CMH_Downtown

Quick update, more food venues: Gateway to get Ugly Florida sources say Ugly Tuna Saloona, currently with one unit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., soon will become a chain of two. The second is in the works for the Campus Partners South Campus Gateway project. The restaurant, with a menu heavy on fish and shellfish, is noted for seafood steampots, conch fritters and fresh-shucked oysters. Potbelly to open at Gateway Potbelly Sandwich Works, a Chicago-based chain of 76 company-owned restaurants in eight states, will open what it calls a "quirky sandwich joint" in the Campus Partners’ South Campus Gateway project in July. Marketing chief David Selby said the menu includes desserts and hand-dipped ice cream for shakes. More at http://www.dispatch.com

Whoa whoa whoa, settle down Annie Oakley. The billboards were placed under the impression that no federal laws were in violation. ODOT approached the city saying they were. Naturally the city is going to find a way to keep them up, this article is stating that ODOT still does not approve. Of course they will be taken down/reduced in size if it comes down to loosing $100 mil. highway dollars. Yikes bud, switch to decaf before you hurt yourself.

I was being facetious. :-P

Career center to go Downtown Columbus schools to buy 3.5-acre site Friday, April 29, 2005 Sue Hagan, THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS The Columbus Public Schools have found a site for a new Downtown career center after years of talk about the project. The district plans to spend $2.2 million to buy the old Heer building, which takes up the block between 4th and 5th streets south of Mound Street, said Carol Olshavsky, who oversees the district’s building campaign. The 3.5-acre site includes two parking lots. The new school is slated to open the fall of 2008, about two years later than originally planned. The 126,000-squarefoot school will be designed for 817 students, and the entire project will cost almost $24 million. Superintendent Gene Harris has pushed for a Downtown career center since the district began planning its $500 million rebuilding project. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=common&story=thisweeknews/042905/GermanVillage/News/042905-News-62391.html

ODOT needs to be dissolved. The agency thinks they're god. Downtown murals must go, ODOT says City trying to fashion compromise solution Friday, April 29, 2005 Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Downtown Commission is proposing to wipe out the large advertising murals that started a high-stakes fight between Columbus and the state. The group that oversees Downtown construction projects once said allowing the signs enlivens Downtown. But if they’re not removed, three towering murals approved under city guidelines could cost the state $100 million a year in federal highway funds, Ohio Department of Transportation officials say. The controversy led the developers of a project at Broad and High streets yesterday to scale back murals and other signs out of concern that they wouldn’t pass muster with ODOT. Downtown Commmission Chairman Harrison Smith said yesterday that the city is proposing new regulations that would limit ads to 1,200 square feet, the maximum allowed by the federal Highway Beautification Act. Officials hope that the smaller signs will convince the Federal Highway Administration that the city should be allowed to use local policies to govern outdoor advertising. "We certainly anticipate the feds would accept it," Smith said. More at www.dispatch.com

Gateway has signed on another new food venue. I'm not sure why The Dispatch says its the first, since Happy Greek and Panera I believe have already confirmed to the project: Gateway signs Mad Mex In what appears to be its first confirmed food venue, Campus Partners' South Campus Gateway project has signed Pittsburgh-based Mad Mex to a lease for 4,600 square feet. Cary Klein, chief executive for bigBurrito Restaurant Group, said he has "the prime spot'' adjacent to the planned movie theater. Part of the location includes an all-year patio. The opening for the seven-day-a-week restaurant is planned for late August. Mad Mex outlets can be found near other major universities, including Penn State University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Pittsburgh. The unit near Ohio State University will be the first outside Pennsylvania. More at http://www.dispatch.com

Borden had originally planned to consolidate its headquarters in offices it owns outside of downtown, I believe in Easton. Borden to join other firms, form Hexion By Tom Matthews THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Borden Chemical soon will be known as Hexion Specialty Chemicals. The industrial-resins company said yesterday that it will merge by June 30 with two Houston chemical companies and complete its previously announced acquisition of the German company Bakelite AG. More at http://www.dispatch.com

