Tri-Village Magazine January/February 2021

UPPER ARLINGTON | GR ANDVIEW HEIGHTS | M ARBLE CLIFF

MAGAZINE

Listen, Love and Learn John Ackerman remains a positive force in the Upper Arlington Community

Grandview development History Walks app UA game room remodel

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UPPER ARLINGTON | GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS | MARBLE CLIFF

MAGAZINE

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V O L U ME 2 2 NUM B E R 2 J AN U ARY / F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 1

6 Community Calendar

1335 Dublin Rd., Suite 101C Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-572-1240 • Fax 614-572-1241 www.cityscenecolumbus.com Kathleen K. Gill Dave Prosser Gianna Barrett Gary Hoffman Rocco Falleti Mallory Arnold Brandon Klein

Contributing Editors

Maddie Gehring Sanaya Attari

Editorial Assistants

Carrie Thimmes Paula Harer Jamie Armistead Circulation

The Kids are Alright

One man, 50,000 kids and a deep-dish skillet pizza

President/CEO Chief Creative Officer Vice President, Sales Creative Director Editor Associate Editors

Amanda DePerro Sarah Robinson

Alex Moreno

8 Faces

Social Media Coordinator Advertising Sales

12 In Focus

Taking a Stance

UA City Council declares racism a public health crisis

16

8

Game On!

An indoor basketball court and game room done just in time for quarantine

22

www.trivillagemagazine.com CityScene Media Group also publishes: CityScene Magazine www.CitySceneColumbus.com

Construction continues on the long-awaited Grandview development project

30 Bookmarks

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Pickerington Magazine www.PickeringtonMagazine.com

@CitySceneColumbus

@TriVillageMagazine

Discover Grove City Magazine www.DiscoverGroveCity.com The publisher welcomes contributions in the form of manuscripts, drawings, photographs, or story ideas to consider for possible publication. Enclose a SASE with each submission or email rfalleti@cityscenecolumbus.com.

Publisher does not assume responsibility for loss or damage.

Tri-Village Magazine is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. Subscriptions are free for households within the city limits of Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and the Village of Marble Cliff. For advertising information or bulk purchases, contact Gianna Barrett at 614-572-1255 or gbarrett@ cityscenecolumbus.com No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Tri-Village Magazine is a registered trademark of CityScene Media Group. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2021

A Growing Community

29 Luxury Living

Dublin Life Magazine www.DublinLifeMagazine.com

Healthy New Albany Magazine www.HealthyNewAlbanyMagazine.com

History Walks app offers selfguided tours

18 Living

Accounting/Circulation 614-572-1240

Westerville Magazine www.WestervilleMagazine.com

App-titude for History

22

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

On the Cover: John Ackerman

Photo by John Nixon Photography 5

Your

Community

Arts and Culture

The calendar reflects information as of Dec. 20.

Events are subject to change due to health concerns.

Jan. 1

Feb. 24

Midnight Virtual www.runsignup.com/Race/OH/Columbus/ COVID20streakingchallenge

6 p.m.

1587 W. 3rd Ave. www.ghsschools.org

Brokemans Virtual COVID 2.0 Race

Middle School Band Concerts (Grade 5-6)

Jan. 6

Feb. 14

Cultural Arts Commission 5 p.m.

3600 Tremont Rd. www.upperarlingtonoh.gov

UA Stage 2021 With ongoing health concerns and to promote social distancing, the UA Stage event will look a little different this year. This year, the UA Civic Association will be doing a Valentine’s Day art drive. The organization is working with the UA School District and is engaging the community to create art pieces and Valentine’s cards to drop off to nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the community.

Visit www.uaca.org for more info.

Jan. 13

Board of Education Organizational Meeting & Budget Hearing 7 p.m.

Virtual www.youtube.com/GrandviewHeightsSchools

Feb. 19

Coffee & Conversation with Supt. Andy Culp 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Virtual Email Hayley.head@ghsschools.org for info.

