amped91

Quite a bit of new food news today from 614. First, the East Market is getting another couple of vendors. I had heard that, due to all of the delays with getting the Market open, some of the vendors had pulled out. Only one I know of for sure, though, is the Cleveland based one. Ohio Pasta, or something? Owner of popular Columbus BBQ restaurant opening new fried chicken concept on Near East Side “If you’re a fan of The Pit BBQ Grille–the popular barbeque eatery owned by former OSU players with multiple Columbus locations–then you’re going to love what’s coming soon to the Near East Side. D’Andre Martin, one of four owners of The Pit, is launching his very own fried chicken eatery, known as Just Chicken. And speaking of barbeque, The Pit BBQ Grille will also be opening a new location within the East Market. Martin, who will continue to operate as a co-owner of The Pit, said the two concepts will be separate from one another.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/owner-of-popular-columbus-bbq-restaurant-opening-new-fried-chicken-concept-on-near-east-side However, a different Cleveland native will be venturing down here instead: Beloved Cleveland bagel shop opening first-ever Columbus location ‘“OSU, we are coming for you,” a statement posted to Cocky’s Instagram account reads. “We can’t believe our lil biz is expanding outside of Cleveland, and are just so so grateful for all that have supported us. We owe it all to you guys.” A Cocky’s representative told 614NOW that it plans to open in January of 2023. The new storefront will be located at 1482 N. High St., next to the Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/beloved-cleveland-bagel-shop-opening-first-ever-columbus-location Popular East Coast burrito chain opening first Columbus location tomorrow “The popular East Coast chain Bubbakoo’s Burritos announced its new Columbus-area storefront late last year, and now Bubbbakoo’s is holding the grand opening for its first-ever Central Ohio restaurant. Bubbakoo’s Burritos is located at 6048 Sawmill Rd. The new eatery will hold its grand opening tomorrow.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/popular-east-coast-burrito-chain-opening-first-columbus-location-tomorrow I used to go to this location all the time when I was taking some classes at CSCC. Kinda out of the way for me now, but still glad to see its reopening After two year hiatus, Stauf’s is reopening East Side location “After more than two years, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters is coming back to the Discovery District. The popular local coffee chain announced yesterday that its Discovery District storefront, located at 350 Mt. Vernon Ave, will reopen for business on March 28 at 7 a.m.” https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/after-two-year-hiatus-staufs-is-reopening-east-side-location

“The Southwest Area Commission approved the proposed plans for the site in February, and they will go before the city’s Development Commission on May 12, Celebrezze said. Messages for the Southwest Area Commission also were not returned. “We’re very excited to see some action on this,” Celebrezze said. “This is probably the most action that has occurred on this site in concrete steps to move forward that we’ve seen since (Arshot) purchased the land.”‘ Would be nice if this, or something else, actually happens with it. The site’s been wasting away for so many years.

ARTERIAL STREET REHABILITATION – HUDSON ST – I-71 TO CLEVELAND AVE “The project will reconstruct Hudson Street from I-71 to Cleveland Avenue. The reconstruction will include installing new curb, reconstruction and modification to the existing median on the east leg of the I-71 at Hudson intersection, sidewalk on the north side, a shared used path on the south side, street trees, new traffic signals, storm sewers, a new 24” water main, and new ADA curb ramps at intersections.” https://www.columbus.gov/Templates/Detail.aspx?id=2147509161

That, currently, is my plan.

CU’s article on the Downtown Commission’s meeting includes updated renderings for the PNC Tower plaza. I think I like this better than the original plan. Downtown Commission: Plans Heard for Salesian Building, Continental Centre, PNC Tower “Today, Tony Thornton from Stantec Architecture presented a revision to the design of the plaza – instead of landscaping and outdoor seating along Lazelle Street, a new glass-enclosed structure would hold a restaurant space. Several commissioners praised the design of the new building and the revision passed unanimously.” https://columbusunderground.com/downtown-commission-plans-heard-for-salesian-building-continental-centre-pnc-tower-bw1/

