amped91

That’s what I’m hoping for too. It’s an ugly, low density building. Tear it down and do better.

Two Ohio cities on the top twenty list for last month, Columbus and Akron: September 2022 Hottest Housing Markets: In Search of Affordability https://www.realtor.com/research/september-2022-hottest-housing-markets/

‘Morse Road 14’: 251-apartment plan clears first major hurdle, moves to next phase “A proposed 251-apartment development at 5503 Morse Road is about to enter a second phase of approvals after residents and leaders of homeowners and condos associations chimed in with their thoughts on it. The $50 million residential project, called Morse Road 14, would cover 13.96 acres and is planned by the Stonehenge Co., which previously worked with the city of Gahanna to build Creekside, a public-private development in the downtown. During a public hearing on the plan held during the Oct. 17 City Council meeting, city planning director Michael Blackford said the ordinance before council focused solely on a proposed rezoning for the site – not the scope of the project itself. After the public hearing, council approved rezoning the site from estate residential to multifamily residential.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/gahanna/2022/10/19/morse-road-14-251-apartment-plan-gahanna-clears-first-hurdle/69571273007/

It’s disappointing that, once again, the office building isn’t bringing anyone new downtown, but shifting them from one part of downtown to another. One the bright side, however, this does represent an increase in office space for Telhio, brings the first office building to ~50% leased, and opens up Telhio’s old building to redevelopment for (hopefully) a better use of the space. Now, fingers crossed, we get more forward movement on Phase Two soon. Telhio will move offices to Daimler Group's office building at The Peninsula “Telhio Credit Union is the latest business to ink a deal for office space at Columbus Downtown Development Corp.'s rapidly rising Peninsula development just across the river from downtown. Telhio has owned its 96 N. 4th St. headquarters since 1962 – when it was still the credit union to AT&T predecessor Columbus Telephone Co., with 3,200 members and $3.2 million in assets, President Derrick Bailey said. Today the credit union has 70,000 members stretching from Mansfield to Cincinnati, and $1.4 billion in assets. The credit union will occupy the entire fifth floor of the new office building, about 30,000 square feet. The move will increase its office footprint by about 3,000 square feet. The sale of Telhio's old headquarters is pending to an undisclosed buyer who plans to redevelop the property, Bailey said. Although the credit union gives up its only downtown drive-thru, he said, the move is worth it.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/20/peninsula-lands-another-tenant.html

It does look good! So frustrating the commission was so difficult on the height, though. Any word on the nine story buildings on the other side of High?

Sounds like another good idea. Glad to finally see a more proactive approach. Columbus plans to fast-track affordable housing, help cover permit fees for small and medium-size developers “Projects that include affordable housing will be a priority moving forward. "We're going to move affordable housing projects to the front of the line," Ginther told Columbus Business First. "The more time it takes a project to get through means units could be less affordable or there are fewer units being developed." Erin Prosser, Columbus' assistant director of housing strategies, said the city plans to expedite the backend review process projects go through after zoning approvals for affordable housing developments. More complex projects that require reviews from different city departments take as long as 200 days on average to go through the review process, according to the city. The mayor wants to see that time cut in half for affordable housing projects. The city plans to move from its current development process to a "project coordinator" process, which would help move along projects more efficiently and quickly. In this process, one project coordinator from the Building and Zoning Services department will oversee a proposed project and be the point person for all city departments. The city also plans to pilot a program to cover permit fees for small and medium-size developers, starting with the graduates of the Emerging Developers Accelerator Program (EDAP), Ginther said. Those grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act , will be available starting Jan. 1, Ginther said. The grant program will focus on EDAP participants for now, but likely be expanded to other small developers.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/20/development-process-changes.html

