June 15, 201212 yr Westerville Walmart project gets its start Business First by Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter Date: Thursday, June 14, 2012, 4:02pm EDT Redevelopment of the tired Westerville Square Shopping Center began Thursday with the property developer’s son knocking down some the plaza that will get a scaled-down Walmart store before the $16 million project is completed in 2013. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/06/14/westerville-walmart-project-gets-its.html
June 26, 201212 yr Some very fine destructoporn photos of the Westerville Square Shopping Center have been posted at Columbus Underground over in their Westerville Walmart thread. CU: Westerville Walmart
August 29, 201212 yr It looks like the partial demolition of the Westerville Square Shopping Center for the new smaller-scale Walmart is now finished. The project's website - http://www.westervillesquare.com/ - has multiple overhead views of the site prep work (below is one view), a construction webcam and a gallery of project renderings and plans.
August 29, 201212 yr Mount Carmel adding heart center at St. Ann's $110 million expansion starts today to give St. Ann's its own heart-care center. It will be one of several in the region. Thursday, June 30, 2011 - 03:06 AM By Suzanne Hoholik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Today, Mount Carmel St. Ann's joins the lucrative heart war in central Ohio. The Westerville hospital breaks ground on a $110 million heart center. The project will add 60 beds, space for four new operating rooms for open-heart and other surgeries, and a parking garage. The new center joins heart programs at practically every hospital in the region, with the two largest being the Ross Heart Hospital at Ohio State University Medical Center and the McConnell Heart Hospital at Riverside Methodist Hospital. (. . .) The hospital also will get a new look. The main entrance will move from Cleveland Avenue to the south side of the complex. At rush hours, traffic trying to turn south onto Cleveland Avenue often clogs parking lots, Claus von Zychlin, chief executive of Mount Carmel Health System said. RENDERING OF NEW SOUTH SIDE HOSPITAL ENTRANCE MAP OF ST. ANN'S HOSPITAL PROJECTS READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/06/30/mount-carmel-adding-heart-center-at-st-anns.html Construction update on the expansion of Mount Carmel St. Ann's Hospital in Westerville from Business First. Also, more about the hospital's master planning and future development phases at St. Ann's. Below is an excerpt from the article and photo of the current four-story expansion building on the hospital campus which is expected to open in fall 2013: Expanding St. Ann’s ‘always assessing space’ for next medical office project Business First by Carrie Ghose, Staff reporter Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012, 12:59pm EDT With a $100 million expansion of Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital set to open in phases over the next 14 months, I asked hospital President Janet Meeks the natural question: What will you build next and when? Understandably, Meeks is focused on the orange cones and cranes already surrounding the campus. The hospital staff on Wednesday, when temperatures again hit the 90s, had delivered ice cream treats to the Messer Construction Co. workers building a four-story hospital addition, new kitchen, dining area, energy plant and a parking garage. The project is on time and on budget, she said. In a master plan for the growing campus that Mount Carmel Health System submitted to the City of Westerville in the spring, future plans for a three-story topper to the new addition plus possible new medical office buildings that would sit closer to the streets. The hospital in the future will have more multi-story structures and garage instead of lot parking, the plan says. While the existing offices are full and the hospital fields requests from interested physicians often, Meeks said she can’t speculate on when the next building phase begins. READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/07/expanding-st-anns-always-assessing.html
August 30, 201212 yr The new central parking lot at the Walmart is done. They are working on the side entrances and the back right now. No work has started on the center itself yet.
