Toledo Police to lease Mercy Health building as new substation; plan moves services from Northwest station

The Toledo Police Department on July 8 presented a proposal to enter a lease with Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Group for a substation at 2527 Cherry Street to house community services and traffic divisions.

Police representatives said the lease is rent-free but the city will cover operating costs and utilities (Mercy estimated roughly $300 per month in utilities). "We have an exit strategy to get out of [the Northwest District Station] ... financially it's just not practical," the department said, citing repeated flooding and building issues at the Northwest site. Moving to the Mercy building would consolidate community services and traffic under one roof. The department said special victims would relocate into the Ottawa Park substation once Northwest is vacated. (Police representative)

Council members asked about parking, security for vehicles and whether the city could retain the Michael D. Collins name associated with the Northwest site. Mercy representatives said they would support preserving the name at an alternate location if council and administration agreed. Councilwoman Vanice Williams and others supported the move and asked for a referral to determine the city's longer-term plans for the vacated Northwest property.

Why it matters: The move affects police operations and neighborhood service patterns in the northwest quadrant. The Northwest District Station has experienced chronic flooding; moving into an air-conditioned Mercy facility was presented as a practical operational improvement.

Next steps: Council members recommended SEP on the lease and asked administration to provide a referral outlining plans for the former Northwest station and to clarify parking arrangements and any security measures at the new location.