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Glad they’ll be closer to downtown. They we’l will also be taking up space in the building at 605 S Front. Goodwill Columbus to move headquarters to the Brewery District “Goodwill Columbus will move its headquarters into Grange Insurance's building on South High Street in the Brewery District. "We fully acknowledge the lives that were changed in our Edgehill Road building, but this is also a very exciting new chapter for Goodwill Columbus," Goodwill CEO Ryan Burgess told Columbus Business First. “We are thrilled to be heading to the south side of Columbus. There is a lot of development occurring in the neighborhood and it puts us close to some of the places we serve in the community." Burgess said Goodwill's administrative staff, about 70 people, will move into the 17,000-square-foot space in the second quarter of 2023. That's about the same amount of space those workers currently occupy on Edgehill. In addition to administrative offices, Goodwill will lease an adjacent 9,000-square-foot building at 605 South Front St., also owned by Grange, that will house free job training services open to the public. Burgess hopes to move into the administrative offices and the workforce lab at the same time.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/04/goodwill-columbus-grange-insurance-hq-grandview.html

New steakhouse featuring bone marrow luges to open at Easton “The new steakhouse Cut 132 will open at the Aloft Hotel at Easton Town Center in January. At 4188 Brighton Rose Way, the restaurant will be on the ground floor of the Aloft Hotel across from Restoration Hardware, in one of Easton's newest districts. The concept is from Virginia-based Thompson Hospitality Group. Founded in 1992, the company is Black-owned and calls itself the nation's largest minority-owned food-service company. The company serves historically Black colleges and has restaurants in Maryland, Virginia, South Florida and Washington D.C. As one of its newest restaurant concepts, Cut 132 will be a "traditional, great American steakhouse" with a contemporary feel in its atmosphere and menu, said Michael Katigbak, vice president of marketing for Thompson Hospitality.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/11/04/new-steakhouse-cut-132-to-open-at-easton-hotel-this-winter/69607692007/

A few pics from the groundbreaking ceremony too.

Amtrak service to Columbus: MORPC, Ohio mayors submit formal requests to advance the process “Several Ohio mayors and planning agencies, including Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, have officially started the process to restore Amtrak service through Columbus without waiting for state-level support. Separate letters of intent to the Federal Railroad Administration this month support the 3C+D route that would reconnect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. Amtrak shut down its last route through Columbus in 1979. The letter also lists other routes the agency wants to help plan, passing through or starting in Columbus: Pittsburgh to Chicago, to Detroit via Toledo, to Athens via Lancaster, to Portsmouth via Chillicothe and a scenic route in Zanesville. Central Ohio mayors of Delaware, Hilliard and Worthington joined the letter signed by Ginther, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr. Other cities and regions such as the Mansfield area sent separate letters.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/03/morpc-columbus-cleveland-cincinnati-amtrak-request.html

Is there a way to view the applications? I would hope Rockbridge went into the mmm market’s role as a small business incubator too, with the market space increasing by ~50%. I’d hate to see this get delayed even longer. I already have a feeling we’re not going to see that November official groundbreaking.

I like these plans. I’ll be glad to finally see inside the engine house. Columbus Historical Society hopes to start local heritage center in Franklinton with Engine House No. 6, Harrison House and other lot “The Columbus Historical Society bought Engine House No. 6 at 540 West Broad St. for about $700,000 last November. The organization is gearing up to start the renovation of the outside and the first floor of the fire house, which will cost about $800,000. The first floor of the fire house will become a community meeting space and exhibit spaces. Mike Frush, president of the board of trustees of the Columbus Historical Society, said one of the exhibit spaces would be dedicated to transportation history in Columbus, complete with a 1920 Allen Motor car made in Columbus, a 1915 Model T likely assembled in Columbus and an 1800s Columbus Buggy Co. buggy. This renovation will start soon, Frush said, and is expected to take about a year. A $1.5 million second phase of renovations would help turn the second floor of the engine house into a research library housing the Columbus Historical Society's current archives, artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln and his ties to Columbus and an art collection. The Lincoln artifacts include 1,200 books and nearly 2,000 letters. Frush said the historical society also hopes to purchase the land in between the Harrison House and engine house at 550 W. Broad St. to create a history park. There is currently a non-historical building on the lot that Frush said the historical society would tear down if they buy the property.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/03/columbus-historical-society.html

I pretty much forgot about this one. Did it look like there was any movement on the residential part yet?

