TOLEDO -- Two vacant and dilapidated buildings in downtown Toledo have new owners. IBC, Inc. has purchased 725 Jefferson Avenue. That building was formerly owned by Joe Wicks, who for decades was an icon in Toledo's gay and lesbian community. Wicks hosted weekly drag quuen shows at the Ceasar's Showbar. After Wicks died the club closed and the building fell into disrepair. Joe Marck of IBC, Inc. says the Lucas County Land Bank approached his company a year ago about buying the historic building. "We have some ideas, possibly a restaurant on the ground floor and possibly apartments or even law offices on the upper floors," Mr. Marck said.
A Lansing, Michigan company has purchased the Berdan building at 610 Washington Street. It sits diagonally across the street from the main entrance at Fifth Third Field. The new owner told the Toledo Blade that the plan is to convert the building into a residential apartment complex. Richard Rideout, who owns an art gallery on South St. Clair Street and is a board member of the Toledo Warehouse District Association, says the Berdan purchase is good news. "We're looking for more residents and this could bring in about 200 residents to the area," Mr. Rideout said.
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