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Stronger Together: The Westerville Way

INSI D E 6 State Street

Fixing the Front Door 10 Technology

Tech Town 14 Westar

How Westar Was Won 18 Lifestyle

Perfect Harmony 20 Uptown

Come Together

esterville is strong. That has never been more apparent than this year, when the community rallied together in support of the Westerville Division of Police after the deaths of officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering in the line of duty on Feb. 10. This outpouring of support brought national attention to something that has always been true of this city— this is a community where needs are met, expectations are exceeded and success is achieved together. It’s this spirit that drives Westerville’s economic development strategy of methodical planning, intentional execution and the creation of community partnerships. Simply put, this is not a community that waits for destiny to find us; we make our own way. Today, we are seeing the fruits of these labors play out in real time. Westerville supports business because business supports Westerville. Strong development creates and sustains jobs and serves as a major income tax base to support public services and award-winning schools. Take Westar as an example. Twenty-five years ago, the land that now supports more than 7,000 jobs was used for farming. The City of Westerville transformed this raw resource into a fine-tuned business ecosystem. Recognizing its potential as a business development driver, the city annexed 941 acres of land and subsequently invested $30 million to create a desirable infrastructure to support future growth. The Westerville Community Center, featuring a gym and wellness programming, was built nearby, and recreation trails and sidewalks were extended through the area for increased mobility. Major hospital systems, restaurants and a state-of-the-art child care center moved to the district. The COTA CMAX Bus Rapid Transit line was established to bring people from Downtown Columbus to Westar. The vision for Westar included bringing a large hotel to a city-owned, 62-acre parcel known as Westar Place, nestled in the district at the corner of Polaris Parkway and Cleveland Avenue, to sustain the needs of the growing businesses in the area. This was realized in May with the opening of the Renaissance hotel, a Marriot hotel featuring 222 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of conference space. Westerville invests in partnerships to help drive innovation for the good of the community. That’s why the city committed $1 million over five years to help establish The Point at Otterbein University. There, businesses ranging from solo entrepreneurs to vibrant start-ups and established companies from various industries work side-by-side, leveraging Otterbein’s creative student workforce to solve real-world problems and set the pace for future generations. It is certainly an exciting time to be in Westerville. Thanks to our strategic approach to economic development, this momentum is set to continue. We invite you to learn more about our approach to community and business development online at business.westerville.org.

A Suburban Growth Section President

Bradley M. Harmon Publisher/General Manager

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Craig Treneff Mayor

ColumbusCEO l WESTERVILLE: SUBURB AN GROWTH

David A. Collinsworth City Manager

Westerville: A Suburban Growth Section is published by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

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Fixing the Front Door Development in the city’s southern gateway drives innovation and growth. By Evan Weese

“To showcase our community, we needed to put as much attention on the south end as we did the north.” Janet Tressler-Davis CEO, Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce

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remarkable show of public and private investment has transformed Westerville’s main commercial entry point, spurring additional economic development all over the city. South State Street, running from Interstate 270 to the city’s historic Uptown, has been rejuvenated after 15 years of deliberate planning followed by infrastructure improvements, culminating in the creation of a vital gateway into the community. The South State Street corridor is flourishing thanks to a $30 million public investment in roads, utilities and other infrastructure improvements—with the final touches to be completed this fall— and coupled with more than $60 million in private development. “The improvements really show the commitment this community has to reinvesting in itself,” says Jason Bechtold, economic development director for the city. “When you drive off the interchange, you can see the transformation. It is changing the conversation around economic development.”

Rich History, Bright Future A charming community situated only 20 minutes from Downtown Columbus, Westerville has long been an attractive place to live, work and raise a family. The city balances modern amenities, such as a fiber optics network, with a rich history spanning more than 200 years and lingering in the brick buildings and charming architecture. A critical component of Westerville’s charm and economic vitality has been South State Street. The corridor developed as it’s recognized today in the 1960s and ’70s, influenced by I-270 and auto use, as well as the activity that radiated out of Uptown Westerville—the city’s civic, social, business and educational core— to the north. Over the course of the past 40-plus years, the quality of infrastructure along South State Street did not always keep pace with growth. Parts of the corridor became tired and outdated, failing to satisfy modern traffic demands and pedestrian safety needs for a community that’s

