amped91

Last few times I drove by the site it looked pretty quiet. Glad things are moving along still!

A third contender has thrown their hat into the ring, according to the Dispatch: ”Also filing to run for mayor is Carrie J. Griffin, of the 4900 block of Keelson Drive, who could not be reached for comment Thursday morning.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/02/well-financed-ginther-may-face-two-grass-roots-challengers-for-mayor/69866096007/ I’ve never heard of them before, but I guess this means we’ll actually have a primary in May lol

Could the discrepancy have to do with the telecom tower? Maybe the 382’ takes that into account?

DiBella's Subs, Bath & Body Works among new additions to Hamilton Quarter “Co-developer Casto this week announced another four additions to the 200-acre mixed use development near New Albany: DiBella’s Subs Torchy’s Tacos Bath & Body Works Kemba Financial Credit Union” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/02/dibellas-subs-bath-body-works-hamilton-quarter.html

In addition to the historic home on Taylor Ave, a couple more demo requests are coming to the NEAC this month: An historic building at 1140 Oak to make room for future development. Sounds like the commission is opposed to demo. The other is the corner convenience store at 920 E Long, due to “structural deficiencies.” Fingers crossed for all three buildings to be rehabbed and reused.

Tech layoffs still not showing any impact on the top line figure: U.S. employers added 517,000 jobs last month “Despite some high-profile job cuts, particularly among high-tech companies, layoffs remain rare. "The labor market remains extremely tight, with the unemployment rate at a 50-year low, job vacancies very high, and wage growth elevated," Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said this week. Restaurants and bars added 99,000 jobs last month, and a surge in new job openings suggests demand for workers in the industry remains strong. Construction companies added 25,000 jobs in January while factories added 19,000. Manufacturing orders have slowed in recent months, but factories are reluctant to downsize their workforce, in hopes that business will rebound later in the year.” https://www.npr.org/2023/02/03/1153912911/jobs-labor-unemployment-wages-inflation-federal-reserve

I believe the new OSU tower is supposed to hit 410, unless you mean solely downtown. Overall in the city, that tower should crack the top ten, and push the Merchant back to 12th overall. I want one to surpass the Rhodes tower, but I have my doubts that’ll happen.

Looks like Speck is finally open and accepting reservations! https://speckrestaurant.com Apparently a few other folks were looking forward to the opening as well—I had to book a couple weeks out to get a weekend dinner reservation.

Looking back at renderings pre-2022 update, it looks like the rooftop patio was added last year as well. Might also be where the additional floor is coming from?

I’m thinking it grew another story when they announced the official name last year?

Central Ohio's population now projected to exceed 3 million by 2050, boosted by new economic development projects “The latest modeling projections show a 3.15 million population for the 15-county region, an uptick from previous projections. In 2020, the population was estimated to be about 3 million. That new projection means that over the next 25 years, the Central Ohio region will see 726,000 additional people – or 272,000 additional households and 357,000 additional workers. Franklin County is expected to absorb half of the regional growth. The surrounding counties will experience greater growth relative to their current populations, with Delaware increasing by 80%, and Madison and Licking counties increasing by 30%. Franklin County's population will increase by 26%. Recent growth places Central Ohio among the fastest-growing large metro areas in the country, according to MORPC. Additionally, the region leads the state in growth.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/02/morpc-growth-3-million-central-ohio.html

I don’t have anything else to add, just wanted to say that’s a good analysis :)

I guess those two giant lots are big enough to accommodate more buildings and a garage or two if this project is popular lol

Are the Destroyers coming back…again? Arena Football League is coming back which could mean the Columbus Destroyers return “The Arena Football League is coming back and Columbus football fans could see the return of its professional team. The AFL announced Wednesday the league will return in 2024 for its first season since 2019 with 16 teams to play. Initially founded in 1986, the indoor football league has dissolved twice with its most recent shutdown in 2019 with just six teams in the league. Now with its return, Columbus football fans could see the return of the Destroyers, who relocated from Buffalo to central Ohio in 2004. The Destroyers played five seasons in Columbus before folding in 2008 and returning for the league’s most recent year in 2019. Currently, the league does not list a single one of the 16 teams that will play in its return season. No announcement date for the teams is known at this time.” https://www.nbc4i.com/sports/arena-football-league-is-coming-back-which-could-mean-the-columbus-destroyers-return/

State demo funds make $300M Whitehall redevelopment project possible at Broad Street and Hamilton Road “Whitehall plans to take a wrecking ball to 317 decrepit condominiums at the corner of Broad Street and Hamilton Road this month, making way for a $300 million mixed-use project. Zach Woodruff, city administrator for Whitehall, said that the city acquired the Woodcliff condos in 2019 after filing a nuisance case against owners for the deterioration and poor living conditions. The case lasted longer than a decade. Whitehall now owns the condo site and the former Whitehall Golf Dome, together about 50 acres, and with a private developer, has plans for as many as 1,000 rental and for-sale housing units and 250,000 square feet of commercial space. Woodruff said he hopes the redevelopment project will be Whitehall's equivalent of Bridge Park, with four and five-story buildings with ground floor retail integrated into the nearby city-owned park. "We're really building a neighborhood, not an apartment complex," Woodruff told me. "We're leaning into density and height."’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/02/whitehall-mixed-use-development-demo-ohio.html

You mean Gym “a law’s not going to change anything so let’s do nothing” Jordan isn’t our best and/or brightest??

