amped91

Lots of updates on timelines for downtown Edwards Cos. projects. Edwards Cos. eyes late 2023 completion of PNC Plaza renovation ”Edwards Cos. expects to wrap up its renovation of the former PNC Plaza in downtown Columbus near the end of this year. Edwards said the office and multifamily portions will likely open by the end of the second quarter of this year, and the restaurant portion will be completed closer to the end of this year or early 2024. Half of the 360,000-square-foot building will remain offices. Edwards Cos. has not yet started leasing on that portion. "We hope to see a ripple effect of positive change, with more investment and development flowing into the neighborhood, strengthening the appeal and potential for growth," Edwards said via email.“ Additionally: - Gay St sculpture should be hung this spring. - the Madison’s/White-Hains rehab will have 48 units and should finish this fall. - 100 N High should finish Q1 2025. No word on the elevated park or the 13-story. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/28/edwards-cos-pnc-plaza-renovation-end-date.html

Yeah, sounds like the blue garage will be torn down.

Columbus a top 10 market for largest industrial lease transactions in 2022, according to CBRE report “The commercial real estate firm recently released a study analyzing the 100 largest industrial and logistics lease transactions last year. The findings show the Columbus market reported four leases accounting for 4.3 million square feet, which placed it in the top 10 for number of transactions and total square footage. Jeff Lyons of CBRE's Columbus office said these leases were for both existing facilities and newly constructed buildings, and that industrial distribution companies occupied the majority of the space. “We are now approaching a sustainable vacancy rate, giving tenants more options in the marketplace, while also attracting new ones to the area," Lyons said. "Occupiable, existing product is a key driver in attracting tenants in the market, but new spec product is also expected to build upon that momentum as we transition to a post-pandemic norm.” Lyons said these large leases show the Columbus market is a prime location. "It signifies, in the eyes of tenants, that logistically Columbus is a focal market for companies to get products to consumers with ease, based on location, trucking drive times and labor," he said.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/27/columbus-largest-industrial-lease-transactions.html

A few more details from CBF today: ”Already the state's busiest trauma center, Grant anticipates adding about 500 jobs over the decade to the 3,000 now at the hospital, according to a spokeswoman. Construction is expected to start this summer on the first phase, a 40,000-square-foot medical office and outpatient center with a five-story parking garage at Grant Avenue and State Street, across State from the main hospital. A seven-story, 270,000-square-foot inpatient critical care pavilion housing a new trauma center and emergency department makes up the second phase of the five-year project. Demolition will begin once the outpatient building opens and the primary care practice moves there. The medical office also will include the Transitions of Care Clinic and a food pantry. Health system officials are still evaluating how to repurpose the current emergency department, a spokeswoman said via email.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/28/ohiohealth-grant-medical-expansion-er-outpatient.html Just between this expansion and NCH’s current and coming projects, I’d guess at least 1,000+ new jobs coming in and around downtown. Hopefully that means plenty more residential proposals to come over the next several months. Time to build, baby, build!

Arena District's outdoor drinking zone grows “Columbus is saying "cheers" to a livelier Arena District by greatly expanding its outdoor drinking program. Driving the news: A new ordinance approved by the City Council last night allows the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) to be active during any Arena District event, not just sports-related ones. Why it matters: The expansion is meant to draw more visitors to that area of downtown, support those businesses and alleviate the confusion surrounding when DORA rules are in place.” Link to the story from Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2023/02/28/arenadistrict-outdoor-drinking-zone-columbus-grows And link to the legislation: https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6039260&GUID=2EE572B9-ABDE-4C94-A80E-B83FEB1F47AE&FullText=1

I can’t wait to see those lots across from LDC redeveloped, along with the rest of Astor Park coming along. Will really bring a lot of life down there even when there’s not a game. I also remember around the time LDC was about to open, there was an article where NRI’s president said they wanted to do something big at Spring and Hanover. I hope that’s still in the cards. Brick or no brick :p

Ohio Steel Industries looks to purchase Delaware building for $8 million expansion “A Central Ohio manufacturer wants to expand its local footprint with the purchase of a Delaware industrial building, where it plans to invest over $8 million and create dozens of jobs. Ohio Steel Industries Inc., a northeast Columbus-based company that specializes in contracting manufacturing, plastic extrusion and structural steel fabrication, is requesting approval of a preliminary development plan for its proposed expansion at 100 Colomet Dr. in Delaware. The approximately 11-acre site features an existing 36,222-square-foot industrial building that formerly housed Chroma Color Corp., which closed in October after the company decided to move all of its operations to a facility in North Carolina. Ohio Steel has an option to purchase the property for an expansion of its business, according to city documents. The company is proposing a two-phased development for the site. Phase one would include a new rail spur to access the existing railroad track; a new gravel area for outdoor storage; new silos; and site work to prepare for future expansion. Phase two would include either an addition to the existing building and/or the construction of a new 36,000-square-foot building, along with additional parking spaces as needed, documents show.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/27/ohio-steel-industries-delaware-expansion-project.html

…after they build the next condo tower lol

Well dang, I wasn’t expecting that! A friend from Grant had told me they were expanding, but I’d just figured at the time that they’d meant the infusion clinic buildout that’s taking place right now. This is great to hear though. Not just for the infill, but Grant’s ED has needed an expansion for a long time now. Now, fingers crossed, OH will be able to find the staffing for it all 😬

Especially if the “Warehouse District” starts developing their parking lots too!

The section of Long that is on the other end of this block is starting to develop a decent amount of retail. This section of Spring, on the other hand, is like a desolate wasteland of speeding cars, parking lots and vacant (?) single story builds. Would be great to see it get some life. Hopefully this is the start.

