Luvcbus

$13 million approved for Route 161 widening ahead of Intel project "Ohio officials on Monday approved $13 million to widen a stretch of Route 161. The State of Ohio's Controlling Board, which handles adjustments to the state budget, voted to direct $3 million to the project in the 2022 fiscal year, and another $10 million in fiscal year 2023. Construction crews will add one lane in either direction between Interstate 270 and Route 62. The highway currently has two lanes in both directions. The project is intended to address population growth and accommodate a pair of semiconductor factories that chipmaker Intel plans to build in New Albany." "It is imperative we update our infrastructure in anticipation of future development," he said. "The newly approved funds for this project will further connect businesses and citizens and contribute to the exponential economic growth happening in central Ohio.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/06/14/here-ohios-plans-widening-route-161-ahead-intel-project/7615025001/

Some of the businesses that used to be next to that Kroger have began closing due to the impending construction. A family member of mine used to use the salon that was in there, but it closed about three months ago. She said they told her it was because of this upcoming project.

Tell us more! 🤣😂

Cardinal Health to create 100 jobs with Grove City distribution center "Drug distribution company Cardinal Health announced Thursday it will create about 100 jobs with the opening of a new distribution center in Grove City. The center is projected to be fully operational in November and is part of a multi-year warehouse modernization and growth plan, according to a press release. The 208,144-square-foot location will work to support Cardinal Health's at-Home Solutions business, which provides medical supplies for in-home care aimed at those with chronic or serious health conditions. It is the 10th distribution center in the U.S. for Cardinal Health at-Home Solutions. The news comes on the heels of a 574,670-square-foot distribution facility announced at the end of March and set to open later this year." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/06/02/cardinal-health-open-new-distribution-center-grove-city/7483260001/

Capital budget bill passes, Intel incentives approved "State lawmakers approved a capital budget bill that calls for spending $3.5 billion on improving school safety, upgrading parks, investing in community projects and helping Intel build a semiconductor plant in Licking County. Initial incentives for the Intel megaproject include $300 million for a water reclamation plant, $101 million for increasing water and sewer capacity, $95 million for road work and a $600 million grant to offset the cost of building the plants here, rather than in other countries. Money can be clawed back, however, if Intel fails to hit certain performance standards, such as the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investments." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/06/01/what-ohios-3-5-b-capital-budget-year-huffman-cupp-ohio-legislature-funding-infrastructure-schools/7466665001/

Another lengthy article out today. This one from TechCrunch: Why Intel chose Columbus to build chips "The news arrives at a time when Columbus has entered the national spotlight as a high-tech hub. Startups like Root, Olive and Path have made waves, while big tech firms like Facebook, Amazon and Google have established presences in the city. Its reputation will likely only grow as more entrepreneurs and investors look beyond the coasts in a post-COVID world. It’s a new site for Intel, beyond our current presence in Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona in the U.S.,” Esfarjani says. “Within the site, we’re building a fabrication facility, which is where we do the wafer manufacturing. That’s the two big fabs, at least $20 billion. But the site is quite flexible and will give us the ability to expand that operation to other elements of the value chain. It’s a couple thousand acres. You can imagine what happens six, seven, ten years down the road." Lots more can be found here: https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/01/how-intel-landed-in-columbus/

Looks like we're another step closer to seeing dirt moving at the Intel site! "Ohio lawmakers are expected to dole out nearly $1.1 billion in incentives and tax assistance for Intel's semiconductor project in Licking County. The huge investment in roads, infrastructure and tax changes, which includes both state and federal taxpayer money, was included in the state's capital budget, which the Ohio Legislature is slated to approve Wednesday. Intel has promised to invest $20 billion in building two factories, called fabs, in Licking County to make semiconductors. State officials have laid out more than $2 billion in incentives, in total, and this budget is part of that overall sum. Lawmakers previously approved a 30-year tax credit for "megaprojects," which helped Ohio land the Intel computer chip factory in January. Intel would need to provide an annual economic impact report and could lose incentives or have to pay back incentives if the company doesn't meet certain requirements, such as the number of people employed. The $3.51 billion capital budget also includes $191 for community projects, $100 million for school safety grants and $50 million for improvements to local jails. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/05/31/intel-projects-ohio-incentives-total-nearly-1-1-b-latest-budget/7454868001/

