^ This is pretty common these days.  See it happening all over LA.

Living, as I do, to the extreme right edge of the rendering, I still wonder how the scale of this project will be felt in the pre-existing neighborhood. It would be cool to see some street-level renderings from the neighbors' POV. Regardless, glad to see this moving forward. The gaping hole in the ground was losing its charm.

Well, it was getting kinda green with the weeds, but yeah this will be much better. It might look nice from your pov, since the retail wraps around the side so that the street level interacts with the side street.

Below are links to some local media stories about the Ibiza project going from condo to apartment...

 

 

COLUMBUS DISPATCH:  Apartments to supplant Short North condos: Financing difficulties force change; at least 70 buyers left in lurch

 

BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS:  Apartments to replace Ibiza condos

Victorian, Italian villages plan High Street pact

Commissions want east, west sides of thoroughfare to share a style

Thursday,  February 4, 2010 - 3:19 AM

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

 

Drive or walk through the Short North, and you'd be hard-pressed to find much difference between the east and west sides of High Street.  That's what the Italian Village and Victorian Village commissions want to preserve as development rises along both sides of the street that separates the two neighborhoods.

 

Members of the Victorian Village and Italian Village commissions are meeting today in the first of several get-togethers to forge a common vision for High Street.  They are concerned about such things as the height of buildings, how signs are lighted and whether awnings should hang loose or be stretched tightly, said Marc Conte, who leads the Victorian Village Commission.

 

"High Street has always been a problem. There's nothing in each of the commission's bylaws that allows us to jointly decide things," Conte said.  Rex Hagerling, the chairman of the Italian Village Commission, said newer buildings are raising concerns about height.

 

Full article at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/04/ONEPLAN.ART_ART_02-04-10_B6_VQGGBCL.html

Sorry, Village Commissions: you already make life unbearable for your residents (endless rounds of approval for shingle-types, trim colors, front door styles, roughness of siding, etc.), and now you want to lend your magic to High Street? Caucasians please...

Yeah, no thanks: this is not Clintonville. How do some commissions have so much power while others (lower-income) are simply ignored?

This just in from Columbus Underground:

 

Ibiza Condos Turning into Apartments

By Walker | January 25, 2010 - 1:20pm

 

 

And now the fallout begins on the Ibiza project...

 

---

Condo depositors file suit

Project's failure muddies waters

Saturday,  February 13, 2010 - 3:06 AM

By Jim Weiker, The Columbus Dispatch

 

The developers of the planned Ibiza condominium complex in the Short North are facing the first of what could be several lawsuits over the project's failure.  Michael Saucedo and Reena Buddhdev, who signed a contract in May 2008 to buy a $230,000 condo, sued the developers for failing to deliver the condominium under the terms of the contract.  They are seeking more than $25,000 in damages, including the return of their $11,500 deposit.

 

Full article at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/02/13/Ibiza_Suit.ART_ART_02-13-10_A10_DSGIVCC.html

 

---

Ibiza buyers demand deposit back

Friday, February 12, 2010

Business First of Columbus - by Doug Buchanan

 

The abandonment of condominiums at a delayed project in the Short North has a pair of would-be buyers going to court to get their money back.  Reena Buddhdev and Michael Saucedo want the developer of Ibiza on High to return their $11,500 deposit paid in May 2008 to reserve a $229,999 condo.  At the time, the couple expected to move into their sixth-floor residence by late 2009.

 

Apex Realty Enterprises LLC last month said it was giving up devoting the proposed 11-story tower at 830 N. High St. to condos, conceding it could not land construction financing.  The developer said the project would be converted to apartments and 5 percent deposits made by prospective buyers of more than 70 of the 135 planned condos would be returned.  It did not specify the timing of the refunds.

 

Brian Laliberte, an attorney at Axelrod LLC representing the couple, said Buddhdev and Saucedo doubt Apex’s partners have the deposit money on hand, even though they contend it should have been held in an escrow account.  “I have a real question in my mind that their representations concerning refunds are true,” Laliberte said. 

 

The couple filed their lawsuit Feb. 4 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.  Apex representatives did not return messages seeking comment.

