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CDDC's Topiary Park Crossing affordable housing development moves one step closer to reality The project was presented to Downtown Commission yesterday. It looks like the plan is to start development in the spring if it receives approval. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/08/25/topiary-park-crossing.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMFB_CO&csrc=6398&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1UCQXnnfJcu114eOTW_ObIkBz_YJli0GyAv5CDvx4LbocX_2C1u-cY1UM

So I just realized they own the Ice House building, which has architectural redesign renderings that were done last year. Another member had posted a link to the studio’s website in the Harmony Tower thread earlier this year. If this was, in fact, commissioned by Hackman, it makes me think they do actually have significant investment/development plans for the district. https://www.cbusarch.com/project/ice-haus-concept/

It’s from the beginning of the year, but I found this essay by a Harvard PhD student, Jacob Anbinder, in the Atlantic to be pretty interesting. He touches on the history of the anti-development movement and its connection with “gentrification.” ”These now-half-century-old arguments have had remarkable staying power well into a different era of urban history, one in which gentrification, rather than renewal, is the hot-button issue. Despite this shift, many still insist that neighborhood change remains inextricably linked to development. As Stringer’s reference to a “gentrification-industrial complex” indicates, critics have come to portray high-end shopping and glassy condos not as lagging indicators of local demographic change but as the causes thereof. The battle lines are drawn in the form of fights over discrete construction projects. Every politician wants to be seen as the second coming of Jane Jacobs, taking to the streets to block the bulldozers and save the soul of the neighborhood.” It seems to jive with what we’ve been seeing in Columbus recently, such as the Whittier dev, for example. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/anti-growth-alliance-fueled-urban-gentrification/617525/?surface=meter_limit_reached&article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theatlantic.com%2Fideas%2Farchive%2F2021%2F01%2Fanti-growth-alliance-fueled-urban-gentrification%2F617525%2F

Same here. I think a little boutique hotel there would’ve been nice, especially with all the planned amenities/retail.

CBF has an update on the project! It looks like it will still be about another two years before they’re ready to open. Sounds like the restoration process was pretty time consuming, understandably so. Unfortunately, they’ve apparently scrapped the plans for the hotel, in exchange for more office space. This doesn’t make much sense to me, can anyone else make sense of it(?): ”The plans originally called for a hotel, but the Covid-19 pandemic had the developers, Stage Capital Partners and McCabe Companies, rethink the project, said Erwin Effler III, president of Stage Capital Partners. Now, the focus is mixed-use, with 150,000 square feet for office space. “We are excited to revitalize this irreplaceable piece of Columbus. The spaces within the buildings are simply awesome and will be a ‘culture creator’ for office and other users,” Effler said. "With Covid, going back to the office is more important than ever and company culture is more important than ever.’” I would think once (if?) we get the virus back under control, hotel space would see a bigger rebound than office. But maybe they know something I don’t… https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/08/24/front-and-fulton.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=co&ana=e_co_me&j=24837080&senddate=2021-08-24

Hopefully, the eventual plan is to do more than renovate the existing buildings. There’s way too much open space in that area right now. This seems like a good start though, at least.

I remember one of my old anthropology professors from OSU talking about his research and work with the Cbus Bhutanese community. It was really the first time I had really learned about such large immigrant communities in Cbus. I love that our city is made up of people from so many diverse backgrounds!

Yeah, I saw that. It sounds like this might be the first of several new projects coming from them??

Looks like a good idea. That part of downtown is so depressing to drive through with all the empty buildings and weed-filled lots. Hopefully this will be part of a lot more development there.

Ohio State plans to start lacrosse stadium construction in late fall “Ohio State plans to start construction of a $21.5 million lacrosse-specific stadium in November after the project was approved by the university’s board of trustees on Thursday. […] The site for the 2,000-seat stadium is between the Jennings Wrestling Facility and newly opened Ty Tucker Tennis Center in the northwest corner of campus known as the athletics district.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/08/19/ohio-state-lacrosse-stadium-start-construction-november/8204038002/?fbclid=IwAR2dkhbnIwIl3zB4W2ay2fWsq0ntC_0q61iSpGKiwB59mVgbyPW6VfAMcz8

Would probably create several hundred okay-paying jobs for that area if that happens!

