amped91

Guess I got my answer lol Arena District bars Dahlia and BBR to close next month ”The owner of both buildings, he said, has been planning a land development project for some time, though he could not say what the project is. Currently, development projects in the area include an apartment building near the new Chipotle headquarters developed by Nationwide Realty Investors, the North Market Tower and four Corso Ventures restaurant and bar concepts coming to the AC Hotel.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/16/arena-district-bars-dahlia-and-bbr-close-april/7061964001/ With these bars closing in early April, demolition and parking pavement should be able to wrap up within a month, putting us in line with @cbussoccer’s predication of a NM tower groundbreaking by Memorial Day.

I don’t necessarily disagree with most of what you’re saying. However, I think it’s important what the city is doing, in terms of ensuring affordable housing remains in these neighborhoods while they’re simultaneously encouraging the private sector to invest in these areas. Otherwise, I’m worried we’ll just see the same old song and dance where the private investment brings in more middle income residents and drives up housing prices on low income residents. It looks like the city is trying to get ahead of that this time with places like Linden and Eastland.

You said “Ginther can't move past the idea of concentrating "affordable"housing in areas that are already low income.” Whether or not other communities get behind it, your assertion was incorrect.

Yeah…were I Connect, I would certainly want something a little more impressive than this for a debut project.

Not to say we don’t need more affordable housing in those higher-income areas, because we always do, but we already are doing both, and Ginther in his address called on other communities to add more as well.

Sounds like a good idea, especially after Ginther’s comments in the State of the City today: “During the online only, pre-recorded speech, Ginther asked communities and businesses across Greater Columbus to invest $1 billion in housing initiatives and to double the number of market rate, workforce and subsidized units every year for the next 15 years. "To kick off this effort, I am committed to placing another bond package before Columbus voters this November, with at least $150 million going toward the expansion of affordable housing in our city," Ginther said. The mayor also said that officials city are working to update Columbus' residential tax abatement policy with incentives to create more affordable units. The mayor also said efforts will begin to create what he called a community-driven plan to revitalize the Eastland area, similar to those created for Linden and the Hilltop, which he said have received more than $150 million in public and private investments.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2022/03/15/columbus-mayor-ginther-affordable-housing-state-city-address/7034182001/ The full address can be found on the city’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Rezoning sought for 29-unit condo project in Upper Arlington “A Columbus developer is eyeing the construction of a 29-unit luxury condominium complex at the northeast corner of Riverside and Fairlington drives. The corner currently contains four single-family homes. Moment Development founder Ohm Patel is seeking to rezone six parcels on 2.43 acres from R-1b, a one-family residence district, to RCD, a residential community development district. The development would be named Fairlington Heights. If approved by the Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning and Upper Arlington City Council, the rezoning would enable Patel to build a two-story condo that could be between 2,950 square feet and 3,265 square feet; 10 two-story condos ranging from 2,150 square feet to 2,465 square feet; and 18 three-story row houses that would be approximately 2,725 square feet and include a rooftop patios.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/upper-arlington/2022/03/11/rezoning-sought-29-unit-condo-project-upper-arlington/9440877002/?itm_medium=recirc&itm_source=taboola&itm_campaign=internal&itm_content=SectionFrontFeed-FeedRedesign

Get a look at Brad DeHays' first prefab apartment project “The first project for Connect Housing Blocks will be on Maryland Avenue, just south of Interstate 670. Matt Schuenke, chief operating officer for Connect Housing Blocks, said the project will include 74 units across four buildings. There will be 16 one-, 46 two- and 12 three-bedroom units. Each dwelling unit is made up of several module units, like a bedroom and living room, meaning 220 modular units will be required for the project. A fifth building will serve as a community center for the project.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/15/connect-housing-block.html

I thought it looked like it lost a floor. Wonder what prompted that.

The Downtown Westin is getting a new ground floor tenant: https://www.columbusalive.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/03/14/food-news-celebrity-chef-lands-westin-goodwood-brewing-opens/7038701001/?fbclid=IwAR2QaXL820q6mrk3Ov8tIYlh7DLFbqK-XaJaIqwllgDIqRP3hbKS4r6WWkI

They can and they should. But if they won’t, I also would prefer the site stay as is until either CVS’s lease ends or they become more agreeable to a better use for the property.

^Man, I feel like we have to be close to a dozen projects from them proposed or under construction.

I’m hoping we can get some good height along Third St as well—the lot directly behind the Statehouse, COTA’s redev of the Greyhound site, and the massive parking lot right next to the Greyhound site. Although, unless it gets split up into smaller parcels, I have a feeling that last one will end up with low to mid-rise development, just because of how much space is available there. Also, has anyone heard if the demo of those single-story buildings on Vine has been approved? Supposedly they’re coming down to make room for temporary North Market parking. As long as something better ends up getting built there later on, I’m okay with that plan. There’s really so much potential for development right next to those buildings as well. Right now, it’s just a bunch of gravel lots.

Finally! With the TMUD news, I was worried this was going to get delayed again. Now, I’m considerably less worried about it. Bring on the North Market tower!

Elevator cores for the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center are now rising. (Also, I’m annoyed we don’t have a webcam for this building.)

