Planned housing development intended to help revive Fallen Timbers falls through

TOLEDO, Ohio — A major housing development planned near The Shops at Fallen Timbers in Monclova Township will not be moving forward.

The project, known as the “Enclave at Fallen Timbers,” was expected to bring 326 new homes to 95 acres along Black Road and the Wabash Cannonball Trail. Plans called for townhomes, single-family homes, biking paths connecting to the trail, open space, and even a dog park. It was also set to be the future site of a St. Jude Dream Home and connect to The Shops at Fallen Timbers.

But 11 Investigates has learned the deal collapsed in May, and the buyers, Mitchell Development Co., filed a lawsuit. 

Mike White of Buckeye Real Estate Group, who also builds the St. Jude Dream Home each year, said he and his partner, Steve Mitchell at Mitchell Development Co., spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing for the project.

“Well, I can’t get too deep into it, but we’re under contract, me and my partners to purchase this land for almost six years,” White said. “We’re ready to close this spring, actually went to closing, and the owner of the land chose not to show up, and that’s when we started realizing, what’s the issue? Who doesn’t want to go and get a nice sizable check?”

White and Mitchell are suing the property owner, Isaac Land Investment (ILI), in Lucas County Common Pleas court for fraud and breach of agreement after the landowner did not appear at the March closing.

The filing states that ILI entered into a purchase agreement with Mitchell Development Co. on Sept. 25, 2020. In July, Judge Michael Goulding dismissed the suit, stating that the agreement allowed ILI to terminate it. Mitchell Development Co. filed an appeal on Aug. 11.

The collapse of the deal also means hundreds of potential new families won’t be moving into the Anthony Wayne School District. When asked for a reaction, a district spokesperson said the superintendent did not feel comfortable commenting since he wasn’t aware of the situation.

So, what happens to the land now? That remains unclear. White says he’s heard speculation that a data center may be eyeing the property.

“This is just an assumption, I have not been told one way or another,” White said, “but as you know, data centers, people are looking for land and for those data centers throughout Lucas County, and the pieces add up that potentially could be that type of a use that would cause somebody not to show up to a closing and then basically go silent about it.”

Two Monclova Township trustees told 11 Investigates they have heard talk of a possible data center but have not seen any formal plans. The township did approve new zoning language several months ago to include “data centers.” Trustee Trudy Vicary cited several other areas that have done the same, including Waterville Township and said, “everybody is looking toward the future.” 

Zac Isaac, owner of ILI, neither confirmed nor denied talks of a sale to a data center, telling 11 Investigates he does not comment on private business.

For now, the future of the Black Road property, once hoped to help revive The Shops at Fallen Timbers, remains uncertain.