October 15, 201212 yr The City of Westerville's Highlands Park Family Aquatic Center received an Honor Award at the 2012 American Institute of Architects Columbus Design Awards. Below is a photo and project information from Business First and Columbus Underground: Highlands Park Family Aquatic Center Where: 245 S. Spring Road, Westerville Owner: City of Westerville Architect of record: Meyers and Associates Architecture Landscape architect: POD Design Cost: $7.3 million Contractor: Thomas & Marker Construction Project Description: “Located adjacent to protected wetlands in the heart of Westerville, the city’s existing 30-year old municipal outdoor pool had years of wear and was in much need of replacement. Instead of following a traditional municipal pool design approach, the design team sought to blend the project with the surrounding wetlands and create a natural environment that fused with the surrounding landscapes. In order to minimize the project’s impact on the existing natural habitat, a series of sustainable measures were used throughout the site – specifically, rainwater collection was implemented through green roofs, rain gardens, retention ponds, bioswales and pervious concrete.” Juror comments: "The inverted forms of the roofs, diving down and then rising up, seem to echo the movement of swimmers in the adjoining pools, creating an energetic complex of structures that are unusually sophisticated for this building type," wrote Thomas Fisher, dean of the University of Minnesota’s College of Design. MORE: http://www.aiacolumbus.org/categoryblog/256-2012-aia-columbus-design-awards
November 28, 201212 yr 504-unit apartment complex gets green light An extension of Worthington Road from Polaris to County Line will service the development By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Community News Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 11:01 PM Westerville City Council approved a lineup of legislation Nov. 13 that will allow for a 504-unit apartment complex, despite complaints that the development exceeds the city's code for density. Council approved a series of legislation to: * rezone the property west of Alum Creek, from Rural Residential to Planned District; * approve a preliminary development plan for the project; * annex 5.6 acres from Orange Township that makes up part of the parcel; and * spend funds to construct an extension of Worthington Road between Polaris Parkway and County Line Road, and a connector to Old Worthington Road, to service the apartment complex and future development in the area. Dubbed the Ravines at Westar, the apartment project is a collaboration between developers NP Limited and Trivium. The multi-building complex would be constructed between Polaris Parkway and County Line Road west of Alum Creek on about 54 acres, not including the right-of-way given for the roadway and 8 acres donated to the city for parkland. That gives the development a density of just under 10 units per gross acre. City code for a planned district allows for five units per net acre, with the city being able to grant up to eight units per net acre. READ MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2012/11/20/504-unit-apartment-complex-gets-green-light.html
November 28, 201212 yr 504-unit apartment complex gets green light An extension of Worthington Road from Polaris to County Line will service the development By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Community News Tuesday, November 20, 2012 - 11:01 PM Westerville City Council approved a lineup of legislation Nov. 13 that will allow for a 504-unit apartment complex, despite complaints that the development exceeds the city's code for density. Council approved a series of legislation to: * rezone the property west of Alum Creek, from Rural Residential to Planned District; * approve a preliminary development plan for the project; * annex 5.6 acres from Orange Township that makes up part of the parcel; and * spend funds to construct an extension of Worthington Road between Polaris Parkway and County Line Road, and a connector to Old Worthington Road, to service the apartment complex and future development in the area. Dubbed the Ravines at Westar, the apartment project is a collaboration between developers NP Limited and Trivium. The multi-building complex would be constructed between Polaris Parkway and County Line Road west of Alum Creek on about 54 acres, not including the right-of-way given for the roadway and 8 acres donated to the city for parkland. That gives the development a density of just under 10 units per gross acre. City code for a planned district allows for five units per net acre, with the city being able to grant up to eight units per net acre. READ MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2012/11/20/504-unit-apartment-complex-gets-green-light.html I can't believe Westerville City Code calls for 5-units per acre and can only grant up to 8. That's crazy low density development. Has Westerville not gotten the message about development desirability changes?
December 2, 201212 yr Two things in play - one there is a lot of terrible and aging apartments in the Columbus sections of northern Franklin Cty - which spooks people. Westerville knows it was historically anti-density and that it is a potential problem going forward since it lacks easy ins for Millennials and yps in general. This spot is literally as far from the core of city as possible. It is more important to build medium density along State than gigantic apartment complexes along Polaris.
