Okay. So here's my attempt to untangle what's happened and what's happening at the former Ibiza Condo location.  AKA the northeast corner of High and Hubbard - a long-troubled but attractive site in the Short North:

 

PROJECT SITE - 2008

The landowner - Apex Realty Enterprises LLC - proposed the 11-story, 135-unit Ibiza condominium project.  The project also included ground-floor retail and a 250-slot parking garage for building residents and tenants.  Apex began collecting condo deposits for Ibiza in 2008, pulling in nearly $1.2 million for 70 units by the time the project was scuttled in 2010.  Apex principals had hoped to quickly convert the project into apartments but that plan also failed.  Numerous condo buyers have sued Apex for the return of their deposits, and Franklin County has sought payment of overdue real estate taxes. 

 

 

PROJECT SITE - 2011

The Ibiza site at the northeast High and Hubbard has sat empty for years after the original developers abandoned the project.  In the meantime, the project signage became an impromptu community art mural.  Gotta love the Short North Arts District.

 

 

NEW OWNER / DEVELOPER #1:  SCHIFF CAPITAL AND DAIMLER GROUP

Schiff Capital Group first filed to acquire the High and Hubbard site after the original owner landed in bankruptcy court.  Schiff brought in local developer Daimler Group as its partner.  Schiff and Daimler have proposed developing a nine- to 11-story building with retail space, offices and up to 120 apartments.  The initial design calls for 15,000 square feet of street-level retail space, 50,000 to 60,000 square feet for offices on the next three floors, and between 100 and 120 apartments on the top five to seven floors.  The project would include a garage off Hubbard Avenue with up to 500 parking spots to serve the project and other Short North businesses.  The above rendering is of the original Ibiza Condo project.  Schiff/Daimler have stated they will be using the original design architect, Berardi Architects.  So until a revised design is shown, this will have to act as the placeholder design for Schiff/Daimler.

 

 

NEW OWNER / DEVELOPER #2:  WAGENBRENNER DEVELOPMENT AND ELFORD DEVELOPMENT

Meanwhile, Wagenbrenner and Elford envision a five-story building with ground-floor commercial tenants topped by an unspecified number of apartments.  It would be about half the size of the scuttled 11-story, 135-unit Ibiza condominium project.  The Wagenbrenner-Elford plan would include a 250-slot parking garage for residents and tenants – just as Apex had planned for Ibiza.  Wagenbrenner and Elford have hired Architectural Alliance Ltd., a local design firm, to produce this new design.  Elford was construction manager on Wagenbrenner’s Flats of Harrison Park housing project in the nearby Harrison West neighborhood.  Elford also built the four-story Windsor residential and retail project on Grandview Avenue for Wagenbrenner.

 

According to Business First, Elford and Wagenbrenner’s E.W. High Street LLC partnership has signed a contract to purchase the property from the original owner, Apex.  But because the original owner is in bankruptcy, they must secure approvals of creditors and the court.  So ultimately, who gets control of the site will be determined in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, where landowner Apex Realty Enterprises LLC sought protection from creditors in April, 2011.  Stay tuned.

 

And the winner - as determined by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge - is . . .

 

 

Ibiza site rights go to Elford/Wagenbrenner team first

By Brian Ball, Business First 

Date: Friday, September 2, 2011, 6:00am EDT

 

A joint venture between Elford Development Ltd. and Wagenbrenner Development Co. will get the first shot at putting together a mixed-use development plan for the former Ibiza condo tower site in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus.

 

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge John Hoffman Jr. has approved a 90-day extension for Apex Realty Enterprises Ltd., the owner of 830 N. High St., to present a reorganization plan that calls for the Elford-Wagenbrenner partnership – named E.W. High Street Ltd. – to purchase the site.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/09/02/elford-wagenbrenner-clear-to-offer.html

Pizzuti gets initial OKs for Short North hotel, office projects

Business First

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011, 7:40am EDT

 

Developer Pizzuti Cos. has preliminary approvals for its hotel project in Italian Village and a companion office and parking garage across High Street in Victorian Village, Columbus Business First reports.

 

But the Columbus-based real estate developer still needs the Italian Village Commission and Victorian Village Commission to approve details of the two projects and needs to secure formal zoning approvals before the $50 million project can break ground early next year.  Once Pizzuti gets so-called certificates of appropriateness from Italian and Victorian village panels, it can move forward on the 10-story, 135-room boutique hotel dubbed “The Joseph.”

