A Granville developer whose company proposed a mixed-use project of restaurants, shops and 174 apartments for the east side of the village is considering whether to move ahead with the commercial component but shelving the apartment idea.
“We remain very interested in Granville and believe there is a genuine opportunity to create something that benefits the community for decades to come,” Seth Teagle, Granville Township resident and managing partner of The Stream Group, told The Reporting Project in an email. “However, after evaluating the feedback and political environment, we’ve decided to pause the apartment component of our proposed development.”
The “Munson Trace” project drew intense criticism on social media and during a village council meeting even before the Columbus-based development company could file plans with the Village of Granville.
Read more: Development proposed for Galway Drive draws tense crowd even before an application submitted
“We received considerable community engagement, including some thoughtful suggestions and genuinely good ideas that we intend to incorporate into our future planning,” Teagle said. “Ultimately, though, we did not believe there was sufficient political support to pursue the zoning approvals and variances the apartment project would require. Given the investment involved, we need reasonable confidence that a project can ultimately earn the necessary approvals.”
The 17 acres along both sides of Galway Drive proposed for the project are owned by Licking Memorial Hospital. The Stream Group has a contract with the hospital to buy the land, and it proposed building shops and restaurants on the north side of Galway, west of Cherry Valley Road.
The apartment complex 102 two-bedroom units and 72 one-bedroom units was proposed for land on the south side of Galway, close to Wendy’s and the Rt. 16 freeway.
Read more: Developers discuss details of proposed Granville project and seek community input to refine plans for ‘Munson Trace’
Teagle said that pausing the proposed apartments “doesn’t change our belief that Granville needs additional housing options, including apartments. We recognize that not everyone welcomes apartment development or apartment residents, but we also believe there is room for thoughtful growth that respects Granville’s character while addressing legitimate community needs.”
He said that attracting retailers is more difficult without the apartments.
“Based on our conversations with prospective retailers and restaurant operators, the two biggest concerns have been the lack of surrounding households … and insufficient daily vehicle traffic in the immediate area,” he said, adding that “several restaurant operators we spoke with indicated that approximately 60% of their profits come during the lunch rush. Larger franchise restaurants and retail operators have expressed similar concerns about the area’s ability to generate enough customer traffic to support their businesses.”
Teagle said those factors played a significant role in determining the residential they originally proposed.
“Based on our discussions, approximately 90% of the prospective commercial tenants we spoke with would need the additional residential density to seriously consider locating at the site,” he said. “The apartments were not simply included to maximize the number of residential units. They were intended to help create the customer base necessary to attract and support the commercial and retail businesses that we, along with the village, had hoped to bring to the property.”
“Without that residential component,” Teagle said, “we need to reevaluate the entire development plan and determine what types of uses could realistically work on the site.”
He said the company’s “intention from the beginning was to engage with the community before submitting a formal application. We believed that was the responsible approach, and we still do. While the public reaction was more contentious than anticipated, we also heard a number of perspectives worth considering.”
Teagle said he particularly appreciated the input and feedback of the Welsh Hills Community Partners, Granville Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Jeff Brown, members of the Granville Board of Education, and the village staff.
“We also appreciate the residents who attended our informational meeting and offered thoughtful feedback,” Teagle said. “We remain confident in the need for the commercial uses envisioned along Galway Drive, including child care, neighborhood retail, restaurants, and other services that would benefit the community.”
Read more: Welsh Hills Community Partners explains its creation, mission and role in commercial development
“We are pausing the apartment proposal, but we are not walking away from Granville,” Teagle said. “Our team continues to evaluate alternative development concepts that may better align with existing zoning, community expectations, and the political support necessary to move a project forward.”
He did not offer a specific timeline for the commercial project.
“Our objective remains to create a high-quality, financially viable development that complements Granville’s character and makes a lasting positive contribution,” Teagle said. “We remain hopeful that there is a path forward.”
Alan Miller writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.
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