Not really any huge news, but still a positive sign we should be getting closer to a groundbreaking for the tower. The owner of the former BBR and Dahlia buildings on Vine is back before the Downtown Commission with a modified proposal on the demolition request: - They revealed they’ve entered into an agreement with Rockbridge, who will use the former BBR building as their field office during construction of the Merchant Tower. Thus, they are temporarily suspending their request to demo this building. - They are still seeking approval to demo the former Dahlia building to serve parking needs once the North Market lot is closed down. Sounds like the Commission is unlikely to approve any building demo without first approving a replacement structure, however. https://www.columbus.gov/development/public-meetings/Columbus-Downtown-Commission/

This is good news: City to Build Protected Bike Lane on Mt. Vernon Avenue “The city of Columbus is finalizing plans for a bike lane on Mt. Vernon Avenue that would be physically protected from car traffic. The two-way path would run along one side of the road for about a mile, from Hamilton Avenue to Phillips Street. The lane is the end result of an initiative called the Bronzeville/Mt. Vernon Avenue Mobility and Safety Action Plan, which kicked off in 2020 and has involved a public survey and meetings, data collection, and a tactical urbanism installation in which temporary plastic bollards were placed at key intersections to slow down cars and make it easier for pedestrians to cross the street. Debbie Briner, spokesperson for the Department of Public Service, said that the city is interested in eventually connecting up the new protected lane on Mt. Vernon with the bike lanes on Greenway, but that those improvements will have to be undertaken as a separate project. The city hopes to hire a consultant to design the Mt. Vernon lane before the end of the year and for design work to start early next year, she said, although construction – which would coincide with resurfacing the street – would likely not start until 2024.” https://columbusunderground.com/city-to-build-protected-bike-lane-on-mt-vernon-avenue-bw1/

Anyone remember if this hotel was previously announced and the Cameron Mitchell component is just being announced, or is this a totally new announcement?

It was surrounded by equipment/crews/digging when I went by on Monday.

New Development Approved for Taylor Avenue in Woodland Park “City Council signed off last week on a plan to build a three-story, 48-unit apartment building on a vacant lot at 514 Taylor Ave. The project is being developed by NK Development Partners, a group made up of two locally-based firms – Kreais Companies and Nascent Group Holdings – along with RDC Design + Build, out of Pittsburgh. The partnership came together to respond to a Request for Proposals to develop the site that was put out by Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT). Half of the apartments in the development will be affordable for those making between 80 and 100 percent of the area median income, according to Trey Addison, Co-Founder of Nascent Group Holdings. One change to the design was dictated by a request from the city of Columbus, he added – the facade of the building was altered to make room for a shared use path that the city plans to eventually construct along Taylor Avenue.“ https://columbusunderground.com/new-development-approved-for-taylor-avenue-in-woodland-park-bw1/

Gahanna's Crescent at Central Park development to gain new medical office and independent surgery center “A new building anchored by four healthcare tenants is joining a sprawling mixed-use development in Gahanna. Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Noon Development will build a 46,000-square-foot medical office and independent surgery center in Gahanna's 112-acre Crescent at Central Park complex. The facility will be constructed on 3.8 acres at 720 Buckles Court, which is located on lot two of the Crescent development. The two-story building will feature multiple tenants, including Vive Vascular, Trillium Surgery Center, Foot and Ankle Specialists of Central Ohio and Optum. "These medical practices will have a major impact on the area, and add additional employees alongside their current ones," Noon Development Vice President Bob Elliott said. "While it's too early to say exactly how many new employees might be added, this new medical office building and surgery center space provides each company the flexibility to expand."’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/18/new-medical-office-and-surgery-center-in-gahanna.html

Putting this here rather than Westerville since it’s still technically Columbus city limits. Weiler Co. adding 100 apartments near Westerville “Robert Weiler Co. is adding about 100 units to an existing development near Westerville. The project is the second phase of the firm's Fenimore development, just off of Central College Road. There are 180 units in the first phase, which was finished in 2019. The second phase will include one- and two-bedroom units at market rate rents. The new units, to be located at 5159 Central College Road, will share the existing amenities with the first phase of the development. Pending rezoning approvals, the developer plans to start construction in March or April 2023 and expects the second phase to wrap up within six months. The rezoning for the project was just approved by the Columbus Development Commission and Columbus City Council will likely consider it before the end of the year.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/18/weiler-co-adding-100-apartments-near-westerville.html

