As published in Toledo Business Journal - April 1, 2020
Rendering of the Tiffin River Walk development planned for Tiffin
$43M riverfront project
planned for Tiffin
Tiffin River Walk includes condos,
commercial and retail spaces, a hotel,
a convention center, and more
Tiffin River Front Development LLC received site plan approval for the Tiffin River Walk project in mid-November, a $43 million development plan that encompasses approximately five acres along the Sandusky River in Tiffin, Ohio.
Eduardo Hernando, developer of the project, is a Heidelberg University graduate, former captain of the football team, and current member of Heidelberg’s Business School advisory board. He has been working with the City and economic development officials on the project concept since early 2017, citing the City’s prudent planning in the purchase of the Stalsworth and Livery property in 2013, the success of a city façade refurbishment program for the Historic Downtown, and the Tiffin Downtown Strategic Growth and Development Plan published in 2016 among several reasons to invest in Tiffin.
“The renaissance of downtown Tiffin started with a spark and now that spark of momentum is getting bigger and stronger like a snowball rolling downhill. Tiffin is lighting up and being seen around Ohio as a special place to live, work, and invest as its growth takes shape,” said Hernando. “When I returned to Tiffin after 30 years, it was easy to notice the restored historic downtown buildings, new restaurants, shops, and cool bourbon bar that makes you not only want to visit, but to live here. After being awed by what I saw, I confirmed that more has happened in the recent five years than in the last 30 and decided to invest in the future of Tiffin, a small community that is safe, growing economically, and a great place to raise a family.
“This project is a transformational project that will attract business people and tourists from all over Ohio and surrounding areas. This means opportunity for all of the current businesses and shop owners in downtown, along with a positive impact on property values for anyone who currently owns real estate in downtown or will invest in downtown over the next few years,” continued Hernando. “All you have to do is ask yourself, ‘Where will Tiffin be in five years or 10 years from here?’ This also means jobs, jobs, jobs, along with much needed tax revenues for the City of Tiffin and funding for the police and fire departments, along with more of the City of Tiffin’s long list of needs. More tax revenues will help the City greatly today and for decades to come as a result of this project and the growth of the community.”
Hernando noted that the housing needs of the community comes from the fact that Tiffin has an aging population and both the total number of citizens and the graduating senior class sizes for each high school has been dropping for the past 30-plus years. Hernando noted that this trend needed to stop if Tiffin was to survive another 30 years. He went on to explain that without new housing options, the empty nesters cannot downsize into a more comfortable home, leaving them to deal with the lawn work and upkeep of the large empty family home.
“As a result of empty nesters not having housing options, they do not make their family home available for new young families to move in. Thus, the traditional family life cycle is stalled in Tiffin and has been for decades up until now. This fact alone sets Tiffin’s future on dim lights for the next 30-plus years unless something is done to attract and keep the young families and the thousands of college students that go to Heidelberg, Terra State, and Tiffin University. We need to create an environment for young professionals and youth to think, ‘Tiffin is the place for my future job or new company,’ and not requiring the Tiffin youth to leave to a big city the day after graduation to find opportunity. Now that all of this is happening, they can return to Tiffin right after they finish their college years to contribute to their community and be close to their family,” said Hernando.
He also cited that the real estate market in Tiffin has been virtually shut down with little to no inventory. The high demand for new housing solutions for doctors and nurses entering the new healthcare system located in Tiffin – along with new business people who wish to live in Tiffin – has resulted in people having to live 20-30 minutes away in other communities due to the dearth of housing options. In fact, all the renovated lofts in historic downtown have waiting lists, noted Hernando.
