CMHOhio

This is what I'm worried about as well. Back in 2003 when COTA was proposing their Fast Trax light rail line from downtown to Polaris along the freight tracks next to I-71, they got as far as a MOU with CSX and Norfolk Southern: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2003/10/13/daily19.html I recall also, but can't find any source, that a plan was also floated to build new tracks and a facility for the two freight companies somewhere in Delaware or Union Co. so that the freight lines that run through the core of the city could be opened for regional and local rail. 20 years later we're still trying to figure out a way to appease the freight companies in order to get passenger rail service back in Columbus.

That really would be amazing. Sharing the existing tracks among Amtrak and the freight traffic from CSX and Norfolk Southern sounds like it is going to be a difficult task, though. Not sure how much more track they'd be willing to give up for local transit to the airport and other places. I wish the proposal from several years ago to build a new freight rail yard outside the center city for CSX/Norfolk would've come to fruition, or could be put back on the front burner. Those freight trains really get no benefit going through downtown. In fact, I think they have to slow down quite a bit going under the convention center; there was a derailment there a decade or two ago. I also wonder how this would meld with the proposed multi-modal facility at the current Greyhound bus station. It would be nice to have some kind of free shuttle connection along High St. and/or 3rd St. to connect both nodes to better facilitate transit across the region. The multimodal facility might also serve as a better hub for local bus and rail transit rather than trying to squeeze that all in under the convention center. All in all, though, it's incredibly exciting to see this plan being put forth. It really rekindles hope to see passenger rail service in Columbus in my lifetime!

This could definitely be a huge boon to the region. I wonder how much of a sure-thing it is at this point. Lots of unanswered questions as far as who else is in the running and which company intends to build this massive facility. Admittingly, this does give me flashbacks to when Foxconn was looking for perspective locations for a $10B plant that included Ohio, potentially in the Columbus area as well. Ultimately it was awarded to Wisconsin and became a huge debacle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn_in_Wisconsin Things have changed since then and this appears to be a US-based manufacturer, so hopefully it lives up to the hype.

I'm having flashbacks to the Banc One sale in the late 90s: Columbus-based Hexion to be acquired by New York private equity firm Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch The Columbus-based chemical company Hexion Holdings has agreed to be acquired by the New York private equity firm American Securities. American Securities will pay $30 a share for Hexion. The company did not say how many shares were outstanding, or the total value of the deal. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/12/21/columbus-company-hexion-acquired-new-york-firm/8973914002/ It remains to be seen what will happen to the local workforce and office space, but it doesn't sound all too promising. From the article: Hexion said the spinoff and sale would impact Columbus employees, but did not provide details. "As part of the sale of our epoxy business to Westlake, we would expect some associates to be part of the transaction. Hexion Holdings expects to remain a large Columbus-based employer," a company spokesperson said in an email.

Double-right. CMH-SFO on UA has also been postponed now until June 2022. While disappointing, these were marginal routes to begin with for either airline. The elimination of SLC seems to be part of a broader trend by DL. Hopefully the route comes back after the airport expansion there is complete. I imagine CMH-SFO hinged quite a bit on connecting traffic to Asia, which has nearly evaporated. Without that traffic, the route just isn't sustainable at this time.

Probably that latter, but cool find, nonetheless! I don't think anyone has considered a potential station being that far south, especially so far away from the convention center and site of the former Union Station. Only thing I can think of with that site is that there's plenty of parking!

Bring it on! Can't wait for this next tower to start rising. Also psyched for the expanded North Market!

This could be a great place for a Yard House: https://www.yardhouse.com/home There's one in The Banks in Cincinnati. OMG! 🤣🤣🤣 - though, technically, it should be "Castillo Blanco" 😉.

