I'm not quite sure what to make of everything in this article....

The article in today's Dispatch mention that the corporate headquarters (which they say is still considering the site) wanted a 'suburban like' campus per Buckingham and that is why it was scrapped. If that is the case, good! They (CDDC) also say it is not Amazon, but won't reveal who it is.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180711/developer-says-prominent-stakeholder-cost-it-scioto-peninsula-project

CU article about the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) naming their Museum Director ahead of the planned opening this Fall.  The new NVMM director is the former Director of Visitor Experience for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.  The article also contains this video of the NVMM building and grounds as they currently are, and as they will be after completion - plus a look at the museum's interior after completion:

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/museum-director-announced-for-national-veterans-museum-and-memorial-ls1

 

CDDC seeks developers to build out pieces of its vision for Scioto Peninsula

 

Following the collapse of a deal for one company to develop city property on the Scioto Peninsula, the city’s development arm is tackling the project building by building.

 

The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has issued requests for proposals from developers to build the first phase of the 21-acre project west of COSI Columbus.

 

The move comes after the city’s deal fell through with Buckingham Companies of Indianapolis to develop the entire site in a grand $500-million mini-city that included up to 1,700 apartments along with offices, a hotel, shops and restaurants.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business/20180801/group-seeks-developers-to-build-out-pieces-of-its-vision-for-scioto-peninsula

^^ That video run-through of the NVMM kind of has me worried. It just seems like there's not really enough there, there

 

From what it shows, and given the small size of the building, I'm skeptical that it will really be a major attraction at all. Something to maybe check out once, but I don't see how that is really going to be a sustainable draw

 

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, and it's a smash success, but... They won't have a large permanent collection of military artifacts, most of the exhibits appear to be video/storytelling based, will there be major travelling exhibits, and of what? there appears to be no space for that, the building is only a museum, not a provider of veterans services like the old memorial was, etc, etc...

 

Am I way off base? Does this actually look exciting to anyone? Would you buy a membership and consistently go down and visit this museum?

^^ That video run-through of the NVMM kind of has me worried. It just seems like there's not really enough there, there

 

From what it shows, and given the small size of the building, I'm skeptical that it will really be a major attraction at all. Something to maybe check out once, but I don't see how that is really going to be a sustainable draw

 

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, and it's a smash success, but... They won't have a large permanent collection of military artifacts, most of the exhibits appear to be video/storytelling based, will there be major travelling exhibits, and of what? there appears to be no space for that, the building is only a museum, not a provider of veterans services like the old memorial was, etc, etc...

 

Am I way off base? Does this actually look exciting to anyone? Would you buy a membership and consistently go down and visit this museum?

 

I was a thinking the same thing a bit. They mention the 30,000 square feet and also mention artifacts as well with the exhibits. I am hoping that they just simplified things since this was not a real video but really a sort of animation and that is why it appears so...sparse in the video. You know how that can go sometimes. The video also has all those people walking up the ramp...but to what?-there are no people at the top and nothing is going on there. Hopefully it will be a bit more 'filled up' than it looks on the inside.

 

Is there a site we can check out that will give more info about what the place will actually contain?

 

I also think they made it clear at the beginning of all of this that it will not be a space for veteran's services, and that those services would be located somewhere else?

 

The rather small square footage of the building(compared to the nearly 300,000 square feet of COSI)is a bit troubling. I wish we had more concise info.

It's a cool building, but I always thought it was tiny compared to the size of the overall site.  It's not even as big, I believe, as the former Vets Memorial building.  I hope it's a success, and perhaps there be future growth on the site to add more, but that remains to be seen.  They snagged a decent director.  Let's see what he can do with it.

^ No there was never a plan for veterans services to be located here, I just mentioned that because it was something the old building contained, and would also be a reliable driver of at least some traffic on a daily basis. As it is, I'm struggling to see how this place is going to get anyone besides busloads of schoolkids through the doors on a consistent basis. What is the draw? If you look at their facebook page, the plans and photos of the exhibits are pretty much just what's shown in the video. Basically, I'm worried what we see is going to be what we'll get, which is not much honestly. This could be Cincinnati's Freedom Center 2.0...

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180816/new-national-veterans-memorial-will-open-at-end-of-october

 

The $82 million National Veterans Memorial and Museum has an opening day: October 27.

 

Museum officials announced that the opening and dedication of the 53,000-square-foot museum — on West Broad Street across from COSI Columbus — will take place from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. with retired Army general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell set to give the keynote address.  The museum will stay open until 9 p.m. after the ceremony for the public to get its first look.

 

More details about the opening and dedication will be added as available at www.nationalvmm.org.

In addition to my concerns above, their website is really awful and amateur looking. I hope it gets thoroughly reworked before the opening...

