Work has been steadily progressing on the much-anticipated Quarry Trails Metro Park and the 80-acre mixed-use development that is integrated into its design.
Steve Bollinger, Principal and Executive Vice President of Development for the developer of the project, Thrive Companies, said that he expects the first move-ins to happen in “October or November.” For-sale townhomes and flats, as well as for-rent apartments, will be the first products available, with detached single family homes coming online a little bit later.
The first phase of the Metro Park, which will eventually occupy a total of 220 acres, is also on track for a fall opening.
Both the park and the development are located at the northeast corner of Trabue and Dublin Roads, on former quarry land that was bought by Thrive Companies (then Wagenbrenner Development) in 2017. An additional 250 acres of land to the north is also controlled by Thrive – it is still an active quarry site but could be developed in the future.
Bollinger recently gave Columbus Underground a tour of the site, starting at what will be the development’s main entrance, off of Trabue Road. A new road winds down through the construction site, with new buildings coming up to the right and open parkland to the left.
A trail system will weave through the development and the park, connecting up eventually to the nearby Scioto Trail.
Elevator shafts and the steel frame of a three-story office building are visible at the southern end of the development. Bollinger said that two tenants have committed to occupying the second and third floors of the initial office building, and that the Thrive team is hoping to sign more leases soon (the development will contain a total of 43,000 square feet of office space and 16,000 square feet of retail space).
At the top of the list is a brewery and an outfitter of some sort; a company to rent out kayaks, rock climbing gear and other equipment people can use at the park.
Thrive is currently developing its own concepts for a new gym and coffee shop, Bollinger said. Both will be open to the public, and could eventually find their way into one or more of the developer’s other projects, such as Founders Park or Grandview Crossing.
The first phase of construction will see a total of 293 apartments and 520 for-sale units completed (both townhomes and single family homes), in addition to a 11,000-square-foot community center (with a pool).
Meyers & Associates Architecture designed the clubhouse and the retail buildings, while New Avenue Architects & Engineers worked on the office buildings, apartments and for-sale offerings. MKSK and EP Ferris round out the design team.
Two model homes are now open and available for touring, with several of other homes in various stages of construction. Many of the detached homes will face out onto pedestrian-only green spaces.
“We want it to have a pocket park sort of vibe and feel to it, more or less a greenway,” said Bollinger, explaining that the pathways will extend through the development, “all the way to the Scioto River…with sidewalks, Adirondack chairs, and lots of landscaping.”
Although the opening of the Metro Park has been pushed back – initially officials were hoping to open a portion of the park in the fall of 2020 – plenty of progress has been made on many of its most spectacular features.
A new stairway provides access to a 20-foot waterfall, steep mountain bike trails have now been carved into the landscape, and a giant sledding hill is taking shape near a cliffside that will be available for rock climbing. Other park features include a dog park and multiple access points for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and fishing.
Scroll down for more pictures from the tour and additional information on the project.
Read More: Renderings Released for Quarry Trails Development