 

More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/02/15/tidbits2.html

From NBC4:

 

Short North Near Top Of ‘Most Expensive’ List

 

In Franklin County, it’s no secret that the homes in New Albany and Upper Arlington are expensive.  But the next most-expensive area on the list might be a surprise:  the Short North and Victorian Village.

 

“The housing stock is in high demand because of the business area around the Short North, restaurants, night clubs, there’s plenty of things to do,“ says HER Real Living Realtor Terry Penrod who lives and sells in Victorian Village.  “You can walk. People love to walk. This is a great walking area.“

 

According to a report from HER Real Living and the Multiple Listing Service, the most expensive ZIP codes in the past 12 months in Franklin County are:

#1 - New Albany (43054)

#2 - Upper Arlington (North) (43220)

#3 - Victorian Village/Short North/Downtown (43215)

#4 - Dublin (43017)

#5 - Upper Arlington (South) (43221)

 

At the bottom of the list:

#36 - Columbus Groveport Rd./Lockborne Rd. area (43207)

#37 - Columbus Eastland (43232)

#38 - Columbus Morse Rd./Cleveland Rd. area (43224)

#39 - Columbus E. Livingston/S. Hamilton Rd. area (43227)

#40 - Columbus South Linden (43211)

 

Full List by zip code, article and video at http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/Short_North_Near_Top_of_Most_Expensive_List/31210/

Neither top or bottom surprise me.

To me the bottom are surprising. South Linden is the only urban neighborhood in the bottom 5 of the list. I would have guessed many others would have been candidates. While South Linden is rough I haven't had a problem by sticking to Cleveland Ave (during the day of course). The rest of the list is sprawl in the outskirts of the city where crime has been on the rise. I don't think crime is why Groveport & Lockbourne is on the bottom, but because it's way out in the boonies of TriSouth, which even I of all people have never even passed through.

 

Not surprised to see the Short North in the top and this is what I love about cities like this; I can afford to live just a couple of blocks away from the most expensive urban hoods in the city.

Two retail/restaurant updates for the area:

 

<b>National Jean Company to Open in Short North</b>

By Melanie McIntyre | March 4, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/nationaljeancompany1.jpg">

 

It’s official: the space formerly home to Dr. Mojoe has a new retail tenant. National Jean Company is scheduled to open at 761 N. High St. in early April. The store −a partnership between local investors and National Jean Company President and Founder Jimmy Gurrieri− will be the chain’s 12th location and its first in the Midwest.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/national-jean-company-to-open-in-short-north

 

---

 

<b>Victorian’s Transforms into The Shrunken Head</b>

By Walker | March 2, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/shrunkenhead.jpg">

 

The venue formerly known as Victorian’s Midnight Cafe is undergoing a transformation, and will soon be known as The Shrunken Head. The new bar will feature all-new decor and a new unique identity. The main room will continue to host live music and entertainment, while the back patio now features an enclosed Tiki bar.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/victorians-transforms-into-the-shrunken-head

Two reports from WOSU.  One report looks at the Short North's past.  The other report looks at the Short North's present and future.  Full articles and audio at the links below:

 

The Short North:  A History

 

The Short North Grapples With Change

 

The audio from Monday's Short North edition of "All Sides with Ann Fisher" on WOSU is now online:

 

First hour: http://streaming.osu.edu/wosu/allsides/030810aOL.mp3

 

WOSU TV airs the Columbus Neighborhoods documentary—The Short North this evening at 8 PM, the largest project in WOSU history, and the history of the revitalized Short North neighborhood that inspired the first documentary, with WOSU TV Producer Mary Rathke and WOSU Arts Programming Executive Producer Cindy Gaillard, and Short North Developer Sandy Wood. Recorded March 8, 2010.

 

Second Hour: http://streaming.osu.edu/wosu/allsides/030810bOL.mp3

 

The role of art galleries in the development of the Short North arts district, and the importance of the arts to urban living in the U.S., with Studios on High manager Judy Hoberg, Mahan Gallery owner Jacquie Mahan, and ColumbusUnderground.com founder Walker Evans. Recorded March 8, 2010.

