Westerville-New Albany 605 Corridor (Columbus, Gahanna, Delaware: new home, neighborhoods, buying)

[vabound2012]

What is the current development of the Westerville-New Albany 605 corridor? Is it very busy/congested? Does it still feel like country on the Westerville side or a lot of urban sprawl?

[wrightflyer]

Not sure where you are getting Westerville at with the N/S OH-605 corridor. It sits a couple miles east of the Hoover Reservoir which acts as a natural boundary between Westerville and West Albany neighborhoods of Columbus, New Albany proper and unincorporated Plain and Harlem Townships. It also sits about 1-2 miles east of the eastern border of Westerville City School's zone.

But, in regards to development patterns, most seemed situated primary west of OH-605 and staying primarily in Plain Township or Columbus or New Albany annexed portions of that township. And that observation is from 3 or 4 years ago when I last lived in Gahanna, so I am certain there has been even more development since then.

North of Smothers Road into Harlem Township, the rural character is still there but most new homes are large estate lots, so not a lot in terms of new tract homes (think MI Homes, Ryan Homes or Pulte Homes developments). That may be due to township zoning rules in part because the area would do well for that style development being in Big Walnut Local Schools. May also be the builders just have not made it that far yet either.

In Plain Township, almost all areas annexed to City of Columbus attend Columbus Public Schools (zoned Beechcroft HS). Keep this in mind if buying west of OH-605 in Plain Township. Some lots may still be zoned New Albany Local or Westerville Local (Westerville depending on how far west you go). But pretty much all new or recent residential developments in the areas south of Walnut Street, west of OH-605 and as far south as at least the OH-161 expressway are CPS. Some new developments off Lee Road, such as Hoover Farms, are Westerville Schools. The lines here stagger based on property and developments between mainly Westerville and Columbus City Schools.

If you want to check on your own, the Franklin County auditors website should have zone maps by property address. You can also call the local school district's office (in this case, Columbus, New Albany, and Westerville) to get their input as well.

[vabound2012]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

Not sure where you are getting Westerville at with the N/S OH-605 corridor. It sits a couple miles east of the Hoover Reservoir which acts as a natural boundary between Westerville and West Albany neighborhoods of Columbus, New Albany proper and unincorporated Plain and Harlem Townships. It also sits about 1-2 miles east of the eastern border of Westerville City School's zone.

But, in regards to development patterns, most seemed situated primary west of OH-605 and staying primarily in Plain Township or Columbus or New Albany annexed portions of that township. And that observation is from 3 or 4 years ago when I last lived in Gahanna, so I am certain there has been even more development since then.

North of Smothers Road into Harlem Township, the rural character is still there but most new homes are large estate lots, so not a lot in terms of new tract homes (think MI Homes, Ryan Homes or Pulte Homes developments). That may be due to township zoning rules in part because the area would do well for that style development being in Big Walnut Local Schools. May also be the builders just have not made it that far yet either.

In Plain Township, almost all areas annexed to City of Columbus attend Columbus Public Schools (zoned Beechcroft HS). Keep this in mind if buying west of OH-605 in Plain Township. Some lots may still be zoned New Albany Local or Westerville Local (Westerville depending on how far west you go). But pretty much all new or recent residential developments in the areas south of Walnut Street, west of OH-605 and as far south as at least the OH-161 expressway are CPS. Some new developments off Lee Road, such as Hoover Farms, are Westerville Schools. The lines here stagger based on property and developments between mainly Westerville and Columbus City Schools.

If you want to check on your own, the Franklin County auditors website should have zone maps by property address. You can also call the local school district's office (in this case, Columbus, New Albany, and Westerville) to get their input as well.

Thank you. Was actually interested in Harlem Township area and just south of it, as well as north. Cross street Bevelheimer to be more specific. It is Westerville in regards to address so said Westerville in OP.

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by vabound2012

Thank you. Was actually interested in Harlem Township area and just south of it, as well as north. Cross street Bevelheimer to be more specific. It is Westerville in regards to address so said Westerville in OP.

