Posted June 5, 201411 yr Eastland Mall looks like its getting new ownership. The current owners - Glimcher Realty Trust - announced in April they reached an agreement with the mortgage holder for the property to sell it via online auction in June (more about that at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/04/eastland-mall-for-sale-with-glimcher-setting-june.html). Eastland Mall is one of the three malls developed in the 60's by Cleveland developer Richard Jacobs. However, unlike the other two malls, Northland and Westland, Eastland is still viable retail-wise. According to the above linked report, Eastland's 616,000 square feet of in-line retail space is 92 percent occupied. The sale includes a JCPenney anchor store and a closed former Lazarus/Macy's anchor store. The total occupancy of the space for sale falls to 76 percent when the former Macy's space is included - it moved into the former Kaufmann's anchor space at Eastland when Macy's and Kaufmann's merged in 2006. The Sears anchor store at Eastland and the newer Macy's anchor store (formerly Kaufmann's) are not part of this sale because those anchors own these spaces. Basically, Glimcher is selling because they are underwater in its mortgage. The current mortgage is for $40 million. The June online auction will start at $9 million. That auction ended yesterday with an unknown bidder offering $18 million. But that $18 million bid was rejected by the mortgage holder (more about this at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2014/06/05/18m-bid-for-eastland-mall-rejected-by-loan.html. According to Glimcher's agreement with the mortgage holder, the alternative to the auction not yielding a buyer is for Glimcher to turn over the property to the mortgage holder. So unless another auction is scheduled, it looks like that's what will happen.
May 22, 201510 yr Author Eastland Mall, the last of Columbus' three 1960's/70's directional malls (i.e. Northland, Westland, Eastland) was in the news last year when its mortgage holder took ownership of it from long-time owner Glimcher. Now, the mortgage holder has sold Eastland to an overseas buyer: Eastland Mall sold to overseas buyer By Brian R. Ball, Columbus Business First May 19, 2015, 4:16pm EDT Eastland Mall has quietly been sold for $9.7 million, or about half what was offered for the aging southeast Columbus shopping center last year. The South Hamilton Road mall was put up for sale in an online auction in late March, but details weren't disclosed at the time. Newly filed public documents revealed the cash price, but not the buyer. Fred Meno, CEO of Asset Services at Fort Worth, Texas-based Woodmont Co., which handles leasing and property management property at Eastland, declined to name the new owner but said the investor is from the Middle East. Woodmont is retaining its roles at Eastland under the new ownership. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/19/exclusive-eastland-mall-sold-to-overseas-buyer.html
May 22, 201510 yr Author This news of Eastland Mall's sale plus recent news that one of its three remaining anchor stores is set to close makes one wonder if Eastland will go the way of Northland and Westland. Here is the link to news of J.C. Penney closing at Eastland. Once J.C. Penney closes, Sears and Macy’s will be the anchor stores left at the mall. The former Lazarus store has remained empty since Macy's purchase of it. Eastland's 240,652 square feet of in-line retail space was about 24 percent empty in late February, according to Business First. In the WOSU piece linked above, local retail expert Chris Boring questions whether Eastland can survive. He thinks a redevelopment of the site is more likely, adding “I think Northland could be a blueprint for what happens at Eastland".
