May 30, 200619 yr Now if they can just keep the county from doing something stupid on the north edge of downtown... Which building(s) along Central do they want to take out now?
May 30, 200619 yr Now if they can just keep the county from doing something stupid on the north edge of downtown... Which building(s) along Central do they want to take out now? Well, not exactly along Central. The County has long eyed -- and may well have either ownership or control -- of the structures on the east side of Sandusky Street between the new Hayes County Building and the corner of Central and Sandusky -- with the possible exception of the former Lutheran church (now Seventh Day Adventist, I think). Word is that they are considering taking out those nice historic resources and erecting another large architecturally boring county-plex. Interesting historical note -- I believe that one of the buildings was a boyhood home of Vincent Minelli, husband of Judy Garland and father of Liza. Yes, THE Judy Garland. Maybe Liza can come back and do a benefit concert. Then again, ick. Maybe not such a good idea.
August 17, 200618 yr From Business First of Columbus, 8/11/06: New road a prelude to Grady Memorial Hospital's bid to expand care Business First of Columbus - August 11, 2006 by Jeff Bell, Business First Grady Memorial Hospital is ready to start carving a road that will serve as a gateway to its planned health-care campus in southern Delaware County. Once OhioHealth Boulevard is paved, construction is expected to begin in mid-2007 on outpatient facilities and medical offices that could eventually become part of a full-service hospital. That is the hope of Grady administrators and the hospital's parent company, Columbus-based OhioHealth Corp., said Vicki Lewis, Grady's vice president for strategic development. "It's our desire to have a hospital there in five to seven years," she said. "That will be driven by the marketplace. We feel pretty good about the site and its potential." The medical buildings will rise from a 105-acre tract east of Route 23 near the Delaware Area Career Center. The land is in the heart of southern Delaware County and its booming housing market. FULL ARTICLE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/08/14/story5.html?b=1155528000^1329686
August 19, 200618 yr All of the buildings will be incorporated into the long-range layout of the hospital campus, she said. But the fate of Grady's hospital on Delaware's west side is unclear. "We haven't determined that yet," Lewis said. "It would be our desire and hope a health-care use would remain there." Simple, if you like north of Oh 37 and west of US 42, go to Marion's hospital. Ingrates! :x
October 14, 200618 yr City funds park, pool projects Delaware News, 10/11/06 Delaware City Council showed its continued support for Mingo Park during its Monday night meeting. Mayor Windell Wheeler said he wanted to clear up any misconceptions that council was having second thoughts about its initial decision to fully fund a 15,000-square-foot skatepark in Mingo Park. Originally slated to break ground before winter, the construction was postponed, leading some members of council to question if costs would increase. In May, City Council approved full funding of the project up to $400,000. "The council does support the skatepark," Wheeler said. "We are just waiting on the bids to come in." The skatepark is planned for construction north of the park road and river and east of the Mingo Park Pool complex.
November 22, 200618 yr From the 11/15/06 Dispatch: Delaware rejects Wal-Mart proposal Opposition raised to size of supercenter Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio — A proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter on Delaware’s south side has been rejected by the City Council. At its meeting Monday night, the council voted down a preliminary development plan and four conditional-use permits for a 184,212-square-foot facility. The 22-acre site is on the southeast corner of Rt. 23 and Cheshire Road, and the store would have replaced a smaller Wal-Mart a couple of miles north that was built in 1993. The city’s planning commission twice rejected the plan and permit bids from Wal-Mart. The city’s planning department, however, recently endorsed the latest applications, which had reduced the building size by 9 percent, eliminated 93 parking spaces and a proposed gas station, and added green space. Because the city’s planning commission rejected this batch of applications on Oct. 18, a "super-majority" of five out of seven council members’ approval was needed to override the commission’s recommendation. That didn’t happen. While Mayor Windell Wheeler and councilmen Dave Berwanger and Jim Moore voted to approve the applications, councilmen Joe DiGenova, Brad Ebersole and Gary Milner and Vice Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle rejected them. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/15/20061115-C6-01.html
December 12, 200618 yr From the 11/28/06 Dispatch: Delaware lands two new plants Companies to bring more than 100 manufacturing jobs Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Paul Wilson THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Delaware has beaten other Ohio communities and the state of Georgia for more than 100 manufacturing jobs. Two companies, which are joint ventures of Propel Industries of Columbus, will move their headquarters to Delaware. V &P Hydraulic Products LLC, currently in Lewis Center, and Sky Climber LLC, currently of Stone Mountain, Ga., will build twin 45,000-square-foot plants in the city. Sky Climber makes scaffolding for such things as window washing and high-rise construction. V&P makes custom hydraulic cylinders used in the mining and construction industries. Being next to each other will allow the companies to share resources such as purchasing, employees and management. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/28/20061128-E1-00.html Council to fund design to expand Justice Center ThisWeek Delaware, 12/3/06 City officials last week took another step toward providing more office space for local court and police operations by appropriating money to design an expansion to the Delaware Justice Center. With an architect already in place, Delaware City Council last Monday unanimously approved a measure to spend $135,000 to design an addition to the Justice Center at 70 N. Union St. The move will allow MKC Associates Inc., which has offices in Delaware and is the oldest architectural engineering company in Ohio, to begin designing the expansion immediately. Officials from the city and the company are working toward completion of the project prior to January 2008, when a second Delaware Municipal Court judge is expected to be sworn in. The decision to expand the Justice Center was made last year after city officials balked at a plan to contribute about $11.2-million to help build a new Delaware County Courthouse, which could have housed the Delaware Municipal Court. At that time, the courthouse project was estimated to cost $56.1-million.
