24 minutes ago, Pablo said:

That site might be problematic to access once ODOT is finished with the next phase of 70-71. The rendering below (sorry for the low res) shows a bridge over Mound St. at the southwest corner of the Miranova garage. This is the new ramp to 315 and 71 south. The bottom rendering is the view south from the southeast corner of the Miranova garage. Mound is at the bottom. I circled the bridge that will carry westbound traffic to 315 and 71 south.

 

 

 

 

Higher resolution. Still shows access to the cul-de-sac.

22 minutes ago, aderwent said:

Higher resolution. Still shows access to the cul-de-sac.

That makes sense. I feel like if it would have went over that piece of land, odot would have had to buy it.

19 hours ago, DTCL11 said:

This site might have a bit of an issue. I can find where there were major environmental concerns in 1994 but can't find where it was ever remediate or awarded a brownfield grant as alluded to. The owner is still the Handwell Co. and they don't seem to have a price. Just make in offer according to the listing I saw. 

 

"Since the site at 304 W. Mound St. was rejected for the [EPA Superfund] program, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency now must decide what to do with it.

 

It has what one recent Ohio EPA report characterized as "extremely elevated levels" of lead, hexavalent chromium and nickel in the soil. Lead and chromium are considered extremely toxic.

 

Inspectors also have found lead in the ground water, though none has been found leaching into the nearby Scioto River.

 

The property is owned by the Handwell Co. Now vacant, it has housed scrap metal, car battery recycling and metal plating businesses over the past 70 years.

 

Handwell has sued previous owners and tenants of the property, and responsibility for the cleanup is being sorted out in U.S. District Court in Columbus. Handwell officials were not available for comment.

 

The most recent tenant - Gilbert Plating and Bumper Exchange - left in January 1990. The company cleaned up its area, President Irwin Gilbert said. However, he and his company are among those being sued by Handwell.

 

Despite rejecting it for Superfund, the U.S. EPA commissioned a study completed in September that reported the site poses "an imminent and substantial risk of human exposure by direct contact with highly contaminated surface soil." Consultant PRC Environmental Management of Chicago urged the agency to clean up the site as soon as possible.

 

None of the contamination appears to have crossed the property line.

 

It could be the first site in Columbus to take advantage of the state's new "Brownfields" law. That law, pushed through this year by Gov. George V. Voinovich and Attorney General-elect Betty Montgomery, is aimed at making it more attractive to redevelop old, abandoned industrial zones."

 

It may have been taken care of already, but if not, might make it a hard sell. 

 

Thanks for digging this up. This is so interesting to me that there's this heavily polluted site with ground water issues just dozens of feet from the park, a river, and a residential development. It's just hard to believe that something that polluted where it's seeped down into the ground water has also somehow not seeped downhill into the river/park. 

 

Based on the description it sounds like something that'd be buried away in an industrial zone surrounded by a huge fence with skull and cross bones signs all around. 

 

Let's hope this has already been addressed. 

I guess this is RiverSouth sort of?  145 S. Front Street.

 

Project Description:

The Civic
Redevelopment of the Ohio Child and Family Services building from an office building to a mixed use development type with office, restaurant, patio, residential, amenity deck, and structured below grade parking. A new curb cut is proposed on Civic Center Drive.

 

Everything but the curb cut sounds good.

Edited May 8, 20223 yr by jonoh81

Another Apartment Complex Downtown Converting to Condos

 

Another apartment complex Downtown is being converted from for-rent apartments into for-sale condominiums.

 

Annex at LC Riversouth is now taking reservations for condos starting at $245,000, according to the project’s developer, Lifestyle Communities. Constructed in 2009, the four-story complex is located on South Front Street between Town and Rich streets.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/another-apartment-complex-downtown-converting-to-condos-bw1/

 

Does anyone know if this building is finally open on the corner of Main and Front? 

13 hours ago, Kriegs said:

Does anyone know if this building is finally open on the corner of Main and Front? 

It is I know someone that lives there. I’ve been inside once. It’s hard to find leasing info for it though.

