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More on Anduril's Arsenal 1 project near Rickenbacker from Forbes... Anduril Goes Big In Ohio With Arsenal 1 ‘Hyperscale’ Drone Plant "Back in August, disruptive defense tech outfit Anduril announced they had raised $1.5 billion specifically to build a ‘hyperscale manufacturing facility’ which would produce ‘orders of magnitude’ more drones than current processes. Their grand plan was to ‘rebuild the arsenal of democracy.’ Now this vision is taking on concrete reality, with the announcement of a giant new high-tech development in Ohio, a five-million-square-foot facility named Arsenal 1 which will create more than 4,000 new jobs. The new facility represents the biggest new project ever in Ohio’s history by number of employees. The facility will be located on 500 acres in Pickaway County near Rickenbacker International Airport. Anduril plans to invest over $900 million, having selected the area on the basis of the available workforce and the supportive business climate." The rest of the article found here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/01/16/anduril-goes-big-in-ohio-with-arsenal-1-hyperscale-drone-plant/

Superload number 33 will arrive tomorrow at Intel... LOAD 33 TO NEW ALBANY Load 33 departed from the dock in Manchester on Friday, January 17 and will be delivered to the Intel site in New Albany on Sunday, January 19. Cargo: Tank Height: 19’2” Width: 16’3” Length: 196′ Weight: 456,342 pounds

Delaware County gets federal roads grant to fix problematic railroad crossing on East Orange Road "...About 10,000 vehicles and 30 trains use the crossing daily, making it the busiest east-west crossing in Delaware County. The county received its largest-ever federal grant for roads to fund about half of the projected cost for the underpass. The $21-million federal grant will help fund reconstruction of a portion of East Orange Road, including trenching under the Norfolk Southern and CSX rail lines. The entire project is expected to cost about $43 million and will be managed by the Delaware County Engineer's Office. The project will lower East Orange Road by about 22 feet beneath the rail overpass and will include a deep storm sewer along the roadway. A shared-use path also will be constructed. A temporary road will route vehicular traffic along the south side of the existing road during construction..." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/01/18/delaware-county-orange-township-road-railroad-crossing-fix/77773942007/

CBS is reporting there will be a news conference today at 9:00 Anduril Industries (a defense technology company) partnership that will create 4,000 jobs by 2035

ODOT to begin building new I-71 exit south of 36/37 this summer A new I-71 exit south of U.S. Route 36/State Route 37 would link up to a new roadway, Sunbury Parkway. This new road would run from Africa Road near U.S. Route 36 to West Cherry Street in Sunbury, according to ODOT's project website. The $31.9 million plan also calls for a combined I-71 to U.S. Route 36 interchange to meet the roadways' growing capacity. The existing interchange sees more than 36,000 vehicles per day. Construction is expected to begin this summer and take place in multiple phases. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/01/15/new-i-71-exit-near-tanger-outlets-delaware-county-ohio-highway-proposed/77714290007/

What is ‘Project Thor’? Billion-dollar mystery in Pickaway County sparks speculation and secrecy "The Pickaway County Commissioners are drawing scrutiny as they maintain secrecy around a proposed billion-dollar development project in northern Pickaway County. Dubbed “Project Thor,” the initiative, designated as a state mega project, is expected to generate nearly $75 million in annual payroll and could bring transformative economic benefits to the region. During the November 26 County Commissioners meeting, an executive session was held involving the commissioners, County Administrator, Tim Colburn (P3), and the county clerk. Such sessions allow elected officials to meet privately without public input. Following this session, the commissioners approved a letter of support to the Ohio Department of Development, requesting $70 million from the All Ohio Future Fund for infrastructure improvements at the proposed site. The letter described Project Thor as a “transformational opportunity” with “long-term, lasting impacts across Ohio.” Rickenbacker at the Center of Speculation The proposed site for Project Thor is in the vicinity of the Rickenbacker area, where CT Realty has been heavily investing in logistics development. CT Realty’s Rickenbacker Logistics Park currently includes over 5 million square feet of shovel-ready space. The secrecy surrounding Project Thor has fueled speculation. Residents and journalists have pressed officials for details, with little success. A source provided a copy of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed by commissioners related to the project, though the name of the overseeing company was redacted." https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2025/01/15/what-is-project-thor-billion-dollar-mystery-in-pickaway-county-sparks-speculation-and-secrecy/

