Today in Delaware County, a groundbreaking partnership of public and private organizations literally broke ground.
Officials from the Delaware County Engineer’s and Commissioners’ offices marked the launch of the next phase of the Home Road Extension — an East-West connector road that is the first major project undertaken by the county’s Transportation Improvement District (TID). This phase of the $10 million project will build a nearly one-mile long, four-lane roadway from U.S. Route 23 to just west of the Norfolk Southern/CSX railroad tracks, extensions of Graphics Way and Green Meadow Drive to meet Home Road, and a one-mile sanitary sewer extension.
A TID is a tool that county governments use both to obtain state funding for transportation projects and to significantly streamline the processes for project bidding, selecting contractors and consultants, locating utilities and more. These benefits also apply to projects undertaken in partnership with private developers and with other jurisdictions in the county, including cities and townships.
The Home Road Extension project, said officials at today’s ceremony, would not be possible without the help of a diverse range of partners: Orange Township, Schottenstein Real Estate Group, Olentangy Local School District, the Delaware County Finance Authority, the Kerbler family and The Robert Weiler Company.
“The extension of Home Road from US23 to Lewis Center Road is a key component of Delaware County’s long range transportation plan,” Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman said. “When completed, the new road will provide improved East-West connectivity for motorists in the southern region of the county. I’m pleased that this can be accomplished with significant private financial participation from the Slate Ridge development project.”
The Home Road Extension project also sets off a ripple effect of other projects. First among these is Orange Grand Communities, a residential development in Orange Township that will consist of 288 units of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom garden and townhome apartments, the majority with attached garages. It also will include 68 empty-nester attached rental homes with two first-floor master suites and two-car garages. The development includes amenities such as an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse, heated resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, multiple lounges, a fire pit, game room, putting green, bocce ball court, dog park, business room and community gardens.
Schottenstein Real Estate Group President Brian Schottenstein said: “The location of Orange Grand Communities is right in the path of growth and will be the nicest rental community in the area. This was a true team effort and a great example of a successful public-private partnership. Thanks to the leadership of Delaware County, Orange Township and Olentangy Schools, the Home Road Extension has now become reality.”
Added Orange Township Trustee Ryan Rivers: “The Home Road Extension is a critical piece of infrastructure that has been talked about for almost 20 years. This will open a new corridor for transportation and development.”
Ohio is one of four states in the U.S. where TIDs can be created—the others are Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia— and Delaware County was the 34th out of Ohio’s 88 counties to form one in May 2018.
For more information about the Delaware County Transportation Improvement District, please go to https://tid.co.delaware.oh.us/.