The outside of The Jackson on High looks just about finished!

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/construction8.jpg">

 

I dig it.

Dueling denim dealers

Two premium jeans retailers are opening in the Short North

Saturday,  March 27, 2010 - 2:51 AM

By Tim Feran, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Even during the raging storm of the recession, one retail sector floated serenely along: jeans.  So the opening of two premium jeans stores in the Short North within a few weeks of each other might come as no surprise.

 

What might be surprising is that the stores are literally across the street from each other: National Jean Co. at 761 N. High St., in the former home of premium jeans store Dr. Mojoe; and Voodoo Denim Lounge at 780 N. High St., in what was previously Norka Futon.

 

"Having two of them right across the street from each other increases both of their odds of being successful - if they are strong operators," said Chris Boring, president of Columbus-based retail consultancy Boulevard Strategies.  "Fashion is a selection-driven category. Shoppers will go to places where they have more choices, especially for items you don't see at all of the malls."

 

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/03/27/duelingdenimdealers.html

From NBC4:

 

Short North Near Top Of Most Expensive List

 

In Franklin County, its no secret that the homes in New Albany and Upper Arlington are expensive. But the next most-expensive area on the list might be a surprise: the Short North and Victorian Village.

 

The housing stock is in high demand because of the business area around the Short North, restaurants, night clubs, theres plenty of things to do, says HER Real Living Realtor Terry Penrod who lives and sells in Victorian Village. You can walk. People love to walk. This is a great walking area.

 

According to a report from HER Real Living and the Multiple Listing Service, the most expensive ZIP codes in the past 12 months in Franklin County are:

#1 - New Albany (43054)

#2 - Upper Arlington (North) (43220)

#3 - Victorian Village/Short North/Downtown (43215)

#4 - Dublin (43017)

#5 - Upper Arlington (South) (43221)

 

At the bottom of the list:

#36 - Columbus Groveport Rd./Lockborne Rd. area (43207)

#37 - Columbus Eastland (43232)

#38 - Columbus Morse Rd./Cleveland Rd. area (43224)

#39 - Columbus E. Livingston/S. Hamilton Rd. area (43227)

#40 - Columbus South Linden (43211)

 

Full List by zip code, article and video at http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/Short_North_Near_Top_of_Most_Expensive_List/31210/

 

Groveport Rd and Lockbourne is the ultimate white trash destination neighborhood. I don't know why it's on the bottom of the list with crack dens going for a mere 9K. My family used to flip houses in that zip up until a few years ago. They actually had a good rate of people that were already in that area buying up the flipped houses.

Catching up on some Short North business news from Columbus Underground:

 

 

Bink Davies Opens in the Short North This Weekend

By Walker | March 31, 2010 11:00am

 

Another new retail venture is opening up in this Short North this spring as Bink Davies makes their Gallery Hop debut on Saturday.  The new store is located at 668 North High Street in the former Take 2 Apparel location which closed a few months ago.  We recently chatted with David Barbour, Manager of Bink Davies for a quick Q&A session about the new retail shop.

 

Full interview: http://www.columbusunderground.com/bink-davies-opens-in-the-short-north-this-weekend

 

Catching up on some more Short North business news from Columbus Underground:

 

 

Middle West Spirits: Columbus’ First Microdistillery

By Walker | April 2, 2010 10:00am

 

The Short North is known for being home to some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, art galleries and boutique shops, and in 2010, the neighborhood will gain another significant notch in it’s belt as it becomes the home of Middle West Spirits, the first microdistillery in the city.  Business partners Brady Konya and Ryan Lang have spent the last two years getting their unique operation up and running and will begin selling their first product, an artisan vodka called Oyo, in May.

 

We recently caught up with Brady and Ryan to find out more about Middle West Spirits and what lies in store for the future of their new business.

 

Full interview: http://www.columbusunderground.com/middle-west-spirits-columbus-first-microdistillery

 

I'm really excited about Middle West Spirits. Give them a year and their product will be known locally as "The Jeni's of Spirits" and their brand will start to get some regional attention as well. These guys are going to do really really well.

Walker, you make one hell of a contribution to the Columbus community through your website.  I used to participate in it when I lived in Columbus, and I see you've taken it to new levels since then.  Thanks for all that you do for Columbus.

Hear hear!

North Star Cafe might get upstairs neighbors

Short North building’s owner proposes to add three stories of office, living space

Thursday,  April 8, 2010 - 2:55 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose, The Columbus Dispatch

 

The North Star Cafe might get upstairs neighbors at its Short North location.  Wood Real Estate, which owns the building at 951 N. High Street, proposes to add one story with 10,200 square feet of offices and two stories with 12 apartments totaling 12,000 square feet atop the restaurant, according to plans filed with the city.  It would also add 9,600 square feet of covered parking.

 

Columbus City Council on Monday approved a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement for the project.  Wood's investment was estimated at $4.2 million.

 

LOCATION MAP

 

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/04/08/north-star-cafe-to-get-upstairs-neighbors.html?sid=101

Travonna is getting a new neighbor to the south. Wasn't so long ago that there was an empty space on either side.

 

 

SHORT NORTH

High Street hotel plan moving ahead

Saturday, June 26, 2010  - 2:51 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A proposed hotel in the Short North took another step forward this week with the unveiling of renderings at a joint meeting of the Victorian Village and Italian Village commissions.  A number of commissioners remained concerned about the scale and design of the project, which would include a 135-room hotel, office building and retail space on the east side of High Street and a 500-space parking garage on the west side.

 

Victorian Village, which claims the west side of High Street, has long been sensitive to limiting the height of buildings along the thoroughfare.  Italian Village, representing the east side of High, has been slightly less strict.  The joint meetings of the two groups were started this year to address the planning of projects that involve both sides of High.

 

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/06/26/high-st--hotel-plan-moving-ahead.html?sid=101

The Dispatch article also included a site map that shows where the Hotel is proposed on the east side of High Street in Italian Village and where the Parking Garage is proposed on the west side of High Street in Victorian Village at the first link below.  Columbus Underground has a more detailed site plan along with many renderings of the proposal at the second link below.

 

1) LOCATION MAP AND SITE MAP FOR THE HOTEL AND PARKING GARAGE

 

2) MORE HOTEL AND PARKING GARAGE RENDERINGS FROM COLUMBUS UNDERGROUND

 

Here are two of those renderings from Columbus Underground:

 

Street view of High Street looking north from the I-670 Cap

 

 

Aerial view looking southwest - Hotel is closest; Parking Garage is across High Street

Two parking lots that BADLY NEED TO GO AWAY!!!

There's also a new art gallery that just opened last month in the Short North...

 

<b>Accessible Art Gallery in Ray’s Living Room</b>

By Walker | June 25, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/ray2.jpg">

 

Earlier this month, the Short North gained a new art gallery space as “Ray’s Living Room” hosted their first exhibition at 17 Brickel Street. The venue has been named after Ray Hanley, the former long-time President of the Greater Columbus Arts Council who passed away in 2006. His personal friends Kent and Tasi Rigsby are behind this new project and are utilizing the space as both an art gallery and an event venue. We recently spoke with Kent to find out more about the latest addition to the Short North art gallery lineup.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/accessible-art-gallery-in-rays-living-room

Short North Housing

Condo plan replaced as investors keep suing

Tuesday, July 6, 2010  02:50 AM

By Jim Weiker THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

 

The developer of the failed Ibiza housing project in the Short North says it has signed an agreement with a "large Columbus developer" to build apartments instead of condos on the site.

 

"The goal is the exact same building," said Scot Dewhirst, an attorney representing the developer, Apex Realty Enterprises. "I think it's still going to be an exciting project for the Short North."

 

While Apex tries to revive the project, lawsuits mount against the company from investors seeking to get their condo deposits back.

 

Entire article @:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/07/06/condo-plan-replaced-as-investors-keep-suing.html?sid=101

The Ibiza saga keeps going.  I really do hope the project gets built as it was proposed.  Because it was a sweet design.  But when the attorney of the original developer talks about partnering with a new unnamed developer - this doesn't fill one with an abundance of good feelings about it's future prospects.

