Continental Real Estate Company has begun construction on their mixed-use apartment complex located at 2200 E. Main St., which will include residential, retail and office spaces.
The building will consist of 232 apartment units, a restaurant, work areas and additional parking spots, explained Jason Hockstok, Vice President of Planning and Development at Continental Real Estate Company.
The units will be rented out for an undetermined price, Hockstok added.
Mayor Ben Kessler explained this complex will draw a diverse and new range of residents to the community.
“There’s going to be a mixture of one, two and three bedroom units,” he added. “I think they are going to attract a broad age group, but it’s going to primarily appeal to young professionals and empty nesters.”
Bexley City Council Zoning and Development Chair Sam Marcellino said the future occupants will enrich Bexley’s culture and livelihood.
“The complex will help move Bexley into a new generation of residents who will bring ideas in our community and hopefully support the growth and history of our city,” he added.
Marcellino explained Capital University had previously utilized the land for student on-campus housing, but later sold the plot because the facilities had become outdated.
He said there were numerous bidders interested in the land, each of whom presented differing project proposals to the City Council.
“All of these plans came in various shapes and sizes,” Marcellino explained. “Some had an office feel, others were more residential.”
Kessler said the city worked with Continental Real Estate to ensure the new building additions would be following Bexley’s code.
“The administration doesn’t influence design or construction,” he explained. “What we do is administer our code, so we make sure they’re following the zoning laws and going through all the review processes that have been set up.”
After reviewing the proposed blueprints, the city granted Continental Real Estate a permit to begin demolition and building on the original property, Kessler said.
Hockstok said the complex will be a beneficial addition to Bexley and the surrounding businesses, but there are definite risks associated with such a large change in a small community.
“When you’re developing a complicated project like this, there’s a lot of partners that we work with to try to hit that sweet spot and make everyone happy,” he explained.
Kessler said feedback regarding the project has been mostly positive; however, he has received some concerns from Bexley residents.
“A lot of opposition was coming from neighboring property owners who were concerned about the parking impact, the traffic flow impact and the removal of trees,” he explained.
He also said Continental Real Estate ensured there will be adequate parking, upwards of 300 new spots.
Kessler said they plan on planting trees and creating green space on the new lot.
“That’s something that we are very conscious about with development in Bexley in general–the green footprint,” Kessler explained.
Similarly, Marcellino said he’s noticed some pushback from Bexley residents.
“For years, Bexley has been resistant to significant change,” he explained. “People want Bexley to remain a quality community to raise families in and to live in. Anytime you see a change of this magnitude, it’s going to raise some concerns and questions.”
He said some people are concerned about whether the school district can handle additional kids in the schools and classrooms.
Marcellino explained similar projects were examined in the nearby districts of Grandview and Dublin to predict the impact on the school district. He said the increase in enrollment observed was minimal, so they approved the project.
The entire complex is set to have a multiphased opening, with the entire project completed by the end of 2026, Hockstok explained.
Kessler said a project of this size will raise concerns, but people should reserve those until the project is entirely finished and available to the public.
“When it initially goes up to its full height, people are going to be a little astonished,” he explained. “I think as it gets a finished exterior and all the new landscaping comes in, it will start to take shape and make sense contextually.”
Kessler said this apartment complex will be beneficial for Main Street and Bexley in the long run. He explained the updating of Bexley is a vital aspect of growing as a residential community.
“That sort of density is what feeds the economy that we have on Main Street and will help ensure its continued success in the future,” Kessler added.
