Luvcbus

State awards Honda $71 million in incentives for new battery plant "The state of Ohio on Monday granted an estimated $71.3 million in tax breaks for Honda to build a battery factory in Fayette County, part of what is expected to be $156 million in state incentives for the project. Honda announced Oct. 11 that it plans to spend at least $3.5 billion to build the factory with the South Korean company LG Energy Solution. The factory is expected to employ 2,200 workers when it opens in 2025. As part of the announcement, Honda said it will also spend $700 million to retool three of its existing Ohio plants to make electric vehicles and components for them. Those plants - the Marysville and East Liberty auto plants and the Anna engine plant − are expected to add 327 workers as part of the changes. In addition, the state has said it plans to spend $85 million on water and road upgrades to the site. Other financial incentives for the development are expected from the economic development agency JobsOhio and local municipalities." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/10/31/honda-receives-first-financial-incentive-package-for-new-battery-plant/69606227007/

Just remember, it's not a competition. 😉 Post whatever you can, whenever you can. When it comes to pictures, I say "more, more, more!"

According to this it will be 3 stories tall and cover just over 485,000 sq ft. It will have the capacity for over 2,800 students. It also says it will have 130 more classroom spaces and three different dining areas throughout the building. http://gahannaschools.org/District/glhsConstruction.aspx

I've seen a couple articles about it and I haven't seen anything to suggest that it's just take out. As far as I can tell, it will be dine in also.

My favorite view of the skyline has always been as you drive down Dublin Rd from about a half mile before you get to Grandview Ave to just past 670

I think when renderings first came out for the Gravity 2.0 site, it showed that as a restaurant. But who knows if that's still the plan or not?

I'm excited that it will add another music venue to the area... This is from a recent article about the plans: "Dorf is excited to bring City Winery's circuit of musicians and another venue to the Columbus music scene. City Winery will take over nearly half of the Via Vecchia Winery facility and event venue at The Fort. The project will also include other buildings and new construction, including a commercial kitchen and an outdoor built-in concert stage. The restaurant will be able to seat 75 people indoors and 75 people outdoors. The indoor event venue will be able to accommodate 250 people seated or 350 to 400 standing. The outdoor venue and stage will be able to accommodate 300 people seated or nearly 500 standing and will include multiple bars and fire pits."

The buildout of The Ohio State athletic campus will continue where most of the old buildings are now. Next up for the area will be a new indoor track facility and a new gymnastics/fencing/spirit squad facility along with multiple new multi-purpose fields. There's a map of what most of the area will become at the bottom of this link: https://columbusunderground.com/remaining-buckeye-village-buildings-to-be-demolished-soon-bw1/

I noticed that too. But I guess they're technically correct because they used "New Albany area", "northeast Columbus" and "northeast Franklin County" to describe the locations.

WOSU took an in-depth dive into this a couple days ago: "Central Ohio is expected to keep growing at an even-faster pace as big projects like Intel’s semiconductor plants in Licking County come online. Intel promises to bring 3,000 long-term jobs to the region with two semiconductor plants by 2025. The project broke ground this summer in Licking County. The site is busy with activity from workers, trucks and bulldozers. Intel intends to build eight plants in total. The factories are expected to attract suppliers and other businesses to the region. Economist Bill LaFayette said it’s safe to expect more jobs from Intel before and after construction. “The employment at Intel in 10 years, if they completely follow through with their plans could be around 12,000," LaFeyette said. Construction of the first two fabs will take an estimated 7,000 workers. LaFeyette said those jobs should stay in the region in various capacities. “Perhaps not at that level but close to it for the next decade,” he said. “And those workers are going to wait for indirect jobs, too. So, each construction job will lead to another job in the region.” The entire article found here: https://news.wosu.org/2022-10-24/central-ohios-population-growth-to-hasten-as-economic-development-booms-in-the-region

An article in The Dispatch today addresses this a bit, although most of these projects are apartments. Developers working to fill need for apartments in and around New Albany "A local developer has plans to build nearly 100 apartments in the New Albany area, making northeast Franklin County one of the hottest rental markets in the region. • The Robert Weiler Co. is poised to build 96 units on 5 acres at 5159 Central College Road. It’s another reminder of developers trying to keep up with demand for housing stock, some of which is fueled by the Intel development in the New Albany International Business Park. “That area is white hot and, as they say, is about to get hotter,” Weiler said. In other recent development news in the northeast Columbus-New Albany area: • The Stonehenge Co. has proposed a 251-unit apartment complex at 5503 Morse Road in Gahanna. • Donald Kenney Jr., principal of Oxford Circle LLC, looks to build a 95-unit apartment complex at 5470 Hildebrand Road in Blendon Township, in northeast Columbus. • Another developer has proposed building 132 units on 6 acres, or less than 22 units per acre, in the Robinwood Corporate Center in Northland. • Metro Development LLC in 2020 announced plans to construct a 280-unit apartment complex on the west side of North Hamilton Road near Central College Road, west of New Albany. Intel factors into the growth of rental units, Weiler said, but the overall expansion of the business park is fueling the market. “There are so many jobs out there and more coming,” he said." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/new-albany/2022/10/26/developers-working-to-fill-need-for-apartments-in-around-new-albany/69588914007/