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The State and Schrock District

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Before

grown to nearly 40,000 residents. But as Westerville has matured and expanded to the edges of its geographic boundaries, attention has been refocused on the 253-acre South State Street corridor, a tax-increment financing district made up of three distinct areas: a southernmost Gateway District, a State and Schrock District and a northern cap, Old Town District, that meets with Uptown Westerville at Walnut Street. Investments have been made in key infrastructure improvements, such as adding lanes to roadways, moving overhead utilities underground, adding a fiber optics network, replacing aging water mains and upgrading pedestrian amenities. Meanwhile, careful consideration has been paid to the scale and style of buildings, lighting, landscaping, site amenities and parking—all with the intention of maintaining the community feel, but adapting it for a modern environment. Pedestrian connections to adjacent neighborhoods have been improved, and the corridor is better tied to the rest of the city. “The goal was really to get it cleaned

up, revitalize the infrastructure itself and improve overall traffic control in this area,” says city manager David Collinsworth. “We wanted to create a sense of pride with the gateway look, welcoming residents and visitors alike.” “To showcase our community, we needed to put as much attention on the south end as we did the north,” says Janet Tressler-Davis, CEO of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce. “We needed the gateway look.” After years of careful planning and construction, Westerville now seamlessly weaves cutting-edge development, innovation and modern infrastructure into historic charm. The city continues generating significant interest in development and redevelopment activities along South State Street and beyond. From the bustling Westar Place district to the expanding Medical Mile, Westerville is experiencing significant economic development growth as a result of public resources committed to serving residents and businesses. “We knew that a highly functional and

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aesthetically pleasing thoroughfare would encourage private redevelopment,” Collinsworth says. “It’s leading the private sector to make their own investments.”

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to an abandoned motel, leading to an overwhelmingly negative first impression that undermined Westerville’s captivating charm. The city, in partnership with Westerville City Schools and Central Ohio Community Improvement Corp., worked to acquire, demolish and reposition the site. “We took a tremendous eyesore on one of the most blighted properties in our community and repositioned it to a beautiful, $20 million Aloft hotel that will be a catalyst for other development in the city,” Bechtold said in a February press release announcing the project. “I don’t know a community or region that can say they’ve done the same.” The hotel is a prime example of how

The new Aloft hotel in the Gateway District

Open for Business After years of construction, businesses now are able to enjoy a more functional and beautifully designed corridor. And they’re reinvesting. Private development has indeed followed the public projects, at both the southern gateway to the city and north along South State Street. In fact, the value of commercial properties has increased by an impressive $65 million since the improvements began. Many business owners have made significant investments in their storefronts or complete renovations of their own. The Hadler Cos. extensively renovated its Westerville Square Shopping Center at the northeast corner of South State Street and East Schrock Road, and Select Strategies Realty is making invest-

ments to its Westerville Plaza Shopping Center at 111 Huber Village Blvd. Among the most significant new projects, both on its own merits and for driving further investment, is the Aloft Columbus Westerville hotel. Developed by CRM Cos. of Lexington,

Kentucky, and operating under the umbrella of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the sleek, 99-room hotel opened in February at 32 Heatherdown Drive, along the renovated southern gateway to the city near I-270. Just four years ago, the site was home

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“[The] $20 million Aloft hotel ... will be a catalyst for other development in the city.” Jason Bechtold

Economic development director, City of Westerville

the city is effectively leveraging public resources to entice private investment, especially along South State Street. The strategy is paying off. Building on the momentum, the area surrounding the new hotel has undergone a transformation of its own, thanks in part to critical new infrastructure and safety improvements. “This was an intentional, direct approach,” Bechtold says. “When you can showcase the commitment the city has made in the area, it makes the invitation for businesses to invest in our community that much more enticing.” The property is well positioned off I-270, in the heart of the Westerville community and in close proximity to Otterbein University, Uptown Westerville, John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Downtown Columbus. “Now, it’s very clean and beautifullooking when you come into Westerville,” says Aloft general manager Robby Ryan. “When you first get off the interstate, you see all the renovations the city is doing, with streets and lights—it’s a good place for us to be.”

