November 15, 201113 yr Another story about the Cooper Park project - this one is from Columbus Business First. This article focuses on an advisory panel that has been formed to meet with the developer of the project. The article speculates about what non-auto racing activites might occur at Cooper Park - focusing on auto research and development ideas: Advisory panel to help drive Cooper Park project By Jeff Bell, Business First staff reporter Date: Friday, November 11, 2011, 6:00am EST While auto racing events are needed to make the project work financially, the research and tech center will be Cooper Park’s linchpin, Arshot developer Bill Schottenstein said. It is being positioned as a hub for the development of advanced vehicle technology, including electric vehicles. Advisory board members will meet regularly to receive project updates and exchange ideas for expanding the facility’s tenant base, attracting events and promoting Cooper Park as a catalyst for automotive innovation. Naming of the advisory board comes as Arshot prepares for a public hearing Dec. 20 by the city Board of Zoning Adjustment. It will consider a permit needed to hold spectator events, including auto races, at Cooper Park. The hearing is the final step in a zoning approval process that began this year. The project cleared a major hurdle in June, when City Council approved a zoning change for the 47-acre baseball park property that Arshot wants to buy from Franklin County. Council members approved the zoning change over the objections of residents from Franklinton, German Village and other neighborhoods who claim noise from racing events would hurt their property values and quality of life. The project also has its share of supporters on the west side, who have said Arshot’s noise mitigation plan would work and the estimated 300 full- and part-time jobs at Cooper Park are sorely needed in that impoverished part of Columbus. Approval by the Board of Zoning Adjustment would allow Arshot to begin the process of closing the deal to buy the property. Site preparation and demolition of about half the stadium to make way for the racetrack could begin next spring or summer. It will take about a year to build the track and research center, Schottenstein said, so the facility could begin to open in mid-2013. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/11/11/panel-to-help-drive-cooper-park-project.html The Cooper Park Automotive Research & Technology Center Advisory Board includes these members so far: - Giorgio Rizzoni, Ohio State University - Andrew Rezin, Columbus State Community College - John Pohill, Venturi North America - Robert Lane, CAR Technologies - Kenny McDonald, Columbus2020 - Frank Scardena, TechColumbus - Sam Spofforth, Clean Fuels Ohio - Stefanie Coe, Southwest Civic Association - Linda Logan, Greater Columbus Sports Commission - Kathy Gatterdam, Franklinton Board of Trade - Roger Schroer, Transportation Research Center - Rick Gildow, Transportation Research Center
December 19, 201113 yr City backs Cooper Stadium plan Report: Zoning panel should OK permit By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch Friday, December 16, 2011 - 7:30 AM City officials are recommending that a panel approve a special permit next week to clear the way for a racetrack at the Cooper Stadium site. Their report says that the former home of the Columbus Clippers has been vacant for three years and its presence “has a negative impact on the surrounding community.” Officials acknowledge that there has been considerable debate about the controversial project, which Arshot Investment said will also include an automotive technology and research center, hotel and restaurants. But the city’s report says the track has the potential to create jobs and provide entertainment and retail services for residents. Some area leaders welcome the project because of the jobs. Critics, however, say they are still worried about the potential for noise and parking problems. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment takes up the issue on Tuesday, December 20. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/16/city-backs-cooper-stadium-plan.html
December 21, 201113 yr Zoning board OKs auto racing at Cooper Stadium site By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - 12:17 AM Columbus' former baseball park will soon be home to roaring race cars. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment approved 4-0 last night a special permit that will clear the way for developer Arshot Investment to build a half-mile racetrack, automotive research and technology center, a hotel and restaurants at the Cooper Stadium site west of Downtown. City law requires a permit for an outdoor amphitheater, and the racetrack would be classified as that. In its decision, which came late last night, the board chose to require Arshot to return 18 months after the track opens to show that it is complying with the noise limits in the special permit. (. . .) Arshot is building 35-foot-tall sound walls that it says will shield surrounding neighborhoods. Those walls are part of the conditions of the special permit. The track is to seat 8,500 and could be finished as early as 2013. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/20/zoning-board-oks-racing-at-cooper-stadium-site.html