January 29, 201312 yr From ThisWeekNews - a look back at 2012 and a look forward to 2013 for the City of Westerville: 2012: Investment, big projects mark year 2013: City development expected to keep percolating
January 31, 201312 yr Two reports about Otterbein University buying 25 acres of farmland across Alum Creek from its campus to give it room to expand. The 25-acre parcel is part of a larger 95-acre farm that is west of Alum Creek and the previously landlocked Otterbein campus Business First: Otterbein buys land for possible campus expansion in Westerville Columbus Dispatch: Otterbein buys 25 acres for future growth
February 2, 201312 yr More about that 95-acre farm west Alum Creek in Westerville. Otterbein University recently bought 25 acres for future college campus expansion. Westerville farmland targeted for mixed-use development Braun Farm along Cleveland Avenue in Westerville targeted for development By Carrie Ghose, Staff reporter Business First - Jan 18, 2013, 6:00am EST The largest undeveloped plot near central Westerville could soon sprout a nursing home, senior apartments, multifamily and student housing, offices, retailers and a future west campus for Otterbein University. Plans have been inching forward in the city Planning Commission for the 95-acre field known as Braun Farm. Otterbein this month bought a 25-acre chunk at the site’s northern edge for future campus expansion. Most of the city’s undeveloped land is in the northern reaches by Polaris Parkway, city Senior Planner Bassem Bitar said. “This is really one of the major ones just sitting there in the middle of a built-up area,” he said. “We’re thinking this is a site close enough to Otterbein and uptown Westerville, there’s opportunity to create an exciting, walkable, mixed-use environment.” A rezoning request for the land comes up Jan. 23, and Bitar said that city staffers, after months of revisions, are close to recommending approval so long as developers meet certain conditions. The request would then head to City Council. The site plan for the 70 acres remaining after the Otterbein sale is mostly conceptual. The one firm piece is a 111-bed nursing home combined with 42 assisted-living apartments on 8 acres in the center of the parcel. The city asked for a more comprehensive site plan beyond the nursing home, Bitar said, and ideas include apartments facing Alum Creek – the latest revisions call for keeping the footprint of those buildings away from the flood plain – independent senior housing to complement the nursing home, and offices and shops closer to Cleveland Avenue. READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2013/01/18/early-plan-sees-mix-of-uses-for.html
July 11, 201311 yr MODERATOR NOTE: Reposting articles wiped out by the server crash Westerville Looking to the Future with Comprehensive Plan for Uptown By: Brent Warren, Columbus Underground Published on May 20, 2013 - 1:45 pm Westerville is not looking to add large numbers of residents, offices or retail to their core the way some other central Ohio suburbs are (Dublin, Upper Arlington and Gahanna are three good examples). The city is, however, interested in ensuring that its existing historic town center — with its charming mix of small shops and restaurants clustered along State Street — continues to flourish long into the future. That’s the goal behind a planning process started last fall that the city is calling Plan Uptown. The process so far has focussed more on incremental changes meant to address concerns about parking, traffic flow, and a lack of public spaces without compromising the small-town charm of the district. Recommendations include adding bump-outs and other amenities to improve the pedestrian experience on State Street, as well as streetscape improvements for Main Street and College Avenue, two streets that serve as gateways to Otterbein University. A proposal to build new public alleys with improved pedestrian connections to State Street has also been well received by the community. The plan will also recommend a study to explore the possibility of the State Theater returning to its original use as either a theater or performance space. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/westerville-looking-to-the-future-with-comprehensive-plan-for-uptown-bw1
July 19, 201311 yr New 504-Unit Apartment Project Coming to Westerville Near Polaris By: Brent Warren, Columbus Underground Published on May 16, 2013 - 8:00 am Developers NP Limited and Trivium are moving forward with a new 504-unit apartment project in Westerville known as The Ravines at Westar. It will sit on about 54 acres of undeveloped land east of Polaris, between County Line Road and Polaris Parkway. Construction is scheduled to start soon on the first phase of the project, which will feature 294 apartments and a clubhouse spread over 21 buildings. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/new-504-unit-apartment-project-coming-to-westerville-near-polaris-bw1
August 15, 201311 yr The new smaller-scale Walmart in the rebuilt Westerville Square shopping center opened yesterday - after many years of off-and-on again development, a 2011 approval, and a threatened referendum that failed get enough signatures. More about the new Walmart in Westerville from ThisWeekNews and Business First: ThisWeekNews: Westerville Square Walmart opens Wednesday Business First: Walmart’s long-delayed Westerville store ready to open
January 14, 201411 yr ThisWeekNews had a review of 2013 for Westerville and a preview of issues they will be facing in 2014. Westerville purchasing a 67-acre tract in the Altair development, an extension of Worthington Road to Polaris Parkway and openings of the $110 million expansion of St. Ann's Hospital and the new Walmart at a renovated Westerville Square shopping center topped the 2013 development news. For 2014, continued work on the city's Uptown Plan to guide redevelopment of the city's historic downtown business district and an updated Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan are two goals. 2013 Review: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2013/12/17/development-news-marks-westervilles-year.html 2014 Preview: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/01/02/city-expects-big-year-for-planning.html
