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Silicon Heartland Infrastructure Update - (Winter 2024)

Recent aerial view of Grandview Crossing

AC Hotel at Bridge Park

Intel shapes Licking County's 10 biggest development stories of 2023 "The Intel Corporation's January 2022 announcement of its plans to build a $20 billion computer chip manufacturing operation just south of Johnstown was clearly the top story of 2022 in Licking County. In 2023, the top stories were again Intel-related, as various developments began in preparation for the start of Intel production in 2025. Every developer mentions Intel at some point during the explanation of their plans. And there were several large land purchases, possibly for future developments. Leaders in every city, village and township in the county wondered how their community would fit in with the rapidly changing landscape and economy of Licking County. In Jersey Township, the massive earthmoving operation has replaced homes and farms, realigned streets and affected everyone in the immediate area..." Licking County's top 10 development stories of 2023 are detailed here: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/12/31/intel-plans-trigger-other-large-developments-around-licking-county/71932245007/

Microsoft continues to invest in Central Ohio- now has its sights set on 337 more acres east of Columbus Microsoft is going through the acquisition process to acquire two parcels west of Ohio 79, on both sides of the Hebron village-Union Township line, connecting to Canyon Road. A 238-acre Union Township parcel located at 323 N. High St., just west of Coshocton Grain, THK Manufacturing, State Industrial Products and Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems. And a 99-acre Hebron parcel located immediately south of the Union Township parcel, at 129 High St. Microsoft wants the land for a data warehouse consisting of up to six buildings at full buildout. The company would pursue annexing the township land into the village and rezoning all the property. In June, Microsoft bought New Albany property located between Beech Road and the Licking-Franklin county line, north of Fitzwilliam Lane N.W., and less than a mile south of U.S. 62. This fall, the tech giant also bought three parcels on the north side of Refugee Road between Mink Street and Etna Parkway in the Pataskala Corporate Park. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2023/12/27/microsoft-eyes-300-acres-in-hebron-union-township-for-data-warehouse/72040332007/

New Albany’s Silicon Heartland: How it changed in 2023 and what’s next "New Albany has seen rapid development since Intel announced in January 2022 that it had selected the Licking County portion of the New Albany International Business Park to be the location for a chip manufacturing project worth billions..." Here is how 2023 unfolded and some of what's next for Intel and vicinity: https://www.nbc4i.com/intel-in-ohio/new-albanys-silicon-heartland-how-it-changed-in-2023-and-whats-next/

Infrastructure bond to support transportation work for $280M Addison Farms development on the north side of Delaware "The Delaware County Finance Authority closed this week on an $8.9 million infrastructure bond supporting a mixed-use project in the city of Delaware. Addison Farms, a $280 million development located on 273 acres off U.S. Route 23 on the north side of the city, will feature townhomes, an apartment complex, two single-family neighborhoods, light office and commercial space including retail, a quick-service restaurant and a gas station. The Delaware County Finance Authority, a public agency that partners with developers, local governments and banks to facilitate funding for projects, said it became involved when it saw an opportunity to address "growing pressure on the county’s and region’s transportation infrastructure." That includes the construction of Merrick Parkway and Heritage Boulevard around the site. “It’s a transportation solution that will create an east-west connector to the north of the city where it is urgently needed." More details on Addison Farms found here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/12/22/addison-farms-delaware-mixed-use-development.html

Olentangy Schools will build a fifth High School soon too! https://www.reddit.com/r/Columbus/comments/186r3r6/more_information_on_olentangy_local_school/

Ooops! That was my fault! I fixed it

Downtown Columbus, Near East Side projects awarded Ohio Historic Tax Credits "A couple projects to transform historic Central Ohio buildings were granted states historic tax credits... The Ohio Department of Development announced on Thursday that redevelopment projects at 145 S. Front St. and 879 Long St. in Columbus will get the credits. The Columbus Partnership and Columbus developer Brad DeHays' project to redevelop the former Ohio Department of Job and Family Services building on Front Street downtown will get $7.25 million in historic tax credits. The project, named the Civic, was awarded tax credits in July, but the developers reapplied for the tax credits after costs rose. DeHays, of Connect Real Estate, is developing the seven-story building for the Partnership, turning the long-vacant limestone building into a mixed-use development with 100 apartments and a cafe overlooking the Scioto River. The city of Columbus and developers have also been trying to redevelop the Edna building at 879 E. Long St. since 2017. The $4.7 million project will get a $520,000 tax credit, the state announced. The Edna was built in 1905 and provided office space for an African American insurance company, a newspaper and a social club; all of which were integral to the city’s African American business community centered on East Long Street." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/12/21/historic-tax-credits.html