 

The zoning process for the hotel, commercial building and garage could start this summer and be completed this fall.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2011/05/pizzuti-gets-initial-oks-for-hotel.html

 

 

New rendering  :clap:

 

 

Boutique hotel for Short North gets conditional OKs

Sunday, May 22, 2011  03:19 AM

By Marla Matzer Rose

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A long-planned Short North boutique-hotel project from the Pizzuti Cos. has taken an important step forward.

 

The Italian Village Commission last week gave conditional approval to the conceptual plans for the hotel, called the Joseph. That followed a similar thumbs-up from the Victorian Village Commission a few weeks ago.

 

Final approvals will be sought later this year from the commissions and the city zoning office before Pizzuti can begin construction. If all goes well, the hotel could open in 2013.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/05/22/boutique-hotel-for-short-north-gets-conditional-oks.html?sid=101

The zoning approval process for the Pizzuti Short North Hotel has now begun.  A link to the City Zoning application was posted at Columbus Underground.  Page 17 and 18 of the PDF show the ground floor plan of the hotel on the east side of High Street and the retail/parking garage on the west side of High Street.

 

Zoning Application PDF: http://bzs.columbus.gov/uploadedFiles/Building_and_Zoning_Services/Boards_and_Commissions/Zoning/Development_Commission/Meetings/2011/Active_Cases/Z11-027%20616%20-%20623%20North%20High%20Street%20(IV%20-%20VV).pdf

An excerpt from yesterday's Dispatch article about proposed new design guidelines specifically for the High Street portion of the Short North.

 

Short North soon to have design guidelines for area developers

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 - 5:34 AM

 

The new guidelines will set future standards as neighborhood leaders and city officials plot the area’s growth along N. High Street between I-670 and 5th Avenue.

 

Technically speaking, the Short North is part of two neighborhoods — Victorian Village to the west and Italian Village to the east.  Both have their own architectural review commissions.  High Street separates the neighborhoods, each of which has approved the Short North guidelines.  Both architectural review commissions have their own design guidelines, but neither specifically addresses High Street, said Randy Black, the city’s historic-preservation officer.

 

The guidelines are at http://development.columbus.gov/.  Click the planning division link, then “ current projects.”

 

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/13/image-to-uphold.html

^ The design guidelines for the High Street portion of the Short North passed city council last night.

 

(Reported by the Dispatch in their recap of Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 City Council meeting.)

Goodale Park Fountain update from the Friends of GoodalePark Facebook page:

 

Fountain Update: Electrical and plumbing work is complete.  City inspectors reviewed/approved installation today.  One final inspection will be needed to demonstrate functioning pumps.  As water is returned to the pond, we'll be tuning system timers and performance.  We have however decided to delay formal dedication of the fountain until a later date that will be announced via our website.  Please disregard any previously published dates for the dedication event. - Jason Kentner, President FGP

 

And the pond is being refilled today.  News and photo at CU: Goodale Park Fountain - News & Updates.

More good news and some progress on the Garden Theatre renovation at 1187 N. High Street.  First an announcement that the landmark "Garden" sign will be relit on Saturday, October 1 - to coincide with this month's Short North Gallery Hop.

 

From CU: Columbus Mega Weekend – Fall 2011 – Vol. 4:

"The Garden Theatre sign will be relit on the 1st. at 8:30pm. From 9:15-11pm there will be tours of the Garden Theatre open to the public with some live entertainment on the stage of the theatre.  Members of The Ohio Society of Plein Air Artists will be painting the sign and facade of the Garden Theatre throughout the day and then submitting their finished pieces for a gallery show inside the theater later that night."

 

Then a report and video from NBC4 about the Garden Theatre sign relighting.  In the video, NBC4 interviews the director of The Short North Stage, the group currently occupying the building and trying to renovate it.  NBC4 cameras also take us on a brief tour of the interior.  And we find out that the Garden Theatre is the second oldest existing theater in Columbus – second only to the Great Southern Theatre.

 

NBC 4 VIDEO:  Landmark Short North Sign Gets Revamped

Oh man, was that the one that used to have topless dancers in the windows at all times? That certainly gave us a big-city amenity for a while! My buddies and I sure got a kick out of that when we were teens.

I believe across the street they also had topless dancers (where that hookah lounge is).

So The Garden, which bills itself as "Columbus' Finest Adult Emporium", is located across the street from the Garden Theatre - which has a big sign that's says "Garden"?  That could be confusing!