January 14, 201411 yr Casto, M/I plan mixed-use development By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Community News Saturday, December 28, 2013 - 4:58 PM Development heavyweights Casto and M/I Homes have teamed up to propose a large, mixed-use development for the mostly vacant 78 acres at the southeast corner of Central College and Sunbury roads. Representatives of the two companies presented a request to rezone the property and a preliminary development plan for the site to the Westerville Planning Commission Dec. 18. The company representatives did not seek a vote, but rather wanted feedback on their plans. (. . .) The current plan calls for about 20,000 square feet of retail space along Sunbury Road, with different types of multifamily residential units to the east and a traditional single-family suburban development beyond that. The proposal, dubbed the Village at Central College, includes 244 multifamily and 71 single-family units. No cost estimate has yet been attached to the project. (. . .) The Village at Central College would feature architecture harkening back to the surrounding historic buildings, though the single-family residential component would look much like other recently constructed developments. The city's staff would like to see a plan with more of a "village green" concept that could be used both by the development and the historic properties on the west side of Sunbury Road, as well as more diversity in the architecture and more of a traditional village layout with streets and alleys. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2013/12/23/casto-mi-plan-mixed-use-development.html
January 31, 201411 yr NEW UNIVERSITY MASTER PLAN Otterbein targets closer links with city, Uptown By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Community News Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 9:50 AM Otterbein University leaders would like to create a more defined town-and-gown connection as they plan for the university’s future. Otterbein President Kathy Krendl and Vice President for Business Affairs Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings presented a draft of the university’s master plan, which has been under development for the last three and a half years, to Westerville City Council during council’s Jan. 14 work session. (. . .) In addition to updating campus facilities to accommodate the growth of academic programs, the recommendations in the master plan focus on creating more of a presence for Otterbein in the community and more connectivity between the university and the city. To help better define Otterbein as a part of the community, the master plan shows “traffic-calming” features on Main Street at both West and Grove streets. Those features would bring brick detailing into the streets, with landscaping features at the center of the intersections. Signage would be added to the intersection at West Street. (. . .) The master plan also shows the university closing Grove Street between Main and Home streets to traffic, with an outdoor seating area added behind the library to serve both students and community members. ... The university also would like to make changes to the alleyway system that separates the university from Uptown Westerville. The goal is to make it more pedestrian friendly and easier to navigate, and to increase the connectivity between Uptown and campus. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/01/21/new-university-master-plan-otterbein-targets-closer-links-with-city-uptown.html
January 31, 201411 yr The below image shows before and after renovation photos of 7 N. State Street in Uptown Westerville (that's what they call their historic downtown district). This 3-story brick building is located on State Street between Main Street and College Avenue. Google Maps has a October 2012 photo of the building is the process of being renovated at http://goo.gl/maps/MNLoh. The above image and additional information about this project was posted at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/uptown-westerville-news-discussion
March 20, 201411 yr The $110 million Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital expansion project finished up late last year. More about it below. Photo slideshow at the Mount Carmel Health website: http://www.mountcarmelhealth.com/projectgrace http://www.nbc4i.com/story/24196406/inside-st-anns-hospitals-expansion http://mcdmag.com/2013/12/grand-opening-ceremony-held-for-mount-carmel-st-anns-expansion-project/
March 20, 201411 yr Span will let bikers jump County Line $1.9 million bridge expected to open in late May By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Community News Sunday, March 2, 2014 - 2:25 PM Pedestrians traversing the Ohio to Erie Trail through Westerville soon will have safe passage over one of the city's busiest streets. Last week, contractors erected a pedestrian bridge over County Line Road, between North State Street and McCorkle Boulevard. County Line was closed Friday, Feb. 21, while the span was installed. "It's really about improving safety for the users of the pathway system right there at County Line and where the Ohio to Erie Trail comes across," Westerville Parks and Recreation Director Randy Auler said. "It's an important connection within our community." The 106-foot bridge carried a price tag just shy of $1.9 million, with $500,000 of that being paid for through a Clean Ohio Trail Fund grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The bridge is steel-trussed, with a wooden deck that's expected to last 40 years with no chemical treatments. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/02/25/span-will-let-bikers-jump-county-line.html
May 6, 201411 yr Westerville pays $6.3M for bulk of Altair land The city of Westerville has completed most of its deal to acquire the former Altair land development from Jerome Solove Development Inc. Westerville Economic Development Administrator Jason Bechtold told me the city paid $6.3 million for 62 of the 67 development acres it put in contract 11 months ago. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/05/westerville-pays-6-3m-for-bulk-of-altair-land.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 19, 201410 yr The County Line Road Bike bridge is delayed 2 months. Here is the status as of 2 weeks ago:
