Ohio State University purchased the lots around an event space formerly owned by the Wolfe family in Fairfield County for $8.75 million to construct outpatient medical centers.
On June 3, the Ohio State board of trustees approved an $8.75 million purchase of parcels of land near the “Wigwam” event center from Violet Township. According to board documents, the purchase includes around 17 acres of unimproved land near Taylor Road and Blacklick-Eastern Road in Fairfield County.
The land purchase does not appear to include the Wigwam building, which Violet Township operates as an event space, now called the Event Center at Violet Woods.
The documents say Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center is seeking unimproved land to develop additional outpatient care facilities in Fairfield County. Violet Township will be responsible for the installation and construction of some public infrastructure improvements.
In a statement, a Wexner Medical Center spokesperson said the purchase and a similar one in Dublin will “allow the medical center flexibility as we plan for purposeful growth to best serve our central Ohio communities.”
“We strive to provide world-class care in convenient locations, and we’re excited to work with these communities going forward,” the statement said.
Violet Township did not respond to requests for comment.
For decades, the Wigwam, a historic 63-acre retreat, entertained generations of reporters business leaders, entertainers and politicians. The Wolfes, former owners of The Dispatch, bought 20 acres in 1927 as a family retreat and hunting lodge, and the family bought additional property over the years. The site became known as the Wigwam for its wooded setting and the Native American theme of much of its decor.
In 2018, the Wolfe family sold the property to Violet Township for $2.7 million.
University purchases, rents other properties around region
The board of trustees also approved the following transactions:
The board also approved a resolution allowing Ohio State to continue talks over entering a lease of at least 20 years with Capitol Square’s historic Huntington Bank Building, 17 S. High St., to increase its presence Downtown.
The university is looking to lease roughly 200,000 square feet within the 12-story building, which is owned by quasi-public development agency Downtown Columbus, Inc., for “classes, programming and placing Ohio State students at the heart of Columbus’ governmental, business, legal, civic and cultural life,” according to the university at the board meeting.
Dispatch reporter Emma Wozniak contributed to this report.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State buys land around Wigwam center for medical facility
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
