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Some drama over this property, according to the Dispatch: Somali-American developer, Franklin County Land Bank at odds over Hilltop development “Many Somali-Americans in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood are excited about a proposed affordable housing project right next door to their community's mosque. There's just one catch: the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) Franklin County Land Bank, once a backer of the project, has asked for the land back. Community members voiced support for the proposed Prairie Village project, which would include 100 rentals and 20 for-sale townhomes, at a promotional event after Friday prayers Nov. 11 at the Abubakar Asiddiq Islamic Center, 591 Industrial Mile Road, just off Sullivant Avenue. Some said the neighborhood — an enclave just inside the I-270 beltway — is in desperate need of the type of renewal promised by First Global Investments, or FGI, the Columbus-based Somali-American developer. “FGI needed to fulfill the spirit of their proposal, that the property be developed as intended and ensure that the development moves forward as agreed upon within the contract,” Curtiss Williams, president and CEO of the COCIC Franklin County Land Bank and the Central Ohio Community Land Trust, told The Dispatch. "Unfortunately, as it happens with other real estate transactions, their execution of the proposal did not work out, and (the land bank), in accordance with its mission and obligations needs to move forward in a timely fashion to redevelop the property.”‘ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/11/22/somali-developer-land-bank-columbus-hilltop-housing-project-prairie-village/69645168007/

Gorgeous sunrise in the Arch City this AM. The OSU tower looks like part of the downtown skyline from this angle.

Fair point. Also important to note that it sounds like they are trying to get it on the ballot for the May 2023 election, when there is likely to be low turnout. So it’s gonna be important to actually show up for this.

Interesting. I like that it can help third parties get a foothold while doing away with the wasted vote argument. I’d never thought of how it applied to primaries though, so thanks for the explanation. Personally, I’d love to see proportional rep given a shot, but I can’t see either major party ever allowing that. Anyway, to get us back on topic, I hope we can get redistricting figured out soon and back on the ballot by ‘24.

Will do and will do. On ranked choice voting, I don’t mean to get us too far off topic, but I’ve been trying to understand it better. I had thought states that have RCV still do party primaries, one could just rank their preferences of the candidates—is that not the case? Of course, it doesn’t help us when there were about a dozen congressional races this past cycle in which Republicans ran completely unopposed—no one to even rank 😔 (Also, sorry for the pessimism. It’s just this past election, while it has me feeling pretty optimistic about my city and country, it’s hard not to get discouraged about the current state of Ohio’s politics.)

Will the GOP now move to add party affiliation next election cycle to BOE candidates, ala OSC? Is there anything we can even do? The GA have effectively insulated themselves from electoral repercussions, and I don’t think protesting effects them one way or the other 😔

Lol okay. Sad that different points of view from your own are apparently so threatening to you 🤷🏼‍♂️

Ohio voter base is slightly >50% Republican. So their 50%+1 can easily restrict everybody else’s freedom if they want. While this ploy’s intent is to shut down abortion and redistricting amendments, I can see this eventually backfiring on state conservatives in limiting their ability to pass extreme measures on the ballot (although you’re right in that they have a supermajority in the legislature, so there’s not much they can’t do already). And that’s only if this proposal is actually approved by voters. I will be voting no if it winds up on the ballot, but I am just trying to think about possible outcomes. Thank you very much for your dull attempt at character assassination though 🙂

I know this and the 60% requirement for voter approved constitutional amendments are being thrown around directly in response to abortion and redistricting reform, but the more time I’ve had to think about it, the more okay I am with the 60% requirement. And that’s precisely because I don’t trust Ohio voters. I don’t trust urban voters to show up, and I don’t trust rural voters to not vote in support of cruel, hateful amendments. So while, if this amendment were to be approved by voters, it could make it more difficult to pass abortion rights, I think it could also make it more difficult to pass harmful amendments as well, so it could end up coming back to bite the Ohio GOP in the ass.

I’m glad it sounds like she’s finally getting the rec center; I’ve been following this story for what seems like a couple years now. Any sort of help for the Hilltop is welcome news imo. This has nothing to do with the story, but why are all of these large media conglomerate owned broadcast network websites so horrible? Pop up ads, pop up videos—makes reading a three paragraph article way too much of a chore.

Yeah, I like it. The design reminds me a lot of the Whale in Schumacher Place.

The city has released a design proposal for the Livingston Ave improvement project that encompasses 18th to Nelson. It includes a road diet, planter median, and raised bike lanes, amongst other proposed changes. More info on the study can be found here: https://www.columbus.gov/LivingstonAvenuePedestrianSafetyStudy/

Ground work has begun on OHC’s new building.

The Blakely looks like it’s moving pretty quickly now. At least the garage portion, anyway. Elevator shafts appear to be topped out on the residential portion.

Lumen on 9th in the background peaking over some trees, And looks to be nearing completion.

According to the Franklin County Auditor, it’s owned by Urban Smart Growth LLC, which owns several properties in Franklinton, including 400 W Rich and Strongwater. This is a different property, slightly further east, but have we heard about this project before? https://urbansmartgrowth.com/properties/lucas-lofts/ ETA: After doing a search of older posts on here, it looks like Lucas Lofts was proposed clear back in 2015 as a 69 unit project. I wonder when this got changed to 136 units, and if this is still a project that might be in the works?

