ThisWeek CW 06/20/2013
Another business is looking to build in Groveport, potentially bringing 15 new jobs with it.
Developer J. Fergus Inc. is awaiting final city council approval on a variance to allow the retail sale of auto parts at 6000 Groveport Road, at the northeast corner of Groveport and London-Groveport roads. The site is currently zoned community commercial.
Company representative Christina Jarrett said the developer is working with Advance Auto Parts to build its first Groveport location.
“This will be the first Advance Auto Parts in Groveport but we were also involved in building the Winchester Pike store, which is just outside of the city,” Jarrett said. “That was built about 10 or 11 years ago.”
The as-yet-undeveloped site is across Groveport Road from a Kroger store and gas station and next door to the Groveport Animal Clinic.
Jarrett said the new Advance Auto Parts outlet should be a very good fit with neighboring businesses.
“We’ve been working with Advance Auto for quite some time now and have completed about 100 projects for them, including stores in Hebron and Johnstown that opened the beginning of this year,” Jarrett said. “If we receive approval for this store at the next (council) meeting, we expect to have construction completed before winter of this year and then the store will open by the beginning of next year.”
The new store will likely bring 15 new jobs to Groveport, according to Jarrett. She said this is based on her experience with other recent Advance Auto Parts store developments and includes a mix of full-time and part-time employees.
Groveport Finance Director Jeff Green said the auto parts store would be located in the city’s Community Reinvestment Area, which provides a 15-year, 100-percent real estate tax abatement that will take effect once the building is substantially complete.
“Advance Auto Parts is a great fit for that area,” he said. “The development will be in keeping with other developments in that area, such as the Groveport Square Shopping Center, Wendy’s and Dollar General — all of which tend to be more suburban in character. There’s a lot going on right now and it’s all keeping us really busy, but it’s very exciting.”
A public hearing and final reading on the variance legislation is scheduled for Monday, June 24, at the Municipal Building, 655 Blacklick St., Groveport.