News/Reports
OHBAs Legislative Review 9
Radon notification
City of Delaware Right of Way Permitting
COC DOSD OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
Industry News
01/14/2021
Delaware County ranks among America's fastest-growing exurbs
By Tristan Navera/ Columbus Business First
Relocation firm CapRelo named Delaware County one of the 10 fastest-growing exurbs, based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, American Communities Project and The Brookings Institution.
01/14/2021
Experts predict what the 2021 housing market will bring
By Kathy Orton/ Washington Post
Many experts are predicting another strong housing market in 2021. They are forecasting increased demand from buyers who delayed purchasing homes because of the pandemic, from existing homeowners who need larger spaces to accommodate parents working from home and children attending school virtually and from condo owners who are seeking to escape multifamily buildings for single-family houses to mitigate exposure to the virus. The ability to tour homes and close on purchases virtually will make buying a home simpler in 2021.
01/13/2021
Central Ohio’s Housing Shortage
By TC Brown/ Columbus Monthly
Central Ohio’s real estate market has more buyers than existing homes, so why aren’t builders just building more houses to fill the demand?
01/12/2021
Carfagna elected asst. majority floor leader
tate Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Twp.) was sworn into the 134th General Assembly of the Ohio House of Representatives during Monday’s House session. He was also unanimously elected as assistant majority floor leader for the two-year period. “I am truly honored to be able to serve the residents in Delaware and Knox counties for another two years,” said Carfagna. “I look forward to expanding my leadership capacities as assistant majority floor leader. I promise to keep working efficiently and transparently on behalf of my constituents.”
01/11/2021
Powell considering tax changes
By Dillon Davis/ Delaware Gazette
Past attempts to increase the city’s tax rate have not fared well in the city of Powell, but a special ballot on May 4 could once again include a proposed increase to the local income tax. However, the city’s most recent attempt to generate more money would also feature a critical component that has often turned voters off to the idea with past ballot measures.
01/07/2021
Delaware County Plans for Growth in the Big Walnut School District
The Delaware County Board of Commissioners and the Delaware County Finance Authority have created an economic development team to assist with growth in the Big Walnut Local School District area.
01/05/2021
Columbus gains population, Ohio loses overall per survey
By Mark Somerson / Columbus Business First (Subscription may be required)
The Columbus metropolitan area gained 18,077 new residents in 2019, growing to 2,122,271 people, which equates to just under 50 people a day. Columbus remains the 32nd-largest metropolitan area in the nation, and by numeric growth, is the 25th-fastest-growing metro in the nation, with 0.9% population growth.
12/29/2020
COVID couldn't curb west Licking County development boom
By Craig McDonald/ Newark Advocate
When it came to pitching major new residential and commercial projects, prospective developers continued to “go west” within Licking County in 2020.
12/28/2020
Carfagna announces capital projects funding
State Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Twp.) announced Tuesday state lawmakers have passed Ohio’s proposed two-year state capital budget. It includes funding for a variety of initiatives across the state and aids local projects across the 68th House District.
12/28/2020
Delaware County Commissioners sign off on 2021 budget
The budget includes the resumption of work on the Byxbe Campus, a one-stop facility at the site of the Delaware Area Career Center’s former north campus for the county’s engineering and development offices, as well as administrative headquarters for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
12/21/2020
Development proposed for US 23 corridor
By Gary Budzak / Delaware Gazette
“The development proposed includes town homes and multi-family residential units to be known as the Orange Grand Estates at Slate Ridge,” states the announcement on the township’s Facebook page, which was also published in The Gazette.
12/21/2020
Modular Construction Meets Changing Needs in the Pandemic
By Aili McConnon/ New York Times (Subscription may be required)
The process of creating prefabricated units that can be quickly assembled has shifted as developers turn to medical buildings, affordable housing, data centers and even a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
12/20/2020
Fewer Homes for Sale Across the Country
By Michael Kolomatsky/ New York Times (Subscription may be required)
Inventory is down across the country, throwing the housing market ‘out of whack.’ Here are the metro areas with the greatest changes in listing supply.
12/18/2020
Marble Cliff mansion redevelopment boosted by tax credits
By: Jim Weiker / The Columbus Dispatch
The Marble Cliff Gateway Mansion has been approved for state historic tax credits, allowing the 112-year-old landmark on W. 5th Avenue to be redeveloped.
