CMHOhio

That's exciting news. I've always loved that church as well; such beautiful Italianate architecture. Looking at Google Maps, I didn't realize the size of the lot. They could fit some nice multi-family units there along with the redevelopment of the former school and rectory.

Go Crew! COLUMBUS CREW Columbus Crew wins Leagues Cup title 3-1 vs LAFC behind Cucho Hernandez efforts Brianna Mac Kay Columbus Dispatch The Crew have won the 2024 Leagues Cup title, defeating Los Angeles FC 3-1 behind two goals and an assist from striker Cucho Hernandez. https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2024/08/25/leagues-cup-final-columbus-crew-vs-los-angeles-fc-live-updates-results/74922655007/

...and CSX and Norfolk Southern. But yeah, basically all the freight rail lines going in and out of the center of the city would make for an incredible rail transit system:

That's an insanely huge garage. I wonder if that's to accommodate the potential loss of the surface lots across 315 next to Kohls.

On the way to Fancyburg!

Over under on a 5+1, anyone?

I volunteered with the Salesian Boys and Girls club back in high school and went to that building on several occasions. I recall it maintaining a lot of character inside. I remember being thrown for a loop seeing the pool on the second or third level. Hopefully this outfit, in the process of converting the building to residential use and covering up the pool and interior walls, is able to keep some of the interior charm intact.

Some random pics I took from last month last time I was in town:

Why they got inspiration from a parking garage is beyond me.

Anything that blocks out Rhodes is a plus in my book!

Interesting list: July 29, 2024 Luxury Vacations by Diana Moreno U.S. Cities With the Most International Tourism https://www.luxurylink.com/blog/us-cities-with-most-international-tourism/ I find it odd that of the major metros in Ohio, Cincinnati was 3rd. With nonstop flights to both CDG and LHR, I would've thought the amount of international visitors would be higher. I guess it speaks more to the local demand from the tri-state for overseas travel rather than the other way around.

GoBus currently runs a CMH-Columbus-Lancaster-Logan-Nelsonville-Athens route (continuing on to Coolville, Marietta, and Parkersburg) 3x a day. https://ridegobus.com/routes/ Seems like it would be a perfect candidate for a commuter rail route. I recall the route being particularly popular for OU students flying out of CMH. I'd love to see something akin to New Mexico's Rail Runner connecting Albuquerque to Santa Fe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_Rail_Runner_Express

😎

A lot of good info from the Dispatch on the planned tear down of Latitude Five25, aka Skyview Towers, aka Sawyer Towers, aka Bolivar Arms: Chicago firm plans to buy Latitude Five25, demolish troubled Near East Side towers Jim Weiker Columbus Dispatch The Latitude Five25 apartment towers are in contract to a company that plans to replace the troubled complex with an affordable housing complex with nearly 400 apartments with the potential to more than double that number. The plan calls for replacing the towers with one five-story central apartment building surrounded by six three-story "garden" apartment buildings. In total, the complex would include 393 apartments. The central building's 177 apartments would be targeted to seniors and to multi-generational families. Paths said it hopes to start demolishing the towers the first of the next year and start construction of the new buildings in the summer of 2026, with the goal of opening the new complex in 2028. The development firm said it decided against renovating the current towers for four reasons: their deteriorated condition; the extensive renovation cost, which was nearly as high as new construction ($222 a square foot vs. $225 a square foot for new); the quality of the new construction compared to old; and the broader market appeal of new construction compared to the existing units, which have irregular floorplans, small windows and low ceilings. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2024/07/25/latitude-five25-towers-to-be-razed-by-chicago-investment-firm-nuveen/74540624007/

Wow, the interior really is gorgeous. It really would make a great space for a high end restaurant and bar on the lower level. I hope the 15-story redevelopment of the parcels next door still happens.

I'm sure all of these last minute addendums will be used as loop holes to keep things status quo by the commission. What a disappointment.

I was hoping to swing this one but the system outage affecting air travel has me stuck in NYC this weekend.

Those 10 days can't come soon enough. Assuming it passes, hopefully we see a bump in proposals as a result - especially of height over 5 floors.

