July 2, 2024Jul 2 Wasn't really sure what section this goes in. I was excited for what this could be, but I doubt we will see the building returned to what it was, glad to see it sold though. Historic downtown Columbus building changes hands An LLC tied to a former Bexley restaurant owner bought the Larrimer Building, a downtown Columbus property home to the Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus restaurant. Empire Square LLC purchased the building and a nearby parking lot for $4.3 million. The LLC is registered with Anna Krupovlyanskaya, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's office. Krupovlyanskaya opened a restaurant in Bexley in 2018. That restaurant is now closed and the Kitchen of Life is in its space.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 What are the chances the new owner will have any interest in developing the parking lot?
July 2, 2024Jul 2 7 minutes ago, amped91 said: What are the chances the new owner will have any interest in developing the parking lot? 50/50. They either have interest or they don't!
July 2, 2024Jul 2 10 minutes ago, amped91 said: What are the chances the new owner will have any interest in developing the parking lot? I’m pretty sure DeHays didn’t sell the parking lot. Super annoying, but I guess I would rather it sell to an actual developer and not someone that owned a restaurant at one point. Hopefully the city can start pressuring parking lot owners to sell this s**t. That lot is never full and needs to be a building. Edited July 2, 2024Jul 2 by VintageLife
July 2, 2024Jul 2 Alright, so I merged all the inner-district/sections of downtown Columbus and created this general Downtown Columbus thread for ALL non-peripheral downtown stuff (aka Arena District, Discovery District, Scioto Peninsula, CC/North Market, and RiverSouth are still their own threads). "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 2, 2024Jul 2 22 minutes ago, VintageLife said: I’m pretty sure DeHays didn’t sell the parking lot. Super annoying, but I guess I would rather it sell to an actual developer and not someone that owned a restaurant at one point. Hopefully the city can start pressuring parking lot owners to sell this s**t. That lot is never full and needs to be a building. Not looking to pick a fight, but how can the city fairly pressure someone into selling their property? Are there developers trying to build downtown but they just can't find a lot because the owners refuse to sell?
July 2, 2024Jul 2 22 minutes ago, ColDayMan said: Alright, so I merged all the inner-district/sections of downtown Columbus and created this general Downtown Columbus thread for ALL non-peripheral downtown stuff (aka Arena District, Discovery District, Scioto Peninsula, CC/North Market, and RiverSouth are still their own threads). Long overdue! It was kind of annoying trying to find news about each block of downtown across multiple threads. Thanks!
July 2, 2024Jul 2 18 minutes ago, John7165 said: Not looking to pick a fight, but how can the city fairly pressure someone into selling their property? Are there developers trying to build downtown but they just can't find a lot because the owners refuse to sell? Not technically forcing them to sell, but increasing tax on land. Parking lots do zero for cities and they should be paying higher taxes, since if a building replaced it, there would be more taxes coming in.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 5 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Not technically forcing them to sell, but increasing tax on land. Parking lots do zero for cities and they should be paying higher taxes, since if a building replaced it, there would be more taxes coming in. You can't really pick and choose surface lots to do this though, can you? That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I'm guessing the best course of action would be to pass a local tax law that charges an additional tax rate for any standalone surface lot.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 2 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: You can't really pick and choose surface lots to do this though, can you? That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I'm guessing the best course of action would be to pass a local tax law that charges an additional tax rate for any standalone surface lot. Thats what I was talking about really. It wouldn’t be just picking a few lots to tax, it’s any open lot downtown.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 59 minutes ago, VintageLife said: I’m pretty sure DeHays didn’t sell the parking lot. Super annoying, but I guess I would rather it sell to an actual developer and not someone that owned a restaurant at one point. Hopefully the city can start pressuring parking lot owners to sell this s**t. That lot is never full and needs to be a building. I thought I’d read before that he was only listing the building and not the lot, but then the article says the lot sold too. Maybe a mistake? Either way, I’d love to see that lot and the Harmony Tower lot get redeveloped. Would almost complete High St north of Broad.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 2 minutes ago, amped91 said: I thought I’d read before that he was only listing the building and not the lot, but then the article says the lot sold too. Maybe a mistake? Either way, I’d love to see that lot and the Harmony Tower lot get redeveloped. Would almost complete High St north of Broad. Didn’t it just say he had bought the building and lot, I didn’t see it say the lot sold also. I knew someone that worked for connect and he said it was just the building, but I guess that could have changed. Edited July 2, 2024Jul 2 by VintageLife
July 2, 2024Jul 2 9 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Didn’t it just say he had bought the building and lot, I didn’t see it say the lot sold also. I knew someone that worked for connect and he said it was just the building, but I guess that could have changed. “Empire Square LLC purchased the building and a nearby parking lot for $4.3 million.”