It’s kind of odd how all of the momentum that was building in this area seemingly came to a screeching halt. 

23 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

It’s kind of odd how all of the momentum that was building in this area seemingly came to a screeching halt. 

It is. All we have right now is the former JFS building conversion. I don’t know about the occupancy rate for the rest of the buildings down there, but I was told during the Urban Living tour that the Julian was waitlisted. 
 

It really is a pretty nice walkable area. If something would go up on the Millenial Tower and former Main Bar sites, it would go a long way in “completing” that neighborhood . 

1 hour ago, 614love said:

It is I know someone that lives there. I’ve been inside once. It’s hard to find leasing info for it though.

Whenever the city has one of those "how to improve downtown" requests for people to submit ideas, I always suggest Columbus needs a massive, massive beautification plan. That is one ugly streetscape in this photo and unfortunately they're all over our downtown. I moved to Charlotte a few years ago for work and really like what they've done with their "uptown." They have huge, full trees that canopy the streets to provide a feeling of closeness that I like in a city. I don't know what the costs are, but a upgrade to real trees, instead of those smallish ones planted, which really don't do anything would be a good first step.

Edited June 27, 20222 yr by John7165

The reason Charlotte has large trees in its CBD is they haven't updated their streetscape in decades and they've reached full maturity.  The newer areas around Romare Beardon look closer to much of Columbus than the rest of uptown Charlotte since they were done less than 10 years ago. 

 

The reason Columbus has small trees is much more has been redone in the last decade and they haven't matured yet. Particularly this photo where the trees are a couple years old. 

 

The Short North used to be covered with beautiful large locust trees that arched over the streets but they had to go to redo the streetscape and provide a better pedestrian experience. 

 

Another contributing factor to the decisions of treelining streets in the region is also ice storms. After the ice storm of 2005 that wiped out entire towns of tree lined streets, a conscious decision to avoid planting trees that would grow large and potentially decimate any travel on top of power restoration was made as well as large trees contributing to sidewalk and underground infrastructure damage. So more of the trees planted today are columnar or oval and less spreading in nature with those factors in mind. They'll still grow nicely and become plenty more full, they just won't be the tree tunnels of old. 

 

The trees planted around town are among the largest ones you can order and plant without bringing in behemoths. In that case you'd actually have to plant the trees first and then hardscape, infrastructure, etc around them to accommodate the root balls. That's why we saw larger trees planted in the Scioto Greenways projects or other open landscapes than what we typically see along streetscapes. 

 

(From my experience working with landscape companies who did contract work for local municipalities post 2005) 

 

Today’s been a not bad day for downtown office news! Too soon to hope to see AH go the way of CMM?

 

Matt Scantland's disease-reversal startup AndHealth plans move to former CoverMyMeds building

 

“Matt Scantland and several executives of his new startup AndHealth certainly will know their way around their new office.

 

The disease-reversal telehealth company is planning to move to 2 Miranova Place in downtown Columbus, according to a City Council document. Scantland's previous company, CoverMyMeds, spent six years in the 12-story building, expanding to four full floors before moving to the new headquarters campus in Franklinton last year.

 

AndHealth projects it will add 65 jobs to a base of 21 employees and invest $1.1 million in renovating and equipping 21,000 square feet, according to the incentive proposal from the city Department of Development. That is the size of one floor at 2 Miranova, according to property listings.

 

Representatives with the startup were not immediately available for comment. The company, incorporated as And Health LLC, has been leasing private offices in a coworking space.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/07/18/andhealth-2-miranova-downtown-expansion.html

I wonder if there was some trouble leasing at High and Cherry?

 

As the hospitality industry recovers from Covid, a unique hotel in Columbus is vying for business

 

 

“Crawford Hoying's downtown Columbus High and Cherry Apartments have a unique tenant. 

 

The apartments, located at 255 S. High St. and completed in 2020, also are home to a hotel called Mint House.

 

Mint House is a national hotel brand that locates itself in luxury apartments. In other locations nationwide, the hotel has developed entire buildings. At each location, though, the model is the same. Guests can stay for a few nights or a few months. 
 

