A refurbished hotel at the University of Toledo Medical Center campus on Glendale Avenue reopened on Tuesday under a new name with new ownership.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, several members of city council, and other city officials attended the ribbon-cutting as the Delta Hotel by Marriott officially opened its doors.
Delta Hotels by Marriott is a four-star brand of hotels and resorts.
Mr. Kapszukiewicz said that the day was an exciting one for South Toledo and for the city in general. He touted the 45 new jobs that the facility has brought to the neighborhood and said that it represented a recommitment to the University of Toledo and UTMC.
Toledo City Councilman John Hobbs III, who represents the district where the hotel is located, said that he had frequently visited the hotel in his youth.
“My mom retired from UToledo hospital, so I practically grew up in this hotel, coming to all kinds of banquets, birthday parties, and other celebrations. I remember the vitality of this hotel,” he said.
Mr. Hobbs was pleased that the redesigned hotel had conference rooms that could be used for business meetings and other functions — something he said many contemporary hotels lack.
The hotel also features upgraded guest rooms, a new fitness center, an indoor pool, and a new restaurant.
Mr. Hobbs praised the Kakar family, the hotel’s owners, for bringing new life into the building, and Sumeer Kakar, the COO of Woodland Real Estate Group, returned Mr. Hobbs’ praise.
“This is a huge transformation,” he said. “It was made possible by the rapid responsiveness of government officials. We look forward to a great experience going forward.”
The hotel was renovated with the aid of a $2 million 6.25 percent Department of Housing and Urban Development loan guarantee. Proponents of the project claim that the new hotel will boost the local economy in a underserved neighborhood, provide support for families attending local events and those who have loved ones in the UTMC hospital, and help to spark neighborhood revitalization.
Approval of the loan guarantees was not unanimous at city council, however, with Councilman Adam Martinez arguing that the guarantees could take away funding for lead abatement, homeless shelters, and city programming.
At the ribbon-cutting, however, Councilman George Sarantou made a forceful case for the city’s financial assistance with the hotel renovation.
“Years ago, we almost lost UTMC,” he said, “and we need it more than ever now that St. Luke’s has closed. So we’re elated to have this facility here. This sets the standard for future growth in the area.”
Councilman Mac Driscoll spoke briefly, echoed Mr. Sarantou’s comments, and added that he believed that the hotel would benefit the city and the city’s finances.
Rosalyn Clemens, the city of Toledo’s director of neighborhoods, made a forceful case for more public-private redevelopment partnerships.
“This administration has been proactive in attracting investments in Toledo businesses,” she said. “This is priming the pump. We have to be aggressive and proactive and offer incentives.”
First Published October 15, 2024, 8:43 p.m.
