TH3BUDDHA

I'm not really sure. I don't think too much is known about it yet. Article says that the official announcement is coming in 2020.

Today was the first I've heard about the Rapid5 project. I don't think it was public yet. The article popped up on Columbus Underground today and I posted it over on the "Ohio Navigable Waterways" thread. Maybe that post should just be moved to this thread? Here:

With the announcement of that Rapid5 project to connect all Central Ohio waterways for long distance kayaking(that I posted in the Ohio navigable waterways thread), I remembered about the quarry metro park project and how pumped I am for it. I know those articles were posted here about it, but the video gets me really hyped for it:

Rapid 5 Project Aims to Connect All Central Ohio Waterways A new large-scale project will be formally announced in 2020 with the goal of connecting all of Central Ohio’s major waterways and trails together into a cohesive system for residents and visitors. The “Rapid5” program is being spearheaded by local leadership at the Urban Land Institute of Columbus, MetroParks, MORPC, Franklin County and others. The five major waterway systems that would be interconnected include Big Walnut, Alum, Olentangy, Scioto and Big Darby. A comprehensive system could include navigable waterways for long distance kayaking and cross-city biking and running trails that touch most major parks throughout all of the municipalities of Franklin County. More here: https://www.columbusunderground.com/rapid-5-project-columbus-we1

I mean, Easton decelopers have been making pitches about the future and convincing some interesting names to buy in and locate there. There must be some special things in the works. I can't imagine some of these places would buy in to just another outdoor midwest shopping mall. I know that Forty Deuce owner gave an interview where he had never even considered the midwest. Then, the Easton developers called him and pitched their plans and he said he was blown away and is now looking to buy a house in the area. Maybe it's nothing, but people seem excited to be a part of what's coming.

The Columbus Business First article actually mentions all the 3 C's and Dayton. Looking for a job? Columbus tops the Midwest for best places to be in 2020 Cincinnati was tied for No. 8 in the ranking with Wichita, Kan.; Portland; Phoenix; Omaha, Neb., and Cleveland. Dayton came in at No. 9. Forbes said 18% of the population in Columbus works in professional and business services – the most popular sector for employment in the city. Article: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/12/12/looking-for-a-job-columbus-tops-the-midwest-for.html I also thought that the comparison of the different US regions by the Forbes article was interesting: Of the four regions measured by ManpowerGroup—Midwest, Northeast, South and West—the South is projecting the greatest hiring prospects in the new year. But the Midwest isn’t far behind: Employers in this region are anticipating a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of 21%, one percentage point higher year-over-year and the highest since 2001. As was the case in the South, the leisure and hospitality industry is propelling most of the hiring, its outlook at 32%, when seasonally adjusted. Unique to the Midwest, though, is a growing professional and business services sector, one with a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of 30% that is best illustrated in Columbus, Ohio. Here's a direct link to the actual report: https://www.manpowergroup.us/meos/public/pdf/employment-outlook-forecast.pdf

Wait, so does that usage of "Metropolitan" have any official backing or is it just your personal preference?

The way you did the GDP numbers is weird. What you refer to as "Cleveland Metro" is the combined statistical area(CSA). You compare the Cleveland CSA to Cinci and Columbus MSA. Why not just do CSA or MSA for all of them? Granted, the CSAs of Cinci and Columbus don't add much. It's just weird using different metrics for different cities when doing a direct comparison between them. That being said, your numbers for "Metropolitan GDP numbers for 2018" are incorrect because Akron isn't part of the metropolitan statistical area of Cleveland.

Public Library Association picks Columbus for 2024 convention The Public Library Association has picked Columbus for its 2024 convention destination. The convention is expected to draw 8,700 people, who will spend an estimated $11 million during their four-day visit. More here: https://www.thisweeknews.com/business/20191204/public-library-association-picks-columbus-for-2024-convention

Thinking more about it, isn't downtown actually bounded by the highways? So, doesn't it expand west to 315 including East Franklinton and the Scioto Peninsula? So, in that list, most of the things in the Franklinton section could be considered downtown and Franklinton(West of 315) should really just be CoverMyMeds(and future things coming to Graham Ford and Mount Carmel redevelopment). Maybe I'm wrong.