July 31, 201410 yr Another article about the Tea House site in uptown Westerville. This article has a better photo of the Tea House site at the link. City looking to purchase foreclosed Tea House site $125,000 land buy would make way for development Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 2:09 PM By JENNIFER NESBITT, ThisWeek Staff Writer Westerville city staff members brought a proposal before city council last week to purchase a foreclosed property at 109 S. State St. for commercial redevelopment. The property once was the site of the Kyoto Tea House and Shinto Shrine, a Westerville museum of Japanese culture. The Shinto Shrine was moved to the Franklin Park Conservatory in 2005, and the tea house has not been maintained since. Assistant City Manager Julie Colley said if approved by council, the city would purchase the 0.14-acre property for $125,000. City staff would then work to create a plan to redevelop the site. Once a plan is identified, the city would issue a request for proposals to solicit developers to refine and carry out that plan, Colley said. Once plans are established, she said, the city would go before the Uptown Review Board to allow for the demolition of the 1,171-square-foot tea house and redevelopment of the site. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/westerville/stories/2010/03/24/0324wvcity-forclosed_ln.html?sid=104 An update on the former Tea House site that was last heard from in 2010: City selling tea house site to Northstar Cafe By ANDREW KING, This Week Community News Friday, May 30, 2014 - 7:12 AM Four years after Westerville purchased the former Kyoto Tea House and Shinto Shrine, the site is one step closer to becoming the next Northstar Cafe. City Council last week heard the first reading of a resolution that would sell the properties at 20 W. Plum St., 103-107 S. State St., 109 S. State St. and 99 S. State St. to Organic Trails Cafe LLC for $400,000. Northstar Cafe has three existing central Ohio locations, in Beechwold, the Short North and Easton Town Center. The owners also own Third & Hollywood in Grandview Heights. ... The plan already has gone through the Westerville Planning Commission and Uptown Review Board. The resolution to sell the property will have two more readings at council. City administrators expect the sale to close in July. (. . .) The tea house was built by the Henderson family in 1958 as an homage to Japanese culture, and a replica Shinto shrine was added in 1964. For decades, it was a mainstay for local school groups but fell into disrepair after the family sold it in 2005. The shrine was removed that year and put into storage at Franklin Park Conservatory. The city purchased the property for $125,000 and demolished some buildings in early 2012. At that time, the tile Mount Fuji mural was saved in a warehouse. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/05/27/city-selling-tea-house-site-to-northstar-cafe.html
August 2, 201410 yr Looks like Westerville is getting ready to purchase another problem property in the State Street corridor. This vacant Knights Inn Property is just west of the State & Heatherdown intersection near Westerville's southern border with Columbus. VACANT KNIGHTS INN PROPERTY City may spend $300,000 for closed motel By ANDREW KING, This Week Community News Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - 10:53 AM Westerville City Council might convene for a special meeting during its summer recess to approve funds to purchase the former Knights Inn property near the city's southern boundary. Westerville Assistant City Manager Julie Colley said the city's economic development agency, the Westerville Industrial and Commerce Corp., on July 22 entered into a "purchase contract agreement contingent upon due diligence," to purchase the Knights Inn property at 32 Heatherdown Drive. If inspections, environmental studies and "a lot of other things," are cleared by the city, the purchase would cost $300,000, Colley said, and would need to be funded by council at a special meeting scheduled tentatively for 7 p.m. Aug. 12. (. . .) The 2.8-acre property, which has been vacant for some time, has been identified as a priority for the city. The former hotel structure on the lot is 8,688 square feet, just west of State Street near the Westerville interchange on Interstate 270. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/07/29/vacant-knights-inn-property-city-may-spend-300000-for-closed-motel.html
August 2, 201410 yr An update on the The Village at Central College mixed-use project planned by the Casto development company in Westerville. This development was previously posted HERE in this thread on 1/13/14. Central College TIF eyed for parkland purchase By ANDREW KING, This Week Community News Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - 1:22 PM In order to facilitate the creation of a new city park within a major new development in the Central College area, Westerville City Council plans to establish a Tax Increment Financing District on a portion of the property, located east of Sunbury Road and south of Central College Road. The 28-acre park will lie along Big Walnut Creek at the eastern edge of "The Village at Central College," a major mixed-use project planned by the Casto development company. In a TIF district, taxes on property improvements are diverted to fund infrastructure improvements. The proposed 30-year Central College TIF would divert non-school district taxes on a portion of the 77.8-acre property to develop the site's infrastructure and purchase the parkland. Westerville City School District taxes would be unaffected. The TIF district covers 23 acres of The Village at Central College planned for commercial development and 240 multifamily housing units. It does not encompass another 16.7-acre section, where 71 single-family homes are planned. ... Westerville Assistant City Manager Julie Colley made it clear that the park was the main motivation for the TIF from the city. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/07/22/central-college-tif-eyed-for-parkland-purchase.html
August 6, 201410 yr I saved this article about Westerville's State Street corridor streetscape improvement project from April 2014, intending to post it then. Well, apparently it got lost in the shuffle - so here it is now. Westerville has been finishing up this final phase of these State Street improvements over this summer. 'Gateway' project in final phase By Andrew King, This Week Community News Friday, April 11, 2014 - 6:37 PM After months of construction and more than a year of planning, the city of Westerville's gateway improvements project is finally entering into its final phase. "This is kind of a multi-phase project, and this is kind of the final chapter," construction manager Jake Preston said. The $2.1 million project aims to make the city's entry points more attractive, specifically at the northeast and southwest corners of the South State Street intersection with Huber Village Boulevard-Heatherdown Drive. Brick piers along with a large "Welcome to Westerville" sign will be the feature of the improvements, and will include signs along pathways directing visitors to Otterbein University and the Uptown District, among others. A large part of the project will also add thousands of feet of sidewalk in the city. One stretch -- from Huber Village to the Interstate 270 ramp -- features a 1,000-foot stretch of new walkway. The pavement will be teamed with about 140 trees, more than 2,000 shrubs and 7,000 perennials as well as an ornamental fence. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/04/08/gateway-project-in-final-phase.html
August 11, 201410 yr The bridge over County Line is open. The volume of bikers has increased quite a bit since then.
