Columbus has seen relatively little in the way of large-scale suburban retail development in recent years, but that’s about to change. Nearly 400,000 square feet of retail space known as “Dublin Green” will emerge from the corn fields of Jerome Township, located approximately half-way between Dublin and Plain City. While the far-flung location seems remote today, retail analysts predict that the area will continue to rapidly change.
“The Jerome Township area is one of the fastest growing areas of the Columbus region with over 80,000 households within a ten-mile radius of the 33/161 exit, versus 60,000 in 2000,” says Chris Boring, Owner of Boulevard Strategies retail consulting group. “Median household income is over $90,000 for the ten-mile radius.”
While Dublin Green isn’t technically located within the City of Dublin, it will certainly have an impact on the neighboring northwestern suburb.
“The City of Dublin has several concerns based on what we know at this point to include layout of the proposed site and impacts on traffic in the area,” says Dana McDaniel, Director of Development at The City of Dublin. “There has been no discussion to date between the various jurisdictions, namely Jerome Township, City of Dublin, Union County and the Ohio Department of Transportation.”
McDaniel describes the Jerome Township project as being more “suburban-like”, especially when compared to the more urban-styled Bridge Street Corridor plans that the City of Dublin has been working on just five miles east of Dublin Green. The first phase of the Bridge Street Corridor is expected to have 120,000 square feet of retail space mixed with apartments, offices, condos, hotel and other uses while Dublin Green is planning a total of 365,000 square feet of retail space.
“I think that they will be two very different retail experiences,” says Boring. “I don’t think Dublin Green will be in competition for the same types of tenants as you will see in the Bridge Street corridor, which I envision as Dublin’s answer to the Short North or Olde Worthington.”
Boring says that might not always be the case if additional development in Jerome Township takes on more of the “lifestyle center” approach.
“Bridge Street could get caught In the crossfire if that happens,” he says. “I think it will be important for Bridge Street to concentrate on unique independents retailers and restaurants to differentiate itself from chain-based developments.”
To date, the only tenant announced at Dublin Green is a 150,000 square foot Costco store, which is the third for the Central Ohio region.
“There’s still a lot of other space to lease, according to their plans,” adds Boring. “Right now, my guess would be that they will look to put in some category killer big box stores.”
For more discussion and updates on Dublin Green, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.
For more discussion and updates on The Bridge Street Corridor, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.