amped91

Not really anything new, but this is still, if you have the time, an interesting read on increasing density in the city and opposition to such: Pizzuti vs. The Neighbors: The German Village-Area Development Highlights Some Complicated Questions “The tension around the development of 280 E. Whittier St. is an example of the kind of debate that already is playing out in neighborhoods across Columbus—the kind of debate that is only likely to get more contentious as more and more people move to this area. “People talk about how divided we are as a country politically,” says Jon Melchi, executive director of the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio, an organization that advocates for and supports builders. “And I can tell you that the bluest parts of Columbus and the reddest parts of Delaware County all seem to have the same perspective on residential development, which is, ‘I’m in favor of it, just not right there.’”” https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2022/01/24/pizzuti-german-village-development-whale-sign-columbus-population-growth-housing-rental-prices/9198996002/?fbclid=IwAR1ktj20oKdp46tkuC4fkvFmVDkUijL1AcBffaJHFBjvxVOaHXawywkAx1I

Two retail announcements for Parsons in a week’s span?! Although, tbh, I was hoping this site would get redeveloped into something more dense, it’s good it won’t sit empty much longer. Bake Me Happy to move after buying former post office building at Whittier and Parsons “Bake Me Happy owners Letha Pugh and Wendy Miller Pugh have closed on the purchase of a former post office at East Whitter Street and Parsons Avenue, with plans it will soon become the bakery's new home. As a small business enduring the uncertainty that the pandemic has brought, Bake Me Happy decided to invest in a space of its own. Located at 500 E Whittier St., the South Side post office has been closed for a few years now. The building has a few quirks, such as see-through ceilings where employees processing mail were monitored, and it will be renovated. Bake Me Happy will make additions to the exterior, incorporating local artwork, and add a fully renovated front lobby with a bodega-style storefront. The bakery and coffee shop will sell all its current offerings, including coffee, wine, gluten-free beer and cider, and will continue to be carryout-only. The post office building is about 4,000 square feet, a small decrease in space from about 4,500 square feet currently, but Letha said the new building will use space more efficiently, for example trading several freezers for a walk-in. Bake Me Happy will be open at its Merion Village space at 106 E. Moler St. until July, a slower month for the bakery. Pugh expects to open the new location as soon as August.“ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/26/bake-me-happy-move-after-buying-building-whittier-parsons/6636799001/?utm_source=dispatch-Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=OHIO-COLUMBUS-NLETTER65

New York-based Zamir Equities buys KeyBank building “New York City-based Zamir Equities has purchased the KeyBank building, a 21-story tower at 88 E. Broad St. The building’s prominent location on Capitol Square was part of the allure. “It is a beautiful building, it is in a great location and we were very impressed with the current tenancy,” Asher Zamir, President and CEO of Zamir Equities, told Columbus Business First. "The Intel announcement makes the building that much more attractive." The building, which has 250,000 rentable square feet, is currently about 75% occupied. Zamir said since the deal was finalized about two days ago, they have already signed an additional tenant, a government relations consulting firm. "We want to get the occupancy up to 100% in the next couple of years," Zamir said. Zamir plans to keep all current tenants and make improvements to the building. The firm is also considering adding new amenities, Dunsmoor said.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/25/new-york-based-company-buys-key-bank-building.html

This will be the second large vertical farm recently announced for the city. Pennsylvania vertical farm company plans Columbus location “The Pennsylvania indoor farm company Fifth Season plans to build a farm in Columbus. The company, whose salads and other products can be found in some Kroger and Giant Eagle stores, has picked a site near John Glenn Columbus International Airport to build a 180,000-square-foot farm that will employ about 50 workers. The company did not identify the specific location. This will be the company's second farm, following one in the Pittsburgh suburb of Braddock. The Columbus farm will be about three times the size of the Braddock operation. Fifth Season said it hopes to open the Columbus farm next year. Founded at Carnegie Mellon University in 2016, Fifth Season is heavily automated. The Columbus farm will include about 250 robots, compared with 100 in Braddock.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/20/columbus-getting-salad-greens-vertical-farm-fifth-season/6587008001/

