On 10/5/2022 at 8:43 AM, CbusOrBust said:

 

I was on Neilston late last night and a couple of the windows at 225 were left uncovered, so i snatched a few pics of the progress being made at The Kee

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s an update on the opening timeline for The Kee. I’m really looking forward to both this and the Jackie I’d patio openings. 
 

The Kee, new Warehouse District event center, eyes March opening

 

 

“Columbus' Warehouse District will soon be home to a unique event center focused on the arts, sports, music and other entertainment. 

 

New York-based Center Square has leased a 33,000-square-foot building at 225 Neilston St., which formerly housed the Ohio Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics. Center Square is turning the building into a destination space called The Kee, which it plans to open in late March. 

 

The Kee will be an indoor-outdoor event venue with a restaurant, three separate bars and a lineup of games, including three multi-sport simulators. Transforming the building is a $5.5 million project, funded by Center Square and building owner Hackman Capital Partners.

 

Morgenstern said that about half of the floor plate is dedicated to the arts, and the hope is that people who come to The Kee engage with both the arts and the "mainstream" entertainment options, like cornhole, giant Jenga or arcade games.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/06/the-kee-warehouse-district.html

I completely forgot about that one.

9 hours ago, amped91 said:

Here’s an update on the opening timeline for The Kee. I’m really looking forward to both this and the Jackie I’d patio openings. 
 

The Kee, new Warehouse District event center, eyes March opening

 

 

“Columbus' Warehouse District will soon be home to a unique event center focused on the arts, sports, music and other entertainment. 

 

New York-based Center Square has leased a 33,000-square-foot building at 225 Neilston St., which formerly housed the Ohio Department of Health's Office of Vital Statistics. Center Square is turning the building into a destination space called The Kee, which it plans to open in late March. 

 

The Kee will be an indoor-outdoor event venue with a restaurant, three separate bars and a lineup of games, including three multi-sport simulators. Transforming the building is a $5.5 million project, funded by Center Square and building owner Hackman Capital Partners.

 

Morgenstern said that about half of the floor plate is dedicated to the arts, and the hope is that people who come to The Kee engage with both the arts and the "mainstream" entertainment options, like cornhole, giant Jenga or arcade games.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/12/06/the-kee-warehouse-district.html

Really hope this succeeds but I always get nervous with businesses like this that kind of feels like a master of none. Will also be tough in an area with not much else around it but hopefully they kill it and spark something in that area.

8 hours ago, 614love said:

Really hope this succeeds but I always get nervous with businesses like this that kind of feels like a master of none. Will also be tough in an area with not much else around it but hopefully they kill it and spark something in that area.

I think if it was a smaller new owner, I would worry more. It makes me feel better that it is a bigger company that operates other venues. 

9 hours ago, 614love said:

Really hope this succeeds but I always get nervous with businesses like this that kind of feels like a master of none. Will also be tough in an area with not much else around it but hopefully they kill it and spark something in that area.

There’s quite a bit within walking distance—Wolf’s Ridge, Pins, Holy Trinity, etc—but I get what you mean, with this center not having great visibility. Hopefully it’s marketed well; I’d like to see it do well since I’d love to see this corner of downtown further developed. 

View of Topiary Park Crossing from Rich St:

 

 

Topiary Park Crossing

 

 

 

2 hours ago, CbusOrBust said:

 

Topiary Park Crossing

 

 

 

That project is moving quick! Hopefully more to come.

On 11/20/2022 at 12:28 PM, CbusOrBust said:

 

Jackie O's

 

 

 

 

 

That wall looks like Highpoint on the Commons and a highway sound barrier had a baby. 

56 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

 

That wall looks like Highpoint on the Commons and a highway sound barrier had a baby. 

The renderings do show that it will have a mural of some kind, so hopefully that happens hahaha

I know some folks aren’t fans of the aesthetics of this project, but I’m thrilled to see the Jaycee Arms expansion is moving forward. Over 100 more affordable housing units downtown and less surface parking is a win in my book.

 

Hopefully this is one of multiple new construction projects we’ll see get started Downtown this year. 
 

