The City of Toledo is working to tear down the D. Michael Collins police substation on Sylvania Avenue. Officials shut down the building last November because of mold and flooding. These problems made the facility unsafe for regular police work.
The city administration went before Toledo City Council to request support for a state funding application. This grant would pay for the site demolition. “My understanding is sewer both tried to fix it repeatedly but to no success, so the best solution is to demolish and repurpose that site,” said Simon Nyi, the city’s grants commissioner.
Toledo police officers now work out of a new substation located on Cherry Street. The Special Victims Unit operates out of the Ottawa Park substation. Officers relocated after the closure.
The funding request connects to the Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization grant program. This program pays to remove old, vacant buildings. It also cleans up surrounding land when the location is not a brownfield.
The state requires local government support before it distributes the grant money. The Lucas County Land Bank serves as the designated agency to apply for these funds for Lucas County. City Council must pass an ordinance before the city receives aid. The measure allows the mayor to sign an agreement with the Land Bank.
State revitalization grants help local governments clear damaged public properties for future redevelopment projects. Regional land banks manage application filings and oversee building clearance efforts. These programs aim to remove local blight.
Other structures in Toledo could also come down through this grant money. The list includes an old dog warden building. It also includes a former school near Hill and Holland-Sylvania.