Got it. The Bevelhymer(?) Road corridor east of OH-605 is all New Albany or unincorporated Plain Township. When Bevelhymer Road turns 90 degrees to the west and intersects OH-605, that is at the Plain Township/Harlem Township line. Platted neighborhoods such as Upper Clarenton and New Albany Links are in New Albany city limits and New Albany Plains Local Schools.

Not sure what Harlem Township's mailing address is, but it could be New Albany, Westerville or Columbus? Being in Delaware County, it is likely Westerville as you mentioned. I believe all of OH-605 on east towards Bevelhymer is all New Albany Schools. North of the township line, Harlem Township is all Big Walnut Schools. Hoover Reservoir itself up there west of Harlem Township is actually Genoa Township, which is Westerville addressed and attends Big Walnut Schools with a small Delaware County section east of the reservoir attending Westerville Schools (zoned Westerville North HS).

One thing wonky about Columbus, especially this area but others as well, is mailing addresses don't always match up to the local jurisdiction of services you received. You may have a Westerville address but attend Columbus Public Schools and Columbus Police/Fire. Other portions, such as Harlem Township may be Delaware County services (County Sherriff and local Fire/EMS) despite having a Westerville address, which is a city in both Franklin and Delaware Counties. The combinations can be quite lengthy. Thus, you want to be sure of one, which county you are in, and two, verify by using the county auditor site for the desired residence and verify local services such as police, fire and schools, etc.

[vabound2012]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

Got it. The Bevelhymer(?) Road corridor east of OH-605 is all New Albany or unincorporated Plain Township. When Bevelhymer Road turns 90 degrees to the west and intersects OH-605, that is at the Plain Township/Harlem Township line. Platted neighborhoods such as Upper Clarenton and New Albany Links are in New Albany city limits and New Albany Plains Local Schools.

Not sure what Harlem Township's mailing address is, but it could be New Albany, Westerville or Columbus? Being in Delaware County, it is likely Westerville as you mentioned. I believe all of OH-605 on east towards Bevelhymer is all New Albany Schools. North of the township line, Harlem Township is all Big Walnut Schools. Hoover Reservoir itself up there west of Harlem Township is actually Genoa Township, which is Westerville addressed and attends Big Walnut Schools with a small Delaware County section east of the reservoir attending Westerville Schools (zoned Westerville North HS).

One thing wonky about Columbus, especially this area but others as well, is mailing addresses don't always match up to the local jurisdiction of services you received. You may have a Westerville address but attend Columbus Public Schools and Columbus Police/Fire. Other portions, such as Harlem Township may be Delaware County services (County Sherriff and local Fire/EMS) despite having a Westerville address, which is a city in both Franklin and Delaware Counties. The combinations can be quite lengthy. Thus, you want to be sure of one, which county you are in, and two, verify by using the county auditor site for the desired residence and verify local services such as police, fire and schools, etc.

Thank you. I appreciate this info.

[Weaubleau]

Yeah the Columbus area can be weird when it comes to actual city limits vs what city your mail says you live in vs school district etc.... there are some areas that have one mailing address, different city limits and your kids go to a third school district that is different from the first two. Not sure why this unnecessary complexity exists in Columbus and hardly any other place in the US. Halloween is also a cluster in Central Ohio, with some suburbs having trick or treat one day, others a different day, and none of those days are on the day that is actually Halloween, October 31. Where I live now, all local municipalities just have trick or treat on October 31, what a concept!...once again, why the complexity?

[GraniteStater]

It appears that New Albany, OH is one of the wealthier places in the Midwest, I haven't been in the area recently so there must have been a good amount of development in the past 20-30 years.

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

It appears that New Albany, OH is one of the wealthier places in the Midwest, I haven't been in the area recently so there must have been a good amount of development in the past 20-30 years.

After 2000, the place exploded with development. New Albany proper is very wealthy and even the newer Columbus subdivisions in CPS or Westerville Schools are at least middle class.

Part of this was Wexner wanting to build a town. Other parts were Easton. Yet others were corporate offices moving that direction, namely A&F moving their corporate HQ to Smith's Mill Road. New Albany has also annexed further and further east as farmland off OH-161, which is now expressway grade between the outer-belt and Granville, has grown with large warehouse and data center operations. Facebook has a major data center off OH-161.