And speaking of that "Garden" sign at the Garden Theatre.  It was re-lit during last Saturday's Short North Gallery Hop.  Here's a photo from Columbus Underground:

 

 

 

More photos and a report on the relighting event from Columbus Underground at Garden Theater Sign Relit Tonight.  Also, here's a quick YouTube video of the relighting:

 

And speaking of that "Garden" sign at the Garden Theatre.  It was re-lit during last Saturday's Short North Gallery Hop.  Here's a photo from Columbus Underground:

 

 

 

More photos and a report on the relighting event from Columbus Underground at Garden Theater Sign Relit Tonight.  Also, here's a quick YouTube video of the relighting:

 

The Short North Stage recently held their first production in the Garden Theatre Building.  The Garden Theatre interior is useable but not yet renovated.  The Short North Stage theater company took advantage of the interior's current raw state for their first production "Follies at The Garden Theater", which is a play that takes place in an abandoned theater. 

 

More about this from Columbus Underground: Short North Stage Opens Follies to Sold Out Crowd.  And from The Short North Stage.  The Short North Stage also has a facebook page with some behind the scenes info and photos.  Below is a photo of the Garden Theatre interior during the Follies production.

 

Below is the text and a pdf link to tommorrow's (Nov. 15) Italian Village Commission Agenda published by the City of Columbus Historic Preservation Office.  The Commission's Agenda includes a conceptual review for the landmark Fireproof Building in the Short North.

 

From the published Italian Village Commission Agenda for its Tuesday, November 15, 2011 meeting:

 

CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

Item #9 / Application #11-11-11

998-1024 North High Street

Elford Development, Ltd./Mike Fitzpatrick (Applicant) Briar Gate Realty, Inc. (Owner)

 

An application, photographs, and cut sheets have been submitted.

 

Exterior Alterations

• Exterior alterations to “The Fireproof Building” per the submitted drawings.

• Development to include retail, multi-family residential, and limited covered parking.

 

New Construction

• New 5,100 square feet retail building at southeast corner of North High Street and Second Avenue, per the submitted drawings.

A little more about the Fireproof Building, whose renovation proposal is on the Nov. 15 Italian Village Commission Agenda.  The Fireproof Building is a warehouse building built in 1906 and located at 1024 N. High Street.  It is five-stories and 80,000 square feet.  Although a handsome building with a finely detailed white terra-cotta facade facing High Street, it is probably best known for its three-story landmark "Fireproof" sign.  Two views of the building from High Street are below - as well as three websites with additional Fireproof Building information:

 

 

 

An article at ShortNorth.com from 2000 about the Fireproof Building: From Horse-drawn to High Tech - Fireproof Storage Spans the Century

 

Blog site featuring many fine photos of the landmark "Fireproof" sign and High Street building facade details: Fireproof Warehouse and Storage Co. Ghost Sign in Columbus

 

CU Thread about the current renovation proposal: Fireproof Building Redevelopment - News & Updates

 

5,100 square feet seems small to me.  Will that even fill up the large surface lot there?  And it will probably also be one to two stories at that size.  I'd like to see the max of 5 in that area just to keep increasing density. 

^Ditto.  Seems like a missed opportunity to really fill in the streetwall in that location.

The area south of the curb cut on High St. is only 128' long (from 2nd Ave to the driveway). I doubt they can get rid of it either, given they are blocked off from the alley by other buildings.

 

A 5100 sq ft retail development would mean the building could be about 30ft and wrap around the corner, assuming that's only ground floor. This doesn't seem bad at all.

 

Crude drawing but it's Monday and I needed a distraction from work.

According to the Short North Development guidelines doesn't all new construction have to be at least two stories? So wouldn't it have to be at least two stories?

Glad to see something finally going in that spot, but yeah, it could certainly stand to be taller/denser. There really aren't many buildings five stories or higher there and after all, lots of retail requires lots of residents.

I wonder if they are not building a larger building for residential floors because the plan is to use the Fireproof building for that purpose.  Or perhaps part of the requirement/limitation to move forward with the project is to leave part of the existing lot.  I'll withold final opinion on the project until I see some renderings.  At the very least, it's great news to be getting more residents in the area and at least part of that lot filled with a building.  Walking down that way towards Late Night Slice or something, that lot always seems like a big, glaring hole. 

 

Now if only they will demolish the Payday Loan place across the street and put something better there.  It looks like a converted McDonald's and it looks awful.   

^ It was a KFC dammit!  :-D

That place is one of those eyesores you just accept as part of the area, along with the UDF down a little ways: they ain't goin nowhere. I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking. I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: the SN outside of weekend nights and special events has sparsely populated sidewalks. For Columbus' premier urban street that signals a need for more residents/residential developments. The new hotels will help, but adding more people who actually live right on the SN is what's needed, but that would probably bring more high-rent apartments and drive out what remaining eclectic elements have endured gentrification. A bit of a catch 22 there.

