Columbus Monthly Special Section: Dublin Suburban Section

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

WELCOME TO DUBLIN!

THE CITY OF DUBLIN has a long history of strategic thinking and planning; it’s what has shaped our ener getic, fiscally sound and healthy community that you see today. Visionary leadership—both former and pres ent City Councils and staff—brought forth the ideas and community amenities we all enjoy. These innova tions include developing 64 city parks and more than 140 miles of shared-use paths; providing infrastructure to attract corporate headquarters and small business es alike; building and connecting walkable neighbor hoods; preserving the historic district while making way for the more urban Bridge Park development; and achieving the goals of being a place where people want to live, work, learn, visit and retire.

I am pleased to say that our residents have af firmed their satisfaction with the direction of our city. In a 2022 Community Attitudes Survey, conducted by Saperstein Associates, 99 percent of residents said Dublin is an excellent or good place to live. Martin Saperstein, president of Saperstein Associates, noted that of all the cities his business has surveyed, “There isn’t anyone we work with that has numbers like this and has had them for the past decade.” He called it “remarkable” that Dublin could sustain that level.

Yet, despite these high marks, Dublin is not a city that rests on its laurels. We continu ously press forward with bold visions for the future. Each year, at Dublin City Council’s re treat, we discuss our goals for the city, determining which ones have been met and which ones we want to continue to strive to attain. In February 2020, we established a goal to develop a visionary framework to lead our efforts through the next decade and beyond. As a result of these discussions, this year, Dublin City Council adopted a new vision: to be a global city of choice that is the most sustainable, connected and resilient.

On the following pages, you’ll read many stories about the people, places and ini tiatives that make Dublin the thriving community it is today. It makes me proud to live in a place that creates an environment that takes care of its people—sustaining them, connecting them and helping them to be resilient. I think you’ll agree that, together with the community, we are well on our way to making our vision a reality.

CASE STUDY

The Bridge Park develop ment creates opportunities for all.

BUSINESS Focus on supporting the biomed sector leads to healthy outcomes.

A robust parks department keeps resi dents happy and engaged.

HOUSING

Diverse stock lets families and individuals grow in the city.

EDUCATION

Dublin stu dents have unique learning opportunities at the Emerald Campus.

Dublin: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section is published by Gannett. All contents of this mag azine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2022, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolic ited materials.

ON THE COVER: The Dublin Link bridge between Historic Dublin and Bridge Park | Photo courtesy City of Dublin

Jane Fox, Mayor of Dublin

Nationally

CASE STUDY

BRIDGE PARK IS BOOMING

The housing, dining, retail and office spaces of Dublin’s newest development are injecting life into the city in myriad ways.

By Mandy Shunnarah

THE SECRET IS OUT: Dublin is booming.

The popularity of Bridge Park’s office and residential spaces have brought many new visitors, residents and businesses to town, all of which have contributed to the vibrancy of the city. More and more people are realizing what longtime Dubliners have known for a while: The city is an ideal place to live and work. The proof is in the Irish pudding, as city leaders say developers can hardly build fast enough to keep up with the growing demand for the Dublin lifestyle.

“We have seen an increase in devel opment interest and activity in Dublin, particularly in our Metro Center and Blazer Research districts, West Innova tion District, and Bridge Park,” says city manager Megan O’Callaghan.

Michaela Grandey, founder of real estate agency the Grandey Group with Rolls Realty, agrees.

“The addition of Bridge Park has been a game-changer for residents of all ages. The bridge itself is amazing, and the shopping and dining, as well as businesses that are a part of Bridge Park, make Dublin a destination,” she says. “There is something for everyone to enjoy. Watching young kids and families at the library interact with a young professional grabbing coffee is fun. My office is in downtown Dublin, and it’s fantastic to connect with clients and show them all that they can enjoy within a short walk or bike ride.”

A BIT OF MAGIC

Whether you’re young or young at heart, everyone loves a little magic in the air—and you’re sure to find it on Dublin’s Irish Fairy Door Trail. Take a walk through Historic Dublin and Bridge Park to find 11 tiny, fairy-sized doors at area businesses. Begin your journey at the Dublin Information and Visitor Center to pick up your map, then travel through the walkable neighborhood spots like Johnson’s Real Ice Cream, Paris 75, Our CupCakery, Winans Chocolates + Coffees, Extravagifts, Dublin Toy Emporium, Boho 72 Boutique, North Market Bridge Park, Kilwins and The Cheesecake Girl (the latter of which offers a special, free treat). Write down the name of each fairy you encounter on this family-friendly activity, then return to the Visitor Center with your completed map for a free T-shirt.

