The Columbus Dispatch

Value City complex, vacant for 13 years, to be developed

Plans to build affordable housing, employment hub

- Jim Weiker

A Columbus developer is looking to build affordable housing and an employment hub on the site of the vacant Value City complex on Westervill­e and Innis roads on the Northeast Side.

Brad Dehays, owner of Connect Realty, has applied to annex the 27-acre Clinton Township site into the city of

Columbus in anticipati­on of the developmen­t.

“We’ve had a plan we’ve been looking at, something we’ve wanted to do once we found the right property,” Dehays

said. “We’re excited about the prospect of making this property productive again for central Ohio.”

Dehays bought the site for $4.5 million in February 2020 from Ibnu Taymiyah Masjid and Islamic Center, who had hoped to convert the property into an Islamic shopping, worship and cultural hub.

The site includes two connected buildings including about 480,000 square feet. When a second story in one of the buildings is counted, the square footage rises to about 670,000 square

“We’ve had a plan we’ve been looking at, something we’ve wanted to do once we found the right property. We’re excited about the prospect of making this property productive again for central Ohio.”

Brad Dehays Connect Realty owner

 ?? DORAL CHENOWETH/COLUMBUS DISPATCH ?? The 27-acre Value City Department Store site on Westervill­e Road would be used for housing and an employment center under a Columbus developer's plan.
DORAL CHENOWETH/COLUMBUS DISPATCH The 27-acre Value City Department Store site on Westervill­e Road would be used for housing and an employment center under a Columbus developer's plan.

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