City to seek developers for complex

The hope is to build apartments and public parking on the property

Willoughby City Council recently gave the administration permission to seek out qualified developers, concerning a city-owned property in downtown.

The city hopes to build apartments and public parking space on the property.

Mayor Bob Fiala highlighted the potential project at a February chamber of commerce event. The location is near Todd Field and Glenn Avenue.

“We have presented to City Council and they have allowed us to go out for request for qualifications for developers to develop that into public parking and apartments,” Fiala said.

The mayor addressed the downtown Willoughby parking situation, noting that the project could possibly provide solutions.

“What does everyone complain about? Parking, right?” he said. “Hopefully this is going to solve the problem. We’re asking the developer to build a parking deck, have it be a public parking deck, (and) more importantly, have lighted stairs and an elevator that goes from the low ground to the high ground for the residents.”

Economic Development Director Tom Thielman said that the parking deck might require an open design, due to EPA standards. Todd Field is the former site of a dump and could contain methane concerns.

Thielman said that the mayor’s idea for the development included a bi-level parking deck (due to the slope of the land) and residential space above it.

He said the potential development site was around two acres.

Fiala also revisited the Courthouse Square Apartments development next to Willoughby Municipal Court, part of which is currently under construction. The project contains four buildings.

“This project is as close to Tremont, Ohio City, Chelsea (or) Soho as Willoughby’s going to get,” Fiala said. “So we’re super excited about this. It’s getting great traction. Our hope is it’s going to bring a new set of developers and investors in Willoughby, to kind of reshape and rethink our housing market.”

The mayor and Thielman also mentioned that the courthouse development has been on hold during the winter.

GOOGLE MAPS The apartment and parking deck complex will possibly be next to Todd Field in downtown Willoughby.