Good God...it is only 53,000 square feet...but EIGHTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS!!! Damn. That is over 1500 dollars a square foot! Seems really pricey for such a small building.  I hope it can somehow live up to it's hype.

Good God...it is only 53,000 square feet...but EIGHTY TWO MILLION DOLLARS!!! Damn. That is over 1500 dollars a square foot! Seems really pricey for such a small building.  I hope it can somehow live up to it's hype.

 

Maybe 53K is only for the museum part of the building, and not the entire thing? I'm assuming there's event space and probably offices in there as well.

No 53k is the entire building. And of that only 30k is exhibit space...

Late August view of the National Veterans Memorial & Museum from CU:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-august-2018-part-1

 

Tour the National Veterans Memorial and Museum before it opens

 

 

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum has been years in the making.

 

Planning for the 53,000-square-foot center began in 2012, when Sen. John Glennbegan working to make Central Ohio home to a national museum and memorial honoring the nation's 20 million veterans. Glenn, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, served as the founding chairman of the Veterans Advisory Committee before his death in 2016.

 

His vision opens to the public on Oct. 27. Retired general and former National Security Advisor Colin Powell will be the keynote speaker at a ceremony that day.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/10/18/tour-the-national-veterans-memorial-andmuseum.html

Really like how the vets museum turned out. Love how the inside reflects the facade. 

First Look: National Veterans Memorial and Museum

 

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum will celebrate its grand opening this weekend on Saturday, October 27.

 

The dedication and grand opening ceremony starts at 2 p.m. and will feature remarks from United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie and a keynote address by General Colin Powell. The ceremony will also feature veterans, military and community leaders, regalia and performances and is expected to be attended by a crowd of over 4,000. All seated passes have been reserved for the ceremony, but standing room is available.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-national-veterans-memorial-and-museum-sp1

 

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum won't look as good at the dedication with the gloomy overcast misty weather we're getting today --- but here's a couple of good weather aerial views of the swoopy new structure:

 

 

^^ I like how the first photo shows how they really did not skimp with the landscaping. Seems they really packed in some fairly mature trees and not just some scraggly saplings. 

 

They might want to put in some flower beds or low shrubs or something on the river and Broad st. sides IMO. Compared to the park part, it just looks a bit too sterile, especially with the modern architecture. I know they want the building to be completely visible, but I think some low plantings/beds might be in order.  The picture posted at 4:14 with just the bare metal railing looks a bit harsh. maybe a low hedge on the other side of it or something? It seems like there is just a little too much plain old grass...just sayin' and all.

Edited October 27, 20186 yr by Toddguy
Trump is a fool

Once that area is built out, this will be a jewel.

Some shots from the grand opening October 28th:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus is so fortunate to get such a high quality, world class museum. Hopefully Columbus can get another world class museum or cultural attraction somewhere downtown or on the peninsula and continue to bolster its notoriety. 

With Pizzuti and the Columbus Art Museum merging it would be cool to have a starchitect designed modern art museum using the Pizzuti collection which tends to be more contemporary, with the more classic works remaining in the current art museum Downtown. 

9 hours ago, Lucas_uLsac said:

Columbus is so fortunate to get such a high quality, world class museum. Hopefully Columbus can get another world class museum or cultural attraction somewhere downtown or on the peninsula and continue to bolster its notoriety. 

I would love to see another cultural attraction of some size on the triangle of land south of COSI that they were going to put that zoo component on.

5 hours ago, Toddguy said:

I would love to see another cultural attraction of some size on the triangle of land south of COSI that they were going to put that zoo component on.

 

I've heard rumors of a high caliber museum like a Natural History Museum going in this plot of land. I've also heard the zoo still wants to build an aquarium. I would be happy with either. 

The Wexners are big supporters of the Peninsula (and its cultural institutions). I’d bet with their interest, eventually some institution will be built there. 

3 hours ago, Lucas_uLsac said:

 

I've heard rumors of a high caliber museum like a Natural History Museum going in this plot of land. I've also heard the zoo still wants to build an aquarium. I would be happy with either. 

 

Wexner has been interested for a while in a greater Natural History Museum for Columbus, and as I understand it, the AMNH partnership with COSI is serving as a little trial run. The name itself isn't resonating much with locals I have been told but the content is killing it and brining attendance. The rumors are that once the AMNH partnership wraps, Wexner is looking to bring/build a full blown Natural History Museum Downtown/Franklinton. 

 

Wexner is getting older, he wants to make a lasting mark, this is big money philanthropics to the likes of Carnegie from the rumblings I've heard. I would love this to come to fruition. 

Unless it's mostly privately funded, I seriously doubt the zoo expansion will ever happen.  Or the zoo needs to be clearer as to how the funding for it will work and exactly what it will pay for.  The public vote really didn't go well last time, though admittedly that outcome was heavily influenced by outside conservative money for some reason.