December 4, 201410 yr Renaissance hotel developer confident in high-profile location, existing demand Plans for Westerville's Westar Place commercial district call for offices, restaurants and retail to surround the 224-room Renaissance hotel and 20,000-square-foot conference center. Raleigh, North Carolina-based Concord Hospitality Enterprises CEO Mark Laport told me the hotel developer looked at higher-profile sites along Polaris Parkway, which marks the northern boundary of the former Altair Business Park recently rebranded as Westar Place. Westar Place More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/12/renaissance-hotel-developer-confident-in-high.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 16, 201410 yr A new TIF district will pay for a new park in The Village at Central College development in Westerville. Westerville City Council approves TIF incentive for Casto's mixed-use project, The Village at Central College. This TIF district covers 23 acres planned for commercial development and 240 multifamily housing units. It does not encompass another 16.7-acre section, where 71 single-family homes are planned: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/09/23/tif-will-pay-for-new-park-in-central-college.html
January 19, 201510 yr More about the 95-acre Braun farm west Alum Creek in Westerville. Otterbein University recently bought 25 acres of it for future college campus expansion in 2013 (previous posted HERE in this thread). http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/11/25/council-oks-mixed-use-plan-for-braun-tract.html Plan for the 95-acre Braun farm property at Cleveland Avenue and Cooper Road shown above: - Retail and office area in the 21-acre subarea 1 (blue); - Commercial and office use, including medical and college offices but no residential except senior/nursing home in the 42-acre subarea 2 (green); - Multifamily housing with permitted low intensity commercial and office areas in the 27-acre subarea 3 (yellow). - Nine acres along Alum Creek (at far right) would be deeded to the city for a public park when subarea 3 begins to develop.
January 19, 201510 yr 8 State Bistro is renovating the former State Theater in (downtown) Uptown Westerville. For the past 21 years, the former theater had been home to the Amish Originals furniture store. In 2013, the furniture store moved a block away to a bigger location. In 2014, the 8 State Bistro owners began their renovation. According to their website at http://www.8statebistro.com/ - 8 State Bistro is going for a March 2015 opening: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/08/16/new-bistro-coming-to-old-theater-in-uptown-westerville.html http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/08/19/new-act-for-old-theater-tony-restaurant.html http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/11/25/bistro-gets-its-big-8.html
January 19, 201510 yr The below image shows before and after renovation photos of 7 N. State Street in (downtown) Uptown Westerville. This 3-story brick building is located on State Street between Main Street and College Avenue. Google Maps has a October 2012 photo of the building is the process of being renovated at http://goo.gl/maps/MNLoh. The above image and additional information about this project was posted at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/uptown-westerville-news-discussion New restaurant going into the ground floor of 7 N. State Street (previous renovation posted above): http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/11/18/year-long-project-to-create-new-restaurant-nears-finish.html
January 29, 201510 yr Commission OKs mixed-use Central College project BY ANDREW KING, THIS WEEK COMMUNITY NEWS Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - 12:52 PM After months of discussion about its various components, The Village at Central College finally has full approval from the Westerville Planning Commission. Broken into two final plans for the single- and multi-family sections of the 77.8-acre parcel, the final piece of the development was approved at the commission's Dec. 17 meeting. The land lies along the east side of Sunbury Road, south of Central College Road and west of Big Walnut Creek. The Casto firm of Columbus is the developer. ( . . . ) Before its approval at Planning Commission, city staff created a Tax-Increment Financing district for the development that will finance infrastructure improvements and the city's purchase of a 28-acre parcel in the Big Walnut flood plain that will become a new public park. ... The TIF district covers 23 acres of The Village at Central College planned for commercial development and 240 multifamily housing units. It will not include another 16.7-acre section, where 71 single-family homes are planned. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/12/22/commission-oks-mixed-use-central-college-project.html
