September 20, 20231 yr The permit appears to indicate that the building height will be 456 ft. Is that accurate? If so, that’s much bigger than I had originally thought.
September 20, 20231 yr 7 minutes ago, Mogilny89 said: The permit appears to indicate that the building height will be 456 ft. Is that accurate? If so, that’s much bigger than I had originally thought. I took that as the crane height?
September 20, 20231 yr 12 minutes ago, Mogilny89 said: The permit appears to indicate that the building height will be 456 ft. Is that accurate? If so, that’s much bigger than I had originally thought. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/the-merchant-building/45406 This is older, since it says 31 stories and I believe it’s 32 now, but it says it is 368 ft high at 31 stories. Still seems that a crane almost 100 feet higher wouldn’t be needed, but could mean there will only be one set up that can reach all over. I don’t know how any of that works, just my uneducated guess. Edited September 20, 20231 yr by VintageLife
September 20, 20231 yr 2 hours ago, KyleofColumbus said: Not sure if anyone has any insight, but will there be more than one tower crane? This request seems to indicate there will be more than one, so there might be one that sticks around until the lower portion tops out and then another that sticks around until the taller portion is finished. On a side note, this crane will apparently be exactly as tall as the AEP tower once it reaches its final height.
September 20, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, VintageLife said: https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/the-merchant-building/45406 This is older, since it says 31 stories and I believe it’s 32 now, but it says it is 368 ft high at 31 stories. Still seems that a crane almost 100 feet higher wouldn’t be needed, but could mean there will only be one set up that can reach all over. I don’t know how any of that works, just my uneducated guess. It also depends on the type of tower crane. If it's a lufting tower crane, like the ones used at the WMC expansion, the end of the boom can extend way above the final height of the tower. The WMC cranes reached 600' feet when the boom was as vertical as possible, based on their requests.
September 20, 20231 yr 3 hours ago, cbussoccer said: I wouldn't expect to see a tower crane on October 5th. Those dates are often wildly inaccurate. It's a buffer I bet.
September 27, 20231 yr On 9/20/2023 at 11:36 AM, VintageLife said: https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/the-merchant-building/45406 This is older, since it says 31 stories and I believe it’s 32 now, but it says it is 368 ft high at 31 stories. Still seems that a crane almost 100 feet higher wouldn’t be needed, but could mean there will only be one set up that can reach all over. I don’t know how any of that works, just my uneducated guess. So it's been about a year and a half since we discovered this (back on page 10 of this thread), but the application with FAA for the actual tower was filed about a year and a half ago and it listed the tower's height at 382'. Now that the WCM tower has topped out, presumably at 411', Merchant tower would become the 12th tallest building in Columbus with Three Nationwide Plaza at number 11 (408' tall) and WMC at number 10.
September 28, 20231 yr 3 minutes ago, BostickInsuranceAAA said: Do you know if they will be putting up a webcam for us to watch the progress? We might have to emulate what they are doing over in the Cleveland forum for the Sherwin Williams HQ and have multiple people upload multiple photos everyday. It's going to need to be a group effort!
September 28, 20231 yr 43 minutes ago, TIm said: We might have to emulate what they are doing over in the Cleveland forum for the Sherwin Williams HQ and have multiple people upload multiple photos everyday. It's going to need to be a group effort! Meh, this thread would already be at 90 pages pre-ground breaking if that were the case lol
September 28, 20231 yr Looking at that last image, I would love it if those building owners redid the back of those old buildings. I know that alley won’t be much, but would look cool, and would be some cool space for some outdoor dining.
September 29, 20231 yr There was a long line of dump trucks on High St and on Spruce St. this morning ready to haul off dirt.
September 29, 20231 yr 45 minutes ago, PrestoKinetic said: Can't wait until this Dirt Lot becomes a Metropolitan Tower! Post daily photo updates of this tower and you'll be at Rhodes Tower in no-time! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 10, 20231 yr 7 hours ago, CbusOrBust said: A few minutes ago at the North Market I'd say we're still 2-3 months away from a crane though...
October 19, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, Mogilny89 said: Are they taking down the power lines on this section of Vine st? I’m pretty sure all the lines will be buried in this area.
October 26, 20231 yr "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 26, 20231 yr Bring on the action! Going to be a lot more weekday lunches at North Market for me haha.
October 26, 20231 yr 39 minutes ago, TIm said: Bring on the action! Going to be a lot more weekday lunches at North Market for me haha. Not a bad idea, not only for status updates but to support the business in the market during the construction period. Columbus people seem to avoid any minor parking/road inconvenience like the plague, resulting in a lot of hardship to the businesses trying to make it through.