New cafe and coffee roastery that will double as community nonprofit coming to South Side “The South End Cafe, a combination cafe and workforce development nonprofit, is coming to 1951 Parsons Ave. It’s slated to officially open its doors in early May. The new concept is a venture from Church and Community Development for All People, a prolific Columbus-based community non-profit. CD4AP is converting the South Side building into affordable apartment units, and plans to launch The South End Cafe on its first floor. The cafe, which will offer a restaurant space, coffee-based drinks, and will even serve as a coffee roaster, will employ a staff of seven to ten workers, who will receive entry-level vocational skills both for the general workforce, but also for specific career paths they have interest in.“ https://614now.com/2022/food-drink/new-cafe-and-coffee-roastery-that-will-double-as-community-nonprofit-coming-to-south-side?fbclid=IwAR2ZrPu2omCu7aXndQ2P26W_fXZZ7e3M-mNHyv2CSoLJzqj4KDUKYnU2Gsc

The site for this project has been fenced off for several months now. Glad to see it breaking ground: Affordable housing development starts construction Columbus' south side “Woda Cooper Cos., Community Development for all People and Healthy Homes, an affiliate of Community Development for All People and Nationwide Children's Hospital, are starting construction on Lockbourne Greene, located at 1836 Lockbourne Road. The three-story apartment building will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, priced for individuals or families earning between 40% and 80% of the area median income. Rents are projected at $669 to $999 a month depending on income category and the size of the apartment. Healthy Homes also has plans to build seven single-family homes nearby as a second phase to the project. There will be an onsite management office, a resident fitness center and a community room residents can use for social gatherings. SproutFive will offer onsite childcare, and early childhood classes will be available to the broader neighborhood, Edgar said.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/21/lockbourne-greene.html

I wish I could remember where, but I seem to remember someone posting here a couple months ago something from (I think) Kenny McDonald (Cbus Partnership), that Intel was just the tip of the iceberg for economic dev announcements they had in the works.

Love that this, along with so many other long-planned projects, is getting off the ground this year. With so much underway or planned in East Franklinton, it’s nice to see more investment popping up on the other side of 315 now.

Yes. Both downtowns are okay, but neither really something I would go out of my way for, either. Being an outer ring suburb, I don’t really expect much density out of Powell (Worthington, on the other hand…). I just think it’s silly to oppose and block something so benign and suburban. I’m sure it elicited the same fears of “transitory” individuals that Dublin was so terrified of.

Lol not sure why this is “controversial.” Low rise build with, I’m sure, a massive parking lot and setback as long as a football field. I hate Powell. Construction beginning on controversial residential hotel in Powell “After a lengthy legal dispute with the city, Metro Development is starting to build a $31 million residential hotel in Powell. The Nolan Reserve project will have 215 suites targeted at workers transferred to Central Ohio for temporary work assignments, for example, or people needing housing during construction of their own homes. The project is under construction, Giller said, and the first section will be online by the end of the year, with the rest finishing up by spring 2023. The company has wanted to develop the 8.1-acre site since the early 2000s, but faced almost two decades of resistance to its ideas. It first proposed the residential hotel in 2013, but the project faced pushback from the city, culminating in a lawsuit against Powell filed by affiliates of Metro Development, a unit of Westerville-based Donald R. Kelley Co.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/17/metro-starting-short-term-residential-powell-hotel.html

Daimler eyes land purchase for medical complex in Reynoldsburg “A partner in a project to bring a new multimillion-dollar youth athletics facility to Reynoldsburg wants to purchase at least 5.5 acres from the city to build a medical complex at East Main and Hanson streets. The 50,000-square-foot, two- to three-story medical facility would be on the same site where the Center Ice Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, intends to build a $20 million complex with two indoor ice rinks, a field house, a hotel and restaurants. Shook said the city “could not disclose, at this time” the user of the proposed medical facility, but he said, “It is a reputable user.” Mayor Joe Begeny said the Daimler Group wants to break ground in early 2023 and open the medical complex in late spring or early summer 2024.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/reynoldsburg/2022/03/18/daimler-eyes-land-purchase-medical-complex-reynoldsburg/7089293001/?itm_medium=recirc&itm_source=taboola&itm_campaign=internal&itm_content=MobileBelowHomepageFeed-FeedRedesign

This is embarrassing. One of these guys will likely be our next US senator 😳

Downtown library starts $1.9M renovation of outdoor plaza near Topiary Park “The downtown Columbus Metropolitan Library’s outdoor space is getting a major upgrade. CML this week started a renovation of the library's east plaza that will create a more open, inviting community space and better connection to nearby Topiary Park. The cost of the project is estimated to be $1.9 million. Donations will cover $500,000, led by a $250,000 gift from Encova Insurance. The renovation is slated to be complete by mid-July. Led by landscape architect MKSK, the new design will offer flexible space for library programs and community events, improved safety and sight lines, and shaded seating.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/18/columbus-main-library-plaza-renovation.html