December 22, 201113 yr One more report about the City of Columbus BZA approving Arshot's Cooper Stadium re-use plan from Business First. You can read the full article at the link below: Zoning board approves Arshot's Cooper Park plans
July 19, 201212 yr The re-use of Cooper Stadium will take a major step forward next week. And the re-use project gets a new name too - Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Center (SPARC). Franklin County to Sell Cooper Stadium Next Week By: Walker Evans, Columbus Underground Published on July 18, 2012 - 1:20 pm The Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Center (SPARC) will be taking one step closer to reality next week as the Franklin County Commissioners will vote on Tuesday to finalize the sale of the old Cooper Stadium baseball park. The property will be sold for $3.4 million to King Holding Corporation and developer Arshot Investment Corporation who will develop the land into a mixed-use sports and entertainment venue. The SPARC (formerly known as the Cooper Park Race Track) is a proposed $40 million project that includes a multi-sport racetrack with 8,000 grandstand seats, a research and development center, a restaurant, hotel and other exhibition and event space. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/franklin-county-to-sell-cooper-stadium-next-week
July 27, 201212 yr Two Business First updates about the Cooper Stadium re-use. Both articles are not part of the bizjournals paywall system, so you can view each article in its entirety at the links below: Cooper Stadium to become Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Complex Cooper Stadium sale gets unanimous OK from Franklin County Commissioners
October 22, 201212 yr Walker Evans of Columbus Underground recently interviewed Bill Schottenstein of Arshot Investment Corporation, the developer behind the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC). AKA the redevelopment and re-use of Cooper Stadium on the city's near west side. Below are links to Parts 1 & 2 of the interview at Columbus Underground: CU: Is Downtown Ready for a New SPARC? - Part 1 CU: Is Downtown Ready for a New SPARC? - Part 2
October 25, 201212 yr MAG dealership gets auto complex at Cooper Stadium site in gear Business First by Jeff Bell, Staff reporter Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 2:55pm EDT Midwestern Auto Group has agreed to be one of the first tenants at the redeveloped Cooper Stadium site, showcasing its high-performance vehicles and allowing customers to test drive them on the facility’s racetrack. The Dublin-based dealership and Clean Fuels Ohio will be the first two tenants at the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Center, said Bill Schottenstein, principal of Arshot Investment Corp. and developer of a project that has been in the works for more than four years. READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/10/24/auto-complex-moving-ahead-at-cooper.html
December 5, 201212 yr NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip investing in SPARC auto research complex Business First by Jeff Bell, Staff reporter Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2012, 2:58pm EST Looking for someone to help put his new Columbus automotive research and technology complex on the map, Arshot Investment Corp. Principal Bill Schottenstein has found his man in NASCAR team owner and driver Michael Waltrip. Waltrip will be a minority partner in the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex at the former Cooper Stadium site, Schottenstein told me Tuesday. His North Carolina-based company, Michael Waltrip Racing, will also consult with Arshot on the design and operation of the racetrack at the complex and use SPARC for testing cars and holding team events. READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/12/nascars-michael-waltrip-investing-in.html
December 5, 201212 yr More about this from Business First: Waltrip foresees NASCAR testing, possible races at SPARC site More about this at the SPARC website: Michael Waltrip Racing to partner with Arshot at SPARC
January 28, 201312 yr Columbus Monthly had an in-depth article about the re-use of Cooper Stadium into the Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Complex (SPARC). Below is the link to the article: Making noise: Construction has begun on the proposed racetrack and auto research complex that will rehab Cooper Stadium. Developers and local officials hope the complex will give life to a quiet neighborhood. Residents just hope they won’t hear it.
April 20, 201411 yr Since Arshot purchased Cooper Stadium from Franklin County in 2012, the redevelopment news regarding it has been limited to news of announced partners - like Michael Waltrip Racing - and sale of stadium memorabilia - such as the seats. The news was so quiet that it prompted Columbus Monthly to do an April 2014 follow-up story to their January 2013 story about Cooper Stadium/SPARC (Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Complex): Columbus Monthly: Whatever happened to SPARC?
