casey

I think there could definitely be a coming crisis in the Columbus housing market, especially at the lower end. I actually think some of the postwar 60s-70s areas that have become very cheap in the last 20 years (Forest Park, Northland) will be desirable once again before some of the prewar neighborhoods like the Hilltop or South Linden Couple this together with the fact that a lot of other postwar development that has aged (and would traditionally be the next stop out for those displaced from gentrifying inner city neighborhoods) never lost its desirability at all (Bethel Rd, NW Columbus in general) and are unlikely to. So, when places like the Hilltop finally do start to get repopulated and invested in, I'm really not sure where is left for those people to go... Right now the only places that seem to make sense are Eastland/Reynoldsburg and S High between Grove City and Obetz, which are not even remotely large enough to carry that burden by themselves

Eh it's a little better, but the addition is still not as good IMO as the previous Cambria proposal. One more revision and the IVC will probably approve it Just getting this site fully activated again will add a lot to the area though. Hope they can get underway this summer

Aside from Jake's points which I agree with, I would hardly call a difference of 300 "far more" considering one is increasing by greater than 50 per year and the other is dropping by over 10 In less than 5 years from now Franklin County will likely be on top as far as density, and that's with a substantial amount of the southwestern portion embargoed from any development at all thanks to the Big Darby Accord

2017 county and metro population estimates will be released Thursday morning. Should be interesting to get a look at, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/metro-county-popestimates.html The previously released statewide total estimate for Ohio in 2017 was 11,658,609, +36,055 from 2016, or +122,105 from the 2010 census

This is definitely true. One of my favorite buildings that was demo-ed for the original South Campus Gateway was a two level retail building at 11th and High with stores below grade and above. A very particular type of structure which seems to have only had a brief life in American cities from the 50s to the early 90s. Aside from the obvious ADA limitations and requirements which discourage them in general, I think poor cell service in basements also makes them less desirable these days. People get very anxious and don't want to hang out for periods of time anywhere they can't be reliably connected Used Kids actually used to be in the basement of what's now the Pita Pit and Sbarro (with some very treacherous steps to get down below), but when the building was renovated circa 2008 the basement space was just totally sealed off like it never existed

Don't feel so bad about Too's, they were only displaced above ground a few blocks north and are now known as "Three's" Same with one of my other favorites, Used Kids, which is now in a larger spot and the anchor of a budding commercial strip of local businesses at Summit and Hudson As an OSU alum, I definitely understand the nostalgic handwringing that "the kids these days" won't get the same experience that I had, but the fact is most of the new buildings we've seen on campus lately are replacing things no one should really miss. A perennially overpriced Shell station, two suburban style Wendy's, a former CVS turned Dollar Tree, a drive-thru Taco Bell, etc. Sure, mostly chains will take their place, but most were chains before to begin with, and the new buildings offer at least triple the number of storefronts, in an appropriately urban format, along with 4 or 5 stories of apartments on top. Not a bad trade-off and pretty much the farthest thing imaginable from creating "a suburban shopping plaza" The 15th/High district is legitimately a bit more contentious, and I wish there had been some historic preservation of the Wellington and neighboring buildings. Aside from that one piece (and Mama's Pasta and Brew), again what has been wiped out? Kinko's, Huntington, PNC, Jimmy John's, and Charley's Subs. Long's and SBX would be dead anyway thanks to the internet. I don't think the majority of what has or will be redeveloped actually added much character to the area other than the memories we all had there

Work is underway on Warby Parker,

Looking forward to hopefully some announcements on retail for this soon

I still don't really "get" this project, and would much rather see a building here, but I guess this is happening... Vacant lot envisioned as focal point of social justice movement http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180318/vacant-lot-envisioned-as-focal-point-of-social-justice-movement

There's a proposal for a 13 unit apartment building with ground floor retail/restaurant for a corner lot at State and Mill Sts up for review at this month's EFRB meeting. This is just a first conceptual review Preliminary plans and some 3d views are online in this packet, https://www.columbus.gov/uploadedFiles/Columbus/Departments/Development/Planning_Division/Boards_and_Commissions/East_Franklinton_Review_Board/Meetings/2018/March/EF-18-03-001_548%20West%20State%20Street.pdf The developer is from Pittsburgh, https://www.oxideredev.com/about/

Yikes, I hope I'm wrong but my initial reaction to this is that it's definitely not good news... Lots of meaningless "smart city" jargon, no experience at all with bus systems (let alone large, multi-modal, metropolitan transit agencies to which COTA should aspire)... COTA expected to name transportation engineer Joanna Pinkerton as new CEO http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180314/cota-expected-to-name-transportation-engineer-joanna-pinkerton-as-new-ceo

