January 19, 20223 yr 17 minutes ago, VintageLife said: I sent an email to the downtown commission about this not being approved. I received an email back stating this is just a request for a demo. I am not sure why they included a rendering of a new building. Here is the response “Thank you for the email. I always appreciate emails requesting additional height and density, and am happy to pass them along to the commission. I also share you concerns, and have conveyed them to the applicant for the last several months. However, this case isn't considering that building. They are only coming forward to demolish the existing building. The applicant states that they are having difficulty marketing the parcel with the current building on-site, and therefore wish to demolish the building. If you read the staff report, you can see that Planning does not support this proposal.” Just wondering what your objections to this being built are. Not trying to be a D at all just trying to learn why the new building would be a bad idea based off what is currently there. Sometimes I get in the mindset of “bring all new development on no matter what” so I’m trying to break out of that when necessary. I do actually like the look of the new building but I wish it was closer to doubled in height with some ground floor retail.
January 19, 20223 yr 1 minute ago, 614love said: Just wondering what your objections to this being built are. Not trying to be a D at all just trying to learn why the new building would be a bad idea based off what is currently there. Sometimes I get in the mindset of “bring all new development on no matter what” so I’m trying to break out of that when necessary. I do actually like the look of the new building but I wish it was closer to doubled in height with some ground floor retail. That’s the problem I have with it. In my mind demolishing a 5 story building to put up a 6 story with no ground floor interaction is a waist. Broad is one of the heaviest traffic areas in they city and has easy access to east and west. Any building along broad should be a minimum of 10 stories, with ground floor retail/restaurant space. The building itself looks good, the large windows look great, it’s just not the spot for it.
January 19, 20223 yr Demolishing any usable building to market an empty lot is bad policy. Way too easy for that lot to become parking. Glad the commission is against the demolition. It's a little misleading for the current owner to include a rendering a possible building that could eventually be built in the site.
January 20, 20223 yr 46 minutes ago, 17thState said: Demolishing any usable building to market an empty lot is bad policy. Way too easy for that lot to become parking. Glad the commission is against the demolition. It's a little misleading for the current owner to include a rendering a possible building that could eventually be built in the site. I also doubt a building being there is making it harder to market it. Anyone that plans on building downtown won’t worry about the cost in demolishing a 5 story building.
January 25, 20223 yr On 10/25/2021 at 11:46 AM, NorthShore647 said: Apartments Proposed for Fulton Street Downtown Brent Warren - Columbus Undergrounds - Oct. 25, 2021 "Fairfield Homes, a Lancaster-based developer, will bring a plan for a four-story apartment building to the Downtown Commission this week. The proposal calls for a 66-unit building at 340 E. Fulton St., the former site of the Ohio Democratic Headquarters. The building would feature a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and be served by a 63-space parking garage."\ Additional graphics from the Oct. Downtown Commission meeting: This will be back before the Downtown Commission in the morning. The rendering looks unchanged, aside from the “Elevate 340” signage at the top. Other updates include a change to 65 units and parking spaces (from 66 and 63, respectively), ground floor lobby at the corner, and 1600 sq ft commercial fronting Grant. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/
January 25, 20223 yr 17 minutes ago, amped91 said: This will be back before the Downtown Commission in the morning. The rendering looks unchanged, aside from the “Elevate 340” signage at the top. Other updates include a change to 65 units and parking spaces (from 66 and 63, respectively), ground floor lobby at the corner, and 1600 sq ft commercial fronting Grant. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/ Adding retail in that area is a great thing. It helps better connect everything and will make walking to Livingston great. Hopefully it draws a lot of new development in that area.
January 25, 20223 yr 3 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Adding retail in that area is a great thing. It helps better connect everything and will make walking to Livingston great. Hopefully it draws a lot of new development in that area. There was a decent proposal before the pandemic for the lot on Grant right next to the German Village Music House. Would be nice to see something pop up there.
January 25, 20223 yr 19 minutes ago, amped91 said: There was a decent proposal before the pandemic for the lot on Grant right next to the German Village Music House. Would be nice to see something pop up there. Just found it, it was a 7 story and when they presented it, they said it might have retail in the ground floor. Hopefully anything that goes there now, will be required to have retail.
January 25, 20223 yr Grant could be a nice little corridor from Columbus State to NCH here in a few years.