April 20, 201411 yr However - in the latest example of how timing matters - within two weeks of Columbus Monthly's article questioning whether the SPARC redevelopment of Cooper Stadium was dead, demolition work has now begun. Below is the report in today's Dispatch: Demolition work finally begins at Cooper Stadium By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 5:08 AM Demolition work finally began on Cooper Stadium this week, the start of the transformation of Columbus’ venerable home of minor-league baseball into a racetrack. ... Plans call for the grandstand along the first-base line to be torn down as Arshot Investment Corp. converts the stadium into a half-mile racetrack, part of the $40 million Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Complex, or SPARC. The track will seat 8,500. Demolition will go on for 10 to 12 weeks, said Chris Hoff, vice president of construction for Lion Real Estate Services, which is overseeing the work. Work then will begin on the track and adjacent automotive research and technology building. The project is scheduled to open by fall 2015, said Arshot spokeswoman Lisa Griffin. Michael Waltrip Racing is working with Arshot on the SPARC project. Also, Midwestern Auto Group and Clean Fuels Ohio will be tenants in the research center. Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College are in talks about their involvement in the research center. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/04/18/Demolition-finally-starts-at-Cooper-Stadium.html
April 20, 201411 yr ^ The Dispatch link (posted above) contains some demolition video footage. NBC4 also has a slideshow that contains photos of Cooper Stadium, demoliton work photos and renderings of its redevelopment into SPARC at http://www.nbc4i.com/slideshow?widgetid=110953
April 22, 201411 yr More about the beginning of work to transform Cooper Stadium into SPARC from CU at http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-begins-on-sparc-race-track-project CU's report has SPARC developer Bill Schottenstein estimating that "some of the phases of SPARC will come online in mid-to-late 2015 with other phases wrapping up in early 2016". Also, some better quality photos of the demo work.
May 19, 201411 yr The re-use of Cooper Stadium has gained two more partners. The developer of the Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Center (SPARC) announced the following partnerships over the past week: CU: SPARC Race Track Announces Partnership with Richard Petty CU: SPARC Announces Partnership with Pegram Motorcycles
May 13, 201510 yr SPARC taps motorsports industry vet as president By Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter - Columbus Business First May 7, 2015, 2:05pm EDT The developers of the Sports Pavilion and Automotive Research Complex at the former Cooper Stadium have signed a motorsports industry veteran as the driver behind the business side of the fledgling operation. Brett Roubinek, a 4½-year veteran of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and affiliated driving school, was named president of SPARC complex as plans jell for the Mound Street facility. The appointment follows a year of relative quiet regarding Arshot Investment Corp.'s SPARC project. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/05/07/ohio-sparc-taps-motorsports-industry-vet-as.html
November 25, 20159 yr Another "update" for this project. Despite not much going on, SPARC developers still claim they're moving forward with it. Below is a report (with video at the link) from 10TV back in August: Developers Say Auto Racing Coming To Old Cooper Stadium By 2017 By Kevin Landers, 10TV UPDATED: August 13, 2015 - 10:06 PM Three years after developers promised to transform Cooper Stadium in west Columbus into an automotive research and entertainment venue, the stadium remains at a standstill. ( . . . ) The developers say the project was delayed longer than expected because of an engineer’s plan related to storm water. However, that issue was resolved in March. Brett Roubinek, who was hired by the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC) to transform the 47 acre site, says it will be decided in the near future as to whether he’ll break ground this winter or when it thaws in the spring of 2016. Roubinek says 2017 is a “safe” estimate as to when engines will rev at the old stadium site. By then, the old skyboxes would be turned into suites and a paved half mile oval track will replace the overgrown infield. Once the track is complete, developers would turn their attention to another building on the property where they plan to build a hotel and conference center. MORE: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/08/13/columbus-ohio-developers-say-auto-racing-coming-to-old-cooper-stadium-by-2017.html
January 8, 20169 yr SPARC project still not dead. So say the SPARC developers to the Dispatch in the below linked article: -- When will work start on West Side racetrack? Transformation of Cooper Stadium into multifaceted automobile facility finally is on track to start soon, principals assure public
July 19, 20168 yr #SmartCity: Columbus hopes to use track at former Cooper Stadium to test driverless vehicles Columbus wants to partner with a proposed test track at the site of the old Cooper Stadium to try out Smart City Challenge technologies. The Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex, or Sparc, could serve as the main testing site for equipment installed on the vehicles proposed in the city’s U.S. Department of Transportation application, including driverless cars. The blueprint for Sparc called for a half-mile paved test track with grandstand seating and an automotive research and training center. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/07/19/smartcity-columbus-plans-to-use-track-at-former.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 19, 20168 yr ^ Two hypothetical projects would like to partner together! That takes some brass!!
March 21, 20178 yr This could be an annual news story until either ground is broken or the project is cancelled: http://www.10tv.com/article/growing-concerns-over-lack-progress-cooper-stadium
April 11, 20178 yr Annual SPARC story - print edition with slideshow: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170409/wheres-racetrack-cooper-stadium-project-stalls-as-developer-ducks-questions
April 11, 20178 yr It's really annoying to me how Arshot operates with this. If the project is not happening, why not just say so? It's been years and nothing has happened. Everyone already knows it's not happening. It's unfair to the neighborhood that they try to keep this charade going instead of trying to come up with another redevelopment plan. This is why I worry about the Millennial Tower actually getting built considering it's the same company.