Well, it's not a restaurant, but the vacant space on the end of 200 Civic Center's parking garage will have a new tenant in June - the "Smart Columbus Experience Center" Smart Columbus plans $1M HQ – with electric vehicle test driving – along Scioto Mile Visitors to the Scioto Mile this summer can test-drive an electric car – hopefully before they run through the Bicentennial Park fountains – in a $1 million Smart Columbus headquarters with an interactive education center. The Columbus Partnership has put out a request for companies to donate electric cars and populate the 3,000-square-foot showroom with exhibits on connected vehicles, renewable energy, smart lighting, internet of things and other technologies that would reduce carbon emissions. Smart Columbus plans to move its office from leased space at Idea Foundry in Franklinton, saving on rent that the Partnership has been paying. Staff would be on hand to interact with the public and answer questions. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/03/13/smart-columbus-plans-1m-hq-with-electric-vehicle.html

View from the other side -

Always good to see more urban multifamily development, but yikes - losing those historic buildings is downright criminal

This sounds like a good project. And it will be even better once this part of the freeway gets rebuilt and capped Five-Story Hotel Proposed in German Village https://www.columbusunderground.com/five-story-hotel-proposed-in-german-village-we1

Those Harrison tower apartments are a total disaster on the inside - oppressively low ceilings, inoperable windows, awkward layouts, stains and smells on every surface from decades of smoking, etc... I'd love to see a total tear down actually and a rebuild of the site

Sounds like the new hotel will be officially announced tomorrow. This dispatch article also had an updated rendering, http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180311/city-county-weighing-options-for-paying-for-expanded-hilton

Wasn't really sure of the best thread, but I came across this amazing 360 panoramic drone shot taken last month on the downtown riverfront. It's fully zoomable and offers a terrific view of all kinds of projects underway/completed in the area from a unique vantage point - scioto greenways, scioto peninsula park, veterans memorial, riversouth, arena district, franklinton, etc etc - https://goo.gl/maps/EFuDtuhWDtG2

I also have always been a fan of the Convention Center's design. Yes, the street would be better and more active with retail spaces, but overall it's handled very well compared to most other cities. The recent streetscape work, new north entrance/atrium, and Arnold statue are huge improvements too The most important thing IMO is that the other side of the street is fully activated (this is where the Greek Orthodox cathedral really hurts, and the current Hilton also to an extent). High St through campus is actually a similar situation and no one ever calls it "dead," with academic buildings, garages, and plaza/green space on the west side, and retail/mixed-use opposite on the east

According to Biz1st, "Plans shown to Columbus and Franklin County officials show a tower of at least 23 stories built on the southern end of the convention center next to High Street with 17 floors with guest rooms, a ballroom, a restaurant and bar and additional meeting rooms" And they include this rendering, https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/03/01/downtown-hilton-seeking-to-expand-to-1-000-rooms.html

The large greek orthodox cathedral at High and Goodale opened in 1990. In order to construct it, a block of historic commercial buildings along High St were demolished. Outcry over that loss helped lead to the establishment of the current North Market historic district. The original historic church was much smaller and located on Park St, and it was demolished for an expansion of their religious school and other facilities.

Cameron Mitchell, Columbus State plan $33 million culinary gateway Columbus State Community College, in partnership with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, has announced plans for a new $33 million project meant to serve as a gateway to its Downtown campus and boost its culinary and hospitality program to new heights. The $33 million gateway project, planned for 250 Cleveland Ave., will include an 80,000-square-foot, three-floor building for Columbus State’s hospitality management and culinary arts program and new green space in the area of Mount Vernon Avenue, east of Cleveland Avenue. The college also is working with the city of Columbus on streetscape plans, utilities and parking improvements to support the project. http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180227/cameron-mitchell-columbus-state-plan-33-million-culinary-gateway

I generally agree, although in a way it's oddly fitting as a echo back to the original 1960s-90s COSI that did exactly the same thing to Memorial Hall -

That would be quite an undertaking. The east side is 1 story higher than the west side. The connector would need a grand set of stairs, elevator and perhaps escalators. COSI would need to rework the ticket lobby to separate it from the connector. Apparently they really do mean right through the middle of COSI, "The idea is to create a corridor through the middle of the building that will connect the new park to the west with the riverfront, and the millions in improvements that have been made there. The space, with winter gardens, food and retail, also will add to the traditional COSI experience" And here's a rendering, http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180227/dublin-arena-cosi-corridor-among-projects-in-line-to-get-state-cash

A beautiful sight to see!