Members of Westerville City Council join staff to officially cut the ribbon to the improved Westerville Water Plant on Thursday, May 26.
This year brought change and excitement to Westerville, as the City began work on many projects that have since redefined the community landscape. We continued our long tradition of planning, with the vision set forward in the “Imagine Westerville” community plan adopted in July (see www.imaginewesterville.org). The year was punctuated with celebrations and challenges, overcome with Westerville’s spirit of resilience and love for community.
A century of Council-Manager Government
On Jan. 1, 1916, Westerville became the first municipality in the region and the first village in the state to adopt the Council-Manager form of government. Commonly used today in local governments nationally, this form of government promotes a more business-oriented approach to governance by the appointment of a trained, professional manager to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Learn more about the reform decided by voters a century ago at www.westerville.org/100.
Voters say “yes” to Westerville Fire Division
On Tuesday, March 15, Westerville residents approved a 2.8-mill property tax issue for the City of Westerville Division of Fire to maintain service levels during a time of change. In addition to the impact of inflation in the operations of the Fire Division, the overall response activity of the Division has grown, in part due to a significant increase in calls for rescue and emergency medical services. Passage ensured the Division can maintain adequate staffing and replace equipment to continue quick response times.
Westerville’s first roundabout connects Polaris and County Line
The Worthington Road connector opened in March, featuring the City’s first roundabout. New business opened on the Polaris end of the road, featuring luxury apartments, specialty grocer Fresh Thyme and new restaurants.
Water Treatment Plant opens
The improvements to the Westerville Water Treatment Plant opened to the public at its official ribbon cutting and dedication on Thursday, May 26. The addition of granular activated carbon, a new addition to the Westerville treatment process, began in March. With the $12 million project operational and compliant with federally mandated regulations, Westerville water rates remain the lowest in central Ohio.
Looking ahead, 2017 will bring an end to lengthy projects while others begin. Improvements in Westerville are taking shape, with more development on the horizon.
South State Street Phase Two wraps
Rendering of Phase Two improvements
The project that may have most tested the community’s patience this year will be fully complete in the spring. The South State Street portion of the work will be substantially complete by Thanksgiving (this year) while work continues on Schrock Road. Improvements include buried utility lines, new street trees, bike lanes (on Schrock) and upgraded street lights, traffic signals and signs.
Long-awaited hotel construction continues
Construction is underway on both the Marriott Renaissance on the northwest side of the city and the Aloft hotel at South State Street and Heatherdown Road on the south side. The 101-room Aloft, a Starwood Hotel and Resorts brand, is expected to open September 2017. The 224-room Marriott Renaissance represents the centerpiece of new development at Westar Place and is expected to open January 2018.
Uptown continues its surge
Uptown Westerville has long been the heart of the community, its charm bringing new business and residents and visitors back time and again for shopping, dining and entertainment. Northstar Café is expecting a first-quarter opening while Westerville Parks & Recreation polls residents on the future of Hanby Park (behind the Westerville Public Library).
New roadway construction is scheduled
Work will begin this fall on Sunbury Road at County Line Road to modify the intersection and add lanes for safety and relieve traffic congestion. A new storm sewer, street lighting, sidewalk and recreational trail to the east are part of the project, which will be complete next year. On Cleveland Avenue, additional northbound and southbound lanes, with an added northbound turn lane onto Schrock Road, begin later this year. Traffic flow and safety improvements are outcomes from this project, expected to be complete early 2017.
