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Much of the lower level of this building has been boarded up since last year’s protests. Glad to hear about plans to bring the building back to life. New Continental Centre owners plan to redevelop building into residential space “Downtown Columbus' Continental Centre will be converted from offices to residential space. It's the type of project the building's new owner excels at, said Phil Aftuck, director of investments for Washington, D.C.-based Bernstein Cos. An affiliate of Bernstein and Toledo-based Welltower bought the 26-story building for nearly $12 million about a year ago, according to the Franklin County Auditor. The Continental Centre, located at 150 E. Gay St., will be converted into a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units, along with some lower level or ground-floor retail, an amenity area on the top floor and some coworking space. The building was about 40% occupied when it sold, Aftuck said, and tenants are in the process of moving out. Aftuck said there is not a final budget for the project yet as it is still in the planning and design phase. The timeline for the project is also fluid, he said, in part because the firm is hoping to land state tax credits to help finance it. The building's owners applied for Ohio's new transformational mixed-use development tax credit. The $6.5 million credit they're seeking would "fill in the gaps," Aftuck said, and make sure the complicated project happens as planned. The state will announce which projects will be awarded the TMUD at the beginning of next year. Aftuck told Business First that Columbus can expect to see high-quality units in the building, with in-unit washers and dryers, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and downtown views.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/10/continental-centre.html

Foundation work continues on the 9th Ave housing project:

Work on Lykens’ Durable Slate building slowly continues. Much of the exterior brick has now gone up. Here’s a look at the north exterior wall, facing the Budd Dairy Food Hall.

Central Ohio is again adding to its growing list of new warehouses. Post Holdings to open manufacturing facility in West Jefferson “West Jefferson is gaining an $86 million, 215,000-square foot manufacturing facility, courtesy of Post Holdings Inc. The St. Louis-based food manufacturer will create more than 200 new jobs at its new 2 Walker Way facility, according to a news release. The site will be managed by Michael Foods Inc., a wholly owned Post subsidiary, and will produce protein drinks for BellRing Brands. This location will allow the company to meet growing regional demand, Schonhoff said in an email. “Post Holdings’ new facility will expand economic diversity in the village of West Jefferson and the Columbus region,” West Jefferson Mayor Ray Martin said in the release. “We’re excited to have Post Holdings invest and grow in our community.” Fed One Dublin is developing the project, which is expected to begin hiring for management and production positions in the first quarter of 2023.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/10/west-jefferson-post-holdings-manufacturing.html

I’m really loving all the recent proposals and opportunities for new residential units in the CBD, especially since most are aimed at affordability. If the majority of these proposals get built, it’ll really help strengthen our core, and hopefully lead to even more dev there. I’m still hoping CSCC and CCAD will come up with plans to activate the Spring and Long areas, so they’re not just long stretches of ugly parking lots.

Metro Development building more apartments near Easton “Metro Development is gearing up to add two new developments near Easton and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Columbus City Council on Monday approved a rezoning for Walden Lakes, which will break ground in mid-January, said Metro Development CEO Tre' Giller. The multifamily development will have 15 buildings with one-, two- and three bedroom units. There will be 360 units total at 2600 Stelzer Road. Metro Development is also working on another multifamily community in that area, to be called the Residences at Eden Park, located near Cassady Avenue and Agler Road. That development will likely break ground this summer, Giller said, as it is in engineering now. Those two projects will join the 480-unit Victoria Manor at Stelzer and Codet roads and the 240-unit Woodfield Park at 2845 Austin Manor Blvd. The four projects will include a total of 1,344 units and will total $194 million in vertical construction, Giller said.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/08/walden-lakes.html

I know. I was honestly surprised when the tower was announced that they were going to completely block the view of their “crown jewel” from 315. It will definitely be a completely different view soon.

The update also says they’ve passed the 18th floor, so we will have another 7-8 floors to go. The James is 21, so we’ll be seeing the new tower’s elevators surpass the James fairly soon.