Edited January 9, 20196 yr by jonoh81

20 hours ago, jonoh81 said:

Unless it's mostly privately funded, I seriously doubt the zoo expansion will ever happen.  Or the zoo needs to be clearer as to how the funding for it will work and exactly what it will pay for.  The public vote really didn't go well last time, though admittedly that outcome was heavily influenced by outside conservative money for some reason.

 

I had just moved here when that was going on and man, that was a weird election. I never expected to see Koch money trying to end a zoo project, they tend to lose their minds over transit projects or wage issues, not cultural attractions. Hopefully that all does become something soon because it's prime real estate just itching for something big. Does anyone know who owns the land currently? Still the zoo or did it shift back to the city?

22 minutes ago, DevolsDance said:

 

I had just moved here when that was going on and man, that was a weird election. I never expected to see Koch money trying to end a zoo project, they tend to lose their minds over transit projects or wage issues, not cultural attractions. Hopefully that all does become something soon because it's prime real estate just itching for something big. Does anyone know who owns the land currently? Still the zoo or did it shift back to the city?

As far as I know, that was the only local vote that has ever received serious national attention like that. Columbus tends to be very supportive of its cultural institutions and parks.  The issue was made out to be about an out of control zoo spending like a drunken sailor at the expense of poor taxpayers, which was ridiculous.  Politically, everything has been a total cluster.... the last 5 years everywhere.   It makes things unpredictable.  

The Koch Buddies need to butt out.

41 minutes ago, DevolsDance said:

 Hopefully that all does become something soon because it's prime real estate just itching for something big. Does anyone know who owns the land currently? Still the zoo or did it shift back to the city?

 

Pretty sure the city owns the entirety of the Scioto Peninsula.

Just going to drop this here for everyone... Caught my attention. 

 

http://www.jns.design/march-2019/

 

 

1 hour ago, DevolsDance said:

Just going to drop this here for everyone... Caught my attention. 

 

http://www.jns.design/march-2019/

 

 

Nice find, but when you click to "read more" the page doesn't exist.

Plan Revealed for First Phase of Scioto Peninsula Development

 

"The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) unveiled a plan today for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Scioto Peninsula.The new plan involves six acres of land in the center of the site and calls for an eight-story hotel, flanked by an 11-story residential building and an eight-story office building. Directly to the west of those three buildings – each of which will front Belle Street and look out on Dorian Green, the park that serves as COSI’s front lawn – will be two additional residential buildings and a second hotel building.

 

Also planned is a 1,400-space parking garage, to be built on three acres of land between Starling Street and the railroad tracks."

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/plan-revealed-for-first-phase-of-scioto-peninsula-development-bw1

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/plan-revealed-for-first-phase-of-scioto-peninsula-development-bw1

Edited August 16, 20195 yr by capitalkid1991

On 6/28/2019 at 1:47 PM, DevolsDance said:

Just going to drop this here for everyone... Caught my attention. 

 

http://www.jns.design/march-2019/

 

 

Looks like this is the hotel portion of phase one. Good find!

10 minutes ago, capitalkid1991 said:

Plan Revealed for First Phase of Scioto Peninsula Development

 

"The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) unveiled a plan today for the first phase of the redevelopment of the Scioto Peninsula.The new plan involves six acres of land in the center of the site and calls for an eight-story hotel, flanked by an 11-story residential building and an eight-story office building. Directly to the west of those three buildings – each of which will front Belle Street and look out on Dorian Green, the park that serves as COSI’s front lawn – will be two additional residential buildings and a second hotel building.

 

Also planned is a 1,400-space parking garage, to be built on three acres of land between Starling Street and the railroad tracks."

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/plan-revealed-for-first-phase-of-scioto-peninsula-development-bw1

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/plan-revealed-for-first-phase-of-scioto-peninsula-development-bw1

Great start! This area is going to be electric in a few years!

Business First has a long article on this as well.  Unfortunately its behind their paywall.  But here's a synopsis:

 

The Scioto Peninsula project is back: Three developers picked to kickstart $250M Franklinton revival

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/16/the-scioto-peninsula-project-is-back-three.html

 

Quote

Three developers have been selected to spearhead a nine-acre, $250 million development that will launch the highly anticipated Scioto Peninsula project.

 

Columbus Downtown Development Corp., which is serving as master developer for the 26-acre strip of land in East Franklinton, has opted to move forward with a nine-acre first phase of the project, which will include half a dozen mid-rise buildings between Belle Street and the railroad tracks.

 

The developers – Daimler Group and Rockbridge out of Columbus, and Flaherty & Collins out of Indianapolis – will build at least six buildings ranging from 6 to 11 stories, including two hotels, 550 apartments, 45,000 square feet of ground floor retail and 240,000 square feet of office.  Behind them, a new 1,400-space parking garage is to be constructed abutting the raised railway.