August 30, 20168 yr Author We already had Northland and Westland threads in this section - and a Southside thread was recently added when news warranted one. Well, now it looks like current news warrants the creation of an Eastland thread. Below is a recent article from the Dispatch about attempts to revive the Eastland Mall area. Above are some past articles about the sale of Eastland Mall that were originally posted in the Columbus Retail News thread: East Side neighborhood leaders urge reviving Eastland Mall area By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch Monday, August 22, 2016 - 5:10 AM In December 2007, the city of Columbus completed a revitalization plan along Hamilton Road near Eastland Mall. It called for landscaping and architectural improvements to make the aging area more attractive and safe for commercial, office and residential uses even as stores were leaving. The plan suggested better lighting, niche hotels and the recruitment of government office tenants for Eastland Mall. ... But nothing much came of it. The Great Recession began the month the plan was finished. National restaurants such as Olive Garden closed. The mall's J.C. Penney store closed in May 2015. The Kohl’s store across Hamilton Road closed in 2012. The Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park near the Hamilton Road/Interstate 70 interchange closed in February. ( . . . ) Now that there seems to be an economic uptick, Ava Johnson, who leads the Greater South East Area Commission, thinks it would be a good time to return to the plan to rejuvenate the area. So does Quay Barnes, who leads the Mid-East Area Community Collaborative. She’d like the city to put the same effort into revitalizing the Eastland Mall area as it did to improve Morse Road and the old Northland Mall area. ( . . . ) The city plans to spend $20.2 million to upgrade Hamilton Road between Interstate 70 and Refugee Road: $16 million for construction, $2.2 million for design work and $2 million for right-of-way acquisition. Sidewalks, median islands, pedestrian signals, curb extensions and street lights would be installed with construction to begin in 2018. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/08/22/east-side-neighborhood-leaders-urge-reviving-eastland-mall-area.html
September 26, 20168 yr Author The Fort Rapids Indoor Water Park near the Hamilton Road/Interstate 70 interchange closed in February. Fort Rapids heads to auction, its future as water park doubtful By Marla Matzer Rose, The Columbus Dispatch Thursday, August 25, 2016 - 5:24 AM Columbus’ only indoor water park soon will go up for auction. But even the company that’s marketing it has doubts about whether the property has a future that involves water slides and inner tubes. Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort on the East Side, which has been closed since early this year, is to go on the auction block in the fall with a minimum bid price of $3 million. That’s a fraction of what was spent to turn the hotel into a water park and resort in 2005. ( . . . ) The Fort Rapids business has been challenged virtually from the beginning, after original investor Platinum Lodging spent about $40 million to overhaul the property — formerly the Holiday Inn Columbus East — and add the 60,000-square-foot water park. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/08/25/1-fort-rapids-heads-to-auction-in-october-its-future-as-water-park-doubtful.html
January 31, 20178 yr Author Eastland Mall tenants fret with Macy's departure By Marla Matzer Rose, The Columbus Dispatch Updated: January 6, 2017 - 12:39 PM Eastland Mall is a survivor. It has outlived Northland and other older malls, despite losing chain stores to newer malls and more upscale neighborhoods. The departure of its Macy's store, announced late Wednesday, will be a blow, one local retail veteran says, but one that won't sink the mall. "I don't think it's going to become another Westland," said Columbus retail expert Chris Boring. "I think you'll continue to see national tenants leaving over time, but my impression is the mall still could be profitable and serve a purpose for tenants and customers." Boring points out that the current owner, an unidentified investor reported to be based in Dubai, bought the 240,000-square-foot mall at auction in 2015 for $9.7 million. That's a third of what former owner Glimcher Realty Trust paid for the mall in 2003. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2017/01/06/eastland-mall-tenants-fret-with-macys-departure.html
January 31, 20178 yr Author Public hearing set on city's plan for $20 million in improvements to Hamilton Road corridor By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch Updated: January 17, 2017 - 4:29 PM Community leaders and Columbus officials hope that a $20 million investment into the Hamilton Road corridor between Interstate 70 and Refugee Road will help revive the area near Eastland Mall. ( . . . ) In 2007, the city finished a revitalization plan for the corridor that included new landscaping, better lighting, niche hotels and government-office tenants for the mall. But the Great Recession made mincemeat of those plans. The Kohl's store closed in 2012, and the mall's J.C. Penney store shut down in 2015. Sears remains open, but Macy's announced that it is closing its mall store by spring, another blow to the mall and the remaining retailers who worry about their futures. ( . . . ) Proposed improvements to Hamilton Road include adding curbs, sidewalks and shared-use bicycle and pedestrian paths, plus upgraded traffic signals and signs, stormwater improvements and trees. ... The plans mirror the nearly $30 million in improvements the city made to Morse Road in the Northland area a decade ago. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170114/public-hearing-set-on-citys-plan-for-20-million-in-improvements-to-hamilton-road-corridor/1
January 31, 20178 yr It's not worth it if you ask me. That area simply can't be made walkable and traffic counts are the lowest they've been in decades. And they aren't going up any time soon.
