38 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Reading the commission members comments on this build is hilarious. They said buildings that have different and varied facades don’t look good. Who the hell are these idiots?? 
 

Do they think this looks good?? 
 

 

They're better than most in the city but no, these are horrible. Architects aren't taught classical styles, and so when they attempt to use them, it ends up like this.

10 hours ago, VintageLife said:

I agree, the SW building isn’t awful and did a decent job of breaking up the facade. The Aubrey is garbage and you can see how crappy it’s built just driving by it. How they approved that after saying they wanted to bring distinction to that intersection is hilarious to me. Not to mention they haven’t even filled in any of the retail stuff, just altogether terrible developer. 

The corner is too dangerous to walk as a pedestrian. Car's flying down Summit and across fifth. There needs to be a serious traffic overhaul for this intersection. 

11 hours ago, DTCL11 said:

I prefer the asymmetry. Provides that varied visual differentiation that so many buildings are missing. 

 

And the city doesn't even have to go the lengths of messing with plots. They simply need to send developers back to the drawing boards when they come with anything that doesn't provide visual differentiation every 30-40 feet. 

 

Edwards at least attempted this at Gay+High. It was only about 1/4-1/3 successful, but at least they made an attempt. 

13 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Edwards at least attempted this at Gay+High. It was only about 1/4-1/3 successful, but at least they made an attempt. 

Are we talking the Nicholas? Even then it wasn’t a great attempt. It’s only two materials and it basically repeats, but he did try somewhat. That’s why I love what is happening on Gay street, they are pretty much forced to adapt this style.
 

It’s hard going to over the rhine in Cincy and see how great all the buildings look. it sucks so much history was destroyed here for no reason at all. 

32 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Are we talking the Nicholas? Even then it wasn’t a great attempt. It’s only two materials and it basically repeats, but he did try somewhat. That’s why I love what is happening on Gay street, they are pretty much forced to adapt this style.
 

It’s hard going to over the rhine in Cincy and see how great all the buildings look. it sucks so much history was destroyed here for no reason at all. 

 

Yes, the Nicholas has three very distinct larger facades with two distinct smaller facades. Are the designs/materials as good as they should be? No, absolutely not. But they actually made a building an entire block long that doesn't have the same facade the entire way. So credit where credit is due there. Compare it to the Normandy buildings, Industry, Xander, High Pointe, etc. and I'd say they did a pretty good job of varying the facade. 

 

 

17 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Yes, the Nicholas has three very distinct larger facades with two distinct smaller facades. Are the designs/materials as good as they should be? No, absolutely not. But they actually made a building an entire block long that doesn't have the same facade the entire way. So credit where credit is due there. Compare it to the Normandy buildings, Industry, Xander, High Pointe, etc. and I'd say they did a pretty good job of varying the facade. 

 

 

That is true, I’m glad they at least tried and I think Hank’s did a lot of good in making it even more distinct so that is great. If they would have used any material other than that crappy brown metal paneling, the building would be a lot better. 

4 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Edwards at least attempted this at Gay+High. It was only about 1/4-1/3 successful, but at least they made an attempt. 

The northwest corner of high and Long is horrendous! I'm not sure if the architect got fired but this is the most bland, cheap looking part of the entire building. Maybe the developer just said go with it after they got the price tag of what it would cost to complete using the materials they chose. We have 3 beautiful turn of the century buildings on the 3 other corners and then we end of with this. 

Edited January 15Jan 15 by sono4315

2 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

The northwest corner of high and Long is horrendous! I'm not sure if the architect got fired but this is the most bland, cheap looking part of the entire building. Maybe the developer just said go with it after they got the price tag of what it would cost to complete using the materials they chose. We have 3 beautiful turn of the century buildings on the 3 other corners and then we end of with this. 

 

Yep, it's definitely bad. That corner is really bad. But my point was that they at least used multiple different facades along the entire massive city block they were building on. That's something nobody else has really done here. 

