Ohio University collaborates with city of Dublin to attract hotel, conference center

In 2012, Ohio University acquired property in the City of Dublin to establish a new location for the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (HCOM). The University also entered into an Economic Development Agreement (EDA) with the City of Dublin to encourage development and advance the University’s education and research mission.

Over time, Ohio University has expanded its footprint on the Dublin campus to four buildings, with programs in HCOM and the College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP) as well as executive courses through the College of Business and Voinovich School for Public Affairs. The campus also serves Columbus State Community College.

“Dublin has been an extended campus for institutional growth for several years now, and we are grateful to the City of Dublin for their support and partnership,” said Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis. “I am grateful for City Manager Dana McDaniel’s leadership as we meet our academic mission needs.”

As part of the EDA, Ohio University has the option to engage with a third-party private developer to build, own, and manage a hotel and conference center on a site directly adjacent to our campus. The site is contemplated to be up to 15 acres which will become university property land-leased back to the successful developer.

The economic interest from this development will be shared evenly with the City of Dublin. Ohio University and the City of Dublin are executing against their shared commitment to advance the Dublin campus with the recent release and pre-submission meeting for an RFP to develop this hotel and conference center.

A market study has indicated that the site can support a mid-sized upscale, full-service franchised hotel with around 25,000 square feet of conference space, which will be evaluated as part of the process as it relates to phasing and timing.

“The hotel and conference center will not only serve the need for full-serve hotels and conference space in and around Dublin, but will also act as a catalyst for continued development on Ohio University’s Dublin Campus,” said Dominick Brook, Ohio University’s Director of Real Estate.

The development of the hotel and conference center will further advance the development of the campus by providing funding for new road infrastructure through Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

In addition, as part of an EDA, the City of Dublin committed to transfer approximately 27.7 acres to Ohio University upon completion of a comprehensive Master Plan for the University’s Dublin Campus. With this transfer, the University will own 85.6 acres on the Dublin campus. 

The Dublin Framework Plan was completed and approved by the City of Dublin (https://www.ohio.edu/planning-space/up/upload/OU-Dublin-Report-090616_FINAL.pdf) and the respective property is in the final steps of transfer. The expansion of the existing campus allows for both mixed use development and industry partnerships as detailed in the completed campus master plan. 

“The masterplan serves as a strategic roadmap for University planning and allows for flexibility when implementing its goals. The guiding principles are benchmarks to inform the decision-making process throughout the next decade,” said Shawna Bolin, Ohio University’s AVP for Planning and Real Estate.