Grandview Heights Public Library Weekly Take and Make Craft All day, every day in the month Virtual

Virtual Storytime

Mondays, 10:30-11 a.m.

Virtual

www.ghpl.org

Jan. 23

Feb. 15-21

All day through March 6 Virtual

All day Virtual

Online Winter Reading Challenge

Mini Masterpieces

Feb. 8

Feb. 22

7-8:30 p.m.

Virtual

7-8:30 p.m.

Virtual

Virtual Book Talks for Kids

Black History, Part 1 - Impact in Movies

Jan. 9 - 21

Feb. 11

Jan. 21

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Virtual

5:30-7 p.m.

Virtual www.chamberpartnership.org

Tuesdays, 10:30-10:45 a.m.

Virtual

Snowfriends Story Stroll All day Virtual

Jan. 16

Black History, Part 2 - Impact in Movies

Love Stinks! Anti V-Day Cards and Book Club: Retrofit, The Playbook Comics with Bryan Moss for Modern Moms

Virtual Dungeons & Dragons Club 1-4 p.m.

Virtual 6

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

Calendar

To submit your event for next issue’s calendar, contact rfalleti@cityscenecolumbus.com

Four shops for a quick caffeine fix

Upper Arlington Public Library www.ualibrary.org

Stauf’s Coffee Roasters 1277 Grandview Ave. www.staufs.com

Luck Brother’s Coffee House 1101 W. 1st Ave. www.luckbroscoffee.com

Grandview Grind

1423 Grandview Ave. www.facebook.com/GrandviewGrind-248915351871033

Digital Puzzle Collection

Looking for a good puzzle to complete? The staff at UAPL has you covered through a collection of curated jigsaw puzzles available online for all ages.

Visit www.jigsawplanet.com/ uapubliclibrary to find themed puzzles like wildlife, literature favorites and kids’ puzzles.

UAPL also will provide book recommendations based on each puzzle for you.

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Grandview Tours Watershed Distillery Tour 1145 Chesapeake Ave. www.watersheddistillery.com

Grandview Brewery Tour

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Grandview Avenue Food Tour

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7

Faces

By Mallory Arnold

The Kids are Alright One man, 50,000 kids and a deep-dish skillet pizza

L

Photos courtesy of John Ackerman

ike all of us this year, John Ackerman is “figuring it out.”

Ackerman, an Upper Arlington resident of five years, is currently juggling keeping his two girls – ages 6 and 9 – happy and busy with online school, while managing half-in-person and half-

Ackerman’s two daughters 8

telehealth appointments for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where Ackerman is the suicide prevention coordinator and a child clinical psychologist.

“For as long as I’ve been in the field, I’ve felt that you can make the largest impact and really alter life trajectories by helping individuals learn how to cope more effectively and meet the challenges of a mental health diagnosis,” he says. “I also happen to really like kids, so it’s a good fit.”

While Ackerman is fascinated with seeing the world through young people’s eyes and enjoys watching them grow into healthy, stable adults, the job can be difficult.

“It can be hard to watch them struggle,” he says. “Especially when they’re dealing with anxiety or depression or even thoughts of ending their lives, but it’s reinforcing to know there are interventions that work, and when you see young kids tackle difficult thoughts and emotions that have them feel like life isn’t worth living, that’s so rewarding.”

One subject Ackerman has been digging through during his career is the correlation between social media and its impact on mental

health in children. It’s a tricky line to walk because on one hand, platforms such as Facebook and Instagram can help kids stay connected and talk to friends even when they’re apart. On the other hand, more screen time has been shown to increase poor self-esteem.

“Social media is a tool,” he says.

“It can be used to connect and enhance young people’s lives but it can also make mental health symptoms worse, especially those who already struggle with depression and anxiety.”

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

Photo by John Nixon Photography

“We have to be more creative and find time, especially during the pandemic,” he says. “I think kids naturally want to engage with others and do things more nutritious for their brains.”

