Another Orange Barrel Media HQ construction photo.  This one is from Columbus Underground's July Construction Update (dated 7/20) at http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-july-2014.  Anyone want to take a trip up that temporary staircase located next to the tower?

 

 

Somehow I don't see them making their October deadline.

I found it interesting that Land-Grant's first exterior sign of renovation was the installation of 2 large windows.

 

Sunshine Terrace is coming down now

 

^Wow. I didn't realize this had started.

I saw it from 315 and had to investigate.

A couple of more Sunshine Terrace shots from last week.

 

 

Two months until completion (sure)

 

Columbus Monthly has a lenghty piece about Franklinton from their August issue.  Gritty photo-tour as well:

 

http://www.columbusmonthly.com/content/stories/2014/08/bottoms-up-franklintons-growing-pains.html

Orange Barrel Media's HQ is still under construction.  But OBM did put up their first wallscape on the tower.

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/orange-barrel-unveils-first-wallscape-ad-at-new-headquarters

 

Business First has a pretty neat video of that Wexner Center wallscape going up on the Orange Barrel Media HQ Building at the link below.  They also say they now expect to move in by the end of December.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/09/wexner-center-for-the-arts-orange-barrel-media.html

Land-Grant Brewing is opening at 424 W. Town Street in Franklinton.  Business First has a report and photo-tour of the brewery at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/09/first-look-land-grant-brewing-finally-set-to-open.html.

 

The project was previously announced HERE in this thread in March 2014.

Interesting article from The Atlantic about Franklinton. I can't say I'm terribly familiar with what's happening here, but it sounds like lots of positives for the neighborhood.

 

 

But just downhill and across the Scioto River from that prosperous, thriving, vibrant city center—not even a quarter-mile to the west—sits the most deprived and destitute part of town, a neighborhood known as Franklinton. It’s an interesting (but not all that uncommon) geographic paradox: the poorest part of the city has the best, close-up views of its imposing skyline.... Today, the neighborhood’s thumb-like peninsula, around which the Scioto River bends, separating Franklinton from the heart of the city's prosperous business district, is home to the $130-million Center of Science and Industry (COSI), an educational and cultural resource in the city, and a riverfront amphitheater opened by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department.

 

The rest of the article is at: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/remaking-columbuss-most-downtrodden-neighborhood/380860/

Interesting article from The Atlantic about Franklinton. I can't say I'm terribly familiar with what's happening here, but it sounds like lots of positives for the neighborhood.

 

 

But just downhill and across the Scioto River from that prosperous, thriving, vibrant city center—not even a quarter-mile to the west—sits the most deprived and destitute part of town, a neighborhood known as Franklinton. It’s an interesting (but not all that uncommon) geographic paradox: the poorest part of the city has the best, close-up views of its imposing skyline.... Today, the neighborhood’s thumb-like peninsula, around which the Scioto River bends, separating Franklinton from the heart of the city's prosperous business district, is home to the $130-million Center of Science and Industry (COSI), an educational and cultural resource in the city, and a riverfront amphitheater opened by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department.

 

The rest of the article is at: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/remaking-columbuss-most-downtrodden-neighborhood/380860/

 

There have been tons of positives for Franklinton the last few years.  About 1000 residential units are planned in the East Franklinton area right now through multiple projects, along with more artist space, a performing arts center, etc.  And the article didn't even mention one of the biggest projects: The redevelopment of the Scioto Peninsula where COSI sits.  Thousands of residential units in mid to high rises, a new park, a new Vets Memorial and museum, and perhaps some other cultural projects now that the zoo won't be building there.  There's plenty of space. 

Land-Grant Brewing is opening at 424 W. Town Street in Franklinton.  Business First has a report and photo-tour of the brewery at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/09/first-look-land-grant-brewing-finally-set-to-open.html.

 

The project was previously announced HERE in this thread in March 2014.

 

Another phototour of Land-Grant Brewing: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2014/10/franklinton-s-land-grant-brewing-opening-oct-18.html

 

Interesting article from The Atlantic about Franklinton. I can't say I'm terribly familiar with what's happening here, but it sounds like lots of positives for the neighborhood.

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/remaking-columbuss-most-downtrodden-neighborhood/380860/

 

Same author wrote another article about Franklinton for The Atlantic:

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/how-to-attract-artists-to-a-down-and-out-neighborhood/380894/

Below are links to recent Dispatch articles profilings two creative arts organizations that recently relocated into Franklinton.  The Columbus Idea Foundry moved into a 65,000 square foot facility at 421 W. State Street.  Glass Axis moved into a 12,500 square foot facility at 610 W. Town Street.

