TOLEDO, Ohio — A nearly century-old building that was once a downtown Toledo gem is ready for new ownership.
The historic Hotel Lorraine opened April 15, 1925, on Jefferson Avenue at 12th Street. As it was for much of its lifetime, the hotel hosted permanent and transient patrons with its 150 rooms.
The hotel fell into disrepair over the years despite attempts at renovations in the early 2000s.
It was shuttered under a court order in October 2019. At the time of its closure, the hotel was known for cheap housing in a walkable area of town. Around 40 permanent and transient residents were abruptly forced to find new lodging.
The then-owners of the Hotel Lorraine were sentenced for fraud and crimes they openly admitted to WTOL 11 that they had committed.
Now, the spot has a chance for new life. Located at the "gateway to the Uptown District," the hotel sits on a .79-acre lot with a building size of 59,060 square feet.
The Hotel Lorraine will hit the online auction block with a reserve price of $500,000.
"The property was previously listed for nearly $800,000," auctioneer and SVN-Ascension Commercial Realty broker Bill Menish said in a press release Monday. "But now, it could be bought for as little as $500,000."
The auction opens May 5 and closes May 11 on SVN Auction Service's website at this link.
Toledo's former gem, Hotel Lorraine
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