In Columbus, Mint House takes up the second and third floors in the seven-story High and Cherry Apartments.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/07/28/mint-house-hospitality.html

39 minutes ago, amped91 said:

I wonder if there was some trouble leasing at High and Cherry?

 

As the hospitality industry recovers from Covid, a unique hotel in Columbus is vying for business

 

 

“Crawford Hoying's downtown Columbus High and Cherry Apartments have a unique tenant. 

 

The apartments, located at 255 S. High St. and completed in 2020, also are home to a hotel called Mint House.

 

Mint House is a national hotel brand that locates itself in luxury apartments. In other locations nationwide, the hotel has developed entire buildings. At each location, though, the model is the same. Guests can stay for a few nights or a few months. 
 

In Columbus, Mint House takes up the second and third floors in the seven-story High and Cherry Apartments.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/07/28/mint-house-hospitality.html

When you don’t include some decent amenities on the ground floor, and probably have insanely high rent, people will look elsewhere. 
 

part of me hopes that people saw the original design, that was supposed to be there, and said nah we are good. I know that isn’t what happened, but a piece of me wants it.

6 hours ago, VintageLife said:

When you don’t include some decent amenities on the ground floor, and probably have insanely high rent, people will look elsewhere. 
 

part of me hopes that people saw the original design, that was supposed to be there, and said nah we are good. I know that isn’t what happened, but a piece of me wants it.

 

Always happy to see more hotel options but I would never stay or rent here because Crawford Hoying is garbage and I am petty.

 

Good luck Mint, hopefully you can bring some life to this bait and switch building.

 

Edited July 28, 20222 yr by DevolsDance

Just now, DevolsDance said:

 

Always happy to see more hotel options but I would never stay or rent here because Crawford Hoying is garbage and I am incredibly petty.

 

Good luck Mint, hopefully you can bring some life to this bait and switch building.

 

CH also gave us Bridge Park, so I’d take it easy on the garbage comment.

46 minutes ago, wpcc88 said:

CH also gave us Bridge Park, so I’d take it easy on the garbage comment.

 

CH presented a design, got approval, demo'd the property THEN sat for 2 years and did nothing. Once they finally returned the project was watered down to a suburban stick build with no engagement. After Columbus Navigator for wrote an article that called out and questioned their bait and switch on this project CH tried to intimidate Columbus Navigator to have the article removed.... so nah, sorry I am sticking with what I said. 

Edited July 28, 20222 yr by DevolsDance

1 hour ago, wpcc88 said:

CH also gave us Bridge Park, so I’d take it easy on the garbage comment.

I’m not that impressed with bridge park anyway. Yes it brought vibrancy and a lot of things to Dublin, but it’s just a copy paste of everything you could get downtown. If he would have added some better design and variation in building height and design, I would like it more. Bridge Park isn’t anything special. The one project I did like from them is the moxy building in the short north. 

11 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

I’m not that impressed with bridge park anyway. Yes it brought vibrancy and a lot of things to Dublin, but it’s just a copy paste of everything you could get downtown. If he would have added some better design and variation in building height and design, I would like it more. Bridge Park isn’t anything special. The one project I did like from them is the moxy building in the short north. 

I like Bridge Park but it is essentially faux urban living. I have a couple friends living there and the units are super nice but obviously on the pricey side of things. The food options are great and the walkability of the immediate area is excellent, although you'll need a car as not everything one needs is there. It isn't anything special though. That's just what it should be like in any urban area. The only thing special about that project is that they tried to create that urban feeling element outside of an existing urban area, and they did do that pretty well.

Edited July 28, 20222 yr by TIm

43 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

I’m not that impressed with bridge park anyway. Yes it brought vibrancy and a lot of things to Dublin, but it’s just a copy paste of everything you could get downtown. If he would have added some better design and variation in building height and design, I would like it more. Bridge Park isn’t anything special. The one project I did like from them is the moxy building in the short north. 

