JUNE 2004

DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE DAILY REPORTER PAGE 2A Developing Our Community JUNE 2004 DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY In this publication, The Daily Reporter explores commercial and residential projects throughout Central Ohio, looking at communities’ growth and developers’ achievements. This special feature is divided into multiple sectors focusing on the development of each.

CONTENTS

SECTOR 1 Columbus ...... 3A Downtown, Arena District, Short North, Brewery District, German Village, Clintonville, University District, Heritage Districts, Italian Village, Victorian Village

SECTOR 2 3 Northwestern Franklin County ...... 11A Grandview Heights, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Worthington, Northland 2 SECTOR 3 Northeastern Franklin County ...... 15A Bexley, Gahanna, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, Whitehall, Westerville

SECTOR 4 Southern Franklin County ...... 21A Canal Winchester, Grove City, Groveport, Pickerington SECTOR 5 1 Select Communities of Contiguous Counties . . 23A Delaware, Lancaster, London, Marysville, Newark, Powell

DEVELOPING OUR COMMUNITY A supplement to The Daily Reporter

Vice President & Publisher Dan L. Shillingburg Controller Mark McGuire Editor Cindy Ludlow 4 Associate Editor Chris Bailey Section Editor Jon Gingerich Circulation Marlena Woodtke Production Kelly Rabideau

THE DAILY REPORTER 580 South High Street, Suite 316, Columbus, Ohio 43215-5644 Phone: (614) 228-NEWS (6397) Fax: (614) 224-8649 E-mail: [email protected] 5 For additional copies or to advertise in future issues, contact The Daily Reporter at (614) 228-NEWS (6397).

UNION This special feature of The Daily DELAWARE Reporter provides an overview of commercial and residential projects throughout Central Ohio.

We have divided the community into various sectors so that we can LICKING provide in-depth coverage of our FRANKLIN major communities in the area. These sectors are: MADISON

©June 2004 1. Columbus The Daily Reporter Inc., all rights reserved. 2. Northwestern Franklin County 3. Northeastern Franklin County FAIRFIELD Material published is for the sole and exclusive use of the subscriber. It may not be published, 4. Southern Franklin County resold, recorded or reused in any manner, in whole PICKAWAY or in part without the publisher’s written consent. 5. Select communities of contiguous Any infringement will be subject to legal redress. counties JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS PAGE 3A

COLUMBUS

Downtown Columbus Through city initiatives, public sector, private businesses, downtown continues to grow By JON GINGERICH Private investments into downtown turn upward, boasting a 26 percent Daily Reporter Staff Writer housing development have topped growth in property since 1995 and a 30 $15 million, with an additional $11 percent increase in jobs since 1990. Anyone who isn’t a complete million raised in private investment in the City officials said in the last three stranger to downtown Columbus knows city’s housing investment fund since years alone, private investments for new that the area is undergoing a development August 2003. development downtown has topped $1.1 reformation. “Housing development has really billion, and downtown now comprises In the last two years, residential taken hold downtown, and has been espe- more than 38 percent of all supply and construction in downtown Columbus cially significant in the last 18 to 24 office space in Franklin County. housing has increased by nearly 800 months,” McLaughlin said. This poses a stark contrast to only a percent. As of May, downtown housing He added that the success of few years ago, when Columbus’ down- accounted for a total of 2,987 units, with Columbus’ recent housing initiatives are town actually had one of the highest vacan- recent development resulting in 470 partly the result of Coleman’s aggressive cy rates in the country, which peaked at a housing units opened in the area since tax abatement program, which gives vacancy rate of 26 percent in 2001. June 2003 alone. building owners competitive tax credits In response to the declining market, “Mayor (Michael) Coleman has to create downtown housing units. Coleman introduced the Columbus made the future health of our downtown According to McLaughlin, as part of Downtown Office Incentive in 2002. a priority because it is the heart of eco- the plan, Coleman has set a goal to have The office incentive program is nomic vitality and cultural diversity for some 10,000 new units in downtown by designed to stabilize the downtown com- Sector 1 all of Central Ohio,” said Bob the city’s bicentennial in 2012. mercial market by rewarding businesses McLaughlin, downtown development “There has been a sea of change in based on the number of jobs they bring ■ Downtown, Arena District, administrator. the composition of downtown Columbus. into the area. Short North, Brewery District, “The largest concentration of the Residential housing is the cornerstone of Companies can receive half the German Village, Clintonville, region’s workforce is employed down- any successful community; that’s why funds their employees pay the city in University District, town. The largest concentration of enter- housing is so important to downtown, income tax if they bring jobs into down- Heritage Districts, tainment options is located downtown. and that’s why the mayor had made it a town that previously were located outside Italian Village, The reemergence of new housing is a key issue.” Victorian Village the city limits. critical next step in downtown’s success- Commercial development in down- ful revitalization.” town Columbus also has taken a sharp (See Downtown, page 6A) PAGE 4A Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS JUNE 2004

Victorian Village Neglected oil plant to go, park to be improved By JON GINGERICH Daily Reporter Staff Writer

Residents of Columbus’ historic Victorian Village community are looking forward to some pleasant changes in their neighborhood this summer. The biggest news to hit the community this year was the announcement that the former A.C. Humko plant on West First Avenue in Victorian Village’s adjoining Harrison West neighborhood would be demolished to make way for a 271-unit housing development. The Ohio Department of Development recently gave the city of Columbus a $3 mil- lion grant in Clean Ohio Funds to clean up the Humko site, which was a cooking oil refinery from 1920 until its inevitable closing in 2001. Due to years of neglect, the plant had fallen into blight, and at best, had become lit- tle more than a reminder of the community’s industrial past. At worst, it remained an eye- sore for the community. Either way, area residents said they are glad to see the vacant plant removed. “We’re happy to see it go,” said Pat Lewis, a 30-year member of the Victorian Village Society and vice president of the Historic Friends of Goodale Park. “It’s an ugly site, and right now, residential development would definitely be the preferred choice for the area. We’re delighted they’re tearing it down.” Estimated construction cost for the 13.5-acre site is said to be more than $4 mil- lion. When completed, the housing complex could hold as may as 200 apartments, 60 condominiums, 10 single-family homes and an area park adjacent to the Olentangy Dr. Lincoln Goodale gave the lush, 32-acre plot of land to the city in 1851, and in River. the years since, it has served as an urban oasis for residents of its adjoining Victorian News of the neighborhood transformation couldn’t come at a more appropriate time Village and Short North areas. for the historic neighborhood. Now, the Victorian Village Society, along with the Friends of Goodale Park and the This year marks the Victorian Village Society’s 30th annual tour of village homes Brick Street Arts Association, has begun soliciting local artists for an opportunity to and gardens, and Lewis said the society is celebrating the occasion in style. build the water-based sculpture for the park. A tour of the area’s most famous homes and gardens is planned for July, followed “There needs to be a real fountain built in Goodale Park. We feel the formation that by a party at the historic Sells Mansion on the corner of Dennison Street and Buttles is currently in the pond doesn’t accurately represent the park or the community, and the Avenue. pump system that spouts water often gets clogged,” she said. Funds raised by the tour, along with money raised by a tour the society plans to Lewis said the cost for creating the sculpture should be somewhere “in the neigh- host this summer of neighborhood pools, will go toward another ambitious area devel- borhood of $100,000.” opment project: a fountain sculpture to be placed in the middle of the Goodale Park Lewis said the Friends of Goodale Park are looking for artists who can design a pond. sculpture that “relates to a small, organic pond.” The sculpture need not incorporate a As Lewis explained, while Goodale Park has been a landmark in Columbus for fountain to be accepted for review, Lewis said, but should make a statement about the more than 150 years, a proper sculpture has never been erected to commemorate the park pond and its surrounding historic neighborhoods. or its founder. “We’ll pick out the four ideas we think are the best, and go from there,” she said.

Heritage Districts $10 million in new development underway in main corridors of Near East area, two additional projects are pending By CHRISTOPHER HAYES becoming highly valuable and among the hottest areas service department and two other businesses. Currently, For The Daily Reporter for development and revitalization. negotiations are underway with financial and medical The Columbus Compact Corp. is a lead coordina- institutions as tenants. Spring brings new life to the Heritage Districts, the tor in those efforts. The Compact is a non-profit neigh- ¥ The facility will house 40-50 employees. five historic Columbus communities known as borhood-based organization that provides leadership ¥ A bus stop will be in front of the center on both Franklinton, Linden, and the near east, near north and and supports sustainable improvements to the quality Champion Avenue and East Main Street. near south sides. of life in Columbus’ central city neighborhoods. ¥ Groundbreaking is scheduled for June with an Excitement is in the air, as four major projects The Compact further empowers people and organi- anticipated completion date in December 2004. unfold with ground-breaking activity. zations by linking resources in a collaborative process ¥ This is a financial partnership between the This season, the Near East Heritage District will see that ensures active representation for everyone. The Columbus Compact Corp., the city of Columbus, COTA, a major facelift in two of its main commercial corridors. Compact helps coordinate more than 218 partnering MORPC, Federal Transit Administration and the Ohio East Main Street and East Broad Street are the agencies, to make Columbus a better place. Department of Transportation. future homes of $10 million in new development for the The Compact contributed more than $1.8 million ¥ Total project cost: $2.7 million area. Two additional projects are pending on Cleveland toward the four developments while also providing site ¥ Compact provided site assembly and pre-develop- Avenue. assembly and land banking, site demolition, design col- ment activities (site demolition, etc.). The four groundbreaking projects are Central laboration with neighborhood groups, pre-development Community House’s new headquarters; COTA’s newest assistance, development expertise, zoning process transit center; the Salvation Army’s new headquarters; assistance and partner coordination. WENDY’S RESTAURANT and a Wendy’s restaurant. Following is a brief description of each project and ¥ Location: 1054 E. Broad St. (Corner of Broad and The four projects together total close to $9 million the project’s impact on the community. For more infor- 21st ) dollars of development, hundreds of hours of planning mation on these projects, contact the Columbus ¥ Half acre of currently vacant property, histori- and coordination between some 70 different organiza- Compact Corporation at (614) 251-0926. cally a gas station. tions, neighborhood groups, government offices and ¥ Architectural plans for the site will provide a businesses. COTA’S NEAR EAST TRANSIT CENTER one-of-a-kind design. Historic carriage house style The development signals the continued growth and ¥ Location: 1119 E. Main St. (Corner of Main and architecture features dormers and a high quality faux- revitalization of the city’s Heritage Districts. With Champion) slate roof. Central Ohio’s population growth projected to double in ¥ Up to 12,000 square feet of retail and office space the next 10 years, the Heritage Districts are quickly will be leased. The center will feature a COTA customer (See Development, page 24A) JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS PAGE 5A

University District Projects are ‘investments’ in higher quality of neighborhood life By JON GINGERICH idents have waited for the Gateway Daily Reporter Staff Writer Center to break ground on the four blocks on North High Street. Columbus’ University District has Now, proof of the center’s progress become ground zero for one of the most can be seen in the flesh, said Steve ambitious redevelopment projects in the Sterrett, Campus Partners’ community city’s history. relations director, with the foundations purpose of the South Campus Gateway is nomic opportunities to those who live, Recent business investment opportu- for two of the center’s buildings, as well to create a signature piece on campus, it work and study in the historic district. nities, a massive rehabilitation of area as its 1,200-space parking garage, now is only one part of the larger picture to “Although South Campus Gateway housing, and the beginning construction showing the early signs of formation. revitalize the historic neighborhood. is the signature project in the Campus phases on the long-awaited South “The steel framework of the South Campus Partners has been involved Partners initiative, its success will be Campus Gateway project, all are signals Campus Gateway buildings are rising in a series of housing initiatives in the measured, at least in part, by its ability to that the University District is gearing up from the ground around High Street and University District area, including a mas- attract investment and activity up and for success. 11th Avenue, and the project is on sched- sive residential initiative that will bring down the street. We are pleased that some Scheduled to open in Fall 2005, the ule to open in the fall of 2005,” he said. hundreds of affordable housing options to of this new investment is already happen- three-building, 500,000-square-foot “The mixture of housing and office area residents with low incomes. ing. The renovation of the Newport South Campus Gateway center will be an space with 35 to 40 commercial tenants Ð “The most significant activity in the Music Hall is close to completion, restor- unparalleled first in Columbus mixed-use all served by a 1,200-space parking University District neighborhoods is the ing the High Street facade of the coun- development, with retail and residential garage Ð will bring new vitality to High start this spring of rehabilitation of the space to include a 50,000-square-foot Street.” 550 units of project-based, Section 8 try’s oldest, continuously operated, live bookstore, a cinema, 82,000 square feet And the steel beams that will form housing, now known as Community rock-and-roll venue. The building just in office space and 190 apartments. the massive Gateway aren’t the only Properties. Ohio Capital Corporation for north of the Newport was renovated last The center has been a project in the structures coming into place. Housing will invest more than $40,000 year and now houses a Japanese sushi works since at least 1996, when non-prof- Earlier this year, Campus Partners per unit in the renovation of the interior restaurant and saki bar. Bank One recent- it urban redevelopment corporation issued a request for proposals to provide and exterior of the properties,” he said. ly opened its university branch on the Campus Partners began purchasing professional property management and As Sterrett explained, Campus first floor of a renovated apartment build- parcels of land from 25 area businesses leasing services for the center. Partners’ numerous initiatives in residen- ing at 12th and High,” he said. for construction of the project. The non-profit group also has begun tial and commercial development in the “This investment,” Sterrett contin- Plans for the center were formally to field possible tenants for the center. University District all have one goal in ued, “will have a major effect on the qual- unveiled in 1998, and ever since, area res- However, Sterrett said that while the common: to provide housing and eco- ity of life in the neighborhoods.”