 

Not only do we need varied facades, but also varied heights. That is something Edwards failed to do with the Nicholas. I know it increases construction costs, but it creates such a better end product.  

The High & Long corner is bad, sadly. If I remember correctly, it was planned as a future phase/phase II of the project, with the rest being phase I. If I had to guess, they saw demand was stronger, got a nudge here and there, then rush decided to move forward with it. It just didn't get the same level of attention/planning or finance as the rest, and it shows. 

 

I give them credit overall, though, because they varied the material and height of the High St facade. I wish the High & Long portion had been more of a true phase II because I think we may have gotten something better/taller/unique. That said, I won't miss the forest for the trees. It is a very successful development and it is still improving (Hanks, street tree growth, retail, neighborhood energy). Most developers build and call it a day. Edwards has taken the build it and strengthen everything around it approach, actual investment. Plus, I do think that once that corner leases, whatever happens on the ground-level build-out will help it feel better or at least keep our focus on the ground vs. the whole. 

24 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

The northwest corner of high and Long is horrendous! I'm not sure if the architect got fired but this is the most bland, cheap looking part of the entire building. Maybe the developer just said go with it after they got the price tag of what it would cost to complete using the materials they chose. We have 3 beautiful turn of the century buildings on the 3 other corners and then we end of with this. 

Fired? The client liked it enough to let them design the Gilbert after this, and we all know how that went.

This would be a great area to bring back the Columbus visitors center. Even if it's a smaller version of the one in the Arena District. Years ago the visitors center was actually located across the street in a 1 story 60s building next to the Madison. I have had a few people ask me while walking whe e e they could get maps or info.on things to do in the city, Aldo a few ask where they could get Columbus souvenirs like shirts or postcards. 

I didn't know we had any visitor centers at all! We should though, I mean Lancaster has one. One time my aunt and uncle came to visit from Hawaii and they tracked down the Lancaster one. I had no idea it had one at all but then I found myself in it. They travel a lot.

49 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

This would be a great area to bring back the Columbus visitors center. Even if it's a smaller version of the one in the Arena District. Years ago the visitors center was actually located across the street in a 1 story 60s building next to the Madison. I have had a few people ask me while walking whe e e they could get maps or info.on things to do in the city, Aldo a few ask where they could get Columbus souvenirs like shirts or postcards. 

They have an experience Columbus store at 277 W Nationwide Blvd. Looks like they have a selection of souvenirs and the like. It would be a lot better in the middle of downtown though. 

They could always reclad. I wish they would.

5 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

They have an experience Columbus store at 277 W Nationwide Blvd. Looks like they have a selection of souvenirs and the like. It would be a lot better in the middle of downtown though. 

 

I actually think it's better being located closer the AD/Convention Center. That area is where most of visitors are going to be.

 

I believe there's also an Experience Columbus shop at Easton and one at the airport as well.  

3 hours ago, DevolsDance said:

Plus, I do think that once that corner leases, whatever happens on the ground-level build-out will help it feel better or at least keep our focus on the ground vs. the whole. 

Already leased actually! As part of the Ground Floor Growth project. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/quality_wellness_columbus?igsh=MWZ6emZjejAxZW96Yg==

33 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Already leased actually! As part of the Ground Floor Growth project. 
 

https://www.instagram.com/quality_wellness_columbus?igsh=MWZ6emZjejAxZW96Yg==

That’s great to see. I think the retail in the Nicholas is almost 100% rented then 

12 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Are we talking the Nicholas? Even then it wasn’t a great attempt. It’s only two materials and it basically repeats, but he did try somewhat. That’s why I love what is happening on Gay street, they are pretty much forced to adapt this style.
 

It’s hard going to over the rhine in Cincy and see how great all the buildings look. it sucks so much history was destroyed here for no reason at all. 

I really don’t see the appeal of Over The Rhine. Everytime I’ve been there im just like mehhh. Different strokes for different folks I guess. 