Looks like Carlyle's Watch is a go: Carlyle's Watch gains funding, sets schedule The developer of Carlyle's Watch at 100 E. Gay St. in Columbus expect to begin the 56-condo project within 45 days now that it has secured $8.43 million in construction financing from U.S. Bank. Developer Urban Loft Ventures I said it is scheduled to begin demolition of a building at the site in early June. Ruscilli Construction Co. will serve as general contractor on the Myers-Welsh Architecture -designed project, while Cleveland-based Sanchez Group will represent the owner as construction manager. Jason Davis of Re/Max Associates will market the condos, which will sell for between $160,000 and $450,000 each. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

Looks like the Icehouse Lofts are no more, at least for now: Ice House condos nixed; Carlyle's Watch ready to go Brian R. Ball Condo builder Global Development Group LLC won't redevelop a former ice warehouse at 260 Naghten St. in Columbus, saying it could not work out the financial details of building a two-level parking deck west of the six-story building. Jason Diwik, chief operating officer of Mexico City-based Global Development, confirmed the developer stepped away from the 69-unit Ice House after lender requirements would have forced doubling the equity in the overall deal to $4 million. More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/

Columbus Business First printed a follow-up article concerning local merchants' positions on the planned Whole Foods downtown and the study being done to see if the project would be feasible: Market anxiety high over grocery study Kathy Showalter Business First Read at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/daily31/2005/03/25/.html

Article printed in The Lantern concerning the Gateway Project. Nothing new really, but an update nonetheless. One new eatery though, Pot Belly Sandwich Works of Chicago looks to be confirmed. One warning though there is a LOT of fluff in this article from Campus Partners, you'll need a scuba tank and goggles to wade through the corporate bullsh*t: Gateway Project to benefit students soon By Stephanie Bergh Published: Friday, April 22, 2005 It is not hard to notice the construction of new buildings along High Street between Chittenden and Ninth avenues. While it might have been an eyesore and caused confusion along the sidewalk and street, an improvement is fast approaching. The $150 million South Campus Gateway project is coming to a finish, and is expected to be up and running in fall 2005, said Stephen Sterrett, director of community relations of Campus Partners. Campus Partners, which is affiliated with Ohio State but is a separate nonprofit organization, is the force behind the project. "The purpose of Campus Partners is to spearhead improvements in the quality of life in the university district," Sterrett said. "This is done through community-based planning, facilitation or improving municipal services, and specific projects, such as Gateway." Founded in 1995, Campus Partners began its initial ideas for redeveloping High Street in 1995 and 1996, Sterrett said. In 1998 and 1999, he explained, a design competition and an agreement from the university got the project underway, and land was acquired for the site. Soon to follow was the demolition of the old buildings and construction of the new structures. More at http://www.thelantern.com

There was another thread concerning planned streetscape improvements along Grant, Gay, and Spring, but I can't find it. I must say though, this is definitely needed. Much of Spring and Grant, especially east of High are literally crumbling. Columbus Council OKs money for downtown Columbus City Council allocated $114,000 Monday for a group whose goal is to redevelop the downtown area. The Columbus Downtown Development Corp. is a nonprofit agency charged with redeveloping downtown. It is working to convert the former Lazarus store site into office and arts space and attract development to the RiverSouth area, the part of downtown by the Scioto River. Its Scioto Mile plan will add green space and sidewalks aside the river. Council also voted to spent $630,000 for roadway improvements for parts of Gay Street, Grant Avenue and Spring Street. Improvements to the trio of downtown roads will include new streetlights, trees, bike racks and sidewalk replacements. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

Residential units? I don't know, that building could've been used for something better in my opinion. It's surrounded by parkland and sits on the Maumee, kind of an akward place for residential, especially one bedroom spaces. I think it would serve better as a mixed use establishment, maybe hosting traveling exibits in conjunction with COSI Toledo (right next door) as well as providing park and recreation information and rentals. Some restaurants, like a microbrewery as mentioned, coffee shop, and other establishments could have filled the rest.