October 26, 20231 yr Quote Has there been any actual "ground breaking" from a ceremonial standpoint? Also has there been any timeline released?
October 26, 20231 yr 8 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Not a bad idea, not only for status updates but to support the business in the market during the construction period. Columbus people seem to avoid any minor parking/road inconvenience like the plague, resulting in a lot of hardship to the businesses trying to make it through. From what I have seen, going to north market and read, north market has actually stayed busy if not busier than normal.
October 26, 20231 yr 21 minutes ago, VintageLife said: From what I have seen, going to north market and read, north market has actually stayed busy if not busier than normal. They'll hopefully also get a good amount of support from the construction tradespeople during the course of construction (and maybe at times other than the typical lunch rush). I got the feeling the Hilton 2.0 workers kept the convention center food court businesses afloat through COVID.
October 26, 20231 yr Yeah the North Market is always busy, new places are opening up in there places aren't shutting down or anything. Plus you can park in the Vine garage if you don't like street parking and they'll validate it in the North Market.
October 26, 20231 yr 18 minutes ago, TIm said: Yeah the North Market is always busy, new places are opening up in there places aren't shutting down or anything. Plus you can park in the Vine garage if you don't like street parking and they'll validate it in the North Market. I’m so excited for the new space for more vendors also. Would love it to have a few more actual market type vendors, but that is just hard to do now.
October 26, 20231 yr Just now, VintageLife said: I’m so excited for the new space for more vendors also. Would love it to have a few more actual market type vendors, but that is just hard to do now. Fully agree. Stop in for a nice lunch and then do a bit of shopping and leave with some cool local stuff. Sounds like a good time to me!
October 26, 20231 yr Side note: What about a light rail/underground rail that takes passengers directly from the airport to the Hilton/Convention center downtown (like a high-speed shuttle) for conferences and such. Also would help increase activity in this area through dumping a lot of people here and in the AD. I think if we get another hotel at the other end of the AD near the Crew stadium we'd see more pedestrian activity and connectivity there.
October 26, 20231 yr 14 minutes ago, columbus17 said: Side note: What about a light rail/underground rail that takes passengers directly from the airport to the Hilton/Convention center downtown (like a high-speed shuttle) for conferences and such. Also would help increase activity in this area through dumping a lot of people here and in the AD. I think if we get another hotel at the other end of the AD near the Crew stadium we'd see more pedestrian activity and connectivity there. It would be nice if they could use the existing Columbus and Ohio River line that runs from the convention center to the south side of the airport, though with the frequency required for a shuttle-style rail service, that's probably not feasible without taking over the line.
October 26, 20231 yr 10 minutes ago, PizzaScissors said: It would be nice if they could use the existing Columbus and Ohio River line that runs from the convention center to the south side of the airport, though with the frequency required for a shuttle-style rail service, that's probably not feasible without taking over the line. Take it over!! Might be enough space to add a light rail line by itself along it. That would be the best option. I get it won’t happen, because money and no vision for it.
October 26, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, VintageLife said: Take it over!! Might be enough space to add a light rail line by itself along it. That would be the best option. I get it won’t happen, because money and no vision for it. Money is easily there. So much money for alt transportation according to those who go after it.
October 26, 20231 yr 1 minute ago, columbus17 said: Money is easily there. So much money for alt transportation according to those who go after it. So just not enough ambition?
October 26, 20231 yr I miss the good old days of satirical cartoons of the barons of old. I feel like the names have gone away so most people don't realize how much control fossil fuels, rail, and auto have over this country from a local to national level. It's not ambition. It's control. Many of our solutions are easy. Many people have ambitous ideas. City leaders. Think tanks etc. And perhaps the money exists. But wrestling control from the titans of industry for something as common sense as a rail line? It's only been on city and county leaders' minds for roughly 40 years.
October 26, 20231 yr 2 hours ago, DTCL11 said: I miss the good old days of satirical cartoons of the barons of old. I feel like the names have gone away so most people don't realize how much control fossil fuels, rail, and auto have over this country from a local to national level. It's not ambition. It's control. Many of our solutions are easy. Many people have ambitous ideas. City leaders. Think tanks etc. And perhaps the money exists. But wrestling control from the titans of industry for something as common sense as a rail line? It's only been on city and county leaders' minds for roughly 40 years. The "fossil fuel" of oil will not run out, nor will that industry ever shutter or lose business. This is simply an alternative form of transportation. Biggest thing is the unknown - until someone takes the risk and implements an unproven idea it will not get done. That is what is holding projects like these back. No one knows how light rail would be utilized here because it does not exist. As far as the other one already in the works, you have Bexley to thank for that. (Though Whitehall does need A LOT of work so I do understand some of their complaints)
October 27, 20231 yr 6 hours ago, VintageLife said: So just not enough ambition? Columbus leadership has been absolutely terrible on this, bumbling its way from one useless study to another. They've probably spent enough on studies over the decades to have paid for 2-3 rail lines alone.