Reaching Out

Photo courtesy of John Ackerman

He says moderate to low social media access is totally typical and fine.

How and why it’s being used is more important than just the number of hours spent on it. Ackerman says parents need to have a working knowledge of what is going on behind those screens and have open conversations with their kids about how social media makes them feel.

In his own household, Ackerman’s kids are limited on social media use, but it’s not used as a punishment.

One of the biggest projects Ackerman has been involved in is Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) and its reach into schools. He and other experts

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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at Nationwide believe in the power of providing young people with the tools and knowledge to recognize signs of depression and suicide within themselves and their peers.

The nationally recognized program, Signs of Suicide (SOS), has demonstrated a 40-60 percent reduction in student self-reported suicide attempts. The CSPR has provided training and support to 2,020 classrooms in 142 schools in 18 Ohio counties.

“Detecting suicide risk early leads to a low level of intervention which is very manageable for a family,” Ackerman says. “Whereas, if you wait until there’s a crisis and you need the emergency department and major interventions, it’s incredibly disruptive. Let’s teach these skills early and detect the at-risk kids now.”

Ackerman says the CSPR has screened more than 50,000 kids for early signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, offering thousands of kids the help they need before things escalate.

“I don’t think kids are always able to put words into what they’re going through,” he says.

“I think they feel like a burden at times, but we have this program that goes through what these symptoms and warning signs are.”

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depressive behaviors with stigmatizing words such as “odd” or “weak.”

“Boys should be able to say they’re having a hard time,” he says. “Girls should be able to connect with people without feeling like a burden.”

Family Man

Ackerman is an avid sports fan.

It can be incredibly frustrating for young people struggling with mental health because they might not have the language to describe what they’re feeling. Ackerman says kids often associate

man says he just tries to understand the types of things that contribute to overall health and always listens to people.

Most importantly, he prioritizes time with his wife, Claire, and two daughters.

“Being able to watch them grow and develop and take part in those things, whether it’s being active or cooking or reading, is rewarding,” he says. “I have a fairly intense work topic, so I try to keep things light by seeing opportunities in day-to-day life to not take myself so seriously.”

Ackerman keeps himself grounded as a parent and in his professional life by remembering the good in the world.

“I think it’s just knowing a lot of people before you made sacrifices and you can instill good values because you’re part of something much, much bigger,” he says.

Outside of his passion for work, Ackerman likes to be as active as possible and runs, bikes and hikes. He’s a big sports fan and loves watching the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Crew.

Plus, Ackerman is a bona-fide comfort food master.

“I like to make comfort food a little fancier,” he says, laughing.

His most recent conquest is deepdish skillet pizza: a crispy crust and caramelized bubbling cheese. He also goes back to his East Coast, more specifically Maryland, roots by cooking anything Mallory Arnold is an associate editor.

Feedback welcome at marnold@ and everything with crab in it.

Overall, Ackerman appears to be cityscenemediagroup.com. what most parents would hail as a superdad. While he refutes the title, Acker-

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

11

In Focus

By Sarah Robinson

Taking a Stance

UA City Council declares racism a public health crisis

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In 2019, city council hosted workshops to develop the community relations committee.

“It comes down to two things,” Nyhart says. “The first is the acknowledgement that racism is a threat to the safety, health and quality of life for all of our residents. It’s everywhere. It’s important to acknowledge that in order to try to resolve the issue. Second, the resolution further proved the council and city leadership’s position on continuing efforts of

making the community more welcoming and inclusive.”

City council president Kip Greenhill says that though the resolution is focused on race, city council hopes to make Upper Arlington a more welcoming community for everyone.

“The resolution is about race, but I would say our goal is much beyond race,” he says. “We want people who decide to move here or visit here, whether it be from Dublin or Grove City for example, to feel more welcome.”

The resolution wasn’t just a declaration, either. It also includes action items that ascertain the city will actively make progress to address diversity, equity and inclusion in the community.

