amped91

Yeah I remembered that being posted on here before. I hadn’t realized there was a proposal back in 2017 to redevelop the site, though. From those meeting minutes, it sounds like the IV commission back then was really opposed to demoing the Garden building. Wonder if the developers will run into similar opposition now? I really like how this rendering looks.

Wilcox Communities to construct 270-unit apartment complex in Delaware “The city of Delaware has given final approval for The Residences at Lucy Ridge, a 270-unit housing complex from Worthington-based Wilcox Communities. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023, and the apartments are expected to be available in summer 2024. The new community will be located on approximately 47 acres west of Troy Road and across from Smith Park. It is north of Delaware's Westfield Hills and Parkview subdivisions. The one-story apartments will be attached in buildings measuring between five to eight units. Each unit will have an attached two-car garage, and will be equipped with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and private patios. Additional amenities located throughout the apartment community include a dog park, a community garden and a 2,500-square-foot clubhouse with a 24-hour fitness center, coffee bar, and indoor/outdoor entertainment space. Lucy Ridge apartments will offer two-bedroom floorplans ranging in size from 1,100 square feet to nearly 1,400 square feet. In the news release, Wilcox Communities described the design as "timeless suburban classic architecture."’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/22/the-residences-at-lucy-ridge-delaware.html Is that a selling point? 😅

Nothing like a proposal for a new 10-story tower in the Short North to give us all a merry Xmas! As proposed to the Italian Village commission, it would replace the building that housed the Garden, and it would replace the small surface parking lot for Stonewall Columbus. It would contain a mix of ground floor retail, 60 apartment units, and a 3 level parking structure with 60 spots. It sounds like it’s in partnership with Stonewall, and the tenth floor would include a wellness center open to their members and the public. (In even better SN related news, both twins who were kidnapped from the neighborhood this week have been found alive!)

That looks really cool with phases two and three next to each other along McDowell (plus Scioto Peninsula peaking up in the back!). With phase two wrapping up and three starting soon, the city and Kaufman definitely needs to do something to make crossing Broad safer. The flashing pedestrian lights, a pedestrian island, more traffic calming, something.

I avoid it at all costs. It’s not a pleasant experience either walking or driving. And it is odd they’re building out such a large space. I also think it’s strange they put a new location on ORR with the location of other nearby Starbucks. It’s not like urban locations where walking distance matters. I’m not sure what the strategy is anymore lol

*peaks in* (I’ll drop this in here since it involves demo and new construction, even though it’s also restaurant news.) Starbucks to replace vacant fitness center in Graceland “Starbucks is to replace the vacant Victory Fitness Center in the Graceland Shopping Center. Local developer CASTO is to bulldoze the former gym and create a new 2,533-square-foot building that is to house the international coffee giant, according to a site plan filed with the city of Columbus. CASTO, which owns the 14,390-square-foot Victory space, 50 Graceland Ave., has filed for a demolition request with the Clintonville Area Commission. Construction equipment is located in the Victory parking lot and it appears some excavation work has begun.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/clintonville/2022/12/21/starbucks-to-replace-vacant-fitness-center-in-graceland/69745373007/ *runs out before getting yelled at*

I wonder where the Dispatch got the 409 number from.

From the reporting, sounds like there’s no other tenants lined up. The urgent care might be all we get 😅

