DTCL11

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/01/28/nationwide-realty-buys-spring-street-office.html They bought this and the old marconi garage across from AEP quietly in 2016. Edit: For clarification, it appears that it is only the building that NRI bought. My money is they are betting to be able to buy the lots in the future. But as if now, none of the surrounding lots are NRI. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/09/06/nationwide-realty-buys-downtowns-marconi-garage.html These are the two locations I referenced above. IF I was going to bet money on a new Tower from NRI, these locations would be it. I won't actually make that bet right now but they are tight plots that will hopefully dem wa and height and density to maximize profit. But they could also just sit on them for 20 years doing nothing. Before the committment to move the jobs to Grandview Yard, Nationwide planned on building a single claims office 'downtown' to consolidate their claims operations into a single building. No specifics were ever released and then grandview yard came along.

It's a tongue in cheek reference to committee meetings/discussions that go in endless circles with no conclusion that can be summarized by those two lines.

A thought experiment was proposed. Alternative opinions were shared. *end of meeting minutes* We will have to agree to disagree. Could it be done. Sure. To your original question, How would I feel. It doesn't seem worth it to me. I don't feel it would add anything other than density for density sake and I don't believe that's necessarily the way to go.

Yes. The same tracks that are immediately adjacent to the current tower and lower portion of NW. They also go under and through the parking deck. They also are immediately adjacent to the substructure of the hyatt and convention center and within spitting distance of the new Hiltons, the AEP tower and garage etc. I'm not seeing where this location is prohibitive in anyway with proper engineering. From a safety standpoint, the precedent is already there to have significant structures within feet of the railroads. The lot, though differently shaped, is not much different than the remaining lot on Goodale along 670. Mixed use or not, the value added just doesn't seem that it would be there. I don't think there is anything to be gained that can't be achieved in a dozen other adjacent locations. A far better thought experiment IMO would be adding to the acres and acres of parking decks along front street. Even just a few floors of mixed use above each of those is a much better use of resources than to try to squeeze a building into those green spaces for the sake of urban value. They could even hollow out the main lower portion and built a tower up from it and I think it would be a better option. I would argue that the main plaza is not what is redundant. The lot on NW and High is.

I would say they wouldn't ever want or need to. I'd rather see a tower at the corner of NW and High than in this spot. That plaza is the largest plaza downtown to my knowledge and there is something to be said about large plazas in terms of breaking up urban caverns. Now, the back half of the AEP land is a different story. Nationwide also owns land along Spring Street and the old Marconi Garage that was torn down, the latter of which is prime for a tower. I would refer to similar projects in other cities where a residential tower is injected into a business district and it doesn't really do much for vibrancy. It just becomes a quiet vertical gated community.

It's not a hate towards Edward's at all. I don't particularly care who the developer is. For me, it's what gets the project done in the most economical way in a reasonable amount of time. There isnt much value to saving what is beyond the facade IMO. And as I mention above, there could be value added to a fresh start behind the original exterior when it comes to the infill of the lots adjacent. It also stems from seeing projects in other cities where only the facade is saved. It's not something we see as much of here. I think it would be different if the interior was something iconic and in tact but from my understanding, much of the interior was butchered over the years as well. I'm not saying Edwards cant do it, but if they have to wait more than one round for tax credits, time to rethink the value of sitting longer vs alternative options. It may not be a popular opinion but it seems practical to me 5 years in.

And That's why saving the facades is important but frankly, the interior is not as important. Im not going to bank on it being awarded again. It may but without it, the project sits. If the project can be completed without credits and an all new structure behind the original facade, then that sounds like a winner to me. There are many places where a complete demo, save the facade, is the better option in the long run and this is probably the best example of that in the city right now. It could also make it easier to tie into a larger project to infill the adjacent lots.

Time to save the facades and move on. If there is going to be this much struggle to *potentially* renovate, let's start seeing some proposals to incorporate the original appearance with new and modern facilities behind. There are limits to full preservation sometimes and I'm not sure it's worth sitting around waiting on *potential* tax credits.