Columbus downtown office space continues to struggle: Downtown Columbus office tenant lists space in troubled Continental Plaza for sublease BONNIE MEIBERS | COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST By Bonnie Meibers – Staff reporter , Columbus Business First Jul 18, 2024 Updated Jul 18, 2024 3:38pm EDT Hexion is giving up space at 180 E. Broad St. According to CBRE's second quarter office report, Hexion is listing some of its space for sublease. Hexion could not be reached for comment. CBRE declined to comment as the firm is listing space in the Continental Plaza building. Hexion listed 18,000 square feet in the building for sublease sometime in the second quarter of this year, according to CBRE. A Hexion spokesman told me in 2023 that the company leased about 126,000 square feet across six floors in the building. The building is currently about 60% occupied, according to Colliers. Overall office vacancy in downtown Columbus is about 22%, according to CBRE data. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/07/18/hexion-continental-plaza.html This, coupled with the 88 East Broad St. (former Key Bank building) and 100 East Broad St. (former Chase Bank building) mean continued turbulence for the Columbus office market. 100 East Broad has been floated as an office-to-residential conversion similar to the Continental Centre at 150 E. Gay St., but there doesn't seem to be much movement there as of late. Apparently 88 East Broad is deteriorating pretty badly with the current owners not keeping up on the maintenance of the building. I wonder if the eventual plan is for it to be torn down. I feel like a residential conversion would be hard for that property given how thin it is. At least we'd be rid of the horrible blank façade on the east side of the building.

Oops, totally missed that this morning. Hadn't had my coffee yet. 😅

I swear someone at CBF reads these forums 😂 Bluestone Brothers adds 110 apartments, still plans a grocery store for downtown Columbus development By Bonnie Meibers – Staff reporter , Columbus Business First Jul 17, 2024 The developer behind a large mixed-use development in downtown Columbus has added over 100 apartments to a previously proposed project, but still plans on trying to land a grocery tenant for the neighborhood. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2024/07/17/estrella-grocery-store-downtown-columbus.html Not much detail in the article other than reaffirming their commitment to attracting a grocery tenant to the development.

100% agree. Putting a grocery here would cater well to the growing Grant/Ohio Health campus, provide options for Holiday Inn and Sheraton guests, as well as serve the increased residential in the area (Preston Centre, Gilbert, Estrella and Greyhound station redevelopment). As mentioned, it would also make the remaining surface lots/empty storefronts in this area of downtown far more appealing. Really hope civic leaders recognize this and work towards its quick approval.

Gorgeous view of the fountains while having a delicious lunch at Milestone 229. It was earlier in the day when the photo was taken but more kids and families showed up to enjoy the fountains, which was great to see.

I got to see these flyover ramps for the first time this weekend and wow, are they horrible. The ramp almost overshadows the Main St. bridge on the downtown side and it cuts through the horizon on the Scioto-Audubon side. It's an incredible eyesore and such a detriment to the progress that's been made in making the downtown environs livable. I desperately hope that when it comes time to do those phases that there is funding to fully cap the trench all the way from Front to Grant as well as fully cap 70/71 from Spring to Main St. like they should have done in the first place when that part of highway was reconfigured. Wishful thinking, I know, but gotta remain hopeful!

Some renderings of the exterior refresh and expansion are in this article from the Dispatch. A lot of the kitschy-ness of the existing space will be removed, but the finished product as proposed certainly looks nice, and I like the activation of the second floor space: Downtown's Tip Top bar planning a facelift that includes rooftop dining Jim Weiker Columbus Dispatch One of Downtown's most beloved restaurants and bars is planning a makeover. Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, 73 E. Gay St. is planning to remodel its interior and exterior, and add second floor and rooftop seating. The makeover will replace the building's mansard roof, which covers the partial second floor, with a white brick and black siding facade. The building's front will include a wall of windows to bring light into the famously dark interior. The second floor will be split into outdoor rooftop seating and indoor private dining space. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/07/16/downtown-columbus-tip-top-kitchen-cocktails-getting-a-makeover/74428614007/