Walkable, mixed-use development proposed for barren Dublin site

DUBLIN, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A vacant site sandwiched between office buildings in Dublin could soon be home to a mixed-use development with a five-story apartment building, retail, a restaurant and a dog park.

Plans call for the development to be built on a 16-acre site at the northeast corner of Emerald Parkway and Woerner Temple Road owned by VanTrust Real Estate, according to a proposal submitted to the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission. An apartment complex with 280 units, 25,000 square feet of commercial space and green space would be among the property’s amenities.

Owner of the site since 2016, VanTrust is asking the commission on Thursday to rezone the site, arguing the property’s current zoning which only allows office buildings “is not viable.” Neither VanTrust or Duke Realty, who owned the site previously for 15 years, “was able to make office buildings work on this site for a number of reasons,” the proposal states.

“We believe the vacant lot could be transformed into a walkable mixed-use development that would provide numerous benefits to the community and the existing office uses which are our neighbors,” VanTrust said.

The proposal claims the development would provide “much-needed amenities to neighboring office buildings” including UnitedHealth Group, BMI Federal Credit Union, Farmers Insurance and Emerald EyeCare. VanTrust states the company has gathered letters of support from nearby office tenants and owners.

While the site is barren and generating almost zero in tax revenue, VanTrust said projections forecast tax revenue or more than $10 million in combined tax revenue to the city and schools over the 10 years following construction.

“This development would enhance the value of the vacant property owned by the city immediately east of the subject site and accelerate and improve the development prospects for the city’s site,” the proposal said.

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