I actually got to say, out of all our *new* urban neighborhood developments, when comparing to those in Grandview and even Franklinton, I think Bridge Park is our strongest and most successful competitor: it has nearly 2 x 5 blocks of solid density, plenty of walkable restaurants, bars and market on ground floor, pronounced environmental features (Scioto River, pavilion area & bridge) & olde downtown Dublin on the other side. Everywhere else that is not University District, Short North or downtown is largely scattershot developments, or continuous builds of strictly live & work but very little play or do. Hopefully the Scioto Peninsula will change all that.

 

Edited July 28, 20222 yr by PrestoKinetic

Bridge Park did everything everyone on here always complains about and remember it is part of a master plan that also includes “Old” Dublin, the bridge, etc. It took an outdated sprawl plaza and turned it into a walkable community.

Bridge Park is far more urban in terms of the layout and mix of uses than the Riversouth District, which just so happens to be the thread we are currently discussing the Bridge Park development in, lol.

6 minutes ago, PrestoKinetic said:

I actually got to say, out of all our *new* urban neighborhood developments, when comparing to those in Grandview and even Franklinton, I think Bridge Park is our strongest and most successful competitor: it has nearly 2 x 5 blocks of solid density, plenty of walkable restaurants, bars and market on ground floor, pronounced environmental features (Scioto River, pavilion area & bridge) & olde downtown Dublin on the other side. Everywhere else that is not University District, Short North or downtown is largely scattershot developments, or continuous builds of strictly live & work but very little play or do. Hopefully the Scioto Peninsula will change all that.

 

I would say Franklinton is way better than bridge park and it has barely started. I get it is everyone’s opinion and this is just mine. I’m glad people like bridge park and enjoy it, and as an overall project, they did a good job. I am mostly just annoyed it basically is just a carbon copy of downtown Columbus. 

14 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

I would say Franklinton is way better than bridge park and it has barely started. I get it is everyone’s opinion and this is just mine. I’m glad people like bridge park and enjoy it, and as an overall project, they did a good job. I am mostly just annoyed it basically is just a carbon copy of downtown Columbus. 

Keep in mind the major reason Bridge Park is so pedestrian oriented is because of the zoning code in dublin is very strict about architecture, building massing, pedestrian oriented building placement, and integrated public spaces. The first proposal they presented (located on page 1 or two of the Bridge Street District page) was very basic with large super blocks. C&H built it that way because they had to. It is a good example that in Cbus, most time developers are going to build whatever is cheapest and gives the biggest return on investment so the city has to regulate and demand better development even if it is preventing value-engineering out pedestrian or architectural elements. This is why I think there is a lot of opportunity with Columbus revamping the zoning code to retire better standards. River south will be a good example if they get the code revamped soon to compare development quality and standards under two divergent regulations.

Man, I saw this thread was blowing up, and I’d thought for sure Millennial Tower was getting built! 😂

Millenials will be collecting social security (if it still exists) by the time anything gets built there. Might as well start marketing it as the Alpha Tower for the Children of Millenials to live in. 

5 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Millenials will be collecting social security (if it still exists) by the time anything gets built there.

Ah, so the plan all along was for Millennial Tower to be a senior living community for millennials.

Thurber Village South

23 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Thurber Village South

Tbh I’ll take it over the parking lot at this point lol

Looks like we will getting renderings soon for this project. 
 

Brad DeHays reveals plans for redevelopment of Columbus Partnership-owned downtown building

 

The Columbus Partnership and developer Brad DeHays plan to turn the former Ohio Department of Job and Family Services building into a mixed-use project with penthouses, a pool and a downtown cafe.

DeHays told Columbus Business First his current plan features 94 apartments, including six three-bedroom townhome penthouse apartments; 47,000 square feet of office space; and a 4,000-square-foot cafe. Letters of intent have been signed with a cafe operator and two office tenants, he said. 

As currently planned, the cafe would terrace down to Civic Center Drive and help activate the street level there.

 

 

 

 

Weird, I thought this was already supposed to be moving forward. Guess it’s still in the planning phase. 
 

