Luvcbus

Some parts of Franklinton like the Peninsula are within the official boundaries of downtown but not everything east of 315 is... Downtown District Boundary with map can be found here: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT33ZOCO_CH3359DODI_3359.03DODIBO

(Not sure if this is the best place for this?) "Traffic through downtown Columbus will be rerouted this weekend as crews work on part of a key bridge. I-70 will be closed in both directions between State Route 315 and I-71 from 11:00 p.m. Friday until 5:00 a.m. Monday while crews install beams on a bridge that will eventually carry traffic from Fulton Street onto I-70 eastbound. This is part of the latest phase of the massive $1.4 billion Downtown Ramp Up series of projects reconstructing Interstates 70/71 in downtown Columbus to alleviate safety and congestion problems along one of the busiest traffic corridors in the state." The Front Street bridge will also be demolished this weekend while the freeway is closed. https://sunny95.com/news/061160-i-70-closed-downtown-for-the-weekend/

Here's a picture of Big Carl... It takes over 250 trucks to transport it! More about Big Carl found here: https://www.astrocrane.com/what-is-the-big-carl-crane/

Found a couple interesting Intel related videos to watch at work if you're bored! 😂 First one is inside an Intel fab already under construction in Arizona and some video of what we can expect to see at the Ohio One campus in the coming years: Second one is a 360 Fab Tour:

A little more from the Dispatch on the upcoming zoning changes as part of the "Zone In" initiative... Columbus overhauling more than 70-yr-old zoning code to streamline process for developers "Major changes are coming to city of Columbus zoning code by next spring, and city officials say they don't want any residents or neighborhood groups to be caught by surprise. City officials said at a public meeting Aug. 21 that the proposed zoning changes under its "Zone In" effort are meant to streamline the process, making it easier for developers to gain city approval without the need to obtain variances — or exceptions to the rules routinely made by City Council on a case-by-case basis. They say their hope is to "modernize" the code into a more lenient process that will eliminate delays, keep up with the city's growing population, and ease the housing shortage in the future. "Council will vote early next year for some kind of a change," Council President Shannon Hardin told the group, saying he didn't want residents to feel the changes are being rushed through, and that now is the time to be involved. The Dispatch reported in January 2022 that a consultant's report recommended a bold plan: "repeal and replace Title 33- Zoning Code, in its entirety." The zoning code regulates how a property is zoned, what can be built on it, parking and other factors. While no decisions have been finalized, Wheeler highlighted that 80% of the targeted transportation corridors currently ban residential development, either totally or on the ground floor, and that a current 35-foot height limitation and off-street parking requirements make it costly for developers. City officials will be drafting the zoning code changes for the initial corridor areas through the end of this year, and will present them to the public in early 2024 for feedback. After any revisions, the updated code will then go before City Council for a vote in spring or early summer of 2024. Following passage of the new zoning code for the corridor areas, city officials plan to begin to draft an updated code for neighborhoods and other areas of the city." Full article found here: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/09/05/columbus-officials-say-expected-population-surge-and-housing-shortage-driving-zoning-changes/70646477007/

ODOT redeveloping Franklinton facility in $90M project "The Ohio Department of Transportation has undertaken a $90 million project in Franklinton. ODOT is replacing all the buildings at 1600 W. Broad St. that today house the central garage and sign shop with new facilities. When finished the site will be home to 11 buildings, including the new District 6 Franklinton outpost. Materials will stay at the Grove City outpost, but trucks and workers that had been there will move to the new Franklinton location. Demolition work started earlier this year and construction on the new facilities will end in the fall of 2026." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/08/31/odot-franklinton-redevelopment.html

*didn't realize that Mill Run is included in the West Scioto Area Commission til I read this article... Indoor Go-Kart Race Track and more apartments planned for Mill Run "Plans call for replacing the latest major tenant to close, Movies 11 at Mill Run, on Ridge Mill Drive, with apartments. Built in 1990, the movie theater sits on the east side of Mill Run in a stretch of the shopping center now empty of tenants. The owner, MGM Mill Run, has submitted plans to build three four- and five-story buildings on the site housing a total of 249 apartments. It also has submitted a demolition application to the part of Mill Run it owns to make way for the apartments. In addition to the movie theater, the other large vacant space, formerly occupied by Contact Us Communications, is also about to see a new tenant, an indoor go-kart race track. Kristen McKinley, who leads the West Scioto Area Commission, said last year some residents were concerned that the apartment project would be an extended-stay hotel and attract a transient population and crime. But the developer has assured her that it will be apartments. Columbus City Council in March did approve a zoning variance that allows the developer to build ground-floor residential units." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/08/27/mill-run-plans-changes-in-wake-of-movie-theater-closing/70651952007/

Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus opens tomorrow in Arena District "The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus is located at 401 North Front Street just outside Nationwide Arena. The main entrance is located in the alleyway immediately north of the entrances to Buca di Beppo and Starbucks. It is more than 5,000 square feet and features four betting windows, 14 self-service betting kiosks from Suzohapp, one giant LED Video Wall and 20 TV monitors. The full-service restaurant operated by Delaware North, will have food options that every sports fan will enjoy. The Fanatics Sportsbook Columbus will offer viewing experiences and legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, basketball, hockey, baseball, alongside tennis, soccer, golf, MMA and boxing. The development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house at Fanatics Betting and Gaming and supported by a number of world-class trading suppliers." https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/24/2731544/0/en/Fanatics-Sportsbook-Columbus-Blue-Jackets-To-Open-Retail-Location-in-Columbus-Arena-District-on-Friday-After-Special-Preview-Day.html

Etna Twp. getting new distribution center at I-70 & Ohio 310 interchange "An Etna Township industrial park is growing with another distribution center coming to the Interstate 70 corridor. Construction has started on a speculative 250,020-square-foot distribution center at The Cubes at Etna 70, a 305 acre industrial park. The new building will join the Kohl’s distribution center that opened at The Cubes in 2020. Located at 10300 Schuster Way, the park is adjacent to the I-70 interchange at Ohio 310. The new building is the third development at The Cubes at Etna 70 from CRG, a national real estate development and investment firm, and an affiliate of its capital partner, LXP Industrial Trust. CRG and LXP purchased the 305 acres in 2018. Since then, a 1.2-million-squarefoot e-commerce fulfillment center was built for Kohl’s, creating more than 400 jobs, according to the news release. A separate 1,074,840-square-foot speculative distribution facility was completed in October and subsequently leased to a confidential Fortune 500 manufacturing tenant that plans to use the location as its new distribution center. And this won’t be the last development at The Cubes. The park, the release states, has three remaining pad-ready sites that can accommodate build-to-suit users ranging from 250,000 to 800,000 square feet." https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/pataskala/2023/08/18/distribution-center-coming-to-interstate-70-ohio-310-interchange/70604180007/

OSU trustees approve new master plan "After 18 months and six consecutive visits to the trustees, board members approved Framework 3.0, the next iteration of Ohio State's master plan. The plan includes a number of projects that could take place in the next five to 15 years, with room to be flexible as enrollment and employee needs change. Hoffsis said a major theme of the plan is connection — connecting north and south campus, connecting the campus core to Carmenton, connecting the city to the university through updated transportation." Some near- to mid-term changes could include: • Replacing Evans Lab with updated research labs, teaching labs and faculty offices • Renovate and modernize Hughs Hall • Renovate and build new residence halls across campus to add more beds and address inequities • Building out new labs and commercial enterprises in Carmenton • Improve pedestrian and bike lanes, as well as build a new rapid bus transit station. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2023/08/18/ohio-state-trustees-approve-budget-new-master-plan-discuss-affirmative-action-osu/70501431007/

A little more on this^ in today's Dispatch: First stand-alone pedestrian bridge over I-270 to link Hilliard to other communities "A stand-alone bridge, an $11.5 million project, is proposed just south of, and parallel to, the Hilliard Cemetery Road bridge. It would span the entire width of the outerbelt and median, connecting Hilliard's gateway on the west to the the Mill Run corridor to the east. The bridge and multi-use trail would have one crossing with vehicle traffic at the northbound 270 ramp to Hilliard Cemetery Road. However, Hilliard officials are considering building a tunnel under the ramp. A tunnel already is in the plans for the ramp on the east side of the interstate from Hilliard to southbound Interstate 270 that would guide walkers, runners and bikers to and from the bridge. Construction could begin in the fall of 2026. The pedestrian bridge would connect to Trueman Boulevard east of the outerbelt. That would extend north to Tuttle Mall. On the Hilliard side, it would connect to Britton Parkway and north into Dublin." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/08/10/hilliards-proposed-pedestrian-bridge-would-span-interstate-270/70542029007/

There's a video at the top of this link with more details: https://hilliardohio.gov/bridging-the-gap-over-i-270-at-cemetery-road-pedestrian-path-survey-results/

Shared use path and pedestrian tunnel to be built on Cemetery Road over Interstate 270 in Hilliard "A shared use path and pedestrian tunnel will be built on Cemetery Road over Interstate 270 in Hilliard costing $2.9 million. Pedestrian improvements will also be made at Roberts Road from Brookford Drive to Willow Glen." https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/columbus-traffic-the-roundabouts-are-coming-gov-dewine-announces-3-new-franklin-county-traffic-circles

Apartment complex approved for Delaware’s 270-acre Addison Farms development "A developer is constructing a 50-acre apartment complex as part of a more than 270-acre residential development in northwest Delaware. Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods is developing 280 units across 45 single-story buildings to expand the Addison Farms development north of downtown Delaware by 52 acres. The proposal was approved by the DPC on Wednesday and now heads to city council for a final review before beginning construction. Plans call for the apartments to sit west of U.S. 33 and east of Troy Road within four, six and eight-unit buildings, and to be built in two phases: the east side first with 145 units in 24 buildings and the west side second with 135 units in 21 buildings. Redwood’s proposal joins several other developments beginning construction with the 273-acre Addison Farms... Four Seasons at Addison Farms is set to include two clusters of homes, 49 single-family homes on 29 acres and 45 single-family homes on 11 acres. Addison Properties is also constructing 67 single-family homes on 22 acres and 146 townhomes are set to expand the property by 17 acres." https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/delaware-county/apartment-complex-approved-for-delawares-270-acre-addison-farms-development/