Luckily the Short North is still a really good investment; I'm optimistic they won't cut too many corners. I too liked the design. I'll be happy to see it finally built. That site has so much potential and it's depressing to see it stagnant in such a vibrant area of the SN.

 

I can't imagine the headache those people are going through. Putting down deposits on a condo and making living arrangements - many of them probably counting on a deadline while selling their previous house. Moving is stressful enough, then you have developers saying "syke" we're not building condos after all, even though we took a big deposit from you.

Oh OK, you're waiting for HUD approval, so let's talk to them. Oh hey HUD, what's the hold up? There's been nothing submitted at all!? Interesting...

 

Oh well, at least the Dispatch did some digging for once. I like the graphic with the labeled arrow pointing to "Failed Ibiza condo project".

Oh OK, you're waiting for HUD approval, so let's talk to them. Oh hey HUD, what's the hold up? There's been nothing submitted at all!? Interesting...

 

Oh well, at least the Dispatch did some digging for once. I like the graphic with the labeled arrow pointing to "Failed Ibiza condo project".

 

The Dispatch is a terrible newspaper. The epitome of lazy reporting. I couldn't believe it when they had an article about an environmental agency hiring people and busing them to the Gulf Coast to help with the oil spill. It said they pay 13 bucks an hour plus pay for housing and food, etc. etc. Come to find out the article was just copied from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and by law, you're only allowed to hire people for environmental disasters if they live in a state effected by it. Way to give false hope to desperate people and cause the environmental firm to have phones ringing off the hook for no reason.

The Ibiza saga keeps going.  I really do hope the project gets built as it was proposed.  Because it was a sweet design.  But when the attorney of the original developer talks about partnering with a new unnamed developer - this doesn't fill one with an abundance of good feelings about it's future prospects.

Well, this is a little more encouraging.  Now the potential unnamed new developer has a name.

 

Investor steps in to rescue Ibiza as project switches to apartments

Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball

Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:00am EDT

 

Core Properties LLC may take over development of the troubled Ibiza housing high-rise in Columbus’ Short North.  Partner Jeff Coopersmith confirmed the real estate investment firm, best known for hotels and medical office buildings, wants to revive the project at 830 N. High St., creating 155 apartments rather than the condominiums envisioned for the 11-story building.

 

Apex Realty Enterprises LLC, an affiliate of developer Arms Properties, unveiled the project, then dubbed Urban Oasis, in 2006.  It bought the bulk of the site at North High Street and East Hubbard Avenue for $4.7 million in March 2007.  The developer in October 2008 secured a building permit for what was then a proposed $35 million, 135-condo project after announcing several delays to prospective buyers.  Construction never began, despite assurances to individuals who put down deposits.

 

Coopersmith said the need to pay back deposits will figure into Core Properties’ due diligence in the next 60 days to get the project back on track.  The revamped project still would include a 250-slot public parking garage to serve the commercial corridor.  It also would have about 20,000 square feet of retail and office space.

 

Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/07/12/story6.html?b=1278907200^3623221

The Victorian Village and Italian Village Commissions held another joint meeting this week about a proposed hotel and parking garage proposal on both sides of High Street.  The hotel would be located on the east side of High Street (Italian Village) and the parking garage with some ground floor retail and upper story office space would be located on the west side of High Street (Victorian Village). 

 

More about that meeting from Columbus Underground at Pizzuti Short North Hotel - News & Updates and a 17 page PDF of the developer's presentation made to the joint commission meeting.

 

Those spots have been there for too long. Fill those and the rest up already and turn it into a bike/bus/scooter/streetcar zone.

An update on the Pizzuti Hotel proposal from a poster on Columbus Underground:

 

A few points from a 8/19 community meeting with the hotel developer, held prior to a 8/26 architectural review meeting with the Victorian Village Commisstion and Italian Village Commission.

• No architectural drawings were presented, those were being saved for the 8/26 architectural review meeting.

• The designs have been reworked based on commission comments.

• The buildings will no longer mirror each other across the street and will no longer look like a "gateway".

• The developer is proposing reversing the one-way direction of Russell to run west bound. This is where the garage entrance will be. The idea is to force outbound traffic to Park/Goodale/670/downtown.

