Columbus area's third-largest home takes shape for all to see

Like a castle, the home being built on Route 315 in Delaware County seems to lord over its surroundings. 

Perched high on the west side of the road and fronted by an imposing stone entrance, the home can’t be missed. At 22,873 square feet, the structure dwarfs neighboring homes in the exclusive Trails End subdivision just south of Home Road.

Owned by David and Brenda Frecka, the home, when completed, will be the largest in Delaware County and the third largest in central Ohio, according to data from county auditors.

Only the estate of L Brands founder Leslie and Abigail Wexner in New Albany, at 43,817 square feet, and the 24,238-square-foot riverfront home of Charleys Philly Steaks founder Charley Shin are larger. (Work has stopped on a 21,276-square-foot home in Worthington that at one time would have been the third largest.) 

Unlike those and other central Ohio mega-mansions, the Frecka home is taking shape for all to see. For months, thousands of travelers who pass by have watched its progress, wing by luxurious wing.

According to plans filed with Delaware County, the home will include seven bedrooms and 13 bathrooms. 

Among the perks: 

• A master suite that includes a sitting room, an office, a spouse retreat, a massage room, an exercise room, two full bathrooms, two walk-in closets and, of course, a bedroom.  

• A "scullery" or overflow kitchen next to the kitchen with a full island and walk-in freezer.

• A wine tasting room and a wine cellar. 

• A six-car garage. 

• Girls and boys "bunk" rooms with group-style bathrooms.

• A rooftop observatory.

• A home theater with a bar, candy counter and entrance to be lined with movie posters.

• An elevator. 

• A grand oval entrance featuring two staircases wrapping around the perimeter and meeting on a landing. 

• A gift-wrapping room. 

The Freckas bought the property, which includes a barn, in the summer of 2018 and last year got it rezoned from residential district to farm residential district. Five years ago, the couple bought a 10,528-square-foot home on Strathshire Hall Place in Powell. 

David Frecka is founder and CEO of Next Generation Films, which makes packaging film for the food industry in Lexington, outside Mansfield. Through his attorney, William Heichel of Mansfield, Frecka declined an interview. 

"They're proud of the house but are not interested in speaking," Heichel said. 

The home is being built by Ralph Fallon Builders, a veteran luxury home builder from New Albany. Fallon declined to speak about the home, out of respect for the Freckas' wishes. 

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker