Posted July 14, 200519 yr I haven't been able to find any rederings, but they might be out soon. From the 7/14/05 Akron Beacon Journal: Pride One will build in Norwalk Pride One, a real estate developer based in Medina, plans to build a 93-acre, mixed-use development in Norwalk. Dubbed Norwalk Commons, the development is planned to service the retail and entertainment needs of Huron County and will include a neighborhood retail center, a variety of sit-down restaurants and a 10-screen movie theater. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/12129552.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business
July 14, 200519 yr Norwalk is a "year-round tourist area"? Nothing against Norwalk, but other than the speedway and its position on the way to Sandusky, what attracts tourists to Norwalk?
October 10, 200519 yr From the 10/9/05 Toledo Blade: REAL ESTATE 'Lifestyle community' downsized for Norwalk, a town of 15,000 Developers say trend can spread beyond cities By GARY PAKULSKI BLADE BUSINESS WRITER NORWALK, Ohio - Rising from farm fields on the north end of this Huron County city is a village-like development that the project manager describes as a "Mini Me" version of the Levis Commons development in Perrysburg. What the Cleveland-area developers hope to prove is that a hot concept known as the mixed use lifestyle community can be as successful in a city of 15,000 as it has been in suburban Toledo and other midsized and larger cities. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051009/BUSINESS05/510080330/-1/BUSINESS
January 21, 200619 yr IHRA! :) And you are right about not many tourism activities in Norwalk; yet there is the drag strip, the West Main Historic District, the Firelands Museum, and uptown. However, Norwalk sits in a tourism area; Cedar Point, Lake Erie, the Islands, Amish Country, Cleveland, Toledo.........and a lot of tourists for CP use the hotels that are in the Norwalk/Milan area; so I think the developer sees this as an area that is close-by, but not in the thick of things......kind of like a getaway from all the crazy tourist traffic (yet this development will add to the traffic :-D ) And I wouldn't expect uptown Norwalk to take that big of a hit; it is the primary economic center for Huron County. And another thing that may help uptown is the fact that Sandusky has pretty much anything and everything (big-box stores, and restaurants) and companies probably wouldn't want to build another store to compete with one that is 15 miles down the road (there isn't that big of a population to draw from; Huron County has approx. 60,000 people and Erie County has approx. 80,000 people). So I think this Norwalk Commons will draw some unusual retailers. Just my opinion!
July 21, 200618 yr Movie theater access road open By MATT HUTTON - Reflector Staff Writer [email protected] Moviegoers headed home after a night out at Norwalk's Premiere Theatres, might now have an easier route to travel. The road connecting Republic Street with Industrial Parkway, named Norwalk Commons Drive, was opened to traffic in late June. Coupled with improvements to the Stower Street access point, which included an additional turning lane, and the widening of Milan Avenue, officials say traffic congestion should be better controlled. The city has no plan to install a traffic light near the Pride One Norwalk Commons development. Norwalk Commons, a 93-acre mixed-use complex on the North side of the city being developed by Pride One of Medina, features plans for housing, industry and commercial businesses. Full story at http://www.norwalkreflector.com/fullstory.html?sku=20060718115903909264&s=reflectornews
July 21, 200618 yr Other random Norwalk development threads: (not that anyone here visits Norwalk that often :-D )
July 21, 200618 yr Walgreens developer says all property owners are on board By MATT HUTTON - Reflector Staff Writer [email protected] A developer planning to build a store for Walgreens on the corner of League Street and Whittlesey Avenue said he would like to begin construction by late summer or early fall. Brad Goldberg, of Visconsi Companies, met with Norwalk City Council Tuesday to discuss two pieces of legislation, both of which were tabled so they can be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Committee. The legislation requests the city vacate Wood Street and then rezone several residential properties to manufacturing business — the zoning required for retails stores. Full story at http://www.norwalkreflector.com/fullstory.html?sku=20060719115828941118&s=reflectornews
July 21, 200618 yr Norwalk council invokes eminent domain with Aldi By MATT HUTTON - Reflector Staff Writer [email protected] Months of negotiations between the city and Aldi came to a head Tuesday, when Norwalk City Council voted 6 to 1 to invoke eminent domain to obtain a quarter acre of land from the grocer. The city has been trying to come to an agreement with Aldi, 195 Milan Ave., since February for .24 acres of land needed for the Cline Street extension. The project, considered a public safety improvement, would connect the current end of Cline Street to Westwind Drive and reroute 2,000 to 3,000 vehicles from U.S. 250 to the extension. Full story at http://www.norwalkreflector.com/fullstory.html?sku=2006071912040804459&s=reflectornews
July 22, 200618 yr Oops. I guess I posted this in the wrong thread. I swear I posted these articles in the "Norwalk Commons etc." thread. But I could be wrong :-D And if I did post them in the above mentioned thread and they were moved.......... :whip: Norwalk is NOT in the Toledo metro nor is it in northwest Ohio!!!!! :wink: Will people ever learn :? :-D :-D :-D
July 24, 200618 yr LOL...Norwalk really is out in nowhere land as far as proximity to metros. I usually put the small Norwalk stuff in this thread since the Toledo Blade is the only major Ohio paper that ever mentions Norwalk. They were moved from the Norwalk Commons thread because they were not related.