January 29, 201510 yr A look back at Westerville development projects in 2014 and a look ahead at development projects planned for Westerville in 2015: 2014: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/12/16/city-year-in-review-parks-tax-vote-hotel-highlight-citys-14-news.html 2015: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/12/29/table-is-set-for-several-major-developments-to-take-shape-in-2015.html
February 26, 201510 yr http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2015/02/24/koble-greek-italian-grill-opens-after-partners-yearlong-effort.html Another bar for uptown Westerville. That makes 3 for the once "Dry Capital of the World". http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2015/02/24/northstar-cafe-owners-taking-time-opening-pushed-to-16.html Northstar still planning a restaurant, but it won't open until 2016. Construction to start in the spring. http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/Westerville365/2015/first-quarter/uptowns-uptick.html A nice article on uptown Westerville. Mentioned is 8 State Bistro to open later this year.
February 26, 201510 yr The below image shows before and after renovation photos of 7 N. State Street in Uptown Westerville (that's what they call their historic downtown district). This 3-story brick building is located on State Street between Main Street and College Avenue. Google Maps has a October 2012 photo of the building is the process of being renovated at http://goo.gl/maps/MNLoh. The above image and additional information about this project was posted at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/uptown-westerville-news-discussion wow this is great to see. really impressive.
August 27, 20159 yr Commission OKs mixed-use Central College project BY ANDREW KING, THIS WEEK COMMUNITY NEWS Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - 12:52 PM After months of discussion about its various components, The Village at Central College finally has full approval from the Westerville Planning Commission. Broken into two final plans for the single- and multi-family sections of the 77.8-acre parcel, the final piece of the development was approved at the commission's Dec. 17 meeting. The land lies along the east side of Sunbury Road, south of Central College Road and west of Big Walnut Creek. The Casto firm of Columbus is the developer. ( . . . ) Before its approval at Planning Commission, city staff created a Tax-Increment Financing district for the development that will finance infrastructure improvements and the city's purchase of a 28-acre parcel in the Big Walnut flood plain that will become a new public park. ... The TIF district covers 23 acres of The Village at Central College planned for commercial development and 240 multifamily housing units. It will not include another 16.7-acre section, where 71 single-family homes are planned. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/12/22/commission-oks-mixed-use-central-college-project.html Update about this project - The Village at Central College: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/06/03/the-village-at-central-college-preliminary-plan-for-major-project-goes-to-council.html
August 27, 20159 yr More about the 95-acre Braun farm west Alum Creek in Westerville. Otterbein University recently bought 25 acres of it for future college campus expansion in 2013 (previous posted HERE in this thread). http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2014/11/25/council-oks-mixed-use-plan-for-braun-tract.html Plan for the 95-acre Braun farm property at Cleveland Avenue and Cooper Road shown above: - Retail and office area in the 21-acre subarea 1 (blue); - Commercial and office use, including medical and college offices but no residential except senior/nursing home in the 42-acre subarea 2 (green); - Multifamily housing with permitted low intensity commercial and office areas in the 27-acre subarea 3 (yellow). - Nine acres along Alum Creek (at far right) would be deeded to the city for a public park when subarea 3 begins to develop. Update on this project: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/08/24/retirement-community-proposed-near-downtown.html
August 27, 20159 yr Westerville hospital will create 100 jobs when it opens in 2017 By Carrie Ghose, Staff Reporter Columbus Business First - June 17, 2015, 10:57am EDT HealthSouth Corp. and Mount Carmel Health System will jointly build and operate a 60-bed rehabilitation hospital in Westerville, the organizations said Wednesday. Columbus developer Trivium Development LLC had originally proposed a hospital project in October 2014 for seven acres to be split from 10 acres at Polaris Parkway and Cleveland Avenue along the suburb's so-called "medical mile" and 2 miles north of Mount Carmel St. Ann's. Trivium would develop the three acres fronting Cleveland Avenue. ( . . . ) The HealthSouth site sits between OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus and Adeptus Health Inc.'s proposed Ohio General Hospital that would be a hub for a network of freestanding emergency departments. ... Construction of the HealthSouth 60,000-square-foot hospital building is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/06/17/a-westerville-hospital-will-create-100-jobs-when.html