Work to begin in January on Trolley District apartments "Work is expected to start next month on the Trolley Apartments, next to the Trolley District, on the Near East Side. The four-story building with 102 apartments and a rooftop deck will be the first built with Connect Housing Blocks, modular housing units assembled in a factory on Westerville Road. As work proceeded on other parts of the Trolley District, Connect launched a factory in the former Value City warehouse on Westerville Road to build the Connect Housing Blocks, rectangular housing units complete with finishes and kitchens or baths, depending on the unit. The blocks arrive finished and are connected to one another onsite. With the factory opened, Connect Real Estate decided to use the blocks in the Trolley Apartments, which were redesigned from the 2018 proposal. Lamb said he expects the project to be ready in the fall, a quick turnaround made possible by the plug-and-play nature of the modular units. Rents haven't been set, but more than 30% of the units will be affordable to those making 80% of the area median income." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2023/12/21/trolley-apartments-to-be-test-case-for-new-columbus-housing-blocks/71918379007/

Columbus developer Casto eyes 2024 construction starts for Kroger Bakery and River & Rich second phase Casto, one of Central Ohio's busiest developers, plans to start several big Columbus-area projects in the new year. On the list: a second phase of the River & Rich development in Franklinton, and the redevelopment of the former Kroger Bakery site near Italian Village. River & Rich's second phase, with 235 apartments and about 8,000 square feet of commercial space, was announced in 2021. Casto President Brent Sobczak said the groundbreaking should occur in in the first quarter of 2024. The Kroger Bakery redevelopment – another Casto-Kelley-Weiler teamup – has also been in the works for several years, since the partners bought the site in 2019. Sobczak said the project had been delayed because of the current market challenges including high material costs and interest rates. When finished, the project is set to include 427 apartments, 8,850 square feet of retail space and 49,000 square feet of offices. The project has been awarded brownfield remediation funds and a state historic tax credit. Historic tax credits typically have a two-year time limit for projects to start, but applicants can ask for an extension if they're making progress toward the project, according to the state. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/12/19/casto-river-rich-kroger-bakery-apartments-developm.html

First federally funded EV charging ports installed near Columbus "On the western outskirts of Columbus, two doors down from a Waffle House, is a truck stop that, as of Dec. 8, has the first electric vehicle charging station in the country to be financed in part by the 2021 Federal Infrastructure Law. The Pilot Travel Center at I-70 and U.S. 42 now has four charging ports. The larger significance of this installation is that the federal government is showing progress in turning $5 billion worth of charger funding into completed projects. The expansion of the charging network is an essential part of supporting a shift away from gasoline and reducing emissions from the transportation sector. Ohio was one of the leaders in securing a share of this money, and stands to receive $140 million over five years to construct charging stations along major travel routes officially jumpstarting the Biden Administration’s work building more than 500,000 chargers that will connect 79,000 miles of America’s roads and highways. The federal money comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which is one of many parts of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/automotive/2023/12/14/first-federally-funded-ev-charging-ports-installed-in-madison-county/71918409007/

Three new apartment complexes move forward Downtown Developers are moving forward on three Downtown apartment projects. Together, the three projects would add 336 apartments to Downtown. These three apartment complexes are scheduled to come before the commission on Tuesday: Spring Street apartments Artem on Gay One at the Peninsula Full story found here: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2023/12/14/three-complexes-would-add-more-than-300-new-apartments-downtown/71904587007/

Crew to lease more state fairgrounds land Plans call for two more practice fields to be built for soccer team next to stadium "As the Columbus Crew celebrated its MLS Championship with a parade Tuesday, the Ohio Expositions Commission voted to approve leasing nearly 9 more acres it controls at the state Expo Center and fairgrounds so the soccer team can build two more practice fields adjacent to the Historic Crew Stadium. “The commission’s vote (Tuesday) will not only support our 2023 Major League Soccer Cup Champions, but it will improve fairgoers’ experience by creating an increase in available parking during the fair each summer.” The agreement increases the Crew’s leased area at the Historic Crew Stadium (formerly Mapfre stadium) by about 8.8 acres while preserving the rest of the Expo Center and the state fairgrounds property for year-round use. Construction of the new practice fields will begin early next year, and they are expected to be completed before the 2024 MLS All-Star Game, which will be held next July in Columbus. The Ohio Expositions Commission's decision to lease additional space at the fairgrounds to the Crew occurs as it is about to begin a $260 million in long-term, "unprecedented upgrades" at the Expo Center and fairgrounds as part of the state's Expo 2050 Master Plan." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/12/13/columbus-crew-to-lease-more-state-fairgrounds-land-for-practice-fields/71898109007/

Another view of the Rambling House site layout:

Illuminate USA set to begin production in Pataskala next month "Production at Illuminate USA, one of the largest solar panel factories in the U.S., is expected to start in January, and crews are hard at work setting up the massive, $220 million Licking County plant that will eventually produce more than 9 million solar panels a year. The 1.1 million- square-foot plant, was announced in March and is the first company within the 350-acre Red Chip Farms development as part of the Pataskala Corporate Park. Illuminate USA’s total investment in Licking County is expected to top $600 million with the cost of equipment, raw materials, staff training and salaries, and everything else needed to start a new company, said Eric Heis, the company’s head of public affairs. When all eight lines are operating, Illuminate USA expects to make more than 1,000 solar panels per hour, he said. Panels will start rolling off lines one and two in January as construction workers will continue to set up the additional six lines throughout 2024, Heis said. By 2025, Illuminate USA’s goal to produce about 9.2 million solar panels a year, or 5 gigawatts." https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/pataskala/2023/12/10/see-inside-illuminate-usas-220-million-pataskala-solar-panel-factory/71598593007/

Back home where it belongs!!!!!!!! Congratulations Crew!!!!

