Store fronts covered with for lease signs of in Sylvania - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Monroe Street has long been a hot spot for businesses, but in parts of Sylvania empty store fronts are painting a different picture.

For lease signs seem to popping up more and more, businesses are packing up and relocating.

 Take this Ace Hardware for example. Up until a few weeks ago, it sat empty for years.

 " This was a rite aid that moved down the street a block..I know people are moving around in the area quite a bit." Says Nick Redfield, Investor Ace Hardware

 And all that moving around is filling up streets like Monroe with a bunch of empty store fronts.

 The city's economic development director says places aren't going out of business, owners are just shopping for the best rate.

 it's a tough time for the property owners who are trying to get better lease rates because with open space it drives the price down." Says Bill Sanford, Sylvania Economic Development Director

 Sanford believes some areas are being overbuilt.

" When people are looking for sites, they don't necessarily want an old site, that was developed for something else. I think we're finding more people want to build a new site." Says Sanford

 Sylvania is in the process of trying to promote even more growth downtown. It's being called the SOMO project.

" We received a grant to do a downtown plan. Having a plan will put us in a better position to receive grant funding in the future. In fact in the July council meeting we will be looking to adopt it and it's looking at the next 10 years of how we want to develop our downtown.

 For more information visit http://www.cityofsylvania.com/default.aspx?nspace=CityOfSylvania.Home