Delaware City Council, school board hear housing, development updates

DELAWARE, Ohio — City Council and the school board held a joint meeting March 9, receiving updates on housing pipelines, economic development and the school district’s strategic plan, with no formal actions taken.

City planner Paul Griffith presented a housing pipeline update showing 1,273 unbuilt single-family units and 1,364 multi-family units approved across the city. Most new approvals in the past year occurred in the O’Lantanji school district, with one significant project in Buckeye Valley.

“Since the last time we had a joint meeting, we have not approved any new single-family or multi-family residential developments within the city of the Delaware school district,” Griffith said.

Griffith noted that many large multi-family projects take years to complete, citing Tara Alta, which has 37 remaining units and has been under construction for 20 years.

In 2025, the city issued occupancy for 526 new single-family homes and 302 multi-family and condo units. As of Feb. 13, 161 single-family units and 774 multi-family and condo units were under construction.

Economic development director Nick Langford highlighted major industrial and commercial projects. A $280 million PPG expansion is underway, and Gateway Commerce Park, a 135- to 200-acre biotech and advanced manufacturing site, is on the state’s radar.

“One just came across my desk today that we’re going to submit for,” Langford said, adding the project could generate 500 to 1,000 jobs.

Langford said the Blue Jackets and Marriott project should break ground this year, and the 120,000-square-foot Program Marketplace east of Meyer is expected to open in the third quarter of 2026.

The city is developing a comprehensive incentives policy with consultant Brickard Grayden to evaluate the impact of typical developments on schools, roads and other taxing subdivisions.

“We can say no right away and we can say maybe,” Langford said. “We’ve had some input from the school. We’re going to have to have some more before we finalize it.”

Langford also noted the city is working on affordable housing projects, saying most renters in Columbus put more than 50% of their income toward housing.

The school district presented its strategic plan, focusing on community and exceptional people as top priorities. Officials said no tax increase is anticipated.

Key moments

Significant Part 1 · 3:36

Housing pipeline summary

For single-family housing currently, as it sits, we have 1,273 unbuilt units that have been approved throughout the city.

Significant Part 1 · 11:00

Economic development highlights

PPG is putting $280 million into their existing facility of Pittsburgh Drive. That's about 100 jobs.

Significant Part 1 · 12:21

Affordable housing focus

Most runners in Columbus, Ohio, they're putting more than 50% of their income towards housing.

Significant Part 1 · 17:13

School strategic plan priorities

The first thing was community that I feel the work thing came over and over and over again.

Significant Part 1 · 35:58

No tax increase

I see no taxes, rise, with, I'm not going to excuse this, see nothing.

Full analysis

Show structured analysis

Meeting Analysis

City of Delaware — 2026-03-09

Meeting Information

Title: City Council — 2026-03-09

Parish: City of Delaware

Date: 2026-03-09

Video: Recording

Transcript segments: 231

Item	Description	Action	Vote Status
Housing Pipeline Update	Presentation on single-family and multi-family housing units approved, under construction, and in the pipeline across the city, including breakdowns by school district.	Information only; no formal action taken.	No vote
Economic Development Update	Overview of industrial and commercial projects under construction, in the pipeline, and on the horizon, including Gateway Commerce Park, PPG expansion, and a comprehensive incentives policy.	Information only; no formal action taken.	No vote
School District Strategic Plan Presentation	Presentation on the school district's strategic priorities, including community and exceptional people, and financial outlook with no tax increase anticipated.	Information only; no formal action taken.	No vote

PPG investing $280 million into existing facility, creating about 100 jobs.
Another expansion of about $200 million expected to bring 400 jobs.
No tax increase anticipated; levies have been tied.

Public Concerns: none noted.

Contentious Discussions: none noted.

No department reports noted.

Action Items: none noted.