Moving Forward Now one of the region’s top employment hubs, Westerville is committed to retaining and attracting new businesses, while investing in education and programs to remain appealing. New and established businesses alike are reaping the rewards of the area’s investment. “We saw pretty significant growth in assessed value,” Collinsworth says. “Property owners have seen increases in their property values, which will continue to act as a catalyst, driving growth and development in the future.” The spurt in economic development represents a vote of confidence in recent investment and sets the stage for continuing collaboration between community and government. The infrastructure improvements to South State Street have positioned the city for tremendous opportunities going forward. “Investment attracts other investment,” Bechtold says. “I’m really excited to see how our public improvements will reshape the conversation with the private sector.”

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T EC H N O L O G Y

Tech town Since establishing its fiber optic network and data center—the first of its kind in the country—Westerville’s intentional focus on supporting local technological needs is helping businesses and the city thrive. By Jackie Mantey

“That the city owns, controls and monitors the safety and security of this data is a very unique feature.” Jason Bechtold

Economic development director, City of Westerville

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n March 1, 2012, the city of Westerville did something that hadn’t been done before. That day, it officially dedicated the 16,000-square-foot WeConnect Community Data Center. This facility promised to deliver technological services to businesses, institutions and government agencies through an advanced fiber optic network and a secure, publicly owned data center space. Carrier-neutral and reliable, the innovative center was predicted to create or retain more than 900 jobs and help local businesses grow. “That the city owns, controls and monitors the safety and security of this data is a very unique feature,” says Jason Bechtold, economic development director for the city of Westerville. “The goal, for economic development purposes, was that a business would have access to high-speed internet and have choice and opportunity to leverage this asset.” Though much planning and additional initiatives went into the advanced technological landscape Westerville enjoys today, moving to one fiber optic network and data center was a launchpad for economic development in the city that has attracted and sustained companies, investments, innovation incubators and an emerging skilled workforce.

LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE When Fusion Alliance, a technology strategy firm, was looking to relocate its Columbus offices in 2008, Westerville’s thoughtful discussions and planning for a technologically inspired future helped seal the deal. The company had outgrown its 12,000-square-foot space on Polaris Parkway and moved into a Westerville office location double that size. “We moved here specifically because Westerville is a very innovative city,” says Fusion Alliance partner Rick Mariotti. “It was very interested in technology and supporting technology companies in the community. Having access to a worldclass data center and using it in collaboration with our clients was an important value proposition for us. It offered collaboration and access. They’re attracting a lot of great companies because of that.

ColumbusCEO l WESTERVILLE: SUBURB AN GROWTH

The Point at Otterbein University Courtesy ED Syguda/Otterbein University

That speaks to the leading-edge technological focus of the city.” HMB, a custom application development and business IT consulting firm, saw similar value in Westerville, where it moved around five years ago after being located in Downtown Columbus for nearly 20 years. “We needed more space, and coming out to Westerville provided a great landing for us,” says HMB CEO Tom Harris. “[Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce President] Janet Tressler-Davis is someone who contacted us initially and has been in our ear at every turn, asking what we think about things and getting other leaders in the area together and getting our input. We couldn’t be happier with the work they’ve done getting us involved with things and asking what we think. They do a great job with networking events and getting the business community together.” The city’s government and chamber of commerce form connections that aren’t just of the cyberspace variety; they’re committed to connecting the people who live and work in Westerville too, with the goal of nurturing an innovative technology scene that improves quality of life through its digitally driven benefits. “Westerville has opened the door to really connect businesses and individuals,” Harris says. “We appreciate that. There’s

always an undertone of a technology theme in most of the things that they do. That’s smart.”

A City of Tomorrow In the past decade, Fortune 500 companies have made investments in the ability to collect and analyze data, “but the problem is,” Mariotti says, “the vast majority of them struggle with understanding the data they have … and applying that data to help them deliver higher-value services. The companies that are going to win long-term are thinking 15 to 20 years from now.” The same could be said for cities. Providing access to high-speed internet from a choice of 10-plus carriers on one fiber line has been established in Westerville, an important move that proves its tech-centered standing of today. And as the WeConnect Data Center embarks on a new era of management under Metro Data Center this year, the data security conversation of today and tomorrow is top of mind. “Understanding where your data is housed is very important and going to be more relevant as we move forward,” Bechtold says. “Having this infrastructure in place is a tremendous competitive advantage.”