I thought that was interesting too. I wonder if it primarily has to do with slower growth compared to, say, some Sunbelt states, and less likely hood of property value increased?

From the ODOD page: https://development.ohio.gov/business/state-incentives/transformational-mixed-use-development-program As one law firm puts it: https://www.vorys.com/publication-Transformational-Mixed-Use-Development-Tax-Credit-2021 That said, I do think, while there’s likely a mixture of truth in Rockbridge’s statement, it’s likely they’re primarily just playing the game. Also, I still think it’s BS that CoverMyMed’s HQ won out last round over Merchant and Peninsula 2. I don’t think there was enough investigation into that. I’m also wondering if Rockbridge didn’t convince the CDDC to sit this round out with Peninsula 2 to give Merchant a better chance, and that’s the reason we didn’t see Peninsula apply.

The country’s fastest-growing cookie company is opening two Columbus-area locations in one week “The first new store will be located at 2863 Taylor Rd. in Reynoldsburg. According to Crumbl Area Manager Tyson Barrett, the store will open Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. And if you haven’t yet tried Crumbl’s massive–and massively-popular cookies–Barrett said the store will giving away free chocolate chip cookies on Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. until midnight. Additionally, Crumbl is opening a second new storefront in Grove City, which will be located at 1719 Stringtown Rd. This store will open Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. Crumbl Cookies, which was founded in Utah in 2017, currently operates six other Central Ohio storefronts, with locations in Delaware, Dublin, Easton Town Center, Hilliard, New Albany and Polaris.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/the-countrys-fastest-growing-cookie-company-is-opening-two-columbus-area-locations-in-one-week

Victoria's Secret buying online retailer Adore Me for $400M “Victoria’s Secret & Co. is buying an online intimates brand for $400 million. The Reynoldsburg-based retailer Tuesday said it is acquiring New York-based Adore Me Inc. for that initial cash payment. The deal could be worth more as Victoria’s Secret (NYSE:VSCO) will pay additional cash based on the brand’s performance in the first two years after the acquisition closes, expected at the end of January 2023. “Adore Me is a technology-led, digital-first innovator in the intimates category that will help us bring differentiated experiences to Victoria’s Secret and Pink customers,” Victoria’s Secret CEO Martin Waters said in a release. “This acquisition will be a significant accelerant as we pivot toward growth and modernize the foundation of our company with an entrepreneurial mindset that puts technology at the forefront of everything we do.” Adore Me was founded in 2011 by CEO Morgan Hermand as an online brand. It has grown to more than 1.2 million active customers, gaining favor with consumers through not just its inclusive and affordable array of products but also a monthly subscription option and a Home Try-On program. That program in particular generates strong customer loyalty and could present an attractive new opportunity for Victoria's Secret customers, the company noted.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/01/victorias-secret-acquiring-online-retailer-adore.html California startup Zenni grows U.S. manufacturing hub in Central Ohio's 'optical village' “A California online eyewear startup will focus all of its U.S. manufacturing in Central Ohio, expanding its original plans for the region and growing to as many as 300 jobs in the "optical village" south of Columbus. Zenni Optical Inc. is upgrading its Obetz lens-grinding facility and distribution center to a full-service lab that can shape and coat lenses from raw materials, accommodating uncommon prescriptions such as astigmatism. "The scope of the Ohio facility, due to the success we're seeing, is starting to grow," said Rob Tate, the plant's general manager and Zenni's head of U.S. manufacturing. "We're looking at some additional product lines in the future. ... There's more to come for Zenni in Ohio." The Obetz operation is nearing 100 employees, which could triple as it adds more labor-intensive lens production capabilities, he said.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/11/01/zenni-obetz-us-eyewear-manufacturing.html

Wouldn’t surprise me. Twin Rivers would be an awkward spot for one anyway, I think.