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

The Dublin Link pedestrian bridge connects Dublin’s historic downtown to the new Bridge Park development.

Dublin’s dining scene is thriving so much that local restaurateur Cameron Mitchell is opening his fourth restau rant within a half-mile radius in the city.

“Bridge Park appeals to us because it has something to offer for everyone. It’s a great, active community that boasts a strong mix of residential, office and retail. With easy parking and the pedestrian bridge, it provides easy access and connectivity to downtown Dublin, as well,” says Steve Weis, vice president of development for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. “The city of Dub lin and developer Crawford Hoying have done an incredible job with creating an authentic neighborhood that people love to enjoy.”

That fourth restaurant, Valentina’s, is projected to open in spring 2023. “The 6,200-square-foot space will include a large patio overlooking the new pe destrian bridge linking Bridge Park with downtown Dublin,” Weis notes. “Valen tina’s will offer guests the genuine hos pitality for which we are known and will feature Northern Italian-inspired cuisine, fine wines and specialty cocktails.”

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants aren’t the only excellent food options at Bridge Park, as longtime resident Lara Leach knows firsthand. “North Market has some great independent, local and unique restaurants and vendors and a great vibe to it,” she says.

When North Market, a public mar ket-style food hall that focuses on

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

supporting diverse local restaurateurs, was looking to add its second location in Central Ohio, choosing Bridge Park was a no-brainer. The Dublin location opened in November 2020.

“We are so thrilled to be part of the thriving Bridge Park community and Dublin as a whole,” says North Mar ket communications and marketing director Meghan Brouillette. “This area has welcomed North Market with open arms and has been very supportive since we opened.”

North Market Bridge Park sup ports full-time merchants, temporary pop-up vendors, farmers and makers with taste influences from around the world, including Dos Hermanos Tacos, Falafel Kitchen, Hoyo’s Kitchen, Lan Viet and Bubbles Tea and Juice Co. Managed and operated by a not-forprofit organization, giving back to the community is baked into North Market’s business model.

“Our mission is to provide an au thentic Central Ohio experience that

WE ALL SCREAM FOR …

Summer may have ended, but ice cream is a tasty year-round treat thanks to Dublin’s plentiful ice cream shops. There are half a dozen places to satisfy your sweet tooth, from regional behemoths like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Graeter’s Ice Cream to local favorites like Johnson’s Real Ice Cream in Historic Dublin, which has been a mainstay in Central Ohio for four gener ations—and counting. Meanwhile, Diamonds Ice Cream features artisan Mexican paletas and other frozen sweet treats in addition to ice cream for a combined 300-plus flavors. The newly opened Kilwins location in Bridge Park serves ice cream so good that you’ll want to grab a few pints from the Michigan-founded company even for The Big Game. Or if fro-yo is more to your liking, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt has dozens of flavors and can even make frozen yogurt cakes. Many of these locations have dairy-free options, so lactose-intolerant folks don’t have to miss out on the fun.

highlights the diversity and vibrancy of our community, both economically and culturally, by promoting and incubating best-in-class, local, independent busi nesses,” says Brouillette.

In addition to award-winning and in ternational cuisine, Bridge Park is home to several unique service businesses, including Leading EDJE, a company of tech experts who solve tough problems

for businesses by putting technology to work. With Leading EDJE’s company culture, the development was an opti mal location.

“Bridge Park is a great representa tion of our firm’s personality and core values by creating a positive, energetic atmosphere with an emphasis on quality, team, technology and fun,” says chief executive officer Joelle Brock.

For One Medical, a primary care office of family physicians, Bridge Park was an obvious choice, as well. Its stated goal is to ensure their offices are convenient to where people live, work, shop and play, including retail lifestyle centers, the ground floor of residential and office buildings, and in grocery store-anchored shopping centers—meaning Bridge Park fit the bill perfectly when they were considering a new location.

“We are thrilled to be established here in Central Ohio,” says Columbus district medical director Dr. Thomas Nguyen. “The response has been incredible—we knew that Columbus would be a perfect fit for our mission to transform health care for all by removing barriers. And providing easy access to four [Central Ohio] offices is definitely helping that mission.”

In addition to the amenities for those who call Dublin home, the city has become a destination next door for Central Ohioans, in part because the namesake bridge at Bridge Park is host to a variety of cultural events, including Pride, Juneteenth, Diwali and more.

