Development Department

Eligible employers may receive an annual cash incentive for creating office jobs in the city of Bexley. The cash payment is calculated based on withholding taxes from eligible new employees who pay Bexley City Income Tax, and can be for up to 50% for six (6) years. An “eligible new employee” is defined as a full-time or full-time equivalent, non-retail, private sector employee. Employers must create a minimum of five (5) new jobs over the lesser of the term of the incentive or three years. To be eligible for this incentive, a full-time position, or FTE position, must pay a minimum of $12.00 per hour.

Employers New to Bexley

• For leased space, up to two (2) years less than the lease term, not to exceed six (6) years.
• For owner-occupied space, up to six (6)years.

Existing Bexley Employers
For expansion in existing space (whether leased or owned):

• 5-29 new employees, up to one (1) year.
• 30 or more new employees, up to two (2) years.

For expansion into newly leased or newly owner-occupied space:

• Leased space: Up to two (2) years less than the lease term, not to exceed six (6) years.
• Owner-occupied space: Up to six (6) years

The company may be required to maintain operations in the City of Bexley for a period which is twice the term of the incentive.

All incentives must be negotiated with the Bexley Development Office and City Council.

Community Reinvestment Area Program

The City of Bexley offers real property tax abatement at various amounts for varying periods of time in three districts.

Main Street Property Tax Abatements

Commercial Properties
The Main Street Redevelopment District offers abatements of up to 100% for up to 15 years on newly constructed or renovated mixed use projects. Property tax abatements on commercial portions of projects require City Council approval on a project-by-project basis prior to the commencement of construction.

Residential Projects
New residential projects within the Main Street Community Reinvestment Area are eligible for abatements. The level of abatements provided is scaled based upon the average investment per unit. Residential development is automatically eligible for abatement based upon the following schedule:

• Investment of $250,000 per unit or less: 15 Year Abatement at 100%
• Minimum Average Investment of $250,000 per unit: 15 Year Abatement Average at 70%

North Cassady Avenue Property Tax Abatements

The Cassady-Delmar Redevelopment Area offers abatements for commercial and residential projects at the following terms.*

• Residential Remodeling: 50% abatement for 5 years on increase in value
• Commercial Remodeling: 75% abatement for 10 years on increase in value
• Residential New Construction: 50% abatement for 10 years
• Commercial New Construction: 75% abatement for 10 years
• Mixed-Use New Construction: 75% abatement for 12 years

Southwest Bexley Property Tax Abatements

The Southwest Bexley Redevelopment Area offers abatements for commercial and residential projects at the following terms.*

• Residential Remodeling: 50% abatement for 10 years on increase in value
• Residential Remodeling (Affordable Housing): 100% abatement for 15 years on increase in value
• Residential New Construction: 75% abatement for 15 years
• Residential New Construction (Affordable Housing): 100% abatement for 15 years
• Commercial Remodel and Construction: Case by case basis

*Property tax abatements on commercial portions of projects require City Council approval on a project-by-project basis prior to the commencement of construction.

The City of Bexley has an active TIF program in place along Main Street. This program allows the city to assist developers with infrastructure improvements to the right-of-way, as well as helping to improve the city's right-of-way all along Main Street.  

TIF programs can also be utilized to assist redevelopment on Livingston Avenue and North Cassady Avenue on an ad-hoc basis. If you're interested in how TIF can be used to help your proposed Bexley development, please contact the Mayor's Office.

For more information regarding Tax Increment Financing in Ohio, see this OSU fact sheet.

The City of Bexley makes funds available on a first-come, first-served basis as incentive (matching) grants for commercial property owners and businesses in the Main Street Redevelopment District and the North Cassady Avenue commercial district in order to carryout exterior building and property improvements consistent with the Main Street Design Guidelines and other applicable standards. The incentive grants, in the form of reimbursement payments, can amount to up to Thirty Five Percent (35%) of approved project costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per business application or $10,000 for each business located in a building if the property owner is the applicant, depending on funds available.

Resources:

Facade Grant Guidelines

Facade Grant Application

In 2012, Bexley City Council authorized the creation of the Bexley Community Improvement Corporation, a development agent of the City of Bexley. In early 2013, the Mayor will be submitting a proposal for appointees to the CIC's board of directors, subject to approval by Bexley City Council.

