amped91

It looks much better. Has it been announced what it’s going to be used for now?

It’s certainly a pretty sizable lot, so they could put a significant project there. Plus it has plenty of visibility and access from 315.

I was surprised by the projects that weren’t on the list of applications: Edwards’s 15-story downtown tower and the 15-story tower proposed for Franklinton.

German manufacturer coming to Delaware County “WIKA Sensor Technology is bringing 15 new jobs to Delaware County with a brand new 20,000-square-foot facility. The manufacturer, which is headquartered in Germany, broke ground on the $3.25 million project in Delaware County's Creekside Business Park Tuesday, according to a news release. All of the company's current 32 employees in the region will relocate to the new location from its Worthington site when construction is completed. WIKA is a global leader in manufacturing force and pressure measurement technology, according to the release. The company caters to mainly industrial markets such as automation, custom machine solutions and aerospace. According to the release, the new facility will be home to additional product lines in the company's U.S. market, with a focus on strengthening aerospace business.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/04/wika-delaware-county-location.html

This sounds quite unique: Myungrang HotDog coming to Columbus “Myungrang HotDog is opening a restaurant at 850 N. High St. in the Short North. A sign at the space is teasing the arrival of the growing chain, though the timing of its opening isn’t clear. The menu depicts corndog-like creations, but battered with panko, potatoes and other coatings and filled with cheese as well as the hot dog. The creations also can be topped with condiments ranging from ketchup and mustard to other options like honey butter powder, parmesan seasoning or sweet chili. Myungrang HotDog started at Pusan National University in South Korea in 2016 and has grown to more than 700 locations worldwide, according to the Times. There still are only a handful of U.S. locations.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/04/myungrang-hotdog-coming-to-columbus.html

Thanks so much for your reporting! I forget, is there a limit to the number of projects that will be selected? And what are the chances of projects that’ve already begun, like Gravity 2.0, being selected? It seems like they’ve already “made it over the hump.” Anyway, was glad to see Scioto Peninsula Phase II on the list.

CBF ran a set of articles this morning about the Central Ohio YMCA’s plans for renovating existing facilities, building new facilities, and selling their downtown location. Locations mentioned for renovation include Grove City, Hilliard, Liberty, Gahanna and Eldon & Elsie Ward on the Near East Side. Potential areas mentioned for new facilities included Lewis Center and Pickerington. Also, they currently plan to find housing for those currently living in the downtown facility, and then sell it off by end of next year. They also say they are hoping to return to downtown, although there are currently no concrete plans. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/02/ymca-2021-reinvestment-strategy.html https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/02/downtown-ymca-could-get-new-owners-by-end-of-2022.html

It doesn’t sound like it’s completely out of the woods yet, but the plans to demolish the former dormitory on the Public Health campus have been put on hold by Council! City Council removes Ginther funding to tear down historic dorm at Columbus Public Health “The Columbus City Council on Monday removed $2.75 million from Mayor Andrew J. Ginther's $1.26 billion capital improvements budget that was earmarked to demolish a historic public building and replace it with parking. Council President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown, who chairs the council's Finance Committee, said during the meeting that "engagement with community leaders and partners will continue before further consideration" is given to demolish the building. "We amended the budget to remove the demolition money because this hasn’t gone through the neighborhood process, nor do council members have enough information to understand why demolition was being proposed rather than adaptive reuse," Brown told The Dispatch after the meeting.” Not Near East Side, but also approved at the meeting was additional funding “for a new Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Center to be operated by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH) for adults with mental health and addiction needs. The council had already approved $3 million toward the design of the project, set to break ground in 2022 west of Downtown.” I’m guessing this will be in Franklinton, but it’s the first I’ve heard about the new center. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/11/02/city-council-removes-funding-tear-down-historic-former-dormitory/8582008002/?fbclid=IwAR3M6O9W9KAqRLlwAiO0X2dcGQB_QEd8sE0UjVnkqyUD3MBcxbmPyWQovnw

Industrial site announced for Pickaway county, adding to a growing number of logistics spaces in Central Ohio. “Indianapolis-based Scannell Properties plans to build three buildings at 9905 State Route 104 in Lockbourne. The project will include one 1.183 million-square-foot building, one 300,000-square-foot building and one 519,800-square-foot building, according to a Loopnet listing. The 300,000-square-foot building will be finished by the fourth quarter of 2022 and the more than 1.18 million-square-foot one will be finished by the first quarter of 2023, Lichtfuss said. The company is holding off on the 500,000-square-foot building because they want to try to find a user first. The site comes with a 15-year, 100% tax abatement for businesses, according to the Loopnet listing.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/01/scannell-properties-pickaway-county.html

Another East Market vendor announced today. This should leave just one more vendor to be announced. Popular Cleveland-based artisanal pasta company opening East Side brick and mortar “Ohio City Pasta is coming to Columbus. The Cleveland-bakers pasta vendor—featuring hand-crafted gnocchi, pierogi, flat-cut pasta, sauces, and more—will be opening its very first Columbus retail location in the Trolley District’s East Market. And according to Hriczo, the new Columbus space will let the pasta maker branch out into other unexplored avenues. “The Market will enable us to go in a new direction as well,” he said. “It will let us start selling prepared foods. Once I saw the concept and how things were happening, I knew it would be a fit.’” https://614now.com/2021/food-drink/popular-cleveland-based-artisanal-pasta-company-opening-east-side-brick-and-mortar?fbclid=IwAR2zPWLtUt0RuzEPkAuwnvUI_CwiwHspBCbszjQwOAV4C_xXx3bhtIk3RQI

