Toledo, Ohio Documentary: Reclaiming Spaces 

Toledo is my city for life no matter we're I go. Toeldo will always be a part of me.

I'm a former Toledo resident from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Toledo never recovered from the depression and recession of the early 80s and the competition from the foreign automobile makers. It's too bad because Toledo had some of the friendliest residents, a world class Art Museum, a well respected opera company, a decent university and medical college, good restaurants, decent public parks, the Zoo, and so on. But in many ways it was Detroit's little sister and was too dependent on the auto industry. Watching this video, I'm not hearing what the big vision or big plan is. I hear a call for help, but what is the vision?

I grew up here for half of my life, I live here now. Toledo is my home. Whether it's full of drugs and shitty buildings, Toledo is my home.

When I was a kid in the 70s and 80s, my mom was a waitress at downtown restaurants ...i would go with her on days I was off school , we rode the tarta bus..id walk around downtown and remember lots of bordered up buildings ...tons of them. When I visited Toledo many years later , it was much better and downtown seemed to be coming back to life.

@ 85 yrs. you have given me back my youth. So grateful ! Last 40 yrs. in the S.W.Desert; Tucson Az. Thank You 😢

Im from Chicago, and while my heart will always lie there, I have my Toledo Pride. I moved here when I was 22. I have lived here for 26 years, longer than my life in Chicago. I truly believe Toledo is worth investing in and revitalizing. There is so much incredible architecture that has been left to rot. Especially in the Old West End. I wish we could get some rich benefactors to really build this city back up to its magnificent past

Their casino should have been downtown by the way.

I think Toledos beautiful. Jeep fest, mud hen games, walleye games, concerts, Disney on ice. I know every walleye game the streets are packed with people. Everyone’s laughing, drinking, talking, live bands, it’s fun man

I was born downtown of Toledo and been here my whole life. My Great Grandfather helped build the High Level Bridge. I Love Toledo and the people here, but I struggle with finding work here it's always been like this. I think if Toledo is going to survive it needs to keep it's Art Scene and many other great things like our new Casino. We also have to start rebuilding our roads and bringing the downtown area back to life. You would not catch me downtown now because it's not really a safe place too be. I think if Toledo can learn from cities like Ann Arbor I think it would help with rebuilding Downtown Toledo.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the horrible weather. Maybe that is why no one wants to walk anywhere? I can't believe they managed to film this documentary on a sunny day. The sun almost never shines in Toledo. They should offer new residents a year's supply of Vitamin D supplements as a bonus for moving there.

I moved here from California in 2011 it was an instant love of this community great Neighbors. Others don't have the same feeling that I do when they come to visit and I understand that because they are just visiting didn't think of making Toledo their home as I have

Toledos building back, It's gonna be beautiful when it all comes together! Kudos to everyone evolved.

I left Toledo in 1987 - some of the same abandoned buildings then are the same abandoned building now in 2021. Blighted neighborhoods and no jobs... tell me why I want to come back??

What a well produced video. I left Toledo over 20 years ago and I’ve visited a couple times recently since. Not going to lie, was shocked at the state of downtown but I also saw many super hip green shoots demonstrating bringing back the ethos of a quality downtown. Nice to see this honest rendition of the state of affairs in Toledo’s core. Really makes me itch to return and disprove the idea “you can’t go home again”.

Toledo is where I grew up HOME SWEET HOME

business left, industry left, people left. All the cheerleading in the world won't revive a dead city. It was squandered.

Hey I’m moving to Toledo from California, a random choice for new beginnings. I wanted to do research before the move and a came across your doc. Love your perspective and capture the spirit of the city.

I lived in North Toledo almost 30 years page st. Peck st Yates st. Lagrange stickney. It’s home I moved to Indianapolis in. For a year couldn’t believe I got homesick moved back.

I love living in Downtown Toledo! Happy to contribute to its renaissance :)

East Toledo and The suburbs of Oregon are my playground, proud to be from the Glass City.

I love Toledo, and I always will. Grew up there, my mom used to manage all the Don’s drive-in’s in the area, downtown on St. Clair Street, Maumee, Sylvania, very special place to me. Went to Oakdale elementary school on Broadway. The police officer that used to help us we called him officer Broadway. Obviously not his name, but just a term of endearment from us children. Wonderful man helped me when I didn’t have bus money a couple times. And our lovely teacher, Miss Summers. What a beautiful lady, had all the girls over for a sleepover one night, then all the boys, another week or two later. I will never forget that year. And… Franklin J. I Will never forget you. I won’t use his last name. Just a memorable young man. I could go on, I love Toledo. I will say it is sad to see what it has gone through, but I do believe it will make it. Thank you for this video.