April 6, 20178 yr Fort Rapids water park could reopen following $2.55M sale The shuttered Fort Rapids Water Park in east Columbus could reopen under new ownership. Fort Rapids struggled for years before finally closing last year. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/04/06/fort-rapids-water-park-could-reopen-following-2.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 7, 20178 yr Author Some possible good news that the Fort Rapids water park and 340-room hotel could reopen following a $2.55M sale to a Los Angeles buyer: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/04/06/fort-rapids-water-park-could-reopen-following-2.html
June 7, 20178 yr Author But bad news for Eastland Mall, as Sears will reportedly close their store there. Sears is the last remaining anchor store at Eastland: http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/sears-and-kmart-closing-72-stores-including-2-in-columbus
June 7, 20178 yr And with one announcement, there are no anchors left at any of Columbus' original directional malls.
June 7, 20178 yr Well good riddance to the one at Westland. With Sears gone they can level that decaying dump and at least have a chance to redevelop something in that place and with all of the land available to do so. I would rather have an empty space that can be developed rather than that decaying hulk that is just a reminder of failure. Maybe something similar to what happened at Northland can happen now. At least there will be possibilities now. Great Western killed the Broad street retail strip... Westland killed Great Western... Tuttle, the closure of the nearby manufacturing plants, and changing demographics and retail patterns killed Westland. Time for something different. That is a lot of space(what, 50 or 60 acres?)and right at a major freeway interchange.
June 7, 20178 yr Author Well good riddance to the one at Westland. With Sears gone they can level that decaying dump and at least have a chance to redevelop something in that place and with all of the land available to do so. I would rather have an empty space that can be developed rather than that decaying hulk that is just a reminder of failure. Maybe something similar to what happened at Northland can happen now. At least there will be possibilities now. Great Western killed the Broad street retail strip... Westland killed Great Western... Tuttle, the closure of the nearby manufacturing plants, and changing demographics and retail patterns killed Westland. Time for something different. That is a lot of space(what, 50 or 60 acres?)and right at a major freeway interchange. Totally agree with your assessment about Sears closing at the Westland Mall site. I also just posted this news in the separate Westland development thread at https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3337.msg857967.html#msg857967. Please continue any Westland discussion over in that thread.
June 7, 20178 yr Author A bit more Sears closing news from Business First: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/06/07/sears-stores-at-eastland-and-westland-malls-are.html
June 8, 20178 yr Author Central Ohio's go-to retail analyst Chris Boring gave his opinion of the future of Eastland Mall after its last anchor store (Sears) closes in this interview with Business First: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/06/07/here-are-eastland-malls-options-after-sears.html Unfortunately, the full interview only available for subscribers. But here is a synopsis of his feelings about Eastland Mall: “This isn’t another Westland,” said retail analyst Chris Boring of Columbus-based Boulevard Strategies. “It’s in better shape than people think. It still has several national retailers and the east side is under-stored. It’s one of the few under-stored areas around town.” Columbus-based Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works remain in the mall as does Foot Locker, its Lady and Kid offshoots, Champs Sports, Lids, Spencer’s and Claire’s. Other tenants include local apparel and accessories shops and food and service providers. While that might not be a draw to shoppers outside the Eastland/Hamilton Road area, there still is need and appeal for those who are in that neighborhood, he said. Boring noted that the $9.7 million price tag the new owners of Eastland paid in 2015 is to the property’s benefit as well. Since more than 70 tenants remain, the current returns are probably ok for this investment price. As for the four empty anchor stores, Boring said not to expect a large retailer to fill those spaces. "Department stores are shrinking, not growing. That doesn’t mean those spaces have to stay empty, though. You’re seeing malls bring in non-retail uses." Offices, fitness centers, schools, storage facilities, churches, event spaces and even data centers are among the uses Boring said he’s seen for abandoned anchor buildings. “For some malls, demolition is the best option. I don’t think that’s the case with Eastland.”