We also get to look forward to the Capitol Square announcement early next year. Hopefully we get some exciting news there as well.

I mean, that's easy to say when it isn't your money being invested into the project. If a developer can buy(or already owns) some cheap land, can put a smaller, cheaper building up in a MUCH quicker timeframe, and still make a ton of money, why wouldn't they do it? The outsiders are coming in with some height because they don't have as much land owned in the market. They want to maximize their numbers with what they have. At least that's my opinion.

Here's a pretty cool article about Upstart(California tech company that moved their second HQ here and is in the Lincoln building for anybody that wasn't aware). It talks about how they plan on growing this office bigger than the San Mateo one and that the CEO is also scouting for more office space. It also mentions that Columbus has a ton of talent here(one of the other developers on my team actually just took a position with them) and that they also haven't had any trouble convincing people to come here from places like NYC. There are also some cool pictures of the office and the views they have of downtown and the Short North. CBF Cool Offices: Upstart's Columbus HQ2 could grow bigger than Silicon Valley home base Upstart Network Inc. picked Columbus for its second headquarters 13 months ago and set a stretch goal of 100 employees by the end of 2019. It's already hired 120, including data scientists, software engineers and customer support staff. The Columbus office realistically could grow larger than the San Francisco-area headquarters within a year, CEO Dave Girouard said. The e-lending company has 220 employees in the San Mateo, California, home office today. Columbus could top 500, he said. "We're incredibly confident the talent is here," Girouard said. "Our business is really strong right now, and there's no reason to think it won't be in the future." Girouard was in Columbus Tuesday for an open house for vendors, fellow tech companies and public officials. He's also scouting Central Ohio real estate just months after moving into 15,000 square feet at 711 N. High St. in the Short North. ... Columbus also has proven to be "an amazing place" for recruiting out-of-towners to move, he said. The office has hires who moved from New York City and Albuquerque. More here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/12/04/cbf-cool-offices-upstarts-columbus-hq2-could-grow.html?iana=hpmvp_colum_news_headline

In light of the Brewery District announcement yesterday, I made a comment asking if this is it and the development boom is finally here to stay. So, I thought it was interesting that Columbus Business First ran this article today: Crane Watch update: Development boom 'the new normal' in Columbus As many of Central Ohio's real estate faces gathered at an industry panel in Dublin last month, there was little talk of the city's construction boom slowing down. In fact, some think the city should be ready for this pace of building for the long haul. Sitting on a panel of developers and brokers, Skip Weiler of Robert Weiler Co. said his company's apartment projects are still in high demand. In fact, its recently completed River & Rich project in Franklinton leased up faster than any other apartment project in the developer's history, prompting talk of a second phase with a 12-story tower. "People worry we're overbuilt because things are going up everywhere, but this development is the new normal in Columbus," Weiler said. "The demand will continue. It used to be that you rented because you had to, now you rent because you want to. Everywhere downtown is hot." Downtown is the watchword for Rich Schuen, too. The founding principal of Colliers International's Columbus office says half of the tenants asking his firm about space want to be in downtown or an urban environment. "Everything downtown is in high, high demand," Schuen told the group, noting the large number of out-of-state investors buying in. "The only thing that is going to hamper that sales activity is the available product." More here: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/12/03/crane-watch-update-development-boom-the-new-normal.html?iana=hpmvp_colum_news_headline

They said the next phases will be driven by the market, so hopefully the market demands it quickly. Based on an article in bizjournals today, it looks like the market is definitely demanding more and this level of development is the new norm.

Is this it, guys? Are the boom times finally here? 2020 and beyond is shaping up to be a lot of fun for us development enthusiasts.