Jaycee Arms apartment project lands necessary funding to start on second $33M phase

 

 

“Affording housing nonprofit NCJC Housing & Development Foundation and Sunset Development Co. have landed the necessary funding to start construction on a [120]-unit downtown apartment project. The $33.5 million addition will add 120 units to the existing Jaycee Arms Apartments development at 266 E. Main St. The existing apartments have 223 units of rent-subsidized apartments for seniors.
 

This project was one of the 22 projects awarded funding through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's latest gap financing round. The project was also awarded grant funding from Columbus' Department of Development Rental Housing Program and the Franklin County’s Affordable Housing Magnet Program. 
 

The new units would be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units of affordable workforce housing, spread across two five-story buildings. There are also plans for covered parking and about 10,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

 

The developers hope to attract commercial tenants for both the multifamily and senior tenants, like a small grocer, restaurant or pharmacy. The developers have already started planning for a third phase, which would include a five-story building with community event space, a workforce training center and 18 market-rate apartments.“

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/03/jaycee-arms.html

5 hours ago, amped91 said:

I know some folks aren’t fans of the aesthetics of this project, but I’m thrilled to see the Jaycee Arms expansion is moving forward. Over 100 more affordable housing units downtown and less surface parking is a win in my book.

 

Hopefully this is one of multiple new construction projects we’ll see get started Downtown this year. 
 

Jaycee Arms apartment project lands necessary funding to start on second $33M phase

 

 

“Affording housing nonprofit NCJC Housing & Development Foundation and Sunset Development Co. have landed the necessary funding to start construction on a [120]-unit downtown apartment project. The $33.5 million addition will add 120 units to the existing Jaycee Arms Apartments development at 266 E. Main St. The existing apartments have 223 units of rent-subsidized apartments for seniors.
 

This project was one of the 22 projects awarded funding through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency's latest gap financing round. The project was also awarded grant funding from Columbus' Department of Development Rental Housing Program and the Franklin County’s Affordable Housing Magnet Program. 
 

The new units would be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units of affordable workforce housing, spread across two five-story buildings. There are also plans for covered parking and about 10,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

 

The developers hope to attract commercial tenants for both the multifamily and senior tenants, like a small grocer, restaurant or pharmacy. The developers have already started planning for a third phase, which would include a five-story building with community event space, a workforce training center and 18 market-rate apartments.“

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/03/jaycee-arms.html

Might not add much, but I really like how the corner of the building is cut out a bit and not just a big box so you can actually step under there to avoid the elements.

13 story Broad St tower as viewed from Long St. 

 

 

Topiary Park Crossing

 

 

 

 

 

195 E. Broad 

 

 

 

 

Not sure we ever shared it here but the developer put out a detailed video of the building some time ago. 

 

 

31 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Not sure we ever shared it here but the developer put out a detailed video of the building some time ago. 

 

 

It does not do a good job of explaining why the building is so bad hahahaha 

I actually think it does a good job of confirming what some have though here in that they decided to pick up on the modernist architecture that dominates that section of downtown. Just not sure that paying homage to the worst elements of 70s and 80s architecture is the right choice. Lol. I love how they use the PNC plaza atrium as reference when they were slated for demolition before the video was even produced. And the video gives some clear evidence their intent was to mirror the parking garage to the south. Kind of crazy to me they put that much thought into something so... this. 

Columbus State to begin construction soon on new $3.5 million childcare center
 

“Columbus State Community College is ready to begin construction of a $3.5 million childcare center, a little more than year after initially teasing the project.

 

"This is one of the first projects out of the gate as part of our $300 million bond issue supported by Franklin County voters," Rebecca Butler, Columbus State executive vice president, told Columbus Business First. "The primary reason this (is a priority)... was because we know not only through our own students but (also) what the neighborhood and community are experiencing, access to childcare is in crisis in our community. We wanted to be part of the solution for that."

 

The childcare center will be located on the college's downtown campus, adjacent to the Center for Workforce Development building, near Grove Street and Cleveland Avenue.