December 12, 200618 yr From ThisWeek Delaware, 12/3/06: Large 36/521 project is in limbo Sunday, December 3, 2006 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A plan to build nearly 560,000 square feet of retail space and 332 single-family housing units on the city's far east side remains in limbo, as Delaware City Council members last week delayed a vote on the proposal. Citing the need for more cost-impact information, council members last Monday unanimously moved to take no action on a proposed 150-acre commercial and residential development near the intersection of state Route 521 and U.S. Route 36/state Route 37. Consequently, a decision on Zaremba Group LLC's proposal to build 559,122 square feet of retail space featuring two "big-box" stores south of routes 36/37, east of state Route 521 and west of Glenn Road, will not be made before council's Dec. 11 meeting. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=delaware&story=sites/thisweeknews/120306/Delaware/News/120306-News-272719.html
December 13, 200618 yr Developers and the City of Delaware (and Delaware Twp) have been going around in circles over "developing" that land near US 36/Oh 521 since I was in HS! (though the housing proposal has only come in the last year or so) So as much as I'm sadden by the changes I fear I'll see in Berkshire Twp, when I return next week, I'm glad the eastside of Delaware hasn't changed. :roll:
December 14, 200618 yr Update from Delaware News, 12/13/06: Offices, bed and breakfast approved By MATT GERISH Delaware City Council approved plans Monday which will bring two new medical office buildings and a bed and breakfast to the city. Possible approval for plans to bring 149 acres of retail-residential development will have to wait, as council tabled the proposal for the second time in a month. The preliminary development plans for the medical offices envision two, mirrored office buildings totaling 6,000 square feet each on 2.45 acres of land on state Route 521 at the southeast corner of the Bowtown Road-Route 521 intersection. Council's approval on Monday also paved the way for the Winter Street Inn Bed and Breakfast to open at 185 W. Winter St. The Winter Street Inn was originally constructed in 1876. The conditional use permit requested by Rodger Collom and Debbie Aburmaieleh would bring the Inn back to life as a three-bedroom bed and breakfast. MORE: http://www.snponline.com/NEWS12-13/12-13_decouncil.html
January 18, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Delaware, 12/17/06: Donahue: Project could help fire department Sunday, December 17, 2006 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A disputed proposal to build nearly 560,000 square feet of retail space and 332 single-family homes on the city's far east side last week received a vote of support by Delaware's fire chief. John Donahue last Monday told city officials he believes his department could provide adequate fire protection to a proposed 150-acre commercial and residential development near the intersection of state Route 521 and U.S. Route 36. Additionally, Donahue opined that permitting the development could provide needed revenue for local fire services. "In reviewing this project, I believe the proposed development would benefit the fire department through additional operating funds and impact fee funds," Donahue said in a prepared statement at Delaware City Council's Monday night meeting. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=delaware&story=sites/thisweeknews/121706/Delaware/News/121706-News-280717.html From same: Early plans for medical complex OK'd Sunday, December 17, 2006 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A new medical complex featuring a chiropractor and other wellness services soon could come to Delaware's east side after receiving preliminary approvals last week. For the past five and a half years, Dr. Brian Leaf has operated Leaf Chiropractic & Wellness Center on North Sandusky Street. Now, he hopes to expand his practice and bring new health-care services to the city's east side by building two, 6,000-square-foot medical facilities at the intersection of state Route 521 and Bowtown Road. Leaf's preliminary plans to build the offices on the 2.45-acre site received unanimous approval Monday from Delaware City Council members. Pending support of final development plans by the Delaware Planning Commission and council, the project could be completed prior to winter 2007. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=delaware&story=sites/thisweeknews/121706/Delaware/News/121706-News-280643.html
February 3, 200718 yr Council approves OWU upgrades ThisWeek Delaware, 3/5/06 Ohio Wesleyan University's plans to conduct sweeping upgrades to its athletics facilities cleared another hurdle last week, after a portion of the project received the go-ahead from city officials.