January 25, 20223 yr 15 hours ago, amped91 said: This will be back before the Downtown Commission in the morning. The rendering looks unchanged, aside from the “Elevate 340” signage at the top. Other updates include a change to 65 units and parking spaces (from 66 and 63, respectively), ground floor lobby at the corner, and 1600 sq ft commercial fronting Grant. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/ I hope they don't go with the "cheap tarp blue" color. I don't know why, but this particular shade of blue just makes it seem like it's not finished. Edited January 25, 20223 yr by TIm
January 25, 20223 yr 12 minutes ago, TIm said: I hoe they don't go with the "cheap tarp blue" color. I don't know why, but this particular shade of blue just makes it seem like it's not finished. The quality of the rendering overall isn't that great. Maybe they'll have better concept drawings today for the commission meeting. I do like the use of blue, though. Hopefully that does stay.
January 25, 20223 yr Yeah, I do like the use of color here. I think you’re right—that it’s just the rendering that makes it look weird.
January 25, 20223 yr On 1/19/2022 at 10:20 AM, VintageLife said: 350 E Broad update. Hopefully the commission turns this down. A 6 story with parking in the bottom would be a horrible addition to this area. It doesn't mention anything about retail or restaurant space. This should at least be a 10 story building. According to the Dispatch, this got rejected, thankfully. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/25/columbus-office-350-e-broad-wont-torn-down-yet-panel-decides/9208501002/
January 26, 20223 yr 23 hours ago, amped91 said: This will be back before the Downtown Commission in the morning. The rendering looks unchanged, aside from the “Elevate 340” signage at the top. Other updates include a change to 65 units and parking spaces (from 66 and 63, respectively), ground floor lobby at the corner, and 1600 sq ft commercial fronting Grant. https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/ Aaaaaaand this got approved: ”A Lancaster developer received approval Tuesday to build a four-story affordable housing complex on the site of the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters Downtown. Of the 66 apartments, 55 would be priced to be affordable for tenants who make no more than 50% or 60% of the area median income, said Joseph Wickham, Fairfield's director of development. (Median household income in Columbus was $53,745 in 2019 while median individual income was $29,322, according to the U.S. Census.) The 11 remaining apartments would be market priced. Fairfield is applying for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) for the project, Wickham said. If that application is approved in the next round of funding, in May, Fairfield would start construction before the end of the year, he said. The Columbus Downtown Commission Tuesday unanimously approved Fairfield's proposal, pending approval of landscaping and lighting details. “ https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/24/ohio-democratic-party-building-could-replaced-affordable-housing/6635285001/
January 26, 20223 yr ^I didn't know there were Lancaster developers. But yes as rendered the blue looks like one of those wraps used in various phases of exterior work.
January 26, 20223 yr On 1/19/2022 at 9:20 AM, VintageLife said: 350 E Broad update. Hopefully the commission turns this down. A 6 story with parking in the bottom would be a horrible addition to this area. It doesn't mention anything about retail or restaurant space. This should at least be a 10 story building. I just don't get tearing down a building just to build basically an exact replica, but with a few different materials and a worse use design. This doesn't look like a new build, it looks like a badly-done renovation. Also, it's Broad Street.... Downtown. It's too small, especially when we're seeing so many taller buildings going up outside the core. It's embarrassing Downtown keeps getting shortchanged like this. I hope they come back with something better. Edited January 26, 20223 yr by jonoh81
January 26, 20223 yr 12 minutes ago, jonoh81 said: I just don't get tearing down a building just to build basically an exact replica, but with a few different materials and a worse use design. This doesn't look like a new build, it looks like a badly-done renovation. Also, it's Broad Street.... Downtown. It's too small, especially when we're seeing so many taller buildings going up outside the core. It's embarrassing Downtown keeps getting shortchanged like this. I hope they come back with something better. Well said! And for once it seems like that's the Downtown Commission's stance on this as well. From the article, it seems like this particular owner/developer isn't too keen on putting anything other than the bare minimum in its place. Hopefully this rejection spurs them to come back with a better, more concrete plan on how quickly a replacement that is more conducive to its environment can be put up.