More on this^ in today's Dispatch: "Work is expected to start in a few weeks on a 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse, the largest industrial building in New Albany. VanTrust Real Estate, based in Kansas City with offices in Columbus, is building the distribution center for the Danish logistics company DSV. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2024. This will be the first tenant in the New Albany Tech Park, a 500-acre development announced by VanTrust last year on Jug Street, south of the Intel factories under construction. DSV, which transports and manages goods for companies around the world, expects to target semi-conductor suppliers among others for the distribution center. This is the company's first Ohio warehouse." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/08/03/huge-new-warehouse-in-new-albany-targets-intel-suppliers/70514315007/

New Albany Tech Park lands first development project "Commercial real estate developer VanTrust Real Estate, LLC has secured its first client in the New Albany Tech Park, located in the New Albany International Business Park. VanTrust will develop a 1.2 million square-foot building for DSV, a global leader in the transport and logistics industry based in Denmark. Construction will begin in August, with expected completion by December 2024. When completed, the warehouse will be the largest industrial building in the City of New Albany. VanTrust announced plans for a new business park, New Albany Tech Park, in June 2022. The Park sits on approximately 500 acres located within The New Albany International Business Park, the region's largest master-planned business park. The build-to-suit DSV warehouse is the first of multiple projects anticipated at the New Albany Tech Park." https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/23/08/n33527021/vantrust-signs-first-development-project-in-new-albany-tech-park

Probably won't get a Starbucks, there's already one a few doors down from there

Ohio’s land boom: CRE expert reflects on Central Ohio’s recent land grabs "When Intel announced a $20 billion commitment to build at least two semiconductor plants on 1,000 acres in Central Ohio in 2022, it was the largest private-sector investment in Ohio's history. It also marked the start of a new surge of interest in the region. In March, Chicago-based solar panel company Invenergy announced a $600 million investment in what could become the country's largest solar panel production facility. And on June 26, Amazon announced it will spend an estimated $7.8 billion over the next six years to build data center operations in the area, marking the second-largest private sector investment for the state. Even Microsoft has joined the land grab frenzy, buying a $57 million parcel in Licking County, although it has yet to announce its plans for the site. The last 18 months have shown a continued acceleration of a diverse set of industries making needle-moving investments in Central Ohio that impact all of North America,” said Dan Wendorf, executive managing director for the JLL Columbus office. “What’s different about what’s taking place now is that these companies represent four to five new industries, and they've come to Ohio in big ways.” Wendorf recently discussed these investments in Central Ohio and their impacts on the area... That interview can be found here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/26/ohio-s-land-boom-cre-expert-reflects-on-land-grab.html

I read recently they originally thought it would be just over $1 million but it ballooned to around $7 million

Wells Fargo plans to build technology hub in Central Ohio "Global banking giant Wells Fargo & Co., which has a minimal presence in central Ohio, is setting up a technology hub in the region that will create 585 jobs paying an average wage of $60.10 per hour. The project received approval for state tax incentives at Monday's Ohio Tax Credit Authority. Wells hasn't picked a site for the project yet other than saying it will be somewhere in central Ohio. This will mark Wells' first major investment in the region, which is a banking and insurance hub with the headquarters of Huntington Bancshares and Nationwide here along with a host of other financial services companies. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s McCoy Center at Polaris houses 12,000 workers. At this point, economic development officials and Wells have little to say about the project. "We are excited about the possibility and continue to evaluate numerous real estate options," the company said, promising to release more details in the weeks ahead." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/economy/2023/07/31/wells-fargo-co-gets-incentives-to-create-tech-hub-in-central-ohio/70488578007/

According to NBC4, the station opened up without completing their final inspections: "The Columbus Building and Zoning Department said the station is operating without a certificate of occupancy. Anthony Celebrezze, with the Columbus Building and Zoning Department, said the owners submitted plans for the station in May. They went through all the steps except completing their final inspection, which would give them that certificate. NBC4 asked Celebrezze if the station was allowed to open. “They were not allowed to open. You are not supposed to open until you have a certificate of occupancy,” Celebreeze said."

At first I thought this was in reference to the Marijuana initiative. 😂🤣 It would be awesome for bud only lanes all over campus!

They've been saying for quite some time the plan for this year is... pouring the foundation for Phase One in the spring, move cranes and machines in during the summer and vertical construction on the first two fabs would start in the fall... And an article from a few days ago in the Dispatch also says they remain on schedule: "Construction of Intel’s $20 billion project in New Albany remains on track and on time, and Sen. Sherrod Brown wants to make sure it stays that way. The semiconductor company has indicated that the project is on schedule with the plants slotted to begin producing the tiny, critical devices in 2025. Intel has said the site could become one of the largest semiconductor sites in the world with as many as eight factories." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/manufacturing/2023/07/21/brown-bill-follows-chips-act-to-avoid-construction-delays-at-intel/70436788007/

An article in today's Dispatch included a picture from last week at Intel