March 7, 200718 yr Restaurant's mural plan to go before city council NATE ELLIS | THIS WEEK March 4, 2007 PHOTO: Darrell Grimmett, executive chef at Nova, stands near one of the murals that decorate the interior of the restaurant. In addition to the inside murals like this one of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., the owners of the restaurant want to add similar paintings to the outside entrance to the restaurant. David Rea/ThisWeek DELAWARE - While it's not likely to be confused with Nashville's "Music Row" or Times Square in New York, the streetscape of Delaware's central business district soon could experience a visual transformation. Scanning the shops lining Sandusky Street in downtown Delaware, it's hard not to notice Nova Restaurant and Bar, at 5 and 7 N. Sandusky Street. Thanks in part to a brown metal storefront, the business that opened last April stands out from the more traditional brick and concrete structures that have lined the city's main drag for more than 100 years. That's not an accident, according to Nova's owner, Denise Dunlap. She wanted a "retro-industrial" look to help garner attention to the business. Now, Dunlap's at it again. But this time she's planning to break the downtown mold by hanging three paintings, or murals, that will greet passersby. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/thisweeknews/030407/Delaware/News/030407-News-314518.html
April 4, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Delaware, 1/28/07: RENDERING: This rendering provided by MKC Associates shows an expanded Delaware Justice Center. The firm and city officials are planning to construct 8,100 square feet in additions to the building's south and northwest wings. City council approves Justice Center expansion Plans in place to construct 8,100-square-foot additions Sunday, January 28, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Delaware City Council last week signed off on plans to expand the city's police and municipal court facilities by 8,100 square feet. Within the next 12 months, the Delaware Police Department anticipates an increase to its ranks by one officer, and the Delaware Municipal Court expects to manage a growing caseload and add a second judge. Such growth won't be limited to operations at the Delaware Justice Center, 70 N. Union St., where both the city's police department and municipal court are housed. It also will extend to the building itself. Last Monday, city council -- excluding vice mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle, who was absent from the meeting -- unanimously voted to approve preliminary and final development plans for the 8,100-square-foot expansion of the Justice Center. The action paves the way for the city to hire a construction team to build a pair of two-story additions to accommodate a second courtroom and associated offices for the city's prosecutor and magistrate, as well as growth within the police department. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/012807/Delaware/News/012807-News-297016.html
April 4, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 2/3/07: Judges want county to finish jail Saturday, February 3, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Less than a year after opening a new, 30,000-square-foot addition to the Delaware County Jail, local judges and the county's sheriff maintain there is inadequate space there. Rather than tossing some job-holding criminal offenders in jail for 30 days or more, Delaware County Common Pleas Judge W. Duncan Whitney and Municipal Court Judge Sunderman, at times, are willing to compromise. While they still hand down sentences that require certain offenders to stay overnight in jail, the judges often allow those with steady employment temporarily to be released so they can continue to work. "Work-release" sentencing is effective, the judges say, because it gives the offenders a taste of life behind bars, but they can continue to be functioning members of society. However, such sentencing is becoming difficult, they add, because of a lack of beds at the county jail. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020307/Sunbury/News/020307-News-300437.html
April 5, 200718 yr From Business First of Columbus, 2/19/07: ThisWeek Delaware: Large east-side project gets initial OK (1/28/07) * RENDERING: A Cleveland developer wants to put a shopping center on Delaware’s east side. Courtesy Zaremba Group LLC Zaremba eyes major project in Delaware Business First of Columbus - February 16, 2007 by Kevin Kemper Business First The city of Delaware is in line for more housing and a $60 million shopping complex under a Cleveland developer's plan being considered by City Hall. Zaremba Group LLC wants to build a 330-residence subdivision, dubbed Hanover Corners, on 79 acres south of Route 36 in the eastern part of the city. Plans also call for a 575,000-square-foot shopping center, named Glennwood Common, on 70 acres next door. The company hopes to break ground on the commercial project this summer and begin building the houses in early 2008, provided it gets approval from the city. Delaware's planning commission and city council are expected to hold votes on Zaremba's final plans by late spring. The city has been negotiating with the developer on its proposal since late 2004. "This is a significant project for the city and especially for the east side of Delaware," said city spokesman Lee Yoakum. "It's one of the largest retail and residential developments we've had in some time." MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/19/story1.html
April 7, 200718 yr Warning signs removed from U.S. Route 23 Thursday, December 14, 2006 By KELLEY YOUMAN TRUXALL ThisWeek Staff Writer Darn, I was hoping the traffic lights would go away. I've driven that stretch of US 23 south of Delaware and find them to be a problem. My suggestion is to make US 23 limited access, with exits to the various businesses, perhaps with service roads like they have along the interstates in St. Louis.
April 7, 200718 yr From the 3/10/07 Dispatch: Neighbors want golf club to stay Dornoch provides green space, water-drainage site for area Saturday, March 10, 2007 Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio - Homeowners who live near the Dornoch Golf Club worry about what will happen if the golf course in their backyard goes away. The golf course at 3329 Columbus Pike is for sale. Larry Morman, president of the Dornoch Home Owners Association, said he was told the price is $2.3 million. Residents of the subdivisions around Dornoch worry about the possibility of losing green space as well as a place to handle the wastewater that now drains on the golf-club property. But they are confident their efforts to preserve both will be successful. The developer who owns the golf club filed for bankruptcy last year. When Gary Bachinski's initial attempt to reorganize his debt failed, a second bid to liquidate the club and 18-hole course was initiated in January. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/10/20070310-B1-04.html