Columbus Housing Partnership’s goal is to find affordable homes for city’s lower-income residents By JEN PATTERSON through the home-buying process, and For The Daily Reporter even cover downpayment and closing costs when purchasing a home. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE CENTER Everyone needs safe, decent, afford- By the end of March, those graduat- The One-Stop Shop for Downtown Development able housing but many individuals have ing from homebuyer education classes in difficulty finding it. One local organiza- 2003 had invested nearly $6 million in tion, Columbus Housing Partnership, is Columbus homes. City of Columbus Columbus Downtown working to address these and other needs CHP’s housing development team Michael B. Coleman, Mayor Development Corporation in Columbus communities. also works on a wide variety of projects Downtown Development Office CHP places a special emphasis on to meet the changing needs of Capital Crossroads Capitol South those neighborhoods near downtown and Columbus’ housing market. Special Improvement District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation those households making less than the This year, CHP will complete 64 sin- average income for a family of four. gle-family homes for its lease-option pro- In Franklin and the surrounding gram and will have more than 20 homes A Partnership of the Public and Private Sectors counties, this includes any household available for purchase throughout the city. making less than $63,800 per year. In the next five years, CHP intends •Office Incentive Program • Utility Tap Credits Extremely low wage-earners, those to add another 500 homes for those who households making less than $20,000 per need more cost-effective housing. • Facade Improvement Grants • Sidewalk Dining Assistance year Ð or approximately $10 or less per “CHP’s efforts are revitalizing neigh- • Housing Incentive Fund • Graphics Approval hour – also are assisted through CHP’s borhoods and strengthening families and programs and housing communities. communities throughout Central Ohio,” • Research & Information • Development Troubleshooting Since 1987, CHP has added more said Amy Klaben, president and chief •Tax Incentives and TIFs • Clean & Safe Services than 3,200 homes to the Columbus hous- executive officer of the organization. • On- and Off-Street Parking •Architectural Design & Zoning ing market and has created numerous “We are committed to helping as Management Approval programs to help potential homebuyers many families as possible achieve the become successful homeowners. American Dream of homeownership.” • Streetscape Improvement • Public-Private Partnership These programs include homebuyer For more information on CHP, visit Grants Transactions education classes, home repair and main- www.chpcolumbus.org or call (614) • Streetscape and Public Space • Implementation of the Downtown tenance seminars, downpayment and 221-8889, ext. 134 for homebuyer pro- Management Business Plan foreclosure prevention assistance pro- grams; ext. 163 for home sales grams, and individualized credit and budget counseling. They allow partici- Jen Patterson is the resource devel- 20 East Broad Street, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio 43215 pants to take control of their financial sit- opment manager for the Columbus 614-645-5001 www.downtowncolumbus.com uations, learn how to successfully work Housing Partnership. PAGE 6A Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS JUNE 2004

Italian Village Unique population, diversity, affordable homes and tax abatements contribute to community’s desirability By JON GINGERICH also be developed near the intersection on Daily Reporter Staff Writer Warren and Pearl streets. Local developer Mark Wood plans to Perhaps no Columbus community has develop a seven-unit condominium proj- been affected by the city’s recent return of ect at the site of the former Red Herring urban living more than Italian Village. theatre on East Third Avenue. The neighborhood’s historic flair, When completed, Wood said, the units coupled with its affordable price ranges would boast a “contemporary warehouse in housing and its proximity to down- feel with lots of natural light.” According town, the University District and the to Wood, the warehouse-style building Short North communities, has resulted in would undergo an intensive facelift, with a virtual explosion of residential develop- the west facade of the building being ment, the likes of which have to be seen removed to expose large dormer windows to be believed. that will be placed along each unit. “It seems like we’ve been under con- A parking garage will be attached to struction for years,” said Steve Hurtt, each unit, along with front and rear bal- chairman of the Italian Village commis- conies and a small patio on the ground sion and an architect at Urban Order. floor. Indeed, a short drive down the area’s “We’re waiting for the building per- main arteries Ð Summit Street and North mits, but we anticipate construction to Fourth Street Ð reveals a series of massive begin soon,” Wood said. housing initiatives undertaken by some of Other recent development efforts in the city’s venerated developers, with the Now, local developer Corna In an attempt to head off problems, the community include the renovation of hopes that an investment into the commu- Kokosing has begun its cleanup of the area residents have met with a landscap- a cluster of apartments in the 680 block of nity will pay off much as it did for those North Pearl Street, and a massive refur- former mining facility, and the Italian ing committee and highway officials to who purchased Short North property 20 bishing of the Reality Theatre building Ð Village commission has begun reviewing create a T-intersection that would years ago. otherwise known as the “Mona Lisa” construction proposals for the site. remove congestion and feed traffic In a matter of months, a three-build- building for its street-side mural of the ing, 100-unit multi-housing complex near Construction still is scheduled to begin smoothly at the intersections of famed subject. the intersection of Summit and First sometime later this year. Interstate 670 and North Fourth Street, Hurt said there are a few reasons Avenue will be completed, offering a Hurtt, a 14-year Italian Village resi- as opposed to an exit ramp that simply Italian Village has become an increasing- range of unit variations between two and dent, said the construction of Jeffery brings traffic to a halt. ly popular place to live. The community’s six-occupants. Place would signal a new era for the com- “This is a neighborhood, not a high- affordability, wide price range and large The Jeffery Square project, a 40-acre munity. way ramp. We want to curb traffic so that rent-or-own residential possibilities cre- commercial and residential development “Jeffery is about a third as big as our it will enhance the Jeffery site, instead of ate a unique and diverse neighborhood, located at the former Jeffery Mining Co., entire neighborhood. We’re anticipating having this swooping highway ramp run attracting people of all ages and socio- site on North Fourth Street, south of First that it’s going to be under construction for past it,” he said. economic backgrounds. Avenue, also is showing progress. a long time.” “But more importantly,” Hurtt In June 2003, Columbus City Council The project, land for which was In fact, the Jeffery site is so big, area continued, “it will help the whole neigh- created a residential tax abatement program bought for $1.25 million in 1999 by devel- residents are concerned about the impact borhood.” to encourage development in the area. oper Daniel Schmidt, was briefly halted in it would have on traffic. The Jeffery site isn’t the only impor- As a result, officials said, recent December when the city of Columbus’ Hurtt said heavy traffic already is an tant development initiative currently increases in Italian Village home buying Department of Development requested issue in Italian Village, and speeding on underway in the area. and apartment renting have come from that the site meet six requirements before Summit and North Fourth streets is com- Area architect Urban Order has such diverse groups as empty nesters, receiving the $3 million grant awarded as mon. Hurtt posited that additional devel- begun construction on nine condomini- young professionals and large families. part of the Ohio Department of opment will only add to an already diffi- ums near the intersection of Russell and “It’s a great neighborhood and it just Development’s Clean Ohio Funds. cult situation. Kerr streets. Seven other condo units will seems to be the place to be.”

Motorist Group, SBC Ameritech and Ten Resource have “The signs are encouraging. We’re moving in the Downtown expanded their downtown offices to receive the benefits right direction,” McLaughlin said. (Continued from page 3A) of the program, filling office space that previously sat But development doesn’t always come in the form empty. of residential or commercial success. Another form of the program exists for businesses “Since the program was implemented, we have been Downtown Columbus is not exempt to the advent of simply looking to expand their existing office space able to absorb some of that vacant space, and council has creating environmentally-friendly greenspaces and com- downtown. since approved 21 other office incentives. We have seen munity recreation areas, and work already has begun on By virtue of its design, McLaughlin said, the pro- the office market stabilize and improve ever so slightly. North Bank Park, a sprawling, 11-acre preserve to run gram encourages job growth and keeps companies’ stan- We project that 1,340 new jobs will be created because along the Scioto River near Long and Neil streets, and dards high. of the incentive.” connect with a rebuilt portion of the riverfront near “The mayor and council put the program into place And the numbers seem to reinforce this projection. Town and Main streets in downtown. in response to a weak office economy,” McLaughlin According to research published by Grubb and Spearheaded by the city’s Recreation and Parks said. Ellis’s Adena Realty Advisors Co., Columbus ended its Commission, and adopted as part of the city’s River “Columbus’ 26 percent vacancy rate, in round num- fourth quarter of 2003 with a net absorption of a positive Front Vision Plan in 1998, the park will feature a new bers, represented approximately 2.5 million square feet 47,000 square feet of office space, and for the first time fountain, as well as a 6,500-square-foot glass-enclosed of vacant office space. That had an obvious impact on in years, vacancy rates for downtown Columbus actual- pavilion overlooking the downtown skyline. the health of downtown, and this program was intro- ly outperformed its outlying suburban market. A corridor would connect pedestrian and bicycle duced as a reaction to those issues.” According to Adena, downtown boasted a 17.31 paths throughout the park and into other areas of down- Unlike tax abatements, the Columbus Downtown percent vacancy rate for Class A and B office space dur- town and Greater Columbus, running from the Civic Office Incentive reimburses a company based on the ing the fourth quarter of 2003, beating Columbus’ sub- Center and Bicentennial Park, through downtown and number of employees it brings downtown and not a sin- urban market, which reported a vacancy of 19.88 per- into the Arena District, all the way to Olentangy Trails gle, curt rate: If a company introduces 10 new workers cent, or a difference of 68,000 square feet. and Battelle. for Columbus’ downtown, it gets reimbursed for 10. If it According to the Ohio Department of Job and North Bank Park will come with a projected price brings 20, it gets paid for 20. Family Services, Columbus is expected to see a gain of tag of $13.75 million, paid in part by a $8.75 million And the program seems to work. In the time since more than 149,000 jobs in the next six years. More than grant from the state, as well as $5 million from the city. the program began, downtown companies have added 26 percent of those jobs, ODJFS said, are expected to be The park is scheduled for a completion date of more than 700 jobs to the area. Companies such as AEP, of the white-collar variety. December. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS PAGE 7A

Arena District Residential components complete area’s master plan By MICHELLE CHIPPAS For The Daily Reporter

With the opening of the 252-unit Arena Crossing apartments this summer and the 98-unit Arena District Condominiums in Spring 2005, Nationwide Realty Investors soon will put in place the final component of its new urbanism vision: the Arena District. The Arena District, a $500 million, 75-acre mixed- use development in the heart of downtown Columbus, boasts more than 1.5 million square feet of offices, restaurants, entertainment and residential space. With the symbiotic relationship between office, res- idential and entertainment development, the area has become a magnet which continues to attract. Arena Crossing is a two-building complex bordered by Vine Street, Convention Center Drive and North Front Street. The first building is a six-story structure housing 16,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 95 apartments on the top five floors. The second building contains 157 units on seven floors above a three-level parking garage. The parking one and two bedroom flats, two bedroom townhouses, 120,000-square-foot regional optical center in the Arena structure, hidden from street level with easy access to and two bedroom penthouses. Prices will start at District. The Eye Center, which will house physician city streets, contains more than 400 spaces to serve resi- $249,000 with most units priced in the $300,000 and offices, a laser center, an outpatient surgery center and dents as well as visitors. $400,000 range. optical-related retail space, is expected to be completed A private courtyard available exclusively to the The condominiums will feature 10- to 20-foot ceil- by Spring 2005. apartment dwellers includes an outdoor pool as well as a ings, private balconies, hardwood floors, oversized win- Most recently, NRI announced the addition of the Jacuzzi. dows, soaking tubs and glazed showers, a private fitness Arena District Athletic Club, a 10,000-square-foot These luxury studio and one- and two-bedroom center, as well as skyline and park views. All resident workout facility that will be located on the first floor of units feature high-end finishes including hardwood parking will be below ground in a secured parking struc- the office building at the corner of Nationwide and floors, maple cabinets, ceramic tile, brushed nickel fix- ture. There also will be ample visitor parking. McConnell boulevards. The club will be owned by NRI tures and private balconies. Last August, NRI announced it would be con- and managed by Columbus Hospitality. The condominiums, which are located along structing a 165,000-square-foot office building at the Other new tenants to the district include Wells McConnell Boulevard between Nationwide Boulevard, corner of Nationwide and McConnell boulevards to Fargo Bank, Charles Schwab, Palmer & Cay and Agile Spring Street and Neil Avenue, will feature 12 floor house the Columbus office of the Jones Day law firm. Technologies. plans with a wide variety of optional finishes and The building is on schedule and will be completed in upgrades. November. Michelle Chippas is the director of marketing and The two-building, eight story project will include In October, NRI announced it would be building a promotions for Nationwide Realty Investors.

Brewery District ‘Creative class’ of residents, business owners appreciate downtown area By JON GINGERICH Sterling Lofts sold or contracted 23 of Capitol Manufacturing Co, and was sub- The 160-acre plot of land between the Daily Reporter Staff Writer its 53 existing units in less than four ject to a series of evaluations by the EPA. Brewery District and the Scioto River months, with prices on units ranging from The EPA requested that the project’s known as the Whittier Peninsula also will According to Jim Tinker, executive $110,000 to $260,000. developers remove dirt before residential be seeing some major renovations this year, director of the Brewery District “They have current (Brewery homes could be built in the area, setting the with Columbus officials planning a major Association, the proof is in the numbers: District) residents purchasing units and development back by months. cleanup that includes leasing 80 acres of the It’s a good time to live and work in the even past residents who came back to buy According to Tinker, the project was land to Columbus MetroParks. Brewery District. a unit. That speaks well for the area,” again postponed after environmental require- Currently, the site is the location of the “We have 250 businesses in a 300- Tinker said. ments had been met, but the Ohio Department city’s vehicle impoundment lot and a acre historic district. There is ongoing Construction on the Brewers Yard of Transportation announced it would propose Lazarus warehouse. While the peninsula development and plans are moving for- Apartments recently was finished and they an I-70/I-71 feeder system to run through has been recognized as a wetland location ward,” he said. now are 82 percent leased. downtown. and a haven for rare forms of wildlife and “At least 40 percent of our businesses According to Brewers Yard manager “They (Liberty Place developers) report- plant life, it has fallen victim to pollution in fall into the ‘creative class’ category.” Shelley Greeves, interest in the apartments edly had planned to start actual construction recent years. Located just south of downtown and has not been limited to area residents. last October, but delayed it to see what MetroParks plans to construct a nature adjacent to Columbus’ historic German “We get a substantial amount of relo- ODOT’s impact was going to be with the 70- preserve on the land, complete with a series Village neighborhood, the Brewery District cation, people moving to Columbus from 71 project. I believe Liberty Place plans to of trails, paths and bridges. MetroParks also has become as much a hotbed for its com- other urban environments, who think we start construction this summer,” he said. plans to sublease more than five acres of the mercial activity as it has for its popular are the natural place to live in Columbus,” In terms of commercial development, peninsula to Audubon Ohio, which says it nightlife. she said. perhaps the biggest project this year will be will build an education center for the Recently, however, the area has Liberty Place, a 314-apartment proj- the construction of a 66,526-square-foot Columbus community. expanded its horizons to include residen- ect near Front and Short streets, is back on Kroger grocery store, to be located on In addition, the Whittier Peninsula area tial options, with projects such as the track for development as scheduled, offi- Sycamore Street. will be used for mixed-use housing and Sterling Lofts, Brewers Yard Apartments cials said. Construction on the center is expected to “light” commercial development, including and Liberty Place becoming the talk of The seven-acre site at 100 Liberty St. begin in August, and should bring about 200 small business development such as restau- the town. is located on the former grounds of the new jobs to the area. rants or small retail stores. PAGE 8A Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS JUNE 2004