12/18/2020
Granville officials shaping opposition strategy to proposed Newark development
By: Craig McDonald / Newark Advocate
Granville officials are closing ranks and shaping strategies in the wake of an announcement that a developer is proposing hundreds of new homes in Newark on property also within the Granville School District.
12/16/2020
Business park’s overlay approved
The Berlin Township Board of Trustees recently approved plans for the western overlay of the Berlin Business Park.
12/16/2020
Columbus State, housing developer to buy two surplus Columbus school buildings
By: Alissa Widman Neese / The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus Board of Education unanimously approved the sale of two surplus buildings Tuesday night, which will generate about $3.67 million in total revenue for the school district.
12/14/2020
CFPB Issues Final Qualified Mortgage Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued two final rules related to qualified mortgage (QM) loans. The General QM Final Rule replaces the current requirement for General QM loans that the consumer’s debt-to-income ratio (DTI) not exceed 43%, with a limit based on the loan’s pricing. The second rule creates a new category for QMs, Seasoned QMs.
12/14/2020
OHBA Legislative Update
By: Vince Squillace (OHBA EO)
Lunacy is about as nice as we can put it. As you may know, a lame duck session is when the “lame ducks” return to session after the general election. Perhaps, events are even a bit crazier this year. The covid-19 situation has spawned a few crazy legislative introductions and actions, not to mention the filing articles of impeachment against the Governor by members of his own party.
12/13/2020
Taylor steps down as Ostrander mayor
By Dillon Davis/ Delaware Gazette
The village of Ostrander is now under new guidance following the resignation of Robert Taylor, who stepped down from his position as mayor earlier this month. Taylor served in the role for 21 months before ultimately deciding it was time to refocus his attention on his family.
12/01/2020
OHBA Monthly Column
By Vince Squillace (OHBA)
Hopefully all the good wishes extended on Thanksgiving Day will bring a less complex 2021. The challenges have been significant on many levels. Our entire federation has been doing its part. We have all tried to be good stewards in these troubled times.
11/07/2020
U.S. Multifamily Starts Fall 16% in September
MHN
Soaring lumber prices have helped constrain multifamily development, according to a new report on the housing market by Marcus & Millichap.
11/05/2020
New home sales dip slightly in September, but remain strong going into fall
MarketWatch Published: Oct. 27, 2020 at 10:15 a.m. ET
The market for new homes typically cools in the fall, but sales are still running well ahead of last year’s pace
11/04/2020
Grove City's Beulah Park Ready for City Park Work
Alan Froman ThisWeek group
Developer nudges Grove City to start components of Beulah central park
11/04/2020
Delaware City Hires New City Attorney
Paul Comstock ThisWeek
Natalia Harris hits the ground running as Delaware's new city attorney
11/02/2020
Reynoldsburg Revotes to Again Approve TIF
Kelley YoumanThisWeek
UPDATED: Waggoner Road project tax deal needs yet another Reynoldsburg council 'do over' vote
11/02/2020
Worthington Mall Site Proposal Tweaked
Stephen Borgna ThisWeek group
High North proposal making its way through development process
10/28/2020
Home prices in Columbus area take a 16.5% leap
Jim Weiker Columbus Dispatch USA TODAY NETWORK
Home buyers paid $34,000 more than they paid in September for a Columbus-area home
10/22/2020
U.S. Housing Starts Increase Amid Shift to Single-Family Homes
Bloomberg By Jarrell Dillard October 20, 2020, 8:35 AM EDT
Building permits were issued at fastest pace since 2007
10/20/2020
Dublin Limits Property Owners Short-term Rentals
ThisWeek group Sarah Sole
Dublin City Council restricts short-term rentals to twice a year
10/19/2020
Hilliard Data Center Site Agreement
A. Kevin Corvo ThisWeek group
City, school board agree to purchase option for likely data-center site
10/19/2020
Reynoldsburg Apartment Properties Have New Maintenance Requirements
Kelley Youman ThisWeek
Reynoldsburg: City Council approves new property-maintenance rules
10/14/2020
Median Lot Size Declines to Record Low
NAHB Eye on Housing
The median lot size for homes sold in 2019 dropped to 8,177 square feet, or 0.188 of an acre.
