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Interesting read from Matter News. It’s primarily about how the growing popularity of Franklinton (and the skyrocketing of costs in general) has increased artists’ rents at 400, pushing some of them out of their studios. But the article also talks about coming redevelopment from Urban Smart Growth (owner of 400 and many surrounding properties)—including mention of the vacant lot next door (where “Lucas Lofts” has been proposed) and the current site of the Vanderelli Room—and talk amongst some artists of relocating deeper into Franklinton. I’d read some vague comments out there about Franklinton artists being upset, so it’s nice to have more information on the situation. I also have a friend who has been leasing a significant amount of space at 400, so I’ll have to reach out and see if he’s experiencing the same problem. ‘We knew this was coming’: Changes begin to hit 400 West Rich “Halliday, 75, said he currently pays $338 a month for his studio. But when he went to renew his lease, which is set to expire in April, he said he was told by Cara Tedrow, national director of property management for Urban Smart Growth, that the price would be increased to “about $900” a month. “I sell a few paintings a year and maybe get a commission or two. … But I’m living off Social Security and another small stipend I get for my wife’s death benefit,” Halliday said. “I live on a pretty tight budget, and there’s no room for an increase like that. It felt like a slap in the face after more than 12 years here, that they weren’t willing to work with me, and that they didn’t seem interested in me being a part of their community. … I felt like Rodney Dangerfield, not getting any respect.” The community at 400 West Rich started to learn about rent increases when some tenants started to receive new leases in January, though few details were communicated by upper management, leaving an information gap in which rumors and fear propagated. “Because naturally people assume the worst-case scenario,” said Kris Howell, who originally opened Strongwater and served temporarily as director of operations at 400 West Rich earlier this year. “I hear a lot that people think the building is being sold, or it’s being demolished, or all kinds of other things.” Kim Kiehl, a consultant for Urban Smart Growth (USG), allowed that communication about the developer’s plans – including the factors driving the current rent increase – have not been well communicated, and she said that she was in the process of scheduling a public forum in which tenants and neighbors could engage in open dialogue with property management. Kiehl also said the developer had no plans to sell or tear down the building, and that 400 West Rich would continue to include artist studios, though more changes were likely in area, with USG also owning the buildings that currently house the Vanderelli Room and Chromedge Studios, as well as the adjacent vacant land.” https://www.matternews.org/culture/arts/we-knew-this-was-coming-changes-begin-to-hit-400-west-rich

I almost think the whole Warehouse District could have somewhat of a Franklinton-esque vibe, if done right.

Doesn’t look too bad to me. W 5th will definitely have a different feel to it if all of these proposed projects get built. I can’t remember—has this gone to the 5xNW commission yet? (Also gotta love the shade being thrown at the approval process by the developer on their website).

American Nitrile Plant to open in Grove City “American Nitrile held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. The manufacturing facility in Grove City began its glove production in November 2022 and the company is now making 3 million nitrile gloves per day. The new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant is run by Jacob Block, who is from Bexley. He said he got the idea for the company while buying and reselling nitrile gloves as a broker during the pandemic when he realized almost all of the gloves are made overseas.“ https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/american-nitrile-plant-glove-manufacturing-company-grove-city-future-ribbon-cutting-gov-mike-dewine-jacob-block-jobs-central-ohio-ppe-factory

Yesterday WBNS had a story about the changing landscape of downtown post-COVID, and it included a few shots of the interior demo work at the Continental Centre. I don’t think the lobby rendering they showed had been posted here before either. Also included was a look at the 5/3 tower rehab. Video at the link: https://www.10tv.com/mobile/article/news/local/changes-to-downtown-columbus-3-years-into-covid-19-pandemic/530-13f39459-5ea3-4dfb-8954-bf8dfffb0a84

Here's how Honda is preparing for its massive EV production investment in Ohio “Honda has revealed the key next steps it will take to establish a major electric vehicle hub in Ohio, which includes a $3.5 billion facility in Fayette County and the transformation of its Marysville auto plant. The automaker announced Tuesday that the Marysville plant will consolidate and retool two assembly lines for the production of electric vehicles and EV components. In addition, production of the Honda Accord will be transferred from the Marysville facility to the company's auto plant in Indiana. Two production lines that currently make vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and hybrid-electric vehicle systems will be consolidated in Marysville. Honda says consolidating production to one line will enable the Marysville site to begin building the infrastructure necessary for EV production. Every Marysville employee will maintain a position as part of this transition, Honda said. Those associates will begin training programs to prepare for EV production starting later this year.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/03/14/honda-reveals-next-steps-for-ev-production-in-ohio.html

Should just need to register for free to watch the livestream. The recordings are also typically available on YouTube after.