January 28, 20223 yr Downtown Commission: Demo Request Denied, Fulton Project Approved A prominent Columbus developer’s request to demolish a five-story building without a firm plan for its replacement was denied by the Downtown Commission this week. Robert Meyers, owner of Lawyers Development Corp, was instrumental in redeveloping the Leveque Tower and has been involved in several other large real estate deals Downtown. “I’ve developed millions of square feet in various cities, and here in Columbus,” Meyers told the commission at its meeting on January 25. “It’s very uncommon for us to have new construction if we see an opportunity to salvage an existing building, but this is one that we’ve looked at it in a variety of fashions, and, from a practical standpoint, this building will be demolished at some point.” More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/downtown-commission-demo-request-denied-fulton-project-approved-bw1/ "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 28, 20223 yr On 1/3/2022 at 2:41 PM, amped91 said: There are a few trucks as well as ladders on the site today. Also, CU stated in one of their year-end construction round ups that work would begin anew in 2022, although I’m not sure what their source was. Fingers crossed we’ll see this going up again really soon. I’m guessing this is the new elevator core going up? I was stopped at the light so I snapped a quick pic, but I couldn’t get a great look. Edited January 28, 20223 yr by amped91
January 29, 20223 yr Affordable housing coming to Discovery District The former Ohio Democratic Party headquarters will be torn down to make room for an affordable housing development. Fairfield Homes presented plans to the Downtown Commission Tuesday to demolish the structure at 340 E. Fulton Street and build a four-story building with about 60 affordable units. The commission approved the demolition of the building. Fairfield homes hopes to break ground on the project next winter. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/28/350-e-broad.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
January 31, 20223 yr Pizzuti's latest Topiary Park project now leasing “Leasing is now underway for the third phase of Library Park, a 145-unit luxury residential building located in the Discovery District. The Pizzuti Companies developed the six-story building at 50 South Grant Ave. The complex includes studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Move-ins will start April 1, according to Pizzuti.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/01/31/library-park-phase-iii.html
February 21, 20223 yr I like how this, the Copious redev, and the just announced VV tower are preserving the older, existing architecture on the street while building higher behind. Between everything that’s coming soon, under construction and planned in the Discovery District, there’s going to be a pretty good population concentration there. Fingers crossed we see some pretty good amenities following along.
February 21, 20223 yr 21 minutes ago, amped91 said: I like how this, the Copious redev, and the just announced VV tower are preserving the older, existing architecture on the street while building higher behind. Between everything that’s coming soon, under construction and planned in the Discovery District, there’s going to be a pretty good population concentration there. Fingers crossed we see some pretty good amenities following along. Just wish they would have went a bit taller with this one.
February 21, 20223 yr 44 minutes ago, amped91 said: I like how this, the Copious redev, and the just announced VV tower are preserving the older, existing architecture on the street while building higher behind. Between everything that’s coming soon, under construction and planned in the Discovery District, there’s going to be a pretty good population concentration there. Fingers crossed we see some pretty good amenities following along. Any amenities in particular you’d like to see?
February 22, 20223 yr 17 minutes ago, 614love said: Any amenities in particular you’d like to see? My top 3 would prob be improved public transit, more restaurants, and more entertainment options. I would like to be able to go to a cinema or a bowling alley without leaving straying so far out of the city center (and Pins doesn’t count lol).
February 27, 20223 yr Tower crane base now in place for the 13-story Edwards tower! I believe this will now bring us up to four tower cranes in the city limits already in the new year? (Counting this, Astor Park, and the two High Street projects near the UD.)
March 5, 20223 yr Hello, tower crane! Rebuild of the Topiary Park apartment building is now full steam ahead.
March 8, 20223 yr 20 hours ago, CbusOrBust said: Heavy machinery now on site at the corner of Town and Washington! CBF must be following your lead 😉 Topiary Park development plans to bring affordable housing to downtown Columbus “Columbus Downtown Development Corp.'s Topiary Park project, breaking ground Tuesday, is a first for the organization that has led the charge on some of downtown's most transformative projects. The Topiary Park Crossing apartment complex will rise at 497 E. Town St. CDDC plans to build about a hundred units, with half serving residents making 100% of the area median income, a quarter of them priced for those at 80% AMI and the remainder for those at 60% AMI. The units will be a mix of studios, one and two-bedrooms. The building will have a 3,300-square-foot terrace with room for grills, seating and landscaping. There will also be a fitness center and meeting room on the first floor and a parlor with a library on the fifth floor inside the round tower, Taylor said, for residents to work or gather in. There will be 50 parking spaces for residents in a parking garage. The project will take about 18 months to build, so the first residents could be in the building in the fall of 2023. Taylor said the CDDC will have more information to release about leasing in the coming months.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/08/topiary-park-crossing.html
March 11, 20223 yr On 3/8/2022 at 1:45 PM, amped91 said: CBF must be following your lead 😉 Topiary Park development plans to bring affordable housing to downtown Columbus “Columbus Downtown Development Corp.'s Topiary Park project, breaking ground Tuesday, is a first for the organization that has led the charge on some of downtown's most transformative projects. The Topiary Park Crossing apartment complex will rise at 497 E. Town St. CDDC plans to build about a hundred units, with half serving residents making 100% of the area median income, a quarter of them priced for those at 80% AMI and the remainder for those at 60% AMI. The units will be a mix of studios, one and two-bedrooms. The building will have a 3,300-square-foot terrace with room for grills, seating and landscaping. There will also be a fitness center and meeting room on the first floor and a parlor with a library on the fifth floor inside the round tower, Taylor said, for residents to work or gather in. There will be 50 parking spaces for residents in a parking garage. The project will take about 18 months to build, so the first residents could be in the building in the fall of 2023. Taylor said the CDDC will have more information to release about leasing in the coming months.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/08/topiary-park-crossing.html Still like the turret. The color scheme is awful, though.
