DELAWARE, Ohio — Central Ohio's population is increasing at a faster rate than previously thought.
According to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's latest report, Delaware County's relative growth is expected to soar by 80% by 2050.
Amid the urgent need for more housing options, the city of Delaware is turning to the past to make room for the future.
Those who grew up in Delaware likely know what used to be inside the now-vacant industrial building at 15 Flax Street. It is the site of the former Delaware Chair Company.
That’s where many locals were employed making all sorts of chairs, including rocking chairs costing anywhere from $3 to $10 back in the early 1900s.
Evidence of its history is tucked safely away at the Delaware County Historical Society.
“A place like this is heaven,” said Dave Prichard, a volunteer at the historical society.
Preserving history is a passion of the society's dedicated volunteers. They said it's more important than ever, calling the recent growth already in Delaware "overwhelming."
And Delaware’s economic development director uses the same word himself to describe it.
“It's overwhelming quite honestly,” he said. “We want to be a community that's well thought out.”
He explained revitalizing historic buildings is nothing new in Delaware. And this spot on Flax Street, close to the river and downtown, is the next big project of its kind.
“The Mill on Flax project was a former chair factory. It's actually technically still zoned industrial,” he said.
Part of the strategy to create more housing, he said, is utilizing all different types of zones. This historic factory will soon be home to 162 market-rate apartments.
“One and two bedroom mostly and then 7,000 square feet of office space and 5,000 square feet of retail restaurant space.”
Columbus-based developer RiverWest is taking on the project. Construction has already started to clear the land around the old factory.
Those who have lived here all their lives, hope the historic building sparks curiosity in new residents to learn about – and appreciate the past.
“We never want to be negative. We want to welcome people we always want people to feel comfortable here in Delaware,” said Nancy Flemming, another volunteer from the historical society. “And perhaps if we educate them enough and tell them about what we know about the history of it maybe it will be infectious and they will learn it too.”
This is one of several different housing projects planned across Delaware. Right now, the city is taking a closer look at its south-west corridor.