Metro Parks to build canopy walkway at Blacklick Woods on East side "Metro Parks won’t be building a new nature center at Blacklick Woods Metro Park, but officials are still going ahead with plans to build a canopy walk through the trees and a tower with an elevator to bring people up to the walk and one of two observation decks. Metro Parks of Columbus and Franklin County is spending $2.1 million for the tower and steel walkway, which it aims to build and complete this year, said Tim Moloney, the agency’s executive director. Moloney said the canopy walk will be a 400-foot loop — 30 feet off the ground — to and from the tower. The Metro Parks board recently approved a $1.1-million contract with R.W. Setterlin Building Company of Columbus for the tower, which also will include a 50-to-55-foot-high observation deck. That deck will be accessible by stairs only from the 40-foot elevator tower that will have a smaller observation deck outside its doors, and will also be accessible from stairs from the ground. In May 2021, Metro Parks approved a $1 million contract with Setterlin for the canopy walk." https://dispatch-oh.newsmemory.com/?token=fb6ab35ddebe1a611f3dd445fa7b67c8&cnum=0b7d0e5f-fe67-eb11-9acf-90b11c3bc1f2&fod=1111111STD-0&selDate=20220531&licenseType=paid_subscriber&

Since their plan will be a net positive, hopefully they won't have to go to that last alternative proposal.

Intel vows to create more wetland than it removes "The application includes two on-site alternatives for the approximately 895-acre permit area located on a 926-acre site east of Clover Valley Road, west of Mink Street and south of Green Chapel Road. The site is in the process of being annexed to the city of New Albany. There is also an off-site alternative, located west of the proposed site, included in the application. The site is approximately 1,050 acres, southeast of U.S. 62 and south of Green Chapel Road, bisected by Beech Road and Miller Road. The off-site alternative would require significant expansion of utilities and the re-routing of Beech Road and electric transmission lines. 'Intel has been and will continue to work with EPA to comply with all recommendations and requirements related to mitigating the isolated wetlands on the Licking County site, with the proposed mitigation to occur in the same watersheds.' Qian said the plan proposes mitigation of 2.18 acres of forested credit, 4.25 acres of non-forested credit, and 14.4 acres of forested wetland credit to offset the impact to 9.98 acres of isolated wetlands. She said the impact on the local watershed will be a net positive, with more wetlands in place than previously. The application states the initial phase of the proposed development includes approximately 2.88 million square feet of occupiable space for two semiconductor chip manufacturing complexes, and an office building, and associated support facilities, storage areas, parking areas, storm water facilities and related infrastructure. The development may be expanded in additional phases to include up to eight chip manufacturing facilities and up to five office buildings, along with support facilities and warehouse structures. Construction of the initial phase will begin soon after issuance of the isolated wetland permit and to be completed by 2025. One alternative proposed by the company reduces the size of a parking lot, expands the size of a parking structure associated with future development, and eliminates an office building. The change allows for a stream to be maintained as open channel instead of being piped under the parking lot. This alternative would reduce office space by 520,000 square feet and parking by more than 272,800 square feet." https://dispatch-oh.newsmemory.com/?token=b12dac92602374530f2a7d2c127af568&cnum=0b7d0e5f-fe67-eb11-9acf-90b11c3bc1f2&fod=1111111STD-0&selDate=20220527&licenseType=paid_subscriber&

According to a story a while back in The Dispatch, they already have. "With the parking lot consumed by construction, visitors will be directed to park in the Vine Street Garage immediately south of the market. North Market visitors will be able to receive an hour of free parking with proof of purchase, the same benefit they get now on the surface parking lot. "I've timed it," Wolfe said. "You might have to walk 30 seconds long maybe." Wolfe plans significant upgrades to the market itself during construction, including improvements in lighting and the bathrooms." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/12/16/changes-store-north-market-tower-addition/8921932002/

The new development coming to Broad and Hamilton will be huge for Whitehall. The site will not only include the former Woodcliff complex but also the former Four Seasons Golf Center a little further east down Broad. An article from a couple months ago in The Dispatch highlights how much this will transform that area: "The plan that emerged calls for residences, shops, restaurants and offices laid out with boulevards and multiple outdoor gathering spots. The 50-acre site will feature an outdoor amphitheater as well as green space and ponds that blend into the 80-acre Whitehall Community Park next door. "We plan to go straight into vertical construction after demolition, in mid- to late-summer," said NR Investments Chief Operating Officer Terry Wellons. In addition, $10 million in street improvements are planned for the Broad and Hamilton intersection that will include street widening, bike lanes, new lighting and new crosswalks. That work is planned for next year." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/25/long-awaited-whitehall-project-start-soon/7034069001/