“It was important not only to pass the resolution but make sure the resolution had a bite to it,” says Nyhart. “That’s why there are action items added to it. It’s more than declaring, it’s what are we going to do about it.”

One of the biggest action items is prioritizing the establishment of the Com-

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

Photos courtesy of Upper Arlington City Council

he city of Upper Arlington is constantly striving to make the community a better, more inclusive and more welcoming place. This past spring, when the country came together to fight injustice following the killing of George Floyd, UA City Council decided it was time to take action.

Resolution No. 7-2020 was passed June 22 declaring racism a public health crisis. The resolution was passed unanimously with all seven city council members agreeing to address racism and discrimination and make the fight for equality a top priority for the community.

“Unfortunately, systemic racism is everywhere,” says Jared Nyhart, community affairs manager for Upper Arlington.

“There’s not one community that is not affected by it. It takes a lot to acknowledge the problem, but once you acknowledge it, you can really start working to address it.”

So, what exactly does it mean to declare racism a public health crisis? The resolution references the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, which recently stated that “structural racism is more harmful to the health and well-being of children than infectious disease including COVID-19.” The resolution takes a two-pronged approach.

munity Relations Committee (CRC). This committee, headed by resident Floyd Akins, was in a preliminary stage of development in 2019 and has now been meeting regularly since October of 2020.

“We’re in the infant stages right now of setting the tone for how we’re going to move forward in the future of the committee and the kinds of things we’re going to tackle,” says Akins. “We’re going to be looking at talking with community members about what they see as important items that we should be thinking about to include that is going to attract a more diverse community to Upper Arlington.”

UA is filled with residents who are passionate about making their community a more inclusive space to live and visit and that fact was illustrated by the sheer number of people who applied to be part of the CRC. For a committee originally meant to have only seven members, more than 40 people applied.

“What we were told at our first meeting is that the quality of applicants was so good that they went to nine members,” says Akins.

After a rigorous selection process, city council expanded the committee’s seven

original spots to nine because of the number of high-caliber residents. These nine committee members represent many different demographics of the community, varying in age, race, ethnicity and gender among other identities.

They come from different backgrounds and experiences, but committee members share a common goal.

“The one thing that they all have in common is that they’re all passionate about how to make this community a more inclusive place for all,” says Nyhart.

Upper Arlington is home to many organizations full of dedicated people outside of city council and the Community Relations Committee.

“Every civic organization within Upper Arlington is doing something towards (addressing racism), which is amazing to see,” says Nyhart. “It’s not just one group.

There are going to be successes that come out of this because everyone’s working toward a common goal.”

These organizations include the UA City School District, the UA Historical Society, the UA Public Library and Equal UA. “When I think about how the Community Relations Committee really started, I would have to credit the Equal UA organization really being the catalyst of why this committee exists,” says Akins.

“Without them, I’m not sure this committee would be happening.”

Greenhill speaks to why it’s so important for communities like UA to take the

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time and energy to prioritize issues like racism and inequality.

“I think if we step back, nobody wants people to not feel welcomed and not to feel included,” he says. “So, what we’re hoping to do is to hold up a mirror and take a look.

Are there some ways we can become even more welcoming?”

“We can always strive for better,” Nyhart adds. “This is a time when we need to listen and learn from minority communities and minority members of our own communities.

That’s how we enhance our own community.”

Overall, the goal of the resolution and actions of city council isn’t to point a finger at shortcomings in the community, according to Greenhill.

“What we’re talking about is how can we become an even greater community,” he says.

Sarah Robinson is a contributing editor. Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

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Grandview Heights Public Library Dives In Libraries across central Ohio have come together for the Let’s Talk About Race: One Book – One Community initiative to engage community members with race and racism through literature.

According to the One Book – One Community press release, the initiative “is designed to broaden and deepen the library’s focus on literacy and cultivate dialogue around race and social justice based upon a shared reading experience for the central Ohio community.”

