Only open until 4pm?  I hate it when I businesses do that.  I've worked late a few times and have not been able to grab dinner because places close at four!  Geesh. 

 

When does NBC 4 move in?

Haven't heard any updates on when NBC 4 moves into 4 E. Broad Street.  It shouldn't be too much longer after the sidewalk work is finished at Broad & High.  (Ch.4 moving into 4 - that worked out well!)

 

Different types of downtown restaurants keep different types of hours.  But I'm not surprised that a "grab-and-go" place like Cafe Lola starts out with limited hours.  Breakfast and lunch are the prime profit times for these restaurant types.  Evening is usually good for the expensive sit-down places, like Mitchell's or Due Amici, or the bar/restaurant places like Tip Top or the Elevator restaurant. 

 

But some places expand their hours after getting on their feet.  Pizza Napolitana is located just north of Broad & High.  They started out with limited weekday lunchtime hours.  But they expanded to evenings and weekends to meet the demands of downtown residents. 

Don't know exactly when NBC4 moves into Broad & High, but it can't that much longer because they're having a "Name The Studio" contest.

 

Go to http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/clients/name_the_studio_contest.html if you want to try your luck.

 

 

Carlyles Watch update

Monday, April 21, 2008

By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Tom Fortin, one of the developers of the Carlyles Watch condominium project Downtown, said the building is full because the owners decided to rent the units they couldn't sell.  As condo sales in the eight-story, 54-unit building lagged, the owners in October conducted an auction of some of the unsold properties.  They auctioned only eight, leaving 31 unsold.  Since then, Fortin said, the remaining units have been rented for an average price of $1,370.

 

Read more at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/04/21/ZONE0421.ART_ART_04-21-08_C10_8P9V9E0.html?sid=101

Waiting for the Soupman

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 

By Bill Chronister

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Construction problems have posed a serious impediment to the opening of the first Original Soupman in Columbus, on High Street just north of Broad Street.  Owner Phil Smith, who originally thought the place might open as early as November, is now hoping to get things rolling by May 1.  Once the 45-seat restaurant opens Downtown, Smith will be able to concentrate on opening his second store, at the Shoppes on 5th Avenue, the former Ed Potter Mercedes-Benz dealership in the 900 block of W. 5th Avenue, north of Grandview Heights.

 

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/04/22/rest_0422.ART_ART_04-22-08_C10_QRA07NH.html?sid=101

Wow. $1370 is quite an average for a rental there. I don't think any of the units for rent were all that huge.

 

Glad to see they've got the building at full capacity.

Shows people are willing to pay that much to have Gay St at their doorstep. I'm guessing proximity to the Arena District and Short North would have something to do with it too.

NBC 4 Names New Downtown Studio

 

NBC 4 (WCMH-TV) is preparing to launch its new high definition studio located in downtown Columbus at 4 East Broad Street.  In preparation for the launch, the new studio has been officially named, "NBC 4 on the Square."

 

NBC 4 conducted a contest in which the public voted on name options online at www.nbc4i.com.  The public was encouraged to submit its own name ideas too. More than 2,000 entries were received. "NBC 4 on the Square" or a variation of the same name was the overwhelming favorite.  'NBC 4 on the Square" ties the studio to its location across the street from The Ohio Statehouse and Capitol Square.  The popularity of the name also comes from the fact that the corner of the building where the studio is located has a look of Times Square with a large multi-screen digital advertising display.

 

 

http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-04-24-0006.html

Update: this went up rather quickly.

 

 

Courtyard with a fountain

 

This concludes the entire block. You can't really see it from here, but there is a garage being built in the rear (see the slanted roof?). Secured, covered parking for bikes would be better.  :wink:

DOWNTOWN HOUSING PROJECT

Here comes the Neighborhood

First building has studios, garden apartments, town houses

Monday,  April 28, 2008 3:00 AM

By Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The blue-gray building at the northeast corner of Gay and 4th streets is the linchpin in developer Edwards Cos.' Neighborhood Launch project. The structure has a mixture of residential styles, including three-story town houses, second-floor studios and garden-style units. Now, the challenge for developer Edwards Cos. is to convince potential buyers that expectations for the rest of its Gay Street neighborhood will match the promise the first building has provided.

