DeMonye's Greenhouse, a staple for East Columbus gardeners for generations, is now on track to be bulldozed to make room for a new apartment complex along Airport Drive near John Glenn International Airport. The potential redevelopment would swap out one of the neighborhood's oldest locally owned shops for hundreds of new residents right by the runways.
According to Columbus Business First, Rocky Point Partners is listed as the developer on a hangar-style apartment concept at 2500 Airport Drive that would require the demolition of the existing nursery structures. The project is being pitched as an apartment redevelopment of the property. DeMonye's own site notes the business was established in 1929 and remains family-operated, per DeMonye's Greenhouse.
Earlier hotel pitch and rezoning
This is not the first time the greenhouse site has been courted for something bigger. Last summer, Rocky Point Partners floated a different idea for the same parcel: a five-story, 125-room extended-stay hotel, paired with a rezoning request that went before the Northeast Area Commission. The commission recommended approval with conditions before the plan headed to the Development Commission, according to Columbus Underground. At the time, DeMonye's owner Brian Killilea told the outlet, "we would definitely be growing for another season, and then we will see."
Property and the developer
A marketing flyer prepared by NAI Ohio Equities lists the 2500 Airport Drive property at roughly 5.73 acres, with an asking price of about $1.8 million. The materials also tout immediate access to I-670 and I-270 and proximity to Ohio Dominican University. On its own site, Rocky Point Partners describes itself as a Columbus-focused developer, founded in 2017 and active in multifamily projects around the region.
Next steps
The new apartment proposal still has to clear the usual City Hall gauntlet. Rezoning and any detailed development plan would move through the Development Commission, then on to City Council before demolition or construction could begin, per Columbus Underground. No construction timetable has been announced, and upcoming public hearings will give nearby residents a formal chance to weigh in on any zoning change.
What it could mean for the neighborhood
If the deal moves forward, the neighborhood would trade a nearly century-old local gardening hub for new housing tucked beside the airport and major highways, a familiar pattern in fast-growing corners of Columbus. For regulars, losing DeMonye's would mean saying goodbye to a long-standing, independent resource for plants and seasonal shopping. For developers, the size and location of the site make it an especially tempting spot for multifamily construction. Whether that trade-off actually happens will hinge on the city review process and how forcefully the community responds.