I lived in downtown Toledo for a while in the late 90s (on Adams St., above Murphy's pub) and my car was literally broken into at least once per week. I hope the amount of crime in Toledo has changed since then. Every time I go back there now to visit family, the city just looks so devastated... almost post-apocalyptic. It's so sad.

If allowed to continue working from home for my job (in a West Coast state), I'm seriously thinking about moving to Toledo. The warehouse district looks really cool.

I have a soft spot for Toledo...I dated a young lady from Oregon and for a while worked for Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in Stockton, CA in the mid to late 90s. Toledo and Stockton were mid town cities but Toledo a tad bigger at the time. Traveling to the city and Detroit was fun and as well I lived near Findlay working in the automotive industry. Too much fun at Frankie's, Tony Packo's, Concerts near the Smoke Stack and Brenda's Body Shop! We used to stay near Rossford many times for travel and work.

This was awesome thank you

I have lived down town for 12 years and love it. I worked down town for 30 years. There isn't a town in America that is without problems. We are a work in progress. NOTHING IS FOR FREE.

That's why I'm working my way back to my Hometown, TOLEDO.

Fully impressed by this video. Great production.. Great! Message, great visionaries. Go Downtown!

I lived in Adrian Michigan from 1998-2003 and spent every weekend in Toledo. I was originally from LA California and we loved Toledo (minus the racism). We moved back to CA but here home prices are close to a million for LA and $500,000 for the hot dry areas outside of LA where many people are forced to live due to finances. I pay 1,500 a month for a tiny 2 bedroom apartment. It’s hot and dry like 6 mths out of the year and I hate it. There are no seasons. I would gladly consider moving to Toledo. Ohio is the second cheapest state in the country for housing! Maybe I’d open a shop and contribute to the positive vibes. All the negative people aren’t helping. Stop complaining and start doing.

I am currently busting toledo and seeing the downtown saddened me, I am from Kentucky just south of Cincinnati and seeing how Cincinnati has recovered, I wonder how this place hasnt.

I went to Downtown Toledo 2 weeks ago , Oh man that place is dead !

We love this!

I personally think our downtown needs some type of shopping. We have plenty of restaurants downtown but no type of shopping. Maybe a mall downtown.

Reminds me of Buffalo, NY twenty years ago. The city was "so poor they couldn't afford to tear things down." The city is now well along in it's rebirth and the downtown area is the hottest place to live now. The small business owners and financial incentives by the city, county and state have been a catalyst.

We are finally bringing Toledo to light! This is great!

I think Toledo is like many cities: if you are from there and have good memories, you might think it is okay. If you are from out of town and have no bias coming in, you might think it is in decline. The city has been hurt by the exit of industry, like so many rust belt cities.

So much progress already! Toledo is the greatest city on Earth

I see alot of people talking down toledo but LA is literally exactly the same except for one difference... LA is packed lol but 70% of LA is trash and everyone claims its the best city ever.... and alot of cities in cali are just like this .... ghetto but super expensive just because its in Cali...... wanna see real ghetto? Go to downtown LA.... go to San Francisco.... yea theres some nice places but 70% of it is ghetto and congested and crime ridden ....and as far as the nice places is cali ....unless your a millionaire yiu cant afford to live in it so you end up in the shitty cities which i can say is most of California.... I’ve lived here my whole life .... everyone wants to come and be something but truth is only 1% of people who come here actually make it .... mostly everyone just ends up more broke then when they first got here .....

This past summer, I visited Toledo, as well as Akron, Cleveland, Dayton, and Columbus, for the first time in my life (I've been to Cincinnati a few times over the past few years). Out of all the cities I just mentioned, Toledo was the most disheartening, with Akron and Dayton not too far behind. I was driving through downtown Toledo at like 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and it was a ghost town. I also couldn't help but notice numerous vacant store fronts. I just kept thinking, 'What the hell happened here?' I'm not trying to insult your city; I'm just giving you my first impression as an out-of-stater. But, by the looks of the urban renewal that I saw in Cleveland and Columbus, maybe there's still hope for Toledo.

Would love to see a follow up video. A lot of the images in this video are now outdated with all the positive change. Downtown is growing fast!

And Then Covid-19 hit...Toledo is a sad place. I spent 50 years of my life in and around Toledo. When Detroit Died Toledo followed as well. Industry died out. My home then and now East Texas is my Home.

I was born and raised there. I moved away 6 Yrs ago, I visited last month. I think alot of this documentary is false. In they 80's we were doing great in the 90's we started going down hill and now why even bother. I took a friend back home with me and I asked his opinion. His reply was " It is ugly and depressing". The government there just takes without care. My son joined a gang out of boredom, poverty and depression. We moved to a place where people in high place's actually care. My son went from gang banger to being a published author, a motivational speaker, and a mentor all before he ever graduated High School.

