By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Progress has been slow on the construction of the Groveport Town Center project in downtown Groveport, but that will change in January.
According to Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall, several delays regarding the relocation of utility lines for electric, telephone and cable television service slowed full scale construction work on the project. However, Hall said the contractor was now scheduled to begin site work on Jan. 6.
“Because of working in cold weather and the utility delays, the contractor will begin work at the back of the parking lot and move forward to the building areas,” said Hall. “The building pad is now scheduled for completion in spring. This is weather dependent of course, it may be earlier weather permitting.”
The plans for the Groveport Town Center include two commercial buildings on 2.5 acres of city-owned land at the northeast corner of Main and Front streets. One building will be a 10,800 square foot building that will house an Ace Hardware store. The other structure will be a 7,296 square foot multi-tenant commercial building.
Potential occupants for the multi-tenant building include restaurants, delicatessens, coffee shops, independent retailers, and small commercial offices. However, Hall said she is not aware of any tenants being confirmed yet for the multi-tenant building.
The project also includes: the construction of a 91-space parking lot extending northeast from Main Street to Elm Street on former Ohio and Erie Canal land; a small patio at the west end of the multi-tenant building; and a bike path connecting Main Street to Blacklick Park.
A water retention basin will be constructed at the end of the parking lot near Blacklick Park. Bushes, trees and fencing will be installed to screen the development from neighboring residences.
A pocket park, to be located at the corner of Front and Main streets, is also planned for the site, but it would not be built until 2015 at the earliest. Hall said the features and design for the pocket park have not yet been finalized.
Residents have noticed there are construction erosion barriers in place well into Blacklick Park and have questioned whether the project will impact the park.
“The erosion barriers are just at the outer perimeters of the property, not the actual development,” said Hall. “Same thing for the corner pocket park. There are barriers, but no development at this point in time past the second building.”
Hall also stated the construction of the project’s parking lot would not adversely affect the well preserved section of the Ohio and Erie Canal that is located within Blacklick Park.