Columbus’ first ‘dog bar’ featuring a dog pool coming next year "All Paws Social, from the owners of the dog daycare, All Paws Retreat, is opening a “country club type dog bar” at 345 E. 2nd Ave. in Italian Village. The 9,500 square feet interior space will boast different play spaces, and an event space for dog birthday parties and even singles meetups, and of course, a bar that focuses on locally canned and drafted beverages (and hopefully hard liquor cocktails once there’s a permit issued for that, according to Goldstein!). Then, outside, there will be 10,000 square feet of an open play space, food trucks, on leash and off leash areas, an area for games and fire pits, an outdoor bar, and, the best of all, a dog pool during their secondary phase build-out. While you and your friends are having fun at the bar, your dog can play and socialize without you having to worry so much. They’ll have trained, vigilant staff members there to watch over people’s dogs, all the dogs will be vetted first (and vaccinated), and areas will be separated by different dog “energies” (loungers vs. high energy)." Construction starts this January https://614now.com/2023/food-drink/columbus-first-dog-bar-featuring-a-dog-pool-coming-next-year-here-are-the-details

It appears the Drake is completely down now! Anyone interested can check the live webcam (under "live updates" near the bottom of the page) here: https://buildingthefuture.osu.edu/cannon-drive-relocation-phase-2

Latest of more than 1,000 new apartments opens near East 5th Avenue in Italian Village "The latest - and one of the largest - in a string of apartment complexes is opening off East 5th Avenue, part of more than 1,000 new apartments in the strip east of North High Street. Stella Apartments has started leasing its 135 one- and two-bedroom units while construction wraps up on its sister complex, Lusso, which will add another 288 apartments in the spring. With four townhomes also planned, the $70-million complex will eventually bring 427 rentals to the neighborhood. Stella's opening comes a few months after Crossline apartments opened on the north side of East 5th Avenue, bringing 180 additional apartments to the area. Several more complexes are on the way, on top of several to recently open in the stretch, which straddles Italian Village and Weinland Park a few blocks east of the Short North." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2023/12/07/stella-apartments-open-in-italian-village-one-of-many-new-complexes/71757846007/

Picture in today's Dispatch: "Work continues on the massive Intel computer chip manufacturing facility being built in New Albany. The company is preparing for the 2025 opening of a $20 billion plant consisting of two four-story clean room factory buildings, connected by an underground tunnel. This view looks west from Mink Street." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/manufacturing/2023/12/03/ohio-leaders-intel-form-consortium-for-chips-act-billions/71716639007/

More on this ^ "DLC co-founder and CEO Adam Ifshin said the remaining big box stores will continue to operate at Powell Center, and several new tenants will be brought in to fill out the former Giant Eagle space. He said national retailers have executed leases, signed letters of intent or are in negotiations for the vacant grocery store, which includes more than 90,000 square feet that will be divided among those businesses. "We have plans to redevelop the northern half of the center where Giant Eagle used to be for multiple users," Ifshin said, adding he could not disclose the names of those tenants until the leases are finalized. "We have users for all of it." Ifshin said the northern portion of the property where Staples and the vacant Giant Eagle building are located "hasn't really been renovated or touched in 20-plus years. The interior of the former Giant Eagle space is functionally obsolete, so we'll be redoing all of that and then redoing the facade as well." In addition, DLC will construct a new building on what is now a parking lot near Staples and the Giant Eagle. Ifshin said that space will be occupied by a national food and beverage operator, though he again declined to name the tenant." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/11/30/powell-center-giant-eagle-redevelopment.html

Ice Bumper Cars coming soon too... "Land-Grant Brewing Company, located at 424 W. Town St., has already transformed into a Wintergarden this year, and in a couple of weeks they’re adding Ice Bumper Cars to their icy, beer-friendly, adult playground. “Land-Grant’s Wintergarden is getting BIGGER. Don’t worry. The igloos and curling you know and love aren’t going anywhere. But, we’ve expanded into Gravity Park with @gravitycolumbus here in Franklinton (just steps away from our current beer garden) where we’ll be serving up cold beer + operating Columbus’ first Ice Bumper Cars." https://614now.com/2023/culture/first-ever-ice-bumper-cars-are-coming-to-columbus

Proposed project with 200+ apartments, restaurants, more "If approved by the city, the project would be built at 2200 East Main Street. The developer, Frank Kass, with Continental Real Estate Companies, said it would have 232 apartments, a Cameron Mitchell restaurant on the ground floor, a space for an OhioHealth doctor's office, a few casual restaurants, a common area, a gym for apartment residents, and 300 parking spaces. Kass said he's also working with Bexley City Schools to move its administrative offices to the building." https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/this-will-change-bexley-proposed-project-with-200-apartments-office-space-and-restaurants