Short North Area known for its artistic, trendy community among Central Ohio’s busiest in terms of development By JON GINGERICH into a Special Improvement District in Daily Reporter Staff Writer 1998, area property owners have to agree to have a 12-year assessment that is collected Since the 1980s, the Short North’s on their tax bills to pay for city services. transformation from a blighted warehouse Area businesses aid in the planning district into a trendy arts center has been of where their money is going, and one continuously met with cosmetic upgrades. thing almost all Short North businesses And this year is no exception. The agreed on, Wagner said, was the place- Short North’s development plan for 2004 ment of greenspace such as sidewalk is one of the largest redevelopment initia- planters and pocket parks. tives in Columbus. “In planning the area’s services and According to community leaders, improvements, we included the idea of maintaining an interest in the neighbor- putting planters along the street. We start- hood has always been a high priority. ed looking at how these things should be Short North’s success, they said, relies on placed, and then we realized that we a deliberately planned effort to create could have a lot more impact if we took diverse storefronts, maintain a unique spots that could easily be beautified and neighborhood character and cleaner turned them into neighborhood parks. So streets and urban parks. we said, ‘lets make little parks.’” “From a planner’s perspective, you One such park Short North officials have to keep interest alive every moment plan to build this summer is a 600-square- along the way,” said Tim Wagner director foot pocket park on Greenwood Avenue, of the Short North Special Improvement one block south of Fifth Avenue and one District. block west of High Street. “The pedestrian needs to have a The intersection of Greenwood change in scenery every 30 feet to keep Avenue and High Street currently is their attention and to keep them coming blocked with a parking lot, making the back.” park a secluded area ideal for greenspace This year, Wagner said, the Short and pedestrian seating. North is undergoing a “blast of develop- Another such park being planned for ment” aimed at doing just that. The Short this summer will be on High Street North has a series of development initia- between retailers The Burgundy Room tives geared at offering more commercial and Functional Furnishings. and residential options for area residents Wagner said the 800-square-foot and shoppers alike, all while including park will be called Millay Park, named green-friendly plots of parks. after the alley on the corner, and will “People want to be in the Short North come complete with a public garden, because of its urban, pedestrian orientation. pedestrian seating and public art. People are looking for a quality of life “Greenspace breaks the hardness of that’s not so dependent on the automobile, the streetscape,” Wagner said. “Artistically, and the Short North provides that,” he said. it’s a different feel from a building, and Perhaps the most significant develop- we’re always trying to provide some way ment to take place in the Short North this to break up our parking lots.” year will be the long-awaited opening of building as well, and Wood said an art Estate purchased seven housing units at A final order of business for Short Union Station Place, or the “I-670 cap,” gallery owned by Hawk Galleries is 36-50 Buttles Ave. near the corner of North development officials involves fix- the commercial hub that runs along High expected to open this summer. Buttles and Park Street. ing the ill-fated arches that hang above Street and over the Interstate 670 bridge However, the former site of the Quest The property, which previously High Street in the Short North District. between the Short North and downtown. Diagnostic laboratories isn’t meant to sim- served as a boarding house, had fallen Unveiled during the neighborhood’s In preparation of its opening, which is ply hold commercial businesses. According into blight and decay in previous years. Holiday Hop in December 2002, the 17 expected to be only a few months away, to Wood, zoning approval and construction Avradopoulous plans to perform a decorative arches that run on North High property owner Continental Real Estate on the site allowed for two additional floors massive refurbishing of the property, sell- Street between the Convention Center and has begun fielding lease applications to fill of residential units to be built on top of the ing the units as high-end residential liv- Fifth Avenue illuminated the neighbor- the cap’s 26,000 square feet of retail space. existing commercial ground floor. ing condominiums. hoods main artery for nearly a month, until While the cap may signal an Wood described the project as high- Avradopoulos purchased the proper- the lights suddenly went out Ð permanently. unprecedented feat in Short North devel- end residential, with 20 luxury units to ty from previous owner Joanna The topic has since become a sore opment, it is not the only development comprise the yet-to-be constructed sec- Baughman, for a reported $700,000. subject for the Short North business mem- that will bear significance this summer. ond and third floors of the building. Other developments include the bers who paid for the lights, and in Earlier this year, the former site of While Wood said there is no date set recent completion of a dozen homes on January, Columbus City Attorney Richard the Quest Diagnostic laboratories at 935 for the second phase of the building’s West Second Avenue near the site of the Pfeiffer filed a lawsuit in Franklin County and 941 N. High St. was renovated into construction, the company has agreed former Godman Guild building, a social Common Pleas Court against Akron- 20,000 square feet of commercial space that the project inevitably will happen. services agency. The building that housed based architects E.G.&G., the consulting by local developer Wood Cos. “Two more floors will go on top of it. the former Rice Paddy at 682 N. Pearl St. engineers who designed the arches. Wood Cos. purchased the building There are already steel structures on top is also in the process of being renovated, While Wagner was unable to supply for $960,000, and has since begun leasing of the first floor to support two more which involved converting a warehouse a specific time frame, he did say that city the property to area businesses. floors,” Wood said. into a bakery, with Soho-style residential officials plan to get to the bottom of the According to Mark Wood, vice pres- Another recently completed develop- spaces upstairs. Short North’s light bulb mystery some- ident of Wood Cos., while the building is ment between 765 and 771 Hubbard St. Work on the North Pearl Street ware- time this year. now fully-leased, most businesses have has turned what was once a parking lot house came as a surprise to many area res- “An engineering firm and a lighting not yet moved into the building, and fans into three floors of mixed-use residential idents and developers. According to consultant have been hired to make report of Short North shopping can expect to see and retail space. Wagner said street-side Wagner, the building literally was hours recommendations on what needs to be a series of new and interesting retailers retail on the first floor of the building away from the wrecking ball before it was done to the original system. We can join the area this summer. already has been leased, and two floors of saved at the last minute by developers. expect to have some functional lighting North Star Cafe recently began con- residential area above the ground floor But in the Short North this year, in there soon,” he said. struction on a restaurant to occupy the are in the process of being completed and development will transcend the bound- “I really don’t know when it will get first floor of the former Quest building. should be ready for lease soon. aries of residential and commercial eco- fixed, because it’s a work in progress. An ice cream shop and an art gallery have In April, local developer Peter nomics, Wagner said. We’re trying to get it right this time, opened shop on the first floor of the Avradopoulous of Short North Real Since the Short North’s incorporation instead of just getting it done on time.” JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS PAGE 9A

Clintonville Light rail system could be a major ecomomic benefit to community

By JON GINGERICH Most recently, 20-year Graceland intersection of Deland Avenue and High square feet for a large drug store and Daily Reporter Staff Writer veterans Burlington Coat Factory Street. 4,000 square feet for a video store. Other moved from the shopping center in Clintonville also will see the addition recommendations included an electron- Columbus’ scenic Clintonville favor of a new location on Dublin- of Panera Bread and Chipotle restaurants ics store, a hobby store, a bakery and a neighborhood has long been known for Granville Road. this summer, with a new space for both gift shop. its historic homes, rolling parks and Main Now, Columbus-based developer eateries to be developed in the 4800 block Last year’s news of a possible COTA Street-sensibility. A series of recent com- Casto is performing a massive redevelop- of North High Street. light rail station near the intersections of mercial developments will enhance that ment of the shopping center, starting with High Street isn’t the only area of Morse Road and Indianola Avenue has image as they focus on keeping retail plans to rebuild 180,000 square feet of Clintonville that’s getting attention from put pressure on local officials to quickly strong in the area. new retail on Graceland’s southside, developers, though. come up with a business plan for that “There are some exciting things including the addition of a new anchor Columbus City Council has made area. going on in Clintonville within the next tenant to the center. recommendations about business forma- The placement of a light rail station couple of months,” said Ernest Hartong, A 100,000-square-foot Kroger tion in areas surrounding the Indianola in the corridor could greatly increase president of the Clintonville Area Marketplace will move into the former Avenue Corridor. Their plan was initiated business prospects in the area, accord- Chamber of Commerce. Big Bear site, and a 125,000-square-foot due to concerns of local residents and ing to Mike Bradley, director of rail “If you look at the new addition of Target will also move into Graceland. business owners who said they wanted to development for COTA. He said similar store fronts on High Street and Indianola, “Graceland is very valuable for the increase business opportunities and stim- rail projects in St. Louis and Dallas I think things are doing very well,” he area’s excellent demographics and the ulate interest in the area. drove up occupancy rates for commer- said. market that they are able to serve,” Casto The corridor, a four-mile stretch of cial businesses located near rail lines by Perhaps the most important Ð and said. road that runs from North Broadway as much as eight percent in less than certainly, the biggest Ð development in “When it’s all said and done, it’s Avenue to Worthington, is a random mix four years. the Clintonville area is the demolition going to be something special for the of retail, residential housing complexes Hartong said he, like many other that recently began at Graceland area.” and industrial facilities, but presents a Clintonville residents, is optimistic about Shopping Center, near High Street and Hartong said Clintonville residents lack of retail options. This leaves resi- the future of the corridor, and said the Morse Road. should expect to see demolition and con- dents of the area to shop elsewhere. COTA light rail could be the project that Many residents had hopes that a revi- struction throughout the summer, as The city of Columbus recently hired brings a definable economic future to the talization of the once-popular shopping demolition crews remove massive por- a consultation team to recommend poten- Indianola area. center would come, and if there’s any tions of the 550,000-square-foot shop- tial business improvements along the “I think, certainly, the light rail time the shopping center could use a face- ping center. Indianola Corridor after evaluating the would be a benefit to Indianola. There’s lift, it’s now. Other retail projects currently under commercial and economic makeup of the already some good things happening up Long time retailer Drug Emporium construction include a multi-tenant area. there, but there are some challenges on closed its doors at Graceland in building being developed on the site of After numerous studies, the firm Indianola for the long term, where you November, and after filing for bankrupt- the former Clark gas station near the returned with a substantial list of sug- have this mix of retail, commercial, office cy, Penn Traffic, parent company of Big intersection of High and Winthrop gested commercial improvements, and even industrial. If and when the light Bear, closed its entire line of stores, leav- streets, and a multi-tenant, 8,000-square- including the allotment of 13,500 square rail comes to pass, it would certainly have ing the former Graceland location vacant. foot building to be constructed near the feet for three new restaurants, 10,000 a positive effect,” he said.

German Village Local business owners, visitors appreciate charm and ‘sensibility’ of neighborhood steeped in history By KATHARINE MOORE Spiess and partner Martin Beck have joined For The Daily Reporter forces with TTG Properties to renovate the 13,000- square-foot building. The Big Red Rooster design Columbus’ first historic preservation district is features a creative studio, prototype lab, consumer- steeped in the charm of tradition, but changing and user research lab, and color and materials lab. Big evolving with the times. Red Rooster will move their operation from East “We have been pleased by the commercial activ- Rich Street next month. ity in the Village this year and have felt a sense of HER/Real Living Realtor Jeff Ruff and his part- affirmation from the number of million dollar-plus ner Marilyn Vutech say they often are struck by the homes being bought and sold,” said Bill Curlis, the affection some people feel for the community when German Village Society’s president. visiting German Village for the first time. The Village attracted several new retail business- “The pedestrian scale of the neighborhood, cou- es in the last year: Stella Minatsis chose South Third pled with our downtown location really sings to Street for Seasonally Chic, a home decor and jewelry clients with an urban sensibility,” said Ruff. shop, as did Catherine Adams Lashutka when she The small lots provide just enough greenspace to opened Caterina Ltd., a gift shop specializing in create gardens and entertainment areas, without European house wares. demanding the attention of suburban lawns. But The landmark Engine House No. 5 property on amenities are not short-changed, according to Ruff. Thurman Avenue has a new tenant to fill the space left “You’d be surprised to know how many German vacant when Landry Food acquired, then closed, the Village homes have swimming pools tucked away,” Engine House Restaurant. he said. Big Red Rooster is a creativity-driven business The Vutech and Ruff team report that the mid- and design consultancy focusing on developing multi- priced residential market, from $400,000 to $700,000, dimensional brand experiences. remains the strongest, but a record number of million “ Our business is currently working with indus- dollar plus transactions are taking place. Convincing try leading consumer goods manufacturers, retailers that first buyer to hit the million dollar mark was and service providers,” said co-founder Aaron tough said Ruff, “but now that there is a precedent, Spiess. “We collaborate on projects from designing prospective residents have confidence in making such and developing products and services to the tools an investment in the neighborhood.” needed to position and promote those products and services, to the environments where those products Katharine Moore is the executive director of the and services are sold.” German Village Society. PAGE 10A Developing Our Community | COLUMBUS JUNE 2004

Residential Projects Under Construction/Completed # of Site New or Condo or Total Cost Project Name Developer Location Units Area Renovation Rental of Project (M) Arena Crossing Nationwide Realty Investors Front & Vine 252 2.00 New Rental $35.0 Sixty Spring Apartments JDS Enterprises Pearl & Spring 68 0.44 Renovation Rental $8.0 The Terraces Berardi LLC Grant & Walnut 44 0.34 New Condo $6.2 Sixty Spring Condos JDS Spring LLC Pearl & Spring 37 0.33 New Condo $5.0 145 High Long & Wilcox High & Long 22 0.41 New/Renovation Condo $6.0 15 E. Gay St. Don DeVere Pearl & Gay 12 0.17 Renovation Rental $1.4 33 W. Rich St. John Prater Wall & Rich 4 0.05 Renovation Rental NA 108 E. Main St. Rick Wolverton Third & Main 2 0.04 Renovation Rental $0.1 199 S. High St. Peter Brown High & Walnut 2 0.09 Renovation Rental $0.2 232 S. Fourth St. Ivan Romanoff Fourth & Rich 1 0.03 New/Renovation Condo $0.3 340-348 S. High St. Oxford Realty High & Mound 6 0.23 Renovation Rental $0.4 Washington Rich Townhomes JDS Companies Washington & Rich 4 0.13 New Condo $0.8 382 E. Town St. Jeff Darbee & Nancy Recchie Grant & Town 1 0.13 New Single Family $0.4 Brewer's Gate Town Homes Revealty Front & Deshler 35 0.85 New Condo $7.0 New Village Place CMHA First/Fourth/Second 100 6.06 New Rental $16.0 N. 4th/N. 6th/W. 3rd New Victorians N. 4th/N. 6th/W. 3rd 28 New Condo/Rental $3.5 Second & Summit Rob Blunk Summit & Second 9 0.39 New Condo $1.7 682 N. Pearl St. Giannopoulos Properties Pearl & Brickel 4 0.13 Renovation Rental $0.5 Parkview at Goodale Park Long and Wilcox Park & Poplar 28 0.42 New Condo $3.8 102-106 Buttles Freshwater Properties Park & Buttles 7 0.41 New Condo $1.5 Highland Square Terraco LLC Highland & Third 5 0.19 New/Renovation Condo $1.1 1037 N. High St. Buckeye Real Estate High & Starr 4 0.22 Renovation Condo $2.0

Residential Projects Approved (No groundbreaking set) # of Site New or Condo or Total Cost Project Name Developer Location Units Area Renovation Rental of Project (M) The Lofts on High Casto Communities High & Rich 75 0.38 New Rental $14.0 The Buggyworks Kyle Katz River District 63 7.00 Renovation Condo $13.0 Liberty Place Winther Investments Fulton/Short/Liberty 308 6.74 New Rental $36.0 771 S. Front St. Arshot Front & Columbus 5 0.19 Both NA NA The Jeffrey JDS Enterprises Fourth & First 76 3.34 Renovation Rental $8.0 48 E. Russell St. Richard Bruggeman Pearl & Russell 9 0.47 New Condo $1.9 Punta Alley New Victorians Summit & Punta 5 0.00 New Single Family NA Russell Square Connie Klema Kerr & Russell 3 0.08 New Condo $1.0 The Quinn Towney Quinn High & Hubbard 54 0.46 New Rental $6.5 941 North High The Wood Companies High & Second 20 0.53 New Rental $2.5 Fusion Lofts Lakota Investments High & Fourth 18 0.52 New Condo $2.3

