Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz |
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I am excited today to highlight two great pieces of news for our city: the Lucas County Land Bank acquisition of the Spitzer, Nicholas, and Port Lawrence buildings in downtown Toledo and the tremendous progress being made citywide on the conversion of our antiquated streetlights to modern and energy-efficient LED technology.
The Spitzer, Nicholas, and Port Lawrence buildings sit on literally the only corner in downtown Toledo where all four original buildings still remain. Without the hard work and intervention of the Land Bank, I have always feared that we might lose them. Now, we have a chance to bring them back to life for the benefit of all Toledoans.
As David Mann, president and chief executive of the Land Bank, said this week: “For too long, our community has watched these important buildings fall apart from abandonment and neglect, even as demand for downtown residential and commercial uses has skyrocketed.”
This gives Toledo a new chance to redevelop these historic buildings that have fallen into disrepair. Since 2019, the buildings have been the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Land Bank against Ergur Private Equity Group to collect more than $450,000 of unpaid debts associated with the properties. In early 2020, the Lucas County Treasurer filed parallel lawsuits against the buildings for unpaid property taxes.
Going forward, the Land Bank intends to partner with the city, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, and ConnecToledo, the downtown development corporation, to manage the properties, make stabilizing investments as needed, and market them for redevelopment in an open and transparent process.
Other great news for downtown’s momentum this week: the Ohio Development Services Agency awarded an additional $3.7 million in tax credits for the second rehabilitation phase of the historic Fort Industry Square on Summit Street.
Additionally, I anticipate the conversion of the downtown streetlights to LED to be completed soon.
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LED Streetlights
We continue to concentrate on improving neighborhoods throughout Toledo. Toledo Edison contractors will be moving on to parts of North Toledo next and another contractor will start the conversion in the area of Hill and Westwood avenues early next month.
Here is the current project status:
- East Toledo is 100 percent complete.
- The area near Collingwood Boulevard and Central Avenue is 100 percent complete.
- The Junction Neighborhood is 94 percent complete.
- Downtown is 89 percent complete.
LEDs are more cost-efficient, last longer, better for the environment, and brighter than traditional fixtures. A pilot program championed by the FLOC Homies Union, a youth leadership program based in the Old South End, showed they could also help reduce crime.
So far this year, 7,528 new LED streetlights have been installed and by the end of 2020, we will have more than 13,000 completed.
We will have all of the city's streetlights converted to LED by the end of 2021.
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Finally this week, at the risk of sounding overly repetitive: if you have not done so, please go to my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to complete the census.
Go one step further and encourage your neighbors, family members, and friends to fill out the census.
It is quick and easy to do. Cities depend on an accurate count and not enough Toledoans have completed the census.
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Mask Giveaway For Toledo Residents |
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The city of Toledo will provide three free disposable masks to each adult at a number of city events and parks during designated times, thanks to the generosity of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which donated 65,000 masks to Lucas County.
Masks will be given away:
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9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 8, during the Engage Toledo Drop Off Refuse and Recycling Event, at DeVeaux School, 2620 West Sylvania Ave.
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3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Navarre Park, 1001 White St., near the tennis court off of Navarre Avenue.
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9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22 during the Engage Toledo Drop Off Refuse and Recycling Event, at Longfellow Elementary School, 1955 West Laskey Rd.
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Toledo Police Sgt. Paul Cunningham was dispatched Tuesday to a water rescue call.
The 911 caller reported that a 3-year-old child was drowning in a pool. When Sergeant Cunningham arrived, he saw that the child's mother was able to get him out of the pool and begin CPR. Sergeant Cunningham assisted the mother by opening the child's airway, at which point he began gasping and breathing on his own.
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department quickly arrived and took over medical care. Thankfully, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
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The Land Bank will be 10 years old soon and it needs your help to decide what's next. They want to learn more about what they are doing well, what they could do better, and what priorities are most important in the coming years.
Your perspective is important and this survey is the land bank's best chance to hear from you during this pandemic. The survey expires on Aug. 15.
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Trash and Recycling Pickup Now One Hour Earlier |
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Beginning Monday, Aug. 10, Republic Services will be starting daily trash and recycling collections in Toledo one hour early, at 6 a.m.
This is due to the increased volume in residential waste during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With many residents staying at home to stay safe as well as working from home, Republic Services is experiencing a significant increase in trash and recycling in Toledo.
Starting routes an hour early will allow more time to collect the additional waste. This change will be in place for the foreseeable future.
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Engage Toledo Drop Off Refuse and Recycling Event
Acceptable items include electronic waste, but no televisions, CRT monitors, or appliances; 10 tires, on or off the rim, but no commercial tires; documents; houseware goods; clothing; toys; bulky items, and refuse. Latex paint will be accepted for $1 per gallon.
Free disposable face masks will be provided to residents during this event, while supplies last. Each adult will be able to receive three free masks.
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61,156 potholes filled
2,900,787 pounds of debris cleared from streets with street sweepers
2,014,467 pounds of debris cleared from alleys
162 water main breaks repaired
902,538 feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
8,478 feet of storm sewers cleaned
4,735 building inspections completed
1,522 contractor licenses issued
708 trees trimmed
1,176 illegal signs removed
30,872 fire runs
3,719 EMS runs
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