amped91

I hope that’s it. This is one of my regular running paths, and a pedestrian only bridge over the river would be so nice.

Public potties going in! Broad and 3rd:

Yes it is. And this definitely has me excited for what’s in store with the elevated park.

Funds approved for Fran Ryan Center construction City Council on Monday agreed to spend $23.6 million to begin construction of the Fran Ryan Center for seniors and a park on the site of a former Columbus City Schools building in the Olde Towne East neighborhood. The center is being named for former Columbus Councilmember Fran Ryan, a champion for the city's seniors and a City of Columbus Hall of Fame member. The Douglass Alternative Elementary School, 51 S. Douglass St. was built in 1974 and was closed in 2013. The city bought the building and nearly four-acre site in 2020. Demolition of the former school and design work was begun after council approved a $1.767 million contract with Moody Nolan in October 2021. The new two-story, 44,000-square-foot center will have a fitness center for wellness activities, a kitchen and space for a variety of activities and classes. It will also house many of the popular programs from the Martin Janis Community Senior Center and the Golden Hobby Gift Shop, according to a city website. "We expect it to open in the fall of next year, or more likely early in 2025," said Steve Reese, director of the city Recreation and Parks Department, which will operate the center.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/07/18/columbus-council-approves-new-20-hourly-living-wage-for-contract-workers-and-23-6m-for-fran-center/70416372007/

Welcome to UO, @Bryan2Cbus:)

See where Ohio plans to spend additional $90 million to improve roads around Intel “Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation officials announced Monday that the state would spend an additional $90 million to improve roads around the Intel factories under construction in Licking County. About $46 million is earmarked for nine local road projects in Licking, Delaware and Franklin counties while $24 million will be spent on five state road improvements in the area. An additional $20 million is set aside for undetermined Licking County roadwork. DeWine said the funding further illustrates the state's commitment to developing the region, which state economic development officials dub "Silicon Heartland." He noted that the money isn't just for Intel, but "to pave the way for other economic development" in the area, which has also attracted major investments from Microsoft and Amazon. "We expect a lot more than Intel, so we have to build for more than Intel," DeWine said.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/07/17/see-where-state-plans-to-spend-90-million-to-improve-roads-near-intel/70419444007/

Equity's $200M mixed-use 'destination' development in Hilliard to begin construction “Equity will begin construction this week on a $200 million mixed-use development that aims to be a destination location for the city of Hilliard. TruePointe, a massive project the Hilliard-based developer has been working on for more than three years, will move from planning to construction with a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. The groundbreaking will be held at the project site, 4457 Trueman Blvd., near the Interstate 270 Outerbelt on Hilliard's east side. The development is expected to be complete in the first or second quarter of 2025. Wathen added that Equity is two or three weeks away from announcing the names of the office users, and two to three months from disclosing the retail/restaurant tenants. However, he said one of the office users will be a "large regional provider" that will operate a 20,000-square-foot orthopedic center located in the former Battelle for Kids nonprofit building, which will undergo a complete renovation. He said the orthopedic center and two other large end users will take up most of the office space, along with a coworking company that will occupy 15,000 square feet. On the retail/restaurant side, TruePointe will have a craft brewery that also includes a restaurant, a "high-end" Mexican concept, a fast-casual breakfast-lunch spot Wathen said will be the company's first location in Central Ohio, and a fitness operator he says is the "first of its kind in the U.S."’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/17/equitys-truepointe-mixed-use-development-hilliard.html

This is from the CBF Morning Run where Vitria on the Square at 15th and High was being discussed: ”I spoke for a few minutes with General Manager Bryan Wright, who is happy to show off the building's many assets. He also was quick to point out that a hotel is planned behind the Vitria building and should break ground this year.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/17/cbf-morning-run-vitria.html Has anyone heard anything about this? I wasn’t even sure if plans had been approved for the new hotel yet.

Another MF proposal from the newly formed Riewald Dev:

I’ve noticed the Market has just started doing promo work for the expansion on socials. Must be trying to gin up some public support lol Also interesting the NM legislation creates a committee to pursue public art for the project, and they will also seek an Ohio historical marker for the market: ”the NMDA, the Developer, and the City have further committed to forming a committee of their representatives to (i) advise and integrate certain public art by local artists into the Project, including but not limited to the public atrium, patio, and plaza as well as (ii) pursue obtainment of an Ohio Historical Marker or similar historical designation for the North Market;” There’s also tax abatements being discussed for three proposed industrial projects at 260 Taylor Station, 2865 Charter, and 1489 Rohr, respectively, that would net 59 new jobs.

