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Lucas County Commissioners Announce Sale Of Ballpark Building
| Lucas County Commissioners Announce Sale Of Ballpark Building
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The Lucas County Board of Commissioners today announced a deal with a local
developer to sell the first of seven historic county-owned buildings surrounding the
construction site of the Lucas County Ballpark.
Jim Smythe, President of Habitec Security, will purchase the building at 19 N. St.
Clair St. for $142,500. That is one of five properties along St. Clair commissioners
bought during the 1980's. Commissioners purchased two other properties last year at the
corner of Monroe and Huron Streets to make room for the ballpark.
"Our original intent was to sell these buildings to interested parties who want to
enhance the ballpark and surrounding Warehouse District in appearance and design," said
Sandy Isenberg, President of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners. "The proposal
we received from this local entrepreneur showed a commitment to the historic integrity of
these buildings, a good fit into the overall scope of the area, and the financial means to
fulfill his plans."
The Smythe proposal calls for a street-level retail shop that will specialize in
selling local memorabilia. The shop will include an art gallery for local artists to display
their work for sale and an ice cream store that will also sell fudge. Two technology-
related tenants would share an estimated 2400 square feet of space on the second floor.
TotaLink, an Internet service provider, and Aurora Solutions, a network solutions
provider for businesses, have signed letters of intent to lease space at 19 North St. Clair
Street. The third floor will be used for warehouse space for the shop and both technology
companies. Construction is expected to begin next month, with all tenants moved in by
the Toledo Mud Hens home opener in April 2002.
"It should be noted that the first developer to step to the plate is a local investor
who sees a solid future for downtown Toledo as a whole, and the Warehouse District in
particular," said Lucas County Commissioner Bill Copeland. "That's exactly the kind of
entrepreneurial spirit we hoped to attract by building the new Lucas County Ballpark
downtown."
There is no formal asking price for any of the remaining buildings, but the selling
price will be considered in any potential deal. The buildings will also be sold "as is". The
buildings were originally constructed between 1867 and 1887. Their sizes range from
2,800 to 10,800 square feet. Structural enhancement and electrical work were performed
on the buildings in the last few months to make them more attractive to developers.
"While we still have buildings for sale along St. Clair Street, we believe this
proposal is a good start to enhancing the Warehouse District in areas surrounding the
ballpark," said Lucas County Commissioner Harry Barlos. "Chances are good in our
minds that these proposals will spark the necessary interest of other developers to buy
and rehabilitate the remaining properties, breathing new life into St. Clair Village."
Construction has hit a peak at the Lucas County Ballpark site. 210 construction
workers are currently on site. A twelfth contractor arrived on site this week to begin
work. Athletic Field Services, based in Oregon, Ohio, has started surveying work. The
contractor will put in drainage and irrigation systems in the next few weeks, and begin to
lay the grass playing field after that. The last contractor will join the construction team
next month, to begin installing the seating into the ballpark.
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