By 1808Delaware
Westerville is preparing to consider the sale of a city-owned property just east of Uptown, a move that could set the stage for one of the more visible redevelopment projects near the city’s historic commercial core.
The site, located at 64 E. Walnut St., is a roughly five-acre property currently occupied by an older municipal and commercial building of more than 30,000 square feet, along with surface parking. Under a proposed agreement, the City would sell the property to Continental Development Ventures for approximately $2.5 million, pending approval by Westerville City Council. Council is scheduled to hold a first reading of the purchase agreement on May 19. Three readings are required before the sale can be finalized.
A New Use For A City-Owned Site
The property sits within walking distance of State Street, Uptown shops, and the Westerville Public Library, placing it in a location that city officials and developers see as well-suited for a higher-density mixed-use project.
Continental’s concept would replace the current low-rise building and surface lot with a development that includes approximately 247 apartments, an 81-room boutique Marriott-branded hotel, and a 3,500-square-foot restaurant. Also included in the concept is a 400-space structured parking garage. Of those spaces, 100 would be reserved for public use, exceeding the 88 surface spaces currently available behind the library.
Sale First, Project Review Later
City approval of the sale would not mean automatic approval of the development itself. If the sale moves forward, Continental would still need to go through the city’s land-use approval process. That would likely include rezoning the property to a Planned Development District, preliminary plan review, a development standards text, and final development plan approvals through the Planning Commission and City Council.
Traffic and parking studies are also expected before any final development approval. Given the property’s location near Uptown and the library, those reviews are likely to be central to the public discussion.
Part Of A Larger City Facilities Plan
The proposal comes as Westerville continues consolidating city operations into a modernized City Hall and Justice Center campus. That shift has freed up 64 E. Walnut St. for potential redevelopment as part of the broader City Hall Improvement Project. City officials have said proceeds from the proposed sale would help offset the cost of the new Westerville Justice Center on Huber Village Boulevard. That use of the money, officials have indicated, is intended to honor a prior commitment to residents.
Community Input Ahead
The city is also planning public outreach around the proposal, including mailers, an online FAQ, and open houses at 64 E. Walnut St. Those efforts are intended to explain the proposed sale, outline the review process, and gather feedback from residents before any redevelopment plan reaches final approval.
For now, the project remains conceptual. But the first step comes before City Council on May 19, when members begin considering whether this long-held city property should move from municipal use into private redevelopment, potentially reshaping a key block just beyond Uptown’s traditional edge.
