NorthShore64

Trolley District near Franklin Park aims for August opening with food hall, brewpub Jim Weiker - The Dispatch - May 20, 2021 "DeHays expects the first phase of the district, the East Market building, a food hall and bar that anchors the development, to open in August, followed in the fall by the Columbus Brewing Co. brewpub and beer garden. ... In all, the development will house about two dozen food, bar and retail tenants in five buildings on more than 3 acres. The project is so expansive that DeHays changed the name from the Trolley Barn project to the Trolley District. ... Ultimately, the District will also include the Trolley District Apartments, a five-story, 102-unit apartment building on the southeast corner of Oak Street and Kelton Avenue, across the street from the East Market building. DeHays plans to start on the apartments in the spring." I took these last weekend while checking on the progress:

After the presentation we know what the preferred alternative is for the landside layout which can help us get a better idea on where the proposed Amtrak station could go. After consulting with ODOT, NOACA and local officials, the "Regional Concept 3" roadway configuration was chosen. This would affect the Snow/Engle/I-71 site @KJP mentioned above. The reworking of the Snow/Angle and Snow/ I-71 interchanges could be done in a way that incorporates the Amtrak station and Red Line extension while opening up adjacent land for transit oriented development. If Amtrak sticks with the Lakefront station instead of Tower City, a station could easily be connected with access via a walkway over RT-237 (as previously proposed). This would connect directly into a new rental car facility and rebuilt parking garage proposed just east of the Terminal in the landside plans. According to Director Kennedy, construction won't begin for ~5 years. If expanded Amtrak service (to a lakefront station) begins before airport construction does, a station could be built adjacent to the Brookpark Road stop on the Red Line. Connecting to the existing RTA facility, with its pedestrian walkway underneath the tracks, 1 stop airport connection and connecting bus service (along with more than enough parking) could help drive down the cost of the station. If a station could be built here (it may be too close to some of the trackwork in the NS yard), it might be the cheapest and easiest to open. The virtual public information meeting presentation this evening covered much of the same information as the presentation to the city council committee. There were only a few tidbits in the Q&A section: Planners mentioned that they didn't see a need to change the terminus/location of the Rapid. The new terminal configuration will create a shorter walk to the station. Officials want to increase ridership and improve visibility of and access to the station. The Sheraton hotel is set to be demolished, creating more space landside. With the transition away from a hub flight network at Hopkins, officials do not believe there is enough demand for an on site hotel replacement. In response to a question regarding the possible connection to an Amtrak station, Director Kennedy noted that the airport intends to seek out any opportunity for intermodal connections. The airport would "keep an eye" on the proposed expansions. During the council presentation Director Kennedy and Transportation Committee chair Councilmember Slife both mentioned Amtrak and the cities support for the proposed service expansions during the presentation. The city officials seem aware of this opportunity and what it could mean for the airport, city and region. It's also a good sign that throughout the process the planners have emphasized how much of an asset the existing Red Line connection is.

* Cleveland.com Subscriber Exclusive Article * $2 billion plan to rebuild Cleveland Hopkins International Airport includes four new concourses, I-71 interchange, more Susan Glaser - Cleveland.com - May 19, 2021 "Airport director Robert Kennedy outlined the key features of a $2 billion plan to rebuild Hopkins to members of Cleveland City Council’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday. ... When completely finished, the airport would feature one renovated concourse (concourse A), and four new concourses (B, C, D and E). About 29% of the airport would be renovated, with 71% brand new. ... Realistically, Kennedy said construction on the first phase of the plan, which would cost an estimated $780 million, wouldn’t begin until 2026. ... Now, the plan goes to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval, and then back to the community for financing and implementation." Phase 1: Final Phase: Here is the presentation to the Transportation Committee from today:

Renovation Planned for Delaware Train Station Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - May 18, 2021 "Located at the southeast corner of East Central Avenue and Lake Street, the historic building has been slowly deteriorating for decades. Columbus-based RiverWest Partners is now moving forward with the project after pandemic-related delays. An LLC associated with the firm bought the property in November of 2019 for $185,000 from CSX Transportation, according to property records. ... Suiter said he anticipates a mix of retail and office tenants in the building."

