Worthington Gateway construction projects on target for March 2022 completion

Construction of multiple properties on the Worthington Gateway mixed-use site at West Wilson Bridge Road and North High Street are still on track for completion in March 2022 despite a recent request by developers for building-permit extensions and an extension of the construction periods.

Worthington Gateway developers applied for building-permit extensions for three 1- to 2-story retail and office buildings along West Wilson Bridge Road during the Dec. 2 board of zoning appeals meeting, with current permits set to expire. Those addresses include 105, 89 and 71 W. Wilson Bridge Road.

But construction on those properties still is expected to be completed in March 2022, according to Moment Development principal Ohm Patel despite the request for a construction extension. The Worthington Gateway is a joint venture between Moment Development and the development firm the Witness Group.

“The extension is more of a formality,” Patel said. “Those four buildings along West Wilson Bridge are underway.”

Developers applied for a building-permit extension on the other West Wilson Bridge property, which is 53 W. Wilson Bridge Road, in September, citing delays in the procurement of construction materials due to the pandemic.

Worthington planning and building director Lee Brown said developers applied for a one-year extension on their building permits. Building permits in Worthington initially are valid for 18 months, he said.

“They’re winding down to the end of their 18-month (building permit),” Brown said. “To go past that, the board has the buildings approved for a one-year extension.”

Patel said once these four West Wilson Bridge properties are about 50% completed, crews intend to pivot some of their efforts toward the construction of the 10,000-square-foot retail and office building off North High Street in late spring or early summer 2022.

Patel said developers still are in negotiations for several leases with potential tenants on the Worthington Gateway site, which is across the street from the Shops at Worthington Place mall at 7227 N. High St. and is planned for redevelopment into the mixed-use High North project by developers Direct Retail Partners. A 46,000-square-foot 4-story mixed-use building on the Gateway property at 121 W. Wilson Bridge Road also is planned by developers Trivium Development.

Lease agreements announced thus far for the Worthington Gateway include Orangetheory Fitness, Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Club Pilates.

sborgna@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekSteve

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Worthington Gateway construction projects on target for March 2022