• Millay Alley will be completely rebuilt, keeping the historic bricks and adding sidewalks.

• The parking garage will house approx 313 cars. 100 for the hotel, 125-150 during the day for offices.

• They will contract with valet companies to use the garage (they consider valet use as "public parking").

• There still wasn't clear explanation on how many "net" spaces the SN would gain.

• The hotel will be approx 135 rooms.

• The art gallery will be a private space only open at special times, though they do want to work with the art community to bring in shows, etc.

• There will be both event space in the UTC building and the hotel (5000 sq ft).

• The new plans include the storefront running down Millay Alley as initially proposed.

• A little triangle of land left over from the 670 construction east of Pearl, will function as a surface lot for the hotel (overflow parking, deliveries, etc) and may have a one story deck added at a later time.

An update on the Pizzuti Hotel proposal from a poster on Columbus Underground:

 

A few points from a 8/19 community meeting with the hotel developer, held prior to a 8/26 architectural review meeting with the Victorian Village Commisstion and Italian Village Commission.

• No architectural drawings were presented, those were being saved for the 8/26 architectural review meeting.

• The designs have been reworked based on commission comments.

• The buildings will no longer mirror each other across the street and will no longer look like a "gateway".

• The developer is proposing reversing the one-way direction of Russell to run west bound. This is where the garage entrance will be. The idea is to force outbound traffic to Park/Goodale/670/downtown.

• Millay Alley will be completely rebuilt, keeping the historic bricks and adding sidewalks.

• The parking garage will house approx 313 cars. 100 for the hotel, 125-150 during the day for offices.

• They will contract with valet companies to use the garage (they consider valet use as "public parking").

• There still wasn't clear explanation on how many "net" spaces the SN would gain.

• The hotel will be approx 135 rooms.

• The art gallery will be a private space only open at special times, though they do want to work with the art community to bring in shows, etc.

• There will be both event space in the UTC building and the hotel (5000 sq ft).

• The new plans include the storefront running down Millay Alley as initially proposed.

• A little triangle of land left over from the 670 construction east of Pearl, will function as a surface lot for the hotel (overflow parking, deliveries, etc) and may have a one story deck added at a later time.

Presentation package of plans and renderings for the updated hotel project - pdf here

News about Michael's Goody Boy, the 1950's style diner building with the vintage sign that's across the street from the newly completed Jackson On High condos and Scully's.

 

 

 

Restaurateur to open Jimmy V's in the Short North

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

BY GARY SEMAN JR.

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

The vacant Michael's Goody Boy Drive-In in the Short North will make way for another restaurant with a strong Columbus presence.  Local restaurateur Jimmy Velio will open his fifth Jimmy V's on the site, 1144 N. High Street.

 

He said the Goody Boy closed about a year ago and he's since been working with the Italian Village Commission and the city to reconfigure the site.  His original intention was to bulldoze the building and put another one up in its place.

 

But that idea was rejected, so he will save the facade and add another 1,400 square feet of space to the north, bringing the total to about 2,900 square feet.  A 1,600-square-foot patio will be part of the space.  The total project will cost $500,000 to $700,000, he said.

 

MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/food/stories/2010/09/29/tabletalk.html?sid=104

*Sigh*. Are Liz Lessner and Jimmy V like the only two entrepreneurs in Columbus willing to open up restaurant-bars in long empty locations like this? It's ridiculous.

I hope they keep the sign!

<b>Mahan Gallery Closing in the Short North</b>

By Anne | September 17, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.handcrafteddelights.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mahan.jpg">

 

After eight years of being a Short North destination, Mahan Gallery will be closing its storefront on October 1. Owner Jacquie Mahan, who made the decision to close the storefront so she can concentrate on raising her family, said, “I have enjoyed sharing my passion for contemporary art with the local arts community. To have had the rare and wonderful opportunity to work with a variety of extremely talented artists and creative minds has been something I am grateful for.” Although the storefront will be gone, Jacquie will remain active in the local arts community. Her first project will be a curated photo show in an alternative location. Thank you Mahan Gallery for showcasing wonderful artists! We wish you all the best.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/mahan-gallery-closing-in-the-short-north

.