As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

Bridge Park features a mix of apartments and condos above groundlevel retail and dining options, with office spaces scattered throughout.

advisors.ubs.com/muirfieldwealth

“We are fortunate to have a diverse culture within Dublin. Our residents represent more than 100 countries and speak approximately 90 different languages, providing many opportuni ties to acknowledge, appreciate and uplift the many cultures that enrich our city,” O’Callaghan says. “These celebrations are important to help us understand the communal diversity we have within Dublin, while promoting a welcoming environment by building relationships and trust. As a city, we celebrate diversity, and we provide opportunities for residents, business es and visitors to shape Dublin as a vibrant, inclusive city.”

The Dublin Link bridge, which con nects Historic Dublin to Bridge Park, is a visual and literal connection between the city’s past and its exciting future, she adds.

“Dublin has a lot to offer everyone. It is very safe and family-friendly,” says Leach, who’s raising her family in Dublin. “It is international and inclusive. There

The city of Dublin recently purchased seven riverfront properties and put out requests for proposals, which can only mean one thing: more exciting de velopments coming to Dublin. While plans are still being considered, there’s cause for celebration. “This is an exciting project for the city and an oppor tunity to significantly improve the current North Riverview Street properties,” says city manager Megan O’Callaghan. “The RFP sought proposals for their rehabilitation, renovation and redevelopment, and we want to be sure that is done in a way that enhances the neighborhood while respecting the historic character of early Dublin and the properties themselves. It’s another step to ensure we’re celebrating our history while we build the future of Dublin.”

is a strong sense of community, and the city of Dublin does a great job putting on outdoor concerts, the Fourth of July parade and fireworks celebrations, the [Dublin] Irish Festival, the Memorial Tournament, the [Downtown Dublin] DORA, a farmers market in the summer, the [Halloween] Spooktacular … really, there is something for everyone!”

The inviting energy of Bridge Park has had an invigorating effect on Historic Dublin, as well, which is just a short walk over the Dublin Link

pedestrian bridge. Residents and vis itors alike have more access to green spaces and activities on the river, like kayak rentals. With options for living, working, dining, shopping, nightlife and regularly scheduled events—such as the new pop-up shop on High Street just south of Bridge Street, which will run through December—it’s no wonder that the popularity of Bridge Park con tinues to rise.

Carrie Everingham, a local real estate agent and longtime Dublin resident,

says it best: “Bridge Park has certainly been a great new addition for Dub lin. We have top-notch restaurants, entertainment, farmers markets—and we don’t have to drive downtown to Columbus to find it anymore.”

As for Everingham’s favorite thing to do at Bridge Park, she recommends biking to North Market and playing a few rounds of pinball or “Ms. PacMan” at 16Bit Bar + Arcade, which has family-friend ly hours where children are welcome.

Whether you have ancestors from the Emerald Isle or just love a good drink, the luck of the Irish is on your side thanks to Dublin’s Celtic Cocktail Trail. Partici pants can take up to 30 days to sample libations at any of the 19 participating spots throughout town. Enjoy craft cocktails—and yummy plates of food to balance them out—at six locations for a commemorative koozie, or visit 12 locations to claim a souvenir T-shirt. Choose from Getaway Brewing Co., 1487 Brewery, Kona Craft Kitchen, Fado Pub & Kitchen, Vaso Rooftop Lounge, Café Istanbul, 101 Beer Kitch en, Market Bar at North Market Bridge Park, North High Brewing, Coast Wine House, Frank & Carl’s, Tucci’s, Beer Barrel, Dublin Village Tavern, J. Liu, Urban Meyer’s Pint House, The Pint Room, Matt the Miller’s and Z Cucina di Spirito.

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

2022 Columbus Duck Race at Riverside Crossing Park, next to Bridge Park

BUSINESS

A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

The city’s development of the biomed sector improves well-being of the business community and the city’s residents alike.

By Jennifer Wray

DUBLIN, OHIO, IS NO SLEEPY SUBURB.

This community is dynamic—and growing. It’s home to more than 4,300 businesses, roughly 50,000 residents and a daily workforce of more than 70,000, and it boasts ample green space, a top-tier school district and an impressive broadband infrastructure.

Dublin upgraded from “village” to “city” status in 1987 and is the most populous of Columbus’ suburbs. With in the city’s business districts are four highway interchanges, making it easy to navigate in, out and around town. Businesses looking to locate in Dublin will find a portfolio that includes more than 9.3 million square feet of Class A and Class B space, more than 2 million square feet of industrial properties, more than 1 million square feet of

medical office facilities, and more than 1,500 acres of undeveloped or infill opportunities, according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Once a farming community, the city’s current infrastructure is designed to meet modern demands. For in stance, Dublin backed Dublink Trans port, a 125-mile, 100-gigabit broad band network that’s 100 times faster than Google Fiber—and it’s available to all employers in the city, free. That fiber connects office buildings to data centers, giving businesses an array of choices when it comes to networks, speed, services and cost. (And, notes Dublin economic development director Jennifer Klus, Dublin City Council is exploring options to bring fiber connec tivity to Dublin residents, too.)

