What If Worthington: Reenvisioning 6700 N. High St.

What if I told you that the future of Worthington is sitting right in front of us?

6700 N. High St.—the “old Anthem building”—isn’t just a vacant property. It’s 27 acres of untapped potential in the very heart of our community.

Right now, it accounts for 10 percent of our office vacancy rate with only one business within the 219,000 sq. foot building, but it could be so much more. This isn’t just about filling a building—it’s about reimagining what Worthington could be.

Let’s talk about how we can transform this space into a vibrant hub that reflects our values, meets our needs and sets the stage for the next chapter of our city’s story. This is simply a thought leadership exercise, one big "I wonder" and "what if" discussion and does not serve as an official stance or position of the Chamber. But as an organization who convenes all sectors of our community and engages in conversations across industries and neighborhoods, I'd like to take a few minutes to just ask: what if Worthington reimagined 6700 N. High?

The Heart of N. High St.

Imagine strolling through a lively indoor food hall, grabbing a coffee from a local vendor and stepping outside to enjoy a concert at an Amphitheatre. Picture families gathering in the fountain garden and lush green space distributed throughout the grounds while entrepreneurs are collaborating in class A office space and associated, flexible event spaces and visitors are staying at a boutique hotel that feels like a natural extension of Worthington’s charm.

Picture this:

• Housing Solutions: A portion of the property could be dedicated to much-needed housing, creating opportunities for residents to live, work and thrive right here in Worthington. This aligns with identified needs from our recent housing study.
• Green Spaces: Envision a beautiful park and fountain with a gathering space that I sometimes (jokingly) refer to as the Lofy Amphitheatre—an outdoor gathering space for office team meetings by day and concerts, events and community celebrations by night, which would align with the Visioning process.
• Indoor Food Hall: An indoor food hall could provide much-needed attractions located between Old Worthington and the Mall, along with an opportunity for flexible event space to support gatherings, workshops and celebrations – addressing another need for our community. Depending on the future mall project, this could also be a permanent home for the indoor Farmer’s Market during the Winter months.
• Hotel and Hospitality: A boutique hotel could meet the city’s growing need for accommodations, attracting visitors and supporting local businesses. This addresses a major need I’ve heard from several of our largest employers who fill hotel rooms in neighboring communities with amenities that are walkable.
• Class A Office Space: Did you know that Worthington’s only Class A office space is at the new Gateway development? The rest of our office inventory—built 30 to 40 years ago—simply doesn’t meet the needs of today’s businesses. Imagine designing state-of-the-art office spaces that spark innovation, flood rooms with natural light and attract forward-thinking businesses to Worthington.
• Entertainment/Event Space: Between the idea of a local distillery or brewery housed here, this space is primed to bring in elevated entertainment or an event space for weddings or a unique event experience like indoor go carts, glow in the dark mini golf or something of this nature.

This isn’t just about one building or piece of property, it’s about creating a ripple effect that transforms the N. Hight St. stretch into a destination that honors our past while embracing the future.

Breaking Free from Stockholm Syndrome:

Too often, communities fixate on their biggest challenges, becoming so consumed by one glaring issue that they miss other opportunities. It’s what I call “community Stockholm Syndrome.” While the LC property across the street has captured much of our attention (and rightfully so), what if we shifted our focus? What if 6700 N. High St. became the spark that ignites a new era for Worthington?

What if we stopped waiting for the perfect solution to fall into our laps and instead started exploring in-fill development opportunities sitting right in front of us? What if we dared to think differently about what’s possible for Worthington? This is only one example of spaces we have in our community that we could transform if we looked at it differently and through the eye of responsible, yet ambitious community redevelopment.

Why Now?

The timing couldn’t be more perfect as the property is currently on the market. And, as we look toward the comprehensive plan, visioning process and the framework for the next decade, we have a unique chance to shape the future of our community. But we only get one shot. The decisions we make today define Worthington for generations to come.

Call to Action:

Let’s start the conversation NOW. Let’s dream big. Let’s engage in meaningful dialogue about what’s possible—not just for 6700 N. High St., but for the future of Worthington as a whole. Together, we can create a space that reflects our values, meets our needs and inspires pride in our community.

I’m not going to pretend to tell you that I know the plan for transformational change, but I know it’s easier to begin having difficult conversations now than it is when we lose control and don’t have a voice in the game. Let’s not wait for someone else to decide the future of 6700 N. High St. Let’s take the lead. Let’s dream big, speak up and shape the future of Worthington together. The time is now, and the opportunity is ours to seize.