 

All of the buildings other than the parking complexes are now scheduled to break ground in spring 2020 and be built simultaneously, while the garage will start that fall.  They're projected for completion in June 2022.

 

Also there is this:

 

Quote

And the developer is now envisioning a much bolder long-term plan for the 26 acres of land, which it now thinks could support 2 million square feet of office, 1,800 residential units, 400 hotel rooms and 200,000 square feet of retail.

 

The previous plan (from Buckingham) had been for 1,700 residential units, 800,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, and a 150-room hotel.

 

A couple more images courtesy of ColumbusUnderground:

 

 

 

This is breaking ground in the spring? Holy crap, next year is gonna be huge for Columbus development. 

 

- Hilton 2.0

- North Market Tower

- Crew Stadium

- Gravity 2.0 

- Upper Arlington mixed-use tower

- Scioto Peninsula

 

Those are just the big name projects that should be breaking ground, not to much everything currently under construction and other smaller projects to come on line. 

Huge news, I love it! I can't believe this was dropped on a Friday afternoon like this. 

 

Is the Veteran's Memorial parking lot going to be apart of this overall redevelopment? I sure hope so, buildings and a parking deck would be best for that area, IMO.

Edited August 16, 20195 yr by 4N6science

Wow, bombshell announcement this Friday! Below is the initial write-up from the Dispatch:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190816/apartments-offices-hotels-announced-for-scioto-peninsula

 

Really impressive plan for the land; I really like the design, massing, and detail. Hopefully the materials used are as first-rate as the images make them out to be (no repeat of the Edwards Gay St. development, please). I also wonder how this will meld with Gravity 2.0 across the railroad tracks - given the designs for both, they should integrate well. Hopefully all continues as planned and we see the groundbreaking come to fruition this Spring.

 

 

Yeah, I HOPE they integrate with Gravity 2.0.

Not to be a skinflint, but is that Dispatch-exclusive content or are the renderings available elsewhere?

 

Paywalled.

I dunno.  I haven't clicked on their website since they tried suing us a while back.

I'm impressed with how swiftly the timeline on this is set to move. Every single one of these developers are known for being able to pull of big projects and has been quite successful in their extended management of them, this is a really good combination and win for the city. 

 

Also, interestingly enough, Flahrety & Collins is pretty good at leasing the retail out in their developments and from my understanding have had a good track record with pulling in grocers to their urban developments. Maybe there is hope for a little win on that front as well. 

Great news! With the Crew Stadium and now this development coming online, I would hope this means we'll get plans in a hurry to connect the Arena District to the Scioto peninsula through a bridge of some sort? With all the development in Franklinton, seems like a big miss not to have one. 

2 minutes ago, CBdowntowner said:

Great news! With the Crew Stadium and now this development coming online, I would hope this means we'll get plans in a hurry to connect the Arena District to the Scioto peninsula through a bridge of some sort? With all the development in Franklinton, seems like a big miss not to have one. 

 

Honestly instead of the ridiculous "COSI Connector" project (the glass tunnel through COSI connecting it to the riverfront), I'd rather see CDDC focus their next efforts on this. I'd love to see a revival of the pedestrian bridge concepts floated connecting NVVM to the Arena District, let's one up Bridge Park and build something useful but also show stopping. 

 

 

 

These were some of the designs floated back in 2010(?) I believe in response to an RFQ from the City that never went anywhere. 

Get to know the three developers kickstarting Scioto Peninsula

 

 

Two Columbus companies and an Indianapolis firm have been chosen to reboot the $250 million Scioto Peninsula project.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/16/get-to-know-the-three-developers-kickstarting.html

27 minutes ago, DevolsDance said:

 

Honestly instead of the ridiculous "COSI Connector" project (the glass tunnel through COSI connecting it to the riverfront), I'd rather see CDDC focus their next efforts on this. I'd love to see a revival of the pedestrian bridge concepts floated connecting NVVM to the Arena District, let's one up Bridge Park and build something useful but also show stopping. 

 

 

 

These were some of the designs floated back in 2010(?) I believe in response to an RFQ from the City that never went anywhere. 

I was reading in an article recently about the OSU campus framework 2.0 project.  There is a long term goal there to get a direct connection from campus to Franklinton, so I can see something like this happening.  OSU has been trying to get a big tech company to come here for a while and from what I hear, got really close with the Apple campus that just went to Austin.  I would imagine this all part of a larger plan for a tech company to land in Franklinton and have a lot of OSU students going there.  Not to mention, CoverMyMeds will already be there.  Gonna be a very interesting next several years.  I think we are finally entering the boom.

Edited August 16, 20195 yr by TH3BUDDHA