How Delaware is converting a Civil War-era mill into a $40 million apartment complex

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) -- The site of a flax mill dating to the Civil War along the Olentangy River in Delaware will undergo a $40 million renovation to become a mixed-use district home to luxury apartments.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this month on the five-acre development named "Mill on Flax," which includes the construction of five new buildings and the restoration of the mill built on Flax Street in 1863 that once served various manufacturing plants. The Delaware County Finance Authority, which issued a $2.5-million infrastructure bond and a $249,900 loan for the project, said Mill on Flax is "the definition of a transformational project."

"This is infrastructure improvement on every level," said Bill Bishop, DCFA president. "It's addressing housing needs and creating more jobs, as well as improving the flow of east-west traffic through this community. But it's also transforming a neighborhood by reawakening it to a vibrant past when it was a 19th-century mixed-use community of commerce and homes."

The five new buildings will house studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments totaling 162 units. The two-story mill will be renovated to include 10,000 square feet of office space and amenities for residents, including a pool and grilling area, fitness center and a clubhouse. Mill on Flax will also feature waterfront access to the Olentangy River, complete with a new trail to be built connecting to central Ohio's bike system.

Once completed, the Delaware County’s Economic Development office estimates Mill on Flax could generate a $101 million boost to the state and local economy. This includes construction jobs, as well as the direct and indirect jobs attributed to the project, the DCED said.

The development is one of several large-scale restoration projects beginning construction in central Ohio, including a historic Delaware train deport being renovated by the same company leading Mill on Flax, RiverWest. The company purchased the 7,000-square-foot depot in 2019 and plans to launch a restaurant and brewery concept inside.

A historic depot is also at the center of plans in Plain City to launch a new public square development that will feature a park and a marketplace. The depot will be dismantled and shipped to the village from Upper Arlington in June before opening to the public in early 2025 as the first phase of the larger public square project. Once installed, the depot will provide space for events, visitor amenities, commercial ventures and historical displays.