10/08/2020
Columbus Affordable Rental Project Planned
By Tristan Navera – Columbus Business First Oct 4, 2020
Indianapolis developer Herman & Kittle proposes 284-unit apartment project in south Columbus
10/05/2020
New Projects Announced Around County
By Tristan Navera – Staff reporter, Columbus Business First Oct 6, 2020, 10:39am EDT
Crane Watch: New Central Ohio development hotspots emerged in September
08/19/2020
Housing Starts Gain Ground in July
By; Robert Dietz, NAHB Chief Economist (Eye on Housing)
Single-family housing permits and starts expanded in July as housing demand and construction remains a bright spot for the overall economy.
08/17/2020
North Road project moves forward
By Dillon Davis - Delaware Gazette (August 14, 2020)
Plans are moving forward that will see North Road extended north from Shanahan Road to Peachblow Road.
08/12/2020
Downtown Housing Projects Updated
By Mark Ferenchik The Columbus Dispatch By Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch Posted Aug 9, 2020 at 5:20 AM Updated Aug 9, 2020 at 11:56 AM
Downtown adds apartments, other projects despite coronavirus
08/11/2020
Dublin Riverside Plaza Construction Continue
By SARAH SOLE THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Aug 10, 2020 at 5:05 PM
East plaza of Dublin’s Riverside Crossing Park could be finished next year
08/11/2020
Reynoldsburg Considering TIF with Subdivision
By KELLEY YOUMAN Posted Aug 10, 2020 at 7:00 AM
Reynoldsburg City Council eyes TIF for M/I project on Waggoner Road
08/10/2020
Jerome Township To Again Seek Fire Levy
By SARAH SOLE THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Aug 7, 2020 at 5:17 PM Updated Aug 7, 2020 at 5:40 PM
Jerome Township will ask again for fire levy on November ballot
08/07/2020
HOUSING AND THE MOST CONFUSING ECONOMY OF OUR LIFETIME
Builder By Ali Wolf
Despite overall economic uncertainty, here's why housing appears to be getting stronger.
07/16/2020
Jobsite Safety and Recordkeeping Guidance for Coronavirus
NAHB
NAHB is a leading member of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC)
07/02/2020
Central Ohio Jobless Rates Improve and Lead the State
By Mark Williams The Columbus Dispatch Posted Jun 23, 2020 at 8:41 PM Updated Jun 24, 2020 at 7:13 AM
Jobless rates fall in Ohio metro areas in May
06/18/2020
Delaware County Promotes Rte 23 Corridor
By Dean Narciso The Columbus Dispatch Posted Jun 10, 2020 at 12:01 AM Updated Jun 12, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Delaware County rolls out ‘DC23’ branding for corridor
06/15/2020
Hilliard Council Approves Alton Place
By KEVIN CORVO THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Jun 9, 2020 at 12:01 AM Updated Jun 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM
Hilliard City Council approves rezoning, developer’s agreement for Alton Place
06/09/2020
Hilliard City Council approves rezoning, developer’s agreement for Alton Place
By KEVIN CORVO THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Jun 9, 2020 at 12:01 AM Updated Jun 9, 2020 at 8:18 AM
The vote came after a more than three-hour discussion
06/04/2020
New Albany Approves Residential Annexation
By SARAH SOLE THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Jun 2, 2020 at 7:23 PM Updated Jun 2, 2020 at 7:40 PM
New Albany City Council approves 63.5-acre annexation for housing development
05/31/2020
Delaware City Wrestles w/ Small Business Loan Program
By PAUL COMSTOCK Posted May 29, 2020 at 7:00 AM
Some Delaware leaders favor homegrown loan program over county’s version
05/28/2020
New Albany council mulls 63.5-acre annexation for housing development
By SARAH SOLE THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted May 19, 2020 at 7:12 PM Updated May 20, 2020 at 2:20 PM
A residential developer wants to build an empty-nester housing development on land at Central College Road and Jug Street
05/27/2020
Columbus approves first four buildings for massive Scioto Peninsula project
By Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch Posted May 26, 2020 at 10:05 AM Updated at 8:46 AM
05/25/2020
Hilliard commission approves apartment complex on Riggins Road
By KEVIN CORVO THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted May 26, 2020 at 12:01 AM Updated May 26, 2020 at 2:32 PM
The complex includes a clubhouse, an outdoor pool and 10 detached garages
05/06/2020
Will NE Ohio Consider Government Consolidations in Response to Financial Pressures?