Residential Projects Proposed (No final approval) # of Site New or Condo or Total Cost Project Name Developer Location Units Area Renovation Rental of Project (M) Arena District Condos Nationwide Realty Investors Neil & Spring 98 1.82 New Condo $28.0 Seneca Towers Casto Communities Grant & Broad 90 0.23 New Condo $10.0 Adler Building Casto Communities Front & Main 80 0.81 Renovation Condo $10.0 421 East Main St. JDS Companies Washington & Main 59 0.40 New Condo $8.0 2 Market Exchange Apts. JDS Companies Washington & Main 48 0.22 New Rental NA 8 on the Square Casto Development High & Broad 15 0.06 Renovation Condo NA Jeffrey Apartments 1 Concorde Fourth & First 316 6.45 New Rental $37.0 Jeffrey Apartments 2 Concorde/Green Arbors Fourth & First 180 4.50 New Condo/Rental $19.5 Jeffrey Townhomes Concorde/Waterford LP Fourth & First 78 2.90 New Condo $17.0 Bay Tree at Jeffrey Place Jeffrey Senior Limited Partnership Fourth & First 60 1.50 New Rental $5.6 Jeffrey Lofts Concorde/Waterford Ltd. Fourth & First 30 0.75 New Condo $1.3 Jeffrey Single Family Concorde Fourth & First 25 3.50 New Condo $2.0 128 E. Second Ave. CVM Properties Summit & Second 8 0.49 New Single Family/Rental NA 33 Warren St. The Wood Companies Pearl & Warren 7 0.19 Renovation Condo NA 803 N. Fourth St. Connie Klema Fourth & Warren NA 0.92 New NA NA 242 Buttles Ave. Urban Restorations Highland & Buttles 7 0.18 New Condo NA

Information compiled by Downtown Development Resource Center JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY PAGE 11A

NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY

Dublin Restrictions on housing, standards for businesses do not slow city’s growth By JON GINGERICH estimating that the average price of a But according to Gunderman, it still Daily Reporter Staff Writer new build home in the area could hasn’t stopped Dublin’s influx of new increase as much as $6,000. housing projects. If one thing is certain, it is that res- The legislation initially was intend- One large project that has been idential development in Dublin has not ed to go into effect in June. However, planned for the last year is the Tartan been a boring issue this year. according to Dublin Assistant Planning West development, a 439-unit subdivi- In December, Dublin City Council Director Gary Gunderman, the effective sion located west of the Tartan Fields and passed legislation that requires all new starting date for the new standards has Muirfield Village golf club communities homes built in the Dublin area to con- now been rolled back to December in in Dublin. form to a series of specific architectur- order to give building professionals and Spearheaded by Tartan al requirements, including the place- city officials time to make needed Development Co., Gunderman said, the ment of decorative trim on all windows, adjustments. project will also involve the combined the placement of dimensional shingles “We haven’t heard a great deal about resources of no less than three area on all roofs, and prohibiting the use of developers. it since it was approved,” he said. blank walls, chimneys made of vinyl The 250-acre Tartan West would siding, and any foundation that bears “For the most part, people have include a 50,000-square-foot fitness club, concrete blocks. accepted it, and now, because the time swimming pools and a pond. Proponents of the ruling argued line is being stretched out, people can “The Tartan West project is some- that the new standards would preserve plan for it.” thing that we’ve been reviewing and con- architectural integrity in the communi- The ruling didn’t seem to stop area sidering for the last year,” Gunderman ty, maintain a level of quality for homes housing starts. In April, Dublin began said. Sector 2 in the area, and ensure Dublin’s ability considering the placement of a six-month “It’s a new concept in residential to compete with other upper-income moratorium on new housing develop- development. There are swimming pools, ■ Grandview Heights, communities in the Central Ohio area. ments in the city. a spa and a fitness club that comes with it. Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Opponents of the legislation, how- Officials cited an imbalance of com- There’s a lot of open space…It will prob- Dublin, Worthington, ever, said the new standards could mercial development and the current ably take several years to build.” Northland deplete Dublin of new working class swath of residential new builds waiting residents, with some housing officials for permits from the city. (See Restrictions, page 12A) PAGE 12A Developing Our Community | NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY JUNE 2004

Grandview Heights Businesses save because community no longer in a floodplain By JON GINGERICH that lies within the city’s limits have reinforced the Global Living, which generated approximately $4 Daily Reporter Staff Writer need to bring newer and more competitive commer- million in profit in the last two years, will occupy the cial outlets into the area. entire first floor of the building. This spring, the city of Grandview Heights received Bowman said he hopes the newly-available insur- Local company ROI Realty Services Inc. was some of its best development news yet. After years of ance savings will allow the commercial floodgates to responsible for leasing the property to Global Living. waiting, the Federal Emergency Management Agency open in the community. Bill Greenlee, president of ROI Realty Services, said the officially has lifted the city from the Olentangy River “Not only are there large vacancies, but there are Global Office building should be ready for occupancy floodplain. a number of companies with less of a presence here by the fourth quarter of this year. Now, businesses in the community can drop cost- than before. Our residential structure is fantastic, but “The steel was completed, and the main skeleton of ly federal flood insurance, a step that, according to to me, it says that there needs to be more opportunities the building is up,” Greenlee said. “The next step is director of administration and development Patrik for people in the area to find employment,” he said. going to be putting up the glass and putting the floors Bowman, would translate into lower costs and spur “I believe that positive, in-fill development can be in…We should have Global Living in the building by the redevelopment in the area. done right, without changing the character of the town.” beginning of next year.” “This really is the big story of the year for us. One project that could set a trend for development The project was approved for a 12-year, 75 percent We’re in a huge transition, and we’re hoping emer- in Grandview’s unused office market is the recent ren- tax abatement from Grandview City Council in October. gence from the floodplain will be a catalyst for devel- ovation of a cluster of warehouses for the purpose of Bowman said news of the development at 855 opment,” he said. converting vacant buildings into office space. Grandview Ave. could put Grandview’s commercial Bowman said the news comes at an especially Titled the Global Office, the project consists growth on a positive course with similar business devel- important time for Grandview Heights; while residen- of three conjoined warehouses located at 855 opments. tial living has always been a success in the communi- Grandview Ave. “It’s a priority to try to get something like this ty, commercial interests in the area need to be Purchased for a reported $1.5 million, the primary together for the community,” Bowman said. addressed if Grandview Heights wants to compete tenant of the building will be furniture store Global “This is a great place to live. Given our proximity with other Central Ohio communities. Living, which is moving operations from its previous to downtown and OSU, and given the residential char- As Bowman explained, recent vacancies within location on Goodale Boulevard into a 56,000-square- acter of the community, we think that we certainly can the 1-million-square-foot complex of warehouse space foot showroom at the 855 Grandview Ave. site. be extremely competitive with new development.”

Worthington Community hopes industrial sector will be an avenue of growth By JASON LICHTENBERGER “We’re very excited about the “They’re getting a lot of attention excited” after recent talks between Daily Reporter Staff Writer opportunity for growth in this area of from other companies and outside owners and city planners. Worthington,” he noted. investors,” said Feldman. In addition, new single-family In the words of Paul Feldman, assis- Another manufacturing facility that All of the attention given to indus- housing developments in the tant city manager and economic director has received attention recently is trial sectors doesn’t mean that redevel- Worthington area are sprouting out of of development for the city of Worthington Foods, a local company opment efforts aren’t being applied to the ground like magic beans. Worthington, the hot button for his North that was bought by Kellogg Co. in commercial and residential areas. “We’re already built out,” said Columbus community has been and con- 1999. News here is not positive. Worthington city officials have a Feldman, adding that Worthington City tinues to be redevelopment, redevelop- Worthington Foods was founded in comprehensive plan in the works that Council has expressed a desire to create ment and more redevelopment. 1939 and the plant, located on involves the United Methodist Church more housing options for the community. One area of concern for the commu- Proprietors Road, near state Route 161, on High Street, the Ohio State “Right now, the area is overwhelm- nity is the industrial sector, Feldman said, will close on a date yet to be named. University Medical Center near state ingly single-family housing and the city where vacancy numbers have been creep- The announcement was made May 10 Route 161, and a series of plans involv- would like to see more multi-family and ing up in recent years. The city has taken and Feldman said it was quite a setback ing the Worthington Mall that sits on live-work units like condominiums and various actions to ease the problem, for the Worthington area. North High Street near Interstate 270. apartments.” meeting with some success, but when There are 300 people employed at Despite the development of many Feldman said city officials also companies change hands the fate of their the 143,000-square-foot facility. Local other suburban shopping complexes in would like to see more facilities such as facilities often is in question. operations will be consolidated with recent years, Worthington Mall contin- the Residences of Worthington at 5935 An industrial complex on Huntley those of another Kellogg plant in ues to survive. City officials have been N. High St. Residences is a facility for Road has been the site of a General Zanesville, Ohio. working with tenants and owners of the residents 55 years old and older. It has Electric Superabrasive facility for years. Although Kellogg is leaving, building and new development projects been so successful since it opened a It changed hands recently, and is now Feldman said he and the community are are expected to be announced within number of years ago, that the city would under the control of Little John and Co., a confident about the amount of redevel- the next couple of months, said like to duplicate that success elsewhere, Connecticut-based investment banking opment opportunities through Feldman. he said. company. The move looks positive for Worthington’s main industrial corridors He wasn’t able to provide details, “It’s just a matter of finding the the community, Feldman said. on Huntley and Proprietors roads. but noted that “the mall folks were very right piece of ground to do it on.”

“Like everybody else, our office mar- Restrictions ket has been flat. In terms of yearly con- (Continued from page 11A) struction, compared to what we had been running, things are lower than they were,” Nearly two years after its inception, he said. REAL ESTATE COMPANY however, it appears that Tartan West could “However, that’s starting to change finally break ground. this year. Medical offices are appearing to “We’re reviewing the development have some interest in the our market, and WE BUY LAND WE SELL LAND projects for the next phases right now. I we’ve had a fair amount of interest in expect they’ll be under construction this retail as well.” summer,” Gunderman said. Gunderman said the city has a pen- chant for holding the bar high when it CASH OR OWNER FINANCING Gunderman noted that the city has lagged in terms of office development in comes to new office space in the area. If interested in selling, please call recent years. Much like Columbus suburbs “Dublin has always been a great place 614-228-0027/1-800-309-3595 • Fax: 614-487-8404 Worthington, New Albany and Hilliard to live, and we have great public facilities or write Larry Clarke however, an increased demand of office and fantastic schools. It certainly is a great 1335 Dublin Rd. Suite. 201D, Columbus, OH 43215 space for the medical profession has slow- place to do business as well, and we have ly awakened the Dublin office market, and some higher expectations for businesses has since begun to absorb vacant space. that operate in our community,” he said. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY PAGE 13A

Hilliard City preparing for planned growth, projected traffic By JON GINGERICH Another project that will be coming upcoming years, members of the commu- According to MORPC, projected Daily Reporter Staff Writer up in Hilliard’s retail sector this summer nity have been getting prepared for growth for the northwest Central Ohio is the Darby Town Center, located at the another type of development: traffic. area is expected to add more than 44,000 Retail and office development seems intersection of Scioto Darby and Cosgray Last year, the Mid Ohio Regional people and 75,000 jobs by 2030. to be high on the agenda for the city of roads on Hilliard’s west side. It will fea- Planning Commission began warning Utilizing census data and land-use Hilliard this year. ture more than 22,000 square feet of retail Hilliard that the area’s current traffic forecasts, MORPC predicted that over Attempts to compete with area suburbs space including a 11,000-square-foot facilities would simply not be able to the next 30 years, the Hayden Run area by attracting coveted tenants in the finance CVS store and four additional outparcels. accommodate the oncoming population would receive a 20 percent boost in new and medical fields has brought the need for Local developing company Skilken volumes the area is projected to receive. jobs, a 28 percent new office growth, office space to the forefront in the city. recently received approval for the project An analysis of Hilliard traffic and and populations in the area would According to David Meeks, econom- from the Hilliard planning commission, growth patterns led MORPC officials to the increase from its current 106,000 to ic development director for Hilliard, the and it intends to break ground on the proj- conclusion that the area is growing quickly, nearly 151,000. payoffs are going to be big. ect this summer, Meeks said. and that the city’s current thoroughfare MORPC projected this would cause “It’s going to be a good year for But because of all the growth sched- plans for a Hayden Run corridor may not housing to increases by 3,000 new homes Hilliard,” he said. uled to take place in the Hilliard area in accommodate future growth patterns. in the Hilliard area alone. Meeks said the city’s recent success in attracting more retailers and office space is due, in large part, to internally changing the way the city does business with developers. By offering more efficient city serv- ices such as quicker permit turnover, and by opening dialogue with businesses and developers, Meeks said, the city of Hilliard has made the development process easier for those looking to set up shop in the community. What’s better, it seems that the city’s hard work has paid off. “We’ve revised the way our building process is handled. Permits are handled a lot faster, and we’re being more open with our lines of communication,” Meeks said. “Our willingness to help and get projects finished is really being received Building well. We’re getting some good feedback from area developers.” After the building process was made your vision with... easier, city officials spent much of last year preparing for massive construction on Trueman Boulevard to make way for the new developments. The newly paved, newly reconstruct- ed five-lane road connects Cemetery Road and Fishinger Boulevard to Davidson Road, opening up a new artery for the city, and according to Meeks, for more devel- opmental possibilities for the area. the City officials rezoned the Trueman end in mind. Boulevard corridor from residential to It’s our only objective. Whether it’s a business use to accommodate a variety of different office and retail projects slated retirement home, hospital, retail store, for the area. manufacturing facility, school, or corpo- Last year, permits for development on the southern section of Trueman rate office, building with the end in mind Boulevard were authorized for the open- comes down to preparation. At Elford, ing of retailer Home Depot. A series of mixed retail, including a we carefully plan the work, and 125,000-square-foot Target department thoroughly work the plan. Providing store, four dining establishments, and nine separate office buildings are sched- construction management, general uled to go into the area this year, Meeks contracting, design/build and service said. Local developer Equity recently pur- and small project services since 1910. chased the former Red Roof Inn head- quarters near Davidson Road for the pur- pose of creating the Hilliard Office Preserve, a 73,000-square-foot office development, that, according to Meeks, already is nearly 50 percent leased. “The pipeline looks like its starting to fill up. I know some law firms are looking at the area with a strong interest, and a lot of the folks who are proposing to do busi- ness in the area are driven by the medical and financial centers,” he said. “That seems to be what’s driving things right now.” Equal Opportunity Employer In fact, two new doctors’ offices Ð one Copyright 2004 (614) 488-4000 www.elford.com on Cosgray Road and another on Cemetery Road Ð are nearing completion. PAGE 14A Developing Our Community | NORTHWESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY JUNE 2004

Northland Community Demolition of mall site will make way for businesses, homes and greenspace By JON GINGERICH Daily Reporter Staff Writer