September 17, 200618 yr From the 9/16/06 Toledo Blade: Norwalk medical center to open its rehab wing NORWALK — Fisher-Titus Medical Center formally opens its rehabilitation wing tomorrow, which completes renovation of a portion of the former inpatient services area. The project provides 32,000 square feet of space and expands adult and pediatric rehabilitation services, cancer services, and cardiac rehab. Work on the $12 million rehabilitation center began two years ago on the heels of completion of a $28 million addition to its patient facilities. Full story at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060916/NEWS17/60916014/-1/RSS08
October 24, 200618 yr From the 10/17/06 Norwalk Reflector T&C board OKs sale of Norwalk Theatre An agreement to sell the Norwalk Theatre, 57 E. Main St., also known as the Towne and Country Theatre, has been signed by the T&C board and Steve and Teresa LaFountain of Kalamazoo, Mich. This has happened before in the 11 years the theater’s been on the market, said Ronn Koerper. “Right now, nothing’s changed,” he said. Teresa LaFountain said she and her husband are already planning several events in the theater, including a Dec. 2 event with Santa Claus in the lobby and, potentially, a showing of the family film “Polar Express.” They also have scheduled a country and Christmas classics concert with John Berry on Dec. 14. The couple plans to refurbish the theater — they hope to create an “opulent” feel — over the next several years, beginning with the lobby. The upgrades should include new concessions, including fountain pop and a larger popcorn maker. Read more at http://www.norwalkreflector.com/fullstory.html?sku=2006101715242609245&s=reflectornews
March 8, 200718 yr Courthouse project to cost $1.5 million By MATT HUTTON - Reflector Staff Writer | Thursday March 08 2007, 1:34pm The Huron County Courthouse is slated for some internal surgery this summer a $1.5 million project to make the courthouse and county office buildings more energy efficient. The commissioners accepted bids this week from Industrial Power Systems, of Toledo, for about $1.2 million for the mechanical work and Atlas Electrical Construction, of Elyria, for about $220,000 for the electrical work. The total also includes about 10 percent for "contingency" or emergency costs. The project includes new boilers for the courthouse, the treasurer's building and the recorder's building, all located on Main Street. The courthouse also will get new air conditioning and more energy efficient lighting. The commissioners originally had estimated the project would cost $965,000. But initial bids received came back in the $2 million range. The scope of the project has been pared down and contractors will do work during normal business hours, rather than in the evening. The bulk of the work will take place between June 15 and Aug. 15 and the court will likely seek an alternate location to operate in during that time. More at http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2007/03/08/front/iq_319893.txt ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good news here, with all the talk of courthouse demolitions (i.e. Seneca County and Marion County)
September 18, 200717 yr From http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2007/09/18/front/iq_420792.txt Willard seeks funding for downtown revitalization By AARON KRAUSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Tuesday September 18 2007, 10:41am WILLARD - The process of improving the downtown's appearance could begin as early as spring. Council voted 5 to 1 Monday to authorize city manager Brian Humphress to apply for $400,000 in state grants for a two-year downtown revitalization project. The money would come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The program offers several options, including State Administered CDBG, which awards grants to smaller units of general local government that carry out community development activities. The city must match the grant and Humphress said the city itself must raise a minimum of 10 percent of the $400,000. Humphress said the city will exceed that, raising 75 percent. Willard had submitted a preliminary application and, along with other communities, was invited by state officials to submit a tier 2 application. Humphress said he feels confident the state will approve it. If the application is rejected, city officials would have to determine whether to apply again. But there is an urgency because the town's funds are currently available, Humphress said. -------------------------------------- Willard is a nice sized town (approx. 7,000 people) with a few major businesses (RR Donnelly, East of Chicago Pizza Company, CSX Railyard, Midwest Industries, Pepperidge Farm). Oh yeah, and Charlie Frye is from Willard. I wanted to get some photos of downtown Willard (and other towns) this summer but I just couldn't find/make time :x http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willard%2C_Ohio
November 14, 200717 yr Applebee's coming to Norwalk By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Friday November 09 2007, 7:31pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2007/11/09/front/iq_447821.txt Applebee's and a larger Bob Evans restaurant will open up near Premiere Theater sometime during the summer. Bethany Dentler, Norwalk's economic development director, announced the plans to bring the restaurants into Norwalk Commons at the Norwalk Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) annual investor's luncheon Thursday. The luncheon was held in the lobby of the theater.