August 12, 20177 yr Author An earlier article about this psychiatric hospital development is at https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/07/24/mount-carmel-picks-for-profit-joint-venture.html Mount Carmel-Acadia psychiatric hospital will go in next to shuttered Fort Rapids Water Park By Carrie Ghose, Staff Reporter - Columbus Business First August 10, 2017, 2:45pm EDT The private developer of a planned Columbus psychiatric hospital in a joint venture with Mount Carmel Health System chose a site along Interstate 70 next to the defunct Fort Rapids Water Park on the city's east side. Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. is developing the $26 million, 64,300-square-foot, 80-bed hospital that will quadruple the Mount Carmel hospital system's inpatient behavioral health capacity. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/08/10/mount-carmel-acadia-psychiatric-hospital-will-go.html
January 3, 20187 yr Author Welp, the wrong kind of water at the shuttered Fort Rapids Water Park hotel building on this frigid morning: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180103/burst-water-pipe-turns-fort-rapids-into-frozen-wasteland According to the Dispatch article: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180103/burst-water-pipe-turns-fort-rapids-into-frozen-wasteland "A burst water pipe on Wednesday morning has caused ice to form on the outside of the Fort Rapids Water Park. The Columbus Division of Fire said crews were called to the building just before 8 a.m." "Crews reported water spilling outside and down elevator shafts. 10TV reported that the fire department believes a pipe burst on the top floor. ... The closed resort was sold to a California investor in 2017, who is studying options for the 343-room hotel and water park on the East Side."
October 8, 20186 yr Author Some more code enforcement issues in the Eastland area. City of Columbus is suing the Illinois-based owner of the Hartford on the Lake apartments located across South Hamilton Road from Eastland Mall for multiple building maintenance code violations: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180919/columbus-sues-owner-of-apartment-complexes-to-force-repairs
July 8, 20195 yr Author The vacant Fort Rapids water park site is back on the market: Vacant Fort Rapids site hits the market for $6.5 million By Carrie Ghose – Staff reporter, Columbus Business First June 5, 2019, 12:20pm EDT The vacant Fort Rapids water park site is on the market again – with affordable housing and a retirement community as suggested redevelopment ideas. The 296,000-square-foot complex along I-70 on the east side of Columbus is listed at $6.5 million, nearly $4 million more than a California investor group paid two years ago. Their plans to reopen stalled when a psychiatric hospital was announced next door. Facilities on the 17 acres include a 270-room hotel, 60 townhouse-style villas, conference center and indoor water park. ( . . . ) The Los Angeles investor group, experienced with theme parks for Walt Disney Co. and Universal Studios, had envisioned reopening and expanding the water park after catching up on the deferred maintenance and code violations that forced its closure. Plans also included adding indoor sports fields to host tournaments on a then-vacant parcel next door. They formed Frontier Resorts LLC in Ohio, hoping to launch a new Frontier Springs brand in Columbus and take it to other markets, as Business First previously reported. ... The project stalled when the land eyed for the sports addition instead became the site of the $26 million, 80-bed Mount Carmel Behavioral Health hospital, which opened this spring. It's a joint venture of Columbus-based Mount Carmel Health System and Tennessee's Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/06/05/vacant-fort-rapids-site-hits-the-market-for-6-5.html
August 5, 20195 yr Author New area commission to oversee east-side development A newly formed area commission will oversee a collection of communities on the east side of Columbus. The new Mideast Civic Association approved by Columbus City Council will act as a liaison between neighborhood groups, property owners, residents, developers and city officials. The body will have 17 commissioners, appointed by the mayor and council and serving three-year volunteer terms. ( . . . ) The land is an irregular shape including big portions of the areas southeast of downtown and around I-70 and Route 33 including the Eastland Mall, stretching east to Big Walnut Park and north to a portion of the city running between Bexley and Whitehall. ... As with the city's 20 other area commissions, this one is charged with plans and policies that guide the future development of the area and reviewing capital improvements. It will also have a role in overseeing the development proposals in the area, particularly important around the Eastland Mall. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/30/new-area-commission-to-oversee-eastside.html