April 16, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Delaware, 4/15/07: City-Berlin talks stumble again Sunday, April 15, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Three years after officials from the city of Delaware and Berlin Township began working on an annexation agreement, the two sides still haven't come to terms. In April 2004, officials from Delaware and Berlin Township opened talks to develop an annexation agreement to stipulate how about 1,000 acres of township land could be annexed to the city. Since that time, both sides repeatedly have touted progress in the talks, and at various points have signaled an agreement was pending. Despite this, no agreement has been reached and Delaware City Council has tabled legislation that would have authorized the execution of the annexation agreement. Days after the measure was tabled, Delaware city attorney Dan Bennington sent a letter to the township's attorney, Don Brosius, stating that because the legislation couldn't be passed "the issue is dead." However, Bennington's letter went on to state the city remains "very interested in pursuing an agreement with Berlin Township." That, according to city officials, is where the matter currently stands. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041507/Delaware/News/041507-News-337342.html
April 27, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Olentangy, 4/26/07: Wal-Mart to submit new plans for Delaware store Thursday, April 26, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Less than six months after plans for a "supercenter" on Delaware's southeast side were rejected, Wal-Mart Corp. officials are ready to give it another go. As early as next month, Wal-Mart is expected to submit new, preliminary development plans for a 174,000-square-foot store south of Cheshire Road and east of U.S. Route 23. As part of the plan, Wal-Mart intends to buy the 22-acre site on which the store would be developed. The company would purchase the land from Sturges Development, which plans to develop a shopping plaza in the area. Last November, Delaware City Council rejected Wal-Mart's plans to build a 184,212-square-foot store on the same site by a 4-3 vote. The plans, which were scaled back from an initial proposal to build a 203,819-square-foot store, also were rejected by the Delaware Planning Commission. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/042607/Powell/News/042607-News-344543.html
May 2, 200718 yr 80-unit senior housing plans get initial OK from city council Sunday, April 29, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Plans for a campus-style, "affordable" housing development for senior citizens in Delaware last week received initial approvals. Some 80 apartments for people aged 55 and older soon could be constructed along South Houk Road, pending approval of final development plans. Delaware City Council last Monday voted 5-1 to support initial plans for the apartments, which would range in price from $423 to $700 per month. As proposed, Columbus-based Buckeye Community Housing Foundation would build the apartments on 10 acres within the Willowbrook development on South Houk Road. They would consist of one- and two-bedroom units. "It's below-market rent, but a very nice project," said Roy Lowenstein, BCHF vice president. According to its Web site, the BCHF was chartered in 1991 as a nonprofit corporation with a mission of developing and facilitating affordable housing for low-income families. The group's local project is contingent upon receiving state and federal tax credits, which would allow it to develop and offer the apartments at lower monthly rates. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/042907/Delaware/News/042907-News-345693.html
May 28, 200718 yr From ThisWeek Delaware, 5/27/07: Meijer, Home Depot planned in city Sunday, May 27, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A grocery "supercenter" and a retail home improvement store likely will anchor a project expected to yield Delaware's largest commercial development on the city's far east side. As first reported at ThisWeek's Web site May 23, the Delaware Planning Commission next month will review Zaremba Group LLC's final plans to develop a 558,752-square-foot center and 327 single-family homes near the intersection of state Route 521 and U.S. Route 36. The commercial portion of the development, to be called Glennwood Commons, would be anchored by a 207,364-square-foot Meijer retail and grocery supercenter. It also would contain a 128,883-square-foot Home Depot. Zaremba has been eyeing development on the roughly 150-acre site for several years. Last January, Delaware City Council approved preliminary plans for the project, and granted a rezoning and conditional-use permits to allow the development. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/052707/Delaware/News/052707-News-361761.html
June 3, 200718 yr From the 6/2/07 Dispatch: DELAWARE Downtown merchants fight flight Saturday, June 2, 2007 3:29 AM By Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio -- A bicycle-shop owner knows a dip in the road when he sees one. He also knows how to ride it out. "A year ago, there was essentially 100 percent occupancy downtown, and now there's 12 vacancies," said Dan Negley, who operates Breakaway Cycling in the former Delaware livery at 17 W. William St. "But this is probably the third time it's happened since I opened in '91. It'll come around eventually." When Negley opened his shop 16 years ago, Delaware's central business district housed a grocery store, a department store, a couple of shoe stores and a hardware store. Then Wal-Mart opened south of town in 1993. All of those businesses were gone within five years, replaced with a revolving cast of specialty retail stores. Aiming to stabilize the situation, the city set out in 1998 to spruce up its downtown streetscape. It also funneled grant money to building owners for facade renovations. The revamped four-block area, centered at Sandusky and William streets, looked great, but vacancies soared again. Weaker businesses were unable to survive while downtown streets were torn up for most of the year. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/02/dtdel.ART_ART_06-02-07_C13_UQ6T6GB.html?type=rss&cat=7
June 13, 200718 yr Both from ThisWeek Delaware, 6/10/07: Record project headed to city council Sunday, June 10, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer The largest commercial project in Delaware's history is one step closer to reality after receiving final plan approval from the city's planning commission. The Delaware Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously endorsed final development plans for a 561,392-square-foot retail center and 337 single-family homes near the intersection of state Route 521 and U.S. Route 36. The development, to be called Glennwood Commons, now will be considered by Delaware City Council. If approved there, it would be anchored by a 207,364-square-foot Meijer retail and grocery supercenter with an accompanying gas station, a 128,883-square-foot Home Depot, and an as-yet unnamed big-box store. "This is the largest single (development) footprint in the history of the city," said David Efland, Delaware planning director. "... We're very pleased to add Meijer and Home Depot." The project is being proposed by Lakewood, Ohio-based Zaremba Group LLC. Company officials said Thursday they hope to open at least one of the stores by fall of next year. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/061007/Delaware/News/061007-News-368985.html Wal-Mart scores initial victory Sunday, June 10, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer After suffering an upset of sorts last November, round one of the rematch last week went to Wal-Mart. Although it involved a review of preliminary plans, Wednesday's meeting of the Delaware Planning Commission had the feel of a heavyweight fight that went the 15-round distance. Maybe that's because the planning commission and Delaware City Council have publicly reviewed multiple versions of Wal-Mart Corp.'s proposal seven times since the company announced plans to build a "supercenter" south of Cheshire Road and east of U.S. Route 23 in December 2005. Or maybe it's because the latest review -- Wednesday night at City Hall -- spanned more than two hours and stopped about a minute shy of 11 p.m. This time, the result was different. After being rejected twice by the planning commission and once by city council last year, Wal-Mart on Wednesday received approval of revised, preliminary plans for the supercenter by a 6-1 vote. Despite continued protests from a number of neighbors of the store's proposed site, the company received initial support to build a 176,312-square-foot retail and grocery center on 22.12 acres in the as-yet undeveloped Shoppes at Delaware. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/061007/Delaware/News/061007-News-368986.html
June 27, 200717 yr Both from the 6/26/07 Delaware Gazette: Preliminary Wal-Mart plan approved Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Mark A. Claffey Staff Writer Delaware City Council approved the preliminary development plan and three conditional use permits for a Wal-Mart Supercenter on Cheshire Road Monday night, and the retail giant agreed — after hearing the pleas from the community and council — to close the store for five hours a day for the first two years. If a final development plan is approved, a Supercenter will be open on the 22-acre site on Cheshire Road from 5 a.m. to midnight every day, but still will be able to operate 24 hours a day during the months of November and December during its first two years as agreed upon by council. After two years of operation, the store will be allowed to operate 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. Wal-Mart almost didn’t budge on the demand to lessen its operating hours. Council members Gary Milner and Joe DiGenova pleaded with Wal-Mart to have some consideration with the surrounding neighborhoods and change its hours. A final development plan must next be approved by planning commission and city council before construction can begin. Wal-Mart spokesperson Ron Mosby said his company hopes to be back in front of planning commission sometime in August for final development plan approval. MORE: http://www.delgazette.com Meijer, Home Depot officially headed to Delaware Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Mark A. Claffey Staff Writer Delaware will have a Home Depot store by the fall of 2008 and a Meijer by the spring of 2009. City council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday giving the green light to the final development plan for the largest commercial and retail development in the city’s history. The vote was met with little fanfare or comment as compared to other proposed developments in the city. The final subdivision plat for the development also was approved unanimously. “This development will be five times larger than any other development in the city,” said Delaware Planning Director Dave Efland. “This is a historic night in the city.” The final development plan for the 149-plus-acre project also includes 68.083 acres of residential, which will be known as Hanover Corners and include 327 single-family homes. Efland said Glennwood Commons would total more than 560,000 square feet of retail space. MORE: http://www.delgazette.com
June 28, 200717 yr From the 6/27/07 Delaware Gazette: Would new Supercenter lead to empty storefront? Wednesday, June 27, 2007 Mark A. Claffey Staff Writer Delaware Vice Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle said she was disappointed when Wal-Mart officials told her Monday that the retail giant had an agreement in place to sell its current storefront to U.S. Properties, instead of a national retailer. “Once Wal-Mart goes I worry about what’s going to happen to the other stores out there (at Delaware Community Plaza),” Riggle said. U.S. Properties owns the Delaware Community Plaza, and Don Davids, a leasing agent for U.S. Properties, said his company has an agreement in place to purchase the Wal-Mart store, but declined to say what retailers have expressed interest in moving to that location. Riggle said she doesn’t want the storefront on U.S. 23 to remain empty like the Marysville Wal-Mart, which still remains vacant today. Wal-Mart pulled out of East Pointe Plaza, on U.S. 36 in Marysville in April 2006. The retailer built a new Supercenter less than a mile away. Wal-Mart had been leasing the building in Marysville from U.S. Properties. MORE: http://www.delgazette.com
July 3, 200717 yr From ThisWeek Big Walnut, 7/1/07: Plans for record development OK'd Sunday, July 1, 2007 NATE ELLIS, [email protected] ThisWeek Staff Writer One of the most significant transformations to Delaware's landscape is closer to arriving on the city's east side, after a more than 560,000-square-foot proposed commercial development last week received final approvals. What would be the largest commercial development in Delaware history cleared a final hurdle to becoming reality last Monday after receiving unanimous support from Delaware City Council. The move paves the way for Lakewood, Ohio-based Zaremba Group LLC to build a 561,392-square-foot retail center and 337 single-family homes near the intersection of state Route 521 and U.S. Route 36. The commercial development, to be called Glennwood Commons, will be anchored by a 207,364-square-foot, 24-hour Meijer retail and grocery superstore with an accompany gas station. A 128,883-square-foot Home Depot and an as-yet unnamed big-box store also would be part of the project. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/070107/Sunbury/News/070107-News-379828.html
July 4, 200717 yr From Business First of Columbus, 7/2/07: Health Village project gets startup nod Business First of Columbus - June 29, 2007 by Carrie Ghose Business First Delaware City Council has approved the first building for a future OhioHealth Corp. medical park and retail strip along Route 23 in the city's fastest-growing area. "This is nothing short of the anchor for the entire southeast quadrant of the city," said Dave Efland, Delaware's director of planning and community development. OhioHealth acquired Grady Memorial Hospital in 2005 and the city has worked with the hospital system to annex 105 acres for a planned Delaware Health Village, to eventually be anchored by a replacement hospital for the landlocked Grady. The first building, approved by council June 25, is a 60,000-square-foot medical office building that will include an urgent-care center. The master plan was developed by Karlsberger Cos., Edge Group, Floyd Browne Group and Dynamix Engineering Ltd. Karlsberger and Dynamix also worked on OhioHealth's Dublin Methodist Hospital, set to open in January. MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/07/02/story10.html
