Been meaning to post this news item for a while.  It's interesting for the city agency relocating into the former Bob Evans HQ site on the city's south side.  But it's also interesting for the possible redevelopment of a downtown site that might result from this move.

 

City Offices to Move into Former Bob Evans HQ on South Side

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

July 28, 2015 - 7:15 am

 

Since 2011, the former Bob Evans Headquarters building at 3700 South High Street has sat empty on the city’s south side when the company relocated to New Albany.  Yesterday, Columbus City Council authorized legislation to move the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) into the building to enable its expansion.

( . . . )

The COAAA is a city agency, operated under the Department of Recreation and Parks.  The organization provides caregiving services and resources for senior citizens in the region.  Their current offices are located at 174-182 East Long Street, Downtown.  The relocation will allow the organization to expand from 39,000 square feet and 130 parking spaces to 55,000 square feet and 230 parking spaces.

( . . . )

The City of Columbus is purchasing the old Bob Evans HQ for $4 million, which includes building renovation costs.  The COAAA is expected to relocate by January 2016.  No plans have been announced yet for the Downtown office buildings that COAAA will vacate on East Long, but speculation about their potential redevelopment has already begun on our Messageboard.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/city-offices-to-move-into-former-bob-evans-hq-on-south-side

Here is the downtown location of COAAA at the northeast corner of Fourth & Long (174-182 E. Long Street) from the CU thread: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/174-e-long-st-redelopment-potential

 

 

The location at Fourth & Long contains two parcels - this one with a six-story building and adjoining surface parking lot:

 

And this one with a two-story building and adjoining surface parking lot:

 

Not long after the COAAA move was confirmed, the City announced they would seek an RFP for the Fourth & Long site downtown:

 

City to Seek Proposals for Long Street Site Downtown

By Brent Warren, Columbus Underground

August 15, 2015 - 10:00 am

 

The pending relocation of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging to the South Side will be leaving a prime development site open downtown; the agency’s six-story office building and adjacent parking lot at 174 East Long Street.  The City of Columbus will be sending out a Request for Proposals before the end of this year seeking a buyer for the site.

( . . . )

Steve Schoeny, the city’s Director of Development, said that while the details of the RFP were still being ironed out, the city’s number one focus for the site is alleviating the parking crunch downtown - an issue that’s come up with increased frequency as more and more surface parking lots are developed.  “We’d like to see parking, jobs, and residential, in that order.”

 

Schoeny also confirmed that the city had been in talks with Continental Realty, which produced a marketing video for their Continental Centre office building that showed a rendering of a  700-car garage on the site with multiple floors of residential above.  The city ultimately decided that an open RFP process was more appropriate given the significance of the site.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/city-to-seek-proposals-for-long-street-site-downtown-bw1

 

Here is the conceptual development proposed by Continental Realty for Fourth & Long in their promotional video. It shows a 7-level parking garage for 700 spaces and then 7-8 floors of office/apartments above:

^ That doesn't look like good street interaction.

^ Well, its only a concept put together for a promo video.  So its not a final design.

10-story parking garage with offices proposed on Long Street, with apartments next door

 

 

A pair of buildings at Fourth and Long streets downtown would be demolished and replaced with a 10-story parking-and-office complex under plans put forth by Continental Real Estate Cos.

 

The developer’s Continental Office affiliate would bring its headquarters and office-supply showroom to 30,000 square feet of street-level offices, to be topped by a 670-slot parking garage at the northeast corner of Fourth and Long, according to a proposal outlined Tuesday before Columbus’ Downtown Commission.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/01/26/10-story-parking-garage-with-offices-proposed-on.html

More about Continental's proposed Long & Fourth project from CU:

 

-- New 10-Story Building Proposed at Long & Fourth Downtown

 

-- Fourth & Long Project Gets Positive Reception from Commission

 

Apparently, two phases are being proposed at the Long & Fourth site.  Phase One would be 30,000 sq.ft. of street-level office and showroom space for Continental Office at the corner topped by a 670-slot parking garage.  Phase Two would be 135 residential units with ground-floor retail in a building facing Long Street east of the parking garage phase.

 

The rendering in the previous post shows the Phase One construction.  The rendering below shows both Phase One and Phase Two facing Long Street:

City Seeking New Proposals for Corner of Fourth and Long Downtown

 

The City of Columbus is seeking new development proposals for the one-acre site it controls at the northeast corner of Fourth and Long streets Downtown.

 

More below:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/city-seeking-new-proposals-for-corner-of-fourth-and-long-downtown