"Work has started on a major utility improvement project involving the installation of a duct bank in the New Albany International Business Park. Work is taking place along several key roads, including Beech Road, Jug Street, Ganton Parkway, Worthington Road, Mink Street, Clover Valley Road, Briscoe Parkway and Horizon Court. While the project will bring long-term connectivity to the area, it will involve some temporary traffic impacts, such as lane restrictions on Beech Road, between Ganton Parkway and Smith’s Mill Road south. Two-way, two-lane traffic will be maintained in nearly all areas to minimize disruption." https://www.dispatch.com/

Cell phone lot and traffic changes coming to John Glenn Columbus airport Monday "Air travelers headed to John Glenn Columbus International Airport will notice some significant changes starting Monday as construction on the airport's new terminal progresses. Traffic heading east on International Gateway will be reduced to two lanes just past the red lot before widening at the terminal. The airport's cell phone lot also will change locations starting Monday, according to a press release from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA). The speed limit east of Stelzer Road will be lowered to 25 miles per hour to accommodate the work zone. These changes come just over a month after the airport closed its blue parking lot to make way for terminal construction. The airport added 2,550 new parking spots to the red lot to make up for those lost with the blue lot's closure. John Glenn Columbus' new terminal will cost nearly $2 billion to build and will feature 36 gates that can accommodate up to 13 million passengers. Airport officials hope to finish the terminal by 2029." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2025/01/10/parking-and-traffic-changes-coming-to-john-glenn-columbus-airport-monday/77595410007/

A little more about this^ project in today's Dispatch... "Finally, a stop in Marysville for one of the area's most innovative developments: The $100-million redevelopment of the 17-acre former Water & Light district. The development, by the Columbus firm Connect Realty, includes new construction and renovation of old buildings including the former water treatment plant, into hospitality space, residences, co-working space, restaurants and other commercial uses. Towering grain silos on the site will also be incorporated into the project, which includes a stream through the center traversed by a historic iron bridge. Work should start on the project by the end of this year, in anticipation of opening in 2027." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2025/01/08/ten-development-projects-that-could-transform-central-ohio-in-2025/76573677007/

Fran Ryan Center Open House is tomorrow... Join Council President Shannon G. Hardin at the opening of the Fran Ryan Center, the latest addition to Olde Town East. This new space is designed to foster creativity, wellness, and community connection. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour this new facility and experience live demonstrations in the creative studios. When and Where: Wednesday, January 8 11:00 AM Fran Ryan Center 865 E. Capital Street

EYE ON LIBRARY'S FUTURE 2 new buildings, 2 renovations to be completed in 2025 "The Columbus Metropolitan Library system will be completing renovations and construction at four library branches in 2025. Ben Zenitsky, spokesperson for the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), said two of those branches — the Barnett and Linden branches — involve additions and renovations of old buildings. The other two branches, Canal Winchester and Marion-Franklin, will be new buildings that will be placed not far from the original branches. Construction crews will be affixing the final steel beam on Jan. 9 at the new Marion-Franklin Branch, which will be located at 2800 Lockbourne Road, just a few blocks from the original location at 2740 Lockbourne Road. The new branch will be more than double the square footage of the original — expanding from 4,000 square feet to nearly 10,000 square feet. And, on Jan. 14, crews will be placing the final steel beam on CML’s Canal Winchester location. The new building will be 30,000 square feet, nearly six times the size of the original building, which is 5,400 square feet. The CML system has a total of 23 libraries in Franklin County, and the four new buildings are the second of the library system’s aspirational building program." Canal Winchester Branch: Marion-Franklin Branch: Linden Branch: Barnett Branch: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/12/31/2-new-2-expanded-columbus-metro-library-branches-opening-in-2025/77070137007/