Like Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights has deemed racism a public health issue. Both the Grandview Heights and UA public libraries took a big step in addressing that by joining in on the One Book – One Community initiative.

GHPL has been engaging with topics like social justice and race before the formation of this initiative with a focus on the history of Black settlements and lynchings in Ohio. Canaan Faulkner, public relations manager for the library, says it’s important for libraries to engage with communities on difficult topics.

“It’s what libraries do anyway,” he says. “The library tagline is, ‘Where the community connects.’ Libraries are always eager to share. It’s open access to everyone. We want to promote different perspectives, learn new things and have new experiences.”

So, what’s the initiative about? One Book – One Community is essentially a Columbuswide book club. The book in question is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds.

The community read kicked off Nov. 9 but will continue through Jan. 24, when author Jason Reynolds will join the library communities for a virtual book talk and discussion.

Participating libraries have been hard at work getting extra copies of Stamped into library circulation to provide community members as much opportunity as possible to read the book.

“We want to spread the word that this is a community event,” Faulkner says. “It’s a great reason to come together and talk about an important issue that affects everybody.”

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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App-titude for History History Walks app offers self-guided tours

By Brandon Klein

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esidents and visitors of Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff no longer need to skim through a book or follow a tour guide to explore the communities’ rich histories.

Now, residents can walk on their own throughout the area using an application that can be downloaded on mobile devices. History Walks, which launched in August 2020, was truly a community effort as a partnership between the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Historical Society and Grandview Heights Public Library.

The app offers free tours guiding you through up to nine historical stops each in Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff.

“We hope this will get people out and about,” Karen Riggs, board vice president of GHMCHS, says.

The tours are two miles long and take up to an hour and a half to complete. Users can walk, bike or drive to the historical destinations.

Some of the stops on the tour require a little imagination from the user. For instance, one tour includes a visit to one of the original nine-hole golf courses in central Ohio in Marble Cliff, which no longer exists.

During the tours, the app provides users historical photos and information at each destination. Users can learn about homes designed by famed architect Frank Packard and about the former residence of Prescott Bush, father and grandfather of presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush respectively.

“Before the app, the historical society was exploring ways to expand upon

16

tours that Grandview schools have done for years,” Riggs says. “The onset of the pandemic made it a perfect time to move forward with the project.”

A Historical Interest This isn’t the first time the historical society and library collaborated on a project. Previously, the two worked on an in-

teractive historical timeline touchscreen, located on the second floor of the library and online.

“The library and the historical society have a long history of collaboration and worked closely together on this project,” Canaan Faulkner, public relations manager for GHPL, says. “The app is a great way to celebrate the fascinating local history in Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff.

It also encourages local tourism and supports local businesses. And it’s a fun and engaging outdoor activity for all ages that is safe during the pandemic.”

The historical society and library conceptualized the walking tours on the app, releasing four upon its initial release. Two of the tours are about Grandview Heights and Marble Cliff, respectively, and the others feature home tours, which the historical society does every three years.

“There are plans to release a new selfguided tour every quarter,” Riggs says.

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

A

s part of its outreach efforts, the organizations have placed QR codes at different establishments that people can scan with their phones.

The code will direct them to the History Walks website at www.tours.grandviewhistorywalks.org with links to the appropriate app store to download the app.

“This self-guided tour may provide a nice activity to do on a date night before and after dinner.”

In November 2020, the walking tour app added a Grandview Avenue Stroll tour that tells the 100-year-plus story of the communities’ business district.

The Grandview Avenue tour also highlights some of the establishments that once or currently operate in the area such as a dance studio (formerly Dance Plus Ballroom), candle-making laboratory, fish store (formerly Byerly’s Aquarium Supplies), theater and the Bank Building, the only location in Grandview on the National Register of Historic Places. The tour also highlights how the now defunct Ringling Brothers’ elephants walked down Grandview Avenue to Nationwide Arena, where it performed its circus acts.