Aaaaaaand this got approved: ”A Lancaster developer received approval Tuesday to build a four-story affordable housing complex on the site of the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters Downtown. Of the 66 apartments, 55 would be priced to be affordable for tenants who make no more than 50% or 60% of the area median income, said Joseph Wickham, Fairfield's director of development. (Median household income in Columbus was $53,745 in 2019 while median individual income was $29,322, according to the U.S. Census.) The 11 remaining apartments would be market priced. Fairfield is applying for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) for the project, Wickham said. If that application is approved in the next round of funding, in May, Fairfield would start construction before the end of the year, he said. The Columbus Downtown Commission Tuesday unanimously approved Fairfield's proposal, pending approval of landscaping and lighting details. “ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/

According to the Dispatch, this got rejected, thankfully. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/25/columbus-office-350-e-broad-wont-torn-down-yet-panel-decides/9208501002/

Yet another large industrial center coming, this one to West Jefferson: Indianapolis firm plans new West Jefferson industrial park “Indianapolis-based Ambrose Property Group is bringing a $47 million, 169-acre industrial park to West Jefferson. The firm announced plans for a three-building park with buildings ranging from 292,000 and 1 million square feet targeting logistics, industrial and light manufacturing users, according to a news release. The buildings will be suited for e-commerce and logistics. Located at 200 Park West Dr., the first building is slated to begin construction in April, with a scheduled completion by the end of the year. It will be 715,000 square feet.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/25/ambrose-property-group-west-jeff-industrial-park.html

Yeah, I do like the use of color here. I think you’re right—that it’s just the rendering that makes it look weird.

There was a decent proposal before the pandemic for the lot on Grant right next to the German Village Music House. Would be nice to see something pop up there.

This will be back before the Downtown Commission in the morning. The rendering looks unchanged, aside from the “Elevate 340” signage at the top. Other updates include a change to 65 units and parking spaces (from 66 and 63, respectively), ground floor lobby at the corner, and 1600 sq ft commercial fronting Grant. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/

From CBF this morning, a jobs comparison and a word of caution: What Ohio can learn from Intel's other markets - “Intel has four sites in [Oregon]. Last year, the company released an impact report that said Intel contributes $10 billion to Oregon's GDP. It also has a big jobs multiplier effect. For every one Intel job there are 13 other jobs across the local economy.” If the new plant here has a similar impact, we could be looking at 42,000 new jobs off of that first phase. - “Industry analyst Jim McGregor, partner at Tirias Research, called the announcement “tremendous for Ohio." But he warned that announcements and construction doesn’t always mean a fab comes online when completed. In the past, companies like Intel and Micron have had to delay manufacturing in newly built fabs for several years, or more than a decade in at least one case, because of changing economic and market conditions. The hope is that demand remains strong and these new fabs are operational as quickly as possible,” he writes in Forbes. Intel completed a fab expansion in Arizona in 2013, but it sat empty for years and didn’t come online until 2020.” I hope that’s not the case here. I would think with the renewed interest making chips in the US, it won’t be an issue. But who knows what the next few years will bring. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/24/intel-in-oregon-ohio.html

Gravity 2 was originally supposed to have a hotel in its twelve story building. Idk if that’s now changed, though. Hopefully we’ll get news on the Livingston Ave hotel this year.

New bar opening in the old Daddy’s spot on Parsons. Glad it will stay queer, even if it’s not “officially” a gay bar. New Merion Village bar Rumours set to open this month “Two veterans of Slammers are set to open a bar in Merion Village as early as this month. Rumours will open at the former site of Daddy's bar and nightclub at 1071 Parsons Ave. The bar is set to appeal to a range of patrons, said owner Jackie Sansavera, with five televisions, darts, Keno, and a small stage and DJ booth. The bar hopes to bring crowds out for music, dancing and happy hours. Because the space does not have a kitchen, it will host food truck offerings.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/21/merion-village-bar-rumours-set-open-month/6587593001/?fbclid=IwAR08SFqbVtZ3nJ3UGiLfsYcUmyzcxnWCIZJx-DUKsEeIvhjRt8CkxAWnXUg

Just the NCH and WMC expansions alone should create 2k+ new jobs in the area. Of course, there’s a pretty wide salary range there.

Welcome to UO, @Westervillian!

Cbus sub-Reddit, or Reddit in general, is pretty toxic. Mostly everyone trying to out-gripe each other. I think the only thing more toxic is the comment section for local news media FB posts.