July 6, 200717 yr From Delaware News, 7/4/07: City population up 25 percent, Census shows By MATT GERISH Since 2000, the city of Delaware has welcomed more than a few new residents into the community, according to numbers released from the U.S. Census Bureau. Between July 2000 and July 2006, the population in Delaware jumped from 25,502 to 32,100. "That was the hottest housing market in the history of the world," said Delaware City Planning and Community Development Director Dave Efland. "I think we're coming back to reality now." Efland said residential housing growth was fairly slow last year. Since 2000, Delaware has expanded residential growth to the west, with developments such as Westfield Hills, and to the southeast. A good portion of growth seen in the past few years was in the city's southeast sector, which lies in the Olentangy Local School District, Efland said. Efland attributes the section's growth to the continued strength of the Olentangy school district as families make their way into the community. MORE: http://www.snponline.com/NEWS7-4/7-4_decensus.html
July 17, 200717 yr From Business First of Columbus, 7/16/07: Parts maker eyes Delaware city for 2nd plant Business First of Columbus - July 13, 2007 by Brian R. Ball Business First A maker of aftermarket bus parts has tentative plans to build a second production plant in the city of Delaware. North American Business Industries Inc. has been offered a 50 percent real property tax abatement for 15 years to entice it to build a 215,000-square-foot facility that would employ 45 workers. The value of the tax break, which was approved July 9 by the city, is valued at $1.4 million over the term of the incentive. Under a development plan approved earlier, CenterPoint Development LLC could expand the complex to 350,000 square feet. Gus Comstock, the city's economic development coordinator, welcomed North American Business Industries' proposal to double its employment and build a second plant in the city within six years. An expansion, he said, "is the best economic development project there is." MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/07/16/story7.html
December 7, 200717 yr Curtain parts on historic Strand Theatre's future Business First of Columbus - by Adrian Burns, Business First Friday, December 7, 2007 Ohio Wesleyan University is transferring ownership of the movie house to a newly created nonprofit organization that will work to transform the 29,000-square-foot downtown complex into a community center with a focus on arts and entertainment. Putting the theater into the nonprofit's hands starts a transformation that city leaders hope will place the Strand on firmer financial footing, increase the public's interest in its redevelopment and create an arts hub that could help spur community improvements. Plans call for ownership of the theater to be transferred to the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, which would operate with charitable status under 501©(3) of the federal tax code. The effort to make over the Strand is just getting started. Ownership is expected to be transferred by the end of this year, and work is set to begin on a six-month study by Westlake Reed Leskosky, a Cleveland design firm that will help the group determine uses for the building. The only decided plan is that the Strand's three-screen, first-run movie theater will remain a fixture in the building at 28 E. Winter St. and is likely to undergo a restoration. Uses for the rest of the remaining 19,000 square feet of the building will depend on the consultant's study and community suggestions. Strand Theatre Business: Three-screen first-run theater opened in 1916 Based: Delaware 2006 budget: $270,000 2006 surplus: $8,000 (including $30,000 of building rent forgiven by Ohio Wesleyan) Web site: www.thestrandtheatre.net Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/12/10/story2.html
December 17, 200717 yr Certainly hope that putting the Strand in the hands of a non-profit is good news for the theatre's future. Columbus has had great success with non-profit CAPA running the Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre and the Great Southern Theatre in Downtown Columbus.
May 19, 200817 yr City plans to build second industrial park Saturday, May 10, 2008 By NATE ELLIS, ThisWeek Staff Writer Delaware city officials hope to secure $5-million in state funding to help construct a new 2,400-acre industrial park. Thirty years after opening the Delaware Commerce Hub North off Pittsburgh Drive, the city of Delaware champions its industrial park as one of its biggest success stories. In addition to providing for more than 1,500 technology- and manufacturing-based jobs, the park continues to see multi-million dollar expansions of key tenants, and accounts for 70 percent of the total manufacturing operations throughout Delaware County. Growth within the park has been so great, city officials say, it's nearly at capacity. They hope to double Delaware's industrial footprint by constructing a $70-million industrial park -- to be called the Delaware Commerce Hub South -- along the portion of Sawmill Parkway being extended from Hyatts Road to Section Line Road. To expedite the project, the city is seeking $5-million in funds through the Ohio Department of Development's "Ohio Job Ready Sites Program" to provide water, sewer and fiber optic services to the 2,400-acre site. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/05/10/0511deindustrialpark_ln.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 9, 200817 yr City examines county courthouse designs Friday, June 6, 2008 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Many details have yet to be finalized, but plans expected to lead to the construction of a new Delaware County courthouse complex are moving forward. Delaware County officials and the company hired to assist in the construction of the new county courthouse remain committed to breaking ground for the project before the end of the year. After sharing conceptual designs last month for a replacement of the county's 138-year-old courthouse, the project's consultant, Columbus-based developer Pizzuti Cos., reviewed those tentative plans with the Delaware Planning Commission last Wednesday. The county has two proposed layouts for what has been dubbed the Delaware County Justice Center. They call for a 150,000-square-foot courthouse with an additional 60,000 square feet available for future expansion, and off-street parking. It would be built on a site neighboring the county's Rutherford B. Hayes Building, which includes land where the former Elks Lodge, 110 N. Sandusky St., and a private residence at 116 N. Sandusky St. are located. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/06/06/0608decourthouse_ln.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 19, 200816 yr S. Sandusky commercial plaza planned Saturday, July 19, 2008 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A commercial plaza city officials hope will spur development in southern Delaware received initial approvals from Delaware City Council last week. Last Monday, council unanimously supported preliminary development plans for the proposed project, as well as conditional-use permits for the the construction of the 32,440-square-foot Washington Square Commerce Center. In proposing the construction of a new plaza -- which could feature restaurants, a coffee shop, a bank, medical and dental offices -- local business owner Bob Washington said he plans to provide a shot in the arm to the southern expanse of Sandusky Street. City officials also are optimistic the plan could work. Washington -- a New Albany resident who for the past 20 years has owned and operated Carquest Auto Parts at 455 S. Sandusky St. -- proposes the construction of an L-shaped office and retail center on about 4.2 acres of land he owns on the southeast corner of South Sandusky Street and Olentangy Avenue. