HSI In The News

• 13abc's Lissa Guyton/life-changing-work-history-south-initiative

• Gateway Arch installed celebrates Old South End (WTOL)

• Old South End arch a ‘symbol’ for the Toledo neighborhood’s turnaround (Toledo Blade)

• How a Toledo nonprofit is slowly fixing up the Old South End neighborhood (Toledo Blade)

• Solar field coming to Toledo Old South End (WTOL)

• Historic South Initiative Breathing New Life Into One of Toledo’s Oldest Neighborhoods (WTOL)

• Historic South Initiative Revitalizing Neighborhoods in Toledo’s South End (WTOL)

• Saving The Old South End: Initiative Gives a Face-Lift to One of Toledo’s Oldest Neighborhoods (WTOL)

• Historic South Initiative Fixing Up Toledo Homes (WTOL)

• Preserving Toledo (Danberry Realtors)

major Achievements & Partnerships

1. Housing Rehabilitation – Historic South Initiative has fixed up over 175 homes in the Old South End over the past ten years.

2. Full Home remodels – HSI is currently completing two homes that are being fully rebuilt. This will make a total of 13 homes that HSI has fully redeveloped and sold to new homeowners.

3. Education Support

   a. HSI supported the opening of the Mosaic Early Learning Center in 2023 in the former St James School. There are now 45 students, ages 0-5, in this innovative and high-quality learning center.

   b. Queen of Apostles Partnership. Historic South Initiative entered into a partnership agreement with Queen of Apostles Catholic School in 2023. Our goal is to raise funds for after school and summer programming and to provide support for strategic issues.

4. Commercial Development

   a. HSI purchased a vacant building at 1421 Broadway to help lead the commercial development of Broadway. Improvements were made and the building has been leased to a local non-profit group.

   b. HSI was awarded a capital grant from the State of Ohio towards the purchase of a strip shopping center at 1244 Broadway. Additional grants will help HSI to fully remodel and upgrade the structure.

   c. Awarded a Federal Grant (though U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur) to construct a Solar Array in the Old South End. To be completed in late 2024, sales of electricity generated will provide support for local organizations.

5. Commercial development/Workforce development – facilitated the first major capital project in the old south end in 30 years; HSI purchased the real estate from BP Oil and sold it to the Little Caesar franchisee; this property on Broadway was vacant for many years; Little Caesars is employing over 40 people with a preference to Old South End residents.

6. Old South End Master Plan – funded the master-plan for the Old South End neighborhood with the supervision of the Toledo Design Center; the prior plan for this neighborhood dated from 1983 was not implemented; over 50 meetings were held to gather input; plan has been approved by the planning commission with subsequent approval from the Toledo City Council; under leadership of the Broadway Corridor Coalition the program is being implemented and updated on an ongoing basis.

7. Community development - Danny Thomas Park – awarded a grant of $400,000 from State of Ohio to renovate Danny Thomas Park (1957), the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation collaborated with the City of Toledo and other donors leading to provide an overall investment of $1.6 million in the park. The Believe Center and YMCA now providing programming and opportunities for children.

8. Community development - Carnegie Library building renovation – secured funding ($300,000) from the capital budget of the State of Ohio (2016) with the goal of renovating the Carnegie Library. The Nueva Esperanza Community Credit Union is now located in this building; Promedica provided funding for a full –service health clinic (Compassion Toledo Health) in the building.