Delaware Considers Curtis Street Industrial TIF and Roadway Agreement
Legislation heading to Monday review would fund infrastructure opening seven parcels and aid Guild Associates' relocation from Dublin.
Following City Council action in late July, the City of Delaware is advancing a package of incentives and infrastructure arrangements designed to help Guild Associates relocate from Dublin to a site near Curtis Street and London Road.
For its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, council consideration includes an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of an infrastructure financing agreement with developer Guild Strategic Properties LLC for public infrastructure improvements serving the Curtis Street development project. Companion legislation establishes Monday, Nov. 9 as the date and time for a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance declaring parcel improvements exempt from taxation and establishing the Curtis Street Commercial Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund. The Delaware City Council is also scheduled to establish Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:25 p.m. as the date and time for a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance approving the reimbursement agreement with Guild Strategic Properties LLC.
Delaware City Hall at 1 S. Sandusky St. in Delaware, Ohio.
Credit: Tysto / Wikimedia Commons Image source
Roadway Extensions and Industrial Campus
Developer Guild Strategic Properties proposes to develop the approximately 70-acre site as a phased corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and industrial campus adjacent to the Pittsburgh Drive Industrial Park, according to reporting from 1808Delaware. Because the first planned building sits toward the rear of the property rather than near street frontage, reaching the facility requires constructing a new public access road stretching approximately 2,800 linear feet alongside associated utility extensions.
The project's conceptual plan anticipates as many as seven additional industrial lots, generally ranging from approximately three to seven acres, creating the backbone for a larger employment and industrial campus. Initial estimates place overall project investment at approximately $48 million, including about $8 million for site acquisition, roadways, and utilities, with roughly $4 million set aside for public infrastructure.
Under the development framework, the developer is responsible for preparing a traffic impact study meeting city requirements and constructing roadway and utility improvements according to city-approved plans. Guild Strategic Properties would also make a $500,000 transportation payment before issuance of the first vertical building permit, nonrefundable and restricted for use toward a future roundabout or another transportation improvement identified through the traffic impact study.
Anchor Facility for Guild Associates
As the planned campus anchor, chemical engineering firm Guild Associates would become the first occupant under proposals calling for an initial headquarters and manufacturing facility of approximately 169,000 square feet on about 20 acres. The planned building includes roughly 125,000 square feet for manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and distribution, alongside 44,000 square feet of corporate office space and room for planned expansion space of up to 50,000 square feet.
Guild Associates manufactures products for commercial and military applications, including systems converting landfill gases into consumable natural gas and a military laundry water-recycling system, according to company disclosures. The company reports approximately 110 employees, including about 100 working in Ohio, with non-binding planning estimates contemplating the potential addition of 15 jobs over three years.
Reimbursement Rules and School Protections
The proposed financing plan establishes a sitewide Tax Increment Financing district covering 100 percent of non-school property taxes for up to 30 years, structured so that affected school districts are held harmless while revenues fund qualifying public improvements. To implement those terms, the city ordinance requires parcel owners to make service payments in lieu of taxes while mandating dedicated tax distributions to the Delaware City School District and Delaware Area Career Center.
Reimbursements to the developer from the municipal equivalent fund for public infrastructure are governed by a capped developer reimbursement formula setting repayment at the lesser of 60 percent of final documented costs or 100 percent of costs after subtracting any public or quasi-public grants received for the improvements. City Council previously passed legislation authorizing the execution of a preliminary term sheet allowing city staff and legal counsel to continue negotiations and prepare the ordinances and agreements necessary to carry out the project.
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Supporting evidence (14)
Following City Council action in late July, the City of Delaware is advancing a package of incentives and infrastructure arrangements designed to help Guild Associates relocate from Dublin to a site near Curtis Street and London Road.
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After action by Council in late July, the City of Delaware is moving toward a package of incentives and infrastructure arrangements designed to help Guild Associates relocate from Dublin to a site near Curtis Street and London Road.
Developer Guild Strategic Properties proposes to develop the approximately 70-acre site as a phased corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and industrial campus adjacent to the Pittsburgh Drive Industrial Park, according to reporting from 1808Delaware.
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Guild Strategic Properties LLC proposes to develop the approximately 70-acre property as a phased corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and industrial campus adjacent to the existing Pittsburgh Drive Industrial Park. Guild Associates, a chemical engineering firm currently based in Dublin, would become its first occupant.
Because the first planned building sits toward the rear of the property rather than near street frontage, reaching the facility requires constructing a new public access road stretching approximately 2,800 linear feet alongside associated utility extensions.
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Rather than being located near the front of the property, the Guild facility would be toward the rear of the 70-acre site. Reaching it would require construction of approximately 2,800 linear feet of public access roadway along with associated utility extensions. Once constructed, however, that same infrastructure would make the remainder of the property considerably more development-ready.
The project's conceptual plan anticipates as many as seven additional industrial lots, generally ranging from approximately three to seven acres, creating the backbone for a larger employment and industrial campus.
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The conceptual plan anticipates as many as seven additional industrial lots, generally ranging from approximately three to seven acres. In practical terms, the infrastructure required to make the Guild project possible would also create the backbone for a larger employment and industrial campus.
Initial estimates place overall project investment at approximately $48 million, including about $8 million for site acquisition, roadways, and utilities, with roughly $4 million set aside for public infrastructure.
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Current estimates put the overall initial investment at approximately $48 million. That includes about $8 million for site acquisition, roadway and utility costs; approximately $30 million for construction of the first Guild building; and another $10 million for equipment, fixtures, furniture, and relocation. Of the $8 million in site-related costs, approximately $4 million is attributed to public roadway and utility infrastructure.