City leaders also recognize that the most leading-edge technology in the world won’t matter if the city doesn’t have the workers skilled enough to use and expound upon it. “We laid the foundation with a great technology infrastructure that is very focused on day-to-day needs of companies,” Bechtold says. “Then we began asking, ‘Now, how do we grow from within? How do you generate great ideas?’ Innovation is not just about creating something new; it’s taking something existing and solving a problem.” That’s a big reason the city has been so supportive of Otterbein University’s new science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) innovation center called The Point. The 62,000-square-foot facility and its various labs, workshops, state-of-theart classrooms and business incubator space are accessible to members of the community and Otterbein students alike. It combines academics with the business and manufacturing needs of the community through coworking units, makerspaces, internships, events and classes. The Point also serves as an incubator to startup businesses. “We try to look at what we as a society will need in the future,” says its executive director, Erin Bender. “We need to

get more students interested in STEAM or STEM fields because that’s where jobs are moving to. We have to get them excited about math or technology’s capabilities, because we don’t specifically know what’s coming next. That robots could displace jobs or workers is true in some sense, but we’ll also need someone who understands how to code or maintain those robots. We’re going to need more individuals who know the thinking behind this technology. The best way is to introduce that problem-based learning at a very early age.” The Point follows a series of strategic objectives recently set forth by the Westerville Economic Development Plan. A feasibility study commissioned from Boyette Strategic Advisors conservatively estimated the direct impact of the innovation center in the next five years will create 200 jobs totaling $16 million in payroll. The state and local tax impact over five years is projected at $3.6 million, according to The Point. “Westerville’s leadership is engaging, and they continue to be engaging,” Harris of HMB says. “There are some places where once you move in, you never see them again. That’s never been the case here. They invited us in and continue to be our neighbors. We’re happy to be part of this community.”

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Rop right, a COTA CMAX stop; top left and bottom, businesses located in the Westar area

How Westar Was Won The pioneering project has bloomed into a thriving mixed-use development with a new hotel and conference center and plenty of room to grow. By Jackie Mantey

“Westerville ... has seen substantial development over the last few years and shows considerable opportunity for that to continue.” Scott Starek

General manager, Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris

evelopment of the Westar area on Westerville’s north side began in the late 1990s, when 941 acres of farmland was annexed to the city. A $30 million public investment funded the extension of infrastructure and utilities along Cleveland Avenue, Polaris Parkway and County Line Road. It was zoned for property and business development. Then everyone held their breath. Would Westerville, the second-largest Columbus suburb, be able to balance its status as a close-knit suburban hometown with an intentional push to become an aggressive competitor for jobs and investment? Could it keep its deep-rooted family and residential communities comfortable, while attracting a new workforce-cumWesterville citizenry? In 2018, the city of Westerville has its answer: A resounding yes. The area’s mixed-use urban development has become a nucleus for com-

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Renaissance Hotel, a brand that focuses on the indigenous and authentic aspects of the areas they inhabit,” says the hotel’s general manager, Scott Starek. “Westerville and the surrounding area has seen substantial development over the last few years and shows considerable opportunity for that to continue.” Estimated at nearly $60 million, the Renaissance is the first full-service hotel and convention center in Westerville. It features 222 guest rooms, nearly 17,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space and an upscale restaurant and bar. With the Renaissance in place, nearby companies can accommodate larger meetings and out-of-town visitors without having to leave Westerville. Tim Sprosty, senior vice president of human resources for North and Latin America of DHL Supply Chain, which has an office at Westar, says that the hotel will eliminate the car rental costs it previously incurred when guests visited the area. “There’s other cost saving components to having a conveniently located hotel as well,” he adds.

The hotel and conference center, which opened on May 22, will be the jewel of Westar Place—a 62-acre parcel that has become one of the city’s most significant planning projects.