I also believe this is arshot being arshot.... no news.... 6 months later vague news... no news... questions arise.... oh look! Etc etc. That being said, I actually think it's a ploy they should have thrown out 2 years ago. It makes sense to me to try a smaller tower that matches the larger to drum up that support. Get the smaller tenants in and perhaps it will attract the larger, enough to get a tower in the works. Do I think it will work at this point, no, but I do think it could have at some point. Hopefully some sort of mid-rise comes out of this.

Notice this appears to go between the dispatch building and bank building. It would still leave the empty lot on the corner. Really a classic design and I'd be happy to see it resurrected.

I can't find it but that was the one that was somewhat massed like the nucleus project with the mid section that went all the way over the dispatch building?

I'd put money on a mid-rise all day before actually betting on something significant or that falls into the high rise category but hope that this might be a partnership allowing Moody-Nolan to expand their profile. Lol.

This article describes how a contingency was built into the agreement plans to allow for growth. That makes sense then that they would keep the park space as part of that agreement and bill it as green space while the terms of the original agreement are in effect. I just wonder how long that applies. Let's hope that agreement can be revised in the future if Columbia Gas is confident they won't need it or better yet, build office space AND residential or a hotel to get a decent mid-rise and then Columbia can still have the option to expand as needed. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/03/31/arena-district-to-fill-last-gap-with.html

Sadly, it is accurate. It is intentionally left as green space with no plan to build. It has always been green space on the master plan since they moved to develop Columbia Gas. I hope they revisit the plan but I would put money on it staying green space unfortunately

The 700 rumors have been all over for awhile. Just vague rumors that a 700' tower is in the works some place, some time. That's about it. Lol As for Hilton, I dont recall them being named. @DevolsDance may be able to speak to that better as they watch the leasing information regularly.

I'm not entirely opposed to finding some additional funds for this project. I would prefer they find more independent sources of funding but this being a pretty transformative and significant preservation project, I think it deserves a little more attention than your standard project.

Part of me can't believe I'm going to say this but I'd be ok if it went away. Here's my ideal proposal for it though: deconstruct it and rebuild it it into whatever they build on the NE lot of Lazelle and State. It could be used as the transition from the classic construction of 4th and state buildings. Where it stands now, I'm not sure an incorporation would be doing it justice unless Moody Nolan extends the architectural style to the whole block with a modern section above. As a clarification, this seems to exclude the dispatch building parking lot, correct?

I was on it today looking at the remaining parcels and parking lots in arena district with issues.

I'll be curious to see what Moody Nolan comes up with. While I generally am ok with their work, this is a location that I believe needs to be iconic and not the standard modern architecture we see see around town. (I felt the same way about Market tower but ultimately resigned that the design revisions were worth it for the far better usage of space). I generally like the new standard but feel this demands something different. I'd be somewhat disappointed if it looked similar the Market Tower or Hilton 2.0 tbh.

FWIW on this discussion of finishing the Arena District, There's also the vacant lot to the south of the FBI building NRI is sitting on. It's quite a large plot. I also always envisioned a mid-rise on the plot next to Columbia Gas. I know they've never announced it as being part of a master plan but would be nice to see something pop up there too that's a bit outside the norm. Otherwise I agree with sentiments that the last plot at Parks Edge deserves to be closer to the original tower or taller than the new condos or the other brick structures along the park.

Did the plan for the other corner ever move forward? If so and if moved forward as was, those that called the suburban model for the other corner short sighted were 100% correct if the Westland Mall development truly does come out to be this dense.

Hopefully NRI will use that 25.7 mil to actually move forward with the development of the many acres of land it owns downtown or in Franklinton rather than continuing to sit on it....

Or do a Hearst Tower NY treatment and maintain the facade and build a glass tower out of the middle. It would be a great compliment to the white marble exterior. I appreciate the symmetry and classic design (albeit relatively plain) of the entire complex but perhaps 2 varied (if the other ever sells) additions might add some visual interest and accommodate a better use while still maintaining the symmetry that has long been a part of the riverfront and columbus 'skyline'. I fear parking will hinder any larger use though unless the right people can be convinced otherwise ?

And the ownership group has pledged another $70mil among contentions over how much Columbus will actually spend on the stadium. www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/10/10/crew-ownership-group-pledges-another-70-million.amp.html

And I'd add the Clippers while we are at it ? And having those extensions of the team's in one of the most heavily trafficked areas of the region may help with general support of the teams.