Demolition begins on former Clarion Hotel

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) -

More changes are on the way for the former Southwyck Mall area as demolition begins on a vacant hotel near the location of the former mall.

The Southwyck Mall closed in 2008 and was torn down the following year. The land where it sat has been empty ever since. The vacant property has been blamed for the blight that surrounds it, including the former Clarion Hotel on Reynolds Road.

The hotel has been hit by vandals, homeless, and a fire recently. Demolition of the building began Monday, to the delight of city officials and people living nearby.

"It's very exciting, not only for the City of Toledo and the big blight issue, because this might be one of the biggest pieces of blight in our city right now," said Toledo Councilman Matt Cherry.

As manager of the Paddy Jack's near the hotel, Nick Rice has had to deal with the eyesore for years.

"I can't wait," he said. "Everybody that rides by it every day, they can't wait for it to be gone, either. All people in the community, they've seen it be a wreck for a really long time. It's about time they did something about it."

The first part of the process is the removal of asbestos, then the building will be demolished. It's expected to take about three months, but it will pave the way for growth in the Southwyck area.

"I think this will play a major factor in more businesses investing in the Reynolds Corridor," said Cherry.

Several businesses are reportedly interested in the area. Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins says Home Goods is planning to come to the area. The cost for demolition will be about $450,000, down significantly from the original estimate of $900,000.

Originally posted here:
Demolition begins on former Clarion Hotel