Future tours may feature Grandview Yard and there will be one tour designed for out-of-town visitors.

The GHMCHS provided the historical content for the app, while the library formatted the app. From its late August release to early November, the app has been downloaded more than 450 times.

“We look forward to seeing more people walking the History Walks tours in the community, learning about our fascinating local history, and taking time to visit our local business establishments along the way,” Riggs says.

Brandon Klein is an associate editor.

Feedback welcome at bklein@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

17

Living

By Maddie Gehring

Game On! An indoor basketball court and game room just in time for quarantine

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COVID-19 has most certainly brought changes to our lives this year, making all of us a little bit more creative with how we spend time as a family to avoid going stir crazy.

As it turns out, the Miller family chose the perfect time to add an indoor basketball court and game room to their home for extra entertainment space right before the pandemic hit last spring. The Millers

are both former The Ohio State University athletes. Mrs. Miller played basketball and her husband played football. With such strong ties to athletics, the decision to incorporate sports was a no brainer.

“The timing couldn’t have been better,” Mrs. Miller says. “The concrete slabs and hoops were up in March and that’s right when COVID hit.”

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

just loved Columbus as a growing, upand-coming big Midwestern city,” Mrs. Miller says.

This project has been a dream of the Millers for quite some time. Their basement was unfinished and outdated, and the Miller family knew it was the perfect

space to transform for the family to enjoy. However, they didn’t want any typical basement entertainment space. They were thinking a little bigger. A basketball court perhaps?

Photos courtesy of Griffey Remodeling

After graduating from OSU, the Millers moved to North Carolina for Mrs. Miller’s medical residency.

“We always knew we wanted to come back to Columbus to settle,” Mrs. Miller says. “We’re both from the Midwest, had many friends and family in the area and

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

19

“My first thought was, ‘Holy cow, I want this job,’” Griffey says.

“Adding a basketball court to our portfolio is something we’ve wanted to do for a while.”

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January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

Communication is key The Millers worked hand-in-hand with Charlie Griffey, owner of Griffey Remodeling, and the project was completed over the course of six months.

The job was a bucket list project for Griffey and he jumped at the opportunity.

“My first thought was, ‘Holy cow, I want this job,’” Griffey says. “Adding a basketball court to our portfolio is something we’ve wanted to do for a while.”

When searching for builders, the Millers were particular in what they wanted to achieve their goals.

“One was sticking to a budget, the second was sticking to a timeline and the third was communication,” Mrs. Miller says.

Griffey surpassed all of these requirements and, importantly, the Millers felt a mutual respect with the builder who helped bring their vision to life. Griffey was in daily communication with the Millers while working on their home.

When the nets were put up on thehoops, the room as a whole wasn’t complete but Griffey wanted to get the Millers together and show them what they had been waiting for.

“We played with a dusty ball because it hadn’t completely been cleaned yet!”

Griffey says.

2010 Aladdin Woods Court MARBLE CLIFF $1,095,000

Family fun The family’s favorite part of the project was the extra space that allows them to connect and have family time. And the game room offers storage that Mrs. Miller says helps with keeping her family organized.

The indoor basketball court added extra space for the family to get active when stay at home orders hit last March.

The Millers love to be active, especially together. Their favorite activity is to play kickball.

“I think that is my kids’ favorite part about the room,” Miller says. “They love to be competitive and play some kickball together.”

While the room offers space for the family to enjoy each others’ company and stay active, most importantly it’s given the children an area to continue doing what they love.

“My daughter was able to do her Zoom dance recital in there and that’s what’s great about this space – it’s sports-related but also functional,” Mrs. Miller says.

Maddie Gehring is an editorial assistant.

Feedback welcome at feedback@ cityscenemediagroup.com.

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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21

A Growing Community

By Rocco Falleti

Construction continues on the long-awaited Grandview development project

T Renderings courtesy of POD design

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he 36 acres of land alongside Dublin Road has seen quite the transformation over the last century. In the 1900s, it was used as farm lands until it transitioned to a quarry, and as time passed, it became a construction waste landfill.