Seems like pretty big news for Whitehall: Discover to relocate customer care center from New Albany to Whitehall, invest $16M in new space “Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS), one of the region's largest employers, will invest $16 million in construction, training and hiring at its forthcoming location at 4590 E. Broad St. in Whitehall. The company plans to start hiring customer support representatives from Whitehall and nearby communities early next year. “Investing in Whitehall and bringing jobs to communities that need them most is good business and contributes to our mission of helping people achieve brighter financial futures,” Discover President and CEO Roger Hochschild said in a news release. “We are looking forward to working with Whitehall leaders and hope our investment here spurs further economic growth in the community.” Renovation of the more than 103,000-square-foot location, which previously housed Alliance Data, is expected to start in the spring. Discover is relocating from a New Albany building it recently sold, though its data center will remain in the city. “We welcome Discover’s investment in our vibrant community and look forward to seeing the impact they make in partnership with other local organizations working together to create a brighter future for our residents,” Whitehall Mayor Kim Maggard said in the release. “The company’s continued commitment strengthens our shared vision to improve the lives of our residents through diverse economic opportunities and sustainable partnerships that make a real difference in the lives of our residents and improve long-term prosperity.”’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/18/discover-16m-customer-care-center-whitehall.html

Yeah, Phase two is planned for the opposite side of Rich. Wonder if they could be thinking about another phase here, or (hopefully) this is a different developer?

United Church Homes, McCabe Cos. begin construction on new senior living community in Plain City “McCabe Cos. and United Church Homes recently started construction on The Hamlet on Darby, a residential community for adults 55 and older. The community, located off Fairfield Drive behind Madison Square Apartments, is being developed on more than 9 acres near Big Darby Creek in Plain City. A joint venture between the Plain City-based developer and the Marion-based senior/affordable housing group, The Hamlet on Darby will feature 67 two-bedroom villas and townhomes. Of those, 32 are garden-style homes and the other 35 are lofts. Each unit will have an attached garage and a covered front porch, and the neighborhood will have a pavilion with an outdoor fire pit, several common areas, gardens, walking trails and connections to nearby bike paths. Pre-leasing for The Hamlet on Darby will begin in March 2023 and the first phase of construction is scheduled to be complete by July 2023. The project in its entirety is estimated to be complete by February 2024.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/18/new-senior-living-community-plain-city.html

Oh, I’d forgotten I’d read this in a CBF article a short while back. Sounds like we might have to wait a couple more years: ”Kreais Cos. is also rehabilitating the buildings at 364-368 E. Whittier St., with the goal of opening a 12,000-square-foot food hall. Kreais had hoped to open the food hall in 2023, but said there have bee project delays. The developer didn't share how many food vendors would be in the space or the name of the development yet. Kreais has owned those buildings since 2019.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/08/03/merion-village-townhome-development-changes-hands.html

Owners of 1816 N High, part of the 15th and High redevelopment will present to the UIDRB this month a plan to temporarily redevelop the property until another office building is added in the next 2-5 years. Current plan is to include park, pavilion, and food truck space. Has anyone heard if there’s more immediate plans to build the hotel and parking garage on the larger parcel of land? And a few more renderings of the 7-story portion of the project from ACC proposed for Lane and High.

Gourmet cheesecake vendor setting up shop in the East Market “Things have gotten a whole lot sweeter at the East Market as of late. That’s because The Bearded Baker is churning out a whole lot more of its raved-about desserts from the space, and owner Matt Estep doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon. Estep, an employee of The Butcher & Grocer, began selling cheesecakes through his employer’s East Market vendor stalls when the space opened this spring. Lately, however, he’s been expanding production and is growing toward a permanent home.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/gourmet-cheesecake-vendor-setting-up-shop-in-the-east-market

Chef Avishar Barua, One Line Coffee featured at new Columbus airport lounge “John Glenn Columbus International Airport tapped a local chef and local coffee for its newest amenity. The airport's new 2,800-square-foot lounge, dubbed Escape Lounge – The Centurion Studio Partner, includes a menu designed by chef Avishar Barua and coffee from the Short North’s One Line Coffee. The lounge also has premium and local beer, spirits and wine, and amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, activity packs for children and a digital library with more than 7,000 publications from more than 120 countries via PressReader. “We’re pleased to introduce this new amenity for passengers looking for an elevated airport experience,” Joseph Nardone, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said in a release. “(The lounge) allows passengers to relish the travel experience, to escape to a relaxing space before boarding their flight.”’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/16/chef-avishar-barua-one-line-coffee-highlight-new.html

Good reuse of some office space here: United Way, YMCA, others to occupy former Nationwide office building “Several nonprofit organizations including the United Way of Central Ohio and the YMCA plan to move into a former Nationwide office building Downtown that is expected to become the largest single collection of nonprofit offices in the city. The 9-story building, at 215 N. Front St., will be dubbed the Community Impact Center. "The space is a dream come true for a nonprofit," said United Way President and CEO Lisa Courtice. "The potential is extraordinary." Among the organizations expected to join the United Way and the YMCA are Per Scholas, Future Ready Columbus, UHCAN Ohio, Communities in Schools of Ohio, and the Wells CPA firm. Ultimately, 12 to 15 organizations employing up to 1,000 workers are expected to occupy the building.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/11/15/united-way-ymca-and-others-to-move-into-former-nationwide-building/

Hilltop Early Learning Center to Open in January “An opening date has been set for the Hilltop Early Learning Center. After missing a planned October start-date, doors are now set to open for the first classes for pre-kindergarten students on January 15. The new $20 million facility – located at 45 Claredon Ave. – will also hold a 3,000-square-foot healthcare center, to be be run by Nationwide Children’s Hospital. A major initiative of the City of Columbus, the project was first announced in Mayor Andrew Ginther’s 2019 State of the City address, and has been held up as a key part of the city’s equity and neighborhood-focused agenda. Work started on the building in late 2020, but the idea for it was hatched after a 2018 report that found that fewer Hilltop children were enrolled in high-quality early learning programs than anywhere else in the city.” https://columbusunderground.com/hilltop-early-learning-center-to-open-in-january-bw1/