Toledo Neighborhoods Vs the Planning Commission

Recently we've had a neighborhood organization who want to shut down a carryout; a moratorium placed on new convenience stores; a Councilman who wants to make a whole neighborhood "dry" when it comes to alcohol sales; neighbors who don't want a charter school moved near them and today we have two more.

The Toledo Plan Commission approved LMHA's waiver on density restrictions so they can build more rental units. A special-use permit to expand its student Interfaith Center meditation chapel and add a coffeehouse and activity space for Toledo Campus Ministry Fellowship will also move on to be placed before Toledo City Council.


Some in the Indian Hills Neighborhood oppose this stating that:

"We see this influx of people into our neighborhood as lowering our property values and quality of life," he said. (Jim Sworden, resident)

Neighbors also claimed the expanded building would attract noisy students, generate foot and vehicle traffic, negatively alter neighborhood aesthetics, and possibly trigger future high-density student housing.

Prior to 2001 the property that is now the Interfaith Center was listed under the name of Bishop James Hoffman, it has belonged to the Diocese since 1968. On December 14, 2001 almost all of the property on Brookdale was sold to the Interfaith Center. Why this is important to this particular issue is the majority of the neighbors purchased their property well after the Diocese bought this property in 1968, and a few even purchased their property after the Interfaith Center went into existence. In 2003 properties in that area did see an increase in their property values.

The Interfaith Center has a website for those interested in more information. The YMCA is also listed as having an address of 2086 Brookdale which is adjacent to 2080 where the expansion would take place.

Given the location of the other programs and the fact that the University of Toledo has been there for quite some time I have to say I find some of the neighborhood attitudes against UT to be troubling. Especially when the University and these facilities on Brookdale existed prior to some of the current home owner's presence in that neighborhood.

Neighborhoods of course have the right to protest decisions of the Toledo Plan Commission, and to go before Toledo City Council as well, but when it is said that Toledo isn't friendly to new businesses or to making our university students feel welcome enough I think we also have to look to see what kind of a message we are sending.