A GROWING BUSINESS “When the city annexed those 941 acres, the goal of it was to focus on economic development and jobs,” says Jason Bechtold, the city’s economic development director. The majority of development in Westar has filled up fast for office use, with some commercial and retail space. The Offices at Wester buildings are almost completely occupied. “We have had an incredible amount of interest,” says David Morgan, senior associate of brokerage team Cushman & Wakefield. “The business climate in Westerville is favorable. Amenities like [secure data center] WeConnect are attractive to business owners. Additionally, tenants are drawn to all of the amenities located in the immediate area. There are

numerous hotels, countless restaurants and good access to the freeway.” Westar also represents the largest tract of undeveloped land left in the landlocked city. “These businesses will bring in good tax dollars to the city of Westerville and our other community partners, like the schools and libraries,” says city manager David Collinsworth. “They are valued as economic development resources and provide the future tax base for delivering the public services our residents have asked us to provide.”

EMPLOYEE and CUSTOMER BENEFITS Convenience is what attracts many high-level leaders of these companies to move their business and families alike to Westerville, which in turn attracts their peers. It’s a study in management magnets that Morgan is seeing first-hand. “Another important factor in determining where an office will be located is where the leadership C-suite employees live,” he says. “The Westerville community

merce, company headquarters, and customer experiences located east of Interstate 71 on Polaris Parkway. Throw in a brand-new hotel and conference center, a Columbus bus line that brings employees and customers up roads less traveled, and city leadership that has had faith all along in its trademark blend of nimble ingenuity and long-term intentionality. The result is an economic anchor that could support the city for decades to come.

HOTEL ON THE HORIZON City and development leaders broke ground on the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel a year after developing the city’s Community Plan in 2014, which is guiding its future growth. The hotel sits on six acres of a 62-acre parcel on the south side of Polaris Parkway between Cleveland Avenue and Africa Road as part of the Westar Business Park. “With the rich history and unique vibe of Westerville, it was the perfect fit for a

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and surrounding area are home to many of these people, which further make Westerville an enticing place to locate a business.” Businesses are attracted to the Westar location because of its sweet-spot proximity to I-71 and Interstate 270 and their associated shopping, services and amenities, says Bechtold. This allows companies to tap a workforce from both Delaware and Franklin counties—and their potential customers, to boot. In early 2017, Westerville City Council made another bold move for develop-

“Westar continues to be competitive in the Columbus REgion and Outside ... It’s a very unique, exciting opportunity.”

ing the Westar area, approving a land sale to Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians. The deal solidified COPC’s 46,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and a medical office building, which are set to bring a payroll of $15.3 million within three years. “This hit two of our target industries,” Bechtold says; those industries include healthcare, logistics, finance and corporate headquarters. “It provides great opportunities for growth and keeps those jobs in our community.” While keeping Westerville anchored with high-paying jobs, the medical investments also mean Westerville’s aging residential population has easy access to some of the best healthcare in the state.

MORE THAN A DRIVING DESTINATION COTA’s new Bus Rapid Transit service’s CMAX line, which runs along Cleveland Avenue, and ample bike path access combine to make the area easier than ever to reach as a carless commuter,

Jason Bechtold

Economic development director, City of Westerville

This page and opposite, the Renaissance Columbus WestervillePolaris Hotel

which could bring a unique clientele to experience Westerville. This spring, restaurant chain Bru Burger will unveil its first Central Ohio location in the 3.5-acre strip at the corner of Polaris Parkway and Cleveland Avenue across from Westar Place. The $4 million project also includes a drive-through Starbucks and the Columbus taco-andbeer darling Local Cantina.

“We decided that Westerville and this location in particular were a great fit for our concept. Local Cantina is growing all over the city and, in terms of location, has always been a little off the beaten path,” says owner George Tanchevski. “We want to focus more on being in the community, where people live and work, rather than down the road at the ‘destination’ mall. … Currently the Westar area is booming.”

The area also will include room for parking, as well as drop-off and pickup areas for Uber and Lyft rides, and has leveraged its spot along the CMAX line. “Westerville is clear on its expectations and the information it provides back to developers,” says Tim Spencer, CEO of Columbus’ Trivium Development LLC, which is developing the area. “There’s no ambiguity of wondering whether a site will

be approved, and we get good feedback up and down the process in Westerville. We’re excited.” So is the city of Westerville. “We’re looking forward to the future,” Bechtold says. “Westar continues to be competitive in the Columbus region and outside the Columbus region. From the commitment of 20-plus years ago, we’re seeing the benefits and opportunities now. It’s a very unique, exciting opportunity to see this growth.” Plans for Westar’s future include focusing on amenities so they catch up to the job growth (such as a forthcoming 30,000-square-foot early childhood education center), nurturing the public infrastructure and growing Westar’s reach in the technology and healthcare industries. “Westerville is about collaboration, understanding its assets, and being very intentional to set us up for future opportunities,” Bechtold adds. “It’s a matter of positioning ourselves well to be very competitive. I think one of our strengths is that we have been prepared for this success.”