That's 'cause Ohio sucks.

Also, I found the article concerning the reaction from Franklinton to be pretty neutral for the most part. Sure, there are many that have fond memories and are sad to see the 'Coop's useful life coming to an end, but their not going to war about it. Plus the stadium and Franklinton are, for the most part, incompatable. This guy summed it up pretty well: In front of his Bellows Avenue home, Daniel Bowman said baseball hasn?t done much for his neighborhood except create traffic jams. He?s not seen people stay in Franklinton for dinner or a drink, the way officials say fans will help Downtown. Bowman said Cooper Stadium was only about a quarter-full for the last game he attended. A baseball stadium, even a renovated one, isn't going to prop up Franklinton. With the stadium cleared away, the county and private investment can come in and build on the site infrastructure that CAN help, especially with much of that area no longer considered to be floor-prone. I think, contrary to what Mr. Bowman said in his last statement from the article, that moving the Clippers downtown is, in a way, definitely concentrating on the neighborhood. I personally would like to see more affordable housing placed in the area, parkland, and dense commercial built up along W. Mound St.

The Dispatch had an accompanying article with reaction from the soon-to-be neighbors of the new stadium: Would-be neighbors all for Arena District stadium plan Saturday, April 16, 2005 Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A Downtown stadium for the Columbus Clippers could bring year-round professional sports to the Arena District and spark new development west of Neil Avenue. Franklin County commissioners yesterday announced that the minor-league baseball team will join the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey and Columbus Destroyers arena football teams Downtown, most likely on 7 acres on W. Nationwide Boulevard. "The importance of the commissioners’ decision today would be difficult to overstate," said Larry Fisher, president of Columbus Downtown Development Corp. "There’s no question a ballpark causes development around it." Brothers Steve and Jeff Wittmann began buying property west of Neil in 1998. Now, their commercial buildings are likely to stand in the shadow of a new Clippers stadium. "Five years from now, the look of this whole area will have changed dramatically," Steve Wittmann said. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/04/16/20050416-B1-02.html

A follow-up on the public forum last night was printed today in the Dispatch. Sounds like some good ideas, finally some firm dates, and some good criticisms: Planner seeks ideas to improve S. High Street Pedestrian safety, access called priority Thursday, April 14, 2005 Matthew Marx THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH S. High Street needs a major overhaul regardless of how RiverSouth takes shape, the Downtown redevelopment project’s lead planner said. Traffic patterns and lighting must be improved to make walking safer and easier on High Street, from Capitol Square to German Village, architect Neil Kittredge told 100 people at a forum last night. "This really isn’t a street you want to stroll around on right now," said Kittredge, of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners. The New York urban-planning firm and the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. hosted the forum to generate ideas for developing the 25 acres bounded by W. State Street, S. High, W. Fulton Street and the Scioto River. Already proposed for the area or in planning stages are the former Lazarus building project; relocating BalletMet to the area; realigning the Town Street bridge and creating a pedestrian bridge; improving Bicentennial Park; and expansion of the county courthouse. The final plan is due in July. Anyone with suggestions is asked to e-mail [email protected]. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/04/14/20050414-B1-00.html

Public forum to be held tonight. I can't go though, since I have work: Firm hired to develop plan for RiverSouth Forum tonight will let public make suggestions for Downtown project By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The New York firm that submitted the earliest plans to rebuild the site of the World Trade Center has been hired to plan the future of the southwestern quadrant of Downtown. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners is to produce a redevelopment plan for RiverSouth by July. Redeveloping the 25 acres bounded by High Street and the Scioto River, from State Street to Fulton Street, was a goal in Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s 2002 Downtown plan. Columbus Downtown Development Corp., a nonprofit business group charged with redeveloping Downtown, hired Beyer Blinder Belle in February to help envision a plan for RiverSouth. The goal is to replace parking lots, aging offices and warehouses with an urban neighborhood. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/04/13/20050413-B3-00.html

