tlb919

Okay, I want to give a little opinion and experience run down on this experiment now that it is up and going and maybe ask for bit of info or input. First, since announcement, I was actually pretty receptive of the concept of creating a Bus/Bike Lane for a possibly quick solution to speed up transit while maintaining current infrastructure. With that being said, having now experienced it two days in a row, I have some major issues and concerns. While I am not ready to call this a failure, I really do not see the current form being successful or safe at all. I am a daily bike commuter, I ride in mixed traffic and bike lanes and with that being said, this is the least safe I have ever felt biking downtown... Its a terrible, absolutely terrible. Here's why - Busses are large vehicles, I absolutely felt and believe bus drives are very aware, agile, and respectful of bikers and pedestrians (especially downtown), the bus itself sharing the lane never once felt unsafe but what happens with the busses is where the problems started. Downtown busses stop every few blocks, this automatically puts bikers in groups in a way between the busses that are flowing in the lane from stop tp stop. Because of this that means every time a bus stops or gets stacked (which often happens downtown as well) the biker is forced to make a choice to either wait behind the bus (which can be quite a while if stacked or trying to adjust its route timing) or attempt to merge into traffic lanes to go around while also trying to make sure no cars were trying to turn from the second lane since some of the turn lanes have been moved out of the bus lane configuration. So I guess my question is if there is a solution, or something I am missing because I just don't see how this achieves a whole lot as-is. Overall it felt significantly less safe and functional having to stop, merge, and hope the bus hadn't started moving yet, as opposed to the previous flow. Anyway, just some personal experience for everyone keeping an eye on this stuff. I hope these quirks can be resolved but it feels like a pretty thrown together "looks good on paper" project as it is.

In a surprising/unexpected twist, Long Street now has dueling tower cranes!

On lunch today I grabbed a few photos of the "middle" facade going up. It does appear it's going to be a grid of metallic panels. Most of these still have the protective coating but you can get a feel for the pattern and see a few where the coating has peeled to reveal the color and finish.

While I hear what you're saying, many times the concerns brought up by neighborhood NIMBYs aren't always that reasonable. I think the High & Price situation is the perfect example of NIMBYs losing their collective mind with little reasonable argument. While yes, residents should have a voice in development that happens around them, I just do not agree that if I am not a property owner that I cannot have an opinion. I would argue the killing of that project has indirectly impacted those who are not owners in the area and possibly hurt the neighborhood owners much more than that proposed development would have. You see, every project that is killed by NIMBY's adds to the housing shortage, a shortage inflates housing prices, inflated housing prices increase property value, and increasing property value increases what a developer must build to get a return on their investment. As a "non-owner", who's opinion you say shouldn't matter, let me explain why it should matter. As a renter, every "High and Price situation" is an increase in rent, it's lost density, it's lost transit focus, it's lost foot traffic for local retail and restaurant, it's lost affordable units, and it's lost time. Now, considering those things, I would say the NIMBYs have created a ripple that far surpasses their arguments of traffic and sunlight because it's not like this project is a one off, it is a constant we are seeing within these areas. Additionally, I would like to address how killing that project may actually have done local neighbors more harm than good in the long term. In areas like the SN, that property will be developed, however nothing guarantees the next proposal will address their concerns like Kaufman was trying to do. Example, Parkside on Pearl... Back in 2013, residents fought hard to keep that development from happening citing height concerns, the casting shadows on the park, density, and loss of parking. Wood Cos attempted to win over residents (much like Kaufman) by throwing in improvements to the park, shifting the massing towards High Street, lowering its height, and reducing units. Well it's now 7 years later and Wood has let other developers exhaust the residents with endless proposals and increasing density to the point that 2013 Parkside on Pearl seems mild in comparison. So now seven years later Parkside on Pearl is a taller, boxier, denser project with no park improvements. It's a great example because now, less than and decade later, neighbors are getting a larger development and less for the neighborhood value adds than if NIMBYs hadn't attempted to stall the inevitable. Mark my words, High & Price is the new Parkside on Pearl because in 5 years as housing pressures increase and new norms are set, a developer who cares a whole lot less than Kaufman will succeed at getting a project through that will make them wish they had allowed the Kaufman proposal to happen. See the thing is that saying "we support density, just not that density" isn't a solution, it's just being difficult and it will eventually lose. Instead of arguing density, traffic, and the sunlight, the residents should begin pushing for quality of materials and design because ultimately bigger projects will happen whether residents like it or not. So while I do see where you're coming from, you need to understand that there is a lot more to it then "You should be ashamed of yourself if you go tell people what they need IF you're not a property owner in the neighborhood" because it is not just adjacent owners who feel impacts of a development. So I would say instead of telling me and others to be ashamed, you should gain some perspective.

