The “Project QT” unveiling back in June was certainly one of the largest Central Ohio development announcements of 2017, which aims to turn a former quarry site into the future home of the region’s 20th Metro Park and a new mixed-use development. That project is taking another step forward this month with the official announcement of the land acquisition of the 558-acre property.
“We have never been more excited about a project… to find hundreds of acres of undeveloped land, complete with dramatic landscapes and nearly two miles of Scioto riverfront, all within five miles of Broad and High presents a once in a lifetime opportunity,” stated Mark Wagenbrenner, President of Wagenbrenner Development, the private-sector partner on the project. “Such promise exists because of the immense challenges that have thus far barred it from being re-purposed. We couldn’t even begin to take on this project without the help and commitments of our partners, Metro Parks and the City of Columbus.”
The site — located North of Trabue Road and bounded on the East by the Scioto River and on the West and North by Dublin Road — served as a limestone quarry from the 1840s to the 1970s. Wagenbrenner is working with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to remediate landfill portions of the site.
Plans for the site call for the construction of a new 62-acre Metro Park that will feature active sports uses ranging from mountain biking to water sports, while the adjacent private-sector component will include single-family homes, apartments and at least 40,000 square feet of office space. Similar to the updated Grandview Crossing project, Wagenbrenner is making a commitment to providing workforce housing options, with 10 percent of units priced in the 80 percent -100 percent median area income range.
“More and more, people are looking for places to live where they can enjoy an active lifestyle and we believe this project is important to Central Ohio’s efforts to attract and retain new companies and their employees,” stated Wagenbrenner. “Where else in this country can you create a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts within a five dollar Uber ride of all that Columbus’ urban core has to offer?”
Columbus City Council is scheduled to vote on an economic development package on Monday, which would allocate funding for the public utilities and roads required for the site.
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For more information, visit www.keepitontheqt.com.