Work to raze Clarion begins

Mayor D. Michael Collins, in front of the former Clarion Hotel, calls the start of its razing an important step to remove blight. Councilman Matt Cherry, left, stands nearby. The hotel has stood empty since 2009 and has since caught fire and been vandalized. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo Published: Tuesday, 7/8/2014 - Updated: 4 seconds ago

BY STEPHEN GRUBER-MILLER BLADE STAFF WRITER

Mayor D. Michael Collins called demolition of the vacant Clarion Hotel on Reynolds Road the beginning of a blight-free district in South Toledo.

This has been a long time coming, the mayor said Monday at a news conference to mark the start of demolition work on the longtime eyesore.

While no one has expressed interest in buying the property, the mayor also said he expects the city should be able to sell the parcel within six to eight months of demolition.

PHOTO GALLERY:Demolition starts on Clarion Hotel

Mayor Collins emphasized the projects importance to revitalizing South Toledo, saying that the Clarion, originally a Ramada Inn when it opened in 1974, was once a vanguard of activity.

This is the front door of the city of Toledo, he said of the area, which sits just off the Ohio Turnpike and was once a booming retail district.

Demolition of the building at 2340 S. Reynolds Rd. has been under discussion for months. The hotel has stood empty since 2009 when the previous owners, Toledo Hotel Investment Group LLC, defaulted on $2 million in loans.

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Work to raze Clarion begins