Amazon Web Services confirms Fayette County plans "Amazon Web Services (AWS) officials confirmed Tuesday that Fayette County is the first site outside of central Ohio where AWS plans to establish new data centers — an estimated investment of $5 billion into the county. “Jefferson Township in Fayette County is the first locality confirmed as part of our planned investment of $10 billion to expand data center operations in Ohio; AWS plans to invest $5 billion by 2030..." The new data centers will contain computer servers, data storage drives, networking equipment, and other forms of technology infrastructure used to power cloud computing, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The new investment builds on the $7.8 billion investment plan announced by AWS last year, which was in addition to the more than $6 billion already invested through 2022, bringing the company’s announced planned investment in Ohio since 2015 to more than $23 billion by the end of 2030, according to a news release. This represents the second-largest planned investment by a single private sector company in the state’s history. Construction on the data centers is expected to begin in early 2025." https://www.wnewsj.com/2024/12/27/aws-data-centers-planned-for-fayette-county/

Gahanna Planning Commission OKs 159-unit apartment complex on West Johnstown Road "As central Ohio grapples with a housing shortage, Gahanna is adding 159 apartment units to the city's west side. Columbus-based real estate developer Avenue Partners will build an apartment complex on 6.5 acres at 175 W. Johnstown Road after the plans were approved Dec. 18 by the Gahanna Planning Commission. Plans show the complex will have seven three-story apartment buildings, with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. The property was listed as owned by Access LLC and was a former medical office and clinic buildings site located where the south end of Old Ridenour Road ends in a T intersection with West Johnstown Road, a block off U.S. 62 (Granville Street) and across the road from a United Dairy Farmers store." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/12/26/gahanna-planning-commission-approves-159-unit-apartment-complex/77030265007/

Here’s what traveled through Ohio via super loads this year "This was the year of the super load... Initially announced as just under two dozen super loads, 2024 ended up seeing 32 of the massive transports, starting in March and continuing through December. In total, more than 11 million pounds of goods were transported. Each super load began its journey into Ohio the same way, unloading from a barge along the Ohio River in Adams County and traveling around Columbus and into Licking County. Four of the first five super loads diverged from the pack, carting shipments to Freepoint Eco-Systems recycling facility near Hebron. The rest moved to New Albany to help build Ohio’s “Silicon Heartland” from the ground up. Although all of the super loads were — true to their name — enormous transports, four stood out as “extra-large” super loads, beginning their journeys June 25, July 8, July 24 and Aug. 13, respectively. These carried air processors known as cold boxes, which are used in Intel’s silicon chip manufacturing process. The sheer size of the cold boxes led to massive transports, tipping the scales around 916,000 pounds a piece. Other shipments included other various air processors, tanks, absorbers and receivers, which are all used in semiconductor manufacturing. The more recent transports have been smaller and therefore less disruptive to traffic. The last super load began its journey Dec. 10 and arrived at New Albany on Dec. 15. It carried machinery called a warm gas pipe skid, crossed through eight Ohio counties and weighed 469,284 pounds." https://www.nbc4i.com/intel-in-ohio/heres-what-traveled-through-ohio-via-super-loads-this-year/

Upper Arlington Embarks on $112M Infrastructure Overhaul with Emphasis on Pedestrian and Cycling Amenities "The City's initiative to enhance civic infrastructure enters a novel phase as the 2025 Capital Improvement Program takes off. Amid the roster of upgrades, Redding Road is slated for a notable transformation, the stretch from Fishinger Road to Zollinger Road earmarked for an infusion of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations... Meanwhile, ten crosswalks—embarking points such as McCoy Road at Mountview Road and Northam Road at Coventry Road—will see enhancements designed to boost pedestrian safety. ...A shared-use path is also on the horizon for Riverside Drive, creating a seamless artery to the Quarry Trails Metro Park... https://hoodline.com/2024/12/upper-arlington-embarks-on-112m-infrastructure-overhaul-with-emphasis-on-pedestrian-and-cycling-amenities/

Landlocked Upper Arlington adds 12.5 acres on Henderson Road with annexation from Columbus "Upper Arlington’s boundaries are growing ever so slightly by 12.5 acres, as the city takes over part of Henderson Road from Columbus in a boundary adjustment. Henderson Road is part of the northern boundary between Upper Arlington and Columbus. Upper Arlington has been looking into the future of Henderson Road for a few years, City Manager Steve Schoeny said. “It's an area that is important to both of us, but it's much more of a focus for us than it is for the city of Columbus. They've got a lot of priorities to look at — this is one of our top priorities,” Schoeny said. The cities are still working together, but the annexation will allow Upper Arlington to have more control over the future of the area. The results of a study, shared with council in October, identified the potential for a mixed-use district with a “neighborhood first” design featuring walkable streets, a multitude of housing options and commercial buildings integrated into the streetscape." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/12/19/upper-arlington-real-estate-columbus-property-henderson-road/76972110007/ Henderson and Reed roads mark the boundary between Columbus and Upper Arlington