Another lengthy but interesting article on Intel out today, this one from Columbus Monthly. Exiled by Intel: Money, Uncertainty and Complicated Feelings in Licking County "The announcement detailed a project of mind-boggling scope: the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world by revenue would invest $20 billion to build two factories, called “fabs,” in a sleepy, farm-and-country-living area of Jersey Township in Licking County. When open in 2025, the plants would employ 3,000 people at wages averaging $135,000 a year plus benefits. The three-year building phase would create 7,000 construction jobs, and the operation would attract an additional 10,000 indirect jobs to the area. If Congress offered support, the Intel team said, they had plans to add six more fabs to the campus, for a total investment of $100 billion. That would build on the foundation already laid in Licking County, created over the course of eight months of competition the New Albany Co. and Intel. But the project didn’t come out of nowhere. The surrounding territory has long been groomed for commercial and industrial development by the New Albany Co., founded in 1987 by Les Wexner and his friend Jack Kessler. The plan was not only to create an upscale village but also to lay the table for economic growth, and the New Albany Co. today promotes itself as offering “technology- and shovel-ready” sites for commercial development. To find land for those projects, the city of New Albany has been annexing swaths of Jersey Township since 2002. Today, New Albany’s 6,000-acre International Business Park stretches along Route 161 from New Albany Road to Mink Street. Companies that have located data centers and other facilities there include, to name a few, Amazon, Google, Amgen, Aetna, Nationwide and Facebook parent company Meta, which in April announced that it would add 1 million square feet to its existing facility, bringing its investment in the area to $1.5 billion. The business park represents a total of 20,000 jobs. Still, these projects are dwarfed by the behemoth that is coming. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger boasted on Jan. 21 that within a decade, Intel Ohio could be the largest semiconductor manufacturing site in the world. He referred to it as a “mini-city.” The semiconductor chips may be tiny, but the effort and resources required to manufacture them is enormous. In Chandler, Arizona, where Intel is about to add two similar fabs to expand an existing operation, the construction will require the removal of 890,000 cubic yards of dirt, The  New York Times  reports, which will be carted away at a rate of one dump truck per minute. The foundations will require 100,000 tons of steel." For anyone interested, the whole article can be found here: https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2022/05/25/intel-plant-johnstown-licking-county-jobsohio-jersey-township/9906155002/

Columbus airport terminal project scores funding to relocate a 4,500-foot taxiway to enable construction of a new passenger terminal "Construction literally paving the way for a replacement terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport is among recipients of the first Congressional earmarks after a decade-long ban. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority is seeking bids for the first phase of construction to relocate a 4,500-foot taxiway to enable construction of a new passenger terminal and ensure safer aircraft movement to and from the facility. Construction of the $25 million project is expected to start next spring and take just over three years, an airport spokeswoman said. A $2.25 million Community Project Funding grant – that's the official term for earmarks – that Ohio's U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown added to this spring's bipartisan federal appropriations bill is supporting the taxiway project. The portion out for bid now is expected to cost north of $9 million for demolition, paving and infrastructure. Proposals are due in mid-June. The authority last month selected the design team for the 35-40 gate terminal that would replace an outdated 1958 structure. Design and construction are expected to take six years and costs are likely to exceed $1 billion." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/05/24/cmh-terminal-prep-earmark.html

With all the road construction about to start around the site, all the houses about to come down, upgrading of utilities, site prep and grading, coupled with all the construction already underway, the entire area near Intel will basically be one huge construction site by July. It's going to be quite the scene!

Another interesting article out today regarding Intel. This one from Columbus CEO: How Ohio colleges are building a "Silicon Heartland" workforce ready for Intel "On March 17, Intel delivered Ohio education leaders some exciting news. Joined by Gov. Mike DeWine and a host of community, business and education leaders at Columbus State Community College, the company announced a $100 million investment over the next decade in semiconductor education and research programs in order to staff its newly announced factory near New Albany. To sustain and grow the invention and production of chip technologies, the U.S. has to increase the number of students enrolled in STEM-related courses at colleges and universities and increase the number of diversity of graduates into the industry. In Ohio, that means creating a talent pipeline that aligns with Intel’s needs over the next decade." More can be found here: https://www.columbusceo.com/story/business/briefs/2022/05/24/how-ohio-colleges-building-intel-ready-workforce/9613478002/

I'm not sure how these particular ones wouldn't be tore down. The property is on the part of Miller Road where supposedly all the properties have been sold. I think this particular property is part of the land where one of the fabs will actually be built. Most of the silos and such look to be relatively new. It will be very interesting to see them all come down.

I've been wondering when the huge farmhouse with all its silos and buildings at the corner of Miller and Mink will come down.

Intel seeks wetlands permit approval to start construction on New Albany facilities "Construction of Intel’s two semiconductor facilities could start this summer, assuming it receives an isolated wetlands permit from the Ohio EPA. The facilities will span almost 1,000 acres. Intel’s proposed site in Jersey Township is in the middle of Clover Valley Road, Mink Street and Green Chapel Road. Some work has started on Jug Street and the road is closed on both ends so access is prohibited. But before Intel can break ground on the $20 billion project that is slated to will create 7,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions, it needs to be approved for that permit from the Ohio EPA. The engineering company EHM&T declined to interview. But in a statement sent to WOSU, they said “alignment with Ohio EPA standards is our priority and a necessary component of responsible development.” The Ohio EPA requires what’s called compensatory mitigation. This simply means, that whatever is damaged must be restored or rehabilitated. In this case, the EPA said “the applicants are required to fulfill a greater than ‘1 for 1’ mitigation and wetlands replacement.” There’s many ways to achieve this. The company is opting for what’s known as an in-lieu fee mitigation program. That’s where a company pays a non-profit or government organization to offset these damages. In this case, it's the Stream and Wetlands Foundation in Lancaster. Since there is about 14.6 acres of wetlands, it will pay the foundation up to $792,000 for that acreage or "credits" to address those damages." https://news.wosu.org/2022-05-19/intel-seeks-wetlands-permit-approval-to-start-construction-in-licking-county

