Thursday, December 20, 2007

Who says Toledo doesn't have density?

dense\ˈden(t)s\
marked by compactness or crowding together of parts
(m-w.com)


In doing research for this blog, I ran across a little piece of Toledo history that is still standing today. One of the main gripes I have ran across is the relative lack of density in Downtown Toledo. Check out this gem located off Swan Creek (I-75 & Nebraska).

The majority of Downtown Toledo looked similar to this, snaking around the natural resources that were the Maumee River and Swan Creek. The reason? Real estate was at a premium near the heart of the ever growing metropolis, especially on the waterways. Most have been replaced by the single level steel warehouses that we all know so well.


An almost comical contrast between Toledo then and Toledo now can be seen in the photo above. This photo is not doctored in anyway. In fact, you may be able to see it in person on southbound I-75. Dense, brick structures meet 70's inspired, low income housing.


If you are looking to preserve a little bit of history, publicly or privately, I would encourage that you look at this opportunity.

What to look forward to @ Next Step Toledo:
  1. Master Plan for Downtown Toledo
  2. Revamped traffic flow for Downtown and outlying areas
  3. Modern home/building designs
  4. Updates relating to Toledo business development
Stayed Tuned.