Thanks!

Is it typical for these initiatives to publicize where they will be collecting signatures? Because I definitely want to get my name on it, but I could understand why they wouldn’t want to put that information out on the net, too.

In a surprise to no one: How a developer’s plan to transform the former Fort Rapids waterpark resort could collapse “A developer wants to turn the former Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort on the east side of Columbus into micro-apartments for workforce housing. But the project may never happen. California real estate investor Maxwell Drever offered to buy the dilapidated 12-story hotel and waterpark in 2021, about five years after the City of Columbus ordered the resort to close after a history of health and safety complaints. The resort, located at 4560 Hilton Corporate Drive, hasn’t reopened. Drever’s dream to revamp the lifeless hotel could be shattered by the building’s current owner, Jeff Oh Kern, whose unrelenting failure to clean up the security-less, 16-acre site has left developers, the City of Columbus, a real estate agent, and other stakeholders embattled in Franklin County courtrooms for three years and counting. “We’re fearful it’s going to be condemned and knocked down,” Drever, 82, said.” https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/how-a-developers-plan-to-transform-the-former-fort-rapids-waterpark-resort-could-collapse/?fbclid=IwAR2faVQvkKAlGesiCiRb1nOVlEoO3-slRlWep6yoF4IU1ah79NqIlqcinIY

I hope so. The building currently there is an eyesore. I’d love to see something bigger there, and something decent to fill up all the parking lots on the block. Although I thought it’s been said on here in the past that the lots are owned by the Chamber of Commerce. Edit: or maybe it was the Wolf’s? Either way, I’m surprised it’s been nearly three years since we’ve heard anything about the plans to develop those lots…

I can’t recall anything being proposed for it yet. Interesting you asked about it now though. Because I’d noticed some construction going on on the second floor of the 10 N High building. I was curious about who was going in there, so I looked it up in the portal, and apparently the construction is for the coworking company Regus. Who happens to currently take up a decent amount of space in the Third St Galleria. This could definitely just be a simple expansion/relocation for Regus, in which case, this is just a nothing burger. But it definitely makes me wonder, too, if this move is anticipation of some sort of remodel/redevelopment? I know I would definitely be in favor of this building being replaced, or at least substantially renovated so that it’s more open and aesthetically pleasing.

Lots of Near East Side updates. In the KLB neighborhood, the second phase of the Shiloh Baptist apartments has gone vertical, and the first phase looks like it’s close to completion. Also going vertical is the Ogden apartment building on Long St. And also on Long St, it looks like rehab work may finally be starting on the Edna building. While I was on long, I noticed a good handful of newly opened and soon to open retail spaces. It’s great seeing this area come back to life! And over in OTE on Oak and Ohio, these townhomes are looking good, and many appear to have already sold.

That view going west on 670 right after getting off of 71 is looking pretty nice! Can see OSU’s three cranes, the cranes for Parkside, Greenhouse, Gilbert, and King, and the work on Jeffrey Park. Later this year should also be able to see the cranes for Merchant and 100 N High and work on the Kroger Bakery.

This really could go in the state thread too. But in January Realtor.com ranked Columbus as the third hottest housing market in the country, and five of the state’s metros made it onto the list. Homebuyers Are Finding Tons of Bargains in This One State—but How Long Will It Last? “While winter is generally a slow time for real estate as homebuyers hunker down and wait for spring, certain cities—and in fact, one entire state—are defying those odds. The Realtor.com® Hottest Markets List for January has ranked Manchester, NH (a more affordable alternative to Boston, about an hour away), No. 1 for the 18th time in the past two years. Coming in second was Rochester, NY, on the shores of Lake Ontario. Neither of these metros is much of a surprise, given they’ve lingered near the top of this list many times in the past. But the No. 3 hottest market—Columbus, OH—is where things get interesting. Why? Because it’s just one of five cities in Ohio that made January’s top 20. That’s a whole lot of Buckeye State property people are snapping up! “Columbus, Ohio’s largest city, is the state’s capital and home to Ohio State University as well as a booming art and nightlife scene,” Jones explains. “Dayton boasts the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and is conveniently situated between Columbus and Cincinnati, making it a great location for military employees to live within easy driving distance of two of Ohio’s largest cities.”‘ https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/homebuyers-are-finding-bargains-in-this-one-state-but-how-long-will-it-last/

I wonder if work is gearing up for RB5? A pedestrian tunnel to the conference building has recently gone up, and there’s ongoing utilities work on either side of it. RB3 and 4 can be seen in the background.

