Toledo Olde Towne and Warren Sherman Redevelopment Plan

Beckett & Raeder, Inc. was commissioned by the Toledo Olde Towne Community Organization and the Warren Sherman Area Council to prepare a redevelopment plan for the two adjoining neighborhoods.

Warren Sherman and Toledo Olde Towne are among the oldest neighborhoods in Toledo and lie in close proximity to the downtown. Once thriving with active businesses and grand homes, past disinvestment has left both areas struggling to revitalize. The Toledo Olde Towne Community wants to expand its commercial district that currently lacks essential services for residents; and The Warren Sherman Area Council wants to see new investment in their ailing industrial section, and new job opportunities for local residents.

In response to these needs, Beckett & Raeder prepared a market study and land use analysis to identify opportunities and provide a framework for new investment. A sales potential model for a 1 mile radius around the main commercial intersection of the Toledo Olde Towne Neighborhood shows that the area has enough spending potential to attract a small core of viable businesses. The plan establishes this intersection as the center of an “urban village” – an active, pedestrian-oriented core that supports the surrounding neighborhood.

At the same time, the plan calls for Warren Sherman to redefine itself as a business and technology district, inviting start-up businesses, and design and technology firms to the area with its proximity to downtown, high speed internet access and favorable real estate. In conjunction, the plan outlines a partnership with a local community college to provide technical training to local residents so that they can take advantage of new job opportunities.

Streetscape enhancements help define the character of each street; gateway designs at key intersections help identify the neighborhoods, and design guidelines show how to preserve historic character while attracting new development. Finally, a Near Term Action Plan outlines how each of the community organizations can implement and finance the redevelopment plan.

Other Representative Neighborhood Design Projects
Summit Street, Northriver Development Corporation, Toledo, Ohio
Monroe Street Design & Livability Plan, Toledo, Ohio
Rogers City, Michigan
Hartland, Michigan