After three years, Hill Farm's proposed 229 houses at Scioto Darby and Elliott roads back in play A. Kevin Corvo - ThisWeekNews - May 14, 2021 "Three years after Hilliard City Council rejected a proposed rezoning by M/I Homes to build 229 single-family residences at Scioto Darby and Elliott roads, the project known as Hill Farm recently received a positive recommendation, with modifications, from the Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission. The proposal involves rezoning most of the the 205-acre parcel from rural residential to Hilliard Conservation District, and it will return to council for final consideration. ... The 229 units include 60 empty-nester “quads," with the remainder being single-family residences on lots of two sizes, Barkan said. ... Hill Farm would be built in five phases in about five years after the start of construction, Barkan said." From the Hilliard Planning and Zoning Commission May 13, 2021 meeting:

(5-16-21) (5-15-21)

Cleveland’s West Side Market targeted for $2.1M in upgrades Robert Higgs - Cleveland.com - May 18, 2021 "Work at the market will include: Replacement of all exterior doors. Improvements to the electrical system. Masonry work needed on the clock tower. New vendor booths. Improvements to the meat preparation area used by several butchers in the market. Better refrigeration and food preparation areas. Upgrades to allow better control of the temperature in the building, which has no heating or air conditioning, to address the heat of summer and cold of winter."

#SavedTheCrewAgain

Yes this proposal would remove the existing Shoreway from the Main Street Bridge to East 9th. A new roadway would start from an intersection at West 3rd north of the tracks and south of the stadium. It would then travel east underneath the mall extension/land bridge, towards a new signalized/at grade intersection with East 9th replacing the diamond interchange. There is potentially billons in federal funding for highway removal coming in the near future which could help fund this project. The Haslam's deep pockets can sure help. According to the article, the Browns payed $1 million for this plan (which was developed by Nelson Byrd Woltz landscape architects, CallisonRTKL, Osborn Engineering and AoDK Architecture). An early estimate for the projects cost is $229 million.

The video rendering from the Article:

GCRTA Launching System Redesign With A Week Of Free Rides In June Taylor Haggerty - Ideastream - May 11, 2021 "After years of planning a system redesign, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is launching new bus routes in June. Some routes will be shortened or changed under the new plan to allow for greater frequency of service in high-traffic areas. RTA officials are working to communicate the changes to riders ahead of the redesign’s launch on June 13." This is a very nice representation of the upcoming system changes, and a useful comparison to the existing routes: http://www.riderta.com/systemmap

Breakaway Music Festival returning to Columbus in September Hayleigh Colombo - Columbus Business Journal - May 13, 2021 "The Breakaway Music Festival is coming back to Columbus this fall. After a one-year hiatus because of Covid-19, organizer Prime Social Group announced that the festival will take place at the old Crew Stadium Sept. 3-4."

Work Could Start This Summer on IBEW Development Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - May 14, 2021 "Kaufman Development received approval this week from the Victorian Village Commission to redevelop the former International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers site at 23 W. Second Ave. ... Asked to comment on what has been a very long approval process, Brett Kaufman, Founder and CEO of Kaufman Development, provided the following statement: 'We are very pleased with the end product and looking forward to starting construction this summer.'"

Demolition progress (5-13-21) In this photo from Saturday you can see the removed façade of the two story commercial building prior to demolition (5-8-21).

'Whole area's changing for the better': Merion Village site of Columbus' new affordable housing project Dean Narciso - The Dispatch - May 10, 2021 "As part of ongoing efforts to provide more affordable housing options in Columbus, city officials showed off their latest offering on Monday just a few streets north of Dunn's home. Dubbed Jenkins Street Lofts, the three-story building consists of 15 one-bedroom units, 30 two-bedroom units, and 15 three-bedroom units. All will be occupied by those having incomes between 30% and 70% of the median income for the area. ... Ginther announced $10 million in additional funding as well as a new city position to help promote and implement new projects, calling the steps necessary for 'the kind of growth that is dynamic, equitable and responsive to the needs of our residents.'" Monday's Affordable Housing Initiative Press Conference:

New senior apartments planned on once-blighted site near Westland Mall Mark Ferenchik - The Dispatch - May 10, 2021 "What was formerly acres of blighted and abandoned apartments are now going to be home to a small and affordable apartment development. But whether it's a harbinger of better things ahead for the area near Westland Mall remains unclear. Woda Cooper Companies plans to build 60 affordable apartments near the Havenwood Townhomes site, which sits just west of and across Georgesville Road from Hollywood Casino Columbus near Westland Mall. ...Woda said the company planned to begin construction later this year with units available in late 2022. The two-bedroom units will rent from $410 to $899 a month, based on income."