Brad DeHays reveals plans for redevelopment of Columbus Partnership-owned downtown building

 

 

“The Columbus Partnership and developer Brad DeHays plan to turn the former Ohio Department of Job and Family Services building into a mixed-use project with penthouses, a pool and a downtown cafe. 

 

The 200,000-square-foot, seven-story office building at 145 S. Front St. has been vacant since 2007. The Columbus Partnership bought the building in March 2021 for $3 million.

 

Now DeHays is ready to move forward on the project. He'll present plans to the Downtown Commission later this month for initial feedback on his conceptual design. 

DeHays told Columbus Business First his current plan features 94 apartments, including six three-bedroom townhome penthouse apartments; 47,000 square feet of office space; and a 4,000-square-foot cafe. Letters of intent have been signed with a cafe operator and two office tenants, he said. As currently planned, the cafe would terrace down to Civic Center Drive and help activate the street level there.”

 

Also, this quote doesn’t make much sense, unless he’s saying he doesn’t want the skyline altered:

 

“DeHays said tearing down the building and replacing it with a new high-rise would dramatically alter the Columbus skyline, which is why he has a vested interest in preserving it.“

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/08/15/dehays-columbus-partnership-historic-front-street.html

Does 94 units sound extremely high or is there information that many are to be micro units? 

 

I think the skyline quite mostly applies to the appearance along the river specifically in regard to Leveque. I doubt it's anything more than just a weird way of saying we don't want Marconi to change or anything to obscure the iconic tower. With his involvement in the restoration of Leveque, I can see a personal bias against building a tower that would block Leveque from the most iconic images of the city skyline, but even without personal bias, I think it's probably an OK stance to say that that little area should refrain from blocking it. 

6 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

Does 94 units sound extremely high or is there information that many are to be micro units? 

 

I think the skyline quite mostly applies to the appearance along the river specifically in regard to Leveque. I doubt it's anything more than just a weird way of saying we don't want Marconi to change or anything to obscure the iconic tower. With his involvement in the restoration of Leveque, I can see a personal bias against building a tower that would block Leveque from the most iconic images of the city skyline, but even without personal bias, I think it's probably an OK stance to say that that little area should refrain from blocking it. 

DeHayes units almost always seem to be micro units so I would guess they won’t be big. Curious if the townhome units will be full floor, it isn’t a huge building. 

Glad they're finally doing something with this box, but what an oppressive looking building to live in. I doubt they can do much for the exterior without destroying that three building design cohesion  along the river. But, I guess it could be fun to see kids grow up there to find them later in life, confused as adult, finding that other adults don't have childhood stories revolving around playing outside on the giant neighborhood gavel.

24 minutes ago, Airsup said:

Glad they're finally doing something with this box, but what an oppressive looking building to live in. I doubt they can do much for the exterior without destroying that three building design cohesion  along the river. But, I guess it could be fun to see kids grow up there to find them later in life, confused as adult, finding that other adults don't have childhood stories revolving around playing outside on the giant neighborhood gavel.

Yeah this will most likely use historic tax credits so they won’t be able to change the appearance on the outside. The pool and cafe should help a little, but yeah, it’s not the best looking.  

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by VintageLife

1 hour ago, DTCL11 said:

Does 94 units sound extremely high or is there information that many are to be micro units?

I think the original plan was for 75 units, so either the office space is getting reduced, or the apartments are getting smaller. 
 

Anyway, here’s some renderings of the amenity deck. They’ve been out for awhile, but I don’t think they’ve been posted on here yet. 
 

The amenity deck is fascinating.  I would love to see the north building done the same just as an extension of the plaza there. 

 

Looks like you can spot the Cafe patio as well in the bottom right of the last one. 

 

I'm hoping that at some point we get a new public restaurant with some great elevated views of the riverfront. M at Miranova was wonderful but inaccessible and separated.  Even the rooftop bar on the Peninsula predominantly faces north and west so it doesn't offer the best views.