April 11, 20178 yr Last I heard some government entity was trying them to make too large of a portion of the site a retention pond for it to be useful.
April 11, 20178 yr Last I heard some government entity was trying them to make too large of a portion of the site a retention pond for it to be useful. I thought I remember reading that all such issues were worked out a long time ago. And even if not, they could still just say it's not moving forward and they are looking into alternatives. The "no comment" or "something's really going to happen this time!" stuff is crap. It's like the Wonderland reborn.
April 11, 20178 yr The Schottenstein family as a whole just sucks when it comes to real estate development. That includes Kauffman as well, sorry but they build a VERY cheap looking and feeling product.
April 27, 20178 yr Cooper Stadium inaction 'another missed opportunity for that developer,' mayor says Columbus wanted to use the Cooper Stadium site as its main testing site for automotive equipment. The developer's planned Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex, or Sparc, hasn't happened. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/04/27/cooper-stadium-inaction-another-missed-opportunity.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 23, 20195 yr If anyone still wondered if Cooper Stadium was going to get redeveloped into the Sports Pavilion & Automotive Research Complex (SPARC) - wonder no more. It's dead. Arshot has officially pulled the plug on SPARC and is putting together another, more conventional, redevelopment plan: Another plan develops for Cooper Stadium site The owners of the long-dormant Cooper Stadium site are putting together another redevelopment plan, this time with offices, commercial space, apartments and “creative work spaces,” but no race track or automotive research center. The site plan that Arshot Development Corp. submitted to the city is vague. But it does show 500 apartments proposed at the southern edge of the 47-acre site, and developers have discussed incorporating what remains of the Cooper Stadium grandstand at 1155 W. Mound Street into an office project, said Tony Celebrezze, a spokesman for the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services. Restaurants could be built on the lots along West Mound Street, Celebrezze said. Arshot representatives did not return a call Tuesday. They did meet with Stefanie Coe, who leads the Southwest Area Commission, on July 10. Coe said she was told the apartments would not be low-income, and that there could be free-standing offices, bars, restaurants, a dog park, and community space while developing a “creative sort of modern vibe.” She said Arshot’s Bill Schottenstein told her that he didn’t believe financing would be an issue. MORE: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190723/another-plan-develops-for-cooper-stadium-site
July 24, 20195 yr I'm assuming the "restaurants" means the likes of McDonalds with a drive-thru and that everything will be of poor, suburban design with plenty of surface parking. If it even happens at all.
July 24, 20195 yr Wait... what? So they propose SPARC and get everyone excited, project dies and they go silent. Propose Millennial Tower and get everyone excited, project remains in limbo for 3 years and is basically silent. Now they are proposing a new SPARC that is nothing like SPARC? I'm confused, do they just like burning money on concepts and renders? Should we expect a new Millennial Tower thats not a tower once this one goes silent? I feel like this is becoming a game.
July 24, 20195 yr I really think a track on this size parcel close to the core was too hard to pull off in today's regulatory environment.
July 24, 20195 yr New redevelopment plan in the works for Cooper Stadium site A new effort has emerged to redevelop the languishing Cooper Stadium. An affiliate of Arshot Investment Corp., which owns the 47.2-acre site at 1215 W. Mound St., has submitted an application for rezoning the closed stadium site into a mixed-use development. The application, which the city received Tuesday, proposes various uses in place of the crumbling sports venue that was the home of the Columbus Clippers until a decade ago. "The applicant's plan anticipates more of a mixed-use development combining commercial and industrial uses with the possibility of residential, as well as an entertainment venue," according to a city report on the rezoning application. Rezoning, as well as any specific site plans, would likely need city and Southwest Area Commission approvals to move forward. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/07/24/new-redevelopment-plan-in-the-works-for-cooper.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 24, 20195 yr New Plan to be Presented for Cooper Stadium Arshot Investment Corporation, the developer behind a decade-old plan to build a race track at the former Cooper Stadium site, is currently working on a new plan for the site that would contain a mix of uses. Two zoning applications were submitted to the City of Columbus this week, requesting changes to the permitted uses on the 47-acre site and to some of the development standards agreed to when the site was initially rezoned in 2011. Language in one of the submitted applications states that “a race track…is no longer part of the proposed development,” offering the first official confirmation of something that has long been assumed by neighborhood leaders and others that have expressed dismay over the years about the lack of progress on the site. “The applicant’s plan anticipates more of a mixed use development combining commercial and industrial uses with the possibility of residential as well as an entertainment venue,” reads the application. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/new-plan-for-cooper-stadium-to-be-presented-bw1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 22, 20195 yr Here's an overly vague article from ABC6 saying that the redevelopment plan was approved by Southwest Area Commission 7-4 last night, and that the plan now "moves to the city for consideration". https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/plans-to-redevelop-old-cooper-stadium-site-approved
August 22, 20195 yr ^ I saw a similar piece on the 10TV late night news last night about this: https://www.10tv.com/article/mixed-use-development-plans-presented-cooper-stadium-site-2019-aug Bill Schottenstein and his zoning attorney made some presentation featuring vague plans and conceptual renderings to the city area commission that oversees the former Cooper Stadium site. Interestingly, I haven't seen any reports about this in the Dispatch or Business First. It's almost as if they're like "let us know when you're ready get serious here, Bill".