So while we’re on the topic of filling in parking lots, I just saw this app come across on the citizen portal. This is currently a parking lot that I’ve rarely seen anyone use. Anyone know if anything has been proposed here in the past, or if this is a brand new proposal? I tried finding out more about the owner, but only thing I could find—through the auditor’s website—was that the entity that owns this land also owns a couple buildings on 5th Ave in IV. And Riewald might be associated with Pizzuti? But I can’t find much.

The pre-pandemic talk of developing that lot needs to come back :’( It’ll also help if city leaders put some action behind all the recent/renewed talk about taxing those parking lots.

I remember there was talk of the CDDC seeking a grocery store for the ground floor of the second phase of the Peninsula, but I guess we’re wait and see with that right now. I’d imagine with DT population projected to pass 15k within the next few years, we should see something. I’d love a DT Target, or a similar retailer. A little more random, but I’d really like a DT C-store, like 7-11 or UDF too. Somewhere to run in and grab a quick, cheap bite to eat. I feel like the former High St CVS would be a good location for something like that. I agree with the above too, that we’ll need to see transportation improvements too in order to get some of the amenities that we’d like. But I think you need the population first, and I’m glad to see the planning that’s taking place to improve transit along with the population growth.

The Dispatch’s preview of tomorrow’s DTC meeting doesn’t really have anything new about the apartment proposals, but I thought the data on housing delivery was interesting, so I figured I’d share it here: A surge of housing proposed for Downtown Columbus “Developers are moving forward with four new Downtown apartment buildings, suggesting a revival of development after COVID took a hammer to the center city three years ago. The buildings range from five to 12 stories, and together would add 447 apartments to Downtown. "This is likely the most housing we’ve seen since the pandemic," said Marc Conte, executive director of the Downtown group Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District. In 2020, 1,174 new apartments opened Downtown, many of them just as COVID struck. Development slowed significantly in the core of Downtown after COVID, with 459 apartments opening in 2021 and 251 opening last year. This year, however, Conte estimates that 972 apartments will open, and next year he projects that number to rise to 1,577, the most in one year since perhaps 1950.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/02/27/is-housing-development-returning-to-downtown-columbus/69936257007/

Some neat drone pics of the progress on Thrive’s Mount Carmel East redev from the Facebook account Vivid Columbus. The top is ground work for the 4-story, 200 unit apt building, and the bottom is the nearby 18 SFHs and townhomes. https://www.facebook.com/vividcolumbus?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Same here :/

Jaeger Square. The crane is pretty visible from the surrounding area, and the underground work looks like it’s coming along pretty quickly now.

Big G is up on the co-living building, or “Building D” as they’re calling it, and the plaza is coming together. Glad this one has a real tree instead of plastic ones :p

Also, does anyone know what happened to @Columbo, since I quoted their post?

A crew is demolishing the former Kroger overflow parking lot in preparation of twenty townhomes on Frebis in Merion Village.

Driving Park to see new mural this year to celebrate neighborhood heritage “The Driving Park neighborhood on Columbus' South Side has a century-long history with many leaders and residents who have played a role throughout. Now, a community foundation plans to commemorate them with a mural to be done this year. The Gertrude Wood Community Foundation received a 614 Beautiful grant of $10,000 from the city in partnership with the Neighborhood Design Center to do the mural on the Fairwood Avenue underpass beneath Interstate 70. The mural will depict the contribution of "local heroes," said Jennifer Jordan, executive director for the Driving Park-based foundation. Jordan said the foundation plans to have a community meeting this spring to generate ideas on what the mural will look like and who will be depicted.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/25/new-mural-of-notable-driving-park-figures-to-be-painted-this-year/69922923007/

An update: Columbus plans more safety improvements at new Olentangy Trail crossing “Pedestrians and bicyclists using the planned rerouted Olentangy Trail will be given a head start of up to seven seconds when crossing busy West North Broadway near OhioHealth's administrative campus in Clintonville. Plans now call for the traffic lights at the intersection of West North Broadway, the entrance to the OhioHealth administrative campus and Route 315 ramps to be delayed for three-to-seven seconds, essentially becoming a four-way stop to give bicyclists and pedestrians more time to get across safely. "No Turn On Red" signs would be lit during that time. The new plan also includes the planned addition of a 10-foot-wide raised median in the crosswalk at West North Broadway, which would act as a midpoint safety island for crossers whose time is running out. In addition to the traffic signal and median, the planned 0.6-mile trail reroute connector will also involve constructing bridges and 800 feet of boardwalk,and is expected to cost a total $8.75 million. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in February 2024, and be completed a year later, he said.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/25/olentangy-trail-bicyclists-to-have-more-time-to-cross-new-intersection/69922955007/

If we had to keep any of the low-mid density office buildings downtown, that would probably be one I’d vote to keep. Really, the one at the other end of the block isn’t terrible looking either, it just needs some sprucing up and opened up at the street level, maybe with a cafe with a patio or something. It’ll be great if the Greyhound redev includes structured parking that can be shared with nearby properties. That could really free up more room for residential and amenity space to be built on top of the big parking lot between the two offices.

The Development Commission’s March agenda came out today. Some of the agenda items: 1. A three story, 20 unit building in Northland at 2600 Lauffer Ravines Dr. on vacant land. 2. A revised plan to develop nearly 800k sqft of warehouse space on the huge vacant lot at 6500 Tussing Rd, off of Brice. 3. Two more Sheetz: one at 7480 Sawmill and one at 2480 Walcutt. 4. 552 units and commercial space on mostly vacant land developed by Metro Dev that would include land annexed into the City of Columbus from Prairie Township at 795 Galloway Rd.