Total economic activity from Dublin employers exceeds $7.8 billion per year—that’s about 8.7 percent of the Columbus area’s $90 billion gross met ropolitan product. That success has gotten attention. In October 2021, the city’s Division of Economic Develop ment was named “Economic Develop ment Organization of the Year” by the International Economic Development Council. Also in 2022, Columbus CEO readers voted Dublin “Best Suburb for Doing Business”—for the 12th year in a row. And Dublin’s coffers show its work is paying off: Last year, the city took in more than $101 million in income taxes, helping fund municipal services, pay for capital improvement projects and maintain existing public infrastructure.

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital

Among Dublin’s corporate base are a substantial proportion of enterprises working in the medical biosciences and health care industries, from pharmaceu tical companies to testing labs, medical claims processing to biotech research, health care IT to direct patient care. In fact, a 2021 accounting of Dublin’s top 45 employers shows that fully one-third are in health care or adjacent industries, including No. 1 Cardinal Health Inc., which had 4,800 full-time equivalent em ployees and ranks No. 15 on the Fortune 500 list. Second on Dublin’s list of top employers is another health care entity: OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, with 2,000 FTEs as of March 2021.

Here, you’ll find hospital systems— presently, that’s OhioHealth and the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, with Mount Carmel working on plans for its own facility—as well as startups such as gene therapy company Andelyn Biosciences, which was spun out of Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Nurx, a San Francisco-based telemedi cine company that selected Dublin for its second location; and Updox, a health care communications platform that was purchased by Denver-based EverCom merce Inc. for $143 million in late 2020. There’s seemingly endless activity happening in the sector. For instance:

• In early August, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center opened Outpatient Care Dublin, a $161.2 million project near State Route 161, U.S. Route 33 and Shier Rings Road that offers patients ad vanced health care in a community setting. The project was made pos sible in part thanks to an economic development agreement between Dublin and Ohio State.

• Also in August, Dublin inked an economic development agreement with pharmacy and hospital services provider CPS Solutions, LLC. The proposed CPS Azina Patient Care Services Center would be CPS’s second location in Dublin and is expected to more than double its number of employees in Dublin, for a total of 90 workers.

• In July, Dublin partnered with job-fair platform Chatstrike for an online re cruiting event focusing on the health care and bioscience sector. The event connected more than 250 employees with potential employers, says Klus.

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“Dublin’s success in the medical biosciences and health care services industry has opened up many oppor tunities for the community,” Klus says. Those opportunities include initiatives such as “Forever Dublin,” which supports residents aging in place, as well as over all higher-quality health care offerings to residents and people who work in Dublin.

“Good economic development includes a mix of large and small busi nesses,” Klus says. “Both drive eco nomic stability and growth by providing valuable services, products and tax dollars that directly contribute to the health of the community. Dublin fosters all business development with re sources like the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center and the Small Business Devel opment Center, partnerships with Rev1 and the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and workforce initiatives that compa nies can use to their benefit.”

DASI Simulations uses cloud-based artificial intelligence and computer vision software to help doctors deploy artificial heart valves. The company was spun out of research by Laksh mi Dasi, Ph.D., at Ohio State. DASI Simulations moved to Dublin from Rev1 Ventures’ startup studio in January 2022. Founder and CEO Teri Sirset says Dublin’s convenient freeway access and broadband capabilities were attractive, but so was the critical mass of other health care tech entities already pres ent in Dublin. “It’s an amazing, growing city, and we knew that it was a tech hub and that we wanted to be near other like-minded companies,” she says.

It didn’t hurt that most of DASI Simu lations’ 15 full-time employees, includ ing COO Sean McKibben (a former top Mount Carmel Health exec) and Dasi, its cofounder, live in Dublin—the latter do ing so even though he’s now a Georgia Tech faculty member. “This is a great place for young talent to live and have a family,” says Sirset, who splits her time between Central Ohio and Los Angeles.

