Construction | Grandview Yard

Following the bankruptcy of Penn Traffic and subsequent closure of the Big Bear office and warehouse complex on the City's eastern edge in 2004, the future of Grandview Heights was at a pivotal moment. At nearly ten percent of the City's land area, and a much larger percentage of our commercial tax base, the City's manufacturing and warehousing district, which had once sustained both the City and our Schools, was transitioning, with a future yet unwritten.

Recognizing both a significant threat and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a bright future for our community, former Mayor Ray Degraw's administration, collaboratively with City Council and the community at large, set about creating a vision for a new mixed-use commerce district that would become Grandview Yard.

By 2007, Nationwide Realty Investors had acquired enough land to begin to plan in earnest, and in 2009, a public-private partnership was born that would allow for comprehensive infrastructure development of this former brownfield area, and the creation of many new parcels for private development. Grandview Yard has been transformational for both the City and our schools, both in terms of opportunities and fiscal sustainability.

As of today, the Grandview Yard mixed-use development has created 2,100 jobs, $178,000,000 in annual payroll, $660,000,000 in Real Estate investment and $72,000,000 in public infrastructure investment. The development also brought two hotels and an event center to the City of Grandview Heights.

Since the agreement was signed in 2009, the City’s annual income tax revenue has increased incrementally, from $4.9 Million in 2009 to $15.9 Million in 2023. This new revenue is allowing the City to recover from years of substantial economic distress and related deferred investments, as well as impacts from years of reduced staffing. As revenue has allowed, the City has directed these funds into reconstruction of our roadways, alleys, utilities, parks and facilities, as well as returning City staffing to appropriate levels. This work is ongoing today, as our 100+ year-old infrastructure requires substantial investment, with further improvements on the horizon.

Additionally, the School District has received nearly $30.0 Million in real estate tax revenue from the development to date (as of 06/2024). In future years, this revenue is expected to significantly increase, providing a bright future for K-12 education in our community.

Grandview Yard is an entirely new neighborhood within our community, with new job opportunities, restaurants, and retail businesses to enjoy, and substantial new housing opportunities of a variety of types that create opportunities for many additional residents to join our community. The regenerative impact of Grandview Yard has and continues to ripple outwards, as well, positively impacting neighboring areas of both Grandview Heights and the City of Columbus, now and for decades to come.