Groundbreaking for the Lusso now set for May 1! Fast-growing Homestead Cos. gears up to break ground on the Lusso in Italian Village “Homestead Cos. is gearing up to break ground on its largest multifamily project to date, an 8-acre development set to occupy one of the last blighted spots in Italian Village. Homestead is working with Italian Village veteran Kevin Lykens on the project, called the Lusso. But Matt Canterbury, president of development at Homestead Cos., said the fast-growing company is now poised to pursuse similar scale projects on its own. The north site will have 287 units and the south site will have 135, with the first units likely being available in late spring of 2023, Canterbury said. Homestead's construction arm will be the general contractor for the project, which it expects to cost about $60 million to build.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/18/homestead-growth.html

If that’s what it takes, moat away! 😆

Part of the problem is how much easier and cheaper it is here to keep sprawling further and further out rather than building up in the CBD. We don’t have a big body of water or any other geographical feature to really stop it.

Ah, gotcha. Wonder if they’ll actually approve it then. They’ve been pretty hesitant to approve demolitions without a firm plan in place for a rebuild.

Not really. I was disappointed they didn’t talk more about it. Just this: ”Construction on the 31-story tower is expected to begin sometime this year. It's expected to take 36 months, Merkel said.” And they are going to reapply for the next round of TMUD credits.

This isn’t about designated affordable housing units specifically, but it does effect the affordability of housing in general: Here's why multi-family housing slowed down across the region in 2021 “Single-family starts increased 17% from 2020, with 6,160 total permits issued across the region. Multi-family permits, however, decreased by 29%, from 6,620 in 2020, to 4,699 in 2021. BIA executive director Jon Melchi said single-family starts increased because demand for the product has continued to grow over time. On the other hand, multi-family starts decreased because of residential pushback and other roadblocks in communities, which has depressed the market, he said. Jonathon Wilcox, a partner at Worthington-based developer Wilcox Communities, said other factors behind the decrease in multi-family builds are inflated construction costs and competition for land. He said acquiring land has gotten more competitive because more developers and builders are entering the market and Intel's announcement of a $20 billion semiconductor facility in New Albany is causing land speculation.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/18/why-multi-family-housing-decreased-in-2021.html Definitely some issues that have been touched on in this thread already. The zoning code overhaul needs to be completed, like, yesterday. And even once that is done, I fear neighborhood pushback will still be a big limiting factor for more housing. I’m not sure what exactly could be done, but I would also like to see the city do something to disincentivize developers from holding onto these major pieces of land for years on end without actually developing them, especially in places like Downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods.

More new houses OK'd; hundreds of apartments eyed “Two housing projects – one in the works for several years and another still in the conceptual phase – were items of discussion for Delaware's city government this month. City Council on March 14 approved ordinances clearing the way for 73 new single-family homes on Delaware's southern edge, the second phase of the Winterbrooke subdivision developed by M/I Homes. The city planning commission on March 2 heard details about a concept that would add 282 apartments on the city's northwest side. No formal proposal had been submitted as of March 15. The Winterbrooke development is north of Peachblow Road and east of U.S. Route 23.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/delaware/2022/03/17/delaware-more-new-houses-okd-hundreds-apartments-eyed/7059926001/?itm_medium=recirc&itm_source=taboola&itm_campaign=internal&itm_content=SectionFrontFeed-FeedRedesign

I wonder how that ended up happening? Seems like someone could get into big trouble for that… And do you think the site will actually have two tower cranes, or that the second was a revised height? Just wondering since the site seems pretty compact to be able to accommodate two.

Anyone been out to Easton recently? 🧐

Pretty good number of units. Glad to see it’s likely moving forward.

“The Harrison West Society Wednesday evening voted in favor of rezoning the site, which is about 5 acres, for commercial use and apartments. Wednesday evening, Casto presented an updated design, with a massing that had more windows and height than the one presented in February. Casto said these changes were about as far as CVS would budge on the subject. The second building, closest to the corner of Neil and Collins avenues, would include about 21,000 square feet of leasable space. Casto is talking with a contingent tenant, which will be a grocer. No other details were disclosed about the tenant. The Short North Civic Association will discuss the project at its meeting Thursday evening. After that, it will need to be approved by Columbus City Council.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/16/castos-proposed-neil-avenue-project-moving-forwar.html