Bear Up North
Cyburbian Emeritus
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Interstates 80 and 90 (The Ohio Turnpike) roar through northwestern Ohio on an east-west path. Interstate 75 truck rumbles on a north-south path through this same corner of Ohio. The two (1) highways interchange in a Toledo suburban area that is partially Rossford, OH, partially Perrysburg Township, OH, and partially Perrysburg, OH.
Part of this giant interchange is a busy Ohio State Route 795. Just a mile south on Interstate 75 is U. S. Route 20.
The entire area has been dubbed by local politicians (and real estate types) as "The Crossroads Of America". In the last few years a five (5) lane road has been built through the farmlands between Route 20 and Route 295. A number of big box stores have been built on Route 20. Numerous new hotels and motels have sprung up to join the hotels and motels that have been in this area for years.
A few years ago construction started on an outside ampitheater, supposedly to compete (successfully because of location) with Pine Knob (now known as DTE) in a northern Detroit suburb and Blossom Center, located between Akron and Cleveland.
From this non-planner's point of view, it looks like this NW Ohio version of "The Crossroads Of America" is only a moderate success. Most of the farm land along the roads and the new five (5) lane is still just farmland, with FOR SALE signs growing taller than the corn. The ampitheater folks ran out of money to complete it. A couple suburbs argued about financing, there were hints at some "funny business" with financing, etc.
If you are cruising on the Ohio Turnpike you can see the half-finished ampitheater, just to the south of the Turnpike exit at I-75.
The location should be successful. (The retail boxes would be in that area no matter what interstate junction is there.....the Perrysburg area is Toledo's fastest-growing suburb.)
What went wrong? Is it just bad timing (economy-wise) and it will eventually be an area filled with light manufacturing, distribution, more retail? What is is that makes what appears to be a "sure thing" become only marginally successful?
Bear
Part of this giant interchange is a busy Ohio State Route 795. Just a mile south on Interstate 75 is U. S. Route 20.
The entire area has been dubbed by local politicians (and real estate types) as "The Crossroads Of America". In the last few years a five (5) lane road has been built through the farmlands between Route 20 and Route 295. A number of big box stores have been built on Route 20. Numerous new hotels and motels have sprung up to join the hotels and motels that have been in this area for years.
A few years ago construction started on an outside ampitheater, supposedly to compete (successfully because of location) with Pine Knob (now known as DTE) in a northern Detroit suburb and Blossom Center, located between Akron and Cleveland.
From this non-planner's point of view, it looks like this NW Ohio version of "The Crossroads Of America" is only a moderate success. Most of the farm land along the roads and the new five (5) lane is still just farmland, with FOR SALE signs growing taller than the corn. The ampitheater folks ran out of money to complete it. A couple suburbs argued about financing, there were hints at some "funny business" with financing, etc.
If you are cruising on the Ohio Turnpike you can see the half-finished ampitheater, just to the south of the Turnpike exit at I-75.
The location should be successful. (The retail boxes would be in that area no matter what interstate junction is there.....the Perrysburg area is Toledo's fastest-growing suburb.)
What went wrong? Is it just bad timing (economy-wise) and it will eventually be an area filled with light manufacturing, distribution, more retail? What is is that makes what appears to be a "sure thing" become only marginally successful?
Bear
