Redevelopment beginning on apartment complex near downtown library

 

The first part of a multi-phase redevelopment near the downtown Columbus Metropolitan Library is imminent.

 

Pizzuti Cos. said work will begin "immediately" on plans to redevelop the Grant Oak Apartments at the corner of Grant Avenue and Oak Street downtown, starting with a first phase of interior renovations at four of the westernmost buildings in the complex.

 

“We are excited to breathe new life into these historic buildings and bring a unique living option to this area of Columbus,” Jon Riewald, director of development for Pizzuti, said in a statement. “The project team has done an excellent job of maintaining the historic charm and character of the units, while simultaneously blending in modern-day finishes and amenities the market expects.”

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/10/redevelopment-beginning-on-apartment-complex-near.html

 

Xander on State:

 

 

Topiary Park townhomes:

 

'Experiment' with infill housing on small parcels approved for downtown

 

 

"This is an experiment to see if you can utilize smaller, uneconomic remainders and do it with the affordable aspect in mind for the user."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/23/experiment-with-infill-housing-on-small-parcels.html

Two Small Apartment Buildings Approved Downtown

 

The Downtown Commission yesterday approved a plan to build a 19-unit apartment building at 600 E. Broad St. The new building will sit on a small parcel – less than a quarter of an acre – at the corner of East Broad Street and Jefferson Avenue.

 

Also approved was a plan to build a nearly identical building on East Main Street. That proposal was first brought before the commission in May.

 

Local developer JDS Companies owns both lots and plans to build both of the projects concurrently.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/two-small-apartment-buildings-approved-downtown

 

Discovery District construction photos posted 7/23 by CU at https://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-columbus-ohio-we1

 

Foundation work on the first phase of new residential units overlooking The Topiary Park on the former Motorists parking lot at Washington & Oak.  Only, we can't call it the former Motorists lot anymore.  Motorists merged with another insurance company and changed their name to Encova, or rather "encova".  Its a made up nonsense name that the company CEO says means "encircling you with coverage".  Sure, whatever!

 

 

Down the block from the Motorists/encova lot are the Grant Oak apartments that have been fenced off for a construction project.  Four buildings will be renovated while three will be demolished and replaced with new apartment buildings.

 

Coworking group to open new location in historic downtown mansion 

 

A downtown mansion will soon become a coworking space.  Haven Collective plans to open a new location in the three-story, 6,000-square-foot mansion at 620 E. Broad St., close to the I-71 interchange in the east part of downtown.  It'll have conference rooms, gathering areas, event space and shared amenities.  

 

The mansion was built by Benjamin Huntington, whose brother founded Huntington Bank.  Now owned by Columbus-based Harrogate Associates, the home has been used as offices for decades.

 

Central Ohio's coworking market is bustling with dozens of locations across the city from a number of brands, including WeWork and Spaces, as well as local names like COhatch and Versa.  Despite the seemingly crowded field, new players continue to enter the market, and local groups like Haven still see room to grow.

 

MORE:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/12/coworking-group-to-open-new-location-in-historic.html

New Culinary Facility Opens at Columbus State

 

An official dedication of Mitchell Hall took place today at the Downtown campus of the Columbus State Community College. The new building — named for philanthropic donor Cameron Mitchell — will house CSCC’s School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts in state of the art facilities.

 

“Today is a celebration of an accomplishment made possible by many hands joining together for a common goal,” stated CSCC President Dr. David Harrison. “Columbus State gives thanks to all of our partners for creating an unprecedented pathway for students to thrive in a rapidly growing industry.”

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/new-culinary-facility-opens-at-columbus-state-we1

 

The Xander on State

 

Demolition at the Grant & Oak apartments

 

 

Seven Story Building Proposed for Northeast Corner of Mound and Grant.

 

- 7 stories

- 220 units

- 3 story internal parking garage

- Possible ground floor retail

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/seven-story-building-proposed-for-downtown-parking-lot-bw1

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Not sure if this is technically the Red Brick District, but I didn't know where else to put it. Feel free to move it if need be.

Edited August 22, 20195 yr by cbussoccer
.

I actually think this a pretty good design, it reminds me of 80's on the common but with some brick incorporated. I also like the mural, the city can definitely use more of those. 

1 minute ago, 4N6science said:

I also like the mural, the city can definitely use more of those. 