 

Columbus Idea Foundry: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2014/11/02/01-work-in-progress.html

 

Glass Axis: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2014/10/12/01-clearly-visible.html

Another couple of Orange Barrel Media construction photos from http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-november-2014-part-1

 

Getting closer to opening ... but not quite yet.  Right, Eridony? :wink:

 

 

That has to be the slowest project going on in the state.  Even The Banks was a shorter timeline!  Hell, the Cincinnati streetcar will be finished before this thing!

Funds sought to assess brownfields in Franklinton

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday, December 25, 2014 - 8:49 AM

 

Metro Parks, Franklin County and the city of Columbus are looking for federal help to determine whether a number of Franklinton properties are contaminated and eligible for government cleanup funds.  The three are applying for a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess brownfields and former industrial sites.  Sites could be cleaned up and redeveloped as parks or for other uses, said Larry Peck, Metro Parks deputy director.

 

He estimated the money could be used to assess 15 to 20 sites in the neighborhood, which is just west of Downtown and has received attention from the city, developers and small business owners to revitalize the long-neglected area. ... Greg Lashutka, who leads the parks board, said, “It certainly is an area on the upswing.  If we can continue to improve that area, from an environmental standpoint, it’s good for all three parties.”

 

To get a Community Based Environmental Assessment Grant, three government parties must apply.  The work could determine that properties don’t have to be cleaned up, or if they do, how much work would be needed.  The money would not be used for the cleanups themselves.  Other sources would have to be tapped.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/25/funds-sought-to-assess-brownfields-in-franklinton.html

Glass Axis Opens in Franklinton on Friday

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

January 13, 2015 - 2:15 pm

 

Franklinton is often touted as the next emerging arts district in Columbus, and this Friday, the neighborhood will get a little bit “artier” with the opening of Glass Axis.  The nearly-thirty-year-old organization announced plans to relocate their facilities a year ago, and after a few days, their doors at 610 West Town Street are officially ready to open.

 

The 12,500 square foot building features workshops for hot and cold glass working, equipment for working with neon tubing, stained glass, beads and jewelry, as well as their two 7000 pound furnaces that reach 2100 degrees. ... The new location includes a shared space on the southeast corner of the building that will house both a gift shop as well as a Cafe Brioso coffee shop.  Executive Director Rex Brown says that the collaboration on the project allows some shared responsibilities between staffing and duties, while also providing a much needed amenity to the neighborhood.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/glass-axis-opens-in-franklinton-on-friday

PHOTO-TOUR OF GLASS AXIS:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-the-new-glass-axis-in-franklinton

More about two of those planned Franklinton development projects mentioned earlier:

 

• Hundreds of apartments on 12 acres of riverfront land that once included the Riverside-Bradley public housing site.  Construction could begin as early as next spring.  The first two planned buildings would be five stories each with 220 units.  The total number of units could reach 700.  A high-rise could replace the housing authority’s Sunshine Terrace, a high-rise apartment building that is slated for demolition.  Casto, the Robert Weiler Co., developer Don Kelley, Smoot Construction and the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority are partners on the project. (#14 on the above map)

 

Columbus Underground has an interview with Bryan Brown, Senior Vice President of Business Development at the CMHA, that goes into more detail about this development project at http://www.columbusunderground.com/interview-bryan-brown-on-new-east-franklinton-development-bw1.  Below is an initial phasing map for this riverfront development:

 

 

•  Adjacent to that project is a plan to renovate two vacant warehouses on W. Rich Street into 25 apartment units.  The housing authority has selected the Woda Group to do the work, said Bryan Brown, CMHA’s executive vice president of business development. (#13 on the above map)

 

East of the Phase 1 area on the map in this post are two multi-story warehouses at 373 and 375 West Rich Street.  These two warehouses are in-between the Phase 1 development for the riverfront project described earlier and an elevated railroad track.  Columbus Underground has more about this project at http://www.columbusunderground.com/new-mixed-use-buildings-renovation-of-warehouses-planned-for-east-franklinton-bw1.  Below is a photo of the warehouses from Rich Street:

 

 

Looks like they are starting work on the two old warehouses. First a photo I took of the back of the property in 2013.

 

Abandoned in Franklinton by Eridony, on Flickr

 

Now the back of the property today (from a different angle) with machinery working.

 

It's been done for a while, but I don't think pictures were ever posted here of the completed Franklin Station project.