Dublin native and Chatstrike founder Cameron Levy has lived in New York City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Moscow, London, Boston and, most recently, San Francisco. He returned to the Colum bus area for a visit and connected with “founders, investors and folks in the tech space,” he says. “I was blown

by the ecosystem here and wanted to be a part of the community and contrib ute to it.” So he brought Chatstrike, the world’s first asynchronous hiring events platform, to Dublin. The city “goes above and beyond to support their employers to create an amazing com munity,” Levy says, noting that the city’s hosting of the Chatstrike hiring event in July is a testament to its commitment.

“The ability to hire and fill open jobs quickly is a cornerstone for any thriv ing community,” he adds. “With each hiring event it hosts, Dublin can help all of its employers at once. These companies attract candidates that they simply wouldn’t be able to without Dublin’s support.”

Dan Like, chief administrative officer of ambulatory services at the Wexner Medical Center, says that when Ohio State set out to expand its presence with Outpatient Care Dublin, it sought a highly accessible, highly visible location that would enable it to offer services it hadn’t previously offered in the community, such as advanced imme diate care, surgery facilities, CT and MRI equipment, and more—and to have it all in one site, instead of scattered citywide. They eventually landed on a 35-acre site that, in its first phase, has a 272,000-square-foot building (with plenty of room to grow) and 450 em ployees. As of late August, the location was seeing 900 patients daily—“which is quite exceptional,” Like says.

Like not only helped lead the Outpa tient Care Dublin project, he’s also lived in Dublin since 1982. The city has “done a good job of bringing in new business es and retaining existing businesses,” he says. “The residents, the employers, the school base were all important factors in terms of why Dublin was part of our strategic plan and an area we wanted to invest in.”

Klus says the city is ready to take on whatever comes next. “As the mod ern workplace continues to change, Dublin is well-positioned to be the global community of choice for prospective residents and businesses alike,” she says. And folks like Sirset, of DASI Sim ulations, are on board. She anticipates that DASI Simulations will remain in Dub lin for many years to come. “We want to be part of something bigger than us. … Dublin is growing, and we want to be part of that growth,” she says.

LIFESTYLE

A PARK FOR EVERY PURPOSE

Dublin’s robust parks and recreation system offers something for everyone.

By Peter Tonguette

DUBLIN RESIDENT Neha Dadhich makes ample use of her city’s parks system.

Dadhich, an artist who moved from California to the city about a decade ago, spends a lot of time outdoors with her two children, ages 2 and 8.

“My kids love the nature trails and using the playgrounds,” Dadhich says. “We also participate in some events, like the concerts in Scioto Park. … We really do enjoy having long walks in all the neighborhood parks.”

Dadhich says that the parks system is a boon for health and wellness— and, important for her profession, an aid in artistic inspiration, too. “While we’re visiting those parks and spend ing some time, I do some sketching,” she says.

Even those less artistically inclined, though, find plenty to appreciate in one of Central Ohio’s most robust parks and recreation departments, which over sees 64 parks, including Amberleigh Community Park, Coffman Park, Indian Run Meadows Park and Scioto Park; 140 miles of paved multiuse paths; and countless other ways to stay active and have fun in the process.

Just ask the city’s residents, who, in a recent community survey, were overwhelmingly enthusiastic in their assessment: 99 percent of residents expressed satisfaction with the parks and recreation department.

“We continue to seek their input and look for ways to enhance our parks

and recreation services to meet their needs,” says director of parks and recreation Matt Earman. “There’s some thing for everyone to enjoy, and we’re thrilled that they do.”

Resident input continues to be solic ited for the soon-to-be-published 2022 Master Plan, which will incorporate feedback on parks, pools, amenities, programming at the Dublin Community

Recreation Center and more. “Dublin is well-known for its comprehensive parks and recreation system that is a result of past planning and visioning efforts,” says Earman, noting that changing city demographics and needs will impact planning going forward.

“This plan will assess Dublin’s cur rent state and ultimately be a roadmap for the next five to 10 years to ensure

Clockwise from above, the playground and basketball and tennis courts at Donegal Cliffs Park; a family enjoys Dublin Community Recreation Center programming; pickleball is a popular sport in the city

the community’s needs continue to be met,” he says.

Notwithstanding future additions and improvements to its parks and recreation system, Dublin rightly takes pride in its present offerings. Let’s start with the parks themselves, which not only allow residents to soak in the nat ural splendor of the area, but to partake in a plethora of activities, too.

“No matter what your interests are, you’ll find something in one of our Dub lin parks,” says Earman, pointing to fish ing, canoeing, kayaking and ice-skating among the activities one can participate in at particular parks. Public art, rental areas and natural play spaces are also in abundance throughout the parks, he adds. “I think we offer depth and breadth of recreation options that can’t be found anywhere else,” he says.

