TOLEDO-- Toledo's mayoral candidates sparred over the best way to revitalize Westgate Village Shopping Center Sunday night. The Westgate neighbors group hosted the forum, featuring Mayor Jack Ford and former mayor Carty Finkbeiner.
The two candidates remain at odds over whether Costco should sit in the Westgate Shopping Center at Central and Secor, or sit on the site of the former showcase cinemas at Secor Road and I-475. "We didn't call it 'Westgate Village' for any other reason. We want it to be a village without Costco in the middle of it. If Costco wants to take its location down where the cinemas are that's fine," said Carty Finkbeiner. "We've worked with the Westgate owners since 2002 on the revitalization of the shopping center. We've talked with them several times. We think costco will be a good addition if design standards are adhered to as the starting point," said Mayor Ford.
In place of Costco, candidate Carty Finkbeiner would like to see the University of Toledo place a center of learning at the current Westgate site along with a revitalized shopping center. Finkbeiner would also like to see Promedica, parent of Toledo Hospital, place a wellness center at the current Westgate site. But Mayor Ford says Costco would bring a lot to a new Westgate. "with Costco, you have 200 $35,000 a year jobs coming in.
We say we want jobs, Costco is ready to come here. I think we should work with them," said Ford. The Westgate Neighbors Group sponsored Sunday night's mayoral candidate forum at Covenant Presbyterian church at Secor and Central.
Posted by aroman@wtol.com
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