Part 3 - Ohio Lifestyle Center Series: Levis Commons

(Photo from Levis Commons Website)

(Photo from Levis Commons Website)

(Photo from Levis Commons Website)

Part 3 in my series of Lifestyle centers around Ohio is Levis Commons.  J. Preston Levis Commons, the "official" name of this center opened on October 26th of 2004.  The center is a large mixed-use project located in the Toledo suburb of Perrysburg, Ohio.  The Town Center of Levis Commons is the center piece of the project which includes 400 acres of planned development including retail and entertainment (1 million sf),  office (650,000 sf), as well as housing (1,000+ units).

When completed, J. Preston Levis Commons will be a $500 million development that has been deemed an "urban village". 

Dillin Corp is the master developer of the project and Hill Partners, Inc is the primary developer of The Town Center at Levis Commons and manages the leasing.  MBH Architects (Alameda, CA) was the architect for the center.

Dillin Corp has become a well known Toledo name announcing a project in Downtown Toledo, the Marina District on the Maumee River, as well as The Village at Southwyck, a 550,000 sf open air community on the former Southwyck mall site in Southwest Toledo.  Also planned (according to their website) is a project in Delaware County named The Village at Liberty Walk, a 300,000 sf town center development at the intersection of Seldom Seen and Sawmill Parkway.

Larry Dillin, President of Dillin Corp has also been the target of much criticism over the past several years for spearheading large projects only to see them languish for years including the Marina District and The Village at Southwyck.  And recently Dillin has faced tax delinquency for undeveloped parcels of land at Levis Commons that Mr. Dillin anticipated would be built out by now and generating revenue to cover the tax bill.  However, the sour ecomomy has stalled that phase of the development and the property is still waiting future development.  Mr. Dillin has also paid a third of his tax obligation and has worked out a payment plan for the rest.  In the meantime - the hope is the economy will continue to improve and Levis Commons can attract investment that will begin to produce a return on investment for Dillin.

Levis Commons demographic is the suburban female shopper and is certainly evident in the store mix.  A quick review of the store directory reveals cosmetics, women’s apparel, accessories, and shoes, as well as salons and home furnishings.  Although I have personally enjoyed spending time in the development – there is very little for the male shopper beyond a few select stores.  This is by design, however as the development matures a strategy may want to include stores that have a greater appeal to the male demo.

As mentioned in my first Lifestyle Center post, The Shops at Fallen Timbers is located just 6 miles to the west of Levis Commons and although the economy has suffered over the past few years, both centers appear to be doing well.