New Albany: Ganton Parkway extension about to enter design phase "The Ganton Parkway extension, set to provide even greater east-west traffic flow in New Albany, is one step closer to development. The city next will select a contractor for the 2.1-mile link connecting Theisen Road and Ganton Parkway West, said Scott McAfee, New Albany's chief communications and marketing officer. It is significant in that it provides another connection for motorists, diverting traffic away from Dublin-Granville Road the historic Village Center, McAfee said. The project likely will be bid out in 2024, with construction starting the same calendar year, Walther said." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/new-albany/2022/10/25/ganton-parkway-extension-in-new-albany-nearing-design-phase/69589010007/

Yeah it was very busy yesterday at the BOE on Morse Rd. We had to wait in quite a line to even get in the parking lot. And then we had to really search to find a parking spot. But even when it's that busy, because they have so many machines inside, it doesn't really take very long to vote. We was in and out within just a few minutes.

I think it's already in the works... This is from January 2022: Columbus zoning code heads for overhaul to spur redevelopment in urban 'growth corridors' "Columbus' zoning code needs to be overhauled to help pave the way for more urban density, fewer builder variances from the rules and a potentially streamlined approval process, according to a recent 128-page study commissioned by the city. The plan is bold: "repeal and replace Title 33- Zoning Code, in its entirety," according to one document outlining the plan. But the most-intense zoning changes initially would focus largely on some older neighborhoods that are home to some of Columbus' lowest-income residents, including parts of the Near East Side, Franklinton and the Hilltop, the consultant recommends. Other neighborhoods could follow, but some newer parts of Columbus won't need as much tinkering. In the coming months, the city Building and Zoning Department will begin a major community education and outreach push that involves a new approach called "form zoning." The zoning changes would create new more-affordable housing envisioned to be intertwined with new job centers and public outdoor spaces, promoting walkability and fewer vehicles to help the city manage projected growth of 300,000 residents in the next three decades, according to one of the documents. City officials cite the number of "variances" from code requirements — for parking spaces, set-backs from the property line, height restrictions, landscaping and the like — granted by City Council as proof that the zoning rules are out of touch with today's real estate market." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/20/columbus-zoning-changes-create-urban-corridors-low-income-areas/9174040002/

Couldn't agree more! I went ahead and voted yesterday. Count me in!

There's a couple things that should happen soon that could really help us see some major momentum when it comes to affordable housing across the city... • One is Issue 16- the Affordable Housing Bond Issue that's on the ballot this November for Columbus residents. If it passes, it will allow the city to use $200 million to continue its work with the Central Ohio Community Land Trust and other regional partners to expand affordable housing in the region. This is the Measure Text for Issue 16: "Shall bonds be issued by the City of Columbus, Ohio for the purpose of promoting neighborhood and community development and affordable housing within the City of Columbus by purchasing, constructing, demolishing, renovating, improving, equipping and furnishing residential and commercial structures in the City, and acquiring, clearing, testing, remediating environmental issues, extending utilities, and otherwise improving residential and commercial sites in the City, and providing funds for grants in connection with the same in the principal amount of $200,000,000..." ----- • And secondly, the city plans to fast-track all affordable housing projects by the end of the year. It will also help cover permit fees for small and medium-size developers: "Columbus plans to start fast-tracking affordable housing projects by the end of the year. That's one strategy the city is working on to help developers build more housing of all kinds, said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. 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. 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. This change is currently being implemented. More complex projects that require review from other city departments because of things such as stormwater, are being assigned to specific project coordinators. Ginther said by the end of the year, all projects will have one point person." https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/20/development-process-changes.html