 

It's been done for a while, but I don't think pictures were ever posted here of the completed Franklin Station project.

 

Thanks for posting these photos of the completed project.  You're right.  We had many photos of its construction, but they stopped just before its completion.  It's good to see the finished product.

 

Here's the info on Franklin Station from back in 2013 posted in this thread: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,205.msg670609.html#msg670609.  And for a CMHA public housing project, Franklin Station turned out quite well:

- 100-units of senior apartments with the building's common spaces, dining rooms and CMHA offices on the ground floor along Broad Street;

- decent urban design; three-stories built to the Broad Street sidewalk, nice ground floor transparency facing Broad St.;

- decent traditional-style architecture (although they should have omitted the sideways gable in front);

- was built on a former Byers truck sales lot, and that lot goes waaaaayyyy back off Broad St.;

 

This is the first of a coming wave of new development on Broad Street in Franklinton.  CMHA purchased this Byers lot and began construction on Franklin Station in 2013.  After that, Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) purchased all of the remaining Byers Auto lots along W. Broad in 2014 - following Byers announcement that they would be relocating to a Grove City location.  Byers Auto finished their move out of Franklinton at the end of 2014 and NRI is now free to begin redeveloping these former Byers lots.

 

No detailed updates on NRI's plans or timetables yet.  But based on their past performance in the Arena District and at Grandview Yard, NRI won't be sitting on these prime Franklinton lots for very long.  Even if there is not much news in 2015, you can be sure that NRI is working behind the scenes to produce something great for this Broad Street section of Franklinton.  I can't wait to see what NRI will do.

Another conversion of an old industrial building in Franklinton. I saw the roof being replaced when I was down there 2 weeks ago and was wondering what was going on there.

 

More Artist Studio Space Coming to Franklinton

 

The owners of 400 West Rich plan to convert an 18,000 square-foot former factory building just down the street into more artist studios. The East Franklinton Review Board approved the renovation plan for 289 West Walnut Street in December.

 

Not much info in the article. Not even an estimated completion date, but I did like the last paragraph.

“We could have demolished the building and built new,” Sherman added, “but we believe in preserving what’s left of the historic fabric in the neighborhood.”

Some updated shots of OBM

 

Though its construction is taking a really long time, this Orange Barrel Media facility is starting to look really great.  Those solar panels and the glass-walled office portion contrast nicely with the rough concrete of the salvaged silos and concrete of the new towers.

 

Thanks for the updated photos Eridony.

The vacant lot at the northwest corner of Rich and Lucas Streets in East Franklinton might be closer to being developed by its California-based owner, Urban Smart Growth.  But then again, this was being said back in 2012 when Urban Smart Growth was calling their project The Franklinton Art Lofts:

• Previous post from August 2012

• previous post from September 2012

 

This East Franklinton site is back in the news again.  This time the project is being called Lucas Lofts.  More about this from CU at http://www.columbusunderground.com/69-unit-lucas-lofts-planned-for-east-franklinton-bw1:

 

 

 

The project certainly looks good enough in its third iteration.  And the live/work concept is certainly interesting and appropriate for the way East Franklinton is redeveloping.  Plus, this property is located immediately west of the 400 West Rich art studio building and immediately north of the now demolished Riverside-Bradley CMHA Housing site, which also has some exciting residential plans for its redevelopment.

 

But Urban Smart Growth is getting very close to the "put-up-or-shut-up" stage on this property.  Let's hope they can reach the "put-up" stage this year.

I don't really care for the look of the facade, but I do like the live/work concept and the “market alley” that runs through the building.

This is the first of a coming wave of new development on Broad Street in Franklinton.  CMHA purchased this Byers lot and began construction on Franklin Station in 2013.  After that, Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) purchased all of the remaining Byers Auto lots along W. Broad in 2014 - following Byers announcement that they would be relocating to a Grove City location.  Byers Auto finished their move out of Franklinton at the end of 2014 and NRI is now free to begin redeveloping these former Byers lots.

 

No detailed updates on NRI's plans or timetables yet.  But based on their past performance in the Arena District and at Grandview Yard, NRI won't be sitting on these prime Franklinton lots for very long.  Even if there is not much news in 2015, you can be sure that NRI is working behind the scenes to produce something great for this Broad Street section of Franklinton.  I can't wait to see what NRI will do.

 

Apparently NRI just completed its acquisition of the former Byers Chevrolet dealership property at 555 W. Broad Street:

 

-- Old Byers Chevrolet properties in Franklinton bought for $3.7M by Nationwide Realty:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/03/12/old-byers-chevrolet-properties-in-franklinton.html

I'm anxious to see if NRI can successfully step out of their comfort zone in Franklinton, and do something a bit more interesting and more affordable than their standard fare.