Wait wait wait... Facebook has voices of reason there? News to me

CNBC ranks the 75 most valuable college athletic programs Ohio State University ranked as most valuable in the nation: "Ohio State University is the most valuable athletic program, worth an estimated $1.32 billion. The Buckeyes had $280 million in revenue in 2023, the most of any school. Other factors that helped propel the Buckeyes to the top of the rankings are an alumni base of over 600,000, a fan base of more than 11 million, boosters that donated nearly $60 million last year, and a football team that routinely has attendance of over 100,000 at its games." https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/19/college-sports-programs-valuations.html

Recent drone video showing progress at Intel Ohio One

Cool little video showing some of the superloads as they made their way to the Intel site:

New Albany Silicon Heartland November 2024 Project Update from the city of New Albany

7Brew Coffee to open multiple locations across Columbus Region 7Brew Coffee, with locations in Hilliard, Lancaster and Zanesville, will open its latest new location on the north side of Columbus at 8380 N. High Street on Monday, December 23. 7Brew locations are purposefully and carefully chosen on corners with a stoplight, and their two drive-thru lanes, plus a kick out lane, offer a fast and convenient coffee experience, sans traffic build up. “The biggest advantage we have over our competition is the tablet ordering system. You don’t have to wait to get to the window – when it’s ready, the team brings it out to you, and can then get in the kickout lane,” Nadar explained. “We don’t block anyone from coming and going as they like.” 7Brews plans on bringing twenty other 7Brews to the Central Ohio region. Construction will soon begin at another Columbus location, at 1288 Georgesville Rd. -614now

Schaefer Announces Expansion in Columbus Region "Schaefer, a structural engineering firm specializing in innovative design services, has announced plans to expand its operations in the Columbus Region. The investment will create 20 new high-paying jobs with an annual payroll of $1.6 million, while retaining 20 existing positions. Schaefer’s expansion in Columbus’ historic Warehouse District reflects the company’s growing client base and commitment to supporting industries such as commercial, healthcare, and industrial development. The new Columbus office will play a critical role in delivering cutting-edge engineering services to clients across the country, strengthening Schaefer’s footprint in the region. “This expansion underscores our confidence in the Columbus Region as a hub for innovation and talent,” said Ryan Konst, Executive Vice President at Schaefer. “With its robust business environment and access to highly skilled professionals, Columbus continues to be an ideal location for us to grow and serve our clients more effectively.” The Columbus Region continues to experience unprecedented growth, fueled by major investments across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. With its skilled workforce and reputation for innovation, the Region is emerging as one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic metropolitan areas in the country." https://columbusregion.com/press-release/schaefer-announces-expansion-in-columbus-region/

"The Columbus Department of Public Utilities is building the Home Road Water Plant and transmission mains to prepare for the growing need for clean, safe drinking water in central Ohio. The improvements will provide additional treatment capacity, increased reliability and relief to the three existing Columbus water plants. The new water plant will be built along the Scioto River near the corner of Home and Dublin roads in southern Delaware County. Water transmission mains will connect the new plant to the Columbus water distribution system near the Blazer Parkway area at Frantz Road and Parkcenter Avenue and other strategic areas in northwest Columbus." https://www.dispatch.com/

They're building something similar to that at The Wilds: Planned lodging at The Wilds will allow guests to look into giraffe barn "The Wilds will be the recipient of a $2.5 million grant from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund to build a new giraffe barn as part of its conservation efforts and to build innovative lodging that allows guests to interact more freely with the animals in its 30th year of being open to the public. 'It’s apartment-style lodging that will serve as a way for guests to be more deeply engaged with giraffes, A family can rent out the second-floor apartments with windows that look into the giraffe barn. We’re getting lots of excitement around that idea and we think it will be very popular."