Konop announces "student village" plan

2/23/2006

Ben Konop, a Democratic candidate for Lucas County Commissioner, will announce plans today to create a student village commercial district next to the University of Toledo.

A redeveloped commercial corridor on Door Street will add to the university, attract badly needed investment to Toledo s central city, and, most importantly, create jobs here in Lucas County, Mr. Konop said in a statement.

Last March, the University of Toledo said it had agreed to purchase four parcels of land, one of which contained a Napa Auto Parts store, on Dorr Street. Community leaders and students hoped then to develop the property for businesses that would cater to the needs of the school s more than 19,000 students.

The announcement comes a day after the Milken Institute, a California think tank, ranked Toledo 196th out of 200 American cities in job growth.

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