October 2007 version of the Marina District project

It must truly be October because it's time for another announcement about the Marina District project.

** Oct 11, 2007 Blade story

The 125-acre proposed Marina District is on the east bank of the Maumee River, bounded by Front Street, Main Street, and I-280. The former industrial area has been the subject of three previous development proposals that did not come to fruition.

Under a deal with the city announced in late March, Mr. Dillin, head of the Dillin Corp. real estate company, will receive ownership of about 65 acres of the city-owned Marina District in exchange for his commitment to spend at least $50 million on retail and commercial development there.

The project to be described this morning is expected to involve at least $75 million in construction over 21 acres, and will include both stand-alone residential construction, such as townhouses, and upper-floor dwellings above street-level retail and commercial units.

Mayor Finkbeiner has committed the city to building a riverfront road and park from Main Street to the Glass City Marina at a cost of $10 million. According to a spokesman for Mr. Dillin, building construction on the 21-acre development would begin in 2008. Total development is expected to top $320 million at the site.

Search results on the old version of Toledo Talk for 'Marina District'.

My first posting about the Marina District project was on Jan 21, 2003, titled Marina District plans keep changing, which pointed to a Jan 20, 2003 Blade story :

On a warm summer day more than two years ago, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and Columbus developer Frank Kass stood next to the Maumee River and unveiled the most elaborate and ambitious development plan ever proposed in downtown Toledo.

At $175 million, the Marina District would add shops, upscale housing, theme restaurants, office buildings, and a movie theater to a drab industrial site that had long been an eyesore on the east side. Topping it off would be a renovated sports arena costing $25 million. "There is no question the east bank will become a beautiful, beautiful destination point," Mr. Finkbeiner said on Aug. 7, 2000.

A few other past postings :

** Oct 31, 2003 - Movement in Marina District project :

Mayor Jack Ford’s review committee has recommended the city hire Toledo-area builder Bruce Douglas and a Phoenix-arena developer to take over the Marina District project. Mr. Ford denied he was influenced by Mr. Douglas’ $7,050 contribution to his 2001 mayoral campaign. The Marina District, which the Douglas proposal calls "Esplanade at River East," would be built on the east bank of the Maumee River.

The Douglas proposal would include 1,100 housing units; the arena; neighborhood retail stores; a marina; a commercial/entertainment center, and a 16-foot-wide riverfront walkway, or esplanade, dotted with restaurants. The 8,100 to 10,000-seat arena would cost $63.9 million and could be done in two years, according to AMC/Hunt Group’s proposal.

Dec 22, 2004 - Marina and arena projects, here we go again, which pointed to a Dec 21, 2004 Blade story :

Seven months after his first effort at a Marina District development deal fizzled, Mayor Jack Ford is to announce today that he will recommend that council award the potential $200 million project to Columbus-based Pizzuti Cos. If the timetable to be spelled out today holds up, Mr. Ford could be boasting of a Marina District under construction before the mayoral election next November. Mr. Carroll said the Marina District development will involve more than $200 million in investment, not including the arena. It will include a ferry terminal, public marinas, market-rate housing, restaurants, and retail development.

Jun 22, 2005 - Marina District Neighborhood Charette

** Oct 11, 2005 - Pizzuti unveils Marina District plan, which pointed to an Oct 11, 2005 Toledo Free Press story. How about that. Dillin and Pizzuti announce Marina District plans on the exact same day, just two years apart. From the TFP story:

The plan includes a 5,000-seat amphitheater, 180 public boat docks, a passenger terminal to bring charters back to the Great Lakes, a recreational ice rink, a riverwalk and a bike path, 216 units of market-rate residential development and 45 commercial properties, including restaurants and shops. "It is a development that will bring recreation, entertainment, retail and residential onto this site. In doing so, it will make the Marina District a destination for visitors throughout the Midwest and Canada," Ford said.

