Around 15 percent of the world’s food is now grown in urban areas
Erosion issues are starting at the land that was supposed to be the marina project. We have people in our community who need assistance when it comes to food and even the Department of Agriculture realizes the importance of urban agriculture. WTOL’s Bob Chirdon feels that Councilmen Joe McNamara and Mike Craig’s idea to see if someone in our community is interested in doing something with the vacant land that might benefit our community more than it just sitting there and eroding into the Maumee River is a idea worth mocking. It makes me wonder if Chirdon actually read what was proposed:
Dear Mayor:
We realize that the tight credit market makes redeveloping the Marina District a challenge. However, we are very optimistic about the future of this project. This beautiful vista will one day be redeveloped into an amazing new neighborhood in the heart of Toledo. We believe that waiting for the right proposal to present itself is the responsible course for this asset.
Until we find the right development deal, it is important that the site be maintained in a sustainable fashion. We think the City should explore short-term urban agriculture uses in the Marina District.
We see four major benefits to the Marina District from urban agriculture:a productive use of City property;
soil improvement;
erosion prevention; and
beautification of riverfront property.The RFQ process could provide us with a partner who could accomplish these benefits to the city at low or no cost. Additionally, certain types of plantings (phytoremediation) could actually mitigate environmental issues and improve the soil quality. Increasing the soil quality increases the value of the land and creates new potential uses for redevelopment.
We respectfully request your Administration to issue an RFQ, so that we can explore the possibilities together.
There are lots of things that could be grown, like mushrooms — or we could sit back, say nothing and then wonder why there’s this hesitation to even suggest people think outside the box, if you think urban agriculture is outside the box. Maybe no one would be interested in this project — but maybe someone would —
The first part of the suggested RFQ:
The City of Toledo is seeking the services of qualified organizations to utilize Urban Agricultural Practices at the Marina District in Toledo, Ohio for purposes of improving soil quality, stabilizing the soil and beautifying the site.
I. Introduction
The City of Toledo owns and operates the 128-acre property known as the Marina District, which is located adjacent to the Maumee River and can be generally identified by the address 1401 Front St., Toledo, Ohio 43605. The City is interested in using agricultural practices at the site as an interim use prior to development. The City intends to contract with a qualified organization to use urban agricultural practices to improve soil quality, stabilize the soil and beautify the site. The City may also seek to leverage additional funds for the implementation of agricultural practices.
II. Scope of Work
The City of Toledo invites the submittal of statements of qualifications from firms, non-profit agencies, educational entities and any relevant organization interested in growing vegetation at the site. The City is seeking qualified RFQs to have a detailed plan to start growing at the site, schedule of plantings both short-term and long-term, and types of planting that would occur at the site if your organization is selected.This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is intended to assist the City of Toledo in identifying qualified organizations that are interested in formal and informal Request for Proposals (RFPs) where the City would select an organization to perform work identified in the RFP. All work performed under this agreement is expected to be completed in compliance with the property specific Covenant Not to Sue (CNS) issued by the Ohio EPA for the site. The City is willing to negotiate terms of the agreement that establish a schedule for the project, or for specific areas of the site.
With all due respect to innovative ideas and solutions this debatable idea does have two sides to the coin. This is after all a brownfield cleanup with federal monies. Not sure I would want to eat a tomato grown there. Need to borrow another person’s phrase, “no gots!”
July 24th, 2010 at 6:31 amThe EPA supports plant use – phytoremediation is that – the remediation of soil by using plants.
Tomatoes would typically be okay, some vegetables would not depending on the soil testing.
July 24th, 2010 at 10:17 amI THINK IT IS A COOL IDEA, AND IT WAS JUST A SUGESTION, BUT FOLKS LOOK AT MOST OF BOB CHRRIDON’S
July 24th, 2010 at 2:05 pmEDITORALS, VERY NEGATIVE AND CUT MOST PEOPLE DOWN, HE ONLY SUPPORTS PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HIM, CALLING MAC, FARMER JOE, WAS CLASSLESS
Why not just plant grass. Seems to be a cheap way to stop erosion.
July 24th, 2010 at 2:18 pmThey probably could just plant grass bucknut – but if they could get someone to plant something other than grass that would create a better benefit for the community it is at least worth exploring.
July 24th, 2010 at 2:34 pmI thought the idea of plantings was to remediate the soil over a period of years.
July 24th, 2010 at 3:20 pmIt can take years in some cases Jackie, it depends, take lead for example, there are plants that can remediate that soil faster than several years. It’s something that has emerged as a technology in the past decade.
July 24th, 2010 at 3:31 pmLisa,
I cannot tell you how disappointed I was with this editorial. I have come, like many people, to rely on WTOL for thoughtful, nuanced consideration of local issues and ideas. Unlike the “entertainers” on local radio WTOL has frequently provided careful analysis of the developments related to the University and its relationship to the local economy.
Phytoremediation is emerging as an emerging technology that the University of Toledo among others is attempting to introduce as an effective and fairly inexpensive technique to address the remediation needs of urban brown fields.
I hope against hope that Chirdon might be reading the comments of Michael, yourself and others and, at some future date, have his staff do a story on this environmentally, tax-payer friendly remediation technique.
Joe McNamara remains one of the most thoughtful pols in our area. He and Mike Craig were on target with their carefully considered request for proposals.
July 25th, 2010 at 11:36 amUnfortunately Toledo seems hellbent on eliminating any vistas of the river with buildings.
Plant the marina district and leave it as a park.
There is no better way to beautify this city and provide for another area for waterfront recreation, than leaving it as greenspace.
When you consider this, think Chicago and the miles of lakefront that provide a place to recreate and have a calming effect for their population. We have an opportunity here and we shouldn’t waste it on vertical development other than trees.
Any monies spent for commercial or housing development should be spent to rehab, reuse, re-purpose what is already built and once that is accomplished then and only then should we build new.
Let’s show some foresight and demonstrate that we can think differently.
July 25th, 2010 at 11:56 am