From what I’ve read on other sites, this location can’t be used for residential due to contamination. If that’s true, wonder if we’ll see some warehouses pop up over here?

^ That’s fairly surprising news. Maybe they can at least help to fill up some of the empty mall spaces they helped to create…

Another new kitchen announced for the soon (?) to open East Market in the Trolley District: Trolley Barn Chicken from the owners of Uptown 51. It looks like the kitchen will have a total of two options on the menu: chicken nugs and chicken sandwich. Full article from 614: https://614now.com/2021/food-drink/new-fried-chicken-concept-coming-to-east-market?fbclid=IwAR2bQ7En9P892OVbkGn6R7CA111QmC4HOlfzMnT9zCB6WZLfIAJlQnKKnJ4 Also, looks like the East Market is finally on social media too: https://m.facebook.com/EastmarketColumbus/

Same. Colors remind me a bit of Thurber Village. Otherwise, I like the look.

Big yikes. Pulled out all the apologist defenses 😬

I can’t remember the name, but it looks like another pizza place is going into the old BK on Broad in Franklinton too.

Dispatch write up on the soon to open Adelphi Quarter in KLBV—including details on the retail component—, local broadcasting legend Ann Walker, and the history behind the site. Plaza at new Columbus apartment complex named for local Black icon Ann B. Walker https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/08/11/plaza-named-ann-b-walker-longtime-local-black-community-leader/5501957001/?fbclid=IwAR0jFo2kMhcNxLFaxAx2_pWzvNhFMQuS9nQV1yISHAiUYBXZd8BrFUNrG2g

I hope there’s a way for them to incorporate the Jones building into something larger; however, if it’s not feasible, there’s no reason to sacrifice all those housing units and that density for one small, single story building.

Lots of progress still being made on the Trolley District project. Even still, I can’t see it being ready for a September opening… Driving down Oak St toward the district, and through other parts of OTE, FP, SO, etc., it’s insane to see the amount of work going on right now—rehabbing vacant houses, building new SFHs, infrastructure improvement, and new multi-family developments. No doubt there’s still plenty of work that can be done, but I love seeing all of the investment going into this side of the city.

First Look: Ohio State's 15th and High nears completion of its first phase A gallery of pictures from 15xHigh at the link. I really like the idea of the “friendship” walk. Hopefully we’ll see more like that. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/08/09/15th-high.html?ana=e_colum_bn_exclusive_exclusive&j=90567518&t=Breaking News&mkt_tok=NjczLVVXWS0yMjkAAAF-yqAm7PnJaX4gYGTUAmmf1M6VveM2Sru4t8Pog62VHKtYI7Ibi_SUCSpSt-Ngl3oIdNm_ye6r_4SpDZoZs0jwMZQuxKjNiVqDpo2cAlTdBLZ-mU-3agk

Nothing really solid here, but more proposals coming in: Franklin County master plan recommends replacing Downtown jail with child care center “County officials also are in the final stages of the first phase of a new jail facility, located on Fisher Road west of Downtown. That location is expected to open to inmates early next year, and county officials will close the aged Downtown jail afterward. The updated master plan calls for the latter to be demolished and replaced with a child care facility for staff or members of the public visiting county offices.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/08/06/franklin-county-master-plan-proposes-new-downtown-child-care-center/5456234001/?fbclid=IwAR32H-ovm5sMaxrnAN6GqMYUFUYgMHM3kRV7T5D5esjQ6HRgYU3U4YsUVts

But what about the FLAVOR?! “Some community members are also concerned with protecting the historic "flavor" of the area, Kehlmeier said.” I would empathize a bit more if it weren’t ugly 1970s era 2-stories…

Kaufman Development's Gravity in Franklinton awarded prestigious Urban Land Institute real estate award “The development was one of 12 winners in the Americas Awards for Excellence competition. The Americas Awards for Excellence program recognizes real estate projects that achieve the highest standard of excellence. According to ULI, it is an important part of the organization's efforts to promote best practices in all types of real estate development. Projects are evaluated on economic impact, community engagement, innovation, design and more.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/08/03/gravity-uli-award.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=co&ana=e_co_ae&j=24639566&senddate=2021-08-03