39 minutes ago, DTCL11 said:

The amenity deck is fascinating.  I would love to see the north building done the same just as an extension of the plaza there. 

 

Looks like you can spot the Cafe patio as well in the bottom right of the last one. 

 

I'm hoping that at some point we get a new public restaurant with some great elevated views of the riverfront. M at Miranova was wonderful but inaccessible and separated.  Even the rooftop bar on the Peninsula predominantly faces north and west so it doesn't offer the best views.

Yeah I think they could do more to activate the river. Part of me loves that it is just nature and nothing is there, but I also feel like they could do dining and a nice balcony space over it in certain areas. 

Renovation Plans Announced for Long Vacant Office Building

 

The lights have been off at 145 South Front Street for 16 years, and local developer Brad DeHayes is ready to do something about that. A collaborative effort between his company Connect Realty and nonprofit business group The Columbus Partnership will transform the former office building into a mix of residential, office and retail uses.

 

“My favorite view of the skyline is of the river, and this has been a bit of an institutional void,” stated DeHayes. “Our hope is that we’ll be able to add some vibrancy to this part of Downtown again.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/renovation-plans-announced-for-long-vacant-office-building-we1/

 

I’m excited to see that cafe put more life on the street. 

45 minutes ago, FudgeRounds said:

I’m excited to see that cafe put more life on the street. 

Yep, front street could be a great location but is mostly parking garages 

Few more renderings out today for the Civic. 
 

 

 

Owners of the Warehouse District will also ask the Downtown Commission for approval to demo a single story building on N 6th St to make way for a parking lot. Hopefully they will say no. 

11 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Few more renderings out today for the Civic. 
 

 

 

Owners of the Warehouse District will also ask the Downtown Commission for approval to demo a single story building on N 6th St to make way for a parking lot. Hopefully they will say no. 

Looks like they are altering the roof a bit. Looks as good as you can make that building look. 

1 hour ago, amped91 said:

Few more renderings out today for the Civic. 

 

I wish they would actually build a cafe structure on that corner, not just a fenced-in seating area. We desperately need more active uses along the riverfront

 

Even just a small pavilion that fits only on that patio could add quite a lot to the immediate area

 

Hopfully the "smrt" columbus experience center can be repurposed as retail space soon... 

Sounds like the commission was supportive of the project. 
 

Brad DeHays reveals renderings for downtown building owned by Columbus Partnership
 

 

“The commission had positive feedback on the proposed project. DeHays plans to go back before the commission for a certificate of appropriateness later this fall.
 

The developer, known for his historic rehabilitation efforts, said the roughly $50 million project won't be able to happen without historic tax credits. 
 

DeHays should find out this winter if he lands the credits. If he does, work could start as early as the beginning of next year. Construction work would take about two years.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/08/23/brad-dehays-columbus-partnership-odfjs-downtown.html

New Downtown Fashion & Retail District Set to Debut on Friday

 

This Friday, a new initiative to bring fashion and retail business back to Downtown Columbus kicks off with the launch of “Common Thread”, a new destination shopping experience featuring seven new shops on South Third Street.

 

The program is a collaboration between the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and Columbus Fashion Council (CFC), located in the ground-floor retail space of the Columbus Commons Parking Garage. A new art installation was recently installed by muralist Mandi “Miss Birdy” Caskey at the intersection of Third and Rich Streets.

 

The retail program is just one aspect of the recently adopted 2022 Downtown Strategic Plan, designed to steer new development Downtown in the coming decades and return the city center population to 40,000 by the year 2040.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/common-thread-downtown-columbus-retail-we1/

 

I'm just placing this here as a bit of a time keeper since it was brought up in the other thread. 

 

Re: Main Bar

 

Dispatch June 23, 2021

 

"After reviewing the reports, city staff recommended approving the demolition, a change from its previous position.

 

The commission approved the demolition on the condition that Schiff Properties has a redevelopment plan approved for the site within two years. The development firm also owns surrounding parking lots on the northwest corner of Main and S. High streets. 

 

...