24 minutes ago, 614love said:

I really don’t see the appeal of Over The Rhine. Everytime I’ve been there im just like mehhh. Different strokes for different folks I guess. 

I have not spent significant time. I was more so talking about the buildings and how most of them are original and make the area feel nice. 

10 hours ago, 614love said:

I really don’t see the appeal of Over The Rhine. Everytime I’ve been there im just like mehhh. Different strokes for different folks I guess. 

Well it's just their nightlife district mostly right now, which obviously most cities have. But OTR has history, beautiful architecture and a lot more character than our equivalent which is the Short North. Oh and a trolley. Like they get 5000 points for that for sure. It's not like OTR is offering a super unique experience compared to other cities, they're offering a familiar experience in a pretty fantastic setting.

4 minutes ago, TIm said:

Well it's just their nightlife district mostly right now, which obviously most cities have. But OTR has history, beautiful architecture and a lot more character than our equivalent which is the Short North. Oh and a trolley. Like they get 5000 points for that for sure. It's not like OTR is offering a super unique experience compared to other cities, they're offering a familiar experience in a pretty fantastic setting.

Thank you for saying it better than I could. It’s basically the same as the short north, just elevated because of be beautiful architecture and like you said, the trolley 

28 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Thank you for saying it better than I could. It’s basically the same as the short north, just elevated because of be beautiful architecture and like you said, the trolley 

Yeah the 2 have similarities, especially when it comes to the restaurant/ retail mix. Just very different vibes with the architecture etc. The streetcar does great connecting the areas of downtown.

 

Edited January 16Jan 16 by 646empire

Agreed, OTR is amazing.

 

City drops plan for Downtown Columbus Inc. to oversee Special Improvement Districts, cuts SIDs' funding

 

The city of Columbus is no longer making an effort to combine Downtown Columbus Inc. and the Special Improvement Districts and has cut out its annual contribution to the SIDs.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/17/city-sid-dci.html

 

CMHA's redevelopment of former United Way HQ downtown could move forward with final piece in place

 

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's redevelopment of the former United Way headquarters in downtown Columbus may finally be moving forward.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/22/cmha-united-way-hq.html

 

8 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

CMHA's redevelopment of former United Way HQ downtown could move forward with final piece in place

 

The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority's redevelopment of the former United Way headquarters in downtown Columbus may finally be moving forward.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/22/cmha-united-way-hq.html

 

 

Is this planned to have some ground floor retail? 

24 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Is this planned to have some ground floor retail? 

Nope, this project is terrible and should never have been approved. The only positive is that it is affordable housing 

24 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Nope, this project is terrible and should never have been approved. The only positive is that it is affordable housing 

 

My hope is that some of these recent projects with ground floor residential units will be able to be retrofitted with ground floor retail in the future if demand warrants it. There are areas of downtown where I'm totally fine with ground floor residential, but not at this corner. 

4 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

My hope is that some of these recent projects with ground floor residential units will be able to be retrofitted with ground floor retail in the future if demand warrants it. There are areas of downtown where I'm totally fine with ground floor residential, but not at this corner. 

It does say that this will have a first floor amenity space, so I guess in the future that could be converted. It’s more just the overall building that is trash, especially compared to what won them the sale. 

39 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

My hope is that some of these recent projects with ground floor residential units will be able to be retrofitted with ground floor retail in the future if demand warrants it. There are areas of downtown where I'm totally fine with ground floor residential, but not at this corner. 

Why not just residential at this corner? The NE corner is residential and the SW corner is a parking lot. The NW corner is either residential or office (I'm not sure).

1 hour ago, Pablo said:

Why not just residential at this corner? The NE corner is residential and the SW corner is a parking lot. The NW corner is either residential or office (I'm not sure).

I'd say residential at street corners is just a waste and bad planning. Leave that inside the blocks, keep the corners open and inviting.

6 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Nope, this project is terrible and should never have been approved. The only positive is that it is affordable housing 

 

So the name is very ironic. 