Second Amazon Style location in the country opens at Easton Town Center in Columbus “The second Amazon Style store in the nation debuts Tuesday at Easton Town Center. The store occupies the 28,000-square-foot former home of Forever 21, at 3985 Gramercy St., in the Easton Station building. Amazon Style features hundreds of brands and thousands of styles and makes use of advanced technology to create an unconventional shopping experience, boasts the company. The store features men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, shoes, accessories and luggage, from brands including Calvin Klein, Champion, Lacoste, Levi’s, Theory, Equipment and some brands that have never been featured in a physical store. Amazon brands The Edit, The Drop, Amazon Essentials and Amazon Aware are also available. The store features curated and regularly updated “lookbooks” from Amazon stylists and influencers, and only displays one of each product, with all sizes and styles stored in the back of the house to increase the selection available on the floor.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/10/18/one-app-and-36-fitting-rooms-an-inside-look-at-amazons-style-store/69555703007/

Former Mount Carmel West site to include park “Franklinton will have a new city-owned urban park at the site of the former Mount Carmel West medical campus as it is transformed into a mixed-use development following the hospital's relocation to Grove City, under a plan approved by the Columbus City Council Monday evening. The developer, Thrive Companies, donated to the city Recreation and Parks Department the parcel at 854 West Town St. "The Department and the Developer have agreed to the terms of an (memorandum of understanding) that will require the owner to donate a 1.7 acre parcel of land to the City to be dedicated as public parkland," the ordinance reads. "Upon completion of construction of other buildings ... the Developer has also agreed to build a new park on the donated parkland and to maintain the park improvements in perpetuity." The city Recreation and Parks Commission signed off on the deal last month. "The site’s transformation into a park will commence upon Thrive Companies’ completion of construction work adjacent to the site, ultimately bringing online a major park in one of Columbus’ neighborhoods with the greatest need for green space," City Council said in a written statement.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/10/18/new-park-donated-as-part-of-mount-carmel-redevelopment-in-franklinton/69564356007/

Livingston, Cassady developments proceed as court reviews appeal “Planned mixed-use residential and commercial developments at 2300 E. Livingston Ave. and 420 N. Cassady Ave. are moving forward while the city of Bexley awaits a decision from a state appeals court. The city released an Oct. 10 statement explaining its appeal of an Aug. 17 Franklin County Court of Appeals decision that had the potential to halt the project at 2300 E. Livingston Ave. In the statement, the city said The Community Builders (TCB), a nonprofit developer of mixed-income housing, continues to move forward with architectural review for the Livingston Avenue plan while the 10th District Court of Appeals reviews the case. Although the Livingston and Cassady developments continue to move forward, their ultimate fate will be decided when the 10th District Court of Appeals’ issues its decision, but there is no timeline for that, according to the city’s statement.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/bexley/2022/10/14/livingston-cassady-developments-proceed-as-court-reviews-appeal/69563948007/

That’s my biggest complaint. It seems like it’s a reduction of surface spaces from previous versions, but it’s really odd it’s so prominent, and not hidden better.

I’ve only been there a couple times, but my experience has been good both times 🤷🏼‍♂️

The Edwards building would be a good option. Great visibility and plenty of space. I like the Park St space too, but I wonder if it’s too small for this tenant. I hope we someone move into that space soon though, since it is really unique.