Wagenbrenner Property Management Development, now Thrive Companies, bought the land and began to clean it up and prep for a new project to bring more accessibility and business to the area. It was then that the seed of Grandview Crossing was planted.

“This land has never fully been online. We are a landlocked community of 1.4 miles with very limited land to work with,” Grandview Heights Mayor Greta Kearns says. “Wagenbrenner came in and you saw several years of compacting earth with large cranes. We’ve been watching this with a lot of interest and the project is exceeding our expectations in terms of what this could be.”

What started as a project to bring both large and medium sized retailers to Grandview has become an opportunity to build roads and offer a mixed-use space to the community.

The project will feature six retail and restaurant buildings, three senior center buildings, residential apartments, office space, and more.

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

“The mixed-use concept is something that works well for us Kearns is encouraged and excited to see how this project and is more in line with our vision for our land use,” Kearns says. will continue to tie the community together and offer new expe“It’s a great corner, not only for Ohio State, but for the larger riences to residents and visitors.

Columbus community with it being on the intersection of three “From a tax-based prospective, we think this is much better large highways and so close to downtown.” than a strip mall,” Kearns says. “From the flavor and culture of January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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the community, it’s a vibrancy that brings “We had a kick-off meeting the beginall the things that we love.” ning of March, and then two weeks later it was all completely shut down,” Joel Lilly, principal and chief financial officer of Thrive, says.

While the land has been in development While it has put a delay on certain for years, last March, Thrive and Grandview milestones and changed original deadHeights were ready to kick off construction, lines, Thrive and the Grandview commuspecifically with a Marriott Hotel. nity push forward.

A Delayed Start

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Underground utility work began in January 2020 and was completed in March. The first office building began construction in February, but that was when construction began to see delays due to the pandemic.

“If we didn’t have COVID, we would have 250,000 square feet of office leased up currently,” Lilly says.

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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Grandview Crossing by the Numbers •

55 acres of mixed-use development land

•

More than 1,000 luxury apartments offering unique living options close to downtown

•

250,000 sq. ft. of office space

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108,000 sq. ft. of retail space

As 2021 begins, Grandview Crossing sets out to accomplish a few major milestones by summer. They include getting an office building leased and people working there, traffic lights installed and hopefully residents moving into apartments.

To say the excitement surrounding the new year is big would be an understatement.

Tying it all together The addition of the Grandview Crossing development will provide jobs, recreation spots and additional living options to the community. On top of the retail and food-related plans, Thrive plans on introducing a Grandview Market similar to the North Market at Bridge Park, but on a smaller scale. Though it won’t fully open until 2022, the excitement grows.

There will be 10-12 vendor spots and a restaurant to anchor the new market. It will also tie in to a park featuring three different sectors: one for small events and overflow seating of the restaurant, a traditional play area and a dog park, too.

“It’ll be great to have that type of restaurants and prepared food for our office users and residents that don’t want to go and spend $20 every time they go out to eat,” Lilly says. “They can spend a little less and have it close to the park and spend the weekends and evenings there and we are hoping that it will bring a lot of the Grandview community who isn’t working there.”

January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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The vision for the park area expands well beyond brick and mortar. It is all part of the Grandview experience and continues its tradition of being a tight-knit community.

“We are a heavy amenity community and have great connectivity to the region,” Kearns says. “We are very walkable and intersect with the bike paths and this development was planned to fit right into that concept.”

A Promising Future Grandview Crossing has been a long time coming and Thrive – as well as the community at large – is excited to see it come to fruition after unexpected delays.

The team at Thrive has worked to ensure this project fits the space and Grandview’s culture.

“We’ve done multiple sites similar in size and one of the keys to that is you have to create a sense of place,” Eric Wagenbrenner, principal and executive vice president of development at Thrive Companies, says. “People don’t want to feel like they are on an island and feel like you are all by yourself.”