Cleveland.com Posted May 04, 2020
Economic woes spawned by coronavirus crisis resurrecting talk of mergers, regional cooperation
05/05/2020
Groveport Purchases Property for Development
By SCOTT GERFEN THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted May 4, 2020 at 5:05 PM Updated May 5, 2020 at 11:43 AM
Officials hope site purchase will attract development to Groveport
04/30/2020
Delaware County Details Small Business Support Programs
By PAUL COMSTOCK Posted Apr 22, 2020 at 3:20 PM Updated Apr 22, 2020 at 3:25 PM
Cash earmarked for Delaware County small businesses, individuals
04/29/2020
Berkshire Township hires Vaughn as new administrator
Delaware Gazette By Gary Budzak
Vaughn said he was most recently the administrator for Clinton Township
04/15/2020
'DRIVE-UP' CLOSINGS HAPPENING NEAR COLUMBUS
Builder April 06, 2020
Real estate agents are finding new ways to get the job done.
04/15/2020
Liberty Township Trustees Files Lawsuit in Aftermath of EMS Issues
Delaware Gazette April 9, 2020 By Glenn Battishill
Gemperline files lawsuit against petition organizers
04/08/2020
Tax-sharing deal for Evans Farm gets nod from Orange, Concord townships
By JIM FISCHER THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Apr 6, 2020 at 5:35 PM Updated Apr 7, 2020 at 2:03 PM
Orange Township trustees unanimously approved the creation of the tax district at its March 16 meeting.
03/31/2020
City of Delaware Right-of-Way Permitting
03/24/2020
Upper Arlington Council Has Livestream Option
By NATE ELLIS THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 23, 2020 at 6:05 PM
Upper Arlington’s April council meetings canceled for now; livestreams an option
03/23/2020
Reynoldsburg Council to Get Proposed New Zoning Code
By KELLEY YOUMAN Posted Mar 19, 2020 at 6:23 PM Updated Mar 19, 2020 at 6:39 PM
Reynoldsburg Planning Commission OKs new zoning code; City Council gets final say
03/22/2020
Clintonville Area Commission Elections Impacted
By ANDREW KING THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 19, 2020 at 5:19 PM Updated Mar 19, 2020 at 5:21 PM
COVID-19 scuttles Clintonville Area Commission hopefuls’ in-person option
03/17/2020
Hilliard council grants city manger emergency powers related to coronavirus pandemic
By KEVIN CORVO THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 16, 2020 at 9:18 PM
The measure is related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that has brought sweeping action statewide in an effort to contain the spread of the disease.
03/12/2020
Orange Township to Consider JEDD for Evans Farm
By JIM FISCHER THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 9, 2020 at 6:35 PM Updated Mar 9, 2020 at 8:15 PM
Orange Township: JEDD could bolster Evans Farm’s town center
03/11/2020
Columbus Apartment Plan Being Revised
By Mark Ferenchik The Columbus Dispatch Posted Mar 5, 2020 at 2:01 PM
Developer revising plans for Olde Towne East apartment project
03/10/2020
Columbus Sewer Tunnel to Help Future Redevelopment
By OLIVIA MINNIER THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 9, 2020 at 8:00 AM
New tunnel project might give northwest Columbus residents relief from sewer woes
03/09/2020
Reynoldsburg Main Street Changes Considered
Reynoldsburg council to vote on moving forward with East Main Street project
03/08/2020
Canal Winchester Selects Council President
By SCOTT GERFEN THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 2, 2020 at 6:35 PM Updated Mar 3, 2020 at 1:55 PM
Mike Walker elected Canal Winchester City Council president on split vote
03/06/2020
Grove City Working on Infrastructure Planning
By ALAN FROMAN THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Mar 6, 2020 at 7:35 PM Updated Mar 9, 2020 at 6:45 PM
Grove City officials developing strategies for road projects
02/26/2020
Worthington Approves Senior Housing Rezoning
By GARY SEMAN JR. THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Feb 19, 2020 at 5:38 PM Updated Feb 20, 2020 at 2:03 PM
UPDATED: Worthington City Council approves Stafford Village redevelopment
02/24/2020
Benjamin King feels welcome as Groveport’s new administrator
By SCOTT GERFEN THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Feb 24, 2020 at 6:35 PM Updated Feb 24, 2020 at 7:07 PM
King had been Pataskala’s city administrator since 2014
02/24/2020
Violet Township Rezoning Scheduled
By NATE ELLIS THISWEEKNEWS.COM Posted Feb 24, 2020 at 6:35 PM Updated Feb 24, 2020 at 7:15 PM
Rezoning for 269-house development in Violet Township is rescheduled