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/07/19/0720deplaza_ln.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 14, 200816 yr City OKs development plan on S. Sandusky Friday, September 12, 2008 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Nearly 27,000 square feet in new office and retail space might open for business along South Sandusky Street as soon as next summer. Delaware City Council last Monday unanimously approved final development plans for the Washington Square Commerce Center, to be built on the southeast corner of South Sandusky Street and Olentangy Avenue. As a result, project construction can begin. City officials have said they are pleased with that prospect. They believe construction of an L-shaped office and retail plaza on 4.2 acres there could kick-start other development in an area of the city they say could use a boost. "This truly is a catalytic project -- and we don't get to say that very often -- that will hopefully spur development in places like the Delaware Hotel and other places throughout the South Sandusky Street corridor," said David Efland, Delaware's planning and community development director. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/09/12/0914decity_ln.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 27, 200816 yr Commissioners OK concept plans for new courthouse Thursday, June 12, 2008 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Delaware County officials agreed Thursday to move forward with plans to build a $50-million, atrium-style courthouse. County commissioners voted 2-1 to accept conceptual plans calling for a new 135,000-square-foot courthouse facility. They hope construction can begin before the end of the year. Approval of the conceptual design lays the groundwork for the county to hire an architect and construction team, according to project managers. The plans, supported by commissioners Glenn Evans and Jim Ward, propose the construction of a three-story building to house the Delaware County Common Pleas and Juvenile courts and their clerks' offices, as well as work space for the county prosecutor. Final development plans are pending and could change the design. For now, however, plans call for 16 hearing rooms. Two "overflow" courtrooms would be maintained at the county's existing courthouse. Currently, the courts have access to nine judicial hearing rooms at the 138-year-old courthouse at 91 N. Sandusky St., the commissioners' office and space rented at 88 N. Sandusky St. for the juvenile and probate courts. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/06/06/courthouse.html?sid=104
September 27, 200816 yr Questions still lingering over fate of courthouse proposal Friday, September 19, 2008 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A stalemate between the Delaware County auditor and the county commissioners has left a number of unresolved questions hanging over the fate of a proposed, $51-million courthouse. Delaware County Auditor Todd Hanks has pledged to halt the construction of a new courthouse complex by withholding his signature from bonds the commissioners plan to sell to finance the project. Hanks and county Prosecutor David Yost said the issue might go to the Ohio Supreme Court. Commissioner Jim Ward said a meeting will be held next week in an attempt to resolve the issue. The proposed courthouse would be the most expensive capital project in the county's history. Hanks last month cited sagging county revenues and an uncertain economic outlook for reasons to halt -- or at least significantly alter - those plans. He's threatened to withhold his signature from the impending sale of bonds, which according to he and county prosecutor Dave Yost said would quash the project. "My stance is the county can't afford a one-time debt of $51-million right now," Hanks said Tuesday. "I feel the commissioners, I'm hoping, are men enough not to take this personally. "This is business. That's all." MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/09/19/0921decourthouse_ln.html?sid=104
September 27, 200816 yr Delaware auditor calls halt to new courthouse Thursday, September 25, 2008 By Dana Wilson, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio -- Delaware County Auditor Todd Hanks has argued against spending $50 million on a new courthouse and now says he refuses to sign the bonds commissioners planned to sell to finance the project. "Without my signature, this cannot go forward," Hanks said. He was invited to discuss the issue with other officeholders at a private meeting scheduled for today, but that meeting was canceled after Prosecutor Dave Yost questioned whether it might violate open-meetings laws. The meeting was planned, and then canceled, by Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth J. Spicer. "It turned into far more of a structured thing than I intended," he said yesterday. "I was just trying to get a conversation going so we could act in the interest of the county, so we wouldn't have lawsuits or disputes." Spicer said he initiated the informal meeting between Hanks and several officeholders, including Commissioner Jim Ward and Common Pleas Judges Everett H. Krueger and W. Duncan Whitney, to find middle ground. But when the prosecutor learned of the meeting, he advised it should be open to the public. In a Sept. 17 letter to commissioners, Yost wrote that if four of the seven members show up, the meeting cannot be held in private. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/25/copy/newcourt.ART_ART_09-25-08_B3_ELBE2AN.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
October 3, 200816 yr Delaware courthouse price tag too high, auditor says Friday, October 3, 2008 - 3:02 AM By Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio -- Conflict continues over plans for a new courthouse in Delaware County. County Auditor Todd Hanks has threatened to not sign bonds that would finance the construction of a $51 million courthouse adjacent to the county's administrative building on N. Sandusky Street. Yesterday, he told the commissioners that, based on his projections for stagnating property and sales-tax revenues over the next five years, he feels the most that should be spent is $35 million. "I'm not telling you you don't need a $51 million courthouse," Hanks told the commissioners. "I'm telling you you can't afford one." County Administrator Dave Cannon said he and Hanks will have to meet and discuss the county's financial situation before the project can progress. Hanks also is predicting a $4.47 million operating-budget shortfall for next year, to go with the current $3.47 million operating deficit in 2008. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/03/deldispute.ART_ART_10-03-08_B5_GBBGHAS.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
October 10, 200816 yr I just noticed an earlier thread here (circa 2005-2006) that reported on the initial planning for the proposed new Delaware County Courthouse. Could this earlier thread be merged with this one under this title (Delaware County Developments and News)? Here's the earlier thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,5828.0.html
