Thomas & Company recently had a chance to talk with New Albany’s city planners and we are excited to share a few changes on the horizon around town. As New Albany continues to see such an uptick in its population, it’s time to update our infrastructure in order to accommodate all of our residents. Over 20 years in the making, these smart, resident-focused improvements will perfectly blend aesthetics and functionality and help New Albany continue to grow as a bustling, thriving place to call home.
Rose Run Creek Improvements
The Rose Run Creek and Park has been a beautiful feature of New Albany, but also a natural barrier splitting the community into separate parts. This next city project is tackling this problem head-on by building a bridge for foot and bike traffic near Market Square. This will not only integrate two parts of the community in a meaningful way, but also allow residents easily traverse the town on foot and decrease the number of cars driving and parking nearby.
There is also going to be a beautiful birch tree grove added, creating a picturesque destination which bikers, walkers, and photographers will love to visit! And for New Albany’s cycling enthusiasts, there will be cycling “fix it†hubs along the Velo Loop, complete with bike pumps, water bottle fillers, benches, and bike racks.
In addition to those exciting improvements, the Dublin-Grandville Road corridor is getting a makeover; the road will be narrowed and separated by a tree lane with a Velo Loop on each side, incorporating the area into New Albany’s signature style and slowing down traffic as it enters the city.
School Campus Library Connection
Anyone who has spent time in or around Market Square has seen a lot of changes over the past few years; mostly, a ton of local businesses have been popping up, with even more on the way (Freshii, Nosh, and Johnson’s Ice Cream are all eateries opening early this summer!). There have also been 127 luxury apartments being built in the heart of the area by Market & Main. These 648-2,057 square foot units will be available starting in July. Now that we’ve built up the shopping and livability, the next phase of improvements will bring some much needed space for locals to relax, gather and better enjoy this central area.
Firstly, a few changes are planned in order to more cohesively integrate the New Albany School campus and the New Albany Public Library. They will be creating a generous plaza between school campus and library, complete with tree lawns, ample sitting areas, and green spaces. They will also be narrowing Dublin-Granville Road in this area to make it safer for students to access the library and Market Square.
Along with this idyllic green space, a new amphitheater is being built next to the McCoy Center. There are already plans for the New Albany Symphony to host a summer concert series here and, with three theaters so close to one another, talks of introducing a theater festival down the road! In addition to the amphitheater, there is going to be a tranquil garden and fountain space near the library, and a natural play area for kids, adding lots of vibrancy to this intimate space.
Conclusions
Get ready for more construction because these community projects are breaking ground later this year and expected to continue throughout 2019. Living through all of the ongoing construction can truly be a pain; however, seeing the fantastic changes on their way to town makes the inconvenience worthwhile.
New Albany is slowly morphing into a more urban city, with improved amenities that encourage residents to enjoy the city center and support our local businesses. At the same time, the city planners were careful to preserve our city’s natural beauty and enrich our communal spaces. As the street traffic slows down and foot traffic grows, residents will love the scenic walks, intimate gather areas, and upscale shopping. We can’t wait to see these plans become a reality!