Loving this! What a great way to bring something truly local to Columbus' front door for so many travelers. I've always loved CD101 102.5 92.9 and their commitment to being a local alternative on Columbus airwaves. Some other cool tidbits from the local aerodrome: "Paw Force One" therapy dog program debuts at CMH: https://newshub.columbusairports.com/storage/production/20211104102020-paw-force-one-launches-at-cmh.pdf Clear is now available at CMH, joining 40 other airports: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/15/clear-expedited-security-service-cmh.html

I think we all know what you mean, @OhioFinest. We all would love to see a gleaming, 60-story building downtown - that's part of why we participate in forums like these. But that desire has to be tempered with the current realities of our downtown. Right now, activating the street-level and creating a more dense, urban environment are the greatest and most desired needs. Going back to Hilton 2.0, though - loving all the photo updates showing the impact the tower is making on the skyline. It's really going to be an amazing structure once all is said and done.

Glad this is happening for a multitude of reasons. More residential is certainly needed in the downtown core. This should also help with the glut of office vacancies by taking the building out of inventory. I wonder just how much this conversion is dependent on TMUD money. A $12 mil purchase price seems like of a hell of a bargain - that should allow them to plunk quite a bit of money on the conversion. But then again, if the funds are there, might as well throw one's hat in the ring.

Agreed. It would be nice to see this office space and that around downtown be filled by companies either expanding their local presence or relocating from outside the metro/Ohio. Here's hoping. I'd add the West Coast as well, as we’ve had some success attracting some California companies here in the form of relocated office space or HQ2s.

I guess so. I don't get the fascination with a glorified gas station. Here I thought Wawa was the pinnacle of fancy convenience store/gas stations (e.g. the Wegman's of the trade).

I was really looking forward to seeing this building going up, especially its last iteration. While I understand it's difficult to undertake such an investment in the current environment, it's still very disappointing.

Scheme B is sounding like the preferred option, for me at least.

Why is this photo freaking me out? What's up with the topography in the background? Did downtown move towards Lancaster while I was away?

Exactly. SFO and SLC have remained on the schedules but have been continuously pushed back. LAX, SEA, and RDU on Delta and LAX on American have been permanently cut. Lots of opportunities here. PDX and SAN from CMH would be at the top of my list, personally. Might also see them enter an LA Basin (BUR, ONT, SNA) or Bay Area (OAK, SJC) airport, in which case CMH could potentially see service to one of those.

It really is a handsome building and would make fine apartments/condos for anyone willing to take it on. Sounds like it would require quite a bit of work inside. Maybe it could qualify for historic tax credits? As far as a new downtown location for the YMCA, possibilities are filling fast. Maybe someplace in or around the Warehouse District/CSCC or East Main St./Red Brick District?

Looks like this is good to go: Downtown Commission signs off on office, residential buildings near Lower.com Field By Bonnie Meibers – Staff reporter , Columbus Business First The first two buildings in Astor Park, the mixed-use development planned near the Columbus Crew's new home, are ready to start construction soon. After getting a certification of appropriateness from the Downtown Commission, Pizzuti Cos. and Haslam Sports Group will now start the entitlement process and work to get the project rolling. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/10/26/astor-park-office-building-and-residential.html

This? It was met with a "oh, that's cute" reaction here in NYC...🤣

Agreed. I doubt there is statistical evidence of people choosing to move somewhere based on state politics, but I'm sure there is plenty of anecdotal. I'm one of them. I would love to move back to Ohio, Columbus in particular. I have job prospects and housing lined up. But every time I go back to Ohio and watch the batsh*t crazy political ads and read about what state representatives want to do, it firmly closes the book on that idea.

Totally got that feeling as well. I've never seen these proposals before. Thanks very much for sharing, @CBUS_Res. Also glad that these particular plans never came to fruition!

Likewise! It felt like Christmas yesterday opening each thread to see the latest progress photos. Thanks @NorthShore647 for taking the time to do this!

I have to wonder if any other mid to large-sized cities have this problem with local commissions and if it's to the same extent. Is it because Columbus had bulldozed so much of its built environment that now because buildings of some height are being built or proposed close to each other we've forgotten what that's like? Do people on these commissions know what living in a downtown environment is like? This is totally baffling. They want a dense, urban environment but don't want anything above 5 floors? 🤨