Walgreens to invest $30M, bring 200 jobs to Canal Winchester “Walgreens plans to invest $30 million and create 200 jobs at a regional pharmacy distribution center in Canal Winchester. City Development Director Lucas Haire told City Council during its March 7 meeting Walgreens has leased 71,000 square feet at 6215 Winchester Blvd. That accounts for roughly half of the more than 145,000-square-foot office flex warehouse constructed by developer Tenby Partners LLC. Work is preliminarily scheduled to begin in July, with the center opening early next year, Haire said. “The payroll is about $8.5 million, and they anticipate 10% to 15% more jobs and payroll associated with the site once it’s opened and operating,” he said. “It’s a good project with more professional roles, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians. There will be a lot of automation. Twenty-five million (dollars) of that investment is in equipment, the automated pill counters. A good project all around.’” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/canal-winchester/2022/03/11/walgreens-invest-30-m-bring-200-jobs-canal-winchester/6998070001/

Tons of activity still continues on NCH’s campus. Tower crane base now in place at the site of the future ASC building.

Lol guess you beat me this time 😆

The 12-story Hubbard tower was presented to the VV commission. Sounds like it was well-received. They also mentioned that Parkside on Pearl will start this spring. Wood Cos. plans 'something special' for next Short North project “The site is today home to a single-story building that sits behind the two-story High Street building that houses Hubbard Grille, Wine on High and other retail tenants. The new building would rise behind the Hubbard Grille building. Wood said the existing retail tenant, Columbus Eye Works, wouldn't be able to stay at that location, but the developer has talked with the tenant about moving to its Parkside on Pearl project, expected to break ground this spring. The new building would include two ground-floor retail spaces: one would be 2,100 square feet and the other 2,600 square feet. There will be two floors of parking and one floor of about 10,000 square feet of office space, according to plans submitted to the Victorian Village Commission. Commissioners had some concerns about how the new building would impact parking and traffic, but were overall receptive to the project.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/10/21-w-hubbard.html

It’s Kaufman’s Greenhouse mixed-use project. I think most of the discussion about it is in the Vic Village thread.

Grove City glove manufacturer raises $105M in financing “American Nitrile, a disposable glove manufacturer, will receive $105 million in debt financing from Orion Infrastructure Capital to support the completion of its Grove City factory. American Nitrile was founded by CEO Jacob Block in 2021 in an effort to overcome personal protective equipment shortages in the United States, specifically nitrile gloves, during the pandemic. Once completed, the company is estimated to produce 3.6 billion medical and non-medical latex-free gloves annually for health care, government and industrial use. With the $105 million investment, American Nitrile will finish construction of its 527,000 square-foot factory— a former warehouse at 3500 Southwest Blvd.—and obtain any necessary equipment. The company also raised an additional $35 million in equity from local investors, including Crawford Hoying, Block says. Block says construction is expected to be completed soon and manufacturing will begin with six functioning production lines this summer. By the end of the year, he anticipates there will be about 250 to 280 employees. Currently, there are around 15. An additional six production lines, for a total of 12, will be up and running next year, he says, at which point he plans to reach 400 total employees. American Nitrile will have the capacity to produce around 40,000 gloves per line per hour.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/03/09/columbus-based-glove-producer-american-nitrile-receives-105-million/9432223002/

Looks like this broke ground today. Mulby Place: Stakeholders hope $26M project is just the beginning for Linden “Homeport hopes to breathe new life into the Cleveland Avenue corridor with its Mulby Place development. This $26 million mixed-use project has been in the works since 2019, when Homeport responded to a request for qualifications from Columbus Next Generation Corp. That group had pieced together about 3 acres along Cleveland Avenue and wanted to see it developed. Homeport won the right to do so, and broke ground Wednesday morning on its project at the intersection of Myrtle and Cleveland avenues. Leah Evans, president and CEO of Homeport, said new residents living at that intersection could support new retail, restaurants or other uses along the Cleveland Avenue corridor.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/09/mulby-place.html

CBF must be following your lead 😉 Topiary Park development plans to bring affordable housing to downtown Columbus “Columbus Downtown Development Corp.'s Topiary Park project, breaking ground Tuesday, is a first for the organization that has led the charge on some of downtown's most transformative projects. The Topiary Park Crossing apartment complex will rise at 497 E. Town St. CDDC plans to build about a hundred units, with half serving residents making 100% of the area median income, a quarter of them priced for those at 80% AMI and the remainder for those at 60% AMI. The units will be a mix of studios, one and two-bedrooms. The building will have a 3,300-square-foot terrace with room for grills, seating and landscaping. There will also be a fitness center and meeting room on the first floor and a parlor with a library on the fifth floor inside the round tower, Taylor said, for residents to work or gather in. There will be 50 parking spaces for residents in a parking garage. The project will take about 18 months to build, so the first residents could be in the building in the fall of 2023. Taylor said the CDDC will have more information to release about leasing in the coming months.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/08/topiary-park-crossing.html

I haven’t seen a ton of pics from the south side of the Peninsula, so I snapped this one today.

Work is underway on the Jackie O’s patio.