August 16, 20195 yr Author Residents hope new area commission helps boost Eastland Mall neighborhood Community leaders and residents hope the new Mideast Area Commission will give the 51,000 residents of that area of Columbus more clout with City Hall. They’d also like more say in how several corridors along the foundering Eastland Mall — including East Broad Street, East Main Street, Livingston Avenue and Hamilton Road — will be redeveloped. “Because these corridors cross so many neighborhoods, we wanted to be aware what was happening with other neighborhoods down along the way,” said Quay Barnes, who co-chaired the task force created to form the commission. One big concern for area leaders and residents is the future of the mall, which has four empty anchor stores. “Nobody wants it to go back to a traditional mall,” said Barnes, who is serving as interim chairwoman of the new commission. “Some housing and office space. That’s what we’re looking for.” ... The property owner is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and bought the 240,000-square-foot mall at auction in 2015 for $9.7 million. ... City officials have reached out to mall representatives, but they haven’t received much information about the mall’s future, said Steve Schoeny, the city’s development director. Meanwhile, the city plans to begin resurfacing Hamilton Road between Groves and Refugee roads, including the stretch alongside the mall, by early next year. The $15.2 million project includes sidewalks, new traffic signals and turn lanes at the Hamilton-Refugee intersection. MORE: https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20190814/residents-hope-new-area-commission-helps-boost-eastland-mall-neighborhood
September 15, 20204 yr LA developer proposes affordable housing, coworking for mothballed Fort Rapids – but no water park A developer under contract for the long-vacant Fort Rapids Water Park wants to convert the hotel into affordable workforce housing with a coworking space and on-site childcare. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/09/15/fort-rapids-affordable-housing-coworking-proposed.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 15, 20204 yr Fort Rapids suitor: 'No point in having vacant buildings when there’s a housing crisis' Here's more about the national ambitions of the developer seeking to remake vacant Fort Rapids into affordable housing without the use of government tax credits. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/09/15/more-on-repvblik-developer-with-fort-rapids-plan.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 15, 20204 yr I can't access the site without paying. Can someone tell me if they are just going to redevelop the highrise or is there going to be more development on the rest of the site? Edited September 15, 20204 yr by Toddguy
September 15, 20204 yr 29 minutes ago, Toddguy said: I can't access the site without paying. Can someone tell me if they are just going to redevelop the highrise or is there going to be more development on the rest of the site? They are redeveloping the high rise and conference area. They are removing the slides and water pumps from the water park area and may convert that into something else later on.
September 22, 20204 yr Author On 9/15/2020 at 5:03 PM, ColDayMan said: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/09/15/more-on-repvblik-developer-with-fort-rapids-plan.html [j/k] I can't express how disappointed I am that the multiple water slides - which look like giant spaghetti strands emanating from an otherwise normal looking building - are not going to be part of the potential co-working/housing future of Fort Rapids. Think of the innovative uses for the water slides in a future co-working space(!) [j/k] Anyway, here's a photo of the current Fort Rapids complex, from the above linked article, with the various buildings in the complex labeled:
March 21, 20214 yr Author Saraga International Grocery affiliate buys Eastland Sears store A real estate company affiliated with Saraga International Grocery has bought the former Sears store at Eastland Mall. IGWT Properties, registered to Saraga owner John Sung, paid $1.05 million for the 254,000-square-foot store and an adjacent parcel on Refugee Road. Together, the two properties total about 18 acres. Sung said he plans to seek rezoning for the property but offered few details on what he would like to do with the site. Saraga for two years has planned to open a third central Ohio store in the former Kohl's store on South Hamilton Road across from Eastland Mall. That store opening has been hampered by challenges with the city, said Sung without elaborating. "I'm sorry, I can't say anything about the Sears store's future or the Hamilton store's future right now," Sung said. MORE: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/03/19/could-eastland-mall-sears-store-become-saraga-grocery/4762770001/
November 1, 20213 yr Columbus plans to spend $1.525 million to buy land near Eastland Mall for park ”The city of Columbus plans to spend $1.525 million to buy 78 acres along a tributary of Big Walnut Creek just west of Eastland Mall for park land, an area of the city that has been wanting for park space for years. The city intends to purchase five parcels from Refugee Road Partners III Corp. LLC. The land is just north of Refugee Road and east of Kimberly Parkway West/ Old Courtright Road. Barnes said she hopes the park will help boost the land value of the mostly vacant Eastland Mall and nearby properties. She said a developer plans to build single-family homes near the park. Westall said it will take some time for the park to be developed — perhaps two to three years. But she is optimistic.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2021/11/01/eastland-mall-area-new-columbus-park-single-family-homes/8580907002/?utm_source=dispatch-Daily Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_term=list_article_thumb&utm_content=OHIO-COLUMBUS-NLETTER65
November 1, 20213 yr Should be nice. SE Side currently has fantastic parks due to lots of creeks, flood plains and lack of development and I bet this will be another one.