The Northland community took a hit in October 2002 when long-time retail hub Northland Mall closed its doors. Many community members had seen the end com- ing for quite some time. A sluggish economy, a general lack of interest and an inability to compete with new shopping centers Easton and Polaris resulted in poor sales and high vacancy rates for the once-popular Columbus mall. But perhaps the real death blow came in September 2001, when long-time anchor Lazarus announced that it was leaving its home at Northland for a new location in Polaris. By December 2003, Columbus City Council had voted to demolish the once bustling shopping center, which sat on 1 million square feet of retail shopping space. Now, the site of the former mall will be part of a Lazarus building, which, as Kimberly A. Koepp, direc- fact that the existing Lazarus escalator will stay in the decade-long community revitalization plan known as tor of marketing for Construction Plus Inc., explained, building,” Koepp said. Northland Park, a massive, 84-acre community cen- will be the company’s corporate headquarters. Koepp said accompanying the original escalator ter comprised of shops, restaurants, upscale residen- Koepp said Retail Ventures searched for more than would be a new skylight built onto the building’s roof, tial units, green space and a community recreation a year before discovering the three-floor, 325,000- which will shed natural light into the building and add a center. square-foot former Lazarus building, citing the location pleasant aesthetic quality to the facilities. Local developer Columbus Urban Growth Corp., as ideal for its corporate offices. “Construction Plus joined in the development stage along with Northland Associates LLC, has spearheaded “They wanted to bring everybody together, and they of this project in January of 2003 and we have been ded- the plan to create the park, with the goal of bringing life decided that this site was the perfect place for their oper- icated to the community to make this project a success,” back to the Northland area. ations,” Koepp said. Koepp said. According to the Brookings Institute in Washington Construction Plus, which was awarded a $11 mil- Community leaders said Retail Venture’s move into D.C., Northland Park will be the second largest de- lion contract to renovate the building, began demolition the former Lazarus could generate as many as 400 local malling project to occur in United States history. on the 11-acre site in February. Construction and exten- jobs and relocate nearly 700 non-Ohio employees to the While Northland Park isn’t expected to be complet- sive interior and exterior remodeling on the building new facility. ed until 2013, the first structure for the refurbished area, began in May. When complete, Construction Plus will Columbus City Council already has approved tax the site of the former Lazarus building, could be com- have removed 6,000 yards of debris, four miles of wall incentives for Retail Ventures to move into the building, pleted and occupied as soon as January 2005. and 15,000 sheets of drywall, and will have added 256 including a tax abatement package of 75 percent for 10 Officials said that instead of demolishing the former new windows, 45,000 pieces of ceiling tile, nine miles of years on the value of renovation improvements and per- Lazarus building, it would instead be stripped, refur- control wiring, five miles of pipe and 2,500 new sprin- sonal property investments, in addition to job creation bished and repackaged as integral pieces of the new kler heads. tax credits. Northland Park. Construction Plus said the project would require in City officials estimate the project will produce Best of all, they’ve already found a tenant. excess of 500,000 man-hours. $300,000 in sales tax for Columbus. Retail Ventures Inc., parent company of Value City Despite the massive demolition, Koepp said, a few “We are thrilled to be part of the Northland Park Department Stores, DSW Shoe Warehouse and Filene’s historical Northland relics would remain. development. This project is vital to the positive pulse of Basement, has made plans to move into the former “One thing that no one’s really picked up on is the the businesses and families of this area,” Koepp said.

Upper Arlington Pools, schools and mixed use mark development activity By JEREMY HOLDEN Sivinski said the senior retirement While recent anchor addition Bed, Water-lovers in the northwest Daily Reporter Staff Writer home is on a three-to-five-year schedule, Bath & Beyond and soon-to-be Columbus suburb will have one more and community planners hope to forge approved Coldwater Creek give city summer at the community’s Hastings A proposed new pre-K through 12th ahead with the school project by mid- to planners hope for the rehabbed shop- swimming pool, scheduled to close in grade school, a renovated swimming late 2004. ping center, planners have similar goals August for a $3 million renovation. pool complete with the sought after wow Located between the school and for Upper Arlington’s Kingsdale shop- Then, a new pool will open — one with factor and two senior centers are among retirement home, one of the community’s ping center. “a wow factor,” Sivinski said. the developments Upper Arlington offi- main shopping centers continues to attract At this point, the center’s owners In addition to work on First cials have in store for community resi- clients with its new modern design. In have submitted some plans, but Sivinski Community’s 29.4-acre campus for dents in the coming year. But two shop- recent months two restaurants, Rusty noted that planners hope a developer independent senior living, plans also ping centers remain the crown jewels of Bucket and a Wolfgang Puck Express, will step in to create a mixed-use area. are in the works for $800,000 in devel- development. have announced plans to operate eateries On the residential front, the contin- opment for the Avia senior housing The big ticket items of 2004, the at opposite ends of the rehabbed Lane ued trend toward rehabbing existing community in northern Upper First Community Village Campus, Avenue Shopping Center. In addition, homes helps the built-out inner suburb, Arlington. WSNY’s radio station also marked at $40 million, and the developers have gutted the interior, creat- which Sivinski said sees between $20 has plans for $750,000 in expansions, Wellington School renovation, estimated ing a mixed-use space at the center and million to $25 million each year in resi- Sivinski added. at $25 million, will help change the face given the mall a face-lift. dential renovations. That trend, he said, Upper Arlington remains aflutter of the community in terms of childhood “It’s an excellent re-do,” Sivinski is helped by the community’s reputation with both commercial and residential education and senior living, according to said. “I think just the synergy and activity for fostering appreciation on its homes. renovation, he said. Dean Sivinski, the community’s develop- that is going to take place there is an “They know they will get a return “In doing that you build yourself a ment director. improvement.” on that investment,” he said. stronger community.” JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY PAGE 15A

NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY

New Albany Village will see more medical offices, growth of residential developments By JON GINGERICH Daily Reporter Staff Writer

According to Joseph Stefanov, administrator for the Village of New Albany, development refers to two things this summer: office and residential growth. While the village has been a hot bed for residential development for much of the last decade, Stefanov said, the recent explosion of office space in the area can be attributed to the creation of the New Albany sur- gical hospital on Smith’s Mill Road, which has forged a stronghold in the medical profession for the area. “We’ve received a great deal of interest in office development in the area adjacent to the (New Albany) surgical hospital. There is a market for medical professionals in the New Albany area and people are interested in meeting that need,” he said. Developer Canini and Pellecchia soon will begin breaking ground on a medical campus adjacent to the New Albany surgical hospital. The five building development, which will consist of 8,880-square- foot single story units, will be created in a condo format, allowing investors to either buy a portion of the building or several buildings at a time, depending on the nature of the business and their needs. Stefanov said the project could break ground this summer. The New Albany Company is scheduled to break ground on six office buildings on Walton Parkway, with the first building slated to open this year. In terms of residential development, New Albany continued to blaze ahead at unprecedented speeds, with a series of new develop- Sector 3 ments slated to begin this summer. ■ Canini and Pellecchia’s Tidewater at New Albany is expected to create an estimated 60 new homes for Bexley, Gahanna, the area. New Albany, The 52-acre parcel of land near the intersection of Kitzmiller and Central College roads recently was Reynoldsburg, annexed into the village from neighboring Plain Township after the developers bought the acreage from pri- Northland, vate owners. Whitehall, Westerville (See Village, page 20A) PAGE 16A Developing Our Community | NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY JUNE 2004

Gahanna Creekside project will bring new life, continuity to downtown By JON GINGERICH Given the news of the recent design approval and Daily Reporter Staff Writer appropriation of Block Grant funds, director of develop- ment Sadicka White said Gahanna residents now can A recently-approved initiative may lead to the most Eighty-nine percent of take solace in the fact that the Creekside project is significant development in the city of Gahanna’s history. underway. Last month, preliminary design work for Gahanna’s residents who responded to an “We’ve gotten farther in our approval process, and Creekside project was approved by the city’s planning and annual survey of Gahanna said now we have a plan that’s been approved by our develop- zoning commission. the city offers an excellent quality ment commission. I am anticipating that within the next After more than eight years of waiting, officials said 30 to 60 days we will have a developer’s agreement and ground could break this year on the $30 million project, of life, more than 95 percent of we can begin talking to council about funding,” she said. which is slated to redevelop approximately 25 percent of those who responded said they But the downtown Creekside project isn’t the only Gahanna’s downtown by revitalizing land and adding would recommended Gahanna as development on Gahanna’s plate this year. 150,000 square feet of retail, office and residential space, Portrait Homes has been approved to create 200 as well as creating a physical extension of the creek that a great place to relocate business, townhomes on Johnstown Road, and Berkely Woods, a runs near the downtown’s Mill Street. and 75 percent rated the city as development of 56 upper-end condos, also has been The newly-redeveloped Creekside site would house approved by the city. cafes, restaurants and other retail outlets, giving the area a excellent or good for their A new assisted care and retirement center, Gahanna unique, waterfront feel that is conducive to nightlife and entertainment options and strong Retirement Residents, is slated to be completed by the shopping, while maintaining a small-town, shop-front ori- roster of community events. end of the year, and a new 55,000-square-foot YMCA ented theme. facility recently opened in the Gahanna area. Officials said construction on the project would take White said 89 percent of residents who responded to nearly two years to complete. an annual survey of Gahanna said the city offers an Local developer Stonehenge created the project and acter to downtown that is recognizable and has a sense of excellent quality of life, more than 95 percent of those architect Bird Houk performed design work on the place, but to preserve the natural characteristics of the who responded said they would recommended Gahanna project. downtown, its natural elements, and to be consistent and as a great place to relocate business, and 75 percent rated According to Gerry Bird, president of the Bird Houk respectful of it at the same time.” the city as excellent or good for their entertainment Collaborative, the trick of designing the daunting project Franklin County Commissioners gave the city of options and strong roster of community events. was creating an atmosphere that both complements Gahanna a Federal Community Development Block Grant White said the survey proves what city official downtown’s historic flair while taking it ahead into the in the amount of $250,000 for development of the already knew: Gahanna is a great place to live and do future. streetscape portion of the Creekside project. business. “This is such a major component of Old Gahanna, and Each year, county commissioners give funds for “I think because people can live, work and play in to some degree, we’re recreating the downtown architec- projects they feel are worthy to the community. Past Gahanna, and because of our location, it allows us to turally. Over the years, downtown Gahanna has not main- contributions included funds for economic development attract employees and visitors,” White said. tained an identifiable character, and we’re trying to recre- in area townships and villages, as well as for housing “It is very diverse in its homes and very diverse in ate the real heart of the area,” he said. programs, social service purposes and homelessness terms of economics and culture. We think those factors “It’s a tough project. The idea is to try to bring a char- prevention programs. make Gahanna a great place to live.”

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Westerville Good access, strong neighborhoods, plenty of retail bode well for Columbus’ most populated suburb By JON GINGERICH at the southeast corner of State Street and Daily Reporter Staff Writer Polaris Parkway. Containing no less than six retail As Columbus’ most populated sub- outparcels, retailers expected to join urb, the city of Westerville has had many the shopping center include success stories in terms of development. Walgreen’s, Chipotle, Max & Erma’s, “Westerville is a great place to live Panera Bread, Pet Supplies Plus, First and a great place to do business,” said Choice Hair Cutters, CiCi Pizza, Shannon Hamons, economic develop- United Postal Service and Kenneth’s ment coordinator for city. Hair & Day Spa. While residential development in the Continental Real Estate is building area has tapered off in recent years, an 80,000-square-foot Giant Eagle gro- Westerville will see some new home cery store next to the new retail center. builds this year, officials said. In the nearby Polaris shopping area, M/I Homes recently approached the Franz Geiger, managing director for NP city with plans to build two residential Limited, as well as development director communities, Millstone and Millstone and construction manager for the Polaris Creek. Neighborhood Center, has broken ground Located near the intersection of on a new shopping center for the area, the Spring and Grinstone roads, Millstone, a result of which, he said, was to meet the 169-home development, has been slated increasing demand for retail there. for construction. Polaris Neighborhood Center Two According to Julie Colley, city plan- will have 21,925 square feet of commer- ner for Westerville, M/I recently received cial and retail space to meet the demands final approval by the city’s planning com- of the growing Polaris area, according to mission, and plans to break ground on the Geiger. He said high-end furniture store community this summer. Colley said the American Furnishings will anchor a company is preparing the area with the 12,000-square-foot space at the center, necessary road improvements and tree and Levi’s 4 Floors has committed to a removal. 4,700-square-foot space at the center. Further north on Spring Road, M/I Hard costs for the construction of the Homes is planning another home devel- center is expected to be about $1.5 mil- opment near the intersection of Spring lion, Geiger said, adding that the center and Maxtown roads, a new traditional should be complete by late September. neighborhood known as Millstone Creek. Within a year of building the first Slated to include 139 homes, Colley 31,000-square-foot Polaris Neighborhood said, the subdivision has yet to receive Center, Geiger had leased the center final approval from the Westerville plan- entirely, and even was forced to turn ning commission. prospective businesses away. Colley said the zoning process on “I found that I had more tenants than Millstone Creek would take longer than I could accommodate, so I said ‘let’s build another one.’” He said the approval of the nearby Millstone, due Much like Neighborhood Center to the fact that M/I applied for a rezoning “We’ve done exceptionally well. In According to Scott McAfee, commu- One, Polaris Neighborhood Center Two process for home sizes that is not typical the last three years, we’ve added between nity affairs coordinator for the city of has gathered immediate interest from to the area, and therefore applied to have 30 and 40 companies to Westerville and Westerville, it is no surprise that both area retailers. the community rezoned into a planned quite a number of existing companies in companies chose Westar as the headquar- According to Geiger, the center was neighborhood zoning category. the area have expanded,” he said. ters for their new business. 75 percent leased before the first brick of According to Colley, Millstone “We estimate that during that period, The 1,000-acre financial center, the building was laid. Creek will feature home styles different we’ve added 3,000 to 4,000 new jobs to which contains two 140,000-square-foot “It’s doing great. With Center One, from most communities in the the Westerville area.” buildings by The Daimler Group Inc., has the lease went up at a very fast pace, but Westerville area, with “carriage” home According to Hamons, Westerville’s been a powerhouse in Westerville’s office to have three-quarters of (the center) styles, typically averaging smaller lots business success has become the stuff of development in recent years. committed before you even start Ð that’s and alley sizes of 55 by 90 feet. legend. Besides being home to the successful pretty phenominal,” he said. “They’re using smaller homes and Progressive Medical, which started Exel and Progressive Medical, the two- According to Hamons, there are alley sizes, it’s similar to something you business 10 years ago from a small office building Westar center recently became more than a few reasons why the would see in Bexley or Grandview,” she on Schrock Road with a staff of five, the home of a 60,000-square-foot Westerville area continues to be success- said, adding that because this develop- recently settled on a 85,000-square-foot American Family Insurance office, a ful on all development fronts. Not only ment is different from other communities office space in Westerville’s Offices at does the city offer aggressive abatement in the area, it could be months before Westar. 60,000-square-foot Liebert Global Services location, and will be the new programs for businesses looking to relo- Millstone Creek meets rezoning According to Hamons, Progressive cate in the area, but its convenient loca- approval. Medical currently boasts a roster of home of ADD Industries this summer. ADD is moving from its current location tion, wide array of amenities and knack To complicate development even approximately 225 employees. for self-sufficiency makes Westerville a on Ackerman Road. more, Spring Road is scheduled for a International logistics company Exel win-win for businesses and families. massive rewidening this year, and offi- chose Westerville for its national head- Officials said Daimler Group is plan- “I think, clearly, we’re pretty aggres- cials plan to widen Maxtown road next quarters, and in 2002, moved its 200- ning to build a third, 145,000-square-foot sive as far as the incentives we offer to year. employee operations near the intersection building for the center this summer. companies,” he said. As a result, development on of Schrock Road and Cleveland Avenue “We are really building out a lot in “For one, we have a lot of assets. We Millstone Creek could be delayed until from a 90,000-square-foot office space terms of office space in our Westar Center have our own hospital, there’s Otterbein early next year. into a 144,000-square-foot space in of Business,” McAfee said. college, St. Ann’s, and the Westerville Office development in Westerville Westerville’s Offices at Westar. “My guess is that within the next schools are great. We have lots of green- has continued to achieve newer and Exel, according to Hamons, now couple of years, we’ll have over a million space, and pretty tight control of our greater heights. In terms of office space, boasts a workforce of more than 450 square feet of office space there.” design criterion. There’s great highway Westerville is one of the fastest-growing employees. Retail developer Don Casto also has access into and out of the Westerville areas in Franklin County, Hamons said. “(Westerville) is an area that is grow- been making an impact in Westerville this area, and we’re close to Polaris. When She added that recent developments in ing, not only as an office standpoint but past year. Casto recently began construc- you start adding up things like that, we the area could make 2004 Westerille’s for companies looking to support their tion on NorthRidge Crossing, a 98,000- stack as good or better than any other best year for business yet. employees,” Hamons said. square-foot retail shopping center located suburb in the area.” PAGE 18A Developing Our Community | NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY JUNE 2004