July 2, 2024Jul 2 19 minutes ago, amped91 said: “Empire Square LLC purchased the building and a nearby parking lot for $4.3 million.” I guess I should read the article better hahahah, totally missed that. I saw an article from when it was listed and I think it was only $2 million so I wonder if they talked him into the lot also. Hopefully they actually plan on developing it then.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 Does the surface lot include the Indian restaurant that sits on the corner of High and Spring? Or is the surface actually split between the two buildings? Regardless, a multistory structure there would be phenomenal.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 9 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Does the surface lot include the Indian restaurant that sits on the corner of High and Spring? Or is the surface actually split between the two buildings? Regardless, a multistory structure there would be phenomenal. I’m almost 100% positive those are separate and yes a multistory building would be perfect for that lot. Something over 10 is what it deserves.
July 2, 2024Jul 2 58 minutes ago, VintageLife said: I’m almost 100% positive those are separate and yes a multistory building would be perfect for that lot. Something over 10 is what it deserves. The existing property used to by 6 stories - hopefully they add those back and build something on the lot that compliments it (not some modern-looking garbage can).
July 17, 2024Jul 17 On 1/20/2014 at 7:30 PM, Columbo said: Some news about another Columbus Food League restaurant - Tip Top at 73 E. Gay Street. It looks like some facade work to the Tip Top might be in its future. http://media.bizj.us/view/img/1783531/tip-top-lessner*304.jpg Lessners buy Tip Top building on Gay Street By Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter Business First - Jan. 17, 2014, 3:44pm EST Liz Lessner and her brother Tim Lessner of the Columbus Food League have bought the 73 E. Gay St. property where they have operated the Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails since May 2007. (. . .) Liz Lessner said in a voice mail that her lease with a Schottenstein Property Group affiliate allowed for a purchase of the property. “The good news is now that we own the building, we can put some money into leasehold improvements,” she said, such as renovations to the restaurant’s facade. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/01/lessners-buy-tip-top-building-on-gay.html Some renderings of the exterior refresh and expansion are in this article from the Dispatch. A lot of the kitschy-ness of the existing space will be removed, but the finished product as proposed certainly looks nice, and I like the activation of the second floor space: Downtown's Tip Top bar planning a facelift that includes rooftop dining Jim Weiker Columbus Dispatch One of Downtown's most beloved restaurants and bars is planning a makeover. Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, 73 E. Gay St. is planning to remodel its interior and exterior, and add second floor and rooftop seating. The makeover will replace the building's mansard roof, which covers the partial second floor, with a white brick and black siding facade. The building's front will include a wall of windows to bring light into the famously dark interior. The second floor will be split into outdoor rooftop seating and indoor private dining space. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/07/16/downtown-columbus-tip-top-kitchen-cocktails-getting-a-makeover/74428614007/
July 17, 2024Jul 17 Crews have started installing the "decorative" steel poles at the first two intersections along Front St ahead of the two way conversion Front St at Broad Front St at Gay
July 17, 2024Jul 17 3 hours ago, CMHOhio said: Some renderings of the exterior refresh and expansion are in this article from the Dispatch. A lot of the kitschy-ness of the existing space will be removed, but the finished product as proposed certainly looks nice, and I like the activation of the second floor space: Downtown's Tip Top bar planning a facelift that includes rooftop dining Jim Weiker Columbus Dispatch One of Downtown's most beloved restaurants and bars is planning a makeover. Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, 73 E. Gay St. is planning to remodel its interior and exterior, and add second floor and rooftop seating. The makeover will replace the building's mansard roof, which covers the partial second floor, with a white brick and black siding facade. The building's front will include a wall of windows to bring light into the famously dark interior. The second floor will be split into outdoor rooftop seating and indoor private dining space. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/07/16/downtown-columbus-tip-top-kitchen-cocktails-getting-a-makeover/74428614007/ I like the original plan from a few months ago. I like the addition of seating, but it just looks bland. I think a faux window or an arch, that matches the design at the top, on the left side would be 100% better looking. This just looks like an unfinished building. here are the renderings for the new proposal: Edited July 17, 2024Jul 17 by VintageLife
July 29, 2024Jul 29 Front/Marconi two way conversion project picking up steam! Work well underway on the Front and Hickory St curve conversion And upgrades continue at more intersections- now along Marconi as well
July 29, 2024Jul 29 I came across this Youtube video where this man talks about the 10 worst downtowns in America and yes our fair city of Columbus made his list. But it's not cheap shots and low blows. He has a reasonable theory as to why he puts us on the list. Take a gander if you will and what do you think? Columbus starts at 5:17
July 29, 2024Jul 29 7 minutes ago, John7165 said: I came across this Youtube video where this man talks about the 10 worst downtowns in America and yes our fair city of Columbus made his list. But it's not cheap shots and low blows. He has a reasonable theory as to why he puts us on the list. Take a gander if you will and what do you think? Columbus starts at 5:17 I would probably say he is mostly right, but I think the biggest thing that plagued downtown was suburbanization. Downtown was very vibrant and lively until they tore down all the housing and put on parking. If the downtown wouldn’t have been gutted, I would think you would have had a continuing of lively activities all the way up and down high. I do think it will get back to that and will one day have a large population with tons of businesses and activities. It’s just a shame what happened to so many downtowns when idiots decided to put highways and parking lots through them.
July 30, 2024Jul 30 5 hours ago, CbusOrBust said: Front/Marconi two way conversion project picking up steam! Work well underway on the Front and Hickory St curve conversion Happy to see these finally go two-way but it's disappointing the city can't even follow their own streetscape guidelines... Where are the granite curbs?
July 30, 2024Jul 30 18 minutes ago, NW24HX said: Happy to see these finally go two-way but it's disappointing the city can't even follow their own streetscape guidelines... Where are the granite curbs? I feel like I only see those on the main stretches with a lot of businesses?
July 30, 2024Jul 30 42 minutes ago, VintageLife said: I feel like I only see those on the main stretches with a lot of businesses? As of late 2015, projects are supposed to adhere to guidelines which mandate granite curbs for long-term durability and aesthetics on all downtown streets There hasn't yet been enough completed since then to really make them widespread, but the city's been fairly strict with enforcing this requirement on others (despite developer objections to the cost) If you look at most recent projects you'll see them, but there are exceptions including apparently the city's own streetscape work https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/building-and-zoning/document-library/downtown-streetscape-standards.pdf (curbs are on pg 34)
July 30, 2024Jul 30 12 hours ago, NW24HX said: As of late 2015, projects are supposed to adhere to guidelines which mandate granite curbs for long-term durability and aesthetics on all downtown streets There hasn't yet been enough completed since then to really make them widespread, but the city's been fairly strict with enforcing this requirement on others (despite developer objections to the cost) If you look at most recent projects you'll see them, but there are exceptions including apparently the city's own streetscape work https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/building-and-zoning/document-library/downtown-streetscape-standards.pdf (curbs are on pg 34) This is a very good thing to enforce. They are long lasting and a great investment.
