MISSION

HISTORIC SOUTH INITIATIVE DEVELOPS BOLD, LONG-TERM, MEASURABLE STRATEGIES AND FACILITATES PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF A VIBRANT, THRIVING OLD SOUTH END NEIGHBORHOOD.

The Historic South Initiative consists of four major efforts: rehabilitation of housing, primary and adult education, augmentation of community services, and creation of jobs and employment opportunities. 

The housing initiative is focused on improving the safety of homes with goal of supporting/creating home ownership in the Old South End. This will be done by rehabbing current houses and completely renovating homes that are inhabitable. While there are many houses that are beyond repair in this area, we have identified several houses that can be restored. This will maintain the character of the neighborhood while creating a sense of pride and community. 

Our education efforts are based on a proven, innovative and targeted approach that will be results-driven. Our support will focus primarily on the social, health, and educational development of children. To help support that development, we will also collaborate with other organizations in the Old South End to provide an integrated series of wrap-around programs that improve the children’s family and neighborhood environments.

Since there are already many dedicated and purpose driven organizations in the Old South End, our efforts will be to work with a variety of organizations to help them deliver additional resources that help them pursue their mission. 

The effort to create jobs and employment opportunities includes job training and placement. We are partnering with local businesses for job placement. A significant part of the initiative is to work with commercial real estate brokers to find opportunities to place new businesses in the neighborhood.

HSI Board of Trustees

Carl Wagner, Chair

Amy Hall

Mary Pilcher

Jim Bingle, M.D., FACC

Hussien Shouser

Bret Clark

Sr. Eileen Ripsin, OSF

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.