Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner to introduce resolution at Tuesday's city council meeting
By Matt Trezza
Saturday, September 15, 2007 at 6:01 p.m.
Read more: Local
TOLEDO, OH -- Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner will introduce a resolution at Tuesday's city council meeting to take control of Southwyck Mall by Eminent Domain to start road construction in the area, according the council agenda.
City leaders say Southwyck's owners have been dragging their feet when it comes to redeveloping this area. They say people living around here have had enough, and they're ready to see a change.
The city can legally take control of the property as long as it meets a few guidelines. For example, it must be a blighted area; it must be targeted for infrastructure development; and in this case, the city's looking to build a road through the property.
"And of course, if we took it by Eminent Domain, we'd have to pay a fair market value," said George Sarantou, Toledo City Council member.
Sarantou says the property's assessed at about $15 million. Given the city's budget deficit, Sarantou says they'll have to find other ways of coming up with the cash, if it comes to that.
"I'm hopeful that if we went down that road, that this would be a private development," he said.
As the budget committee chairman, he says he'll have to think long and hard about voting for a city takeover of the mall.
"There have to be good, sound reasons to do it. Again, we're in this spot because Southwyck management and ownership has not been cooperative, said Sarantou.
Whether or not the city takes control of southwyck, one of two candidates will be representing the people living nearby on the city council. Independent Michael Collins says the deal should be between Southwyck's owners and developer Larry Dillon, not the city.
Eminent Domain should be a last resort, and I don't feel like a last resort, at this point in time, is what's called-for, said Collins.
Democrat Molly McHugh-Branyan says the city should do what's best for the community.
"if this is the spark that motivates them to give us control of the property, then so be it," she said.
The city council will discuss the possibility of taking over the mall through Eminent Domain at a committee meeting set for September 24th, said Sarantou.
The proposed takeover is the focus of Saturday's fair, accurate and honest web poll. Do you think it's fair that the city of Toledo wants to use Eminent Domain to take over Southwyck? You can weigh in on our website at NBC24.com