Bexley Main Street redevelopment, attention to its past paramount to city’s continued growth By JON GINGERICH established a cooperative framework Daily Reporter Staff Writer between the city and long-time area insti- tutions Capital University and Trinity The historic city of Bexley is gearing Lutheran Seminary. up for a series of commercial and resi- Lorek said both organizations own a dential development efforts to take place series of commercial properties on Main this summer, the planning of which has Street; the city agreed to rezone segments been a long time in the making. of neighborhoods surrounding the cam- According to city officials, the roots puses for their use, and Trinity and of this year’s massive development Capital, in turn, agreed to sell off many of efforts all go back to two years ago, when their Main Street properties to private they decided to rezone Main Street into a developers. specially-designated mixed-use commer- Once these properties were in the claim to mixed-use projects in the area, near the intersection of Parkview and cial district, thus allowing residential, hands of developers and fair game for the majority of which are happening this Main streets. retail and commercial development to either residential or commercial use, the summer, Lorek said. Described by Lorek as “somewhat coexist along the city’s vital artery. city then took the newly-rezoned portion One project currently before the larger in scale” than the Berardi project, City of Bexley Development of Main Street one step further: They commission involves a $5.5 million facil- the two-acre development has been Director Dan Lorek said the decision was overlaid a tax incentive district on top of ity that would house nine condos and spearheaded by Larry Ruben of Plaza based on recommendations made by the it, attracting future developers with finan- 1,000 square feet of retail space on 2372 Properties LLC, and is expected to cost city’s Main Street Redevelopment cial incentives such as tax abatements. E. Main St. near the intersection of anywhere between $12 million and $20 Commission to create a one-stop shop According to Lorek, the plan paid off. Dawson and Main streets. million. that would attract business and stabilize “The idea was to help facilitate The five-story, mixed-use develop- Finally, a housing project that has growth in the area. redevelopment. There was roughly $30 ment is the brainchild of architect George been three years in the making is expect- “Instead of having zoning dictate million to 40 million in Main Street Berardi, principal of Berardi and ed to go before Bexley City Council what type of development would go business that was previously untapped. Partners. soon, this time a 36-unit upscale condo along Main Street, the city decided to let Now, we’re starting to get a response,” Another mixed-use project currently development at the current site of the the market drive what kind of uses should he said. awaiting zoning approval from the city is Bexley tree nursery, near the northwest be next to one another,” he said. Indeed, since the rebirth of Bexley’s the five-story Bexley Gateway Plaza, a corner of Parkview and Caroline avenues. City officials then initiated their Main Street, council has received numer- high-end condominium and street-side Southwest Bexley master plan, which ous requests for developers looking to lay retail development that will be located (See Redevelopment, page 20A) Top 20 Areas for Home Sales # Homes Sold Avg Sale Price

City/Area Zip Code(s) 2003 1998 % change 2003 1998 %

Westerville 43081, 43082 1,398 1,246 12% $224,657 $170,378 32% Hilliard 43026, 43027 1,160 941 23% $163,948 $138,390 18% Dublin 43016, 43017 1,139 1,063 7% $282,499 $211,220 34% Col/Upper Arlington 43220, 43221 1,049 1,067 -2% $236,252 $180,484 31% Worthington area 43235, 43085 1,046 1,240 -16% $175,324 $150,379 17% Gahanna 43230 949 806 18% $162,923 $143,664 13% Grove City 43123 733 503 46% $141,508 $122,466 16% Reynoldsburg 43068 710 673 5% $140,168 $115,456 21% Powell 43065 693 582 19% $274,154 $208,365 32% COLUMBUS W 43228 670 474 41% $120,094 $101,919 18% COLUMBUS W 43204 601 464 30% $90,593 $76,588 18% Delaware 43015, 43018 600 458 31% $183,703 $142,507 29% Pickerington 43147 566 518 9% $189,554 $153,595 23% Columbus North 43229 557 477 17% $117,856 $100,103 18% Columbus NE 43224 549 500 10% $80,631 $70,228 15% Hamilton Twp area 43207 548 303 81% $80,668 $67,995 19% Clintonville area 43214 501 567 -12% $184,295 $136,771 35% German Village area 43206 486 369 32% $133,248 $110,973 20% Columbus SE 43232 465 401 16% $94,984 $78,805 21% Bexley 43209 419 433 -3% $216,206 $174,953 24% The Columbus Board of Realtors¨ Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison and Morrow Counties and some of Licking, Fairfield, Knox, Logan, Marion and Pickaway Counties. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | NORTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY PAGE 19A

Reynoldsburg Pedestrian-friendly streetscape will showcase city’s character By SEAN CASEY realized in the next five to six years as with Noble Properties Inc., the Atlanta- These divisions of the agencies have a Daily Reporter Staff Writer funding for the five remaining phases is based owner of the land, to create up to rich tradition of producing indispensable secured, and costs are estimated to be 700,000 square feet of retail space, more research and innovations in the study and The city of Reynoldsburg is in the between $20 million and $40 million. But than 200,000 square feet of office space treatment of diseases affecting humans midst of a slew of improvement projects once it is finished, the renovation initia- and three or four hotels. and animals, he said. That means there is a that will create a more open and pedestri- tive will increase business activity as well A 65-acre section of the plot will also good chance that Reynoldsburg, home of an-friendly streetscape, alleviate traffic as property value and demand. City offi- be used for the construction of single- the tomato festival, may soon become the problems, enrich the school system and cials hope the project will bolster the family homes and apartments. breeding ground of some historic advance- erect a new facility for the diagnosis and image of Reynoldsburg and enhance Construction is slated to begin later ment in biology, Brandt said. treatment of diseases. Once the ribbons community pride. this year, and the project is expected to be “And it brings in a $5 million payroll, are cut on these ambitious initiatives, a The city’s primary commercial corri- completed in the next three to five years, which doesn’t come around every day,” he new Reynoldsburg will emerge. dors are not the only areas for ODOT ren- bringing with it expansion and retention added. Because the quality and consistency ovation. Reynoldsburg City Council of jobs for area residents and increased The lab construction comes on the of the Main Street, Brice Road and recently approved $308,000 for the cre- tax revenue for the city. heels of the recent expansion project of Livingston Avenue corridors is vital to ation of two new lanes of traffic on state In addition to the Taylor Square proj- Mount Carmel East Hospital, which has the economic well-being of Route 256 at the Interstate 70 inter- ect, Reynoldsburg has another construc- driven up demand for more nearby office Reynoldsburg, city officials have ear- change. tion initiative in the hopper that will bring space for doctors, Brandt said. There marked funds to create an inviting and The approved funds represent the biological research pioneers to the city. already has been one new build and one cohesive atmosphere along these city’s share of the $1.9 million price tag Building already has begun on a two- refurbished building that offers office throughways. of the project, which will result in the story laboratory that will house opera- space to physicians that practice at the hos- John Brandt, the city’s director of repaving and repainting of the street sur- tions for the Ohio Department of Health pital, and the city has received numerous development, said the first of the face. Although the street will not be on the first floor and the Ohio phone calls inquiring about more, he said. improvement project’s six phases is near- widened, an additional lane of traffic in Environmental Protection Agency on the As Reynoldsburg continues to grow ly completed, as the stretch of Main each direction will be produced from the second. and support initiatives that foster future Street between Brice Road and Rose Hill Taylor Square Shopping Center in Jim Buchy, the deputy director of the growth, it is also important for the city’s Drive has had its overhead utility lines Reynoldsburg to the Marcus Theaters in Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the already-reputable school system to keep buried, has been enclosed with new Pickerington. 77,000-square-foot lab is expected to pace with an increasing population, Brandt brick-accented, tree-lined sidewalks and Brandt said the project will greatly open its doors to approximately 100 said. As such, construction is underway on outfitted with decorative street lights. decrease the traffic bottlenecking on the employees in February 2006. a new elementary and a new middle school Once the Ohio Department of busy interchange, and in effect increase The health department and Ohio EPA in the city, and facility renovations are Transportation resurfaces the road and interest in the city’s commercial and resi- had to find new locations for their respec- being made to Reynoldsburg High School installs mast-arm traffic signal poles, dential markets. tive pathology and environmental and Hannah Ashton Middle School, mak- phase one will be completed, offering The improved traffic patterns also research after the agencies’ current joint ing those campuses compatible with cur- residents a preview of the future of their will help the development of a 210-acre location on The Ohio State University’s rent and future needs. town’s character. plot near the interchange, he said. Local west campus was redesignated for other Brandt said the entire project will be developer Don M. Casto has partnered functions, Buchy said. (See Streetscape, page 20A)

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Whitehall Addition of new retailers a ‘positive addition’ to community By JON GINGERICH clinic, to be developed on the grounds of the Defense Daily Reporter Staff Writer Supply Center of Columbus. Scheduled to open in early 2007, the new clinic will In an attempt to absorb local demand and bring shop- replace the area’s former clinic on Leonard Avenue. ping back to the community, the city of Whitehall has been Whitehall has been busy As Whitehall’s biggest gem, the Defense Supply pursuing a series of developments in the city’s retail sector. Center distributes military supplies for land and maritime City officials hope that by offering competitive incen- focusing on overall development missile systems for the U.S. government. tives for businesses to open shop in the area, they can bal- in its Main Street area, planting With an employee roster of nearly 5,000, the DSCC ance an economy and make area residents happy at the trees, placing new brick sidewalks, generates an estimated $3 billion a year and is a power- same time. house for both the local and state economy. According to Diane Hopper, executive director of the paving streets and performing code But, a periodic review of all national military bases Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce, development is a enforcement on many of the area’s and supply centers in 2005 has many area officials wor- process that goes hand-in-hand with the city’s goals. properties. At the end of the day, ried that the center could close its doors. As the city moves into another year, Hopper said, retail To ensure that the center stays up to snuff, the state development will be on the minds of many city officials. Hopper said, all of this development gave DSCC $186,000 in January to pay for repairs and The Chamber of Commerce currently is working with city effort will serve a similar purpose: cosmetic work, and the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce leaders to expand the development of the city with the cre- is working to attract more local funds to the center. ation of the “Shop Whitehall” program, which will encour- to create the small-town feeling of Hopper said the news of a new VA clinic on the age businesses to set up shop and to balance the local retail home that makes Whitehall a great grounds of the center is positive step toward ensuring the economy. place to live and do business. DSCC’s survival, and noted that the consensus around “Over the past few years I have seen many changes in town is that the center will remain. our town, from the re-development of East Main Street, “Everyone is pretty confident that we’ll keep it,” she Yearling Road and Broad Street, to the schools improving said. their test scores,” Hopper said. Finally, Whitehall has been busy focusing on overall “These changes are now taking effect and we are more development in its Main Street area, planting trees, placing attractive to retailers. I think in the future you will see this tion pond and accompanying turning lane land on Main new brick sidewalks, paving streets and performing code town improve by leaps and bounds.” Street. enforcement on many of the area’s properties. The first sign of retail improvement in the area came “There have been some concerns about extra traffic Hopper said the cleanup focuses on residential areas as last month, when city recently approved the creation of a in the area as a result of the store,” she said. “Wal-Mart well. The city has begun a series of programs to give gen- Wal-Mart store near the intersection of East Main Street has been very forthcoming to make sure their building erous tax incentives for area homeowners who give cos- and Collingwood Avenue. makes a good addition to the community.” metic upgrades to their properties. While the decision was met with opposition from many But Wal-Mart isn’t the only large retail addition At the end of the day, Hopper said, all of this develop- Whitehall residents who did not want “big box” develop- the city will see this year. Hopper said a Target store ment effort will serve a similar purpose: to create the small- ment in their city for fear of traffic congestion or wanton is scheduled to go in at the site of the former Ame’s town feeling of home that makes Whitehall a great place sprawl, Hopper said the Chamber and city officials support- department store near the intersection of Broad Street and to live and do business. ed the development because of the amount of business it Robinwood Lane. “Whitehall has a small town feel with the conven- would bring to the community. They called Wal-Mart a The Ame’s building was demolished several months ience of being close to downtown and all major free- “positive addition to the community and businesses.” ago to make way for the new retailer, Hopper said. ways. As a resident, you will find our city leaders care “The Chamber believes this will span and increase A Staples store also is scheduled to make an appear- about quality of life and improvement of our town. Our development of the East Main Street area,” Hopper said. ance in the area, at the site of the former Drug Emporium excellent police, fire, parks and street services attract In an attempt to ebb traffic concerns and appease area on Broad Street and Colingwood Avenue, Hopper said. many residents wanting to get out of the bigger areas and residents who may be leery about the development, On other development fronts, it looks like Whitehall find a city where safety and protection are a priority,” Hopper said the retail giant has agreed to create a reten- will be the recipient of a new Veteran’s Administration she said.