 

I just realized that that's definitely a mural of Jimi Hendrix lol

1 minute ago, cbussoccer said:

 

I just realized that that's definitely a mural of Jimi Hendrix lol

 

I was saying to myself, that guy looks familiar, haha. I wouldn't mind a Jimi Hendrix mural next to the German Village Music Haus. 

3 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

Seven Story Building Proposed for Northeast Corner of Mound and Grant.

 

- 7 stories

- 220 units

- 3 story internal parking garage

- Possible ground floor retail

 

https://www.columbusunderground.com/seven-story-building-proposed-for-downtown-parking-lot-bw1

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Not sure if this is technically the Red Brick District, but I didn't know where else to put it. Feel free to move it if need be.

 

Yea.  I guess this is in the Discovery District - so I've moved it there.

3 hours ago, Columbo said:

 

Yea.  I guess this is in the Discovery District - so I've moved it there.

 

Seems like we might need a new district for this area. Maybe the “Surface lots and ugly 1-2 story buildings with no urban feel” district. 

That building looks like great infill. They just need to built something of a similar scale to the north and to the west.

Seven-story apartment complex pitched downtown

 

"We've got a wonderful economy now with the jobs continuing to come to Columbus," Rolwing said.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/08/27/seven-story-apartment-complex-pitched-downtown.html

I can't read the article. How was the reception from the commission? 

48 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

I can't read the article. How was the reception from the commission? 

 

This is all the article says about the commissioners: "Commissioners were favorable to the project on a first review."

Snapped a couple of pics from the 3rd floor of the main library (what an awesome facility!). The red siding building is inching towards completion and the Topiary Park townhomes are going vertical.  

 

On 9/8/2019 at 4:21 PM, Pablo said:

Snapped a couple of pics from the 3rd floor of the main library (what an awesome facility!). The red siding building is inching towards completion and the Topiary Park townhomes are going vertical.  

 

That red building is going to be much better looking than I had thought. I had railed against it but it will be much better(the red color)than I had thought. 
And amen to that infill townhomes along the park getting going-and blocking the view of the hideous garage from the park!

5 hours ago, Toddguy said:

That red building is going to be much better looking than I had thought. I had railed against it but it will be much better(the red color)than I had thought.

Agreed. And part of me wants to make that corner of downtown a 'rainbow district' with more brightly colored buildings to play off the school and arts etc. 

Columbus State wants to spend $441M on building improvements — and may ask voters to help pay for it

 

 

The plan could be funded using a variety of sources: state funding, fundraising and a potential bond issuance. However, a college official said the prospect of asking voters to approve a bond issuance would be considered at a later date.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/09/25/columbus-state-wants-to-spend-441m-on-building.html

24 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Columbus State wants to spend $441M on building improvements — and may ask voters to help pay for it

 

 

The plan could be funded using a variety of sources: state funding, fundraising and a potential bond issuance. However, a college official said the prospect of asking voters to approve a bond issuance would be considered at a later date.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/09/25/columbus-state-wants-to-spend-441m-on-building.html

 

Very interesting.  Especially the part about "asking voters to approve a bond issuance would be considered at a later date".  What they are referring to is a new ability granted by the Ohio Legislature (aka, the State of Ohio) that allows "the board of trustees of a state community college district to propose a property tax levy for permanent improvements, or a combination bond issuance and tax levy for permanent improvements,” according to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission (from the article).

 

Also according to the article:

Quote

 

“This is a comprehensive roadmap for all of the facilities updates and upgrades that would prepare the college for the foreseeable future,” Brent Wilder, director of strategic communications, told Columbus Business First.  The plan could be funded using a variety of sources: state funding, fundraising and a potential bond issuance.

 

Wilder said the prospect of asking voters to approve a bond issuance would be considered at a later date.  He said it's too soon to know how much the bond issuance would raise and what it would cost voters per year.  The first opportunity to put such a bond issuance on the ballot would be March of 2020.

 

Wilder says it’s the first time that Columbus State Community College would be able to pursue putting a bond issuance on the ballot for Franklin County voters, a result of state legislators adding such a provision to the two-year budget they passed in June.