Yeah let's not forget the John Denver song... "Toledo... Where they roll the sidewalks up at 6:00."... Is anyone remember the Donna Owens administration.... Portside was to be the great anchor point for the revitalization of Toledo in 1984... Whatever happened to the deal for Jimmy Jackson to buy up The Old Edison steam plant, does anybody remember that. For the Chinese conglomerate that was to purchase the Marina district, only to leave it fallow and undeveloped. You can remember going down to the waterfront to watch the fireworks, in minutes before the finale, droves of vehicles hurrying to be the first to leave because they just didn't want to be caught downtown after hours, but yet there's so much to be proud of in this town. Lived here my whole life. And it's true when they say..."if God were to give the Earth an enema... Toledo is where he would stick it." you'll do better in Toledo. Know who's interested in buying some oceanfront property in New Mexico?

Born in 54', Toledo Hospital, grew up on Northwood Ave right around the corner from Tol Hosp. Been living in Danmark since 2006 and miss my hometown every day. Toledo is my home and my heart and always will be.

i was born and raised in the area, downtown has always had two problems One no place to park, Two thugs and hooligans you'll have to deal with. People voted with their wallets and said to hell with this noise. While they try to encourage people to live downtown no gas stations, no grocery nearby and the ones that are nearby are too dangerous .

The only way the blighted neighborhoods will see a come back,is for the residents to actually give a crap..by coming together and fixing up their own homes and working as a community to drive out the criminal element.

Shitty roads, shitty weather. Polluted water. What's not to love?

Go Toledo, keep it going!!!!

Toledo's new motto: "We Can't"

They need all types of retail in Downtown Toledo. There had not been any retail down there in decades. Open up some stores, please.

Looks like a ghost town just like Dayton Ohio

That is so frustrating at 12:19. You can’t beg people to start businesses in Toledo and then be a pain in the butt every step of the way. Help people get started downtown, unleash them, and get out of the way! No friction!

I've lived here my entire life of 56 years I've seen downtown change several times but the neighborhood around it deteriorate until we invest in the them no matter what local government does to downtown it will be a detriment of it's self bring pride to the neighborhoods around it then Toledo will be a great place to live i remember back in the 60s and 70s it was the East side was primarily working class families this is bigger than we think it's started back in the years Ronald Reagan was President and started giving tax breaks to manufacturing factories to send job's overseas and Everytime a republican president was in charge they increased those tax breaks go figure the people don't have a good outlook on their future PS I really enjoyed seeing Phill Copland first campaign manager on this video you have your heart invested in Toledo still I see

Its like amazon they will say they will come create 10k-20k jobs to a area not telling you that in 5yrs they will be laying iff most these people going fully automated

Even in this "pro re-development" video, all I see are potholes, overgrown weeds, empty buildings, and very little overall reclamation. Face it - Toledo peaked in the early 20th century, and has been in decline ever since (at least the downtown area). What's left is quite depressing; while there ARE some attempts to "reclaim some spaces" as the title suggests, it's really too far gone to be the vibrant city center it was, or what the hopeful desire. Once can (rightly) blame the politics, the industries that made it (once) vibrant ultimately caused it's demise (specifically the auto, decline and removal of the streetcars, vast swaths of neighborhoods being removed for the sake of freeways, and the prospects of much better life in the burbs....). How many new high rises have been built there since the 80's? How many of your shopping malls have been not only closed, but bulldozed? What have you replaced those with? Honestly, all good intentions aside, a few artists seeking cheap rents isn't going to save this hot mess of a town. The Econcat88 guy was totally correct in his frank assessments - yet he was silenced.

Downtown Toledo needs: Kroger Fresh Thyme and/or Whole Foods Target Macy's Dillards Best Buy Footlocker A movie theater A mall or storefronts Lots of retail shopping like NYC, Chicago!! Convert some of the parking lots into parks like Central Park in NYC or Grant Park in Chicago. Add more greenspace to the landscape of downtown! A strip like the Magnificent Mile where people can shop is what downtown needs to give it the life it needs.

I saw a lot of promise in Toledo when I visited in 2019. I see a town that's about to turn around. I was in the process of starting a franchise in NW Indiana but instantly decided I was going to try this in Toledo and it's outlying neighborhoods. BTW I'm in the Deck Restoration business so if you're looking to get work done on your deck check out DeckMedicTol.com

Thanks a lot for the video.

I was born there at Riverside hospital in 1957. I left in 1978. I have never returned . I see and hear that everything that I loved growing up is all gone. The city is obviously dead. Shame.

Need to ease up - no one likes aggressive parking enforcement and heavy handed permit schemes.