What was rumored last year was comfirmed yesterday:  Mount Carmel will be moving inpatient services from their Mount Carmel West hospital campus in Franklinton to a new hospital campus in Grove City.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/03/12/700m-plan-mount-carmel-west-inpatient-services.html

 

Mount Carmel West will retain its 24/7 emergency department, but shift to outpatient care with extra resources for community education and wellness programs after the Grove City hospital opens in 2018.  A $46 million renovation to the Franklinton campus will start after the Grove City hospital opens.  The Mount Carmel College of Nursing also will be able to expand in this renovation.

 

 

 

Mount Carmel reaction: Coleman administration unhappy, Franklinton boosters hopeful:  http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/03/mount-carmel-reaction-coleman-administration.html

Business First looks at what the new Mount Carmel would mean for the revitalizating Franklinton neighborhood:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/03/can-franklinton-be-served-by-the-new-mount-carmel.html

The Mount Carmel news might spur redevelopment of the neighboring Graham Ford property on West Broad:

 

Mount Carmel moves raising interest in Graham Ford site in Franklinton

By Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter- Columbus Business First

March 18, 2015, 1:48pm EDT

 

More than six years after Graham Ford closed at 707 W. Broad Street, Ford Motor Co. may finally get serious about selling the 7-acre dealership complex next to Mount Carmel West.  That's the word in the wake of Mount Carmel Health System's decision to shift inpatient services to a new hospital in Grove City by 2018.

 

CBRE Group commercial real estate agent Scott Behrmann told me the property is not formally on the market by Ford Leasing Development Co.  But it has attracted steady interest.  (Until now) Ford has not made disposal of the 138,000-square-foot complex along Route 315 a priority. ... Behrmann said he expects the current "soft sell" status to change later this year in light of Mount Carmel's plan to spend $46 million on Mount Carmel West redevelopment.

 

Graham Ford closed in November 2008.  At the time, many considered Mount Carmel as the natural buyer for the property given its proximity.  Mount Carmel may still have a significant role in the property's redevelopment.  In four years, when Mount Carmel transfers hospital services to Grove City, the Mount Carmel West campus will have a parking garage and other space that it no longer will need.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/03/mount-carmel-moves-raising-interest-in-graham-ford.html

Long-sought grocery store could be coming to Franklinton

By Evan Weese, Staff reporter - Columbus Business First

March 24, 2015, 1:29pm EDT

 

A nonprofit grocery store could open in Franklinton under a plan to give the neighborhood’s mostly low-income residents access to healthy food.  The faith-based Lower Lights Christian Health Center hopes to set up a 15,000-square-foot grocery by early 2016 inside the 1160 W. Broad Street building housing its health and dental clinic that opened in 2012.

( . . . )

It took Lower Lights until last year to become fully operational after it moved into the former Anthony-Thomas Candy Co. plant, allowing it to shift some attention to one of the neighborhood’s most-pressing needs.

 

The initial plan calls for both fresh produce as well as regular groceries and prepared food.  Anyone could shop there, but the store would cater to low-income residents by accepting food stamps and discounting food for those living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/03/24/long-sought-grocery-store-could-be-coming-to.html

I was on top of the Lazarus parking structure on Saturday and you see Orange Barrel Media's building pretty easily. The building in the foreground is COSI with Franklin Station just behind that.

 

 

WOW - that really is visible and stands out.

 

Business First had some info and a photo slideshow on the newest mural that Orange Barrel installed at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2015/03/photos-orange-barrel-medias-latest-wallscape.html

 

Saw this on Columbus reddit, it looks like the Casto project on the former CMHA site is moving forward!

 

Lots of housing units which is what East Franklinton really needs, retail space, and five stories for the first phase. Not sure how I feel about the whole 'shipping container' look, but I'm not complaining.

 

:clap:  :clap:

 

New Details Revealed for Major Mixed-Use Development in Franklinton

 

Plans show the first phase of the project would consist of a 5-story mixed-use building lining Rich St between the CSX Railroad tracks and Lucas St.

 

The first phase – Building A (L-shaped structure to the East in the below site plan), would contain 20,000 sqft of pedestrian-oriented commercial or live-work space on the ground floor, along with 124 residential units on the four floors above.

 

http://columbusight.com/2015/05/18/new-details-revealed-for-major-mixed-use-development-in-franklinton/

That's a game-changer, if it happens.