From Columbus Underground: Walker Evans interviews the manager of Short North Fitness, which recently opened in the ground floor of The Jackson on High condo project.

 

Short North Fitness Opens in The Jackson on High

By Walker | October 16, 2010

 

 

The Short North continues to expand on the northern end of the district with the opening of the new Short North Fitness.  This new business opened their doors yesterday in The Jackson on High condominium development located at 1137 North High Street.  Short North Fitness boasts a variety of classes, services and state-of-the-art fitness equipment.  We recently spoke with manager Todd Schulze to find out more about the new business.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/short-north-fitness-opens-in-the-jackson-on-high

<b>Mahan Gallery Closing in the Short North</b>

By Anne | September 17, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.handcrafteddelights.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mahan.jpg">

 

After eight years of being a Short North destination, Mahan Gallery will be closing its storefront on October 1. Owner Jacquie Mahan, who made the decision to close the storefront so she can concentrate on raising her family, said, “I have enjoyed sharing my passion for contemporary art with the local arts community. To have had the rare and wonderful opportunity to work with a variety of extremely talented artists and creative minds has been something I am grateful for.” Although the storefront will be gone, Jacquie will remain active in the local arts community. Her first project will be a curated photo show in an alternative location. Thank you Mahan Gallery for showcasing wonderful artists! We wish you all the best.

 

READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/mahan-gallery-closing-in-the-short-north

 

Definitely not a death knoll for SN galleries overall, but this was one of my top 3 galleries to visit. I'll take the owner's reason at face value, but I do wonder about other galleries that had to close because of the higher rent there and I'm frustrated at the lack of new galleries opening up in a different business district as a result. OK, so the SN is too pricey, so why aren't you doing the obvious? Talk with other priced-out artists, select another dense urban district to set up shop in, and boom: a yet-to-be gentrified, but art dense district will serve as an alternative that'll at least see revitalization like countless other neighborhoods nationwide, not just the SN. Franklinton itself has been promoted by residents as that very neighborhood and has the cheap walkable district to fulfill this niche. So far, galleries there have all been temporary and while there are a few galleries on Parsons there just aren't enough buildings there in OTE to offer another arts district unless they are going to tear down the east leg of the split and redevelop the rest of Parsons down to Livingston with mixed-use buildings so that more galleries can move in to create said district.

I think the economy is still that bad. Galleries need folks w/ money to spend to keep them open even when they are pushing into new 'hoods - and I'd guess that the generation that led this is worn out and doesn't have the energy for another go at the cycle and the rising generation doesn't have access to the wealth or value the particular neighborhoods that could become their new homes.

GenX is working too hard to keep their jobs safe while GenY is too self absorbed and will only take up a cause if they get immediate returns - The involved and proactive boomers are retiring and great stuff is being lost, get used to this trend.

I'm frustrated at the lack of new galleries opening up in a different business district as a result. OK, so the SN is too pricey, so why aren't you doing the obvious? Talk with other priced-out artists, select another dense urban district to set up shop in, and boom...

 

I assume you meant priced-out gallery owners? Gallery owners and artists are generally two different groups of people.

 

I agree that some group-effort could have a positive impact in creating another area, but it takes a lot of additional energy over just running your own gallery. It may seem "obvious" but really requires the right group of people and the right location.

<b>Modern Furniture Store Moving Into Short North</b>

Business Profiles — By Melanie McIntyre on October 22, 2010

 

<img src="http://www.themetropreneur.com/columbus/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/grid2.jpg">

 

Tim Friar saw a void in the Central Ohio furniture retail scene and, rather than lament it, decided to fill it himself.

 

Friar, a modern furniture fan, was all too aware of the lack of local retailers selling mid-price pieces in that style. Now his store, Grid Furnishings, will carry them.

 

Located at 944 N. High St. in the Short North, Grid will carry a range of modern residential furnishings, art furniture, and art designed by makers and artists in the United States and Canada.

 

READ MORE: http://www.themetropreneur.com/columbus/modern-furniture-store-moving-short-north/