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Austin project could push growth beyond interchange

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How the continuous flow intersection will work at Austin Boulevard.

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View of Austin Boulevard looking west at I-75. Developer RG Properties has committed $54 million toward development of the northeast quadrant of the Austin Pike interchange in southern Montgomery County, according to a development agreement expected to be approved today by the Montgomery County Commission.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees View of Austin Boulevard looking west at I-75. Developer RG Properties has committed $54 million toward development of the northeast quadrant of the Austin Pike interchange in southern Montgomery County, according to a development agreement expected to be approved today by the Montgomery County Commission.

By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 6:49 AM Thursday, October 8, 2009

The impact of the Austin Pike I-75 interchange is expected go far beyond the land abutting the exit ramps, flowing three miles west to Miamisburg’s Mound business and tech park, and three miles east to Washington Twp.’s Social Row Road corridor.

But that domino effect may take time after the interchange opens next fall, as communities hold out for certain types of construction and developers look for an economic rebound to build momentum.

The Social Row area, through Washington Twp. east to Ohio 48, has a mix of high-income households, open land and a coming surge of traffic along Social Row Road.

“It’s obvious that the land will eventually develop,” said Washington Twp. assistant administrator Jo Scott. “It really is going to be about what land uses are compatible with that level of traffic.”

The township already has approved a preschool/daycare and a church project, along with the 650-unit Washington Trace residential plat that is in progress. Scott said some groups are citing the I-75 interchange as part of their site selection, adding that zoning officials likely will draw up “a detailed plan of what should go on in that area” in the coming years.

Those talks will interest Centerville, where City Manager Greg Horn said it’s important that future development fits the character of the city’s adjacent Yankee Trace golf and residential community, which has 144 of 938 lots remaining.

That interconnected approach has been a key to the entire Austin project, where the focus is jobs.

Steve Stanley, director of Montgomery County’s transportation improvement district, said developers are pushing a mixed-use strategy near the interchange that could incorporate retail or residential pieces along with the office and industrial development. He said all parties, including developer RG Properties, are taking risk and holding firm to the original vision of the project.

“Will there be, at some point, a specific development proposed that will be controversial? I think that’s more than likely, I think it’s almost certain,” Stanley said. “The economy may affect the choices we have, but I don’t think anyone’s going to abandon the shared vision of the highest-quality employment center.”

Doug Harnish of Gem Real Estate Group said one key to success is drawing significant companies or destination attractions early on.

“These things tend to start slowly, then have a flurry of activity,” Harnish said. “When it takes off depends on anchors or initial tenants who come in. If they get an industry leader, that may be all the validation other companies need.”

Meanwhile, the planning continues. To the west of I-75, Miamisburg City Manager Keith Johnson said developers will soon break ground on a second, 70,000 square-foot office building at Byers Business Park.

The interchange also could help redevelopment of the former Mound energy plant. Johnson said the 300-plus acre facility was deliberately built in a hard-to-reach place in the Cold War era, but with the interchange creating better access, Miamisburg hopes to draw 2,000 jobs on top of the 300 high-tech and light industry jobs already there.

Springboro also is looking for gains southeast of the interchange, with City Manager Christine Thompson pointing to business, office or very light industry uses at South Tech Industrial Park.

Some government officials said they don’t want the area to overdevelop because the interchange is supposed to relieve congestion and safety issues on Ohio 725 and 741. The key is how to achieve traffic objectives while drawing the type of development the communities are hoping for.

“There’s one opportunity to do this right,” Horn said. “It’s kind of the last frontier to the south end of Montgomery County. I think the three primary communities — Miamisburg, Miami Twp. and Springboro — deep down know what needs to be done, but there will be economic pressures, and there will be development pressures. If they can be cohesive, and stay true to their goals, they can get a really quality development.”

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