We had so much more on the 90s before people became so reckless and destroyed the city

I grew up in Toledo and then I left to Arizona and lived there for eight years. I couldn’t wait to get back home. You think Toledo is bad? Go live in a right to work state and try to make it. Most people can’t and have to returning home because they can’t find a good paying job.

nothing. nothing will kill a downtown faster than covering your streets with parking meters and parking tickets.

I moved here from Detroit and Toledo is such a small downtown compared to Detroit. I live on the north end Lagrange area and it’s bad.

I love my city Toledo for life

Lived in north toledo moved to upstate ny. where will I go next.

Oh my god is that Doug with the glasses ?

I love it here

I left Toledo,Ohio 26 years ago no jobs for blk people moved to Dallas all kind of Jobs still here Loving it and I am retired

I'm here to see abit more about the town after Trump mentioned it.

Toledo’s time is gone. The city is dirty and decaying which is what you’d expect from a city that has been as decimated from the job losses this city has endured. Now it has to allow corporate locusts to steal land and pay no taxes to locate here. Drive around on any day and it reminds me of a city that had to evacuate.

what a grrand view, nice cinematic shots, that's great information you shared ,i am from India going to marry with toledo girl,, its nice culture n looking so piece full.nice street big roads...

The leadership failed this city. I still have some family in Toledo, and have also laid some family to rest there. My folks lived there mid 80s until 1992. They always talk about how Toledo used to boom!! We moved to Atlanta, so thats what I know more.... Only lived in TOL until I was 5... Don't see how a city on the lake and with a port failed. I guess the trickle of Detroit affected Toledo too, but what are they doing to transform the city still? Last time I was in Toledo was 2014. Suburb areas aren't too bad but damn one turn from Franklin park and its hood. The area my uncle lived by Ottawa park used to be so nice.... Now its so run down.

The problem started with "Toledo Tomorrow" they tore everything down and the Blade helped to kill downtown,,,,,,,I was born and raised in Toledo it has gone down since the 70's even the Malls have gone --

I live by bus depot on huron and cherry

I hope we can at least get a part 2!

The downtown has improved with the City’s restructuring. But all the surrounding communities are continuing to struggle and collapse. No real industry has replaced the 1000s of jobs hemorrhaged. Arrowhead now employs more than the downtown area.

Supposedly, Arrowhead Park also offered tax breaks you couldn't get in Toledo Proper.

I wanted to double thumbs up

I don’t recall you getting a permission slip for y’all to record in my city.

i live there once now i dont

I maybe moving to Toledo. Where is a good place to work? I've been in retail and now a supervisor. I'm looking to get out of retail, but wouldn't mind working in book store. Full time would be perfered, entry level, and if possible Monday thru Friday.

I sure hope Toledo doesn’t sell it’s soul to big business like a lot of cities do. Downtown st. Pete Florida has grown rapidly in recent years, with big business, but the jobs they provide are crap.

When does part two drop? This is great!

Toledo is just ok nothing special compared to other cities I been here all my life grew up by university of Toledo but lived in east Toledo by the docks for several years as far as downtown there are cool things to do here and a fair amount of businesses I think there is more to come something BIG is gonna happen here in the near future downtown a major player will move in watch just watch 🤔🤔🤔

The predatory judicial system and police just out to pick your pockets hurts alot of people here.

We need to bring a drive in back to downtown toledo a bowling alley a rollerskating rink an indoor strip mall an arcade store to play arcade games curfew hours for the hood factor violence ect make it a safe place scan folks before entering stores events ect.

im from here

This is not a documentary it’s more like a professional video begging for corporations and businesses to invest in the next Detroit.

Toledo unions, leaders, and all the rest of the people blocking development needs to gtfo of the way and let the city grow!

It's really hard to park your car in Columbus.

Honey ure little store doesn't earn a decent living wage worrkin at a art store. These little restaurants and shops don't benefit workers they don't pay enough

Toledo can be decent at times but same can be said about any other city. So it's not saying much. K2 is becoming an epidemic and frankly the youth is very negative. Cherry Street mission puts on a front and makes money off of the homeless. Not very nice things about Toledo I can say lol

They should have built the Casino downtown that was a bad move where it's at now sure it's alright for now but a little bit a lot lot better downtown

Get out of Toledo run 🏃

corrupt politicians brought it to a shitty city

No they want to fine people the fines and counsel workforce run the businesses out.

There was a student named D. He could have put his hand up during the election debate. He could have copied the j prom req.

Woman at 00:58 you will be homeless because once the money gets there (if it does) rents going through the roof!! Look at San Francisco....

I live in Toledo yea we suck but I don't care we still have fun out here we still have famous people come here and much more.