 

"Based on our experience in the Brewery District, and the experience Nationwide has had in the Arena District, there's no question that any development of size makes people feel better about their living decision," developer Jeff Edwards said. "Building a building in an island of parking lots, it's not as appealing as a planned neighborhood."  It will take several years to complete the neighborhood, bounded by Long, 6th, Gay and 4th streets. The first phase will include about 40 condominiums ranging in price from about $150,000 to $660,000.

 

The company has opened a design center at 45 N. 4th St., where buyers can make purchases and select finishes for the units.

 

Read more at

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/04/28/ZONE0428.ART_ART_04-28-08_C8_SMA172L.html?sid=101

FIRST BROADCASTS SCHEDULED FROM BROAD & HIGH

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Columbus Dispatch

 

WCMH-TV (Channel 4) will begin broadcasting May 27 from its new Downtown studio.  The early-morning and noon shows NBC 4 Today and NBC 4 Midday will become the first programs to originate from Broad and High Streets.

 

Also, starting June 9, Channel 4 will air First at 4, a one-hour local newscast — bumping the syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show an hour earlier, to 3 p.m.  The 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts will continue to be based at the Olentangy River Road studios.

   

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com

Cool stuff.

Yeah, this sounds like a great new development for Columbus.  It makes me wonder why Channel 12 in Cincinnati stopped doing their morning broadcasts from Fountain Square a few years ago.

SLIDESHOW: NBC 4 On The Square Launch

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 10:45 AM

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- NBC 4 began broadcasting in high definition from its new downtown studio, NBC 4 on the Square, on Tuesday, May 27.

 

NBC 4 Today and NBC 4 Midday newscasts are the first NBC 4 programs to broadcast from the new location, weekdays from 5 a.m.-7 a.m. and 12 pm.-1 p.m., respectively.

 

Read more at http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-05-27-0011.html

You should have seen the lines of people outside for the free food giveaways this week at lunch time... Donato's, Chipotle's....

 

 

Offer free food that's half way decent and the people will come out of the woodwork. The whole project looks great. 

You should have seen the lines of people outside for the free food giveaways this week at lunch time... Donato's, Chipotle's....

 

 

 

How long is that lasting? I'm going to be downtown this weekend :)

I think it was just for this week....but check it out anyway.

Contemporary Condos Under Construction on 5th St as part of the Edwards East Gay Street Residential Neighborhood

 

The Neighborhood Launch web site now shows some data for a new phase of the project at Gay and Fifth.

 

Neighborhood Launch wrote:

We are excited to announce that our next phase of Neighborhood Launch is underway and we invite you to meet with our sales team to learn more about the new contemporary design in our neighborhood.  Same interior townhome and garden unit concepts but with a truly contemporary exterior.  This building will include 21 homes each offering garage parking and personal outdoor living space.  A few units even include balconies on the top floor. Prices range from $179,900 to $492,900.  Expected completion date is January 2009.

 

 

Read more at http://www.neighborhoodlaunch.com/news.html#contemporary

 

I like it and it's certainly needed.

While searching the Neighborhood Launch website for the previous update, I came across some construction photos for this residential project.  Some very nice aerial photos too...

 

Link:  http://www.neighborhoodlaunch.com

 

EDIT: The links to the previously posted photos on the Neighborhood Launch website no longer work.  The website has an updated set of construction photos now.

 

 

I really like the third picture!

Those aerials are really out of date. The building on the right is going to be the part of the contemporary stretch of condos branching off of Gay facing all along 5th.

 

^You are right about the aerials being out of date.  It doesn't include the construction that extends to Fifth Street that you have in your photo. 

 

But I still thought the aerials were pretty darn cool!  They must have took it from one of the nearby skyscrapers.  Possibly the Chase Building (formerly Bank One Building) or the Marriott Renaissance Hotel.

Certainly not downplaying the cool factor. Maybe I should head up in one of the skyscrapers and take a pic. I'm a little too sweaty and cooling down sitting inside of a Downtown coffee-shop I'm too comfy to pry myself out of this seat.

i wondered how this was going. wow.