I'm not disagreeing with you that Columbus should be doing these things, I'm disagreeing that this time will be the same. Once again, this is the important part. This was a long time ago and Columbus has changed drastically. That's why I think it's serious now. You clearly don't agree and that's fine. I guess we'll see in the next 5-10 years.

Columbus is MUCH different now than in the 80s and 90s. I personally don't think Columbus NEEDED transit then. We have enough people and growth now. That's why I think it's real this time and not then. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

The lull this year is pretty obvious. I think we've talked about it on here before. But that article said something about just a 2% decrease just this year, right? Not a long term trend? Next year is potentially a record breaking year for Columbus I've read. Also, while single family units decreased, multi family units increased, didn't they? Could this be related to some suburbs that put halts on development to figure out infrastructure?

I agree with this. That's why I think it's real this time(see my last comment). This is the first time where we're hitting a point where we NEED transit. I don't feel like we were there in the past. We're just 10-20 years behind those other cities. Jonoh81 thinks that the transit discussion still isnt real this time. I disagree because of these reasons.

Yep, I agree. This relates pretty much perfectly to my comment right above this: I think we're following the same trajectory as those cities. We're just 10-20 years behind. We'll be forced to build transit similar to how they have it now. I think this transit push is real this time because we're finally hitting a threshold where we NEED transit instead of just WANT it. I don't feel Columbus was ever at that point before. There was an article recently about how we're going to see a ton of cranes go up next year and we better get used to them for the next decade. Also, OSU recently made a release that the next 10 years will be a construction boom for them as well. Construction Dive had an article about how market indicators are predicting a construction slowdown nationally in a couple years. However, one metro showed signs of surging right through: Columbus.

I'm not sure. All I'm saying is those cities have transit because of the growth. They didn't have growth because of the transit. I think Columbus is following the same trajectory. We'll have our own half assed attempt here soon because we're also seeing growth. This time is different than past attempts because we're finally getting to the levels of growth to warrant it, similar to how those cities did 10-20 years ago.

I'm not sure I buy this. People are moving from cities on the coasts with great transit to cities like Austin and Nashville. I don't think they're doing it for the transit options.

I mean, but they attracted tons of people without transit first. They just added it after the fact. So is transit really the deciding factor for retaining people? Also, maybe Columbus is just 15-20 years behind some of those boom towns. You often hear people say that Columbus feels similar to places like Austin or Portland, we just aren't quite all the way there yet. Maybe we'll follow a similar trajectory and we're just not at the transit stage quite yet. I actually read an article recently where they had national economists in Columbus and they were talking to them and comparing Columbus to other fast growing cities and what it needs to focus on to jump into the next level along with some of those cities. One of them flat out said not to worry about infrastructure first because "cars aren't going anywhere" and to focus on the other things first. The sunbelt seems to validate what he was saying. Here's that part from the article: Levy and other national economists who have recently visited Columbus like what they see. Levy, whose expertise focuses on real estate, said that industry looks for population and talent base more than things like infrastructure. Cities like Columbus that sprawl rather than gain density in their core can succeed if they know how to build the right lifestyle and repurpose older properties for new uses that encourage live, work and play. "I don't think you're the next Seattle, though you could be in 20 years," Levy said. "But you should aspire to be like Austin, Denver and Portland, and what they have is a downtown area with a great business district and a great arts and lifestyle to complement it. That brings tourism and foreign capital. "You have two of the three big ones – foreign capital being the hardest to get – now work on the others," Levy said. "Don't just be about cost of living, because that's a race to the bottom. And don't worry about infrastructure – cars aren't going away." The article: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/02/04/columbus-has-key-advantages-to-compete-against.html

Do we over-estimate how important transit actually is to the general public on urban enthusiast sites like this? Why are sunbelt cities seeing so much growth? Don't they all have massive sprawl and bad transit?