In the wake of ProMedica’s announcement it is moving its headquarters to Downtown Toledo and making a major infrastructure investment, it is very welcome news that the Lathrop Company is also planning to move to the heart of the Glass City.
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As first reported by Toledo Free Press Staff Writer Tom Konecny, “The Lathrop Company — a construction firm responsible for building many of Toledo’s signature landmarks — is moving its offices and more than 50 employees from Maumee to Downtown, either later this year or early 2015.”
“Downtown was on our list of areas we were looking at,” said Tom Manahan, president of Lathrop Company and senior vice president of Turner Construction Company, Lathrop’s parent company. “In recent months there was real momentum about Downtown, and that option got more intriguing. It makes business sense for us, because a number of our clients and business partners are there, or are coming down there.”
Konecny reported, “Lathrop’s recent Downtown projects include Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center, and the company is also involved with the Mud Hens’ new ‘Hensville’ development project, among others.”
“Certainly plenty of challenges remain,” Manahan said. “But when you see what’s happened around the ballpark and arena, we think it’s the right time for us.”
I located Toledo Free Press near the intersection of Huron and Monroe streets in 2006 because I believed in the potential of the area around Fifth Third Field. That potential has been greatly realized as The Blarney Irish Pub, Table Forty4 and PizzaPapalis have joined other restaurants and galleries to fill in the Downtown area.
Mud Hens home Fifth Third Field is the cornerstone, but Downtown has a lot more to offer to the region’s business and entertainment future.
There is a long way to go, but seeing companies such as ProMedica and Lathrop investing in Downtown further bolsters the movement to revitalize our region’s hub.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