 

the night view is colorful. can't wait to see it sometime.

 

Soup Nazi looks to be ready soon. Still waiting to see when Caribou will open and tomorrow I'll see if I can catch a live taping of NBC4 at the studio.

Edwards moves into new phase of city condos; buys nearby parcel

Friday, June 20, 2008

Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball

 

The developer of a planned 300-condo neighborhood on East Gay Street in Columbus has begun building the second 21-unit phase of the project along North Fifth Street.

 

Edwards Cos. expects to finish its first condos, which were designed by Lupton Rausch Architects Inc., in January.  The townhouse-style condos and flats will sell for $179,900 to $492,900.

 

Edwards this month also is expected to seek approval from the Downtown Commission for 14 townhouses, 11 flats and a so-called "bridge" unit in the Bishop's Walk section planned along East Gay between Fifth Street and Normandy Avenue.

 

The developer has sold or put into contract nine condos in the first completed building.  An additional 14 of 18 townhouses and flats now under construction also are in contract.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/06/23/newscolumn1.html

Not being from C-bus, I was having a hard time picturing where this was and what the site plan looked like.  This is from their neighborhood launch website:

 

It's northeast of the Statehouse.

Very attractive!

i dont care for the brick one very much, but i love the blue one.

 

all of it is a vast improvement on surface parking that is for sure!

Yes, there is a need for more hotel rooms downtown.

 

No, we don't need another botique hotel.

Small hotel is possible on High

Former OSU, NBA star behind project

Thursday,  June 26, 2008 3:06 AM

By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Jim Jackson's latest off-the-court move could help transform a sleepy Downtown block into a place where people would sleep in style. The former Ohio State University basketball star is looking into developing a boutique hotel at the northwest corner of Gay and High streets. His Toledo development company is trying to make the numbers work for a four-story, 150-room property on what is a parking lot.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/06/26/JJ_hotel.ART_ART_06-26-08_C8_G7AJA4P.html?sid=101

No, we don't need another botique hotel.

 

Another? The only real boutique hotel downtown is The Lofts. I definitely think either a chain boutique hotel or an independent brand could work in that location.

 

Also, I can't help but wonder what would be done about parking. The Residence Inn in the converted Buckeye Building doesn't have it's own parking area, as far as I know. I wonder if they would keep part of the current surface lot to serve as parking for the hotel, or possibly use a close-by garage, or build an adjoining garage.

Windows are in.

 

 

Not a fan of the brick, but the treatment overall has a more industrial motif. The blue painted brick is awesome, in my opinion. Reminds me a lot of the developments in England :)

Couldn't agree more, CMH.  The Lofts stands alone, and downtown could use two or three small hotels.  When I come back to Columbus, I generally stay at a hotel rather than with family (own bathroom, no one's feelings get hurt/sibling rivalry, maid service, morning coffee, etc) and the selection is not too great.  There are few to choose from....and I sure don't want to stay at a convention hotel. 

 

Experience Columbus, like most convention and visitors bureaus is looking out for its own interest, of course.  But not everyone who is staying in Columbus is there for some horse show or the Arnold Classic.  Some may be there on business, or even pleasure.  A 150 room hotel would be great if built right and marketed right.  And it wouldn't dilute anything from the convention crowd.

 

 

 

If anything, Columbus needs MORE botique hotels and hell, I'll take a Hilton downtown!  Or atleast Comfort Inn!

 

But seriously, this is great news.  The scale of four-stories can be fine if done to match the existing buildings along High Street. 

This would be great location for a boutique hotel, or anything else for that matter.  In the past 10 years, there's been alot of development that's occurred in downtown columbus.  But this particular block of High Street has stubbonly remained surface parking lots.  Cap City Savvy, one of our local blogs, recently described it as a "hole in our city" here at http://capcitysavvy.com/2008/04/06/mommy-why-is-there-a-hole-in-our-city/ .  They also included a nice aerial photo of this site too...

