Developers Of North Gate Centre Offer $19 million for new I-71 interchange
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As many already know, there are two huge commercial real estate projects in the planning stages for the I-71 and Route 36/37 areas.
First, is North Gate Centre, a collaboration between developers Pat Shivley and James Klingbeil, which would flank I-71 on both sides south of Route 36/37. When built out it would be roughly twice the size of Polaris Fashion Place. It would include Columbus area net lease retail, office, warehouse and a large 70 acre sports complex
Second, is North Star, which has been proposed for north of Route 36/37 on both sides of I-71 on land owned by Nationwide Realty and Weiler. The 1,700 acre project would become to 1,700 acres of retail, hotels and single family homes. This project alone would require around $20 million in infrastructure improvements including an extension of the northbound exit from I-71.
Plus Berkshire Township has already approved construction of an Tanger -Simon retail outlet mall to built north of the NorthGate project. Both North Gate and North Star developers agree that there will only be one outlet mall built with plenty of triple net retail space available.
The developers of the North Gate project have agreed to contribute $19 million for a new interchange south of the exiting Route 36/37 interchange.
The agreement comes with the condition that the other retail and mixed use developers, Delaware County and the state of Ohio would contribute the remaining finds, estimated to be about $53 million, according to the Northgate Developers.
The projects have become a battleground of confusion due to the traffic gridlock potential.
Neither Ohio DOT or any other government officials have made any decision or allocated funds for a new I-71 interchange in the area.
ODOT, who is reviewing all teh proposals, pland to widen and improve the current interchange at Route 36/37 to ease traffic backups on I-71 after a couple decades of rapid growth and to accommodate the new Tangers Simon outlet mall.
Tommy Hatfield, Sunbury Mayor said residents are most concerned about traffic along the Rt. 36/37 bridge over I-71 and the potential lost tax revenue in the Big Walnut school district from tax incentives given to developers.
“All of the (ODOT) improvements are getting traffic off the freeway,” Hatfield said. “If you add the thousands of trips they’re talking about every day, including hundreds of employees … that’s going to leave us in a very bad situation for an undetermined amount of years.”
Dennis Stapleton, Delaware County Commissioner,, summed up the challenge to the county and motorists: “What we see are dollar signs; what they see are traffic headaches.”