Providing the glue that connects the parks—and enables residents to easily travel from one to the next—is a network of multiuse paths. “This continuous path system connects all 64 parks, every subdivision develop ment, retail stores and office buildings,” Earman says.

Recreation opportunities are in evidence throughout the community.

In 2021, the Dublin Community Pool North, in Earlington Park, received a renovation. “The pool features a 25yard competition lap pool, a 9-meter dive platform, a climbing wall, two water slides, a leisure pool and a baby pool,” Earman says. The Community Pool South offers another outdoor option. For those who crave some splashing in the off-season, indoor leisure and lap pools are part of the recreation center.

Leaders try to keep residents of mul tiple age groups and athletic interests active with offerings including the Dub lin Skate Park on Commerce Parkway. Built in 2016, the park supplanted an earlier skate park on Coffman Park Drive that was more than a decade-anda-half old. Designed to accommodate both skateboarding and rollerblading, the park welcomes newbies and pros alike. “It’s great to see the variety of people who use the park, show off their skills and learn new ones,” Earman says. “It’s also fun to watch the skaters teach each other.”

These days, it seems everybody is trying their hand at pickleball, and Dublin has taken notice of enthusiasm for what might be called a trending

GETTING AROUND TOWN

“Dublin is committed to having options for folks who either don’t want to be in a car … or they don’t have access to a car,” says Jeannie Willis, director of transportation and mobility. In May, the city launched the pilot for its e-scooter program. Those 18 and older can rent e-scoot ers at stations, predominantly located in the Bridge Park and Historic Dublin areas, and use them within designated bound aries. An app allows users to unlock the vehicle and pay for time to use it. “Then you are ready to roll,” says Willis, adding that residents are not only using them for recreation but as a form of transportation.

To provide additional trans portation sans auto, a bike-share program, encompassing e-bikes and traditional bikes, is planned for later this year, and a mobility hub at the Dublin Community Recreation Center is in the works.

Also helping to keep the city moving is the Dublin Connector shuttle service, which provides fare-free rides for residents 55 and older, those with disabilities and workers employed in Dublin. “You can get a ride to where you need to go,” Willis says. To disseminate information about the shuttle service and other mobility options, the Dublin Mo bility Concierge sets up a station on the east plaza of Riverside Crossing Park on select Fridays.

sport: The Dublin Pickleball Courts, also on Commerce Parkway, offer eight outdoor courts, while the recreation center boasts an additional six. “The fastest-growing sport in America is truly popular in Dublin as well,” Earman says. “Dublin loves pickleball!”

And Dublin residents love their parks right back.

Says Dadhich: “We had some friends coming from out of the state …. and we took them to visit the parks first, before visiting [other] places.”

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

Dublin Community Pool North

HOUSING

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Apartments, condos, single-family homes and senior living options allow residents to call Dublin home for life.

By Mandy Shunnarah

YOUR HOME SHOULD make you feel like the best version of yourself, especially while you’re in the com munity with your neighbors. With the housing shortage in the Columbus metro area, it can feel daunting to find that special place where you can be at home. Yet many people have found that Dublin has something for everyone.

If you haven’t visited in a while, to day’s Dublin is bigger and better than ever. Cathy Kuhn grew up in Dublin and continues to live there with her family—with good reason.

“Dublin has changed a lot since I was a kid,” Kuhn says. “I really appre ciate that Dublin, as a community, continues to thrive and is responsive to the needs of the residents.”

With various amenities throughout the area, anyone can find something to love.

Whether you’re a single young professional, a couple with a growing family, an empty nester or a senior looking to enjoy the golden years, there are new developments to fit a variety of lifestyles and living situations, even in the current housing market.

While many areas in and around Columbus are experiencing a shortage of available homes, Dublin is thriving.

“Dublin is one of the few areas of Columbus that can still offer fresh, newly built homes, because there is still land to build on,” says Carrie Everingham, a real estate agent and longtime Dublin resident. “A lot of the other popular areas are more land-

locked and therefore have fewer areas available for new construction.”

No matter what type of home you’re looking for, there’s a development to suit your needs.

“I see buyers of all sorts moving into Dublin new builds,” Everingham says. “Everyone from young professionals at Bridge Park to families in Jerome Village—and more empty nesters are deciding to stay in Dublin as well.”

One element boosting Dublin’s desirability is the supportive environ ment for businesses. That means job opportunities, as well as a diverse community of neighbors.