July 30, 2024Jul 30 15 hours ago, NW24HX said: Happy to see these finally go two-way but it's disappointing the city can't even follow their own streetscape guidelines... Where are the granite curbs? I think they are putting granite curbs throughout most of the project- Here's a pic of some of the new curb along Front And some of the new curb along Marconi
July 30, 2024Jul 30 6 hours ago, CbusOrBust said: I think they are putting granite curbs throughout most of the project- Here's a pic of some of the new curb along Front And some of the new curb along Marconi Thanks! That's great news, maybe it's only further north in the parking garage district where they're doing the concrete And I'll choose to believe it's because a big project is in the works there soon, and not because the city's just being cheap 😉 Edited July 30, 2024Jul 30 by NW24HX
August 5, 2024Aug 5 Are there any proposals/plans for a new hotel downtown? I know merchant tower will have a hotel inside, but I’m talking about hotel specific project like the Canopy or the AC. Columbus wants to keep getting large events. They need to keep up with the downtown hotel inventory. I feel like it’s concerning. They haven’t had any proposals in a while. Also I would love to see them add a more high-end name at some point. Something like Ritz-Carlton.
August 5, 2024Aug 5 Hell, it needs a JW before we even get to Ritz or Conrad territory. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 5, 2024Aug 5 33 minutes ago, 614love said: Are there any proposals/plans for a new hotel downtown? I know merchant tower will have a hotel inside, but I’m talking about hotel specific project like the Canopy or the AC. Columbus wants to keep getting large events. They need to keep up with the downtown hotel inventory. I feel like it’s concerning. They haven’t had any proposals in a while. Also I would love to see them add a more high-end name at some point. Something like Ritz-Carlton. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a proposal down by lower.com at some point. I think having one in the lot between 3rd and 4th would also be great. That spot has enough room for hotel, apartment and retail spots. hopefully something goes into the lot beside the current parking garage on Goodale. If the articles I’ve seen are correct we have around the same number of hotel rooms as Cleveland and more than Cincinnati. Indy has all of us blown out of the water, but that makes sense. Edited August 5, 2024Aug 5 by VintageLife
August 5, 2024Aug 5 49 minutes ago, ColDayMan said: Hell, it needs a JW before we even get to Ritz or Conrad territory. My guess is that’s what we would get next as well. I don’t see us ever getting to a Ritz or a Conrad. We just aren’t that big of an outside destination to warrant one of those. depending on what goes into merchant. We already have 6 to 8 “luxury“ boutique style hotels in the downtown vicinity.
August 5, 2024Aug 5 There’s also supposed to be a second hotel next to the Junto. I believe it will be the same building that is expected to hold the new Pins. I haven’t seen anything new on that since the Pins announcement though.
August 6, 2024Aug 6 On 8/5/2024 at 1:43 PM, VintageLife said: I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a proposal down by lower.com at some point. I think having one in the lot between 3rd and 4th would also be great. That spot has enough room for hotel, apartment and retail spots. hopefully something goes into the lot beside the current parking garage on Goodale. If the articles I’ve seen are correct we have around the same number of hotel rooms as Cleveland and more than Cincinnati. Indy has all of us blown out of the water, but that makes sense. During the proposal stages of the new Hilton tower there was a proposal to put dueling towers across from each other on Goodale to occupy where the conventional center extension currently resides and that parking lot by the new parking garage. If any area downtown is going to support 24/7 demand it's this area. I would love to see a nice mixed use tower for the Goodale parking lot.
August 15, 2024Aug 15 This building was listed a few days ago, can someone please buy it and hang multiple pride flags from it and have drag shows everyday? It’s right next to the trash Center for Christian Virtues building. 60 E Broad St Edited August 15, 2024Aug 15 by VintageLife
August 16, 2024Aug 16 13 hours ago, VintageLife said: This building was listed a few days ago, can someone please buy it and hang multiple pride flags from it and have drag shows everyday? It’s right next to the trash Center for Christian Virtues building. 60 E Broad St That's going to be one expensive "Latte Larry's"!