I believe the old building will be tore down

Even more news regarding New Albany: Developer seeks rezoning for 141.8 acres in New Albany business park as 'Mink Street West' "New Albany City Council has heard a first reading on an ordinance that would rezone 141.8 acres in what would become known as the Mink Street West zoning district. The parcel, which is in Licking County but in the New Albany International Business Park, is south of Jug Street, west of Mink Street and north of Innovation Campus Way. "This acreage was annexed into New Albany in 2021, but the developer wanted to have a better idea about the transportation grid before seeking a rezoning,” said Stephen Mayer, planning manager for the city. “They are now seeking L-GE zoning for this acreage, which is the same zoning as much the area around it. New Albany staff concurs that this rezoning is best for the area.” Attorney Aaron Underhill, representing MBJ Holdings, said the hope is to have a much bigger project in the area but that some hesitation remains because of the impact such a facility would have on the roads. Underhill said if the rezoning is successful, his client likely would seek distribution and light manufacturing for the property. He said several companies are interested and that he wouldn’t be surprised if they’re “shovel ready” in the next year or two." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/new-albany/2022/05/18/developer-seeks-rezoning-142-acres-new-albany-ohio-business-park/9821767002/

Companies plan 190-acre New Albany site to develop a data center and industrial campus to accommodate up to 1.2 million square feet. "Real estate and investment firms Lincoln Property Company (LPC) and Harrison Street are to develop a new data center and industrial campus in New Albany, Ohio. A joint venture between the two companies has purchased a 190-acre site to construct a multi-use technology and distribution park designed for industrial and data center users and operators. The data center campus can accommodate up to 1.2 million square feet and 144MW of critical load designed specifically for hyperscalers and other major operators. LPC’s Chicago-based Midwest team will begin immediate construction on the first phase of the campus. Lincoln Rackhouse, the data center division of LPC, will immediately begin development of the data center campus which will include the construction of an on-site 200MVA, electrical sub-station. “Qualified ‘powered’ data center sites are becoming increasingly difficult to find in Tier 1 data center markets such as Northern Virginia and Chicago. The location in New Albany, Ohio offers the perfect environment for the next phase of large hyperscale and colocation growth,” Martin Peck, Executive Vice President, Lincoln Rackhouse." https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/lincoln-property-company-harrison-street-buy-columbus-site-for-144mw-campus/

Ohio State area adding 400-unit apartment development from Austin firm "Austin-based LV Collective this week closed on its purchase of 222 W. Lane Ave., where it plans to build a 400-unit apartment development. The project, intended to appeal to Ohio State University students, was first proposed last fall. The seven-story multifamily, student-oriented building the firm plans to develop will consist of 379 units and 885 beds. It should be ready for occupants in the fall of 2025, according to a media release. Demolition work at the site will start late this summer. Five floors will be residential units, including two-level townhomes. There will also be an indoor-outdoor cafe on the ground floor and a private study area. Amenities will include a gym with indoor-outdoor fitness areas and a third-story pool deck with a jumbotron and a view of Ohio Stadium." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/05/19/ohio-state-apartments-lv-collective.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_10&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

State grants New Albany $85 million for infrastructure upgrades near Intel "With the help of an $85 million grant from the state of Ohio, New Albany will begin making roadway and infrastructure improvements in anticipation of Intel’s arrival. New Albany City Council on May 17 voted 6-0 on a resolution that will authorize the city manager to enter into agreements to facilitate the design, construction and management of public infrastructure improvements in and near the 1,689-acre technology manufacturing district, which will include the land for Intel’s microchip-processing facility." "I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more to come,” he said. “You’re not just talking about roads; you’re talking about all the technology structure; you’re talking about water – you’re talking about a ton of stuff.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/new-albany/2022/05/18/state-grants-new-albany-ohio-85-million-infrastructure-upgrades-intel/9823827002/

Just a reminder- The Urban Living Tour is this Sunday, May 22 from 9 to 5 (And, at least for now, the weather looks like it might be perfect!) If interested, more info can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/urban-living-tour-2022-presented-by-elm-iron-tickets-303630716647?aff=ads I'm especially interested in checking out some of the new units at Quarry Trails. Anyone else thinking about going?