 

 

The big question now is whether Jim Jackson can make the project happen.  I hope he can.  I've seen his involvement with the redevelopment of former Toledo Edison steam plant over at http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3089.0.html.  Does anyone know of any other projects he's been involved in?

 

 

 

Like others mentioned I have my doubts about this going through, but more hotels like this would be great. High St Downtown was lined with numerous hotels (all demolished for tall 9-5 only structures with other buildings torn down for employee parking) and was bustling, especially when you add in the 30,000 residents once there (now at 5,000 and rising). Some unique hotel options would definitely help if our history is anything to go by. As for Experience Columbus, I've said before that they don't do much for promoting the city to visitors since they insist on reaching out to the smooth-jazz demographic. Maybe I should start my own local tourism business...

Doughnut-dunking coffee fanatics to get their fix at Broad and High

Friday, July 11, 2008

Business First of Columbus - by Doug Buchanan

 

The world's largest doughnut-and-coffee chain plans to open a 1,600-square-foot store at Columbus developer Casto's project at Broad and High streets this fall.  "I think they'll be a home run," said Casto partner Bill Riat. USA Restaurant Developers LLC, the Dunkin' Brands Inc. franchisee in Central Ohio, will operate the downtown shop.

 

Full story at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/07/14/tidbits1.html

 

Wow. A donut chain right at the city's most-prominent intersection. We're finally a major-league city.

Your feedback is certainly appreciated, Debbie Downer.

Wow. A donut chain right at the city's most-prominent intersection. We're finally a major-league city.

 

Hey, d.t workers need donuts and coffee in the morning.

 

What we need is a Panda Express down there. That new Beijing beef is off the chain.

Wow. A donut chain right at the city's most-prominent intersection. We're finally a major-league city.

 

Hey, d.t workers need donuts and coffee in the morning.

 

What we need is a Panda Express down there. That new Beijing beef is off the chain.

 

I wouldn't mind having a donut shop near me.  You can only have so many bagels for breakfast in a month.

Word. I noticed how many bagel places there are in downtown Columbus. Bagels and sandwiches are too boring. I can make a bagel and a mean sandwich at home!

I would have preferred a 24/7 Buckeye Donuts there, but I'm just glad these retail spaces are filling in quickly. ;)

Your feedback is certainly appreciated, Debbie Downer.

 

Hey, I LIKE Dunkin Donuts. I have complained for the 13 years I've worked downtown that it's ridiculous not to have a donut shop here. I will patronize the Broad & High Dunkin Donuts on my way to work a block away. But I think it's a sign of serious community self-esteem problems if we get excited about a big national chain acknowledging our town as a place to make money. I agree with Walker that a local shop would be preferable. Buckeye Donuts is one of the greatest spots in Columbus. I've got some great anecdotes -- not to mention great donuts and gyros.

 

Bit o' background on the Broad & High project from Business First...

 

Developers have preservation in mind as projects get new life

Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball

Friday, August 1, 2008  |  Modified: Monday, August 4, 2008 - 8:00 AM

 

When city officials closed down 8 E. Broad St. for code violations in early 2000, Columbus developer Richard Solove said it wouldn’t make any economic sense to pump $2 million into adding sprinklers and a second set of stairs to make the building safe.  At the time, Solove still hoped to redevelop the site for a high-rise office building.  But the prospect the 17-story tower close to Broad and High streets could face the wrecking ball without immediate redevelopment plans did not sit well with those who sought to preserve the handiwork of famed Columbus architect Frank Packard.

 

Fortunately, Solove had recently merged his R.J. Solove & Associates development firm with the Casto real estate organization, whose partner Bill Riat had a history and expertise in redeveloping historic properties.  After four years of planning and construction, that building recently reopened as the 8 on the Square condo project as part of the developer’s broader redevelopment of that corner of the city’s crossroads.

 

 

Bill Riat, a developer with Casto, was one of the minds behind the redevelopment of the corner of Broad and High streets in downtown Columbus.  Formerly a decaying eyesore in the heart of the city, the project now comprises a bustling mix of offices, condos and flashy advertising.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/08/04/focus1.html?b=1217822400%5E1678548