What We Know and are Learning About Intel and its Impact on the Surrounding Communities

We are learning a great deal these days about the impact of Intel (an American manufacturer of semiconductor computer circuits) and what it means for development. As home designers at Residential Designed Solutions, we have a vested interest in understanding development needs so that we are able to service the incoming teams from Intel, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. While we can’t see into the future, we’ve been reading, listening, and paying attention. In some way, most of us will be impacted by Intel.

Projections as to where Intel will impact the central Ohio landscape are wide reaching, but we do feel certain communities will be the ones that will feel the most impact. As you can see from this map, we placed Intel and foresee impacts to these communities at least 45 miles away from that development.

While many people here in Ohio will be talking in terms of job opportunities—at RDS we are looking at the impact on housing. How many new employees will move to the area? What type of relocation incentives will be offered? How much development will be needed?

What we know:

1. Executives relocating here are going to be accustomed to long commutes

2. School systems and the quality of life are critical to the decisions of where people want to live

3. Every person/family will have a distinct set of goals and a unique perspective on what their idea of home will mean

What we need to address as a region to sustain and deal with the growth:

• Planning

• Zoning—where can new houses be built

• Economic development

• Transportation and road infrastructure needs

• Water and sewer issues

• Understanding the communities’ values and how these can be maintained and understood

Who we are learning from:

1.      Columbus Business First

Per a recent article from Columbus Business First, at a recent presentation hosted by MA Design, an interesting stat was presented. “The Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) project is the largest economic development win ever in Ohio and comes with an initial $20 billion investment, 3,000 direct jobs, a7,000 construction jobs and an estimated $405 million in annual payroll.” In addition, it states in the article that Intel may grow to over eight facilities.

2.      Betsy Goldstein

Betsy Goldstein, director of business development for MA Design and owner of Betsy Goldstein Consulting, is one the most knowledgeable people speaking about Intel right now. She is instrumental in helping leaders around central Ohio prepare for growth.

Her presentations, “Intel on Intel” have been providing updates and information people need to know. These are some of the takeaways we have culled from her various presentations and videos in the past few months. We encourage you to seek out her presentations to learn more. This video is thorough, interesting and worth watching.  

• One of the reasons this site was chosen is because there has never been a seismic event in the area and building microchips need to be created in a completely stable and precise area.

• There is a new airport in the planning stage, and the construction of it has moved to the forefront with the building of Intel. This should happen within the next decade.

• Commute times will be longer.

• The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) believes the central Ohio region is on track to reach 3.15 million residents by 2050. This equates to about 726,000 more people.

• Landowners are under some pressure to sell their land and their decision to sell or not, with mounting pressure, especially with the land near Intel’s site.

• Sections of roads will be widened and connected to other roads to create better access, which will impact various communities. While there is talk of an I-370, at this time, that does not appear to be in the works.

• There will be an educational investment from Intel of $100M. They want students to be future Intel employees. The arts, sciences, and math will all be impacted. They also have relationships with higher level learning.

• There are 2 FABS (Fabrication facilities) to make microchips, (which are in everything) planned for now, but that number should grow.

• The landscape in central Ohio will change.

• The site will be beautiful, filled with amenities, and pleasing to the eye.

• Housing, schools, retail, and healthcare will all grow because of Intel.

• People will want to live near the Intel site and will want amenities.

• What Columbus looks like today will be vastly different in the future.

• SR 161 will be widened between Interstate 270 and US Route 62.

• The average salary of an Intel employee is around $130K and most will be younger and tech savvy.

• There is a serious need for affordable housing in the areas we know and love.

This article might be of interest to you as well.

3.      Neighborhood Strategies

Neighborhood Strategies is helping Licking County communities impacted by Intel to understand, build, and create economic development,  planning, and zoning. This is such an evolving project that no one knows all the impacts and how far-reaching this project will go, but their goal is to provide impactful strategies for community development. This team, led by Jim Lenner, is working closely with Etna Township, Hanover Township, Hebron, Madison Township, and Perry Township, developing comprehensive plans to help them grow and understand what is coming their way. Their website might be a useful source for you as a homeowner, someone moving to the area, or a business, to check on their strategies and progress as this development unfolds.

We are excited and intrigued by all the potential possibilities Intel brings to our communities and homeowners in central Ohio. Our design professionals are ready to help you visualize your dreams for a new home, addition, or renovation. Contact us today at 614-430-0027 or via our website.