March 17, 20223 yr On 3/5/2022 at 12:33 PM, amped91 said: Hello, tower crane! So apparently the tower crane went up before the application was even approved by the FAA. I just found apps for a 230' tower crane and a 177' tower. https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=516849226&row=126 https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=517710201&row=175
March 17, 20223 yr 10 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: So apparently the tower crane went up before the application was even approved by the FAA. I just found apps for a 230' tower crane and a 177' tower. https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=516849226&row=126 https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=517710201&row=175 I wonder how that ended up happening? Seems like someone could get into big trouble for that… And do you think the site will actually have two tower cranes, or that the second was a revised height? Just wondering since the site seems pretty compact to be able to accommodate two.
March 17, 20223 yr 4 minutes ago, amped91 said: I wonder how that ended up happening? Seems like someone could get into big trouble for that… And do you think the site will actually have two tower cranes, or that the second was a revised height? Just wondering since the site seems pretty compact to be able to accommodate two. The first app is for a tower crane. The second is for the tower itself.
March 22, 20223 yr Boston-based developer could transform old Knights of Columbus, Boys and Girls Club building downtown https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/22/old-knights-of-columbus-building.html Quote The former Knights of Columbus and Salesian Boys and Girls Club building downtown could get new life as a residential property. New England-based Beacon Communities wants to convert the building at 80 S. 6th St. into 75 multifamily units. The firm presented its plan on a conceptual basis to the Downtown Commission Tuesday morning. The five-story building was built in 1927. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020; Columbus Landmarks named it one of the area's most-endangered properties in 2018. Beacon plans to transform the property into affordable housing, with at least half its units designated permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness.
April 20, 20223 yr On 3/8/2022 at 2:45 PM, amped91 said: CBF must be following your lead 😉 Topiary Park development plans to bring affordable housing to downtown Columbus “Columbus Downtown Development Corp.'s Topiary Park project, breaking ground Tuesday, is a first for the organization that has led the charge on some of downtown's most transformative projects. The Topiary Park Crossing apartment complex will rise at 497 E. Town St. CDDC plans to build about a hundred units, with half serving residents making 100% of the area median income, a quarter of them priced for those at 80% AMI and the remainder for those at 60% AMI. The units will be a mix of studios, one and two-bedrooms. The building will have a 3,300-square-foot terrace with room for grills, seating and landscaping. There will also be a fitness center and meeting room on the first floor and a parlor with a library on the fifth floor inside the round tower, Taylor said, for residents to work or gather in. There will be 50 parking spaces for residents in a parking garage. The project will take about 18 months to build, so the first residents could be in the building in the fall of 2023. Taylor said the CDDC will have more information to release about leasing in the coming months.” https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/03/08/topiary-park-crossing.html Finally, dirt moving at Topiary Park Crossing site! Edited April 20, 20223 yr by CbusOrBust
April 20, 20223 yr From the upcoming April Downtown Commission meeting, Library Park's 4th Phase at the NW corner of Oak and 9th Street (7 Story, 117 Unit, 94 parking spot): (EDIT) - This project would require the demolition of the existing 2 story apartment structure at that corner. Here is that building in a picture I took of Library Park Phase 3 in May: And here is a better view the building facing 9th from Google Streetview:
April 20, 20223 yr Here's the take on Library Park Phase IV from Columbus Business First: Pizzuti Cos. plans new phase of development near downtown's Topiary Park By Bonnie Meibers – Staff reporter , Columbus Business First Pizzuti Cos. wants to expand its Library Park development downtown. The latest phase of Library Park would include mixed-use building located on 39 to 53 S. 9th Street., according to plans submitted to the Downtown Commission. This would be the fourth phase of Library Park. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/20/new-library-park-phase.html Some point from the above renderings and the article: I'm assuming the blue used in the renderings is just for massing - i.e. they haven't decided on materials yet? Does Pizzuti not own the parking lot adjacent to this site? Wouldn't it be better to acquire that land and construct a building mirroring Phase III that takes up the whole block. From the article: Before construction starts on the new building, however, Pizzuti would replace the building with a temporary parking lot for up to two years. Pizzuti is seeking approval of the demolition and proposed temporary parking and conceptual review of the plans for the proposed building at the Downtown Commission's April 26 meeting. While Pizzuti is being up front with plans and renderings, this does scare me. A lot can happen in 2 years and the last thing I'd want to see is for yet another structure torn down due to a promise of a rebuild.