If you have a subscription, this week’s cover story from CBF is definitely worth a read. Gives another behind the scenes look at why getting affordable housing built is such a difficult process. HOW CENTRAL OHIO CAN OVERCOME ITS ‘CODE RED’ HOUSING SHORTAGE “Trey and Amy, are you actually seeing progress on getting these (approval) timelines shorter? Are these projects more accepted? Giller: It hasn’t really changed in 20 years. Yeah, more people are talking about it, but when the rubber hits the road and you’re standing in a zoning meeting with the neighbors, that process hasn’t changed. Their mindset hasn’t been changed. If there’s nobody who has a problem with the project, you go through the process, no problem. But two people have a problem? You’re stuck at a certain place for a certain amount of time. Albery: The pressure is on. Our corporate office is in New Albany, so we sat down with New Albany right away and said, ‘Hey, we’re right here, how can we help provide housing for all these businesses that you’re bringing to New Albany?’ They’re like, ‘That’s not our problem. The housing is not our issue.’ OK, so how is that going to work out for you? … It has to be someone’s problem. Amy, you’re in multiple markets, multiple states. Columbus versus any of these other markets – is it easier or harder? Albery: It’s the same issue in every area that we’re developing. I agree with Autumn that we might be the poster child because we have got to solve it or these businesses aren’t going to have people to work.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/14/columbus-housing-affordable-big-table.html

Curious that Easton isn’t giving an option to renew. Wonder what they have planned there? Good for downtown though. I think the restaurant space in the Merchant Tower would be a great spot, being so close to the Convention Center, but I can’t see S&W waiting that long either. For now, my money is on a spot at the Peninsula. Smith & Wollensky to leave Easton by January; searching for downtown Columbus location “A well-known steak restaurant will be closing its doors in a few months at Easton Town Center. Smith & Wollensky said it is reaching the end of its 25-year lease at Easton Town Center with no options for renewal. The restaurant is looking into a new location downtown, but did not say where exactly.” https://www.10tv.com/mobile/article/news/local/smith-wollensky-leaving-easton/530-10db3faf-e20b-4315-a52c-68f31f02227d

At Historic Crew Stadium currently.

Which will slowly yet surely eventually be elided to the even easier to pronounce “Cowtown.” 😱

The Power Plant is now fully leased, along with the under-construction office building across the street. This could end up being a bustling area even on non-game days, if the rest of the development is handled well. Columbus Crew moving business office to Brad DeHays' Power Plant project near Lower.com Field “The Columbus Crew will move its business office into the Power Plant, developer Brad DeHays' award-winning redevelopment of the historic Municipal Light Plant near the Arena District. “We are excited about the new office space plans for our staff within a beautiful, restored Columbus landmark located in the new Astor Park district,” Kristin Bernert, the Crew's president of business operations, said in a media release. “Our stadium, and now the new home of our business operations, are in the heart of downtown and provide a sense of connectivity to the neighborhood we work and live in.” With the Crew's lease signed, the building is now fully leased, DeHays said. The team will occupy 16,000 square feet for at least 10 years. The office space will be on floors two through four in the building with a view of the old coal hopper and access to the rooftop patio overlooking Lower.com Field, the Crew's stadium. The team plans to activate the patio and nearby conference room on game days and during large events, according to the release.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/13/columbus-crew-municipal-light-plant.html

Cirba Solutions investing $200 million in battery recycling facility “As Honda was announcing a new $3.5 billion battery production plant for electric vehicles in Fayette County Tuesday, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Cirba Solutions announced it is expanding its battery-related operations in Lancaster. The company plans to invest another $200 million in its lithium-ion processing facility in Central Ohio, which will process enough battery-grade raw materials from recycled batteries to power more than 200,000 electric vehicles. The company also expects to add 150 jobs in the expansion. Current employment was not disclosed. “Expanding the capacity for lithium-ion battery recycling within the United States is imperative as the country seeks to increase domestically sourced battery materials,” CEO David Klanecky said in a release. “This will be one of many of our operational investments to strengthen supply, enhance national security, and promote sustainability principles. It will also bolster more manufacturers’ ability to reach their electrification goals.”’ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/13/cirba-solutions-investing-200-million-in-battery.html