 

It will have the capacity for nearly 100 children of Columbus State students and employees, as well as other parents in the community. There will be six classrooms, two large multipurpose rooms and an outdoor play area.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/25/columbus-state-new-campus-childcare-center.html

2 hours ago, amped91 said:

Columbus State to begin construction soon on new $3.5 million childcare center
 

“Columbus State Community College is ready to begin construction of a $3.5 million childcare center, a little more than year after initially teasing the project.

 

"This is one of the first projects out of the gate as part of our $300 million bond issue supported by Franklin County voters," Rebecca Butler, Columbus State executive vice president, told Columbus Business First. "The primary reason this (is a priority)... was because we know not only through our own students but (also) what the neighborhood and community are experiencing, access to childcare is in crisis in our community. We wanted to be part of the solution for that."

 

The childcare center will be located on the college's downtown campus, adjacent to the Center for Workforce Development building, near Grove Street and Cleveland Avenue.

 

It will have the capacity for nearly 100 children of Columbus State students and employees, as well as other parents in the community. There will be six classrooms, two large multipurpose rooms and an outdoor play area.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/25/columbus-state-new-campus-childcare-center.html

Wish it was a mixed use project. Seems like a waste of space for just a childcare center, even though that is a great addition and is needed 

Got a few pics of the Residences at Topiary Park on my walk today

 

 

 

195 E Broad, filling in the streetwall! 

I would love if the OEA eventually gets redeveloped. Tearing down the original Wendy’s to replace it with that trash building. 

3 hours ago, FudgeRounds said:

195 E Broad, filling in the streetwall! 

Such a terribly designed building. 

Yeah, I have tried so hard to see some kind of design in this building and it just isn't there.

 

I need the commissions to stop complaining about height and density and start caring about architecture... this should have had pushback. I refuse to accept they designed a building to match a parking garage and just nobody on that commission cared to question it. 

 

AND WHY IS THE ELEVATOR CORE ON BRAOD ST. Sorry, the longer I look the more maddening it becomes. 

Edited February 3, 20232 yr by DevolsDance

I like the OEA building! It's a nice mid-century modern building the ties in nicely with Chase, Key Bank and the Renaissance. Too bad the Christopher Inn is gone.

20 minutes ago, Pablo said:

I like the OEA building! It's a nice mid-century modern building the ties in nicely with Chase, Key Bank and the Renaissance. Too bad the Christopher Inn is gone.

I’m sad that we haven’t heard anything else about a new Christopher Inn. I remember the architect saying he had planned on building a new version. That was in 2020 before the pandemic and nothing since. 

Well I did just find this. Don’t know what all it means, but it was 2021 so a year after the article. 
 

 

5 hours ago, VintageLife said:

I would love if the OEA eventually gets redeveloped. Tearing down the original Wendy’s to replace it with that trash building. 

 

The original Wendy's is still standing across the street, it's just been utterly defaced by the Catholic church 😒

 

Such a shame losing that (in 2007) just before modern social media came about. It was really cool inside right until the end, kind of a company museum that very much played up it's special status as the first in the world

 

edit to add:

http://oldcosi.com/wendys.htm

http://oldcosi.com/rightwendys.htm

http://oldcosi.com/leftwendys.htm

 

Edited February 3, 20232 yr by NW24HX

3 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

 

The original Wendy's is still standing across the street, it's just been utterly defaced by the Catholic church 😒

 

Such a shame losing that (in 2007) just before modern social media came about. It was really cool inside right until the end, kind of a company museum that very much played up it's special status as the first in the world

 

The brick building? 

I bet it was 30-minute lunches that killed it. They probably would have gotten rid of it a few years later anyway since it didn't have a drive-thru. Or "Pickup Window" in Wendy's parlance 

3 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

The brick building? 

 

This is the building today, https://goo.gl/maps/v7wZ5T9mspFaGnAT6

 

vs 2009 after it was already closed, https://goo.gl/maps/zRkN25cyygvKjUzp8

 

It's had a pretty comprehensive gothic style botched facelift so it's virtually unreconizable

 

But there is a state historic plaque out front at least 🙄

 

Edited February 3, 20232 yr by NW24HX

2 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

 

This is the building today, https://goo.gl/maps/v7wZ5T9mspFaGnAT6

 

vs 2009 after it was already closed, https://goo.gl/maps/zRkN25cyygvKjUzp8

 

 

Here's what the building looked like when Wendy's was still open.