I posted an update regarding the planned Arena Park Place project here a month or two ago: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2227.0 This weekend though, BusinessFirst posted another article regarding the development. It looks like the investors really want to get this thing built... New look for North Market condos Developer overhauls plans in response to commission input Brian R. Ball Business First A dramatically revised plan for a condominium building next to the North Market in downtown Columbus has received the conceptual blessing of the city's Historic Resources Commission. But the altered plans of developer Tony Sharp must still pass through closer scrutiny before construction could begin late this year. The commission in March approved the concept for a nine-story, 60-residence project at 504-512 Park St. The proposed 90-foot-high building is half the height of the 12-story building offered by Sharp in his original plan last August. That plan called for a mezzanine level that would have include a club house. The project faced a city rules hurdle, however, because zoning standards for the neighborhood limit building height to 60 feet unless the commission approves a variance. The developer said the revised building includes 20 fewer condos than the initial plan. The newest version contains three levels of underground parking with about two slots for each condo. The design from Moody-Nolan Inc. changed the building's setback above the fifth floor, hiding the top stories from view from sidewalks alongside the structure. The project also incorporates three buildings that the Historic Resources Commission sought to retain so they could contribute to the architectural complexity of the neighborhood. More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus

Some recent news on the proposed development of Gowdy Park: Three development groups asked for Gowdy Field proposals Columbus Urban Growth Corp. plans to ask three development teams to submit formal proposals for the redevelopment of the Gowdy Field site near Grandview Heights. Urban Growth will ask Continental Real Estate Cos., Opus North Corp. and Daimler Group Inc./Wagenbrenner Cos. to submit proposals to develop office buildings of 65,000 and 120,000 square feet on the 28-acre site along Olentangy River Road between West Third Avenue and Goodale Street. Odis Jones, Urban Growth managing director, said 18 developers responded to an initial request for qualifications sent out this year. The three finalists will submit proposals for the project by late April with selection of a developer expected by mid-May, he said. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2005/04/12/daily24.html

I think that is key. City Center as it currently stands is far too big for the area it now serves and needs to have storefronts removed. Also as mentioned, City Center is only really busy during the lunch hour, as there are still some decent restuarants in the mall, but no food court. As I mentioned earlier, they should make Town St. cut through the mall and stick the restaurants facing the open areas. I think the demand still remains for several chain stores, and Limited's hometown ties should at least keep some in there. As far as Kaufmann's future goes, it's really up in the air as far as I'm concerned. Considering Federated had no intentions of keeping the Flagship Lazarus store open, I don't see why their stance should chage as far as the downtown Kaufmann's goes. That's correct. When Field's left the Columbus market, Kaufmann's took over both their location in City Center and the Mall at Tuttle Crossing. The store's interior is very nice, but the exterior is horrid, and looks extremely out of place and is in no way inviting to foot traffic, or just about any other traffic in general. Renovations would certainly have to be made there to keep the department store viable.

Nope, still waiting for news. The last time I passed by the project it looked like most exterior work is just about finished. I think the only firm tenants right now are Drexel, B&N, Footlocker, Happy Greek, and Panera.

Wow, I didn't realize that the first 11 townhomes have been sold. I think that bodes pretty well for the continued progress of Jeffrey Place. I pass by the project just about every day on the way home from work and I've watched them measure out where roads and lands plots will be sectioned. Here's hoping the project proves to be successful and spreads over to the Milo-Grogan neighborhood.

Kudos to Kroger for making good on their word and going through with their new downtown store. Judging by the article, it sounds like the facade will mix nicely with existing structures and those under construction. With the first phase of Liberty Place now under construction along with Brewer's Gate, there should be pleanty more residents that will take advantage of the new store in addition to those already in the Brewery District, German Village, and RiverSouth and the Franklin Co. government complex. Now if only the planned Whole Foods is approved in the North Market/Arena District area, we'll have the entire downtown covered!

That's what I was thinking. The neighborhood might be destroyed, but it looks like the spirit of those that live there is not. Hopefully with that mindset, they can see their neighborhood start to turn back around in their lifetime.