I've been in it multiple times as well, it's a pretty boring building really. Buckeye Sports Bulletin used to have an office in the basement where you could pick up extra copies if places like Big Bear ran out of them. On a side note, it's probably best they tear this building down anyways. Richard Strauss used to operate an off-campus mens' clinic in this building where he apparently targeted students. If you check out this link, there's an ad near the top from The Lantern in 1996 that has this address listed as his off campus clinic. So I'm sure no one is going to be sad to see it go. https://news.wosu.org/news/2018-09-12/richard-strauss-operated-off-campus-mens-clinic-that-targeted-students

Looks like we could be getting some renderings soon for the old Kmart site on Brice Rd in Reynoldsburg: "What the new Reynoldsburg home of the Christian Missionary Alliance family of churches will look like should be revealed at the city planning commission meeting Nov. 3, Mayor Joe Begeny said. The former Kmart at Main Street and Brice Road was demolished last August to make way for a mixed-use development, anchored by the Alliance’s national headquarters. “They’re going to show all the pictures — what the building looks like and what the design is,” Begeny said. “But it won’t be an official submission to the commission until December. They want to get an idea of does the commission see any additional changes in the pictures or any potential problems or issues.” When the $200 million plan was announced in April 2021, former Reynoldsburg development director Andrew Bowsher envisioned the development as a mix of retail, restaurants, a hotel, an event center, green space and apartments — something that will draw people to Reynoldsburg in the way that Bridge Park and Grandview Yard bring people to Dublin and Grandview Heights, respectively. The buildout could take five to 10 years, officials have said." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/communities/reynoldsburg/2022/10/21/unveiling-of-alliance-plans-in-reynoldsburg-expected-nov-3/69579114007/

State approves major solar farms in Franklin and Licking Counties "State regulators have signed off on turning a chunk of Darby Dan Farms into Franklin County’s largest solar farm, one of two major Columbus-area solar farms approved Thursday. The Ohio Power Siting Board, the agency that oversees applications for construction of major utility facilities in Ohio, also approved a solar project in northwest Licking County and the state’s first rechargeable battery energy storage project that will be built near New Albany in Jersey Township. The solar projects, the Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy near Galloway and Harvey Solar I in Hartford and Bennington townships, can generate a combined 600 megawatts of power. “That’s enough energy to power over 107,000 homes, which to put it in context, is roughly the number of homes in city of Toledo,” board chair Jenifer French said during the meeting. “This figure does not include previously approved projects, and projects that already have been constructed." https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/10/21/state-approves-major-solar-farms-in-franklin-and-licking-counties/69574452007/

There was an interesting article yesterday about the Columbus Warehouse Boom in Business Insider... I thought this quote was interesting, giving us an idea of just how many warehouses there are across the city: "Columbus is one place that has played out: Seventy-five million square feet of warehouse space has been built there since 2012, on top of more than 233 million square feet already there. Another 12 million is being built, per the real-estate investment firm CBRE — the equivalent of 210 football fields. Thirty percent of new warehouses are leased before they're completed." If you're interested, the entire story can be found here: https://www.businessinsider.com/columbus-ohio-warehouse-boom-tax-breaks-2022-10

Metro Parks buys more land for two parks, approves more sidewalks at Quarry Trails "Metro Parks board voted Tuesday to spend $3.67 million to buy 92 acres off Schleppi Road in Plain Township to add to Rocky Fork Metro Park near New Albany in northeastern Franklin County. The board also voted to spend $510,000 to buy about nine acres in Truro Township to add to Blacklick Woods Metro Park on the Far East Side. In other action, the board approved $122,637 for Pummell Construction Services of Columbus to build sidewalks in the open but still developing Quarry Trails Metro Park." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/10/20/homes-metro-parks-leased-will-be-demolished-following-dispatch-probe/69570949007/

The article in The Dispatch also mentions this: "Crawford said Bridge Park has some land to develop to its east, but moving across 161 gives the development more opportunity to expand. The hotel, conference center and restaurants would be part of a broader mixed-use complex that would likely include residences. Developers plan the complex to be an extension of the Bridge Park development and connect to existing Bridge Park with a pedestrian link. Crawford said developers hope to build a pedestrian link between existing Bridge Park and the development to the south, though he did not know yet what form - bridge, tunnel, street-level, etc. - that link would take."

They also have Mt. Dew Southern Shock, which is described as "a blast of tropical punch flavored Mountain Dew". It's exclusively sold at Bojangles.

If you was traveling south on S. Front St downtown, you couldn't go further south than Mound St. (S. Front St was restricted to only northbound traffic from Livingston to Mound until the recent freeway exit closure)

Anyone else notice that you can travel south on S. Front St from downtown all the way into the Brewery District now? (Once they closed the freeway exit to Front St, it enabled them to allow southbound traffic on S. Front to continue over the freeway and into the Brewery District)