Esfarjani of Intel had a guest column published in the Dispatch today: Vice president explains why Intel is ready to invest up to $100 billion in new Ohio sites A couple of the quotes that caught my eye: - “In the short term, Intel’s Ohio investment is expected to create 3,000 Intel jobs, 7,000 construction jobs, and tens of thousands more local long-term jobs. In addition, Intel is already working with Ohio leaders and top technology companies to encourage them to build supporting capabilities right here in Ohio with investments of their own. Several members of our supply chain have already committed to establishing a presence in Ohio because of this investment, and we anticipate many more commitments in the coming weeks. Chips made in Ohio will boost a healthy ecosystem of innovation and create the kind of virtuous cycle that the U.S. needs to win back its place as the global leader in semiconductor manufacturing.” They listed a few companies in their initial announcement. Perhaps we’ll get some more names soon? - “Congress has shown strong bipartisan support for our industry in enacting the critical CHIPS for America Act, and it now must move forward to fully fund this important legislation. With that support, Intel is prepared to invest faster and up to $100 billion in our new Ohio operations over the next decade to establish additional factories.” And the reason for the column: to lobby for the passage of the CHIPS act. He also states the the construction will begin at the end of the year. https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2022/01/23/why-intel-semiconductor-factory-licking-county-location-chip-plant/6580067001/

Central Ohio was already growing quickly and needed more housing than was previously being built. I hope with the even more increased growth Intel will bring, we see a lot of these stalled projects get moving again.

Most recent update I can remember is the one from CBF (link below) that says it will be finished summer of 2023. These old building rehabs can take a lot longer than predicted, due to the unpredictability of the building’s underlying condition, plus the current supply issues (see the Trolley District rehab, for example(!)).

^I believe full on, widespread remote work is ultimately a net negative for society. But, then again, my career isn’t possible to do remote, so maybe that’s just the jealousy talking lol

Who woulda thought this wouldn’t work out 🤷🏼‍♂️ Clintonville MyPillow store closed, no new stores planned Some of the highlights: - “A local businessman’s MyPillow plans have gone flat.” Har har. - ‘“I still think the location is good, but I thought the controversy would help drive sales,” Hanna said. “It had the reverse effect.”’ 🙃 - “Though Hanna and his partners initially hoped to open other stores around Central Ohio, those plans also are dead.” Score one for Central Ohio. - “The shop wasn’t just rejected by the community, it wasn’t ever fully embraced by Minnesota-based MyPillow either. The store wasn’t a franchisee; the company doesn’t franchise. The local group was buying product from MyPillow and reselling it at the brick-and-mortar shop.” Even MyPillow knew this idea was a big 💩burger 🤣

From what I could tell, all of it still looked intact. I forgot that was supposed to come down too!

Equipment is starting to arrive on site now:

This is about to become the most dense section of the city if these projects keep coming along! Marker Development's Weinland Park project getting second phase “Marker Development will add another phase to its Crossline project in Weinland Park. The new phase is replacing the former home of the Godman Guild Association, which Marker bought last spring. The new phase, to be built at 303 E. 6th Ave., would add another 275 units with secured parking, amenities and ground-floor commercial space to the neighborhood. The second phase should finish construction in the summer of 2024, with pre-leasing to start in the first part of that year. At least 20% of the units will be available to those making 80% and 100% of the area median income, the release said.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/20/marker-moves-forward-with-weinland-park-project.html From Google Maps, a view of the single-story that currently sits at the site:

I think so. In the meantime, New Albany is getting prepared: New Albany OKs $10M for improvements near proposed computer chip factory site “New Albany officials took the next step Tuesday toward bringing a tech giant to central Ohio. New Albany City Council approved spending millions of dollars to improve its business campus, just days after word leaked of plans for a massive computer chip factory would be coming to Licking County. For the first time, Mayor Sloan Spalding spoke out on what’s next. “Certainly a project of this size, no matter who the end-user is, is going to have a big impact on our region,” Spalding said during a council meeting Tuesday. Council approved $10 million in economic development funds at the meeting. While details surrounding the project were vague from council, most of the funds will be used to build water and sewer lines and repair roads, all near the planned site for a proposed massive computer chip factory.” https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/new-albany/new-albany-oks-10m-for-improvements-near-proposed-computer-chip-factory-site/