“We have many corporations head quartered in and around Dublin, and those businesses pull employees from around the country,” says Michaela

PHOTO:

Dublin is known for grand homes, but other options are growing fast.

Grandey, a Dublin resident and founder of real estate team the Grandey Group with Rolls Realty.

On top of that, the city is responsive to the needs of the community by as sessing residents’ highest priorities.

“Dublin contracted with Urban Partners to conduct the Dublin Area Housing Study in late 2021, and we’re still in the process of completing this two-phase study,” says Jennifer Rauch, the city’s director of planning. “The study will provide data, analysis and strategies to help inform Dublin’s role in addressing the housing needs within Central Ohio. Results from the study will be used to inform the upcoming update to the Dublin Community Plan and other associated city plans and policies.”

If you’re looking for apartments and condos, look no further than Bridge Park, a newer development that inter mixes luxury living with nightlife, dining, retail, and health and wellness facilities.

“Young professionals will appreci ate the amenities of Bridge Park and Historic Dublin,” Everingham says. “They can grab groceries at the North

Market to make a quick dinner, visit coffee shops [and] the library, all within walking distance of each other.”

If a larger standalone home is your style—especially if you have children— check out Jerome Village.

“Growing families are always looking for top-rated schools, and we have

them here in Dublin. They will also enjoy the parks, the Dublin recreation center, two public swimming pools, and all of the planned festivities—in cluding our Dublin Irish Festival and the parades downtown,” Grandey says. “There’s always something to do in Dublin throughout all seasons!”

For Kuhn, a new home in one of Dub lin’s many premier subdivisions was the perfect choice for her family.

“We live in Riviera,” she says. “I love our community because it is located by three excellent schools, has mature greens and is fairly central. … It is easy to get anywhere.” Featuring three- and four-bedroom homes starting in the $400,000s, this community on the north side of town was built on the site of a former golf course.

If you’re an empty nester who wants to live alongside other people at a simi lar stage in life and have some fun now that the kids have moved out, Dublin offers a variety of options.

“I see more and more empty nesters deciding to stay in Dublin,” Everingham says. “Whether it’s to keep close to

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

Tree-lined streets give neighborhoods character.

family or just wanting to keep enjoying their Dublin lifestyle, they’re sure to find housing to suit their needs. They can get that downtown feel in a mid-rise condo, or simply move to a smaller, maintenance-free version of their be loved suburban home.”

“I think it says a lot about the commu nity when our empty nesters sell their homes to families looking to raise their young children, and then those empty nesters remain in Dublin,” Grandey adds.

For nature lovers of all ages, Dublin does not disappoint. Filled with oldgrowth trees, the city lends itself to outdoor adventures.

“Dublin is friendly to those who love the outdoors with its many parks and green spaces and more than 135 miles of connected bike paths,” Grandey says.

Everingham couldn’t agree more. New residents are wowed by the easily acces sible natural amenities and the ease of commuting on foot or by bike.

“More than 50,000 residents and 4,300 businesses call Dublin home,” Rauch

says. “In our 2022 Community Attitudes Survey, 99 percent of residents said Dub lin is an excellent or good place to live, which was up from 98 percent in 2016.”

City leaders aren’t content to rest on those laurels, however.

“We’re focused on achieving balance for all the needs of our diverse commu nity,” Rauch says. “We have nationally

ranked schools alongside a Forever Dublin program that offers resources to help residents 55 and over to remain in their homes. We’re fortunate to have engaged residents who partner with us to build a flourishing community, and we’ve put a concentrated effort into providing the best quality of life and environment where they can thrive.”

Private

BENEFITS

Private

Home Equity Line of Credit

BENEFITS

PHOTO: COURTESY CITY OF DUBLIN

EDUCATION

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

An

STUDENTS AT DUBLIN City Schools’ Emerald Campus have access to some thing that many other public school students in the area don’t: an external campus with nontraditional learning environments that equip them with di vergent educational opportunities and enriching experiences.

Formerly a corporate Verizon build ing across from Dublin Coffman High School, the structure that now houses the Emerald Campus has been renovat ed and transformed into a cutting-edge learning facility in response to student needs. Its mission is to provide each student with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a vocation or pro fession and succeed in life, regardless of the obstacles they may face.

In 2017, Dublin City Schools paid $9.4 million to acquire the 118,000-square-

By Kevin Capron

foot structure before investing an addi tional $10 million in refurbishments for the first two levels of the property.

The Emerald Campus Design Team was led by campus director Kristy Venne, alumni director Keyburn Grady and facility operations director Chele na McConnell.