 

 

As for the projects Columbus State Community College has planned - there's quite a bit of maintenance and improvements to existing campus buildings and facilities.  The plan, scheduled to be considered on Thursday at CSCC’s board of trustees meeting, includes about $57 million in classroom renovations and technology enhancement, as well as nearly $75 million in deferred maintenance on its oldest buildings, which have an average age of 45 years, plus Aquinas Hall, which is 94 years old. 

 

The Business First article also listed the following projects on the CSCC agenda:

• $37.7 million to create student success hubs on its campuses

• $36.9 million to add a second academic building at its Delaware campus

• $36.6 million to upgrade classrooms and laboratories for STEM areas

• $36.5 million to complete deferred maintenance needs at Aquinas Hall, Franklin Hall and Madison Hall, three of the Columbus campus’ oldest buildings

• $31.6 million to replace aging one-story buildings on the west side of the Columbus campus with new instructional space

• $30.6 million to upgrade health-related instructional spaces

• $30.0 million to create a Center for Emerging Technologies for multidisciplinary projects

• $27.7 million to build a parking garage at its downtown campus

The prospect of a parking garage is mixed news in that it can free up alot of surface lots but it's also a parking garage sooooo....

There is nothing "mixed news" about CSCC building a parking garage.  It is the continued fulfillment of the campus master plan released in 2013.  I posted all about it back then in this thread.  Here are the copies below for your edification:

 

On 7/26/2013 at 12:15 PM, Columbo said:

The Columbus State Community College Board of Trustees met earlier this month to approve new master plans for their downtown campus and their recently built campus in Delaware County.  For UrbanOhio though, it's the downtown Columbus campus plan that holds our interest.

 

The master plan approved for the Columbus State downtown campus would promote more infill development on existing surface parking lots.  First, a series of parking garages would be built to match the parking capacity of the existing surface lots targeted for infill development (CSCC is still a commuter college with over 25,000 students).  Then, a series of new buildings would replace those surface parking lots.  Particularly the two large parking lots between the CSCC and CCAD colleges along Cleveland Avenue.

 

Below are two reports about this from Columbus Underground and Business First.  Below those links is the downtown campus master plan approved by Columbus State:

 

Columbus Underground: Columbus State Master Plan Envisions Campus Makeover

 

Business First: Columbus State considering denser building plan on campus

 

 

 

On 9/19/2013 at 1:11 PM, Columbo said:

Columbus Underground also has a report about the Columbus State master plan at http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-state-president-presents-vision-for-revitalized-discovery-district-bw1 with a ton of renderings.  There is also a very watchable Youtube video of the plan (particularly because it is silent and lets the renderings speak for themselves without the dopey narration and music we usually get with these types of videos).

 

 

 

I'm aware of the master plan but it is mixed news in the idea that parking garages continue to perpetuate a car centric model of an urban community. It's the catch 22 of the urbanization of this city. The chicken and the egg. Maybe 'news' isnt the right semantics but it is certainly a conundrum we will continue to face and I firmly believe that there is no place for a stand alone parking deck in the core of any city.  That's all. 

Edited September 26, 20195 yr by DTCL11

19 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

I'm aware of the master plan but it is mixed news in the idea that parking garages continue to perpetuate a car centric model of an urban community. It's the catch 22 of the urbanization of this city. The chicken and the egg. Maybe 'news' isnt the right semantics but it is certainly a conundrum we will continue to face and I firmly believe that there is no place for a stand alone parking deck in the core of any city.  That's all. 

I think most of the students commute so they have to have parking, at least for now. 

Yes. Most student commute and that is the reality of the catch 22 but that still doesn't mean there is a place for a standalone parking garage. If someone wants to build a garage downtown, I believe it must be accompanied with other uses beyond storing vehicles. Whether that is commercial space, residences, offices, etc. We shouldn't be continuing to allow city blocks to be dominated by single use parking structures. 

18 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Yes. Most student commute and that is the reality of the catch 22 but that still doesn't mean there is a place for a standalone parking garage. If someone wants to build a garage downtown, I believe it must be accompanied with other uses beyond storing vehicles. Whether that is commercial space, residences, offices, etc. We shouldn't be continuing to allow city blocks to be dominated by single use parking structures. 

 

I like what OSU was able to do with this garage. The architectural design could use a bit of work, but the overall idea is good. It would be nice if Columbus State could attempt something similar.