Columbus Clippers will become the "Columbus Veleros" for Friday home games through the 2019 Season to help build support and outreach within the Latin community. https://www.dispatch.com/entertainmentlife/20190326/columbus-clippers-to-become-veleros-in-attempt-to-woo-latino-fans https://www.milb.com/columbus/fans/copa

Snapped a picture of the building at 4th & Warren St on my way in today. I will say, as much as I hate that it was downsized, I don't think it's a terrible design for the area. Anyway here you go! Also you can also see the nearly complete 'Galion Flats' (4 story condo building) just behind in this picture. Additional little side note, looks like they are in the process of rebuilding a bit of the street grid with connecting Warren St across 4th into Jeffrey Park.

Walking to work this morning I figured I would snap a shot so you all can see how it works into its surroundings.

According to the VVC Agenda for this evening, it looks like the owner of 775 N High St (AXIS, Store 5a, Columbus Running Co) is proposing a 10-story mixed use addition to the existing structure and a parking garage on the existing surface lot surrounding AXIS. Certainly an interesting proposal, I'm intrigued to see the massing and designs. Anyone know any more about this? Additional Edit - The property backs up to Hubbard Park Place which I believe topped out at 8-stories? I can't imagine the gymnastic it would require to argue against a project thats only slightly taller and is directly on High St. My guess is the biggest opposition could come from Wood Companies as this would block views from the Park St side of Hubbard Park Place, but I'm not sure that would hold much water.

I come with some rough news today... Looking at a solid 26 as its stands. The project is alive, updates soon, but I figured it's maybe best to prepare you all. Sorry guys.

Not sure if anyone here ever jumps over to Columbus Navigator, it's a pretty surface site but they have recently been a nice reprieve from the CU/Walker Evans dominated Columbus info stream. Anyway, yesterday they posted a pretty interesting article that takes a fairly realistic look at Columbus and some major issues it faces and the road it took to get where it is today. Overall its not the deepest article but it is a nice realistic look at some conversations that absolutely need to be happening in terms of transit, housing, image, and growth. Enjoy. Columbus Is Booming, Ready or Not. https://www.columbusnavigator.com/ready-or-not-columbus-is-booming/

Took a walk around downtown this weekend and snapped some shots of this project. Looks like they've done quite a bit of demo and are moving along swiftly. Sorry for potato quality in advance.

Wexner has been interested for a while in a greater Natural History Museum for Columbus, and as I understand it, the AMNH partnership with COSI is serving as a little trial run. The name itself isn't resonating much with locals I have been told but the content is killing it and brining attendance. The rumors are that once the AMNH partnership wraps, Wexner is looking to bring/build a full blown Natural History Museum Downtown/Franklinton. Wexner is getting older, he wants to make a lasting mark, this is big money philanthropics to the likes of Carnegie from the rumblings I've heard. I would love this to come to fruition.

Lately, even with projects we have been working on, scale backs and material changes are more profit driven than demand driven. The situation I've noticed is that developers absolutely can go bigger, but when a developer decided to go bigger they tend to want to VE with materials. When devs VE materials, they run into issues with commissions, with commission issues comes delay and delays incur costs because every day a lot sits without a tenant is lost profit. The cycle is one that developers well understand which means they're going smaller, because in the end, smaller developments cost less, get built quicker, and profits sooner. Most of their thumping relates them wanting to pass through approvals easier. Personally, it often seems that the developers answer to supply and demand is 'Build just enough units to keep the market strong, but never enough to cause a drop in profits/rent'. Until smaller developments are seen as lost profit, this is where we will sit. It's slowly changing but not as quick as it should/could be.

Got a chance to ride in one of the autonomous shuttles this weekend... Oye So, I've honestly been a massive skeptic/realist regarding vehicle autonomy and it's practicality (which I often get told I am wrong about). So this weekend I decided it was time to go take a look for myself and ask some questions. When I got in the shuttle the first thing the driver did was inform me that due to rain, the fleet are not running autonomous currently... Interesting. So I decided to still take the loop and talk with the driver, really try and hear the details. One of the first things the driver discusses was how absolutely nerve wracking it is when its in autonomous mode, however I do believe that this is the case with any new tech, human nature. However one of the most eye opening things I was told were regarding the limitations of autonomous currently. The driver began to that the reason they can't operate autonomous in the rain is because of the vehicles sensors, basically it sees rain drops as solid objects in its way and will stop operations. The driver continued to elaborate that this is the same case with snow, a blowing leaf, squirrel, and even puddles or car exhaust that is visible. Honestly, I don't even know how one would begin to program these things out of the vehicles triggers and overall it kind of solidified my thoughts on the realities of autonomous vehicles (at least in our lifetime) becoming the standard. TL:DR - They can't function in weather or in any normal road conditions. Hopefully, you all get a chance to check them out and ask some questions yourselves. Beautiful tech and design but for sure has a longggg way to go.

Nope, many big changes are happening but it's not stalled.