June 15, 20222 yr Eastland Mall Declared a Public Nuisance The Columbus City Attorney’s office formally declared the Eastland Mall as a public nuisance today, after months of neglect have yet to be remedied by the property owner. Citations against the mall include health and safety hazards such as inadequate lighting, parking lot repairs, structural building issues, and zoning violations. “The conditions at Eastland Mall are a hazard to the public and immediate action must be taken to bring the property into compliance, and that begins with property owners stepping up to make improvements,” stated City Attorney Zach Klein in a release issued today. “Eastland Mall is important to our east side communities, and we’re prepared to pursue every legal option to hold property owners accountable and ensure the site’s long-term economic health.” More below: https://columbusunderground.com/eastland-mall-declared-a-public-nuisance-we1/ "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 15, 20222 yr I saw a thing on the news how the garage owner in the old Sears Automotive building is the mall manager. Also R.I.P. Eastland Captain D's. Thank you for 40+ years of service.
June 15, 20222 yr Columbus obtains public nuisance order against Eastland Mall Eastland Mall’s code and maintenance issues have earned it the designation of public nuisance. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein this week announced the city has obtained a court order declaring that property a nuisance and mandating a series of improvements and fixes. This is the latest development in an issue that goes back to April 2021 when the city first filed a case against mall owners Eastland Mall Holdings LLC. Additional charges were filed earlier this year. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/06/15/columbus-obtains-public-nuisance-eastland-mall.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 16, 20222 yr Quote Eastland is the last mall operating from Columbus' trio of classic 1960s directionally named shopping malls. Northland was demolished in the early 2000s. I guess we're leaving out Southland because it got turned into a mall in the '70s.
June 16, 20222 yr Directions for Youth and Families starts construction of new Eastland community center “After a two-year delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Columbus-based nonprofit Directions for Youth and Families plan to open a new Eastland community center that city leaders say will increase economic stability for area residents. "This center will be part of the neighborhood revitalization," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginthertold Columbus Business First. The nonprofit has demolished its old center and is operating out of annex building on Kimberly Parkway. Thursday, the organization broke ground on its new home at 3840 Kimberly Parkway N. Directions for Youth and Families is one of the largest mental and behavioral counseling organizations in Central Ohio; the nonprofit also provides services that aim to increase access to food, medical services, housing stability, workforce development, educational support, after-school programming, kindergarten readiness and mental health services to support families.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/06/16/directions-for-youth-and-families-eastland-nonprof.html
December 28, 20222 yr Looks like Eastland Mall will close for good this week and be demolished for redevelopment... "Eastland Mall, an East Side landmark for more than five decades and once a shopping mecca for Greater Columbus residents, is shutting down at the end of this week, according to the Columbus city attorney's office. Beane said Eastland's owners plan to demolish the mall and are talking with city officials about how the site could be redeveloped." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/12/28/eastland-mall-in-columbus-ohio-to-close-this-week-ending-54-year-run/69762335007/
December 28, 20222 yr That's really too bad. There were a lot of unique and interesting local stores in there over the last decade or so. I was hoping they could somehow turn it around and thrive serving the diverse local and immigrant communities that have found a home in the surrounding neighborhoods Sadly I don't forsee any developers jumping at the site. And even if they did, we'd get a big box store and a Sheetz at best Edited December 28, 20222 yr by NW24HX
December 28, 20222 yr Crazy. I agree with you, @NW24HX, it’s too bad for the folks who had recently opened businesses there. I’d like to see it get a quick turn around, rather than sitting there to decay for decades.
December 29, 20222 yr I drove past there on the 270 side today and saw that they hadn't plowed much of the snow. I was still shopping for sneakers there in in 2021.
December 29, 20222 yr Also, you can only hope that there is money for demo since it will cost millions.
December 29, 20222 yr I’ve not quite been able to figure this Facebook account out. I’m pretty convinced it’s just fan art, and doesn’t have any official connection with the city, but it’s still interesting to imagine the possibilities for what could happen at Eastland, now that it’s officially closed.
December 29, 20222 yr 53 minutes ago, amped91 said: I’ve not quite been able to figure this Facebook account out. I’m pretty convinced it’s just fan art, and doesn’t have any official connection with the city, but it’s still interesting to imagine the possibilities for what could happen at Eastland, now that it’s officially closed. This would be perfect - maybe another level or two taller but this would be amazing. Try reverse searching the rendering online - it should tell you how serious this is.