April 20, 20223 yr ^The parking lot is owned by Egan Ryan funeral home and is used for staging funeral processions. They probably asked too much for the lot and Pizzuti skipped over them. I agree about the early demo - Pizzuti should just collect rents for the next few years.
April 20, 20223 yr 16 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Here's the take on Library Park Phase IV from Columbus Business First: Pizzuti Cos. plans new phase of development near downtown's Topiary Park By Bonnie Meibers – Staff reporter , Columbus Business First Pizzuti Cos. wants to expand its Library Park development downtown. The latest phase of Library Park would include mixed-use building located on 39 to 53 S. 9th Street., according to plans submitted to the Downtown Commission. This would be the fourth phase of Library Park. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/04/20/new-library-park-phase.html Some point from the above renderings and the article: I'm assuming the blue used in the renderings is just for massing - i.e. they haven't decided on materials yet? Does Pizzuti not own the parking lot adjacent to this site? Wouldn't it be better to acquire that land and construct a building mirroring Phase III that takes up the whole block. From the article: Before construction starts on the new building, however, Pizzuti would replace the building with a temporary parking lot for up to two years. Pizzuti is seeking approval of the demolition and proposed temporary parking and conceptual review of the plans for the proposed building at the Downtown Commission's April 26 meeting. While Pizzuti is being up front with plans and renderings, this does scare me. A lot can happen in 2 years and the last thing I'd want to see is for yet another structure torn down due to a promise of a rebuild. I’m almost okay with it eventually getting developed as a different building. I don’t like the look of full block developments. It always looks better when the are smaller individual buildings. That’s why the short north looks great.
April 20, 20223 yr I like the building proposal. Looks like a good height for that area, and Pizzuti’s other LP phases ended up looking nice. I agree about being nervous over the potential demolition though. It says “up to two,” so theoretically it could be less time than that. But if something happens, I would hate to see another building come down and then the site sit vacant for years.
April 20, 20223 yr Don't think it goes here, but... More of an increased density project than strictly infill considering it's just using the backyards of existing buildings. 580 E. Rich Street https://columbusohdev.app.box.com/s/zgmlk42mn980mb0jqxm2sd6t1jv0zzz8/file/945822118460
April 20, 20223 yr According to the auditor Pizzuti has so far acquired 3 of the 6 needed parcels for Library Phase 4 in March for $1.1 million. The one small parcel tucked in the northwest corner of the proposed development is owned by the single story commercial building at 415 West broad. The other surface lots are owned by Egan-Ryan and Kramer Engineers. Egan-Ryan Funeral Services has been operating in downtown Columbus since before the Civil War, and at its current location since the 1920s. Kramer Engineers (who've worked on many projects downtown) have been at their location on Oak since the early 1970s. I don't believe either business would sell their adjacent surface parking without moving their businesses altogether. I think Schoedinger's sold part of their parking lot for the Xander on State development though, so potentially some developer could figure an agreement out with Egan-Ryan. This will be an interesting aspect of the urban transformation of the eastern end downtown Columbus/ the Discovery District. Although many have have already sold over the years, there is still a number of older small businesses in downtown Columbus that own their land/buildings. As demand for developable land increases downtown, more will get offers they can't turn down.