October 10, 200816 yr Done. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 19, 200816 yr Delaware County Commissioners consider smaller courthouse Friday, October 17, 2008 - 2:54 AM Dana Wilson, The Columbus Dispatch Plans to build a $51 million courthouse in Delaware County remain on hold as officials consider scaling back the project's size and cost. Commissioners are expected to decide Monday whether they want a 135,000-square-foot building, as originally proposed, or a structure less than half that size. The smaller option would measure 62,000 square feet and would cost an estimated $30 million, said Bob Vennemeyer, CEO of DesignGroup, an architecture firm hired by the county to draw conceptual plans for the project. "Operationally, you have to make the decision of what's in your best interest," Vennemeyer told commissioners yesterday. The $51 million proposal includes 3 1/2 levels and ample room to house all court divisions under one roof. It would replace the existing 1870 courthouse. The cheaper concept would initially allow the county to move its cramped juvenile court and domestic relations divisions into a new, two-story building that could later be expanded to include other courts. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/17/mbrf18_ART_10-17-08_B5_1FBKKIP.html?sid=101
October 21, 200816 yr New Delaware County court building cleared Lame-duck officials vote to go ahead with $51 million project Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 3:18 AM By Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio -- Delaware County commissioners voted yesterday to proceed with plans to build a $51 million courthouse. Commissioners Jim Ward and Glenn Evans voted for the plan. Commissioner Kris Jordan voted against it. The project had drawn criticism from county Auditor Todd Hanks, who has warned that the faltering economy would affect the county's ability to pay for the proposed 135,000-square-foot building. The courthouse, to be built on N. Sandusky Street next to the county's administration building, would house all of the county's court divisions and replace the 138-year-old courthouse. Earlier this month, Hanks recommended downsizing the project to fit a $30 million budget. On Thursday, DesignGroup, the architecture-design firm hired by the county, presented the commissioners with a 62,000-square-foot option that could be expanded over time. Plans for the old courthouse have not been decided, but it is not going to be demolished. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/21/copy/delch.ART_ART_10-21-08_B1_ARBLL9L.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
October 23, 200816 yr Next Delaware County board to rethink courthouse Commissioner candidates leery of plan Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - 3:03 AM By Jane Hawes FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH DELAWARE, Ohio -- Two Delaware County commissioners voted to proceed with plans for a $51 million courthouse, but the candidates to replace them in January say they would reconsider any contracts signed between now and then. Lame-duck Commissioners Jim Ward and Glenn Evans affirmed their commitment Monday to build a 135,000-square-foot structure to replace the county's 138-year-old courthouse. Both men lost in the March Republican primary and will leave office in early January. Their Republican colleague Kris Jordan voted against the plan. He also could leave office in January if successful in a bid for the Ohio House of Representatives. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/22/copy/chvote.ART_ART_10-22-08_B4_B4BLVQI.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
October 24, 200816 yr City extends historic district Thursday, October 23, 2008 Melissa Mackey Staff Writer, Delaware Gazette The city’s historic preservation commission unanimously voted Wednesday night to extend the city’s historic district to include the Leffler house located at 116 N. Sandusky St., an integral property in the county’s $51 million courthouse project. The move gives the city the ability to review any future plans for construction on the site to ensure it meets historic district guidelines. HPC members were in agreement that the Leffler house met five of seven criteria in considering the historic designation of any area, property or site. The Leffler house, formerly built and owned by William McKenzie, can be defined as historic, Kirkland Avenue resident April Nelson said during the public comment portion of the meeting. Read more at http://www.delgazette.com/local.asp?Story=1
November 28, 200816 yr Delaware Justice Center work near completion Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 8:49 PM By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer A $2.1-million expansion to the Delaware Justice Center is on target to conclude within the first two months of 2009, city officials said last week. Although the first expansion and renovation to Delaware's current headquarters for police and municipal court services was delayed by roughly a year, the light at the end of the project's 8,200-square-foot tunnel now appears to be gleaming. That's according to city officials and the project's superintendent, Harry Hart of R.W. Setterlin Building Co., who last Wednesday led reporters and a handful of city employees on a tour of the expansion progress. "We hope to be completely done in February," said Jackie Sobas, Delaware's human resources director and a co-manager of the project. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/11/22/1123dejustice_ln.html?sid=104
December 4, 200816 yr Council to decide if home will be in historic district Saturday, November 29, 2008 - 6:32 PM By NATE ELLIS, ThisWeek Staff Writer On Dec. 8, city council will again consider whether a North Sandusky Street home currently eyed by Delaware County officials for demolition should be included in the city's historic district. The home, at 116 N. Sandusky St. and known as the Leffler Building, came under scrutiny after Delaware County officials targeted the land on which it sits for construction of a new county courts facility. In recent months, the HPC voted 5-2 to expand the district to include the home, and the city's planning commission levied a split, 3-3 vote on the matter. Because there wasn't a majority planning commission vote, at least five city council members would have to vote in support of the historic district expansion in order to expand the district. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2008/11/29/1130dehistory_ln.html?sid=104
December 9, 200816 yr Historic districts add costs but help guide city growth By Jane Hawes, Columbus dispatch, December 8, 2008 DELAWARE, Ohio --- The City Council is expected to vote tonight on a bid to expand the boundaries of its downtown historic district. The city's Historic Preservation Commission wants to include the 98-year-old Leffler House on N. Sandusky Street. The building, owned by the county, would be demolished if the county builds a new courthouse. But plans for the $51 million courthouse are in limbo because of funding concerns and the transition in the county administration. The commission wants to ensure that the building is not torn down until construction begins. Although the bid to expand the boundary might fail --- it has not won the support of the city's planning department and would need the votes of five of seven council members to pass --- the effort has drawn attention to the value of historic districts in smaller cities. more...(link above)
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