 

 

I'd say it looks a heck of a lot better now. 

3 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

 

This is the building today, https://goo.gl/maps/v7wZ5T9mspFaGnAT6

 

vs 2009 after it was already closed, https://goo.gl/maps/zRkN25cyygvKjUzp8

 

I honestly think it looks better now, but as a historical location, it would have been better as it was and redone. Pretty crappy of Wendy’s to act like it couldn’t afford the renovations needed. Turn it into a museum and people would visit. 

17 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Here's what the building looked like when Wendy's was still open.

 

 

I'd say it looks a heck of a lot better now. 

Disagree - it looks boring. I think his could've been a cool "retro" spot if the interior was redone.

I loved the original Wendy's. It was such an iconic piece of local history. As mentioned, the interior was decked out in all sorts of restaurant history. The whole place was like a time capsule. Such a shame to have lost it and the classic exterior to faux-cathedral design there now. Ironically, the building still houses historical pieces, but of Catholic art and relics. There's some really cool stuff in there now to be sure, but it's a shame Wendy's and the city couldn't work something out to keep the location open. Lord knows there are plenty of other parcels close to St. Joseph's that the diocese could've used to house and display their pieces. 

It was a strip mall in downtown. I love Wendy's history as much as the next person and LOVE the crown but I do not lament the loss of a building that looks like anything built along Morse or Bethel Road in the same time period.  Should that catholic rebuild been better and street front, yes. But I still don't think the original should have been preserved per se unless part of a bigger infill. 

Edited February 4, 20232 yr by DTCL11

1 hour ago, DTCL11 said:

It was a strip mall in downtown. I love Wendy's history as much as the next person and LOVE the crown but I do not lament the loss of a building that looks like anything built along Morse or Bethel Road in the same time period.  Should that catholic rebuild been better and street front, yes. But I still don't think the original should have been preserved per se unless part of a bigger infill. 

 

It was a public-facing active retail use in addition to a fun historical curiosity / nostalgia trip

 

Now it's been half converted to a ground floor parking garage and the other half is a private office with some religious displays. That's a pretty significant net loss IMO

 

Even assuming that Wendy's would have closed anyway, I would argue the catholics should have consolidated those other functions either into their existing office building on Gay St (which is also completely dead at street level) or as part of a new build on the large surface parking lot they own at 5th and Gay

 

That would have at least allowed the opportunity for this parcel to be properly redeveloped, the chances of which happening now are virtually zero

 

Edited February 4, 20232 yr by NW24HX

45 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

 

It was a public-facing active retail use in addition to a fun historical curiosity / nostalgia trip

 

Now it's been half converted to a ground floor parking garage and the other half is a private office with some religious displays. That's a pretty significant net loss IMO

 

Even assuming that Wendy's would have closed anyway, I would argue the catholics should have consolidated those other functions either into their existing office building on Gay St (which is also completely dead at street level) or as part of a new build on the large surface parking lot they own at 5th and Gay

 

That would have at least allowed the opportunity for this parcel to be properly redeveloped, the chances of which happening now are virtually zero

 

They will never develop that lot. Even if all their congregation could walk there, it's the parish seat of the Diocese of Columbus. The lot is highly valuable to them.

 

It is not "a private office with some religious displays."  It's a public Museum of Catholic Art and History with the largest diversified collection of Catholic art in the U.S.

reading all this stuff about the original Wendy's took me back to the time (now almost 50 years ago--I'm old) when I had a friend at CCAD and we would walk around this area (and having dined at said Wendy's many times, as well as the legendary--now gone--Jong Mea Chinese restaurant in the other direction https://lanifogblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/jong-mea-june-1982.html), so I took streetview to Washington Ave. and was surprised to see how much has changed. While it's great (I guess) that CCAD has expanded so much, I was perplexed that I couldn't find the location of the building in which my friend lived, part of the campus. That's because apparently it was demolished! The apartment was in a charming, intimate collection of old buildings facing a small courtyard with the address of Hutton Place. It's sad that an institution dedicated to the arts would do that 

 

https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll115/id/1194/

 

3 hours ago, aderwent said:

They will never develop that lot. Even if all their congregation could walk there, it's the parish seat of the Diocese of Columbus. The lot is highly valuable to them.

