Proposed Westerville Development Would Bring Hotel, Apartments And Parking Garage Near Uptown
A proposed development near Uptown Westerville could bring a boutique Marriott-branded hotel, nearly 250 apartments, a restaurant, and a 400-space parking garage to a city-owned site just east of South State Street.
Continental Development Ventures, the developer behind Westerville’s Renaissance Hotel, is proposing the mixed-use project for 64 E. Walnut St., a roughly 5-acre property now owned by the city. The site sits within walking distance of the Westerville Public Library, Hanby Park, and the shops and restaurants along State Street and Uptown Westerville.
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The proposal, still in the conceptual stage, includes about 247 apartments, an 81-room boutique hotel, a 3,500-square-foot restaurant, and a 400-space parking garage. Of those garage spaces, 100 would be reserved for public use, exceeding the 88 spaces now available in the surface lot behind the library, according to the city.
A rendering provided by the developer shows a large, multi-story project labeled “Uptown Flats,” with connected hotel and apartment buildings, a covered hotel drop-off area, surface drives, and a structured garage. The buildings appear to rise about four to five stories and feature a mix of brick, gray paneling, and large windows.
But the development itself has not been approved.
Westerville City Council is scheduled to hold a first reading on May 19 on the proposed sale of the city-owned property to Continental for $2.5 million, according to Hillary Bates, the city’s community affairs director. The purchase agreement would require three readings before the council.
If the sale is approved, Continental would still need to return to the city for zoning approval before construction could begin. That process could include rezoning the site to a Planned Development District, submitting a preliminary plan and development standards text, and later securing final development plan approval through the Planning Commission and City Council.
City approval of the sale would not constitute approval of the proposed hotel, apartments, restaurant, or parking garage.
The city said the review process also would include traffic and parking studies before any final development approval.
The project’s scale would mark a major shift for the property, which now includes a city-owned commercial building of more than 30,300 square feet, constructed in 1960, according to records from the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
Assistant City Manager Jason Bechtold said the proposal would support business growth while adding a long-discussed amenity near Uptown.
“Yes, the mixed-use proposal will strengthen business development, but it is also an amenity for the community,” Bechtold said in an email. “A hotel has long been needed in the heart of Westerville, and this project, attracting a boutique hotel, is a sign of the appeal.”
“This potential sale is a major milestone because it fulfills a promise to residents to use the proceeds from this building to offset the cost of the 2023 Westerville Justice Center,” Bates said in an email to The Dispatch.
The city plans to release additional information to residents through mailers and an online FAQ. The city will present initial plans for the building's sale and redevelopment at two open houses. The first will be on Thursday, May 14, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at 64 E. Walnut.
Local business leaders said they are watching the proposal as a potential boost for Uptown Westerville, which has continued to draw investment and visitors.
“I think this is a great opportunity,” said Lynn Aventino, executive director of Uptown Westerville Inc. “Uptown Westerville has become one of the most active and vibrant historic districts in the region, and this type of investment reflects that momentum.”
Aventino said a hotel could help turn some Uptown visits into overnight stays.
“When done right, a boutique hotel can become a real asset for the district, supporting local businesses and enhancing the overall Uptown experience,” she said.
Matt Lofy, president and CEO of the Westerville Area Chamber, said the project remains early in the process but could create new opportunities for the community.
“This proposed project represents an early step in a broader process and offers potential opportunities for our community,” Lofy said in a statement. “The Chamber looks forward to learning more and engaging as the process moves forward.”
He said the proposal comes as Central Ohio continues to grow rapidly.
“Westerville is working thoughtfully to keep pace with — and remain competitive alongside — our neighboring communities,” Lofy said.
Continental Development Ventures specializes in mixed-use developments, student housing and multifamily projects, according to its website. The company has developed student housing properties in Youngstown, Athens, Cincinnati and Akron, and has worked on several central Ohio projects.
In Upper Arlington, Continental was involved in Arlington Gateway, a mixed-use development completed in 2023, and the Kingsdale redevelopment, which includes planned apartments and senior housing. Its Upper Arlington portfolio also includes The Kingston, a luxury apartment complex at 3181 Northwest Blvd., where advertised rents range from about $1,497 for a one-bedroom unit to about $2,497 for a two-bedroom unit.
In Bexley, Continental is developing The Fitzgerald at 2200 E. Main St., a mixed-use project near Capital University and downtown Bexley. The project includes about 232 apartments, restaurant and retail space, medical or office space, and structured public parking. The Fitzgerald is currently hosting apartment tours, with pre-opening rents advertised from about $1,500 to $4,500 a month and partial completion anticipated in summer 2026.
64 E. Walnut St. Has Had Several Lives
The proposed sale of 64 E. Walnut St. would mark another turn for a property that has already moved through several distinct chapters near Uptown Westerville.
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The Franklin County Auditor’s historical parcel sheet identifies the site as part of M.P. Page’s Addition, Beem & Snavely, with the property listed at about 5.703 acres and the street location written as 64 E. Walnut St. The record traces ownership to Melville G. Beem in 1911, followed by several private owners through the first half of the 20th century.
The four most recent uses tell the modern story of the property.
The site first served as a Kroger grocery store, part of the commercial development that followed the spread of automobile-oriented shopping and larger neighborhood retail sites.
It later became home to Lake Shore Cryotronics, the Westerville scientific-instrument company associated with John W. Swartz and the Swartz family. The auditor’s records list John W. Swartz in 1957 and Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc. in 1971, marking the property’s shift from retail to industry.
The city’s chapter began in the late 1990s, after Westerville acquired the former Lake Shore property for municipal use. The one-story building and surrounding parking lot have since housed city offices and public service counters, including planning, building, finance, permits, and utility-related functions.
The proposed redevelopment would give the site its next use: a mixed-use project near Uptown with a boutique Marriott-branded hotel, restaurant, apartments, and structured parking. Instead of a low-slung municipal building and surface parking, the property would become one of the larger redevelopment projects on the edge of the Uptown district.
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