Promises Made, Promises Kept at Warren Commons

Charles Turnbough, City of Toledo_ Adam Foltz, Rudolph Libbe, Inc Project Manager_ Sylvester Gould TASC

Special to The Truth

When taxpayer dollars are in play, the public has a right to expect that when promises are made, the promises are kept.

That’s exactly what happened in the construction of the new Warren Commons, a 46-unit supportive housing community for the chronically homeless in Toledo’s Warren Sherman neighborhood. The project, a partnership between Community Housing Network and Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities of Northwest Ohio (TASC), has reached its goals for minority and women business enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation.

“When we set these goals, our intention was to make sure minority- and women-owned businesses were strongly considered in all areas of the project,” said Sylvester Gould, president and CEO of Gould Development Company LLC, which served as TASC’s Owners’ Representative and as a consultant for the project. “Through a combination of hard work, careful planning and excellent communication, we’ve reached our minority and women-owned business goal.”

The MBE/WBE goal for the $10 million construction process was 21 percent participation. The project, which is expected to be completed by mid-January, currently has 21.5 percent MBE/WBE participation. That equates to about $2.1 million of MBE/WBE participation.

Charles Turnbough, Adam Foltz and Sylvester Gould in the building’s common room filled with supplies for the apartments

“This project is good for the neighborhood, good for the city, good for the taxpayers, and good for some of our unhoused Toledoans,” said TASC Executive Director Johnetta McCollough. “This project has supported the community’s interests and will continue to do so.”

City of Toledo Director of Neighborhoods and Community Development Rosalyn Clemens said meeting the city’s MBE/WBE goal gives the community confidence that all parties involved will follow through on other commitments.

“The project was a long time in coming, but it will help alleviate homelessness, create jobs and hopefully add stability to the community,” Clemens said. “We’re grateful to all those who helped accomplish this significant milestone.”

The development at 2021 Franklin St. is being built by local builder Rudolph Libbe Group.

“We’re proud to have played a part in not only helping the Warren Commons team reach its goals for minority and women-owned business participation, but in all phases of this worthwhile project,” said Jeff Schaller, president of Rudolph Libbe Inc.

MBE/WBE Contractors at Warren Commons Project