Pursuant to Chapter 1724 of the Ohio Revised Code, Community Improvement Corporations (CICs) can be formed and designated as a city development agency to "advance, encourage and promote the industrial, economic, commercial and civic development of a community or area". The intent of the Bexley CIC is to form an empowered board of directors to advance the development goals of the City in a way that leverages the City's resident development talent and increases the ability of the City to be flexible and proactive in its development efforts.

City Council has provided for a grant to eligible landlords in order to encourage Bexley rental property owners to accept and participate in various state/local government and “not for profit organization” housing voucher programs [including, but not limited to, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) housing (Section 8) voucher program, as administered through Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)].

In order to qualify for the grant, Rental Property Owners (and/or their designated representatives) must register as a CMHA “Housing Choice Voucher Landlord” (or register with another housing voucher issuing agency).  After successfully registering, landlords can submit to The City of Bexley the following materials in order to qualify for the grant:

1. 1. Copy of CMHA “Housing Choice Voucher Landlord” vendor “L number” registration acceptance documentation or equivalent agency document,
   2. Copy of CMHA Approved “Request for Tenancy Approval form” (RTA) or equivalent agency document.
   3. Signed tenant lease agreement. (Confidential personal or financial information not required by the City to verify the tenant residency may be redacted by the property owner prior to submission to The City)
   4. A completed Housing Voucher Acceptance Program Grant application form.

Qualifying applications will receive the following grant, subject to the availability of funding and applicable program guidelines:

• $500 for 1^st property unit registered and rented as a CMHA “Housing Choice Voucher property” or other housing voucher issuing entity approved property.
• $300 for the 2^nd property unit registered and rented as a CMHA “Housing Choice Voucher property” or other housing voucher issuing entity approved property.

In a corner of our Bexley community, tucked away behind (and only accessible from) Livingston Avenue, is a neighborhood of 19 duplexes and a 72-unit apartment development that front onto Ferndale and Mayfield Avenues. These apartments were developed in the 1960s, on a piece of land that had formerly been used as a landfill.  

History of the Ferndale/Mayfield area, and the City's efforts to improve it

• 1920s: Portions of the area that is currently Ferndale/Mayfield was operated as a private landfill
• 1930s: The former landfill closed, and the site was vacant
• 1960s: 108 apartment units, distributed throughout 21 buildings, are developed on the former landfill
• 2003: The Southwest Bexley Master Plan (link) calls for the potential redevelopment of Ferndale and Mayfield, and calls for connecting the streets to Sheridan Avenue via a Charles Street extension.
• 2000's: The City of Bexley purchases or is gifted with several parcels just north of Ferndale and Mayfield. Environmental tests of the sites indicate contamination with lead and arsenic.
• 2000's: The Bexley Community Garden is installed on City-owned property in the area, with garden plots receiving remediation and follow-up testing to ensure safe soil conditions.
• 2011: The Bexley Land Use Strategy (link) calls for stabilization of Ferndale and Mayfield, greater connectivity to the area, and potential redevelopment
• 2013: The Bexley Strategic Plan (link) reiterates the recommendations of the Southwest Bexley Master Plan and the Bexley Land Use Strategy, and expresses the need to protect residents in the area from displacement outside of Bexley, by exploring and providing alternative affordable housing arrangements.  
• 2013: The Bexley Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) is created, in part to assist with redevelopment in the Ferndale and Mayfield area.
• 2015: Bexley City Council and the Bexley CIC agree upon a program to begin assemblage of apartment properties at Ferndale and Mayfield.
• 2017: The updated Southwest Bexley Strategic Framework expounds upon options for Ferndale and Mayfield, calling for further environmental exploration, conceptualizing recreational uses in the area, and reiterating the need to protect residents in the area from displacement.
• Late 2017: The Bexley Community Improvement Corporation purchases two apartment doubles on Ferndale, and begins environmental testing to ascertain any environmental conditions that may negatively impact human health.
• May, 2017: The Bexley Community Improvement Corporation receives full environmental test results and a report from an environmental risk assessor. Based on the results of the report, the CIC creates a tenant relocation package and rent voucher program for residents of the CIC's property to ensure healthy living conditions, and to assist with continued Bexley residency for households with children in the Bexley City School District.

In 2018 Pandey Environmental LLC. conducted a Phase I Environmental Study (link) on behalf of the City of Bexley within those areas either owned by the City, or which where accessible via the City's Public right-of-way.