 

39 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Yes. Most student commute and that is the reality of the catch 22 but that still doesn't mean there is a place for a standalone parking garage. If someone wants to build a garage downtown, I believe it must be accompanied with other uses beyond storing vehicles. Whether that is commercial space, residences, offices, etc. We shouldn't be continuing to allow city blocks to be dominated by single use parking structures. 

You’re not wrong. 

This is going to sound very grumpy old man, but I could care less if they build a parking garage, but they better not ask me to pay for it. 

 

Quote

The budget “authorizes the board of trustees of a state community college district to propose a property tax levy for permanent improvements, or a combination bond issuance and tax levy for permanent improvements,” according to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. - Business First Article

 

I really wish they could make the partnership garage at least taller and then partially wrap it with some residential and ground floor retail. Unless it already is..I can't tell from that map. Does that U shaped line around it mean anything? If not, it is just going to be a duplicate of the massive garage right next to it.

 

*ok from the video is looks like it is just going to be a stand alone massive garage. What a waste. Why not take it up a bit and wrap those three sides with residential? and much of the development, while looking good, could be a floor or two taller. Two and three floors just seems a bit lacking.

Edited September 27, 20195 yr by Toddguy

I don't think they want to be landlords. That's why they're a community college.

17 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

I don't think they want to be landlords. That's why they're a community college.

 

The "residential" I spoke of could also be just moving more of the shared student housing there. They could always, say, sell the land directly north of the new planned commons so a private developer could put in an apartment building like the Neilston-nice location right next to the park and would go along with the adjacent private housing/retail planned for the west side of the commons, right?  It is just a shame to see another massive(and relatively low) parking garage that will be basically a copy of the one next door virtually creating a new parking garage district(similar to the one we already have southwest of the Nationwide complex). We just do not need huge but low stand alone parking garages within our downtown. They are the Agent Orange of downtown vitality IMO.

 

I understand the need for parking at a large commuter college but do it right for Chrissakes.

Edited September 27, 20195 yr by Toddguy

 

Pizzuti lands approval for new residential building near downtown library

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/10/22/pizzuti-lands-approval-for-new-residential.html?iana=hpmvp_colum_news_headline

 

 

Six-Story Building Approved for Downtown Parking Lot

 

 

A six-story apartment building with ground floor retail will be built at the northeast corner of Grant Avenue and Oak Street downtown.

 

The project, from the Pizzuti Companies, was approved by the Downtown Commission this morning after first being presented to the group in May. The building will hold a total of 145 apartment units, along with two commercial storefronts on Grant and an entrance lobby on the corner. A two-level interior parking garage will be accessed from the Capital Street side of the building.

 

The new building will join several others in the immediate area that are currently under construction, including the redevelopment of the Grant Oak Apartments across Oak Street (also a Pizzuti project), a 68-unit building that will overlook the Topiary Park, and a nine-story apartment building that has topped out at 330 E. Oak St.

 

More below:

https://www.columbusunderground.com/six-story-building-approved-for-downtown-parking-lot-bw1

 

A really interesting photo from the company installing the Encova lettering.  Posted on the Columbus subreddit:

 

 

4 minutes ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

A really interesting photo from the company installing the Encova lettering.  Posted on the Columbus subreddit:

 

 

 

I just posted the same picture over in the random Columbus pictures thread lol. It's an awesome picture though!

On 10/29/2019 at 12:03 PM, cbussoccer said:

 

I just posted the same picture over in the random Columbus pictures thread lol. It's an awesome picture though!

Lots of progress on the Motorists lot facing Topiary and the replacement of Oak St. So great to see so many hefty residential developments from this angle!

On 9/25/2019 at 1:56 PM, ColDayMan said:

Columbus State wants to spend $441M on building improvements — and may ask voters to help pay for it

 

The plan could be funded using a variety of sources: state funding, fundraising and a potential bond issuance.  However, a college official said the prospect of asking voters to approve a bond issuance would be considered at a later date.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/09/25/columbus-state-wants-to-spend-441m-on-building.html

 

On 9/25/2019 at 2:42 PM, Columbo said:

As for the projects Columbus State Community College has planned - there's quite a bit of maintenance and improvements to existing campus buildings and facilities.  The plan, scheduled to be considered on Thursday at CSCC’s board of trustees meeting, includes about $57 million in classroom renovations and technology enhancement, as well as nearly $75 million in deferred maintenance on its oldest buildings, which have an average age of 45 years, plus Aquinas Hall, which is 94 years old. 