Huh, there’s a record from 2019 about a Carvana vending building at that site. I don’t know if that’s what it is now, but it does some a bit more extensive than just fill dirt. The most recent record tied to the address is from April, and it mentions excavation, but I don’t know about the Cap Square connection.

I’m liking the splash of color that BMH and the new murals are adding to Parsons.

Lockbourne Greene

More equipment and material arriving on site for McKinley Manor on W Broad. Site footprint has also been dug out. Town Square Station apartments look like they will be wrapping soon.

Another construction update from CBC. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to wait until next year to check it out: Columbus Brewing provides update, target opening time, for near east side restaurant and taproom “According to the post, the new restaurant plans to retain as much of the Trolley District’s historical charm—the development is built on a former hub for the city’s trolley cars—as possible. And that means plenty of vintage brickwork. “Our team wanted to keep as much of the character as possible—so we kept the original brick walls, ceiling, and support beams which brings so much history to life,” the post reads. While there’s still plenty of work to do before we can enjoy the space, its grand opening is coming up quickly. According to Columbus Brewing’s Director of Marketing Evan Magliocca, early 2023 isw the target opening date for the new restaurant.“ https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/columbus-brewing-provides-update-target-opening-time-for-near-east-side-restaurant-and-taproom

A little flatiron would’ve been neat there. Maybe they can still do something similar there. I think the developer is kind of constrained though, with it right next to Grandview.

Office and retail. Here’s a link to the post where I found it a few months ago:

Man, that’s gotta be one of the most depressing looking renderings I’ve seen in awhile 😆

That’s actually really good to hear. Hopefully that means there will be little to no pushback when the time comes to relocate. Thanks!

While we patiently await the tower’s groundbreaking, a little ghost story about the grounds: “John Kerr was one of the four proprietors who founded Columbus in 1812. Kerr was a successful surveyor and land developer and was quite wealthy when he died of fever in 1823. He was buried in the Old North Graveyard. When that graveyard was abandoned in the 1870s, many of the hundreds of people buried there were moved to another cemetery. John Kerr was not among them. His grave was lost. A man dressed in the clothing of the early 1800s has been seen from time to time in the fog near the North Market, which replaced the graveyard. When approached, he vanishes into the mist. It might be Kerr, the second mayor of Columbus. Then again, it might be Jarvis Pike, the first mayor of Columbus, whose grave also was lost. Or it just might just be some fellow who likes to wander in the mist.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/history/2022/10/30/ghost-stories-always-give-columbus-residents-a-thrill/ Happy Halloween, my fellow Columbusites! 🙂

Where have you been?? lol The CDDC revealed last year plans for phase two: a 34 story project consisting of a four story parking garage with a 30 story residential tower and a seven story office tower on top. There hasn’t been much news since then, but the CDDC has recently teased that an update should be coming soon. Here’s a link to an article about the announcement: https://columbusunderground.com/34-story-tower-proposed-for-scioto-peninsula-bw1/

That’s not according to its developers, but this is definitely getting into off-topic territory. So, in order to avoid this thread getting locked once again…. Does anyone know if there’s ever been any talk of relocating the police station on the southern edge of the Peninsula? The master plan shows that area being redeveloped in the future: However, the brick building itself is fairly attractive (at least from the outside), and it’s supposedly 150+ years old (according to the county auditor’s website), so I really hope it can be preserved and repurposed in the development. Of course, it’s surrounded by a massive amount of parking, so I hope to see that changed in the future. I think it would even be cool to see the little one story brick building at the corner preserved and repurposed into a little walk up coffee bar or something. Anyway, I realize this is likely a decade-plus into the future, but I was just curious of others’ thoughts and if there’s been any talk yet about that land.

So far, I like the concept/idea of the Peninsula better than that of BP (big urban infill dev project v. suburban conversion), but I think it’s still too early in the Peninsula’s development to say how well the developers will be able to execute on all of its promise. FWIW, I like BP well enough, and I’m glad it’s doing well. But, like @VintageLifesaid, it’s a copy of everything in Cbus. So I don’t have much of a reason to drive all the way out there for something I can get too much more easily here.