The Polaris Area, in Columbus OH near Lewis Center

I have lived in the Polaris area for the last 8 years, so perhaps my view is somewhat biased, but the continued growth of this area is absolutely astonishing.  I can remember coming to this area while a freshman in college to see concerts at the then “Polaris Amphitheatre”.  Around it were two hotels,  Max & Ermas, Wendy’s, a few office buildings and a couple of gas stations.  By the time I was a senor in college there were new office buildings, a gluttony of restaurants, a giant mall, Target, Best Buy, Office Max, and every other chain shopping experience your heart could possibly desire (for me it was mostly just Best Buy).  The choice was simple when I graduated college, I knew this was the area for me and have been here pretty much ever since. 

Search Homes and Condos in this Area 

Living in the area it is easy to watch apartment complex’s, office buildings, retailers, and new homes pop up overnight and take it all for granted.  It’s only when you travel to other areas or start reading the national news to realize just how lucky we are in this area.  Well, it only gets better from here. 

This is just a taste of what’s to come over the next year or two in Polaris:

• Obviously JP Morgan Chase and Co. has been a huge backer to the areas success.  Among the 19,000 jobs in the region, over 7,000 are at the giant McCoy center off of Polaris Pkwy.  Chase recently announced they will be investing more than $18 million to refurbish leased office space at two locations: at 1000 Polaris Parkway in Columbus and at 460 Polaris Parkway in Westerville.  With the additions they will be adding another 350 jobs to the area by the summer of 2012.
• Cabela’s, the outdoor retail giant has announced that it will be bringing its first store to Ohio, and placing it at the corner of I-71 and Gemini.  The plan is to break ground in the spring of 2012 and open in the spring of 2013.  There is already growing concern over the amount of traffic this will add to the area all by itself.  Guessing that the economic gain will outweigh the negatives in the end.
• Earth Fare will be opening the areas first organic grocery store in the spring of 2012 in the Polaris Towne Center near Hobby Lobby, Babies R Us, and Costco.  Their mission is to make “healthy foods accessible and affordable”.  (I’m hoping for a cheaper version of Whole Foods!)
• Great Indoors (A Sears brand) is being shut down as a whole, so the original anchor of Polaris Fashion Place will be shutting down sometime in the near future.  Of course, to many areas this could be a huge negative…not to Polaris of course.  Instead there are plans to knock it down and add more outdoor retail space like they did with the old Kauffmans.  This addition managed to bring in Dave and Busters, Forever 21, Cantina Laredo, Benihana, Barnes and Noble, and many others at near $70/sq ft rates.  Almost double the average of similar retail space in Ohio.
• That amphitheater I referred to earlier, it shut down in 2006 (due to ridiculous noise ordinances I might add, it was a wonderful place for a concert), well it was just sold to a group that plans to redevelop the prime real estate location over the next few years into a mixed use of retail, residential, and office space.

I would also like to put in my vote for a few local favorites to come to the area ASAP: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Northstar Cafe.  Anytime now would be great! :)

This graph information came from the Polaris Real Estate Development group and I thought it had some great information.  If you happen to know someone considering a move to Columbus don't hesitate to send them our way.  I would be happy to explain the benefits of living near such a thriving Midwest location with plenty of growth and job opportunities ahead.  Core Ohio has also helped many people sell their homes in this area. 

Thanks for reading my update on the Polaris area in Columbus Ohio! :)  Would love to see some comments on other developments happening in the Central Ohio region (or anywhere really).  It's a great sign for real estate and our economy as a whole.