As the ribbon was cut Friday, June 6, on a transformative mixed-use project on Delaware’s east side, local leaders celebrated the broad base of community partnerships that has made The Mill on Flax a reality. The project, located at 35 Flax St. on a 5-acre site near the Olentangy River in downtown Delaware, includes five apartment buildings and a 10,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial building.
The Mill on Flax is a $40-million project headed by RiverWest Partners, The Daimler Group and Tri-W Group. It was supported by a $2.5-million infrastructure bond and a sales-tax exemption on construction materials that netted $216,526 in savings from the Delaware County Finance Authority. The DCFA is a public agency established by the Delaware County Commissioners that partners with economic developers, local governments, and banks to facilitate project funding and spur job creation in Ohio’s fastest growing county.
“At the project groundbreaking in December 2023, we knew the potential for genuine transformation of Delaware’s east side was there,” said DCFA Chairman Bill Bishop. “Today, we see that promise fulfilled and we’re also excited for the changes and improvements it inspires, going forward.”
The Mill on Flax brings much-needed housing to Delaware while jumpstarting efforts to economically revitalize the city’s historic Riverfront District. The development includes 102 single-bedroom apartments, 36 two-bedroom units and 24 studio units, as well as 6,000 square feet of office.
An adaptive reuse component restored the site’s Civil-War-era Flax Mill Factory, which has been transformed into a clubhouse with state-of-the-art amenities. Infrastructure improvements also are enhancing the flow of east-west traffic in the area. In the 19th century, the east side of Delaware boasted a vibrant mix of commerce and housing. It remains within walking distance of a variety of local restaurants, shops and cultural attractions in downtown Delaware.
An economic-impact study of the project, which was funded by the county’s Economic Development Department, has pegged its expected impact on the local and regional economies at $101 million.
For more information about the DCFA, visit the website at: https://dcfa.co.delaware.oh.us/. For more information about The Mill on Flax, go to: https://livemillonflax.com/.