Rendering of the Tiffin River Walk development planned for Tiffin
“My due diligence confirmed Tiffin needed 250 homes including homes, condos, and rentals and that is what prompted me to move forward with the Tiffin River Walk project. My analysis was then confirmed by Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership who commissioned a third party housing study,” said Hernando. “The housing study confirmed Tiffin is short as many as 450 homes inclusive of rentals, condos, and single-family homes, overshadowing my original 250 home needs assessment. The housing study only confirmed that not only is Tiffin ready for my project, but it can have two projects the size of mine or more to absorb the huge needs the Tiffin community has had for decades that no one thought it needed until now. People want to live an urban lifestyle – as proven by many other Ohio cities like Cleveland and Columbus who have also gone through their own renaissance, along with cities all over the US in downtowns and riverfronts everywhere. The Tiffin River Walk project formally brings the true essence of urbanization to downtown Tiffin and it’s an exciting time for this community.”
In total, the approved site plan of the project includes 111 luxury residential condos, 63 rental apartments, and a 100-room hotel called the Edward Hotel & Spa that includes a 25,000 square foot convention center along with 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space for business meetings and conferences, weddings, and events. The hotel will have a state-of-the-art spa along with a rooftop bar / restaurant overlooking the Sandusky River and sunsets for hundreds of miles in all directions, noted Hernando.
According to Hernando, the Edward Hotel & Spa by ASCEND, a Choice Hotels flag named after the first governor of Ohio, Edward Tiffin, will make its mark not only in Tiffin, but in the state of Ohio as a premier luxury boutique spa and convention hotel. Groundbreaking on the hotel is slated for summer 2020.
“My vision for the hotel is creating a property that looks and feels as if it has been in historic downtown Tiffin for the past 100 years and is similar to the other buildings surrounding the hotel location. As I was reflecting on a name, I felt the most likely thing would be that a historic hotel would have a strong name and history behind it. So after many discussions and ideas being thrown out and some research done on the history of Tiffin, a good friend, Sara Costanzo who sits on the Heidelberg business board with me, suggested the name,” said Hernando. “Once I had that name, the interns from both Tiffin University and Heidelberg University – Katie Vogel, Jeffrey Baker, and Tyler Barker –and I voted unanimously for this name. Once they heard the history, anyone could see how easy this decision was to make. In keeping with this vision, the Edward Hotel & Spa will be a special place and you will feel it the moment you walk in.”
The project also includes the Hayes Roberts Riverfront Park, which will feature retail and commercial spaces available for outdoor dining and shopping along more than 1,100 linear feet of riverfront from one end to the other. Hernando noted that the park will have flat grass open space for picnics, throwing a Frisbee, and other family activities; walking and jogging paths; common seating areas for gathering and enjoyment of the river; a sunken step circle for sitting and kids play; an amphitheater for mid-week and weekend live music and entertainment; water features for observation and peaceful sounds; a wedding ceremony venue overlooking the river; public art displays; statues of Mark Hayes and Jim Roberts; and more.
“Mark Hayes and Jim Roberts were two Tiffin councilmen who represented the Tiffin community for decades and their leadership and vision has led to this amazing project. Without them originally voting to buy the land, demolishing the old building, and then hiring the third party company to create the Tiffin Strategic Development Plan published in 2016, I would never have stepped forward to create this project in Tiffin,” said Hernando. “They, along with other councilmen and councilwomen, voted 6-0 in favor of this project back in 2017. Unfortunately, Mark and Jim passed away this year and will never see their vision become a reality – except from Heaven. This is my way of recognizing them for their leadership, support, and love of their community in perpetuity. They will now be always remembered and welcome all who visit Tiffin as you enter by crossing the Market Street bridge into historic downtown Tiffin. The park is named after these two men for their commitment to Tiffin’s growth and future.”
According to Hernando, the next step in the project process is to go in front of Tiffin’s architectural review board to obtain approval on the exteriors of the buildings, which will take place in early 2020. Hernando noted that the buildings will look and feel as if they were built decades ago, also following the exterior of the Seneca County Justice Center that was constructed in March 2018.
The entirety of the project will take two years to complete. For more information, please go to www.tiffinriverwalk.com or email info@tiffinriverwalk.com.