“These 60-plus-acre sites are not easy but it becomes much easier when you are in proximity to such a great community and working with an administration like Mayor Kearns’,” Lilly adds.

While Grandview may be a smaller community compared to some of the neighboring suburbs, one thing remains consistent – its devotion to connecting and strengthening the ties of the community through development.

“This is exceeding our expectations; it is all about the experience and it being a destination,” Bob Dvoraczky, director of finance for Grandview Heights, says. “We are very blessed with this location.”

Rocco Falleti is the editor. Feedback welcome at rfalleti@cityscenecolumbus. com.

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January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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Bookmarks Submitted by Upper Arlington Public Library Small Walt Spots Dot

by Elizabeth Verdick Snowplow Walt and his driver Gus are clearing the streets after a big snowfall. They’ve cleared the roads in front of the bakery, the library and the grocery store, but everywhere they go someone else is following them. It’s a stray dog! What are Walt and Gus going to do? Find out in this sweet story. For ages 2-5.

A Piglet Called Truffle

by Helen Peters Jasmine rescues a tiny piglet and names him Truffle hoping to keep him for a pet.

But, her parents don’t believe pigs can be house pets and say she can only keep him until he’s fully grown, then he will be sent to a farm to become bacon! What will Jasmine do to save Truffle? A modern-day Charlotte’s Web, beginning readers will enjoy this animal adventure story. Recommended for grades K-3.

American as Paneer Pie

by Supriya Kelkar Lekha has been the only Indian American girl at her school for as long as she can remember, and she’s also had to deal with hurtful comments by her classmates. But everything changes when a new student who is also Indian American arrives and speaks out against racist and hurtful remarks. Can Lekha stand up for herself just like her new best friend, especially when she finally gets a chance at fitting in? Recommended for grades 5-8.

Displacement

by Kiku Hughes While on vacation, Kiku suddenly finds herself transported back in time to the Japanese internment camp her grandmother was forced into during World War II. Kiku quickly discovers there’s a lot she didn’t learn in history class. She moves back and forth between the present and the past until she ends up stuck in the past in what turns into a memorable experience. This part historical fiction, part memoir graphic novel is recommended for grades 6 and up.

Grandview Heights Public Library www.ghpl.org

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Mindful Beauty: Holistic Habits to Feel and Look Your Best

by Debbie Palmer and Valeria Latona New York-based dermatologist Dr. Debbie Palmer unveils her secrets to helping patients develop more mindfulness and, in the process, cultivate inner peace and outer radiance. This book provides simple self-care tips and shows how to work with essential oils, crystals, chakras, nutrition and more as you make positive changes in body, mind and spirit.

Why Did I Come into This Room?: A Candid Conversation about Aging

by Joan Lunden In her most candid and revealing book yet, acclaimed broadcast journalist and Baby Boomer Joan Lunden delves into the various phases of aging that leave many feeling uncomfortable, confused and on edge. In her hilarious book, Lunden takes the dull and depressing out of aging, replacing it with wit and humor. Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s or more, this book is full of helpful information to embrace – or at least prepare for – the inevitable.

Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy, Lean & Fit: Mouthwatering Recipes to Fuel You for Life

by Gordon Ramsay Gordon Ramsay knows how important it is to eat well, whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to live healthier. And just because it’s healthful food, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste and flavor.

As a Michelin-star super-chef who is also a committed athlete, Gordon Ramsay shares his go-to recipes for when he wants to eat well at home.

Untamed

by Glennon Doyle An intimate memoir and wake-up call for women to look at ourselves, trust ourselves, honor our bodies, make peace with anger and recognize our truest instincts. Doyle discovers a family is not its structure, but the ability to bring everything you have to the table, while engaging all family members to do the same. Doyle insists: “The braver we are, the luckier we get.”

Upper Arlington Public Libraries Main, Lane and Miller Park www.ualibrary.org January/February 2021 • www.trivillagemagazine.com

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