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WESTERVILLE: SUBURBAN GROWTH l ColumbusCEO

L I F ES T Y L E

perfect harmony In Westerville, “sustainable living” means having adequate resources for a healthy work-life balance … and the city has both in spades. By Kathy Lynn Gray

“People love the vibrance of uptown. It’s just booming.” Jeff Hartnell

Executive director, Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau

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hen Craig Treneff bought a house in Westerville in 1987, he found himself living in a mostly bedroom community with an old-fashioned Uptown, a growing population and a forward-thinking government looking for change. Now, as mayor, Treneff leads a town transforming into a 21st-century city friendly to residents and businesses alike. “It’s thriving,” says Janet Tressler-Davis, president and CEO of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce and a lifelong Westerville resident. “We have so much to offer. I can’t think of a better place to live.” As a member of a Westerville board or commission since 1990 and city council since 2004, Treneff has seen firsthand the city’s growth in livability. Take the historic Uptown District: It’s a vibrant mix of restaurants such as gastropub Barrel & Boar, drop-in spots such as the quaint Heavenly Cup coffee shop and Good Vibes Winery, as well as eclectic retailers, including toy store Naturally Curious Kids and Westerville Antiques. “I like the walkability of it,” Treneff says. “It’s very pedestrian-oriented and now has a good mix of shops.” In part, that’s because Westerville changed in 2004 from being staunchly anti-alcohol (the Anti-Saloon League once was headquartered there) to allowing alcohol sales, resulting in the addition of bars and more restaurants. City improvements are on the way for the area, including new, wider sidewalks and street repaving, all part of a $2.5 million streetscape improvement. “People love the vibrance of Uptown,” says Jeff Hartnell, executive director of the Westerville Visitors and Convention Bureau. “It’s just booming.” More than 11,000 Westervillians gather there every fourth Friday from May through September for themed block parties that include bands, street vendors and food trucks. It’s grown so much that this summer, a portion of State Street will be closed during the aptly named 4th Fridays events to accommodate the crowds, Hartnell says. Uptown also is home in the summer to the Westerville Saturday Farmers Market, which is adding craft booths this year and gives residents another chance to gather as a community.

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Top, Westerville’s Civic Theatre troupe; bottom left and right, the city’s farmers market

doctor’s offices. Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital, which moved to Westerville in 1984, has grown and expanded. “We get the hustle and bustle of people who work here, and it adds to the vitality of the community,” Tressler-Davis says. Today, more than 30,000 people commute to Westerville for work. “That helps keep our taxes low, not being just a bedroom community,” Treneff says. “We’ve worked hard to attract businesses.” Many of the amenities that attract companies also attract residents: close proximity to the John Glenn Columbus International Airport; great access to

highways; well-respected, progressive schools; and both the four-year liberal arts Otterbein University and a branch of Columbus State Community College. Otterbein in particular brings fresh thinking into the community, as well as first-class theater productions by its students, city and university collaborations, and The Point, a new facility for students that’s also a business incubator focused on technology. (Read more on The Point on P. 10.) “There’s a tremendous advantage to having a college in town,” Treneff says. “It brings young people to the city who want to stay, and it’s been expanding and growing.” Cyclists on one of the city’s many multiuse trails