CAPA's plan to revitalize historic church as concert venue could see approvals next week

 

A potential new downtown Columbus concert venue is seeking Downtown Commission approval.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/22/capa-theater-downtown.html

 

I’ve been hearing this more from brokers that leasing is starting to cool in certain markets across the country. Prices have also grown outrageous.

 

Downtown Columbus apartment demand is soft with more units planned to come online.

 

Demand for apartments in downtown Columbus is soft and the problem may be exacerbated by more coming onto the market.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/21/downtown-housing-under-construction.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_10&cx_artPos=6#cxrecs_s

Edited January 23Jan 23 by 646empire

19 hours ago, Pablo said:

Why not just residential at this corner? The NE corner is residential and the SW corner is a parking lot. The NW corner is either residential or office (I'm not sure).

 

I don't like the fact that those are residential either. As @columbus17 stated, the corners of an intersection like this should feature ground floor commercial space. Ground floor residential space should be pushed toward the middle of the block.   

11 hours ago, 646empire said:

I’ve been hearing this more from brokers that leasing is starting to cool in certain markets across the country. Prices have also grown outrageous.

 

Downtown Columbus apartment demand is soft with more units planned to come online.

 

Demand for apartments in downtown Columbus is soft and the problem may be exacerbated by more coming onto the market.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/01/21/downtown-housing-under-construction.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_10&cx_artPos=6#cxrecs_s

Math ain't mathing. We're short 4MM units nationally, and like 20k here, yet demand is soft. I understand maybe in the downtown submarket - as rent expectations have outgrown lower demand as the amenities promised with those developments have not been built out or followed through, but I find it very hard to believe that the region or country is overpriced in rents. I was just on Costar yesterday and they're projecting a massive 5.1% rental growth in 2025.

10 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

I find it very hard to believe that the region or country is overpriced in rents.

You are the very first person that I’ve heard say this. Rents are absolutely high right now. Housing and Groceries are core reasons we have a Trump return.

1 hour ago, columbus17 said:

Math ain't mathing. We're short 4MM units nationally, and like 20k here, yet demand is soft. I understand maybe in the downtown submarket - as rent expectations have outgrown lower demand as the amenities promised with those developments have not been built out or followed through, but I find it very hard to believe that the region or country is overpriced in rents. I was just on Costar yesterday and they're projecting a massive 5.1% rental growth in 2025.

Demand for housing hasn’t been soft in central Ohio ever in the 18 years I’ve lived here. We’ve always been behind. The whales that reside here have hindered outside investment and that’s not an assumption or guess.

I think what is often missed in the 'demand' conversation is 'desire'. Sure, demand is there for housing. Plenty of it. And there's plenty of people who can afford these. But folks have become privy to the fact that rents are arbitrarily high and keep growing for very little apparent reason (to the average consumer).   Those with the luxury to afford those units also have the luxury these days to focus on spending the money to travel, collect experiences, etc and the economy shows that. I know multiple people that also looked at it and said they are done paying Chicago prices for an experience that severely lacks. We can talk numbers all day, but in the end, it's the sentiment. There's also the general sentiment of 'f*** corporate real estate'... especially in a bluer bubble. 

 

The best possible outcome here is a reduction in rents to increase demand for downtown living. I don't think anyone is going to be successful of the rents don't give way.  

Yeah and also developers keep slapping the “luxury” word on almost all new construction even tho there really isn’t anything luxury about most of the new units hitting the market, yet the prices reflect high end. People feel as tho they are not getting value at all and over paying for generic amenities, cheap cabinets, appliances etc. 

2 hours ago, 646empire said:

You are the very first person that I’ve heard say this. Rents are absolutely high right now. Housing and Groceries are core reasons we have a Trump return.

 

It's all relative, and Columbus is cheap compared to almost anywhere else.

According to r/Columbus, AEP is bringing everyone back to the office 5 days a week by June of this year. I've heard Chase is bringing people back to the office in a larger capacity as well. I think Nationwide is doing the same. Say what you will about wfh, but this kind of trend is excellent news for the downtown area. 