November 14, 200717 yr Here's the website for the entire project: www.norwalkcommons.com The development plan: http://www.prideonehomes.com/UserFiles/Image/11%2007%202007%201061-G%20PHASE%203%20SKETCH%20PLAN%20MARKETING%20PLAN-COLOR(1).jpg And the website for the "higher-density" senior apartments: www.bennettpointeapartments.com
November 14, 200717 yr What the hell? I read into this thread expecting that it was a true mixed-use development, but it looks like it is just a sprawling, auto-centric development.
January 21, 200817 yr What the hell? I read into this thread expecting that it was a true mixed-use development, but it looks like it is just a sprawling, auto-centric development. What do you mean...they did write in "mixed-use" on their site plan. Isn't that convincing enough?
March 19, 200817 yr Norwalk Furniture moving recliner line to Tennessee By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Tuesday March 18 2008, 12:06pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/03/18/front/iq_517118.txt NORWALK - Norwalk Furniture is moving a line of recliners from Norwalk to it’s facility in Livingston, Tenn. to cut costs and get grants and funding not offered in Ohio. According to a letter from the company to United Steelworkers Local 48U, the move “positions us closer to our raw material suppliers; reducing transportation and inventory costs” and “State of Tennessee offering grants and funding not offered in Ohio.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A local company abandoning its home turf :whip:
March 26, 200817 yr Historical Wakeman looks to dress up its downtown By HEATHER CHAPIN-FOWLER, Norwalk Bureau Chief 03/24/2008 http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19418668&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8 WAKEMAN - The village of Wakeman is working toward sprucing up its downtown in an effort to bring more people to the village, according to Mayor Chris Hipp. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wakeman is a village of about 1,000 in northeast Huron County on the fringe of the exurban areas of Lorain County and Greater Cleveland. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Wakeman+OH/
March 26, 200817 yr Willard residents make headway in developing 13-acre soccer complex By HEATHER CHAPIN-FOWLER, Norwalk Bureau Chief 03/23/2008 http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19412369&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8 WILLARD - A recreational project in Willard is looking like it might come to fruition this year with the help of a fundraising campaign and services donated by the city. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Willard (population ~6800, formerly the Vaudeville capital of Ohio) is often forgotten about; especially the downtown. Although it has large employers such as RR Donnelly, MTD/Midwest Industries, CSX rail yard, Pepperidge Farm, and the headquarters of East of Chicago Pizza; the poverty rate is fairly high. http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Willard+OH/
March 26, 200817 yr Norwalk Commons project growing Thursday March 06 2008, 11:54am CORY FROLIK http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/03/06/local_news/doc47cf87cbb0513555439854.txt NORWALK - The Norwalk Commons project is moving full-speed ahead, according to developers. The Premiere Theatre 8 Norwalk opened several years ago. Then came Bennett Pointe, an active senior home. Last month East of Chicago Pizza moved in. If things go according to plan, developers say these businesses will have new neighbors” Applebees and Bob Evans” by the time the leaves begin to turn.
