Councilman: Southwyck situation "embarrassing" - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Councilman: Southwyck situation "embarrassing"

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TOLEDO, Ohio -

There are reports out that indicate no one will be buying the former Southwyck Property anytime soon.

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell announced a possible deal a few days ago with a developer.  But now, the Toledo Blade says Mayor Bell is rethinking his plan.

 On Thursday Mayor Bell is asked council to give MJW Development Group a $50,000 loan to pay for a marketing and feasibility study.

The money would have  come from grant money, not the city's general fund. The developer, based out of Columbus, had a preliminary plan to build a shopping, hotel, and sports complex at the old Southwyck Mall site, including tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, and indoor basketball and volleyball courts. The vision was to create a sports village to host regional tournaments.

According to the Blade , Cliff Gaston, the developer who came forward with interest in the site has a history of buying properties and never going through with development.

Mayor Bell says they likely won't be handing over a $50,000 grant and will continue to look at other options for the site.

Toledo City Councilman D. Michael Collins was unhappy with the situation, "We should never have been in this position and it's embarrassing because there's no more important project in City of Toledo, including the Marina District, than the development of the Reynolds Road area at Southwyck."

Collins says more discussions with the Southwyck Property owners will take place at the end of the month.

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