 

“We’ve been looking to do a project for the last eight to 12 months," said the firm's Jared Schiff.

 

"I don’t think it’s too far away. I'm not going to give a definitive time, but I’d say within the next six to 12 months we could potentially have plans in front of the city to review," he added. "We really want to do something beautiful on this corner; we know it’s a critical corner to Downtown."

 

...

 

Mike Shannon, an attorney representing Schiff Properties, ridiculed the notion that the building was architecturally valuable. 

“I have done a number of demolitions in historic districts throughout my career and inevitably the testimony says you’re tearing down paradise to put up a parking lot," Shannon told the commission. 

 

"Well, we’re surrounded by a parking lot, our interim use is a parking lot and the only pair of dice we found in this bar was the pair in the back room they used to shoot craps.”"

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/23/downtown-commission-votes-demolish-venerable-main-bar/5319091001/

 

 

 

Wonder if the dt commission will actually pursue any action when Schiff still doesn’t have any plans come June?

On 1/17/2023 at 6:54 PM, DTCL11 said:

I'm just placing this here as a bit of a time keeper since it was brought up in the other thread. 

 

Re: Main Bar

 

Dispatch June 23, 2021

 

"After reviewing the reports, city staff recommended approving the demolition, a change from its previous position.

 

The commission approved the demolition on the condition that Schiff Properties has a redevelopment plan approved for the site within two years. The development firm also owns surrounding parking lots on the northwest corner of Main and S. High streets. 

 

...

 

“We’ve been looking to do a project for the last eight to 12 months," said the firm's Jared Schiff.

 

"I don’t think it’s too far away. I'm not going to give a definitive time, but I’d say within the next six to 12 months we could potentially have plans in front of the city to review," he added. "We really want to do something beautiful on this corner; we know it’s a critical corner to Downtown."

 

...

 

Mike Shannon, an attorney representing Schiff Properties, ridiculed the notion that the building was architecturally valuable. 

“I have done a number of demolitions in historic districts throughout my career and inevitably the testimony says you’re tearing down paradise to put up a parking lot," Shannon told the commission. 

 

"Well, we’re surrounded by a parking lot, our interim use is a parking lot and the only pair of dice we found in this bar was the pair in the back room they used to shoot craps.”"

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/06/23/downtown-commission-votes-demolish-venerable-main-bar/5319091001/

 

 

 

Schiffty must’ve realized we were onto him!

 

Ultimately, I think this is better land use than the bar and a huge parking lot. But, for such a prominent corner, I think they should go even bigger here. That is, if Schiff even follows through on this at all. 

 

Schiff Properties plans to build 18-story mixed-use building on former Main Bar site in downtown Columbus

 

“The downtown site previously home to The Main Bar could redeveloped into a mixed-use tower with up to 350 residential units. 

 

Columbus' Schiff Properties plans to either co-develop the site with Chicago-based Mavrek Development or sell it to the firm, Scott Schiff said. The project is expected to cost between $50 million and $70 million, he said, depending on its ultimate height. 

 

The roughly 200,000-square-foot building would have ground-floor retail, a parking garage and luxury apartments, Schiff told me. The development would be up to 18 stories, he said.

 

The development is still in its conceptual phase. But as envisioned now, its height and mass would complement what Lifestyle Communities has in the LC RiverSouth nearby, Schiff said.

 

Schiff Properties and Mavrek Development are about six months out from going to the Downtown Commission for a certificate of appropriateness and about a year out from starting construction on the project, Schiff said.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/01/24/schiff-properties-main-bar.html

 

I also don’t like this quote:

 

“Schiff told me that the city had hoped for affordable housing on the site, but he said that the "ground is too good," and that the numbers wouldn't work for such a plan. "Luxury housing makes sense on ground that is in this location," Schiff said.“

 

Build bigger then, add a couple floors so you can accommodate some sub-market rate units. (I say this fully aware that it’s not my own money being spent, but I still feel like more can be done here.)

If they can manage to get past 15 stories, I would be ecstatic. I'll believe it when I see it though as this still sounds very conceptual.