 

The Business First article also listed the following projects on the CSCC agenda:

• $37.7 million to create student success hubs on its campuses

• $36.9 million to add a second academic building at its Delaware campus

• $36.6 million to upgrade classrooms and laboratories for STEM areas

• $36.5 million to complete deferred maintenance needs at Aquinas Hall, Franklin Hall and Madison Hall, three of the Columbus campus’ oldest buildings

• $31.6 million to replace aging one-story buildings on the west side of the Columbus campus with new instructional space

• $30.6 million to upgrade health-related instructional spaces

• $30.0 million to create a Center for Emerging Technologies for multidisciplinary projects

• $27.7 million to build a parking garage at its downtown campus

 

UPDATE:

 

CSCC Putting Bond Issue on the March Ballot

 

Columbus State Community College is proposing a $300 million bond issue for the March 2020 ballot to fund the modernization of its facilities. ... Many of the improvements are focused on improving facilities to prepare students for in-demand jobs, including careers in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering, business, public safety and more, that are vital in the region’s growing economy.

( . . . )

The 0.065 mil bond would equate to less than $2 per month for each $100,000 of property value for Franklin County homeowners.  Collection of the bond issue would begin in 2020 and run through 2044.  The bond issue has received letters of support from One Columbus, The Columbus Urban League, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the YWCA Columbus and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.

 

MORE:  https://www.columbusunderground.com/cscc-putting-bond-issue-on-the-march-ballot-sp1

I just saw this application on the city's portal and I don't remember seeing any articles about a potential development here. The description says "7 level residential building with 3 levels of parking garage" which sounds like a 10-story building to me. 

 

 

 

This is what is currently located on parcel 010047658:

 

 

The existing building actually looks pretty nice, but if you look on the Franklin County Auditor's website, you will see the parcel extends to the parking lot behind the building. Hopefully that means they will preserve the current building and build on the surface lot behind it.

 

 

 

^The project might not have been announced yet. Often times the first time the public learns of a project is when the civil engineer submits the preliminary site compliance plan to the City.

1 minute ago, Pablo said:

^The project might not have been announced yet. Often times the first time the public learns of a project is when the civil engineer submits the preliminary site compliance plan to the City.

 

Yes, I understand that. 

Franklin County money for the Delaware campus...uh no.  Already paying for the zoo.

 

46 minutes ago, [email protected] said:

Franklin County money for the Delaware campus...uh no.  Already paying for the zoo.

 

nevermind. 

Edited December 4, 20195 yr by Toddguy

2 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

I just saw this application on the city's portal and I don't remember seeing any articles about a potential development here. The description says "7 level residential building with 3 levels of parking garage" which sounds like a 10-story building to me. 

 

 

 

This is what is currently located on parcel 010047658:

 

 

The existing building actually looks pretty nice, but if you look on the Franklin County Auditor's website, you will see the parcel extends to the parking lot behind the building. Hopefully that means they will preserve the current building and build on the surface lot behind it.

 

 

 

I hope you are right and they preserve the three story building...if not at least maybe something like on Park Street where they keep the front. It does not go back far but keeping it and getting a 3 floor garage behind it will be a tight fit IMO.  If they had the parcel behind it as well(010-035143)it would have no problem fitting in. Weird since that parcel flows right into the other in the same parking lot.  I would never have thought it was a different parcel. 

3 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

wut?  Did you post in the wrong thread?

 

He referring to the CSCC Bond package articles a page back that would include a decent chunk of money for the Delaware campus. I though the same thing at first as well.  

^^ oh okay thanks...

7 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

I hope you are right and they preserve the three story building...if not at least maybe something like on Park Street where they keep the front. It does not go back far but keeping it and getting a 3 floor garage behind it will be a tight fit IMO.  If they had the parcel behind it as well(010-035143)it would have no problem fitting in. Weird since that parcel flows right into the other in the same parking lot.  I would never have thought it was a different parcel. 

 

It would appear the same entity (336 E Broad) bought 3 parcels in May. The application does not reflect all the parcels but it continues back across Kelly Alley as well. May be a sizable infill project. 

Edited December 4, 20195 yr by DTCL11