Centre

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/11/08/ProMedica-eyes-new-site-for-business-incubator.html

 

Promedica eyes new site for business incubator

Willis Day building downtown

http://www.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2016/11/21/Lucas-County-Land-Bank-sells-Pythian-Castle.html

 

Lucas County land bank sells Pythian Castle

Developer plans residential / retail

:clap:

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/12/03/Company-plans-to-buy-historic-Toledo-Nasby-Building.html

 

Company plans to buy historic Toledo Nasby Building

http://www.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2016/12/04/Under-construction-Buildings-rise-in-the-Overland-Industrial-Park.html

 

Under construction buildings rise in the Overland Industrial Park

http://www.13abc.com/content/news/Dorr-St-interchange-a-slow-go-at-this-point-405055826.html

 

Dorr St interchange a slow go at this point

Will be nice once the Dorr interchange is added... they should've did this before the whole Central/airport upgrades were going on. Getting to UT from points south has really sucked the last 10 years

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/12/13/Vacant-Hotel-Royal-in-South-Toledo-could-get-life-as-apartments.html

 

Vacant Hotel Royal in South Toledo could get life as apartments

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2017/01/09/Toledo-plant-to-build-new-Jeep-pickup.html

 

Toledo plant to build new Jeep pickup

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/12/13/Vacant-Hotel-Royal-in-South-Toledo-could-get-life-as-apartments.html

 

Vacant Hotel Royal in South Toledo could get life as apartments

 

Excellent news! I always loved that building.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2017/01/09/Toledo-plant-to-build-new-Jeep-pickup.html

 

Toledo plant to build new Jeep pickup

 

Awesome news for one of Toledo's greatest brands!

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/12/03/Company-plans-to-buy-historic-Toledo-Nasby-Building.html

 

Company plans to buy historic Toledo Nasby Building

 

I saw what looked like the start of renovations on my last visit to Toledo for Christmas. This was incredible to see since that building has been vacant for decades. The historic facade is literally one of the best in the Midwest! I can't wait to see what it will look like when done. That intersection of Madison and Huron is the core of Downtown Toledo, and those streets are loaded with pre-WW2 architectural gems. Those are two of my favorite streets in America.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2017/01/14/Museum-Place-apartment-plan-attracts-a-crowd-This-time-30-show-up-at-hearing.html

 

Museum Place apartment plan attracts a crowd, this time 30 show up at hearing

http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2017/01/16/The-Andersons-to-close-all-retail-stores-affecting-1-050-employees.html

 

 

Anderson's to close all retail stores affecting 1050 employees

http://m.wtol.com/toledonewsnow/db/347256/content/GCabj1t3

 

Sylvania city council approves renovation, construction to begin in 2018

http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2017/01/16/The-Andersons-to-close-all-retail-stores-affecting-1-050-employees.html

 

 

Anderson's to close all retail stores affecting 1050 employees

 

So sad :(

 

Andersons had such great stores. They were really cool and unique while attracting a great mix of people. It was a real Midwestern Rust Belt scene. With the big handoff of power from original family members (with strong ties to Toledo) to the new CEO, I'm not surprised this happened. Retail had been losing money for years, and other companies probably would have closed them a long time ago. It's a real blow to metro Toledo and my heart goes out to the people losing their jobs. I read it's 650 jobs in Toledo and 400 jobs in Columbus. This really sucks.

 

Support your local brick-and-mortar retail! If anything should be a wakeup call that online retail has unfair tax advantages, this is it. The Toledo and Maumee locations always looked busy, but even that was not enough to overcome online retail and the big national chains.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Real-Estate/2017/01/14/Museum-Place-apartment-plan-attracts-a-crowd-This-time-30-show-up-at-hearing.html

 

Museum Place apartment plan attracts a crowd, this time 30 show up at hearing

 

I pray they save all of those buildings. They are excellent historic landmarks and the museum would be nuts to tear anything down in the Old West End, especially on the major streets. I think the neighborhood organizations and historic preservation groups in Toledo will make sure they're renovated. There should be demand too since it looks like the Old West End is starting to recover from the recession.

oh no, that is shocking to hear about the andersons stores closing. i loved those. what next? tony packos???