As much as I’d like to see a competitive mayoral race—even if for no other reason than to improve the health of our local democracy and spur some decent debates—this dude’s not the one to do it. He’s the Tulsi Gabbard of this race. Even though a Republican candidate would have little chance of winning, it’s still wild to me they’ve pretty much given up running anyone.

I attended one of the public meetings a couple months ago when this was presented, and I’m really excited about the improvements the city’s planned. Also, today it was announced the project will receive $12 million in federal grant money: City of Columbus Awarded a $12 Million Safe Streets for All Grant to Help End Serious Crashes on E. Livingston Avenue “The City of Columbus has been awarded a $12 million federal Safe Streets for All Implementation Grant to fund transportation safety improvements along E. Livingston Avenue in the Driving Park neighborhood. The grant, combined with a $12 million city investment, funds planning, design and construction of infrastructure changes that will make it safer to walk, bike and drive along Livingston — a corridor on the Vision Zero Columbus High Injury Network due to the high incidence of traffic violence. The improvements will be made from 18th Street to Nelson Road. The Vision Zero safety project is focused on reducing pedestrian and fatal and serious injury crashes on Livingston. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the grant award today. The Livingston project is one of 510 projects across the U.S. to receive a historic $800 million in grant awards through the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program, which funds regional, local and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. “I am grateful to the Biden administration, Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, Senator Brown and Congresswoman Beatty, and so many of our residents for their support of the Livingston Avenue project,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “This investment will significantly improve the safety and accessibility of the corridor, businesses and other community assets. It will help Driving Park and the surrounding neighborhoods reconnect with their rich histories and celebrate residents who made significant impacts on American history. Residents deserve the right to safe mobility.”’ https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHCCC/bulletins/34647d9?reqfrom=share&fbclid=IwAR1Hh8Q9YEUZvxUGpdQbx1kcAJGsaBrY_DWrPk_aDW37Jp8ixzjGxYFlTMw

The computer system will be rigged anytime a map favors Dems, just like elections 🙄

There’s so much surface parking space that OSU owns around the hospital. There’s no reason to tear anything down for the rehab hospital.

Pretty much. The urban areas of Columbus aren’t really growing as much as they are repopulating after being wiped out last century.

Community Development for All People's South End Cafe sets February opening date “Community Development for All People's latest social enterprise is scheduled to open in February. Community Development for All People and the Kelley Cos. are teaming up to redevelop the former South End Hotel into a cafe and two dozen apartments. The South End Cafe will open Feb. 20. There will be a ribbon cutting event and open house starting at 10 a.m. that day. The cafe originally was scheduled to open last summer, but there were construction delays. Premo said a staff of five has been hired. Community Development for All People prioritized hiring people who are out of work, who have previously been incarcerated and who live on the south side of Columbus. Cafe employees will make $15 an hour. Premo said the nonprofit continues to work on funding sources for the Eleanor on Parsons project and the 70-unit Peyton Crossing project for seniors, which is the nonprofits first Low Income Housing Tax Credit deal.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/02/01/south-end-cafe.html

Another downtown closure. Longtime Downtown Columbus restaurant Ho-Toy closed after 64 years “Longtime Downtown Chinese restaurant Ho-Toy has closed after 64 years. The restaurant, at 11 W. State St., has served wide-ranging classic Chinese and Thai dishes to Columbus residents for over six decades. Ho-Toy originally opened at 33 E. Town St. in 1959 as one of the city's first Chinese restaurants. In 1980, the restaurant moved to its W. State Street location, an unassuming space in a former Burger King.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/dining/2023/01/31/longtime-downtown-chinese-restaurant-ho-toy-closed/69858754007/ I really hope the push for more residential works. Otherwise, I’m afraid WFH will be the death of Downtown…

The alarmist language from WCMH is laughable. Campus bar “under threat.” Sure, Jan… Saying parking is preventing preserving the corner brick building is dumb too. And these two committees constantly wanting to have it both ways. Guarantee had the original proposal had all ground floor retail and the corner preserved with an eight story building, they would’ve been just as opposed to it, this time saying it’s too high 🙄

The Cumberland recently received support from the NEAC, and it’ll go to the city development commission next, on the ninth. Also didn’t know about the history of the site. Six-story apartment proposed for Olde Towne East “The proposed development is named after a residential building that sat on the site from about 1890 to 1970 called Cumberland Flats. Developers are considering an elevated rear terrace on the building, along with balconies on nearly all apartments, and a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, which are rare in new Columbus urban apartment buildings. The city's Near East Area Commission recommended approval for the plan two weeks ago, sending it to the city's Development Commission, which is scheduled to hear it on Feb. 9. "We're prepared and excited to go to the Development Commission," Suiter said. "We would love to break ground this year, but obviously that's set on financing and final drawings." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2023/02/01/apartment-complex-proposed-for-parsons-avenue-in-olde-towne-east/69855803007/