nowhere to build but up, leaving many to and the Bexley architectural revue board, Village Redevelopment believe that steps must be taken to ensure the Preservation Committee keeps records (Continued from page 15A) (Continued from page 18A) than encroaching Columbus development of homes it considers significant and in does not disturb the area’s precious land- need of preservation assistance. Stefanov said the homes will boast a Lorek said city council has debated marks. Homes and buildings registered as his- traditional Georgian look, but will feature since 2001 about whether the site should be As a result, Bexley citizens concerned torically significant with the city are then a wide array of building materials. the grounds for high-end condos or a with the future of their community recent- protected in the advent that someone pur- Another new subdivision, The nature preserve and park. In the end, it ly have teamed up to form a group that will chases the property with the intent of Windsor, will be located south of the state appears the former option won, and local take measures to ensure that historic build- demolishing the building. Route 161 expressway in the north end architect and developer Rider Brice of ings and homes in the area won’t fall to the “What we’re doing right now is asking corner of New Albany. The subdivision is Rider Brice Architects and builders have wrecking ball. people to contact us with information about the newest creation of M/I Homes. taken their preliminary development plans According to Thomas Hooker Jr., co- historical houses in the area,” Hooker said. Stefanov described the subdivision to council to build a $13 million condo founder of the Bexley Landmarks “It’s a project that’s going to take quite as a “traditional” development built in the development at the site. Preservation Committee, part of develop- a while, but we believe that this is a way to style of the M/I showcase division. City Lorek said the idea of turning a ing a community for the future means mak- save much of the area’s history.” officials expect the subdivision to be Bexley tree nursery into a high-end condo ing sure its past is preserved. completed within the next month. development wasn’t an idea that wasn’t “Because houses have been or will be The New Albany Company also is in taken without some opposition from com- torn down and replaced by other houses, Streetscape the second phase of its development in munity and council members alike. and because Bexley is surrounded by (Continued from page 19A) building what Stefanov described as “We’ve been working on this since Columbus and really has no place to Georgetown-style townhouses on the 2001. To make a long story short, based on expand, people are going to continue to try The development of the city of Village’s Market Street. The development staff recommendations, city council to tear down sites to acquire new homes. I Reynoldsburg holds much promise for process will involve removing and reno- approved the condominium approach. That feel there is a kind of time-crunch as far as the balance of 2004 and into 2005. vating many of the vintage 1960s-era and developer has since come though the pre- identifying the houses that ought to be pre- Aggressive building projects slated in the 1970s-era homes there, Stefanov said. liminary zoning revue process, but has yet served for historical or architectural rea- city will enhance Reynoldsburg’s com- New Albany also is moving ahead in to get final approval,” Lorek said. sons in our community,” Hooker said. mercial activity and school system, while other forms of development this year, And when it comes to a historic city Hooker co-foundered the Bexley landscape improvements will increase particularly in developing public green- like Bexley, it seems only right that many Landmarks Preservation Committee as a property values and foster community space for village residents. community members would want to take way to gather information and suggestions pride. The Greater Columbus areas will Stefanov said village officials still the steps necessary to preserve the ele- from area citizens concerned about build- benefit from a more efficient interchange are in the process of talking with the city ments that make a city special. ings that might be considered historically at I-70 and state Route 256, and the world of Columbus about the possibility of cre- This adage becomes especially true significant, or are in need of protection just might benefit from the next innova- ating a metro park for New Albany, a when thinking of Bexley’s location in rela- from development and demolition. tion developed in the ODH/Ohio EPA lab process that has been on the city’s draw- tion to surrounding Columbus and nearby Working in conjunction with the city or the expanded Mount Carmel East ing board for more than a year. Whitehall. As a city, Bexley really has of Bexley, the Bexley Historical Society Hospital. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY PAGE 21A

SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY

Groveport Traffic, both air and land, are issues affecting community’s development By BOB PASCHEN operations in March included more than Near Rickenbacker, two companies Daily Reporter Staff Writer 8,268 metric tons, a 16 percent increase continue to develop land for the grow- from March 2003. Year-to-date, more ing influx of local, national and inter- Traffic is a topic of discussion in than 22,105 metric tons of cargo have national businesses. The duty-free Groveport, in terms of both automo- moved through the airport, an increase Foreign Trade Zone space near the air- biles and airplanes. of 12 percent from last year. port is advantageous for a growing list Rickenbacker International Airport Automobile traffic may be picking of businesses. continues to grow both its passenger up, too. According to Groveport direc- Green said Duke Realty Corp., has and cargo volume. According to an tor of development Jeff Green, portions 92 acres in its Groveport Commerce April report released by the Columbus of state Route 33 slowly will be trans- Center holdings. Most construction is Regional Airport Authority, the agency formed over the next several years into warehouse space leased or sold to com- that oversees operations at a freeway. The changes, expected to panies, some of it built to predeter- Rickenbacker, 16,366 passengers flew begin in 2007, are designed to end traf- mined company specifications. out of the airport in March. Since fic jams, while increasing the flow of Also, Opus North, a real estate the passenger terminal opened in June commercial cargo. development firm, is building its own 2003, Rickenbacker has served 35,625 The design for S.R. 33 includes palette of warehouse space. travelers. widening lanes and taking out all traffic Residential growth has been slow John Malabad, manager for busi- lights, replacing them with overpasses, and steady, Green said. Some sprawl ness development at Rickenbacker, said he said. has reached the south Columbus com- passenger flights are “surprisingly” Even now, some in the Groveport munity, but its not overrun with hous- numerous. community are pushing to take the traf- ing projects. “If you had asked me one year ago fic light at Ebright road out, Green said. “We’ve added about 100 to 125 what we would have (in terms of pas- “There’s been a huge public outcry units per year,” said Green. “We’ve had Sector 4 sengers), I would have said we would at every council meeting,” Green said. slow but consistent growth. It’s still be lucky to have three flights a week.” Residents think extracting the light now manageable.” ■ Canal Winchester, Counting only Hooters and will make the intersection unnecessari- New and growing subdivisions Southeast airlines, there now are 24 ly unsafe. include Elmont Place, off Old Hamilton Grove City, weekly flights out of Rickenbacker. “We (in Groveport government) Road; Bixby Greens, off Bixby Road; Groveport, Though passenger traffic is a bright agree that the light needs to come out, Founders Bend, at the intersection of Pickerington spot for the airport, its moneymaker is but we need an overpass in first,” he S.R. 317 and Old Hamilton Road; and cargo. According to the CRAA, cargo said. Newport Village on Rohr Road. PAGE 22A Developing Our Community | SOUTHERN FRANKLIN COUNTY JUNE 2004

Pickerington Grove City Downtown revitalization provides High-end residential ‘restfulness in a rustic setting’ development helps By JON GINGERICH Construction of the three-outparcel center is Daily Reporter Staff Writer being led by local developer Don Casto Inc., and boost attraction will house several other retailers officials said. By CHARLES W. BOSO JR. To anyone familiar with goings-on in the city According to Pickerington Development For The Daily Reporter of Pickerington, it should be no surprise to hear that Director Susan Crotty, the walls of the Kohl’s store area housing will not be a high priority on the 2004 already have gone up, and if all goes according to Two centuries ago, the popular adage for discovering unchart- development roster. schedule, the department store could be open as ed territory was “Go west, young man.” Now, in the Central Ohio Last year, pressure by concerned citizens soon as late fall. area, that cry has been changed to “Go south, young man”. pushed Pickerington to pass a new growth manage- Pickerington city officials also have made Grove City is experiencing a high-end development boom ment plan that included an ordinance to limit the efforts to bring business back to the city’s scenic that will provide it and the rest of southern Franklin County with number of residential homes that can be built in the downtown, Olde Pickerington Village. premium retail, housing, commercial and industrial locations. area. Officials recently designated the historic dis- The Pinnacle Golf Club is a 620-acre community develop- According to the plan, a maximum of 100 sin- trict as a community reinvestment area, allowing ment by Ciminello Inc., which breaks ground this summer. gle-family homes can be built in Pickerington over the city to pursue aggressive tax abatement pro- Consisting of 1,800 dwelling units, with condo and single-family the course of one year. Area building permits are grams for businesses looking to relocate to the area. lots, and a golf course designed by legendary golf professional tallied in quarterly drawings, so only 25 new homes Businesses that choose to move to downtown Lanny Wadkins, The Pinnacle will allow Grove City to offer can be built in the city each quarter. Pickerington are eligible for tax abatements on the high-end residential lots that rival other locations in Central Ohio. Pickerington officials cited steep increases in value of new improvements for up to 12 years. The Parkway Centre is a 100-acre premium retail center, cre- area housing starts and population levels over the Moreover, businesses that set up shop in Olde ated by Continental Retail Development, located on Stringtown last decade as one reason to limit the number of Pickerington Village also are eligible to receive the Road. This development will be the largest shopping center in homes being built in the community. benefits of the Fairfield County Enterprise Zone, Central Ohio south of Interstate 70. Other reasons included a strained school sys- which gives real estate or personal property tax The project is divided into two equal-sized parts located tem and lack of commercial development, which exemptions up to 75 percent of the increase in value across the street from each other. Parkway Centre South is sched- left the scales uneven in terms of demand for retail for a period of up to 10 years. uled to open October 2004 and has a tenant list that includes and office space within the city. Other growth initiatives include five active TIF Super Wal-Mart as its anchor; TJ Maxx; Bed, Bath & Beyond; However, therein lies the rub. The city’s districts, which were enacted to lower infrastructure Staples; Petsmart; and Pier One. housing ordinance is scheduled to be temporary; costs for new businesses in the area, and a revolv- Parkway Centre North is scheduled to open in early 2005 and the ordinance should be lifted in a few years, ing loan fund to help buildings receive repairs and has signed Home Depot as the anchor location. Both locations thereby giving officials what they believe to be upgrades to meet code requirements. offer out lots with restaurants such as Dairy Queen, O’Charley’s, an opportunity to focus on other forms of devel- Crotty said the initiatives, both in the down- Steak ‘n Shake and Chipotle. opment, namely by improving their historic town area and along Route 256, were created to Additionally, Grove City has 2,000 residential lots platted by downtown area and adding more retail to the draw more area residents into local retail outlets. In various builders which offer potential buyers a wide variety of community. previous years, many Pickerington residents were housing choices. “As with every community, we want to expand prone to drive to shopping centers such as Easton Grove City has partnered with the YMCA for a location at our commercial base but we are proud that our retail for their retail needs. Fryer Park that opened in 2003. By late 2004, the city will begin and service industry is neighborhood friendly,” said According to Pickerington Mayor David development of a skate park in the city’s Evans Park. Heidi Riggs, president of Pickerington City Shaver, Pickerington officials believe they can Commercial development in the area continues to expand. Council. keep the area economy alive while providing a Pro Logis, Pizzuti and Duke continue to make Grove City a “Pickerington is a community that takes pride family-friendly environment that area residents leader in the industrial market with new locations around the city. in being family and neighborhood friendly.” have grown accustomed to. New construction figures in the city for 2003 were Construction on a 96,000-square-foot Kohl’s “Pickerington has always been a desirable $17,339,956 for commercial development; $61,659,994 for sin- department store in Pickerington recently began. place to live. Twenty years ago people moved to gle family; and $113,560,000 for industrial. The store will be located on the city’s commercial Pickerington to enjoy the restfulness of its rustic City planners are expecting an even better year for 2004. corridor, state Route 256 just north of Refugee setting. The revitalization of the downtown district Road. Construction also began on Fairfield Square, has afforded our citizens the opportunity to revisit a Charles Boso Jr. is the development director for the City of a 150,000-square-foot retail center. time gone by.” Grove City.

Canal Winchester Residents benefit from tranquility of village, proximity to city By JON GINGERICH development isn’t the only sector blooming which will join the recent additions of opening in the 1940s, offering a full Daily Reporter Staff Writer in Canal Winchester. He said residents of retailers Popeye’s Chicken and a National menu, restaurant and bar in the heart of the village may remember 2004 as the year Tire and Battery store. the historic village. In recent years, the village of Canal retail broke into the area. According to Langner, the recent Built in the 1920s, the building that Winchester has been a hotbed for residen- Developers looking to absorb much of development in the village fills a void that houses the restaurant was erected on the vil- tial development. the community’s growing demand for local area residents have been craving for years. lage’s old canal bed. After numerous According to Canal Winchester devel- shopping have initiated a series of commer- “There’s been some pent-up demand changes in ownership over the years, the opment director Bruce Langner, the village cial developments along the village’s main for retail in Canal Winchester for some restaurant finally closed its doors in 1998. has typically averaged between 90 and 100 artery of Gender Road. time,” he said. Langner said Canal Winchester resi- new homes a year, to meet the needs of “We really have quite a bit going on, “I think it’s starting to catch up with dents are glad to have the historic restaurant hundreds of Central Ohio families who retail-wise. We expect to see a continued the amount of housing that’s been going on back. want the tranquility of village living while flow of activity surrounding the Gender around here. Before, people had to travel to Regardless of its residential flair and being less than 20 minutes from downtown Road area,” he said. Reynoldsburg or Easton for their shopping recent retail fervor, however, Langner said Columbus. Langner cited the March 17 open- and their restaurants.” he would like to see more development of Langner said this year is no exception. ing of a 203,622-square-foot Wal-Mart While development activity in Canal office space in Canal Winchester. “Right now, we have five develop- Supercenter at Waterloo Crossing Winchester’s downtown hasn’t been as “We’re just starting to catch up in the ments that are under way, all of them being Shopping Center on Gender Road. heavy as in the Gender Road area, Langner office market. Right now, there is such a either single family developments or con- The initiative was spearheaded by said, a welcome addition has been returned glut of office space in Columbus that we’re dos,” he said. national developer Casto Inc. Casto also to the historic community. going to be behind on that for a while. A “Last year, we saw a few less homes plans to create an additional 180,900- After five years of vacancy, downtown good thing that makes an attraction for this than usual, but housing development is square-foot annex of Waterloo Crossing’s Canal Winchester’s famous Shade restau- market is that we’re only 20 minutes from really coming in, in areas north of (state retail space this summer. rant has reopened, this time under a new downtown and five miles from the outer Route) 33. I think this year or next year Langner said also under construction name: Shade on the Canal. belt. Our land is less expensive land, and I we’ll see some high numbers.” on Gender Road this summer is a Charlie’s The restaurant, located at 19 S. High think people will discover that we’d make a According to Langner, residential Restaurant and a Walgreen’s’ pharmacy St., has been the stuff of legend since its good investment for real estate,” he said. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES PAGE 23A

CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES

Delaware More ‘move up’ housing will upgrade market and therefore keep residents in community By JON GINGERICH always been heavy on the bottom end Papsidero said the announcement of Daily Reporter Staff Writer of things,” Papsidero said. the retailers, as well as their subsequent “We needed to target the move-up groundbreaking, would most likely hap- In an attempt to upgrade the quali- market. A lot of families were growing pen this summer. ty of its current housing stock and com- out of their existing homes, and had to “Delaware residents are tired of driv- pete with surrounding cities, the city of move out of Delaware if they wanted a ing down to Polaris to do their shopping,” Delaware has made numerous changes larger house. Now, there’s 50/50 balance Papsidero said. to its housing standards. of (starter) and move-up home projects.” Papsidero said he hopes recent eco- Much like the Columbus suburb of According to Papsidero, the new nomic incentives such as tax abatements Dublin, the city officials in Delaware standards have not negatively affected passed by the city will lure businesses have proposed new standards for homes area home sales. back into the city’s historic downtown built in the area. “Right now, we have 6,049 dwelling area. While not as extensive as Dublin’s units in the pipeline that have been “We have really strong occupancy new series of standards, city planning approved for construction but have not downtown, especially with specialty officials said the higher standards are yet started,” he said. retailers like restaurants. Our next phase intended to diversify Delaware’s cur- Papsidero said residential isn’t the for downtown will bring more retailers rent housing portfolio, which largely only form of development that’s on fire into the area, this time establishments like consists of entry-level homes. right now in Delaware: Commercial upscale restaurants and more specialty By adding more “move-up” homes, development has boomed on the east shops, which we hope can strengthen or homes that come with an asking side corridor of the state Route 36 corri- downtown as a destination area,” he said. price of between $200,000 and dor. While Papsidero wasn’t at liberty to “Our historic aspect of downtown $300,000, said Vince Papsidero, direc- give names, he said a series of “big box has a very good pedestrian feel to it, and tor of planning and community devel- retailers” have made plans to settle in it could become a very strong destination opment for the city of Delaware, the the area. Papsidero said he hopes this location.” city can forge a housing strategy that will absorb the city’s new-found need Using the age-old maxim that “retail Sector 5 has “higher, but fair and consistent for more retail. follows rooftops,” Papsidero said the ■ Delaware, standards” and will not lose area fami- Papsidero also said another devel- influx of new residential units into lies who are forced to move out if they opment project, this one located on the Delaware could have a positive effect on Lancaster, London, want to move up. south side corridor of state Route 23, the city’s historic downtown. Marysville, “The reason council asked us to would bring another yet-to-be- “To some extent, our success down- Newark, Powell look at the level of our standards was announced big box anchor and retail town will fall back on the number of because, historically, our housing has center to the area. rooftops in the area,” he said. PAGE 24A Developing Our Community | CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES JUNE 2004

Lancaster Medical office building in Lancaster should be competed in early 2005 By JON GINGERICH Daily Reporter Staff Writer

A $6 million, 45,000-square-foot medical office building to be built in Lancaster, Ohio, will create more than 100 high-paying jobs and over $15,000 in new tax revenues for city schools, local officials said. “This is a significant project for our community and part of our strategy to attract and grow targeted indus- tries. We are pleased to be a part of making it happen,” said Lancaster Mayor Dave Smith. The new three-floor building located on the grounds of the Fairfield Medical Center campus in Lancaster will house 21 medical suites for local physicians of special- ized practices. Officials expect construction on the medical center to begin in early summer. It should be completed by the early months of 2005. “This facility will provide state-of-the-art facilities for physicians we are trying to attract to this communi- ty, as well as keep those we already have,” said Mina Ubbing, chief executive officer and president of Fairfield Medical Center. “It is another step toward realizing our vision of championship care to people in the city, county and sur- agement, development, and sales of both commercial and “It will be a state-of-the-art medical facility and rounding areas.” residential real estate. something the community can be proud of,” he said. In planning the construction and development of the Officials at both companies said the partnership, and Fairfield County Commissioners recently approved medical office building, Lancaster-based development the subsequent facilities they would create, would signal a a tax abatement incentive for the medical building, and group Windsor Co. joined forces with Equity real estate monumental development in Lancaster’s future. Lancaster City School District approved a plan in April development firm of Worthington, Ohio. “This agreement keeps Lancaster competitive with that would generate new income taxes for the school. Equity’s expertise in the development of medical, the rest of Ohio and the U.S.,” said Jim Johns, develop- According to officials, the city of Lancaster and its office, retail, distribution and hotel buildings throughout ment officer of Equity. combined schools will share more than $100,000 in Ohio and other states made them an ideal partner with Tom Moore, partner in the Windsor Company, new income taxes generated every year by the medical Windsor, which has a 30-year history specializing in man- agreed. building.

London Development (Continued from page 4A)

More homes lead to more retail, ¥ Estimated employment: 35-40 positions. Estimated pay- roll more than $400,000. ¥ Owner has worked closely with neighborhood representa- but small town feel remains intact tives to incorporate design features and produce a project that is sensitive to community goals and desires. By JON GINGERICH Eagleton Shopping Center, which opened a ¥ Project to be owned by Watermark Services LLC, the only Daily Reporter Staff Writer year ago with the placement of a Jackson Hewitt tax black-owned franchise in the Wendy’s home market office, has in the months since Wal-Mart’s opening, ¥ Anticipated grand opening in Summer 2004 (pending city In recent years, the scenic town of London, seen the addition of a Verizon cellular phone store, council approval). Ohio, has become an increasingly popular reloca- a Curves for Women fitness store, a beauty store, a ¥ Compact provided a small pre-development loan; devel- tion destination for Central Ohio residents looking Re/Max real estate office and a Chinese restaurant. opment expertise; intensive assistance with zoning variance to get out of the city or evade the malaise of subur- Restaurants Grinders and Chill and Grill have process; and neighborhood liaison services. ban sprawl. begun construction and both expect an opening date “We’ve been getting flight from the Columbus of mid summer, said Eades, who added that a lease CENTRAL COMMUNITY HOUSE suburbs for some time now,” said London Mayor with a sporting goods store also is in the works. ¥ Location: This is a 15,000-square-foot building at 1162 E. David Eades. “Ever since the Wal-Mart opened, a lot of busi- Main St., adjacent to a new health center. Central Ohio home building companies nesses have wanted to get into the area where they ¥ Groundbreaking was in March. Sovereign Homes and Dominion Homes, along with can be surrounded by good retail attractions,” he said. ¥ The facility will house a day care center, community a swath of private developers, have recently taken “We’ve especially seen a lot of restaurants meeting spaces and Central Community House offices. an interest in London development. come up. A Bob Evans will be built in July, and ¥ Compact provided funding of $400,000. Eades estimates that within the past five years, there’s a lot of fast food restaurants.” between 120 and 150 new homes are built in the In London’s downtown, Eades said, a revi- SALVATION ARMY area each year. tilization program to attract business and shopping ¥ Location: 966 E. Main St. (Main St. between Carpenter As a result of London’s relocation boom, retail into the area has resulted in a streetscape refurbish- and 22nd). needs for the city’s residents have escalated, and ing and adopting a CRA for area businesses to ¥ Approximately 1.2 acres of vacant land will be redevel- city officials have begun working on ways to get receive aid on building improvements. oped for use by the Salvation Army as its headquarters with a more businesses into the town’s main artery of state In the three years since the program began, combination of social services and worship center. Route 42. Eades said, the efforts have paid off. ¥ The new building will comprise approximately 20,000 During the mid-1990s, London officials “We’ve reduced vacancy rates by about 30 per- square feet of space. rezoned the area to hold large retail outlets, and in cent, he said.” ¥ Groundbreaking is scheduled for late spring 2004. January, a 197,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Super- “People love London for its atmosphere. It’s a ¥ Compact provided site assembly and land banking. center opened on Route 42. farming community type of atmosphere, where every- According to Eades, the retail giant created a one knows each other. It’s very friendly, and there’s a Christopher Hayes is the public relations director for the commercial breakthrough in the area. friendly style of living that comes with it,” he said. Columbus Compact Corporation. JUNE 2004 Developing Our Community | CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES PAGE 25A

Newark City wants to continue pursuing commercial, industrial base By BOB PASCHEN clean up at least one, and possibly sever- distribution activity, including a lot of “Down the road from Park Trails, Daily Reporter Staff Writer al, brownfield industrial sites to provide warehousing at the Hebron Industrial within a mile, is a multifamily develop- land for future development using state Park operated by Jack/Rob O’Neal,” ment now starting,” Pryor said. “There’s Newark, home of the Longaberger and federal money. Fowler said. “Licking County also close to 100 units.” Each townhouse in Company’s basket-shaped corporate A brownfield site is any land that has the Harry & David distribution Reddington Village can accommodate office building, lies about 50 miles east of is not being used for its original intend- facility.” Columbus just off Interstate 70. ed purpose. A site need not be contam- Fowler said Newark is attempting to four to eight families. The city recently negotiated inated, though contaminated land will rebuild or modernize half of all of its Three north side developments are Enterprise Zone and Community automatically be designated as a schools. Construction spending could ongoing. Combined they equal the size of Reinvestment Area deals with Holophane brownfield. reach $1 million. Park Trails. and Owens Corning to keep or expand “With our existing companies, we There are two fronts on the Newark “There’s more land on the north production and employment in the area, are going to focus heavily on retention housing development scene, the north side,” Pryor said. according to Newark economic develop- and expansion. We will continue to work side and the west. Potters Grove, Timcyn and Kelly ment director Steven Fowler. with all companies to put together the Park Trails development close to state Grove contain single family, middle No new industrial development is best deals and the best resources to create Route 16 was started after a farmer cashed income dwellings. underway in the east central Ohio city, win-win solutions,” Fowler said. in his acreage. MI Homes and Dominion Fowler said, but “where appropriate, we Though Newark lacks the distribu- Homes began constructing one- and two- Pryor said Newark has no sprawl and are going to pursue annexation to provide tion capacity of Columbus, Fowler said story middle income dwellings. “They are the outskirt developments are spurred by land to build our commercial and indus- the burg’s location is prime distribution building a lot of houses,” Pryor said. Park growing families and Newark transplants. trial base.” real estate. Trails is Newark’s biggest residential “I don’t see a move from the interior He added that the city is going to “Licking County has quite a bit of development. (of Newark) to the exterior.”

Marysville Powell Honda, with 5,600 Residential development workers, keeps spreads in epidemic proportions community moving north of Columbus By JON GINGERICH By JASON LICHTENBERGER Stonebridge condos, with 188 units, Daily Reporter Staff Writer Daily Reporter Staff Writer recently was completed. The project is situ- ated on Seldom Seen Road near Sawmill Marysville’s Honda Auto Plant, the first Japanese auto plant built in the Residential development in Powell is Parkway. United States, has become a vital part of the city’s economy since the first spreading in such epidemic proportions that Leininger said developers also have sedan drove off its assembly line in 1982. the city’s development director claims he been looking at a six acre plot of land to Now, Honda officials have announced that they will create a 234,000- doesn’t know where to start listing the build town homes, offices and restaurants. square-foot addition to the existing Marysville facility, signaling the single changes that have occurred in the past year. The location selected is in the vicinity of largest investment Honda has made in its Ohio auto plants. Dave Betz, the director of development Olentangy and Lincoln streets. Betz said Powell recently approved a Construction already has begun on the facility, which will replace the for Powell, said 369 housing permits were $6 million improvement project to renovate oldest of the plant’s two existing paint lines. The $123 million project filed in the city last year Ð the most ever for the area. two existing parks and build four more, and involves the installation of a waterborne paint system. The system is an “all these things contribute to a small-time environmentallyÐfriendly way to paint automobiles, and according to offi- That makes Powell “one of fastest grow- ing communities in Central Ohio,” he noted. community feel.” cials, reduces emissions from conventional paint systems by an estimated “We have incredible bike paths that 41 percent. Of the residential areas around Powell, the largest and fastest growing is the Golf extend for 14 miles, connecting all the Officials said other environmentallyÐfriendly additions to the new neighborhoods and great park systems facility include high-efficiency ovens, air recycling systems and efficient Village development created by Virginia Homes, at about 1,000 acres. Of the 1,200 also.” drive motors that could reduce energy use by 34 percent. units under construction, 950 of them are sin- New to Powell’s business market is Moreover, a seven-acre, 20 million gallon pond will be constructed gle family and the rest will be condomini- Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt, directly behind the plant to recycle rainwater. The pond will collect water ums. The development near Trail Lake Drive which opened April 4 on West Olentangy runoff from area buildings and lots, and will be used to cool the nearby plant features upscale homes beginning at Street. A joint project between Graeter’s Ice Cream and City Barbecue is expected to during the summer months. $320,000. open in July. The two businesses will inhab- According to Marysville auto plant manager Tom Shoupe, the new Shawn Leininger, a development plan- it separate spaces inside the same building, Honda penchant for a green-friendly facility will translate into safety for ner for the city, explained that where residen- both its employees and Marysville citizens. Betz said. tial areas are being built, small pockets of Other projects for Powell include sever- “Honda’s green factory concepts date to the earliest years of our com- commercial, industrial and office space are pany and represent a daily commitment by Honda around the world. We al commercial and office developments in close by. the downtown area, referred to as Old reuse parts containers, and recycle steel scrap and other materials on a con- Two other single-family housing areas tinuing basis. The new paint facility and the cooling pond are examples of Powell. seeing high growth in the community are the Another ice cream shop on Liberty our continuing environmental leadership,” he said. Woods of Powell and Rutherford Estates, Construction and installation of the new Marysville plant is expected to Street is near completion. A name for the both of which are being built near Rutherford new store has yet to be determined, take two years, with officials projecting an opening date of mid-2006. Road. Leininger said, but he noted that the own- The Marysville auto plant is the largest Honda plant in the state of Ohio. Condos developed by Fiori Homes also ers plan to sell Hershey’s ice cream and In its nearly 25-years in the state, the Marysville Honda Plant has grown to are popular draws to the community. They other products from the Pennsylvania com- a $6 billion cash cow for Ohio, employing 5,600 Ohio residents and with a are located in the Village at Powell and pany. capacity to produce 440,000 vehicles per year. Murphy’s Crossing at Murphy’s Parkway. Powell’s city officials see interest in a “This project is the latest step to keep us competitive in the global vehi- Other condo sites include the Lakes 16,000-square-foot industrial facility at the cle business and ensure the future of our operations,” said Koki Kirashima, at Golf Village and the Village at Kinsale, corner of Case Avenue and Industrial Park president and chief executive officer of Honda of America. near Sawmill Parkway. Fifty-one units Place, but the building does not yet have a “It is fitting that, in our 25th anniversary year of U.S. manufacturing are planned for Kinsale and 68 for the tenant. leadership, we will build an industry-leading paint facility. Our goal is to Villas at Wood Cutter, which sits at the An identical building recently was built keep our original American automobile plant among the most efficient, corner of Woodcutter Drive and Sawmill alongside that site and was filled right away, clean and flexible in the industry.” Parkway. said Betz. PAGE 26A Developing Our Community JUNE 2004

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The National City Community Development Corporation is an Ohio Corporate affiliate of National City Corporation, and our mission is a simple one: to revitalize low- and moderate- income neighborhoods through loans and equity investments. In particular, over the past decade, we’ve played a significant role in developing community projects throughout the Columbus area. For example:

• We made an equity investment in the Twentieth and Long Condominium Project, which resulted in the renovation of a vacant five-unit building into owner-occupied homes.

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There are many other projects as well. And while we know change doesn’t happen overnight, ever so slowly, we believe it’s working. We’re committed to creating economically integrated communities we can all take pride in.

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