August 22, 20195 yr Whoa man, that's an interesting series of renders they are showing in that meeting. Okay, so at this point I'd rather Arshot just divide up and sell the land to some developers who actually can make things happen... or make better things happen and those "concept" designs and zones. Attached below are a few screenshots from the video from those who have no desire to listen to the most vague story ever. "Teknica"... Bold.
August 22, 20195 yr ^ I can't imagine Starbucks' corporate office would sign off on putting a shop in a shipping container ?
August 23, 20195 yr I...uhhh... "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 23, 20223 yr There's an article in the Dispatch about new Cooper Stadium plans. I can't read it because I don't have a subscription, but it's there if anyone with a subscription wants to check it out. https://www.dispatch.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dispatch.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Fcooper-stadium-redevelopment-would-include-housing-retail-dog-park%2F6894812001%2F Based on this tweet, the plans include two retail buildings, a paved event space (whatever that means), a dog park, two mixed-use buildings, and 500 residential units.
March 23, 20223 yr I am glad there is some buzz about this again. This site is just wasting away. Something needs to be done with it. Like you said, i need to see more details first.
March 23, 20223 yr 28 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: There's an article in the Dispatch about new Cooper Stadium plans. I can't read it because I don't have a subscription, but it's there if anyone with a subscription wants to check it out. https://www.dispatch.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dispatch.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Fcooper-stadium-redevelopment-would-include-housing-retail-dog-park%2F6894812001%2F Based on this tweet, the plans include two retail buildings, a paved event space (whatever that means), a dog park, two mixed-use buildings, and 500 residential units. I took advantage of their $12/year digital subscription a month or so ago. This project looks way more realistic but I’m not hopeful considering who is proposing it. Light commercial flex looks to be the “mixed use” section and a DC towards the southeastern section of the property, split by proposed housing. The front along Broad looks to be strip mall-esque just fronted to the street. I glanced over it and looked at the plans and still can’t figure out what the paved event space will be for 🤷🏻♂️.
March 23, 20223 yr 29 minutes ago, cbussoccer said: There's an article in the Dispatch about new Cooper Stadium plans. I can't read it because I don't have a subscription, but it's there if anyone with a subscription wants to check it out. https://www.dispatch.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dispatch.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Fcooper-stadium-redevelopment-would-include-housing-retail-dog-park%2F6894812001%2F Based on this tweet, the plans include two retail buildings, a paved event space (whatever that means), a dog park, two mixed-use buildings, and 500 residential units. “The Southwest Area Commission approved the proposed plans for the site in February, and they will go before the city’s Development Commission on May 12, Celebrezze said. Messages for the Southwest Area Commission also were not returned. “We’re very excited to see some action on this,” Celebrezze said. “This is probably the most action that has occurred on this site in concrete steps to move forward that we’ve seen since (Arshot) purchased the land.”‘ Would be nice if this, or something else, actually happens with it. The site’s been wasting away for so many years.
March 23, 20223 yr 1 hour ago, wpcc88 said: I took advantage of their $12/year digital subscription a month or so ago. This project looks way more realistic but I’m not hopeful considering who is proposing it. Light commercial flex looks to be the “mixed use” section and a DC towards the southeastern section of the property, split by proposed housing. The front along Broad looks to be strip mall-esque just fronted to the street. I glanced over it and looked at the plans and still can’t figure out what the paved event space will be for 🤷🏻♂️. This ... the bolded part.
March 23, 20223 yr 6 hours ago, wpcc88 said: The front along Broad looks to be strip mall-esque just fronted to the street. Wait, Broad? Are we still talking Cooper Stadium?
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