Under the development framework, the developer is responsible for preparing a traffic impact study meeting city requirements and constructing roadway and utility improvements according to city-approved plans.
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The developer would be responsible for preparing a traffic impact study that meets city requirements and for constructing the roadway and utility improvements according to city-approved plans.
Guild Strategic Properties would also make a $500,000 transportation payment before issuance of the first vertical building permit, nonrefundable and restricted for use toward a future roundabout or another transportation improvement identified through the traffic impact study.
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Guild Strategic Properties would also make a $500,000 transportation contribution to the city before issuance of the first vertical building permit. That money would be nonrefundable and restricted for use toward a future roundabout or another transportation improvement identified through the traffic impact study.
As the planned campus anchor, chemical engineering firm Guild Associates would become the first occupant under proposals calling for an initial headquarters and manufacturing facility of approximately 169,000 square feet on about 20 acres.
Read supporting passage
Guild Associates, a chemical engineering firm currently based in Dublin, would become its first occupant.
As the planned campus anchor, chemical engineering firm Guild Associates would become the first occupant under proposals calling for an initial headquarters and manufacturing facility of approximately 169,000 square feet on about 20 acres.
Read supporting passage
The proposed first phase calls for an approximately 169,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility on about 20 acres.
The planned building includes roughly 125,000 square feet for manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and distribution, alongside 44,000 square feet of corporate office space and room for planned expansion space of up to 50,000 square feet.
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The proposed building would include approximately 125,000 square feet devoted to production, warehousing, logistics, and distribution, along with about 44,000 square feet of corporate office space. Plans also contemplate a potential future 50,000-square-foot expansion.
Guild Associates manufactures products for commercial and military applications, including systems converting landfill gases into consumable natural gas and a military laundry water-recycling system, according to company disclosures.
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Guild develops products for commercial and military applications. Those include dry chemical technologies used to convert landfill gases into consumable natural gas and a laundry system that originated during Operation Desert Storm and recycles approximately 99% of the water it uses. The company reports approximately 110 employees, including about 100 currently working in Ohio. Planning estimates contemplate the possibility of another 15 employees over three years, although those numbers would not constitute binding job-creation commitments under the proposed incentive framework.
The proposed financing plan establishes a sitewide Tax Increment Financing district covering 100 percent of non-school property taxes for up to 30 years, structured so that affected school districts are held harmless while revenues fund qualifying public improvements.
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Another component would be creation of a sitewide Tax Increment Financing district. The proposed TIF would cover 100% of non-school property taxes for as long as 30 years and would be structured so that the affected school district and joint vocational school district are held harmless. A TIF generally captures growth in property tax revenue resulting from new development and directs that revenue toward qualifying public improvements associated with the project.
Reimbursements to the developer from the municipal equivalent fund for public infrastructure are governed by a capped developer reimbursement formula setting repayment at the lesser of 60 percent of final documented costs or 100 percent of costs after subtracting any public or quasi-public grants received for the improvements.
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Under Delaware’s proposed framework, infrastructure reimbursement would be capped at the lesser of 60% of final documented costs or 100% of those costs after subtracting public or quasi-public grants received for the same improvements.
City Council previously passed legislation authorizing the execution of a preliminary term sheet allowing city staff and legal counsel to continue negotiations and prepare the ordinances and agreements necessary to carry out the project.
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The resolution authorized the city manager to execute the non-binding term sheet and allow city staff and legal counsel to continue negotiations and prepare the ordinances, agreements and other documents necessary to carry out the project.
City Council · 2026-10-23 · agenda
Supporting evidence (5)
For its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, council consideration includes an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of an infrastructure financing agreement with developer Guild Strategic Properties LLC for public infrastructure improvements serving the Curtis Street development project.
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7:00 PM OCTOBER 26, 2026
For its regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 26, council consideration includes an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of an infrastructure financing agreement with developer Guild Strategic Properties LLC for public infrastructure improvements serving the Curtis Street development project.
Read supporting passage
Consideration of Ordinance No. 26-63, an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a Tax Increment Financing agreement with Guild Strategic Properties, LLC for public infrastructure improvements serving the Curtis Street development project; authorizing related actions; and declaring an emergency.
Companion legislation establishes Monday, Nov. 9 as the date and time for a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance declaring parcel improvements exempt from taxation and establishing the Curtis Street Commercial Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund.
Read supporting passage
Establish November 9, 2026 at 7:20 PM as the date and time for the public hearing and second reading of Ordinance No. 26-62, an ordinance declaring the improvement to certain parcels in the city to be a public purpose and exempt from taxation pursuant to ORC 5709.40(b); requiring the owners of those parcels to make service payments in lieu of taxes; establishing the Curtis Street Commercial Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund; requiring distributions to the Delaware City School District and Delaware Area Career Center; specifying public infrastructure improvements; authorizing related exemption filings; and declaring an emergency.
The Delaware City Council is also scheduled to establish Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:25 p.m. as the date and time for a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance approving the reimbursement agreement with Guild Strategic Properties LLC.
Read supporting passage
Establish November 9, 2026 at 7:25 PM as the date and time for the public hearing and second reading of Ordinance No. 26-63, an ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a Tax Increment Financing Reimbursement Agreement with Guild Strategic Properties, LLCfor public infrastructure improvements serving the Curtis Street development project and declaring an emergency.
To implement those terms, the city ordinance requires parcel owners to make service payments in lieu of taxes while mandating dedicated tax distributions to the Delaware City School District and Delaware Area Career Center.
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requiring the owners of those parcels to make service payments in lieu of taxes; establishing the Curtis Street Commercial Municipal Public Improvement Tax Increment Equivalent Fund; requiring distributions to the Delaware City School District and Delaware Area Career Center; specifying public infrastructure improvements;