Publix, Popeyes and more: What’s happening at Midland Commons site in North Columbus
Construction is moving forward at Midland Commons in north Columbus.
And while it’s not quite ahead of schedule due to difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, some buildings could start taking shape soon.
“Obviously it’s an 88-acre project, so we’re not going to build everything at once,” development partner Chris Wightman told the Ledger-Enquirer. “So we’ve been looking at a 7-to-10 year plan on building the entire project out.”
The property at 7801 Flat Rock Road, off the bustling J.R. Allen Parkway, is expected to be a mix of commercial businesses to include big-box anchors, midsize retail, restaurants and possible residential offerings such as loft apartments and an assisted-living facility.
Here’s the latest update on what’s going on at the north Columbus project and which businesses have expressed interest in locating there.
COVID-19’s impact
The timeline for the project had been somewhat fuzzy since Columbus partners Marty Flournoy, Wightman and Jack Wright dived into the project with their $6.25 million purchase of the former Swift Textiles factory site in June 2017.
There were some small delays, Wightman said, due to both COVID-19 and uncharacteristically rainy winter seasons.
The process of receiving materials for the construction was slowed, as was the partners’ ability to find workers.
“We’ve had two very wet winters,” Wightman said. “Last year was probably one of the wettest winters we’ve had on record. And that really slowed us down.”
What’s coming?
Construction is being done in multiple phases, Wightman said.
The first phase, which includes getting the roads, water and sewage systems ready and lots prepared to sell, is expected to be completed “within the next 30 days,” he said.
Publix, in Dec. 2020, announced its intention to open a location on the northern portion of the site.
“With Publix, you will probably start to see some vertical construction towards the end of this year,” Wightman said. “And an occupancy sometime in late summer, early fall of next year.”
Vertical construction (construction of projects built vertically such as offices or apartment buildings) of the project’s lifestyle center likely will begin in the next 30-45 days. The first phase of that will include two 11,000-square-foot buildings with loft apartments, two 4,000-square-foot buildings geared toward restaurants and a stage.
The completed lifestyle center will include around 100,000 square feet of mixed-use development. It will include retail, service retail, restaurants and loft apartments, Wightman said. Service retail, by definition, could include businesses such as hair salons, dry cleaners or banking centers.
As far as other businesses coming to Midland Commons, Wightman said the group has signed some letters of intent, but no leases will be signed until after the Publix lease is signed and executed.
Wightman would not provide more detail on which businesses have expressed interest, but said the development group is holding talks with a “national coffee shop,” a “national sandwich store” and a hotel.
A Popeyes location is under construction on the property. A gas station with an Arby’s attached also is being constructed. A Culver’s restaurant also has been announced.
This story was originally published February 25, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
