The property is located in the city's Franklin Park neighborhood and is a contributing part of the Columbus Near East Side District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The site's buildings were built between 1882 and 1920 to serve public transit in Columbus, including horsecars, streetcars, and buses.

The trolley barn complex is located at the northeast corner of Oak Street and Kelton (formerly Rose) Avenue.

[2] The property also contains a 13,000 sq ft (1,200 m2) taproom for the Columbus Brewing Company,[5] in the former carriage and later trolley repair shop building.

[5] The site was planned to contain 168 parking spaces,[5] including on a plot of land north of the East Market building, which formerly held another car barn.

[10] In 2010, Columbus Compact sought community members' help in redeveloping the site, gathering a group called the Friends of Franklin Park Trolley Barn.

Amid numerous code violations, bricks and roof tiles were beginning to fall into neighboring properties, and prostitution and drug dealing was reportedly taking place there.

[3] DeHays stressed the importance of working with the community and supporting it with fresh produce and healthy food options, as the area is currently underserved by grocery stores.

[2] Earlier opening estimates called for June or July 2021, delayed by construction difficulties, including a fire damaging the roof and heavy rains that collapsed a wall.

[21] In 2019, the city approved a substantial tax agreement with the property owners, after talks with DeHayes and former mayor Michael Coleman.

[23][24] Scott Woods, writing for Columbus Alive, noted similar concerns, and that the city should be taxing the property at a higher rate.

[28] The Columbus Brewing Company opened on the site in February 2023,[6] followed by the Local Cantina restaurant and bar, part of a larger chain, in May 2023.