April 21, 20223 yr From the Dispatch’s article on the Pizzuti project, City staff is opposed to demo without a replacement already approved: ”In a letter supporting Pizzuti's proposal, Encova Insurance Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer John Kessler called the apartment building now on the site "an eyesore and blight to the neighborhood." City development staff has recommended against the proposal because Pizzuti has no immediate plans to replace the building. "The proposal does not meet the guidelines with regards to demolitions, as no replacement building has been approved," according to a staff memo. "Additionally, the proposed parking lot is not an appropriate replacement use for the razed building." Nearby, Joe Collins Property is proposing a three-story building with 24 apartments that would sit behind an existing building at 620 E. Town St. Collins' and Pizzuti's proposals are scheduled to be heard by the Downtown Commission on Tuesday.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/04/21/seven-story-topiary-park-apartment-building-would-replace-1938-complex/7382220001/
April 21, 20223 yr I think 'eyesore' is a bit strong coming from Encova being worried about the aestetic of a building next to a parking garage ramp... It will be interesting to see how much the city stands against this for not having immediate plans to replace the building when at least Pizutti presented a 3 year concept that sits on the corner of 2 glorified alley streets in the vicinity of other parking lots, not visible from main streets while requiring none of the same for Main Bar. Not to sound conspiratorial but what weight does Schiff hold that Puzutti doesn't? FTR, I lean toward letting it stand until the actual plans are presented. Nothing about the current building begs to preservation but nothing really seems to warrant demolition until it's time to build. Admittedly, the other factor that might be in play here is leasing terms. If Pizutti isn't sure when they might start construction exactly, then I can see why they might want to end the leases now and tear it down so it's ready if they are in 12 months or 36 months. I think if they presented it that way, I might also be ok with it. And this goes back to city zoning etc, I wish the city could enact financial disincentive if it doesn't get developed. So if they don't have a plan for approval in 3 years, they owe the city in financial penalties. I know we aren't set up that way but it would be nice. I might also bet that we see Pizutti complete the project before we even see a proposal for the Main and High space or the former Marconi and Spring/Long garage lot. Edit: and maybe it's the naivete/idealist in me, but I'd think that for something like this, there would be more willingness and demand for some sort of land deals, contracts, etc to develop some of these small lots. I can see where large lots owned by families making bank on a surface lots might be harder to acquire (again without city disincentive) but I guess I would be trying for some sort of deal if I was Egan or Kramer and/or Pizutti for a non income generating surface lot. If the builder can guarantee me the same, or better for parking/storage/commercial with guarantees of unimpacted operations... I'd be signing on some dotted lines. Some of it goes to ingenuity and creativity I suppose and I've found that Columbus doesn't seem to demand it as much as other places right now. Perhaps it just hasn't been worth it yet whereas in some other places, developers can get pretty creative with design and deals to maximize space. Edited April 21, 20223 yr by DTCL11
April 21, 20223 yr 6 hours ago, amped91 said: From the Dispatch’s article on the Pizzuti project, City staff is opposed to demo without a replacement already approved: ”In a letter supporting Pizzuti's proposal, Encova Insurance Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer John Kessler called the apartment building now on the site "an eyesore and blight to the neighborhood." City development staff has recommended against the proposal because Pizzuti has no immediate plans to replace the building. "The proposal does not meet the guidelines with regards to demolitions, as no replacement building has been approved," according to a staff memo. "Additionally, the proposed parking lot is not an appropriate replacement use for the razed building." Nearby, Joe Collins Property is proposing a three-story building with 24 apartments that would sit behind an existing building at 620 E. Town St. Collins' and Pizzuti's proposals are scheduled to be heard by the Downtown Commission on Tuesday.” https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/04/21/seven-story-topiary-park-apartment-building-would-replace-1938-complex/7382220001/ The City created some precedent by allowing the Main Bar to be demolished for a surface lot without any development plan in place. Their inconsistency is a problem.
April 21, 20223 yr 6 hours ago, DTCL11 said: I think 'eyesore' is a bit strong coming from Encova being worried about the aestetic of a building next to a parking garage ramp... That made me laugh too about Encova's self righteous comment considering that once Pizutti's construction is complete, the only eyesore on that corner would be Encova's garage. I think the pedestrian scale of Oak and 9th is nice. Views on 9th terminate on a lovely church on Broad and Topiary Park. I actually like the different ownership on that block. If Kramer or Ryan ever want to develop something the entire block won't look like a mega-development.
April 21, 20223 yr 9 minutes ago, Pablo said: I actually like the different ownership on that block. If Kramer or Ryan ever want to develop something the entire block won't look like a mega-development. I think that speaks more to the laziness of developers as well. You can develop entire megablocks without it looking that way but they don't. And commissions haven't been super great about pushing hard for that.
Create an account or sign in to comment