After months of anticipation and speculation, plans to redevelop a large surface parking lot near the campus of Battelle have finally been unveiled. Battelle is selling the property to a development team led by Wagenbrenner Development and Fortress Real Estate.

The project, revealed at a community meeting tonight, calls for a mix of office, hotel, apartment and for sale homes on the 20 acre site located between Fifth Avenue and Third Avenue in the Harrison West neighborhood. Additionally, much of the existing green space on the southern end of the site will be preserved, and additional park land will be made available for use along the Olentangy Trail.

The development is a partnership between Continental Real Estate, the Daimler Group, Wagenbrenner Development and M/I Homes.

“After a very thorough selection process, which included numerous face-to-face meetings with developers who shared their thoughts on how best to develop the property, the Wagenbrenner team was selected because of its vision to integrate the property into the surrounding neighborhood,” said Patrick Jarvis, spokesman for Battelle. “When completed, this unique parcel will enhance the surrounding neighborhoods and benefit the city.”

Visuals released show buildings between two to five stories in height, but specific details about the project have not been made available at this point, as additional revisions and refinements are expected before the project breaks ground.

“Our discussions with Battelle and the Wagenbrenner group have been productive to this point,” stated Steve Schoeny, Development Director with the City of Columbus. “The designs that we have seen take into account several key points of the community input that has been provided so far.”

Currently, the Battelle Discovery Center daycare is also located on the site, which is slated to close this fall. The proceeds from the sale of the property will be used to help fund a renovation and modernization of the Battelle main campus. Neighborhood leaders in Harrison West will continue to be engaged throughout the process.

“In a nutshell, we’re working with all parties including the City and the developers to make sure we get what’s best for the greater neighborhood, Battelle, and Columbus,” stated Harrison West Society President Tim Price. “We’ve also formed or will form committees to get input from residents in all neighborhoods that will be touched by this project, and also a park committee to make sure we make the most out of the current and added green spaces.”

More updates will be made available soon by Columbus Underground.