Pablo

All the trees have been removed between the stadium and river ahead of the road reconstruction project. I have mixed feelings about this. Mature trees are so much better for the environment, carbon capture and wildlife. The species doesn’t matter (some were cottonwoods). The designers could have been creative and kept pockets of existing trees and worked around them adding new trees to augment the existing. Yes, I imagine trees will be planted, but it will take decades for them to have the same effect as the removed trees. It seems that as a premier research University OSU should be in the forefront of environmental practices. Also, the paths are ridiculously symmetrical as pictured above. I suspect the landscape architect was copying the Scioto Mile layout. rant over

What's so special about the Garden building? Is it the ceramic tile façade? Would using the same material on the first floor level satisfy the commission? I think the Sutton building that replaced Grandview Mercantile used material that was similar in appearance to the demolished building.

To actually make this pedestrian friendly, there should be public access between the lots (in red) for better access to the commercial area and the woods. As currently designed, it's a bit of a walk (in blue) to the commercial area, making it less likely people will walk. They do have a couple of access points to green space, but more is needed. Maybe the multi family could be above (gasp!) the commercial?

Trippy

^I wonder when the parking lot and strip mall in the foreground will be redeveloped?

Arlington Gateway was clearly visible from Dodridge at the Olentangy River bridge this evening. The construction lighting really makes it pop. Once windows are installed I think it’ll be less noticeable.

There is a signalized crossing at May & Broad. At McDowell on the Gravity I side there's a plant bed. This really should be paved since people cross there too despite the BS "no pedestrian crossing" signs. There will be more people crossing here once Gravity II opens. In Ohio, every intersection (signalized or not) is a legal pedestrian crosswalk. This "no ped crossing" signage is such a traffic engineering solution to keeping cars moving at a Level of Service of "A" while inconveniencing pedestrians. You're right - there needs to be an island and pavement markings for a crossing. Maybe this rapidly urbanizing stretch of Broad needs a lower speed limit - but that will never happen as long as we continue to let traffic engineers design out cities.

This will complement the Starbucks right next door in both Target and Kroger.

I would like to see the floor plans - has anything been released? It seems it would be difficult to convert a large office floor plate into apartments without a lot of window frontage. The corner units might be interesting.

There are a couple of hotels on Sinclair just north of Morse that could be repurposed too. I think only on might be an operating hotel.

That's why I stopped using that location, it was just annoying to get in.

This one has been in the Weinland Park thread.

^Looking good! Hopefully this puts pressure on adjacent property owners to do something more dense. The stuff on the north side of Lane is looking pretty shabby. Most of it is in Clinton Township.

Did you happen to notice a contractor's name on any of the equipment? That would give you a clue as to what type of work is underway.

I don't think the high voltage lines along Vine can be buried - I may be wrong. When the city plants trees beneath power lines they are usually species that do not get tall. This defeats the purpose of street trees - they're supposed to get tall enough to shade the street. I agree the lines need to be buried. Most new subdivisions have underground electric.

Easton is a nice place, walkable in the core, but it's private property. It's a sanitized safe space designed to encourage spending. It's not a substitution for the public realm. Unlike a public street, you can get kicked out for any number of violations including running or swearing. I can go for a jog down High St. with no issues but I cannot run through Easton. I'd have to stick to the sidewalks along massive stroads - not very pleasant. https://eastontowncenter.com/guest-services/policies/

My wife and I risked our lives walking from Whole Foods to REI the other day (a cliché, I know). The buildings are near one another but there's no sidewalk. Yes, walking inside of Easton is fine, but walking anywhere else can be risky. City Nerd (I like his sarcastic presentation style) just released a video about lifestyle centers:

This photo was taken in 1958 from atop the LeVeque tower looking southeast before "urban renewal" and interstate construction removed about a third of what's known now as German Village. I added a few labels. The google map image shows the vast amount of land still dedicated to parking and interstates. Such a shame. Jane Jacobs said that cities need old buildings - we need to keep as much as we can throughout the city.

From the Classic Old Columbus FB group: photo looking west along the recently completed Goodale Expressway (now 670) taken in July, 1960. The bridge towards the bottom is High St. There are railroad sidings all the way out to High. White Cross Hospital is still intact across from the Goodale Park pond

Coleman was against parking lots when he was mayor too.

View of the med center from Carmenton.

Totally agree! There is plenty of room Downtown for all sorts of redevelopment. Opinion: Downtown Parking Lots Are Empty, It’s Time to Get Rid of Them https://columbusunderground.com/opinion-downtown-parking-lots-are-empty-its-time-to-get-rid-of-them-we1/

Remind me again, will busses get signal priority?

From the article - WTF?