August 16, 2024Aug 16 Revitalization of downtown building gains momentum thanks to state grant A downtown Columbus property is one step closer to finding new life as a residential building. New England-based Beacon Communities, which wants to convert the building at 80 S. 6th St. into 72 affordable apartments, was recently awarded a state brownfield remediation grant. Joanna Cuevas, project manager for this development, said the $1.8 million grant was the last thing needed to apply for a Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which the firm will do later this year. Apartments in the building would be available to renters making 50%, 60% and 80% of the area median income. To convert the building into a residential use, the swimming pool will have to be covered up and additional interior walls constructed. Because of the building's layout, most of the units will be studios or one bedrooms. Edited August 16, 2024Aug 16 by VintageLife
August 16, 2024Aug 16 I volunteered with the Salesian Boys and Girls club back in high school and went to that building on several occasions. I recall it maintaining a lot of character inside. I remember being thrown for a loop seeing the pool on the second or third level. Hopefully this outfit, in the process of converting the building to residential use and covering up the pool and interior walls, is able to keep some of the interior charm intact.
August 16, 2024Aug 16 Why would they need to cover up the pool for this to become residential? Couldn't that be some kind of amenity if it was made usable?
August 17, 2024Aug 17 1 hour ago, jonoh81 said: Why would they need to cover up the pool for this to become residential? Couldn't that be some kind of amenity if it was made usable? I can imagine that would be hugely cost prohibitive.
August 18, 2024Aug 18 Cherry Street (which is basically an alley) will be closed to automobile traffic east of 4th Street from August 16th to October 13th for pedestrian and event activation. Dubbed the Cherry Pit, live music on weekends and possibly other events will take place in the space. Neighboring businesses include Dirty Frank's and 16-Bit and it is in a DORA. Hopefully it becomes permanent and acts as a model for other pedestrian zones in the city. https://downtowncolumbus.com/cherrypit/ Edited August 19, 2024Aug 19 by GCrites
August 18, 2024Aug 18 On 8/16/2024 at 6:20 PM, cbussoccer said: I can imagine that would be hugely cost prohibitive. Maybe, but the article makes it seem like it's a requirement for the conversion into residential rather than a monetary issue.
August 18, 2024Aug 18 1 hour ago, jonoh81 said: Maybe, but the article makes it seem like it's a requirement for the conversion into residential rather than a monetary issue. Developers just aren't creative. You better believe I'm putting basketball courts on the roofs and hidden rooms and all that good stuff. Old buildings are like really cool mazes, and I love every bit of that.
August 19, 2024Aug 19 On 8/16/2024 at 6:55 PM, jonoh81 said: Why would they need to cover up the pool for this to become residential? Couldn't that be some kind of amenity if it was made usable? It would be a nice amenity but this is intended to be affordable housing and operating a pool onsite would end up raising rent for everyone.
August 19, 2024Aug 19 1 hour ago, TIm said: It would be a nice amenity but this is intended to be affordable housing and operating a pool onsite would end up raising rent for everyone. It'd make a cool gathering area - like the "grooving area" sunk into the living rooms of 80s homes!
August 19, 2024Aug 19 4 hours ago, columbus17 said: It'd make a cool gathering area - like the "grooving area" sunk into the living rooms of 80s homes! But gathering areas don't generate income for the landlord! And let me say, I really hate that this actually makes sense as a justification lol.
August 19, 2024Aug 19 11 minutes ago, TIm said: But gathering areas don't generate income for the landlord! And let me say, I really hate that this actually makes sense as a justification lol. If they don't make money, you're just not creative enough about it ;)
August 19, 2024Aug 19 1 hour ago, columbus17 said: If they don't make money, you're just not creative enough about it ;) I mean, I'm not sure how a pool or gym on the 2nd or 3rd floor of a rent controlled low income apartment building is going to generate any money. The only money generating thing I've ever found in these buildings, aside from the rental units, are a few vending machines. They are usually quite barebones when it comes to amenities and even have more of a dorm room type vibe inside, at least in the older ones I had to visit in Newark.
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