59°Lonz Winery plans move ahead
Jan 25
2011
After a 10-month search, the state this week chose a consultant to review potential development options at the former Lonz Winery property.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources selected Columbus-based architectural firm Feinknopf, Macioce, Schappa Architects to oversee the project.
The firm is already working with ODNR on a Middle Bass Island project, developing concept designs and construction documents for improvements at the island's state park.
David Youse, chosen to head the new project, said he and his co-workers at Feinknopf are excited about the development ideas proposed for the former Lonz property.
"We are going to look at all reasonable options for that property that makes sense in a park setting," Youse said.
The state purchased the property in 2000 for $6.75 million, with plans to incorporate it into the Lake Erie Island State Park. Planners wanted to shed the island's party image, so they immediately began talking about developing a hotel or conference center at the site.
But when ODNR purchased Lonz Winery and 123 acres, it was just months before a patio at the winery collapsed on July 1, 2000. One person died and roughly 100 others were injured in the collapse.
Since then, the winery's fate has been uncertain.
The architectural firm is planning to meet this week with everyone involved in the project. They'll also review ODNR's master plan for the Lonz property.
Heidi Hetzel-Evans, an ODNR spokeswoman, said the firm will prepare a report detailing development options, a feasibility analysis for each option and estimated costs.
Work on the project won't begin until a contract is signed, which could take several months, Hetzel-Evans said.
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11:21 PM
digger nick says
You can be assured of one thing, If the government runs it, it will lose money,
07:20 PM
Kimo says
The city of Toledo has attracted two Chinese real estate investors who have agreed to buy the city-owned Docks restaurant and entertainment complex in East Toledo for $2.15 million.
Sell them Middle Bass, They need oil, the oil rigs they have in Iraq are not producing enough.
Set up the rigs in the marina, house the drillers in the "Fracturing Hotel".
No need for them to cough up cash, just take it off our bill.
Drill on Middle Bass, party on South Bass, sober up on North Bass.
06:59 PM
Kimo says
Hotel for the drillers.
Shale oil under that puppy.
Drill baby drill!
Old name Lonz, new name "Fracturing Hotel".
06:53 PM
6079 Smith W says
@ Unabasho:
Econ 101: Business failure is part of a free market economy.
Yea, the USPS has a monopoly on first class mail and is goin' broke; Amtrak is broke.
If the govt. owned a funeral parlor no one would die.
Govt. bureaucrats have a lousy track record for operating businesses and unfortunately when they go under taxpayers end up getting stuck with the bill and the mess!
04:36 PM
Unabasho says
Oh, yeh, 6079. That winery was SO much better managed privately - NOT! They RAN IT INTO THE GROUND (literally.)
10:54 AM
pepenik99 says
IMPROVEMENTS ARE GREAT. hOWEVER, THERE ARE LAND BASED ON SHORE AREAS WHICH HAVE NEEDED REPAIR FOR MANY YEARS. One I have been watching for 50 years or more is East Harbor State Park "beach" area and parking facilities........about 50 years ago or more the state constructed sea walls all along the beach area. They were beautiful and attracted thousands of beach goers. They all washed away due to storms and becauseof the underlying sand foundations. However there were plans to fill and drain an area just south/east of the beach into parking areas..And within walking distance to the beach.The fill and drainage was done but the area now has turned back to nature and trees 30 feet high are growing there just to prove the age in time... there should be plans to build additonal break waters to protect and resurrectect all of the beach areas ,to remove or improve the battered sea walls and finish the parking areas as were planned 50 years ago for main land goers not island jumpers for North Bass Island. The majority of our people will use East Harbor State Park rather than North Bass which is accessible only by boat...appease the majority please.
09:54 AM
goofus says
How in the world do you shed a non-existent party image by building a hotel and conference center? Since when does the State of Ohio go into competition with free enterprise? South Bass has at least two conference centers and multiple hotels. I would hardly call Middle Bass a party island with Walleyes! Middle Bass is a nice place to get away from all the tourists on South Bass in the summer. Kasich needs to sell the State's interest in Lonz's as well as it's interest on North Bass!!
09:36 AM
6079 Smith W says
The state is BROKE and in desperate need of revenue.
This is just another example of a public asset that has been taken off the tax rolls and needs to be sold to private developers.