But Westerville is much more than a collection of hip businesses and community events. Thousands of youngsters play on softball, baseball and soccer teams in the city and bicyclists, walkers and runners use the city’s 44 miles of trails and paths year-round. The city also is focused on providing top-notch public services, including both a city-owned electric utility and a city-owned water division. “We are unique in central Ohio because, within the city limits, we serve all our residents,” says Chris Monacelli, manager of the Westerville Electric Division. “That gives us local control, meaning we are controlled by the Westerville City Council. So if residents have concerns about rates or how we’re operating, they can go to City Council.” Monacelli says that translates into a strong focus on customer care and reliable service, important to residents and a selling point for bringing businesses to Westerville. Westerville also is among a handful

of area suburbs with its own water utility, and that, too, is an important asset for its 38,000 residents, says Dick Lorenz, manager of the Westerville Water Division. “It allows for more local control and input,” Lorenz says. “But the biggest part is customer service. We have a focus on customer service, to give a quicker response and a more personal response than a large utility might give.” When the utility was deciding how to improve its drinking water a few years ago, for example, “we were able to make our decision as a community” to add a new carbon filtration system, Lorenz says. This unique mix of amenities has attracted economic development. One of the biggest changes to the city in the past few decades has been the growth of businesses, Tressler-Davis says. “It’s thriving,” she says. Multiple healthcare companies have made homes here, including a Nationwide Children’s Hospital campus, OhioHealth’s Westerville Medical Campus and many high-profile

A City in a Park Whether you’re an avid bicyclist, a soccer mom, a budding thespian or a jazz enthusiast, Westerville’s Parks & Recreation department has you covered. The city’s nickname—a “city within a park”—is no accident. Mike Phillips, recreation and operations superintendent, says his department has worked hard to make sure nearly every resident lives within a half-mile of a park by creating 600 acres of parkland in 46 locations. They range from Alum Creek Park

North, with a playground, volleyball court and a riverfront to a 1-acre dog park to the tiny Uptown Rotary Park with benches and a garden. Looping through the entire community are 13,000 trees lining the streets and 44 miles of bike paths and trails, which the city hopes to expand to 60 miles within five years, Phillips says. Also on the path to expansion is the Westerville Community Center, dubbed a “playground for grown-ups.” By January 2020, its current

97,000 square feet will become nearly 150,000 square feet with an enlarged workout space and additions, including a new senior citizen wing, a third gymnasium and a warm-water therapy pool. Modernization already took place at the city’s outdoor Highland Park Aquatic Center, which includes a lazy river, a lap pool, a diving well and two child spray areas. “We actively engage the community with all our activities,” Phillips says. “And they support us, 100 percent.”

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Otterbein University

come together Uptown Westerville is reinforcing the idea that when a community unites, there’s little it can’t achieve. By Emma Frankart Henterly

“We have so much history in our buildings—dating back to the 1800s— and a lot of them are preserved really nicely.” Lynn Aventino

Executive director, Uptown Westerville, Inc.

hen two police officers fell in the line of duty on Feb. 10, 2018, the community of Westerville rallied together. Nowhere was this more evident than along the streets of Uptown Westerville, where blue ribbons fluttered in the breeze, blue lightbulbs shone as a beacon of hope and support, and businesses worked together to raise funds for the officers’ families. It was an admirable example of a community uniting to lift several of its own in need, but one that wasn’t entirely surprising to residents of Westerville. The northeast suburb—and its Uptown District in particular—takes pride in this collaborative spirit, which has led to a renaissance in the city’s historic central district. Jason Bechtold, Westerville’s economic development director, says partnerships among city government, Otterbein University, private businesses and organizations like Uptown Westerville, Inc. and the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association are driving growth in Uptown. Also contributing, he adds, are a sense of inclusiveness and a general desire to continuously improve. “One thing about a place like Uptown Westerville is, it’s obviously not a museum; it’s a living thing,” says Westerville senior planner Bassem Bitar. “So while the buildings are very important and the architectural features of those buildings need to be preserved, we obviously need to make them still livable and usable.”

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The city encourages such improvement with historical preservation in mind through its Uptown Improvement Program, formerly known as the Uptown Façade Improvement Program, a city grant initiative that helps property and business owners make building and streetscapelevel renovations that increase functionality while preserving form. “That’s really been a game-changer for us,” Bechtold says. “Investment creates other investment opportunities. … It’s not just one building [that gets improved] over a one- or two-year period; it’s the whole block that gets improved, even though there might be four or five different property owners.” But the city is doing more than simply providing funds for privatesector investment; it’s taking an active role through initiatives like the State Street improvement project. Originally intended to simply repave a portion of State Street from Schrock Road on the south end to Hoff Road on the north, the project has expanded into what Bechtold calls a once-in-a-generation improvement project. Construction is slated to begin next year; when completed, the project will bring to Uptown wider sidewalks—perfect for sidewalk dining recently approved by City Council—as well as ADA-compliant crosswalk ramps, improved wayfinding signage and more. Bechtold expects the initiative to spark even more private development, citing the growth spurt

