Developer buys Geauga Lake land, pronounces Menards coming to Bainbridge
4 min read
Pursuing an amicable decision of licensed motion above zoning with Bainbridge Township, Industrial Enterprise Properties LLC has ordered the 377-acre house that was the previous property of Geauga Lake Amusement Park and Sea Atmosphere of Ohio in Bainbridge and Aurora.
The to begin with company to be factor of The Geauga Lake District will likely be Menards, a nationwide family development retailer, which is able to occupy 24 acres and can open up in early 2022.
The Menards retail outlet will signify a multi-million-dollar expense within the district and would be the retailer’s third retail retailer in northeast Ohio and the corporate’s to begin with on the east facet of Cleveland. Present retailers shut by are located in Cuyahoga Falls and Brimfield, and a distribution and producing facility is deliberate for Ravenna.
>> Additional:Bainbridge, Aurora JEDD opens Geauga Lake land to redevelopment
Bainbridge Township Trustee Jeff Markley talked about the authorized movement was on no account confrontational and was required primarily as a result of the township’s board of zoning appeals didn’t need to approve giant variances constructing it possible to assemble the Menards.
“We went into it understanding we’d work it out,” he spelled out. “Between the township and ICP, we knew we ended up heading to get points attained.”
The variances at problem ended up an individual allowing growth of an enormous field store on the home and an extra permitting a multi-story residential growing with no skilled or retail on the primary floor, he described.
On Sept. 28, Bainbridge and Aurora the 2 unanimously accredited the event of a Joint Financial Enchancment District for the web website that ends in an income and tax sharing association regarding the communities and telephone requires Aurora to supply h2o and sewer utilities to the home.
“ICP was instrumental in facilitating the finalization of a joint monetary enchancment district settlement regarding Bainbridge and Aurora, which lays the groundwork for the long term redevelopment of the Geauga Lake and Sea Planet property in Bainbridge,” talked about Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin. “I’m completely happy that the corporate has now efficiently obtained the house, and my hope is that the land can, as quickly as but once more, flip into an financial producer to revenue the entire area.”
In accordance to the consent judgement entry from the Geauga County Common Pleas Courtroom, the capabilities intend to amend the settlement, including a landscaping program for Menards and extra data within the potential as methods grow to be clearer.
“It’s with a glorious religion perception and intent of the capabilities that a way more thorough CJE with way more detailed reveals relating to buying the stability of the property will likely be submitted to the courtroom for acceptance inside simply someplace round one specific hundred twenty (120) instances from the day of the submitting of this CJE,” states the judgement entry printed by Geauga County Common Pleas Resolve Carolyn Paschke.
Bainbridge trustees additionally launched a press release saying the general public personal partnership in between the township and ICP.
“The board is conscious that the home will certainly not be the exact same however are aware of the tens of 1000’s of individuals that commemorate the heritage and hold the reminiscences of Geauga Lake and Sea World alive on social media,” reads data launch from the trustees. “Bainbridge is absolutely commited to reclaim this discarded home and assist to generate a tribute to what was on the time a beloved place for thus a number of.”
The residence will likely be rebranded as The Geauga Lake District with elements of favor and design that may fork out homage to the background of the positioning and the previous amusement park, which operated from 1887-2007.
“We’re reigniting this legendary landmark,” claimed Chris Semarjian, proprietor of ICP. “The redevelopment of this website won’t solely develop a totally functioning district precisely the place folks right this moment can reside, operate, dine and recreate, however it can even have a broader impression on financial development and place creation for the area.”
The Geauga Lake District will embody issues like retail, locations to eat, residential and different business employs. The development of a brand new Geauga Lake Boulevar will be part of Route 43 to Depot Freeway and can factor a curler coaster fashion function within the median.
“Many people that grew up in northeast Ohio have fond reminiscences of the park, and it was very important to our progress group, the trustees and the mayor [of Aurora] that we respect the extraordinary historic previous of the home and get glorious therapy in creating design and magnificence parts just like the signage, landscaping, lighting and different public enhancements on the website,” talked about Chris Salata, ICP’s foremost working officer. “With larger residential density ready for our residence and Pulte’s endeavor beneath design in Aurora, the need for business clients will likely be potent.”
ICP is actively promoting the net web page to shops, eating places, residential and different enterprise shoppers.
Reporter Bob Gaetjens will be achieved at 330-541-9440, [email protected] and @bobgaetjens_rc.