Progress pic posted by OSUWMC is pretty cool:

That is probably my biggest concern too. And I imagine you’re right, that the Peninsula towers will likely need substantial support too, if/when those get built. My hope, however, is that as downtown continues to rebuild, successive major projects will need less and less funds, as they (hopefully) pencil out for future developers.

I agree in that I’m pretty iffy on so much public money going towards the project, but at the same time, most of where the funding is going sounds reasonable. I like that current merchants are getting support during the construction, and if the funding means the city and county get more control over the NM portion of the project, I think that’s a good thing too.

City Council will consider expanding the Milo Grogan TIF to include the Kroger Bakery redev site. So, even though things appear to be moving slowly, it sounds like things are still happening behind the scenes. https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6289317&GUID=77074CA3-D93E-4BA3-834D-0BA8D58A1E27&FullText=1

Columbus and Franklin County contributing more than $70M to North Market expansion, Merchant Building “The city of Columbus is contributing millions more dollars to the public-facing portions of the Merchant Building project rising next to the city-owned North Market. In return the developers have committed to build a separate affordable housing project elsewhere in the county. Franklin County will also make its first financial contribution to the project, $39 million in support. The additional $31 million from the city brings its total contributed amount to $54 million. On Monday Columbus City Council will hear a first reading of several pieces of legislation regarding the funds, including a resolution establishing the "NM Mixed-Use Project New Community Authority," an ordinance approving a public parking garage agreement and an ordinance to provide up to $950,000 in grant funds for the market and merchants whose operations are affected by construction. Also next week, Franklin County Commissioners will vote on a resolution to approve Covid-19 grants for the project. The county's contribution will include $17.5 million from the general fund and $22.4 million from American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The total $39.9 million contribution will go to the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/13/north-market-tower.html

A couple different MF proposals, one on the north side, and another on the west side: 919 Old Henderson is right down the road from another Preferred development. This one is for the vacant land on Twin Creeks Dr.

I didn’t get a pic, but some utility work has started on the Gravity experience park.

Looks like it’s been reduced in size, but city council has approved this project: Large 80s-Era Office Complex to be Replaced by Apartments “Columbus City Council has approved a plan to build 396-unit apartment complex at 400 E. Campus View Blvd. in Far North Columbus. The proposal, from Westerville-based developer Champion Companies, will require the demolition of a 140,000-square-foot office building that has stood on the site since 1987. The single-story building was occupied by state agencies for years, including the Rehabilitation Services Commission. Zoning changes for the new apartments were approved by council on June 26, after first gaining an approval from the Columbus Development Commission. The complex will be made up of three separate buildings and will be three stories tall on the north side of the site – which borders a neighborhood of single family homes – and four stories elsewhere. It will hold 229 two-bedroom units and 166 one-bedrooms, with 658 parking spaces on surface lots surrounding the buildings.” https://columbusunderground.com/large-80s-era-office-complex-to-be-replaced-by-apartments-bw1/

I emailed too and no response

Proposal to build 12 duplexes (24 units total) at 2476 Ferris Rd:

I can’t wait for this.

Boo. Dublin Village Center owner submits new redevelopment plan for 284-unit apartment complex “A years-long effort to redevelop a portion of Dublin Village Center will again be considered by the city after the owner of the property resubmitted plans for the proposed residential project. Dublin developer Stavroff, which has owned Dublin Village since 2009, is planning to construct a 284-unit apartment complex at the intersection of John Shields Parkway and Village Parkway, according to a new concept plan submitted to the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission. The apartment project includes two four-story buildings that may be built in phases "depending on market conditions at the time of development," the concept plan states. As part of the project's second phase, Stavroff wants to demolish 70,000 square feet of existing commercial space. Stavroff has pared down the project since it was last submitted to the city. The concept plans submitted in December called for 301 apartment units and 13,000 square feet of commercial space.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/07/10/dublin-village-center-residential-redevelopment.html

….I just realized it wasn’t.

Some renderings of this five unit proposal:

Same, I’ll actually try it now.