Westerville saw after completing a similar project at the city’s gateway at South State Street and Interstate 270. As if that weren’t enough, Westerville also is in the process of applying to join the National Registry of Historic Places, says Lynn Aventino, executive director of community support and development group Uptown Westerville, Inc. “Once we have that designation, it really helps the building owners and property owners get tax credits; they can get additional funding if they do improvements or work on the properties to restore or keep the historical characteristics,” she explains. “I would be shocked if we did not get the designation, because we have so much history in our buildings—dating back to the 1800s—and a lot of them are preserved really nicely.” Aventino’s organization works as a liaison between Uptown businesses and city staff, and to increase and support the city’s event calendar. Uptown Westerville, Inc. debuted last year an Uptown Untapped event that saw more attendance than Aventino or the participating breweries anticipated, resulting in a shortage of libations for visitors. This year, she says, they’ll be ready; the Sept. 15 event will have even more breweries on hand, in addition to live music and other activities. Uptown Westerville, Inc. also is capitalizing on the city’s improvements, like the new community greenspace in front One of Uptown’s many historic façades

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Northstar Café How do you bring a trendy eatery known for its modern design and menu to a district that’s focused on maintaining its historical integrity? Very, very intentionally. “As far back as 2009 … we were sort of ensuring that we would have the ability, someday, to open in Uptown Westerville if the opportunity presented itself, because it’s such a special place,” says Northstar co-owner Darren Malhame. “It’s a community where people really care about the community, which is important if you’re going to live there or start a business there.” When opportunity came with the closing of Kyoto Tea House

on Uptown’s south end, Malhame and his brother and business partner, Kevin Malhame, knew they had to act. “We spent just over three years making the project work, from the time we started until the time we opened,” Malhame says. “A typical project for us, we’ll spend between three and six months designing. In this case, we spent almost two years designing it. … I think we went through well over 50 design iterations for the building.” The result? A beautiful blend of contemporary and historic architecture that fits seamlessly into Uptown’s aesthetic, while still paying homage to its predecessor

of City Hall. Case in point: The group’s new Lunchbox Concerts series, held May through August, brings local performers in a variety of genres to the plaza’s stage. “We’re encouraging people to pick up some lunch Uptown … and just sit out on the green, enjoy the music during your lunch hour,” Aventino says. From lunchtime concerts to major streetscape improvements, Uptown Westerville is seeing a unique blend of

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in the form of preserving its Mount Fuji mosaic and incorporating Japanese design elements like shou sugi bantreated wood. “One of the interesting things about opening the restaurant was, we held meetings for the neighbors on Plum Street, where our restaurant is located, so they could hear about our design plans and weigh in,” Malhame says. “At virtually every meeting we held, every household on the block was represented—which was completely unexpected, from my perspective, but wonderful. It was just a statement about how much these people care about where they live.”

growth and historical preservation, all made possible through the community’s collaborative spirit. “What I like about our opportunities is that it’s going to be very collaborative with the community, the developers and the city to make something very special,” Bechtold says. “I think we have the right recipe to be innovative and not lose the integrity of our Uptown, but only expand on it.”

THE POINT: Where Otterbein, Westerville and corporate America converge to redefine higher education for the 21st century. Phase II coming soon! Learn more: OtterbeinPoint.com 614.823.2941

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When her husband suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, the decision to go to Mount Carmel St. Ann’s was everything. Because your health is everything. Sue knows. Not just because she’s a nurse at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s. But because of what happened the morning her husband, Bill, suddenly collapsed at home. The emergency team stabilized Bill for a CT scan that revealed a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. A vascular surgeon prepared for emergency surgery. Hours later, the surgeon came out to share the news with Sue. Bill’s surgery was a success. Sue said, simply: “Thank you for giving my husband back to me.” Experiences like this happen every day at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s. Where our award-winning team of cardiovascular experts provide the most comprehensive heart and vascular services. Because as Sue and Bill know, your health is everything. Mount Carmel St. Ann’s. Everything a regional medical center should be. Because of you.