Nearly 60 acres of Ohio State University land near its airport in northwest Columbus are poised to change hands soon.
The question is, who will own the property next?
Although Ohio State trustees approved selling its sheep farm in June 2016, the details of what will become of it are still being decided.
The 57.7 acres of land on West Case Road were previously used by the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, but are being sold as part of the college's consolidation and reorganization efforts.
Because the property, near Ohio State's Don Scott Field, is titled to the state of Ohio, the sale required approval from the state legislature.
Legislation passed in March states the city of Columbus can enter into a real-estate purchase agreement with Ohio State until July 31. If the university and the city don't make a deal by then, the property can then be sold to another purchaser or purchasers, as determined by the Ohio State Board of Trustees.
Northwest area community leaders said they hope the city will buy the land, use it for public services and avoid potential development they feel could further clog the already-dense area.
"What we're trying to avoid is something that's going to jam up the infrastructure," said Nick Cipiti, president of the Northwest Civic Association.
"We'd like to avoid those problems, and at the same time provide something that the demographics in the area would like to see."
Ideally, NWCA officials envision some sort of public service or entity on the land, such as a recreation center, library or green space, Cipiti said.
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department officials are aware the property is available and they are exploring whether any recreation facilities might be feasible, said Brian Hoyt, the department's spokesman.
"We're always looking to expand our park system and the amount of green space in Columbus to keep up with the growing population," Hoyt said.
The land falls within the boundary of the Dublin City School District, where officials are watching closely. Residential development and a potential influx of students in that area could be a concern for the district, said Doug Baker, the school district's spokesman.
"We're watching the area closely," Baker said. "Our schools are already overcrowded."
The property, which Ohio State has held since 1954, is valued at about $4.7 million, according to information on the Franklin County auditor's office website.
Its sale will support additional College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences' facilities.
As the clock on a deal between the university and the city ticks, Cipiti said the Northwest Civic Association is letting city officials know what they're hoping to accomplish.
"We really don't know how it's going to play out," he said. "We've gotten some positive signals from the city, but not enough to say for certain that we know which way it's going to go."
Ohio State officials have met with community members throughout the process and are aware of their concerns.
"We value the neighbors' input and we'll take it into consideration as we move forward," said Ben Johnson, an Ohio State spokesman.
Cipiti said Ohio State officials have been mindful of the community's wishes, but community members realize if the city doesn't strike a deal by the July 31 deadline, the university could sell the land to a developer for a bigger payout.
The NWCA also is working on a backup plan to identify potential buyers who share their vision for the area.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed," Cipiti said.
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