ProMedica unveiled plans and renderings for its new $40 million move to Downtown, which will bring around 800 administrative employees together on one consolidated campus.
As part of the move, ProMedica intends to renovate the former Toledo Edison Steam Plant and also occupy the entire KeyBank office building, both along Summit Street. The proposed campus also incorporates a new multi-level parking garage to be built on a section of the adjacent Promenade Park along the Maumee River.
“The project will help boost economic development in the community and provide a catalytic energy for a revitalized Downtown in the future,” said Robin Whitney, vice president of property acquisition and development. “We are working collaboratively with city and state officials on this project and upon receiving the historic and new market tax credit approvals, the renovation and construction for the downtown campus could begin in the fall of 2015.”
ProMedica plans to create several levels inside the historic steam plant, still preserving its architectural elements, yet creating an open, contemporary environment and allowing for collaboration among employees and other community members.
According to a ProMedica release, final details must still be worked out with city and state officials regarding usage of the land in Promenade Park.
Local officials have applauded the move since intentions were first made known to the area by the Toledo Free Press this past February, and now visuals of a potential campus has them equally excited.
“ProMedica’s move downtown is going to be a great move for the city,” said Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins. “It’ll be a domino effect of economic development. Downtown in five years is going to be nothing like the Downtown of today. It’s going to bring new jobs, too.”
Stacy Weber, Toledo public information officer, shared that ProMedica’s consolidation will bring 700 workers Downtown, and ProMedica plans to add 100 new positions, for a grand total of 800.
ProMedica will take over the entire KeyBank building as a result of KeyBank moving its offices to the 15th floor of the nearby Edison Building.
“They’ll occupy the whole thing, so I’m sure they’ll be renovating every floor,” said Jim Hoffman, KeyBank president. “We’ve taken some time and decided that would make sense for them, and for us to be across the street. We won’t move out of here until June of 2015. It’s great for the community and great for Downtown.”
The Regional Growth Partnership indicated this is the largest influx of workers to Downtown at least since its 1994 existence.
“We’re looking at this as a more Downtown revitalization story,” said John Gibney, vice president, marketing & communications. “This is a great story for the region. ProMedica is a huge piece of that. A lot of times the downtown is the face of the community and whenever you have positive news taking place, it shows a vibrant community and that things are happening.
“Where this Downtown is today to where it was 10 years ago is night and day. It started with Fifth Third Field, and across the river at the Marina District, you have a developer who has some plans to do something really nice there.”
Project funding will come from multiple sources, including the sale of existing ProMedica-owned properties.
Established in 1986, ProMedica is a locally owned, private nonprofit healthcare organization serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