Dispatch: Columbus forecast to be nation's fifth hottest housing market in 2022 “Columbus home shoppers hoping for a break in the hot housing market aren't likely to get it next year, according to a forecast by Realtor.com. The listing service pegs Columbus as the nation's 5th-hottest housing market in 2022, and predicts that the area's home sales and asking prices will rise twice as fast as national rates. Demand for Columbus-area homes will remain high because of their relative affordability, immigration into Columbus, the area's high share of millennials, and the region's strong job growth and schools. Realtor.com forecasts Columbus-area home sales to rise 13.7% next year and prices to climb 6.3%.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/12/07/housing-market-columbus-predicted-fifth-hottest-home-prices-sales-2022/8886204002/?utm_source=dispatch-Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=OHIO-COLUMBUS-NLETTER65 I believe all of the Ohio metros ranked in the top half of the list. Not really surprising considering the skyrocketing costs in the Sun Belt.

AP: Proposed bill aimed at recruiting, retaining Ohio students “Graduates of any Ohio college, public or private, who take a full-time job in the state would be exempt from state income tax for up to three years, under legislation proposed Monday by a Republican lawmaker with an aim of recruiting and retaining Ohio college students. Businesses that offer paid college internships would receive a tax break, the state would offer up to 100 merit-based scholarships of $25,000 to out-of-state students, and more money would be added to Ohio’s college grant fund for students with associate degrees pursuing a bachelor’s, according to the plan from Rep. Jon Cross of Kenton. Students would have to be in the top 5% of their graduating class and pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math to receive the out-of-state scholarships. The goal “is to incentivize Ohio’s younger population to live, learn, work and prosper in Ohio vs. leaving the state after graduation,” said Cross, chairperson of the House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education.” https://apnews.com/article/business-education-ohio-scholarships-b459c33fbb6f595c805aa21f36c266d7?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_columbus&stream=top It’s definitely not going to get Ohio back its 24 House seats, but it doesn’t sound like a bad idea either. I think right now leaders in the state will need to get fairly creative with attracting more talent.

A little bit behind schedule, but I guess that’s becoming the norm right now. I’m glad we’ll be getting another tower crane in the sky over there too. Hopefully early next year we’ll start seeing proposals for that land directly north of the stadium too!

I saw this coming up when I drove by this past weekend. Were there ever any renderings that were released for it?

I was thinking of posting CBF’s version of the article in this thread instead of the random dev thread, but I wasn’t sure what the Red Brick boundaries are. Also, if this gets developed, along with the ODP HQ up the road, this will be a nice little addition in the affordable housing market downtown.

United Way to sell headquarters for redevelopment “The United Way of Central Ohio plans to sell its headquarters, ideally to a developer who will turn the site into affordable housing. The organization plans to relocate with several complementary nonprofit organizations and offer its current site at 360 S. Third St. for sale, according to a news release. The United Way put out a request for proposals that include a future program for the site focusing on, but not limited to, affordable multifamily housing. According to the release, the United Way will give special consideration to projects incorporating affordable housing, but will also consider other projects. Preliminary proposals are due Feb. 28. Top applicants will be invited to submit comprehensive plans in April. The United Way anticipates being out of the building by the end of 2022. Mixed-use development is encouraged.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/06/united-way-to.html

And an update on Bojangles coming to Central Ohio, from Axios Columbus (I’m not sure if they post these things online, in addition to emailing it out with the newsletter): *cough*Put one in the old LJS building on S High in Merion Village*cough*

Bibibop Asian Grill to offer first full-service drive-thru at new Delaware County development “Bibibop Asian Grill will offer its first full-service drive-thru option in Delaware County. The site will sit at the new Shoppes at Olentangy Crossing development off of U.S. route 23, which has also signed Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Walk-In Urgent Care to leases, according to a news release. The two-building retail development is under construction and will offer up to seven retail spaces. Earlier this year, Bibibop opened its first Hilliard location. Parent company Gosh Enterprises also recently purchased the Tree of Life building in Upper Arlington, where it plans to move its corporate office. The Shoppes at Olentangy Crossing will sit at 6547-6579 Artesian Run in Lewis Center.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/06/bibibop-asian-grill-shoppes-at-olentangy-crossing.html This is next to the Friendship gas station/convenience store that opened fairly recently. I drive up to Delaware fairly often to visit my parents, and it seems like every time I drive through there’s something new popping up. Now we just need a Bibibop closer to downtown Cbus…

So does that mean the tower is now topped out??

I would love a few more Aldi stores throughout the city. They’re actually affordable, have paid decent wages for years now, and have a much smaller footprint than the big box grocers.

Am I reading it correctly then that Pizzuti is waiting until the case is dismissed to start construction on the project? I wonder if the anti-whalers are aware that if their case were to win, they’d be stuck with a giant hole in the ground and a vacant parking lot for quite some time. Giant Eagle—or any other grocer—isn’t coming back to that spot.

Unfortunately, it looks like O’Brien Dev has thrown in the towel with this one. The land was recently listed for sale, along with the plans for the apartments. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1218-1222-E-Long-St_Columbus_OH_43203_M98124-60927 I’m worried we might be seeing more of these smaller scale developments scrapped, if prices remain high and labor supply low.

The only thing I can find through my detective Google skills was that they created an LLC for a garage at the same time. So not a lot of details. Pizzuti did recently replace the fence signage that had gotten torn down over the past year, so they are keeping an eye on the site, at least. It would be a great site for a large scale development, with it being within walking distance of CMM, Gravity, the Peninsula and other new job centers, plus its access to 315.

New eatery featuring gluten-free, southern style biscuits opening on East Side “Whether they contain gluten or they don’t, there’s just something about biscuits from the South that taste better. And luckily for Columbus, a new combination production facility and cafeteria-style spot for Southern style, gluten-free biscuits is coming to the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood early next year. According to owner Aaron Blevins, Biscuits by Daddy O’s plans to open at 821 E. Long St. in January of 2022. Inspired by childhood trips to Bojangles in his home state of Georgia, the concept officially launched when Blevins, who relocated to Columbus in 2010, found himself with an excess of spare time during the pandemic, which he used to perfect his gluten-free biscuit recipe.” https://614now.com/2021/food-drink/new-eatery-featuring-gluten-free-southern-style-biscuits-opening-on-east-side?fbclid=IwAR1PtnUDaF1RT_p91fShkYxZOcwz2slEf4GFHxLN-79flmbfzEjbEqCfVgI

Schottenstein Homes plans new Dublin development “The company is in contract to purchase three parcels of land totaling about 104.7 acres at 5274 Cosgray Road, and the city will have an informal review of its plans for the new development Dec. 8, according to the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda. The project will consist of single-family attached homes and single-family detached homes with condominium forms of ownership, according to the concept plan application. It will be divided into two subareas, one with 160 units and one with 345. The new development will sit near Schottenstein Homes' other Dublin allotment, the Cottages at Ballantree Woods.“ https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/30/schottenstein-homes-cosgray-road-project.html

The article mentions city staff recommended against approval. Hopefully this gets a major reworking, if they decide to proceed with it. Crawford Hoying plans new commercial building in Dublin “Next week, the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission will review the firm's concept plan for a 6,900-square-foot, one-story, multi-tenant building with a drive-thru restaurant, according to the commission's agenda. The building would be constructed at 4000 W. Dublin-Granville Road. Dublin's city staff recommended disapproval of the concept plan. That's because the drive-thru restaurant and the single-story building, which is rear-oriented, do not match the Bridge Street District's objective of establishing a pedestrian-oriented, urban community, according to city documents. Planning staff also said the building "is in direct conflict" with building type standards for mass, scale and height along West Dublin-Granville Road, according to city documents.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/11/30/crawford-hoying-plans-drive-thru-concept-in-dublin.html

M/I Homes plans new townhome development “M/I Homes plans to build townhomes north of the Route 161 corridor at 7132 N. Hamilton Road. The Townes at Hamilton Woods development will include 100 townhomes on about 23 acres. There will be two-, three- and four-bedroom units ranging from 1,500 square feet to 2,000 square feet, said Josh Barkan, vice president of land for M/I Homes. Work laying out streets and utilities will begin next summer. The townhomes will be for sale in either late 2022 or early 2023. The site will also include about 15 acres of open space. M/I will retain about 7 acres of this open space and set aside the other 8 for a city park. M/I will create and maintain paths that help connect those living at the Townes at Hamilton Woods to the park, Barkan said.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/12/01/mi-homes.html