April 19, 200817 yr Norwalk Furniture asks employees to make concessions to help company By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Saturday April 19 2008, 12:30am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/19/front/iq_538437.txt Norwalk Furniture has asked union employees to accept concessions to their current contract to help the company remain competitive, but promised to repay employees for their losses if the company leaves Norwalk.
April 19, 200817 yr Officials hope for solutions to Norwalk Furniture dilemma By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Saturday April 19 2008, 12:30am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/19/front/doc48089f9ac0d81603030974.txt Melissa James, director of the Norwalk Area/Huron County Chamber of Commerce, said Norwalk Furniture’s offer to make up any concessions employees agree to shows the company is committed to treating employees fairly.
April 22, 200817 yr Norwalk Furniture workers approve concessions By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Tuesday April 22 2008, 9:42am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/22/front/iq_539865.txt Norwalk Furniture employees, in a vote of 168 to 141, voted Saturday to accept the concessions requested by the company, including loss of a 25-cents-per-hour raise and a reduction in pension funding for the next year.
April 28, 200817 yr New restaurant coming to Norwalk Commons By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Saturday April 26 2008, 1:07am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/26/front/iq_542421.txt Layla's Grille, a restaurant touted as "upscale with a casual environment," is coming to Norwalk in the Norwalk Commons development on the north side of town. Mike McCarthy, who partnered with David Conwill in the Pride One development of the area, is a real estate broker from Perrysburg and said this is his first foray into the restaurant business.
April 28, 200817 yr Bistro will bring the world's cuisine to Norwalk By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Wednesday April 23 2008, 12:17pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/26/news/business/iq_540660.txt ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-winded article; but this will be a nice addition to the Uptown area, IMO. And the building is pretty neat too! www.millstreetbistrobar.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the Mill Street Bistro & Bar opens up in June, two chefs with international experience will be preparing the meals for Norwalk's newest upscale restaurant. Owner Joe Nagy hired Adriano Orrao and Bob Boutin as chefs.
April 30, 200817 yr This article certainly has a little different tone than the other Norwalk Furniture articles.... City trying to help Furniture acquire state funding Wednesday April 30 2008, 11:38am http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/04/30/front/iq_544918.txt Norwalk officials have applied for a state grant to build a training facility for Norwalk Furniture, but company chairman Jim Gerken said the firm may not be able to afford the facility even with state funds.
May 7, 200817 yr Norwalk Commons wants annexation By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Wednesday May 07 2008 http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/05/07/front/doc4821c4ec60a7f078712417.txt Plans continue for growth at Norwalk Commons as developer David Conwill started annexation proceedings for the site of the old Batesville Casket Company on U.S. 250 from the township into the city. He also plans to add townhome apartments available for rent by September. Mayor Sue Lesch explained that many annexations come into the city as residential zoning, but the rest of Norwalk Commons is zoned for manufacturing and business. Planning Commission members attended to hold a hearing on the annexation and zoning change and had no objections. Conwill is asking for 4.2 acres be annexed into the city.
June 14, 200816 yr Thankfully, the community school in this little hamlet will not fall victim to the OSFC. Location of Shiloh: http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-OxHV Landmark, memories to stay in Shiloh http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/06/14/news/local/iq_568451.txt SHILOH - It was just too important to tear down. Just too many memories. The old Shiloh Elementary School will not be torn down, thanks to the efforts of Mayor Christine Donnersbach, Shirley Reeder and other concerned citizens.
June 16, 200816 yr "The building has been part of the community for so long," said Reeder, a Shiloh resident and former village clerk. "I went there. My kids went there. It is a landmark in the community." An agreement was recently made with the Plymouth-Shiloh Local School Board that allowed the village to purchase the property for $10. The school system doesn't have to pay for more than $80,000 to remove the building and the village can keep a local landmark. Good news! This community "gets it". Thanks for sharing.
July 19, 200816 yr NOT GOOD NEWS Norwalk Furniture suspends operations at plant By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Friday July 18 2008, 11:35pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/07/19/front/doc4881610827a73970035501.txt Norwalk Furniture officials announced late Friday night operations at plants in both Norwalk and Cookeville, Tenn., are suspended until further notice.
