June 28, 2024

Today’s Forecast

🏗️ The two-minute development recap

This Lockbourne-based distribution center is in addition to the other facility ODW opened last fall on Rohr Road. | Photo via ODW Logistics

Welcome to summer in Columbus, where the only thing more common than an ice cream cone is a construction cone. Here are your top development headlines from June.

Note: We will update this story with more news each month.

Projects

930,000-sqft project planned near Rickenbacker Airport
ODW Logistics is opening a massive distribution center at 6920 Schieser Farms Rd. E. in Lockbourne in July. It will employ 75-100 people.

Local playground accidentally gets demolished
Oops... The playset at Weinland Park met an early demise after construction crews mistakenly started demolition on it, confusing it for another playground in the area they were set to doze that day. They’ve pledged to fully replace it for free, so no need for tears.

East Columbus groundbreaking announced for fall
Two firms — Trident Capital Group and Elford Development — are working together on a 63-acre site at 250 Taylor Station Rd. They will build a warehouse and an apartment complex, plus another potential warehouse in the future.

Proposals

CBUStoday 870 Parsons Ave. — A Papa John’s and Next Cell are located at 870 Parsons Ave. They would be demo’d if this project is able to make it through the multiple channels of the approval process. | Photo via Google Maps

Developers eye Parsons Avenue for apartments
This project was presented to the South Side Area Commission, and would bring a five-story complex to the area if fully approved.

Announcements

CBUStoday Hilliard Eco Plumbers site — This 19-acre site in Hilliard is estimated to bring 355 total jobs to the area once more local businesses commit to becoming tenants. | Photo via City of Hilliard

Hilliard sees multi-million dollar project approved
Hilliard City Council passed multiple resolutions that will allow for a $29 million, 158,000-sqft facility to be built on 19 acres of land east of Britton Parkway. This project will be anchored by Eco Plumbers, but 100,000+ sqft will still be available to other tenants.

Another huge investment from Google in central Ohio
The tech giant announced it will invest $2.3 billion into its central Ohio-based data centers, including ones located in Columbus, New Albany, and Lancaster, which forms the “Columbus Cloud Region.”

Can you believe we’re beyond the mid-point of 2024? Keep reading to recap anything you may have missed so far this year.

Top construction headlines this year

Asked

How much did Google invest in central Ohio for its existing data centers?

A. $2.3 billion
B. $3.4 billion
C. $4.5 billion
D. $5.6 billion

Send your answer

Events

Friday, June 28

AJR | Friday, June 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Arena District | $50-$300 | This trio continues to create hits, such as “World’s Smallest Violin,” which has 360+ million plays on Spotify.
ComFest | Friday, June 28-Sunday, June 30 | Times vary | Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale Ave., Short North | Free | Celebrate all things local at this community festival that has been a CBUS tradition for 50+ years.
Columbus Clippers vs. Omaha Storm Chasers | Friday, June 28-Sunday, June 30 | 7 p.m. | Huntington Park | $8-$24 | Enjoy a range specials each night, such as fireworks after the game on Saturday.

Saturday, June 29

Growers & Griots: Part 1 | Saturday, June 29 | 1-3:30 p.m. | Grandview Theater and Drafthouse, 1247 Grandview Ave., Grandview | $5-$10 | This is the first installment of a four-part, once-a-month series where you watch and discuss the second season of Netflix’s “High on the Hog.”

Sunday, June 30

Flutter Run | Sunday, June 30 | 8:30-11 a.m. | Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Downtown | $5-$40 | There’s still time to sign up and walk or run in this 5K that supports FPC.

100+ more local events

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Drink

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A person holds a box that says "Wine Insiders" and a few bottles of wine.

Wine Insiders makes wine shopping easy, convenient, and affordable. | Photo by Wine Insiders

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News Notes

Weather

After the year in weather we are having, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Forecasters are predicting severe weather this weekend, with the possibility of damaging winds and hail. There is also a lower risk for tornadoes and flooding. (10TV)

Civic

Mayor Andrew Ginther unveiled his 2024 capital budget plan for Columbus, which totals $1.99 billion. He submitted it to City Council for further approval, who will hold public meetings on Tuesday, July 2; Monday, July 8; and Tuesday, July 9. (10TV)

Development

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is now a construction zone after work began on a 14-story patient care tower. It is being built on Parsons Avenue and is expected to be completed by 2028. (Columbus Underground)

Shop

Columbus’ newest farmers market is headed to The Little Grand Market. The Little Grand Farmer’s Market will take place each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting Aug. 17. (614now)

Community

The Columbus Zoo announced Emmett, a fan favorite cheetah, passed away during a health examination. “Emmett’s love for life was evident in his enthusiasm for meeting people, racing at top speed in the Watering Hole, and his undeniable love for food,” reads the announcement post.

Sports

Meet the newest Cleveland Cavalier: Jaylon Tyson, a talented and versatile wing from California. Get the latest news, analysis, and insider information for the Cavs with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Finance

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Eat

Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Mazza’s for food and RH Rooftop Restaurant Columbus for ambience.*

History

🚂 This train already left the station

The Ohio State Limited making a stop in Springfield, Ohio in February 1965. | Photo via Wikicommons

It takes nearly nine hours to drive to New York City from Columbus, but in the early 1950s, two rails made this long commute every day.

This was the Ohio State Limited, a passenger rail that connected Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland to the Big Apple from 1924 until 1967. Today, we are re-riding through the rails of history to recall what happened it.

Origin story

The Ohio State Limited was something like a Frankenstein creation, combining smaller rails from across the region to form the “Big Four Route.” It comprised Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. These were later acquired by NYC Railroad near the 1930s, which led to the connection.

Hey day

By the mid-1950s, nine NYC-bound trains were stopping in Columbus each day. This also included a luxury line, No. 15 + No. 16, which reportedly traveled between Columbus, Cincinnati, New York City, and Boston.

More history + photos

The Buy

A Prime membership — because Amazon Prime Day is coming Tuesday, July 16 + Wednesday, July 17. You need a membership to be eligible for the sale prices (which are usually pretty great).

Asked

How much did Google invest in Central Ohio for its existing data centers?

Google_Data_Center,_Council_Bluffs_Iowa_(49062863796).jpg

A view of a current Google Data Center in Iowa. | Photo by Chad Davis | Chad Davis

The correct answer to today’s quiz is: $2.3 billion.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Mitch

From the editor

Check out this nearly 5-ft tall plant that smells like a corpse at Franklin Park Conservatory. Or don’t — because that sounds like the start to a horror movie...

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