From the Oct 12, 2005 Blade story :

As before, colorful designs were placed upon easels. “This is a grand plan — but also a plan that will work,” Mr. Ford said yesterday. Much of the $163 million design laid out yesterday by Mayor Ford still depends on finding developers to finance the work. Carty Finkbeiner said he hopes he can interest Frank Kass of Columbus, the original developer, to return to the project.

“He’s had press conference after press conference after press conference, developer after developer after developer,” Mr. Finkbeiner said yesterday. “In none of these cases has a single solitary brick been laid.”

“If left to the Ford Administration, will the Marina District ever happen, or will it stagnate like the Southwyck mall? When I’m elected mayor, I will move forward with dispatch to build the Marina District,” Mr. Finkbeiner said.

Mar 14, 2006 - New Marina District plan

Apr 3, 2006 - Mayor fires Pizzuti from Marina project

** Oct 25, 2006 - Marina District announcement set, which pointed to a Toledo Free Press story :

Dillin Corp. is expected to unveil its master plan for Toledo's Marina District site by Nov. 1, a member of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's management team confirmed Oct. 25. An announcement regarding the project is tentatively scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Oct. 30 at One Government Center, Brian Schwartz, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's spokesman, said.

Jim Mettler, the Port Authority's vice president of new project development, said his organization has worked closely with Dillin Corp. and the City of Toledo in developing a concept for an urban, mixed-use development. Features of the plan include a linear park along the Maumee River, commercial, retail and entertainment development, and a high-density residential area.

** = most popular month of the year to announce Marina District plans.

created by jr on Oct 11, 2007 at 08:43:11 am
updated by jr on Oct 11, 2007 at 08:59:36 am Comments: 6

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tags: MarinaDistrict

Comments ... #

I'm half expecting Carty to draw up one himself in the next five years.

In red crayon.

On the back of a Bob Evans placemat.

posted by TheTalentedMrC on Oct 11, 2007 at 09:19:12 am #

this kind of progress really bums me out. so many cities are able to get things done in reasonable amounts of time.

posted by upso on Oct 11, 2007 at 10:03:04 am #

they can always let one of those monster truck rock'n roll churches move in.
they can baptize fresh tithers in the river.
how 'bout a glass walkway to simulate walking on water.
churches are accustomed to tax breaks as much as deep pocketed "entrepreneurs" and corporations in search of guaranteed double digit short term profits.

right now we're buying the sustained sizzle...

posted by charlatan on Oct 11, 2007 at 03:32:58 pm #

It's remarkable how often that Toledo falls for this scam. Of course, Toledoans are desperate, and desperate people are easy to defraud.

We're heading into a big-D Depression, folks. There's not going to be a "Marina Project" that ever exists outside of a few filled bank accounts.

Now, to revert to smart-ass mode, perhaps we should only believe Wal*Mart could do this: Wal*Marina! You can shop for cheap shit, and then take a paddle boat down the filthy Maumee!

posted by GuestZero on Oct 11, 2007 at 10:38:55 pm #

What about a submarine? Then you could catch TomKat sunbathing on their terrace after the townhouse is built. Only $10 a trip, and the excitement of dodging depth-charges from the wealthy who want to keep their "privacy" in Toledo.

posted by oldsendbrdy on Oct 12, 2007 at 01:45:23 pm #

July 16, 2008 Toledo Blade story :

Council delayed votes on several financing measures for the Marina District project. Councilman George Sarantou, chairman of council's finance committee, said the administration asked for the delay while details are worked out with Dillin Riverfront Properties.

July 16/17, 2008 WSPD story :

The current banking crisis may be to blame for another delay in Toledo's long-awaited Marina project. Mayor Carty Finkbeiner admits developer Larry Dillin is no longer seeking financial backing from Ohio banks. The mayor says Dillin now is speaking with overseas investors. Meanwhile, local investment advisor Dock Treece believes that the reluctance of local banks to get involved, and the government's involvement in the project, may doom the project. Treece says the Finkbeiner administration should sell the land to private ownership, then step away if the project is to succeed.

posted by jr on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:13:39 am #

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