A significant portion of the collabo ration spaces seen throughout Emerald Campus can be directly attributed to the involvement of students. “Gathering student input was a top priority,” says Venne. “We heard many young people comment about the need for flexible learning spaces that encourage collab oration, are comfortable and include natural lighting.” During the winters of 2017 and 2018, students shared their thoughts and ambitions with the design team, resulting in the growth of con

cept walls and collaborative thought webs mounted on them.

“Students requested a Starbucks or similar café space, which we provided,” Venne says. “They also desired a more colorful space with technology incor porated in a meaningful way, and in re sponse to this, we matched bright wall colors to way-finding and color-coded common spaces on each floor.”

Many elements distinguish Emer ald Campus from traditional schools, particularly its 12 experiential learning academies that enable students to explore areas of interest and assess prospective career paths.

“When we thought about what new academies would be introduced, we were thinking about several things: stu dent interest, workforce demand, how we can prepare students for their next

PHOTO: COURTESY DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS

The Emerald Campus of Dublin City Schools

step, what they are interested in and making sure there is access for any stu dent who wants to participate,” says Lori Mesi, Emerald Campus administrator and coordinator of career academies.

Dublin Business Academy, Cyber Academy, BioMed Academy and Digital Media Academy are just a few exempla ry educational opportunities available to the 600 to 700 students participating each year. “Allowing students access to this content is about the pathway mindset,” Mesi says. “We always try to maintain an aspect of agility and flexi bility, and we really want to make sure students have access to opportunities that are going to best prepare them for postsecondary pathways.”

Dublin City Schools is dedicated to offering specialized educational programs that address the require ments of students who might succeed more when exposed to nontraditional learning environments. Two alterna tive learning programs, the Bridge and PATHS (Postsecondary Access to Transition after High School), are of fered at Emerald Campus by educator Mark Eatherton.

The Bridge is an online credit-re covery program that utilizes a low student-to-teacher ratio to increase engagement and success. “Most of the students who attend the Bridge still attend their home high school,” says Eatherton. “It’s similar to the experien tial learning academies in that sense; [students] only come to the Bridge for a block of time.” Students typically spend one year at the Bridge; throughout that time, they are assessed for their overall achievement and where they are with their course credit recovery.

“We have visual and wellness activi ties, service-learning components and career readiness activities,” says Eath erton. “Those are some of the ways we’re able to pull students into experi ences where they’re not just exclusively working on online curriculum.”

PATHS was developed for individuals ages 18 to 22 with special needs who have already met their graduation re quirements. “The families have chosen to defer that diploma so they can exer cise their right to have school program ming continue with that student until they reach the age of 22,” says Eath

erton. Three different classrooms utilize three intervention special ists with their own teams. “Those classrooms are based upon the level of independence, vocational and employability skills, and the needs the student has,” Eatherton says.

Several homegrown businesses have been established within the PATHS program, including the Dublin Barkery, an on-site work-study where students make and sell dog treats. Between vocational activities, such as selling PATHS products like scent ed candles or sugar hand scrubs, and community job placements involving job coaching, students learn many job and life skills.

“Every student has transition goals,” Eatherton says. “Now that they’ve met their academic goals, let’s find those transitional goals which will help that student transi tion into their next phase of life.”

AFTER THE DIPLOMA

For students who opt to attend college, two programs offer local options.

OU Dublin Extension Campus

Ohio University ventured north in 2011 with the Dublin Extension Campus. Onsite graduate programs are offered through the Heritage College of Osteopath ic Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Professions, College of Business, College of Fine Arts and George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. The latter four programs comprise the 86,000-square-foot Dublin Integrated Education Center, which opened in 2015 and partners with area high schools and colleges, including Columbus State Community College. The OU Dublin campus was established in collaboration with the city of Dublin, with support from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and OhioHealth, the Heritage College’s major education partner. The 15-acre campus was part of a larger commitment of 96.5 acres in Dublin’s West Innovation District, where the city and university intend to facilitate a community with office, research and manufacturing space.

CSCC Dublin Center

The Dublin Center of Columbus State Community College opened in 1979 on Shamrock Court and, in 2015, relocated to the Dublin Integrated Education Center in a partnership with Ohio University. The Dublin Center offers more than a dozen certificate and associate degree programs, all of which may be completed on campus or online. Its College Credit Plus program helps seventh-grade students through high school seniors save money on their future higher education pursuits. These courses are offered at the student’s home school, on Columbus State’s campus or online. The tuition-free cours es meet high school requirements and allow students to earn college credit before graduating high school.

PHOTO:

Hands-on classes at the Emerald Campus

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