Second phase of Gravity development prepares to open, sound baths and all ‘"We’ve been very pleased with how it’s come along," said Frank Sasso, president of Kaufman Development, which created the Gravity brand. "We will start delivering our first units in the first quarter. Throughout the spring and early summer, we will have artists painting murals all over the project, with some really exciting announcements including international artists and sculptors adding place-making and activation to the site." Gravity's second phase includes four buildings, all wrapping up: - A 12-story residential tower on West Broad Street, with 17,000-square-feet of ground-floor restaurant space. The building includes 256 studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with several amenities such as a rooftop deck. The building is expected to open in late spring. No restaurant tenant has been identified yet. - A 175,000-square-foot, five-story office building, at Broad and McDowell streets. OhioHealth will soon start to build out half of the first floor with an urgent and primary care unit. Tenants have not been identified for the rest of the building, though some of the space will be used for Gravity programs such as meditation and sound baths, Sasso said. - An 890-space parking garage on McDowell Street. The garage, expected to open in early 2023, will serve Gravity as well as the surrounding neighborhood. - A five-story residential building on McDowell and West State streets. In addition to 56 studio and one-bedroom apartments, the building will feature 36 shared-living apartments, each with four or five bedrooms around common living rooms and kitchens, similar to student apartments. The building will also feature several common spaces, including art studios, meditation rooms and a demonstration kitchen. The shared-living residential building is expected to open in the first three months of 2023, welcoming the first tenants to Gravity's second phase. Sasso said the rest of Gravity will gradually open throughout 2023 and be fully open by late fall. Sasso said Kaufman Development also expects to soon announce plans for the Idea Foundry, the business incubator at West State and Lucas streets, across from the Gravity development, that the company bought in March for $5 million. "Our plan is to tie everything in with the Idea Foundry, to make a cohesive neighborhood experience," Sasso said.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/12/21/gravity-bringing-more-homes-offices-restaurants-to-franklinton/69738807007/

In the Dispatch’s article on the Continental conversion receipt of state tax credits, they mention a couple commercial tenants I don’t think were announced before: coworking and a ghost kitchen with a cafe and coffee shop. “According to the tax credit application, a coworking company plans to lease 17,500 square feet of the mezzanine and ground floor, and a ghost kitchen will lease 5,500 square feet on the lower level, in addition to operating a café and coffee shop.” The Dispatch also lists 409 apartment units instead of the previously reported 330. Not sure if that’s a typo, or if the developer was able to squeeze in more units in their plan. Either way, that’s a sizable amount of apartments! https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/12/20/state-approves-tax-breaks-to-redevelop-high-rise-and-former-school/69744218007/

Is there something planned for this site?

I saw this site a week or two ago, and it was fenced off, but no movement. Hopefully we’ll see both it and the Continental Centre get started in 2023. Two Columbus Projects Awarded Historic Tax Credits “Two local developments were awarded Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits today. One of them – a proposal to renovate the former Continental Centre at 150 E. Gay St. – actually received credits last summer. The developers of the project reapplied for credits this round in order to take advantage of changes to the program resulting from Senate Bill 225, which was signed by Governor DeWine in June and went into effect in September. Toledo-based Welltower and the Bernstein Companies (based in Washington DC) bought the Continental Centre in early 2021. The building was constructed in 1972 to hold the headquarters of Ohio Bell Southwestern. Plans for the conversion, which were approved by the Downtown Commission in March, call for 336 apartments, first floor retail, and a rooftop pool. The other Columbus project to receive historic preservation tax credits this round is a plan to renovate the former Starling Middle School in Franklinton. The historic building, constructed in 1908, served as the original West High School and was listed on Columbus Landmarks’ Most Endangered list in 2021.“ https://columbusunderground.com/two-columbus-projects-awarded-historic-tax-credits-bw1/

This is kinda surprising to me: White Castle closing its Short North restaurant this weekend ‘“It’s been a great run,” said Jamie Richardson, White Castle's vice president of marketing and public relations. “We still think that site has tremendous potential, but we think the space can be put to better use.” White Castle has an ownership stake in the development alongside Borror, which developed the property and is one of the building’s other tenants. Richardson said that location has not recovered sales-wise since Covid-19 and staffing and scheduling has been a struggle in the past few years. The Short North’s loss on that front will be a gain for other White Castle locations as all workers are being sent to other Central Ohio restaurants including eight who will move to the restaurant at the intersection of Kenny and Henderson roads, which will allow that unit to go back to 24-hour service.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/19/white-castle-closing-its-short-north-restaurant-th.html

Columbia Gas seeks quick approval for Intel pipeline “Columbia Gas of Ohio is asking for expedited state approval to build a natural gas pipeline to the site in Licking County where Intel is constructing two factories. If approved, construction of the 4.2-mile, 12-inch diameter pipeline could begin as soon as April and be brought into service in 2024, according to the company. "The project will allow Columbia to provide required natural gas for Intel’s planned operations as well as serve businesses that will serve or supply Intel," the company said in documents filed with the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state agency that reviews pipeline projects. Columbia is seeking an expedited review that would be completed in 90 days. Such an option is available for pipeline projects under five miles long.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/12/19/columbia-gas-wants-to-start-soon-on-pipeline-to-intel-site/69737011007/