 

It is not "a private office with some religious displays."  It's a public Museum of Catholic Art and History with the largest diversified collection of Catholic art in the U.S.

That's a museum?!? It looks so depressing though...

8 hours ago, aderwent said:

They will never develop that lot. Even if all their congregation could walk there, it's the parish seat of the Diocese of Columbus. The lot is highly valuable to them.

 

It is not "a private office with some religious displays."  It's a public Museum of Catholic Art and History with the largest diversified collection of Catholic art in the U.S.

 

Structured parking could be a part of any redevelopment of that lot, although I am in agreement with you that they will never develop it 

 

And it is largely a private office for the Catholic foundation, featuring a paid exhibit of religious artifacts occupying about 30% of the space of the former Wendy's restaurant (the remainder being converted into parking) the number of public visitors to which I wager on most days could be counted on a single hand

 

Edited February 5, 20232 yr by NW24HX

The Standard Building is looking handsome with its facelift, including new windows. 
 

 

A touch of color on Vera. 
 

 

And the turret has been installed. 
 

We could be seeing more movement and details on the fourth phase of Library Park in the near future. A PSCP submitted to the city today from Pizzuti. 
 

 

 

Couple more of Vera

(from Broad looking north on Grant)

 

 

 

This may turn out not to be anything exciting, but I’m posting it here just in case. 
 

Last October when it was announced that Telhio would be moving their headquarters from the building they owned on N Fourth Street into the Peninsula office building, it was mentioned they would be selling their property for redevelopment. 
 

Quote

The sale of Telhio's old headquarters is pending to an undisclosed buyer who plans to redevelop the property, Bailey said. Although the credit union gives up its only downtown drive-thru, he said, the move is worth it.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/20/peninsula-lands-another-tenant.html
 

Now, according to the Franklin County auditor’s website, the parcels of land that Telhio formerly owned sold in November to “Bombulum Columbus LLC.”

 

 

And according to multiple online databases, Bombulum is an entity associated with Central Outreach Wellness, a health center for LGBT patients. 
 

 

COW appears to be based in PA, and it just entered the Cbus market last August, opening a clinic at 2680 W Broad, on the Hilltop. 
 

https://www.centraloutreach.com/location/columbus-oh-43204

 

They could just be setting up a downtown clinic, but I wonder if there’s a chance they could be setting up an HQ of sorts here or, even better, creating some LGBT-friendly housing, similar to the Garden/Stonewall proposal in the SN?

59 minutes ago, amped91 said:

This may turn out not to be anything exciting, but I’m posting it here just in case. 
 

Last October when it was announced that Telhio would be moving their headquarters from the building they owned on N Fourth Street into the Peninsula office building, it was mentioned they would be selling their property for redevelopment. 
 

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/20/peninsula-lands-another-tenant.html
 

Now, according to the Franklin County auditor’s website, the parcels of land that Telhio formerly owned sold in November to “Bombulum Columbus LLC.”

 

 

And according to multiple online databases, Bombulum is an entity associated with Central Outreach Wellness, a health center for LGBT patients. 
 

 

COW appears to be based in PA, and it just entered the Cbus market last August, opening a clinic at 2680 W Broad, on the Hilltop. 
 

https://www.centraloutreach.com/location/columbus-oh-43204

 

They could just be setting up a downtown clinic, but I wonder if there’s a chance they could be setting up an HQ of sorts here or, even better, creating some LGBT-friendly housing, similar to the Garden/Stonewall proposal in the SN?

This is great, but sadly this also means the building will stay as is. I guess if it was replaced with anything, this is a good option. 

33 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

This is great, but sadly this also means the building will stay as is. I guess if it was replaced with anything, this is a good option. 

That’s what I’m guessing is most likely. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed it’ll be replaced by a 10+ story tower lol

Bombulum, eh? Interesting choice of LLC name. 

 

https://worldofdictionary.com/dict/latin-english/meaning/bombulum