The 69-unit Lucas Lofts project planned for to be built west of 400 W. Rich Street (and across Rich Street north of the recently announced Casto/Weiler project) was approved by the East Franklinton Review Board:

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/lucas-lofts-development-approved-in-franklinton

Meanwhile, the East Franklinton Review Board also had their initial review of the Casto/Weiler project south of Rich Street on the former CMHA property next to the Scioto River:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/franklinton-review-board-pushes-new-development-to-go-bigger

 

The review board was generally favorable to the idea of using "shipping containers" as a design element along side of a more traditional brick warehouse façade:

 

But the review board also thought there should be more emphasis given to the riverfront side of the project.  They wanted the developers to also consider "going bigger" along the riverfront side in either the first two-building phase of the development, or in the third proposed building shown in the below site plan as 'future phase':

^ Some short-term plans for this Casto/Weiler property south of Rich Street.  Casto received approval to install a pop-up shipping container park on that property.  More about this at http://www.columbusunderground.com/pop-up-shipping-container-park-coming-to-franklinton-this-summer

A few updates on the former Byers property purchased by Nationwide Realty Investors:

 

- Business First reported that NWD Franklinton LLC (an affiliate of NRI) closed on the purchase of 34 parcels totaling 8 acres in March 2015 - 10 months after NRI announced it would acquire the former Byers Chevrolet property after the automobile dealership moved to Grove City.  The land acquired stretches from West Broad Street to West Chapel Street and along West State, South Mill & Skidmore Streets and South May Avenue.  Nationwide also has the right of first refusal of buy the properties at 76 & 80 S. Gift Street.  Some gaps still exist in the Nationwide land holdings, as shown by the below map:

 

- Columbusight.com is also reporting that Nationwide has applied to City to demolish some of single-story office and warehouse buildings on the 8 acres they purchased (the main Byers Chevrolet showroom at 555 W. Broad Street was not included in this demolition request).  More about this at http://columbusight.com/2015/06/05/nationwide-seeks-to-demo-franklinton-properties-anticipates-future-development/

It's been a while since there has been an Orange Barrel update. I could see they have been working on the inside, but it still looks like there is a lot of work left to do before their October 2014 deadline.

 

This has got to be the slowest project in the state for its size.

This has got to be the slowest project in the state for its size.

 

Only if you don't count the first LC High Street building as the same size category. That's been under construction for 14 months and only has the foundation completed.

Casto/Weiler project in Franklinton up for city incentives

By Brian R. Ball, Staff Reporter

Columbus Business First - July 24, 2015, 3:01pm EDT

 

A project by Casto Communities and Robert Weiler Co. in East Franklinton could get a boost from Columbus City Council.

 

The Columbus Department of Development will ask council Monday to approve an economic development agreement to spur the development of a mixed-use project on the former Riverside Bradley public housing site.

 

Casto and Weiler have teamed up with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Donald W. Kelley & Associates, and a Smoot Construction Co.-Simco Construction Co. contracting joint venture as partners.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/07/24/casto-weiler-project-in-franklinton-up-for-city.html

^ Some short-term plans for this Casto/Weiler property south of Rich Street.  Casto received approval to install a pop-up shipping container park on that property.  More about this at http://www.columbusunderground.com/pop-up-shipping-container-park-coming-to-franklinton-this-summer

 

Wait til next year:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/franklinton-shipping-container-park-delayed-until-2016

Idea Foundry to Begin Work on Phase 2 of Franklinton Maker Space

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

August 25, 2015 - 8:35 am

 

When the Columbus Idea Foundry first opened its doors in Franklinton last year, they were actually only halfway done with work on the 60,000 square foot building at 421 West State Street.  Today, the leadership behind the makerspace organization is announcing that the second half of buildout is about to begin.

 

“When we moved to Franklinton we were grateful to get grants from the Columbus Foundation and Artplace America, and we kind of made a hail mary that we would be able to fundraise and build out the second floor,” explained Columbus Idea Foundry CEO Alex Bandar.  “The business model has always relied on having a business incubator on the second floor, so we’re grateful that we’ve been able to land new silent minority investors who are making that need for fundraising go away.”

( . . . )

In addition to business incubation space, the second floor of the Idea Foundry will include less fabrication equipment and more business development support.  ...  Bandar said that construction of the space is expected to start within the next month or two, utilizing the same team as the first floor; TRIAD Architects for design and Compton Construction for the build out.  They’re aiming for a mid-2016 grand opening.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-idea-foundry-phase-2