July 22, 200816 yr This really is terrible news. Norwalk Furniture has been in the city of Norwalk for over 100 years. It is the second largest employer in the city and 4th or 5th largest in Huron County.
July 22, 200816 yr Norwalk Furniture suspends operations By CORY FROLIK | Monday July 21 2008, 11:49pm http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/07/21/front/doc488546edc335e749923044.txt NORWALK - Things were looking up for Norwalk Furniture. The union voted to accept concessions to keep the recliner line local. And the company announced that it was bringing two production brands — Hickory Hill and Jaclyn Smith Home collections — to the Norwalk plant. But then the company’s more than 500 local employees were notified they were getting Monday off.
July 22, 200816 yr The news just keeps getting worse for north central Ohio. First, Norwalk Furniture "temporarily" lays off all 500+ of its employees, now neighboring Milan is losing 65 jobs to Mexico :| Tenneco laying off 65 By CARY ASHBY - Reflector Staff Writer | Tuesday July 22 2008, 2:35pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/07/22/front/doc48860d69487e7495098528.txt MILAN - Tenneco Automotive announced this morning it will be laying off 65 full-time employees starting next month. Steve Grilly, the regional plant manager, said the first 20 layoffs will be Sept. 22, with 20 more by December and the final 25 employees laid off by March 9. The layoffs, based on plant seniority, will affect a combination of hourly and salaried positions.
July 24, 200816 yr Norwalk Furniture: Comerica Bank called $11 million loan, demanding liquidation By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Thursday July 24 2008, 1:38pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/07/24/front/iq_588474.txt The acting CEO for Norwalk Furniture said Comerica Bank, which holds $11 million in loans for the company, has refused to even talk to several investors interested in buying out the loans and taking over the company.
July 27, 200816 yr Back to work - for now By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Friday July 25 2008, 11:28pm http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/07/26/front/iq_589324.txt There's good news with the Norwalk Furniture situation. About 300 workers will be back on the job Monday for at least a week to finish orders already stated. The state has agreed to help the company through a low-interest loan. And Comerica Bank is back at the bargaining table.
August 5, 200816 yr Norwalk Furniture sold to investment groups Posted by Frank Bentayou August 04, 2008 18:02PM http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/08/norwalk_furniture_sold_to_priv.html Norwalk Furniture Corp., the financially battered Huron County manufacturer that idled 876 jobs in mid-July, said Monday it had signed agreements with two investment groups that could reopen the 106-year-old company by week's end.
August 20, 200816 yr Officials say deal still possible for Norwalk Furniture http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/08/18/front/iq_602454.txt By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Monday August 18 2008, 12:13pm Local officials and a spokesman for the company in charge of restructuring Norwalk Furniture said Friday’s deadline for a deal with new investors was an arbitrary deadline and negotiations continue to save the 106-year-old company.
August 20, 200816 yr Norwalk City Council to consider TIF, design/build tonight http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/08/19/front/iq_602459.txt By MARY LISA BOOSE - Reflector Staff Writer | Tuesday August 19 2008, 12:13pm City Council will consider the final Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposal between the city and Pride One, the developer of Norwalk Commons, and a revised version of a proposal to allow developers to both design and build projects without separately bidding out each portion. This latest version of the TIF would require the developer to build Emerald Parkway, a road from U.S. 250 east to Theater Drive to city specifications.
September 4, 200816 yr Norwalk Furniture suspends work, blames bank By CORY FROLIK | Thursday September 04 2008, 11:34am http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/09/04/front/881571.txt NORWALK - It was deja vu Wednesday at the Norwalk Furniture plant. At 6 a.m. Wednesday -- less than two months after the furniture company first closed the doors at its plants across the U.S. -- employees were told to go home and await further instructions. Production at the company was brought to a grinding halt after the money needed to cover payroll ran out a second time, company officials said.
September 4, 200816 yr Council passes TIF legislation http://www.norwalkreflector.com/articles/2008/09/03/front/iq_611358.txt By SCOTT SEITZ - Reflector Staff Writer | Saturday August 23 2008, 12:00am After months of consideration, Norwalk city council passed the tax-increment financing (TIF) legislation at its Tuesday night meeting. The agreement was passed on a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Dwight Tkach casting the "no" vote.
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