Franklinton getting more affordable housing with 10-unit apartment building Hayleigh Colombo - Columbus Business First - May 22, 2021 "The Franklinton Development Association is planning to start construction on the $2.25 million project at the corner of Town Street and Hawkes Avenue in about two months. The 202-204 Hawkes Avenue site is at a block that also contains Gladden Community House, Avondale Elementary School and a community garden. ... The units would be available to people who are earning 50% or 60% of the area median income, Skidmore said. For a two-person household, 50% of area median income would be a max income of $33,550 per year."

COTA Brings Express Lines Back, but Riders Still Waiting for Late Night Service Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - May 10, 2021 "The return of COTA’s limited-service, rush-hour-focused lines is a sign that some level of demand is returning for buses that take commuters from the suburbs to Downtown, but other elements of COTA’s daily bus schedule have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Riders will likely have to wait until September, for example, for the return of late night service." The following express lines were returned to service: 13 (Arlington/First Ave) 41 (Crosswoods/Polaris) 42 (Sharon Woods) 43 (Westerville 44 (Easton) 45 (New Albany) 46 (Gahanna) 51 (Reynoldsburg) 52 (Canal Winchester) 61 (Grove City) 71 (Hilliard) 72 (Tuttle) 73 (Dublin) 74 (Smoky Row)

JobsOhio using cash to edge out other states for new nonstop flights at Ohio airports Hayleigh Colombo - Columbus Business First - May 9, 2021 "Though the funding was approved before the pandemic, JobsOhio is ramping up the program now as travel begins picking back up. It has five new deals in the works at four Ohio airports that it plans to announce soon. ... Slaybaugh said that prior to the pandemic, JobsOhio was focused on attracting new international air service at the airports serving Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland. And it was hoping to attract domestic flights to smaller airports in Dayton, Akron and Toledo. Now, things have changed, he said. International travel is not expected to rebound until 2022 so the agency's focus is for now will be on domestic flights."

Treo apartment project in Cleveland on way to $1.2M tax incentive Mary Vanac - Cleveland Business Journal - May 10, 2021 "Developers of the proposed Treo apartment project at W. 25th Street and Swift Avenue in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood have asked the city for tax-increment financing (TIF) to help make their largest-ever investment. ... An ordinance that would make way for a 30-year, nonschool TIF agreement has been wending its way through Cleveland City Council and ended up on the City Planning Commission agenda on Friday. The TIF would be worth $1.2 million over 30 years, said Latoya Hunter Hayes, director of communications and media relations for Cleveland City Hall."

After winning vote, Upper Arlington community center expected to open in 2024 Nate Ellis - ThisWeek News - May 7, 2021 "Through the process, a seven-story community center concept included an indoor swimming pool, fitness facilities, three gymnasiums, a walking/running track, senior-center programming space, a child daycare component and a multipurpose event space. ... 'We will then hire a design team this summer to design the building, and we anticipate selecting a construction firm later this year,' he said. 'Right now, we are estimating (opening in) late 2024, but we will have a firmer timeline once we get through the design process and select a builder.'"

Metro Schools Planning Renovation of Former Indianola Middle School Brent Warren - Columbus Underground - May 7, 2021 "Metro Schools is looking to move its 6th-through-12th graders into the former Indianola Middle School in the University District. Columbus City Schools sold the long-vacant building – located on about nine acres of land at 420 E. 19th Ave. – to Ohio State University in 2018. The Columbus Board of Education initially agreed to sell the building in 2017, but the transaction was delayed as the two parties struggled to craft a memorandum of understanding that they could both sign off on. The move is part of a larger expansion plan for Metro, a STEM-focused charter school that is currently located at 1929 Kenny Rd."

Steel up at the Wexner Medical Center Outpatient Care West Campus (5-5-21) West Campus Interdisciplinary Research Facility The Scitech medical research and advanced manufacturing facility Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic West Campus natural gas power plant

Gravity 2 from State (crane wasn't up yesterday) (5-5-21) CoverMyMeds Headquarters (5-1-21) At Town and McDowell Streets there are two small building renovations (both were new applications for April's East Franklinton Review Board meeting). The building at 480 West Town is to be renovate into a restaurant space. The house at 468 West Town is to be renovated into office space. Just west of the two projects at the corner is the future site of the TRIAD Architects Office Building (491 West Town)

Founders Park (5-5-21) The hotel in the Founders Park, Hyatt House Columbus/OSU-Short North, will be opening at the end of July. Makley Place Apartments Michigan Avenue Infill 2nd Avenue Infill