August 27, 20159 yr Westar Place prep work will cost $4.4M The high-profile development tract will be anchored by an 8-story hotel and conference center BY ANDREW KING, THIS WEEK COMMUNITY NEWS Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 10:33 AM At Westerville City Council's June 9 work session, city staff members provided some new details on what had been a largely conceptual plan for Westar Place. The Westar Place development is a multiuse project that sits on 62 acres of city-owned property along the south side of Polaris Parkway, between Cleveland Avenue and Africa Road. The high-profile development land will be sold in parcels to developers. It will be anchored by an eight-story Marriott Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center, developed by Continental Real Estate Cos. The first round of Westar Place infrastructure costs was tentatively estimated at $4.4 million. Roadway costs of more than $700,000, drainage at nearly $550,000, pavement costs of about $500,000 and electricity service work of more than $400,000 are the largest portions of the project's nearly $3.8 million "hard cost". ( . . . ) Council was expected to authorize a bidding process for the work at its meeting Tuesday evening, June 16. According to a staff presentation, an appropriation ordinance will have its first hearing when council returns from summer recess Aug. 25, and would be approved at the third reading Sept. 15. City officials said they expect to have the bid awarded Oct. 6, with construction of the site's infrastructure stretching from October 2015 to July 2016. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2015/06/16/westar-place-prep-work-will-cost-4-4m.html
September 18, 20159 yr 285 apartments planned at Braun Farm site in Westerville VanTrust Real Estate LLC has extended its interest in Central Ohio real estate development to standalone apartments. The Kansas City, Missouri-based developer is scheduled to unveil its plan for 285 apartments on 22.2 acres within the 95-acre Braun Farm site before the Westerville Planning Commission on Sept. 23. More below: www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/17/285-apartments-planned-at-braun-farm-site-in.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 18, 20159 yr what a tradeoff! those renders are a new level of farmland gulping bugliness, yet it's great news about the facilities and jobs. the apt housing is surely needed as well.
January 26, 20169 yr Four-story hotel planned at former Knight's Inn site BY ANDREW KING, THIS WEEK COMMUNITY NEWS Sunday, September 6, 2015 - 9:40 PM After sitting vacant for nearly a year, the space once occupied by Knight's Inn at 32 Heatherdown Drive finally has a new plan. City staff unveiled a proposal for a new four-story, 101-room hotel at the August 26 Westerville Planning Commission meeting. Starwood Hotels will develop its second Aloft brand hotel in central Ohio, erecting the hotel on the 2.8-acre property. The company has plans for another in Columbus near Ohio State University. The Heatherdown site was purchased by the city for $300,000 in August 2014 through the Westerville Industry and Commerce Corp., the city's economic development agency. The former Knight's Inn was demolished shortly thereafter. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2015/09/01/redevelopment-four-story-hotel-planned-at-former-knights-inn-site.html
January 26, 20169 yr The 8-story, 224-room Renaissance hotel broke ground in December: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2015/12/08/officials-hope-hotel-will-fuel-development.html
March 23, 20169 yr Developer outlines plans for 282 apartments at Braun Farm in Westerville VanTrust Real Estate LLC has refined plans for its multi-building apartment community in Westerville, submitting a final development proposal to city planners for 282 units – down from 285– on a portion of the 95-acre Braun Farm site. Introduced last September, the Kansas City, Missouri-based developer’s project – now branded the Reserve at Alum Creek – calls for five four-story residential buildings, a clubhouse, pool and parking garages on 22-acres of vacant land between Cooper Road and Alum Creek, northeast of Mt. Carmel St. Ann’s hospital. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/03/23/first-look-developer-outlines-plans-for-282.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 23, 20169 yr I worked up the street for five years - last thing that strip of Cleveland Avenue needs is 282 new apartments. Get ready, they'll want to widen it in five years.
September 5, 20168 yr Catching up on some Westerville development news: Fast-growing Fresh Thyme opens grocery in Westerville: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/04/06/first-look-fast-growing-fresh-thyme-chain-opens-in.html
September 5, 20168 yr Mount Carmel Rehabilitation Hospital facility to take shape with 2017 target: http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/westerville/news/2016/04/12/mount-carmel-rehabilitation-hospital-facility-to-take-shape-with-2017-target.html
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