The conversion of the Ohio Job and Family Services building on Front to apartments, offices and cafe space from Connect and the Columbus Partnership. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/08/23/brad-dehays-columbus-partnership-odfjs-downtown.html It went to the Downtown Commission last August, but it seems like it’s been pretty quiet since. Dehayes did say it was contingent on historic preservation credits though, and I can’t remember if it received them.

Sounds like a pretty big deal: Solar company to build Pataskala factory that will employ 850 “A solar company announced on Friday plans to build one of the largest solar panel manufacturing factories in the U.S. in Pataskala, a project that will create 850 jobs and comes just as construction of solar farms ramps up in Ohio. Illuminate USA has committed to investing $220 million in the Licking County community for a 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Operations are expected to start by year-end and Illuminate USA will begin hiring administrative, assembly, and engineering jobs this spring. Construction will start next month. The factory will be developed in an unidentified existing industrial building.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/economy/2023/03/10/the-factory-comes-as-ohio-ramps-up-solar-farm-construction/69995223007/

Here’s the listing if you’re thinking of putting an offer in! Check out the property overview section 😂 https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/707-S-17th-St-Columbus-OH-43206/33858476_zpid/

Found on Reddit. MORPC has launched a survey for Central Ohio residents to share your experience and desires for transportation in the region. Probably not a bad idea to fill it out. Only takes a few minutes. MORPC Launches "Leaders Listen" Survey Series with CHRR at The Ohio State University, The Columbus Dispatch https://www.morpc.org/news/morpc-launches-leaders-listen-survey-series-with-chrr-at-the-ohio-state-university-the-columbus-dispatch/

While we’re on the topic of office conversion, the Larrimer building has recently lost its namesake tenant to the AD. It’s a pretty small building, but I think the upper floors would make for good residential conversion too. Maybe 10-15 units. Plus, Dehayes/Connect owns it, and he has a good track record of converting historic buildings to rez. And, I’m pretty sure he owns the large surface lot immediately north of the building too. Would be a great spot for a neighboring condo tower 😉 Larrimer & Larrimer law firm moves into Arena District office building “The law firm had been based at 161 N. High St. since the 1950s. Members of the Larrimer family owned that building until about 2010, when they sold it to Connect Real Estate. The building was built in 1890, according to Franklin County Auditor's records. Larrimer & Larrimer had been on the second and third floors of the High Street building, in about 12,000 square feet of space. The law firm recently moved to 300 Marconi Blvd., Suite 106, in late February. (That's the same building as Columbus Business First.) The new Arena District office space is about 6,000 square feet, or half of what the firm had in its old building. John Larrimer, attorney and managing partner at Larrimer & Larrimer, said downsizing made sense for the 15 employees in the office.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/03/08/larimore-arena-district-downtown-office.html

I took it to mean 100 N High, but I hope it’s something new!

The Downtown Cbus Insta account posted a couple cool pics of the progress on the sunken garden. https://www.instagram.com/p/CplYSUhP-H4/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= I’m hoping work starts soon on the elevated park now.

I wonder if there’s a chance they just cut the office space in half (or all together), replace it with residential, and go forward without a big tenant? The TMUD program seems tailor-made for something like this too, so I’m sure they’d have a decent shot at landing that tax credit (if Arshot shows they are actually committed to building it). I did notice a while back one of our wind storms knocked the Millennial sign down, and now it’s been put back up. So at least someone is keeping an eye on the site 😂

Do you know if the parking lot next to Ho Toy is included too? If so, that could give any one who buys a decent foot print to add structured parking, ground level retail, and residential. And I think I recall Schottenstein telling CBF back in 2020 or 2021 that there’s still a chance some version of Millennial could be built. And if there’s ever a time to go forward on it, right now with all the momentum in Downtown and the region is it. But I’m not getting my hopes up 😂