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Diley Road nearly completed
(by Dedra Cordle, Staff Writer - July 22, 2009)
As it is one of the fastest growing areas in central Ohio, the city of Pickerington has seen its fair share of construction projects in the past few years.
However, one project that locals say has been a traffic nightmare is nearing its final stage.
By the end of 2009, the $15 million expansion of Diley Road is expected to be completed, says John McGory, real estate developer and owner of the McGory Group.
Some of the major features in the expansion project include the widening of approximately 2.5 miles of the Diley Road corridor from two lanes to five lanes between S.R. 256 and Busey Road in Fairfield County; installing concrete curbs and gutters and storm sewers; installing 5-foot-wide sidewalks and 10-foot-wide multi-use pathway; street lighting at major intersections and bridge replacement.
Additionally, some of the development projects in the Hill/Diley Road and U.S. 33 interchange area are also slated for year-end completion, such as the Diley Ridge Medical Park.
The 55-acre site, located in the Village of Canal Winchester, will be the home to a 50,000-square-foot medical office building and a $35-million joint venture between Mount Carmel and Fairfield Medical Center.
According to their Web sites, the 100-bed emergency and diagnostic center will have a full service, 24-hour ER, a full clinical laboratory and pharmacy, state-of-the-art imaging center with MRI, CT scan, x-ray and ultrasound. There also will be a Women's Health Center complete with mammography and bone density services. The medical center is projected to open in January 2010.
While these particular projects in the Hill/Diley Road and U.S. 33 interchange area are almost complete, more are in the works, both presently and for potential future uses. McGory, who is also a managing partner for several projects in the interchange area, gave an update on some of those properties.
Diley Crossing Retail: A 27-acre parcel located in Violent Township, which McGory says, has great retail potential.
"There is interest for this area, but the economy is keeping things slow right now," he said, referring to shops and retail chains committing to the space.
He added there is also a proposed 35-acre parcel of land owned by Cincinnati based developer KCDG for a "power retail center." The plan was recently approved by the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission.
McGory said while there is some concern about filling the available space, there is too much growth in the area and too much money invested into the project for it to go to the wayside.
"Our thought is it's not about if it will happen, but when," he said.
Sycamore Crossing Industrial Park: "This is for light industrial and commercial spaces," McGory said about the 60-acre location on S.R. 33. McGory explained that this location would attract light manufacturing companies or distribution centers as it is on an unimpeded highway and is close to Rickenbacker Airport.
Office Space: Also being constructed is the Diley Crossing Office Park, a 16-acre parcel in Violet Township, and The Offices at Sycamore Crossing, a 27-acre office park whose property is owned by U.S. 33 LLC.
McGory said that as long as the commitment between the city of Pickerington, the village of Canal Winchester and Violet Township continues, the area will be put to good use and will be a good investment as the development will bring in local jobs and help the community build a tax base.
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