45 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

According to r/Columbus, AEP is bringing everyone back to the office 5 days a week by June of this year. I've heard Chase is bringing people back to the office in a larger capacity as well. I think Nationwide is doing the same. Say what you will about wfh, but this kind of trend is excellent news for the downtown area. 

To be honest, work from home has run its course in many businesses. Production was fine at first but people have become too lax. In my own experience our customer base can tell when our support teams are home versus in the office. Too many mistakes because people don’t have the opportunity to learn from one another.

2 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

According to r/Columbus, AEP is bringing everyone back to the office 5 days a week by June of this year. I've heard Chase is bringing people back to the office in a larger capacity as well. I think Nationwide is doing the same. Say what you will about wfh, but this kind of trend is excellent news for the downtown area. 

WFH was getting a bit weird. I had to have my windshield replaced but the Safelite tech was working from home that day. I had to drive to his house out in Hilliard where he replaced the glass. The service was fine but the overall experience was strange.  /jk

3 hours ago, 646empire said:

Yeah and also developers keep slapping the “luxury” word on almost all new construction even tho there really isn’t anything luxury about most of the new units hitting the market, yet the prices reflect high end. People feel as tho they are not getting value at all and over paying for generic amenities, cheap cabinets, appliances etc. 

Luxury is anything Class A - aka new. That is why.

2 hours ago, wpcc88 said:

To be honest, work from home has run its course in many businesses. Production was fine at first but people have become too lax. In my own experience our customer base can tell when our support teams are home versus in the office. Too many mistakes because people don’t have the opportunity to learn from one another.

I think if you work a job where you don't interact with anyone much on a daily basis, and are basically a paid lemming, it makes sense. But if you're in any sort of a collaborative role, it just doesn't.

3 hours ago, jonoh81 said:

 

It's all relative, and Columbus is cheap compared to almost anywhere else.

We really are. I know its a little off topic but I was shook when I saw a 10.25% sales tax on my bagel at Midland airport. We've got it easier here than we think when looking at things on a national scale.

5 hours ago, 646empire said:

You are the very first person that I’ve heard say this. Rents are absolutely high right now. Housing and Groceries are core reasons we have a Trump return.

Compared to demand, yes. Also things have gone up like interest rates, which get baked into the cost. Developers don't pay taxes, and while interest isn't directly calculated into their revenue, they definitely do look at it when determining lease rates. I think downtown like Jaeger and Preston are insanely overpriced, but most of the other units I've seen are pretty reasonable. I definitely don't think we are an ultra luxury market - we don't have any geographic reason to be and we don't have any amenities to make up for it. But across the board, rents aren't bad, and they're about to go up again at a level unforeseen for the last decade.

6 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

We really are. I know its a little off topic but I was shook when I saw a 10.25% sales tax on my bagel at Midland airport. We've got it easier here than we think when looking at things on a national scale.

 

In those low income tax states they just whack people with sales and/or property taxes instead. In Ohio sales taxes are capped at 8% iirc

6 hours ago, wpcc88 said:

To be honest, work from home has run its course in many businesses. Production was fine at first but people have become too lax. In my own experience our customer base can tell when our support teams are home versus in the office. Too many mistakes because people don’t have the opportunity to learn from one another.

So true. I couldn’t agree more. So many people are convinced that big companies are going back to the office because of the commercial real estate holdings, but I really don’t think that’s playing into it much at all. If a company like AEP owns its own building, it’s mostly just a sunk cost. You already own the thing. Whether or not people are there doesn’t effect much. If you are leasing office space, you just break your lease or let it run out. Not a big deal. 
 

I think middle managers (like myself) all the way up to the C-suites have realized that wfh is often times a huge pain and makes things less efficient. WFH will continue for certain jobs, and that’s good, but by and large it will be going away. Within another year or so I think you’ll be hard pressed to find a job that doesn’t ask you to be in the office at least 3 days/week, with 4 days/week being the norm.