December 29, 20222 yr 5 hours ago, amped91 said: I’ve not quite been able to figure this Facebook account out. I’m pretty convinced it’s just fan art, and doesn’t have any official connection with the city, but it’s still interesting to imagine the possibilities for what could happen at Eastland, now that it’s officially closed. It looks like they just raided several comprehensive plans for others cities (who probably had an agency that did the same thing for them but for $250,000 more), and slapped on some text fields with locale names. This would fit in nicely with all of the r/columbus mass transit maps.
December 29, 20222 yr Columbus' Eastland Mall closing, site could be redeveloped “Eastland Mall is set to close this weekend, and city officials say they want the site redeveloped for a different use. The owners of the mall plan to tear it down, The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday evening. The owners' attorney did not respond to a request for comment from Columbus Business First. “For decades, Eastland Mall served as an economic driving force for the city’s east side neighborhoods, and we look forward to the next chapter for this site that holds so much potential to create jobs, jumpstart businesses and expand housing," Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in an emailed statement. "The city will remain engaged with owners to bring the site into compliance, ensuring the property is safe and secure entering this next phase.” Columbus Development Director Michael Stevensearlier this year told Business First that the city is engaged in conversations about what the highest and best use for the mall site could be and the area around it.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/29/eastland-mall-closing.html
January 6, 20232 yr City to begin plan to revitalize Eastland Mall neighborhood "With Eastland Mall now closed, city and neighborhood leaders will begin focusing on a plan to revive the mall site and surrounding area. The Columbus City Council in December approved $300,000 for a contract with the Neighborhood Design Center to begin work on the Eastland plan. Carla Williams-Scott, director of the Columbus Department of Neighborhoods, said the boundaries of the planning area should be defined by the end of the month. She said officials will be speaking with members of the Mid-East, Greater South East and Far East area commissions about ideas. Ideas for the mall site have included housing, retail and a fitness facility. The site is privately owned. Eastland Mall Holdings LLC of New Orleans bought the mall for $9.7 million in 2015, so any redevelopment discussions would have to go through it. Quay Barnes, who leads the Mid-East Area Commission, said she hopes the mall site can be redeveloped into something that will bring young professionals into the area, including housing, retail, restaurants, medical services training, a fitness center and social services. Any plan should also look at ideas for transforming the area near Refugee and Brice roads. Jennifer Chamberlain, who leads the Far East Area Commission, said a landmark sports complex and community center on the mall site would help the entire area." https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/01/06/city-to-begin-process-of-revitalizing-eastland-mall-area/69772797007/
March 6, 20232 yr The City just put out an RFP for a comprehensive plan for the Eastland area: ”A. PURPOSE The City of Columbus (“City”) Department of Neighborhoods is seeking well-qualified individuals, firms, or teams (Proposer) to develop a comprehensive community plan for the Eastland area of Columbus, Ohio. The plan will become the strategy for the stabilization and improvement of the Eastland area and serve as a framework for future development. The Scope of Work described within the RFP is for a maximum of $850,000, depending on the final negotiated contract. The City intends to select one project team to conduct the entire Scope of Work, but may elect to divide the work into multiple sequential contracts. B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The overall project goal is to develop a comprehensive community plan for the Eastland Area. This contract is to engage Eastland area stakeholders including, but not limited to, residents, businesses, workers, area commissions, faith-institutions and other organizations in order to develop a comprehensive community plan to guide future development of the Eastland area. The robust engagement process should incorporate strategies for engaging communities that are most often underrepresented in decision-making processes, including Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), people with limited English language proficiency, youth, people with limited access to technology, and those who have experienced housing and/or food instability. Additionally, the selected team will build partnerships, develop and distribute project communications. This work will be conducted in collaboration with a technical team that will be conducting analysis for the comprehensive community plan. The results of the technical studies will allow for an informed engagement process.” Link to the full document: https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHCCC/2023/03/03/file_attachments/2427145/Eastland RFP_FINAL3.1.23.pdf
March 7, 20232 yr Columbus Seeking Proposals for Eastland Community Plan The City of Columbus is seeking qualified planners to submit proposals for the creation of a new community plan for the former Eastland Mall and surrounding area. According to the Request for Proposals (RFP), the plan will serve as “the strategy for the stabilization and improvement of the area”. The firm chosen to complete the work is expected to engage with a wide variety of community groups, residents, businesses and stakeholders. The creation of a communications and media plan is required, in addition the completion of the community plan. More below: https://columbusunderground.com/columbus-seeking-proposals-for-eastland-community-plan-we1/ "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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