Southwyck demolition starts Monday

SOUTH TOLEDO - After months of wondering and waiting the shuttered Southwyck Mall on Reynolds Road in the south end will soon be coming down.

Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said Wednesday afternoon that the demolition of the 36-year-old mall will begin on Monday, March 23.

"It is not an overstatement to call this day both at long last and historic," Mayor Finkbeiner said.

But don't expect a quick knockdown. With the asbestos cleanup, the project will probably take about seven months to complete.

Southwyck Mall officially closed June 29, 2008 to make way for The Village at Southwyck, which will be constructed by Perrysburg developer Larry Dillin of Dillin Corp.

Toledo District 2 City Councilman D. Michael Collins sent an e-mail to constituents March 18:

"I am very pleased to report that the principal owners of Southwyck have collectively agreed to move forward with the demolition of the property known as the Southwyck Mall. I firmly believe this decision and ultimate demolition of the property will provide a vibrant future for the property. It is my understanding that the complete project will require between 6 and 7 months, and the initial phase will begin next week. I believe now we must be patient and have the confidence that private industry will, when the market is right, create a new and vibrant outcome to the property.

"I would like to end by expressing my heartfelt appreciation to Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, Dave Amstutz and his team in the Economic Development Department and Larry Dillin for all of their effort and commitment to making this day become true reality. I would further express my appreciation to my predecessor, Rob Ludeman, and Dave Lemon, along with all of the residents in the Southwyck / Regan Woods neighborhood, for their steadfast support and unwavering commitment to the rebirth of this gem in South Toledo."

Seven months will probably seem like nothing to people who have waited for years to see something happen , as they watched the mall slowly go downhill. When the building comes down, there will be plenty of space to work with.

The question now is what will go there.

"Congresswoman Kaptur and I have both a deep appreciation for flowers and water," the mayor said.

Right off the bat, Mr. Finkbeiner said something like an urban beautification project won't be taken off the table. In fact nothing will be off the table, as redevelopment plans move forward - which includes Dillin's plan for a mix of retail and residential.

"So now whenever the market comes back, whenever retailers come back and look at the site again, it'll be able to move forward much more quickly," Dillin said.

"It's a fantastic part of town and the rebirth and redevelopment of the commercial space where Southwyck stands will ensure the revitalization of that area for many years to come," said David Lemon, South Toledo block watch leader.

Toledo resident Greg Harbin said that anything will look nice in the Southwyck corridor between Heatherdowns Boulevard and Glendale Avenue.

"Businesses, residential, apartments, anything that looks nice in the middle of Reynolds Road," Harbin said.

As for bringing the walls down, the building owners and a state grant will pay over $2.5 million price tag.

"This is the longest, most frustrating development that I've ever been involved with," Mayor Finkbeiner said.

"There's a lot of good memories there, but the time is long overdue for the property to be demolished and the site redeveloped," Lemon added.

No city funds will be needed - a nice bonus for a project that's dragged on for years.

"If they do something with it, that's going to benefit everyone in the area, then I really don't see problems," Harbin said.

 

(FOX Toledo's Shaun Hegarty contributed to this report)