October 27, 20231 yr 1 hour ago, columbus17 said: The "fossil fuel" of oil will not run out, nor will that industry ever shutter or lose business. This is simply an alternative form of transportation. Biggest thing is the unknown - until someone takes the risk and implements an unproven idea it will not get done. That is what is holding projects like these back. No one knows how light rail would be utilized here because it does not exist. As far as the other one already in the works, you have Bexley to thank for that. (Though Whitehall does need A LOT of work so I do understand some of their complaints) Sorry, what other one?
October 27, 20231 yr 2 hours ago, columbus17 said: The "fossil fuel" of oil will not run out, nor will that industry ever shutter or lose business. This is simply an alternative form of transportation. Biggest thing is the unknown - until someone takes the risk and implements an unproven idea it will not get done. That is what is holding projects like these back. I return to who pulls the levers. We dont see it but indeed the fossil fuel industry, car industry, and rail industry have entire lobbies and studies and campaigns that have had a grip on American opinion and policy for a century. Rail doesn't want alternative transportation to interfere with its money maker, freight. Fossil fuels and auto makers don't want alternative transportion methods. So yeah, that's what holds us back in the grand scheme of things. Has nothing to do with being untested. Lack of funds. Or ambition. It's all in how the American mindset and policy has been cultivated for 100 years. They are so ingrained into the population and policy, we get to say 'well, its because we havent had it here'. Rail and streetcar transportion was a tried and true and tested technology in this country and Columbus and now we are having to reinvent, beg, and fight to get it back. And even in those places where it's still tested, those big 3 still work hard behind the scenes to block expansions or policy prevents it. Specifically here, the city has brought this up for 40 years. The railways say no way to sharing every time. Eminent domain is likely to be unsuccessful. Acquiring or sharing right of way with 670 and or any other state route is to be blocked by the state. The state itself is prohibited from creating a transit authority without new legislation. Need a levy passed? Wait for the lobbies and opposition that tank almost every voted rail project. Need federal funds? You have to pay half, but to do that, you usually need the levy. So no passed levy, no federal funds. The institutional road blocks are far greater than 'someone just needs to take a chance'... and they have been designed that way at the behest of said big 3. Heck, the US hasn't been able to enforce passenger rail right of way laws since it was passed because the freight rail lobby is too powerful, and now the freight trains are too long for their own pull offs. Anyway. It's more than someone needs to just take a chance on an untested idea here.
October 30, 20231 yr 3 minutes ago, Kriegs said: Noooo why did they get rid of the rooftop signage :( Idk if they will get rid of it. It just says no signage or rooftop equipment proposed at this time. Might be just something they haven’t fully decided on yet.
October 30, 20231 yr No more green roof, fewer trees, smaller windows in the first area of change, and a smaller fireplace. Some changes here are good, but the commission should not let these ones pass.
October 30, 20231 yr 11 minutes ago, columbus17 said: No more green roof, fewer trees, smaller windows in the first area of change, and a smaller fireplace. Some changes here are good, but the commission should not let these ones pass. Yeah the green roof shouldn’t be axed at all. That is a must keep, especially with the city throwing in more money than originally planned. The smaller windows don’t seem terrible with the addition of the second floor ones, but shouldn’t be changed. The fireplace in the new one I actually like more.
October 30, 20231 yr What was the point of the green roof in the first place? Was it going to be publicly accessible? If not, it's disappointing that it's not in the plans but it's not a massive loss in my opinion.
October 30, 20231 yr Is the Vine Street side of the garage going to be fully screened now? Conveniently, that's the view they show us the least yet the one I'm most concerned about based on what we've seen previously Edit to add: previous rendering Edited October 30, 20231 yr by NW24HX
October 30, 20231 yr 14 minutes ago, NW24HX said: Is the Vine Street side of the garage going to be fully screened now? Conveniently, that's the view they show us the least yet the one I'm most concerned about based on what we've seen previously Edit to add: previous rendering I don’t think that has changed. It doesn’t look great but it’s across the street from another parking garage, so it’s not that big of a miss. If it was apartments or a hotel, it would probably have been covered.
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