Unique housing community coming to 136-acre wooded area in Pataskala “Scenic View Estates will feature 60 single-family lots off of Middle Ground Road in a forested area. A development roughly 10 years in the making, the original plan called for 240 homes, but was paired down to maintain a majority of the natural surroundings. The first phase of 17 homes will begin construction after utilities are installed and the lots are plotted. As it stands today, the development has the gated entrance installed, along with asphalt for the main roadway. Access drives to each home will be gravel, which Filonenko said was necessary in order to maintain the trees. Filonenko said five lots already are reserved ahead of the first phase of construction, which will likely take a year to fully build out. Plotting for the first phase will begin Jan. 3. The second phase of 22 lots is expected to be completed in 2024; the final 21 lots are slated for completion in 2025.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/19/scenic-view-estates-housing-community-pataskala.html

Exxcel Project Management to invest $28M in construction of two new spec buildings in Delaware “Two new spec buildings measuring nearly 300,000 square feet and totaling $28 million in investment are under construction at a Central Ohio business park. Exxcel Project Management, a developer and design-build construction company headquartered in Columbus, is building a pair of 147,000-square-foot facilities on Founder's Court at Sawmill Pointe Business Park in Delaware. The spec buildings, constructed in partnership with Bridge Investment Group, are geared toward light manufacturing, research and development and technology-related businesses. The pre-design and design phases of the project have been completed, and earthwork and utility work has commenced. Exccel says it is pushing for the buildings to be completed in the third quarter of 2023. Exxcel also broke ground on a 202,165-square-foot production facility at Sawmill Pointe in July. That building is for Inno-Pak, a Delaware food packaging manufacturer. The total investment across the Inno-Pak building and new spec projects totals around $50 million. An additional 50 acres in the business park also will be developed in the next two to three years, according to the release.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/19/exxcel-project-management-spec-buildings-delaware.html

Northland leader's new effort aims at transforming old hotels to new housing “Travelers heading south on Interstate 71 and leaving the freeway at the state Route 161 exit might look to the right and see a number of faded hotels — some still operating, some closed and boarded up. Community leaders and residents want to do something to repurpose or replace them, and Alice Foeller, the cofounder of the Elevate Northland group, has created a new group, Northland Collective (northlandcollectivedevelopment.com), with a vision for the area. The idea: "We invest in motel buildings in disrepair, replacing them with innovative buildings that address housing, retail, our shared climate future and the Northland character and spirit." Foeller, who also leads the Northland Area Business Association, said her vision includes condominium buildings with retail shops on first floors and rooftop gardens.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/12/19/northland-leaders-new-effort-aims-to-transform-hotels-to-new-housing/69721944007/

Where’s the location for this one again? So many projects going on now, I’m starting to lose track of all of them lol

This looks like it’s for a post office location.

No, I didn’t see any, unfortunately.

I hope so! I’ve been wanting to check it out since its move from Delaware was announced.

It took a little digging, but I think I found out: Looks like one space is the relocated Sarah Gormley Gallery (I’d forgotten she was moving downtown from the Short North). And the other space (99 N High) appears to be a location for the USPS, oddly enough. And it looks like Speck is, unfortunately, still waiting on kitchen equipment, last time I checked.

I never know where to put content regarding Jeff Edwards’ stretch of High St. Looks like there’s been discussion of the Nicholas building here, though. Was wondering if anyone knows what’s going into the storefront right next to Speck? Looks like there’s some sort of build out going on, and the windows have been papered over for at least a month.

I suppose it could be solely related to the utilities work, but I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that, now with fencing up around the perimeter of the apartment site, we’ll see a 2023 groundbreaking. I’m tired of seeing the blank wall of the parking garage lol Plus, it would be great to see this, Merchant, and the first phase of AP all start next year. Would add 570+ units in/near the AD.

New Verve branding is up around the King and High development. Looks like it should be topping out soon. And we should see the 7th Ave dev going vertical soon too (I can’t remember which thread we’ve been putting this one in):