Columbus plans to spend $1.525 million to buy land near Eastland Mall for park ”The city of Columbus plans to spend $1.525 million to buy 78 acres along a tributary of Big Walnut Creek just west of Eastland Mall for park land, an area of the city that has been wanting for park space for years. The city intends to purchase five parcels from Refugee Road Partners III Corp. LLC. The land is just north of Refugee Road and east of Kimberly Parkway West/ Old Courtright Road. Barnes said she hopes the park will help boost the land value of the mostly vacant Eastland Mall and nearby properties. She said a developer plans to build single-family homes near the park. Westall said it will take some time for the park to be developed — perhaps two to three years. But she is optimistic.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2021/11/01/eastland-mall-area-new-columbus-park-single-family-homes/8580907002/?utm_source=dispatch-Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=OHIO-COLUMBUS-NLETTER65

Good call. Developer asked to retool plans for 6-story development on N. High “A developer has been sent back to the drawing board after presenting a proposal to demolish five buildings and construct a six-story 143-unit student housing building on a block of North High Street. Athens, Georgia-based Landmark Properties showed the University Impact District Review Board conceptual plans for the development bounded by Lane Avenue, Norwich Avenue and Pearl Alley. A University District resident spoke against historic buildings being torn down. Commissioners encouraged the developer and architect to rework the plan to keep more of the existing buildings on the site for reuse. Commissioners encouraged a more dense development focused on the CVS site. The developer will have to return to the board before moving forward with the project.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/01/osu-student-housing.html

According to the article, they moved to Easton: ”Schiff said the apparel retailer vacated the site earlier this year after the two parties could not reach an agreement on an extension of its lease. It has since opened a new store at Easton Town Center.”

More good news for East Franklinton! The Columbus Historical Society has announced they will be taking ownership of the Engine House #6 on W Broad, which is located right next to all of Gravity’s activity. I couldn’t find anything on the web yet, so I included a screenshot from their email: When I lived at Gravity, I always thought the engine house was a beautiful building and had hoped it would see some new life instead of getting bulldozed. So I’m really excited about this announcement. Here’s an article from the Dispatch that was released last year, when the CHS announced they wanted to buy the building: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2020/12/17/columbus-historical-society-eyes-historic-engine-house-headquarters/3920115001/?fbclid=IwAR3huVQiPXj5rJQ-uI-5A1ZPVcYjx6fjyo0FrYIv5mCxhtH-6zLd7mSK_4c

The article specifically mentions the E Broad tower being 15 stories. Would be nice if it grew a bit, but my guess is it’s more likely it was a typo. I am glad to hear the sky garden is still in the works, though! That will add a lot of beauty to downtown once it’s done. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/10/28/why-jeff-edwards-is-developing-downtown.html

I wasn’t expecting to read this: Cbus skyline ranked as 9th best in America, beating Seattle and Austin. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/new-report-ranks-columbus-ohio-skyline-as-9th-best-in-america-10-27-2021?fbclid=IwAR0vCNdegkNcf0_jvlY7mo8Z8fS1VzeZ6hXVAeccNhhCF1nLD3BjR4l8bm8

Thanks for your thoughts! I decided to go ahead and order the book. I still have quite a stack, so it might take awhile to get to, but I’m sure some of the history and background will be interesting, if nothing else.

We need a new update on the 15-story tower too!

It will pretty much line up with how far set back the BHP on Livingston is currently.

Dang, that looks a lot bigger than I would’ve expected for just 50 units. I’m all for increasing the amount of affordable units in the city, but I don’t believe that they couldn’t have found a way to work in the existing structure.

I remember reading about their campaign for a facility quite a while back. Glad they got what they wanted.

New tenant coming to Easton: After traveling the world for brands like Victoria’s Secret and Lenscrafters, this ‘global citizen’ is opening her own store in Easton “Columbus branding expert Gita Mattes has always had a sense of wanderlust. Now, she’s opening a new store in Easton Town Center aimed at appealing to Columbus residents’ own fascination with global travel. Mattes is bringing her knowledge of retail and branding to her new Easton Town Center shop, called Wanderlust. The shop is opening Saturday and planning a grand opening event on Nov. 6. It’s located across from Athleta, Loft and Shake Shack at 4044 The Strand West.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/10/27/wanderlust-shop-opening-2021.html

Good for her: Columbus developer sees potential in Reynoldsburg, with plans for new mixed-use projects “A 16,000-square-foot mixed-use project could be coming to a city-owned site in Reynoldsburg. Columbus-based Trivium Development is in talks with the city to acquire land at 7332 E. Main St., the site of the former Happy Dragon Restaurant. Tim Spencer, Trivium's president, told Columbus Business First they're planning a dental practice, a co-working concept and a coffee shop at the site. He estimated the project cost at about $3 million. Spencer said he expects construction to begin in the second quarter next year, although the developer and the city are working through floodway issues. All zoning has been approved, and Spencer said the final plan will be submitted in November for a December hearing. Trivium also plans to purchase the-60,000-square-foot former PNC Bank site at 7221 E. Main St. from the city, Spencer said. He said the plans call for a mix of retail, office and apartments.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/10/22/trivium-plans-reynoldsburg-mixed-use-project.html

Yeah. For some reason, I had it in my head they are rehabbing that building, not tearing it down. I don’t have high hopes, but maybe that could still happen instead.

Okay, great. I was going to be disappointed if that got scrapped. Glad to see people from diverse income levels will be able to be a post of a Franklinton’s growth.