 

And once again, parking is cited as the big problem in the Short North.

 

NBC4: Neighbors, Business Owners Hope For Improved Parking In Short North

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

I wonder if they are not building a larger building for residential floors because the plan is to use the Fireproof building for that purpose.  Or perhaps part of the requirement/limitation to move forward with the project is to leave part of the existing lot.  I'll withold final opinion on the project until I see some renderings.  At the very least, it's great news to be getting more residents in the area and at least part of that lot filled with a building.  Walking down that way towards Late Night Slice or something, that lot always seems like a big, glaring hole. 

 

Now if only they will demolish the Payday Loan place across the street and put something better there.  It looks like a converted McDonald's and it looks awful.   

 

Granted.  But the Fireproof Building property owners can only develop the land they own.  As we are always having to remind your buddy Keith, real life development doesn't work like SimCity.  Give it some time.  With development in the Short North, the trend is your friend. 

 

 

And speaking of Keith (i.e. the forumer formerly known as Columbusite):

 

And once again, parking is cited as the big problem in the Short North.

 

Which is like saying the sun is hot.  NBC4 really?  Their coverage of development issues is like Fox News coverage of politics. 

 

I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking.

 

Then you either didn't see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  Or you are being willfully ignorant.

 

I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: the SN outside of weekend nights and special events has sparsely populated sidewalks.

 

Please stop dissembling about Columbus, Keith.

 

For Columbus' premier urban street that signals a need for more residents/residential developments.

 

Like the Dakota, the Jackson, the Pizzuti Short North Hotel, the new five-story building proposed for the former Ibiza site (now that its out of bankruptcy), the Fireproof Building, the York Condos, the Janitol Building, and the proposed five-story mixed-use building at High & Seventh?

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

The area south of the curb cut on High St. is only 128' long (from 2nd Ave to the driveway). I doubt they can get rid of it either, given they are blocked off from the alley by other buildings.

 

A 5100 sq ft retail development would mean the building could be about 30ft and wrap around the corner, assuming that's only ground floor. This doesn't seem bad at all.

 

Crude drawing but it's Monday and I needed a distraction from work.

 

Interesting and helpful to picture the areas around the Fireproof Building.  If I read the Franklin County GIS property map/records correctly, it looks like the Fireproof Building might have access to that back alley (Mt. Pleasant Ave.) through the lawn area behind the Fireproof Building and the one-story addition to the Fireproof Building.  Which could take some pressure off the corner parking lot they want to build on.

More about the Fireproof Building development from Business First.  A report about their Tuesday meeting with the Italian Village Commission.  It was up for conceptual review:

 

 

Apartments eyed at Wonder Bread, Fireproof Records sites in Italian Village

By Brian R. Ball, Business First Staff reporter

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011, 6:00am EST

 

The other project on the table is a conceptual plan for turning the Fireproof storage building into 47 apartments.  The project also calls for a 5,100-square-foot restaurant next door at 998 N. High St.  “It’s an attractive building architecturally,” said Elford Development President Mike Fitzpatrick, “and its historical significance lends itself to loft development.”

 

Italian Village commissioners urged Elford to consider two more stories above the restaurant so the building would adhere to Italian Village development guidelines for multistory structures along North High Street in the Short North.  But commission Chairman Rex Hagerling said one level of apartments above the restaurant would be enough.  “The Short North has a variety of heights,” he said.  “I don’t think we can ban two-story buildings, but absolutely (we want) more than one story.”

 

Fitzpatrick said he will work with designers at Architectural Alliance on two- and three-story options before bringing the project back to the commission for another look.  Each floor could accommodate three additional apartments.  Fireproof Records owner Mike James has joined Fitzpatrick and Elford partners Don Plas and Jeff Meacham in the project.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/11/18/housing-eyed-at-italian-village-sites.html?page=2

 

I really like that rendering of the Fireproof.  I love that they've taken that huge eyesore of a blank wall and turned it into windows and balconies.  I also like that they are considering adding more floors to the design of the adjacent building.  I hope they go for at least 3.   

 

Which is like saying the sun is hot.  NBC4 really?  Their coverage of development issues is like Fox News coverage of politics. 

 

Yeah, NBC4 is just terrible.  6 used to be worse, but not anymore. 

 

I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking.

 

Then you either didn't see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  Or you are being willfully ignorant.

 

Yeah, I hope he's not referring to the old Ibiza site, as the ongoings of that fiasco have been well-known for years now.  It's certainly not because the lot's been ignored for development.  I'm surprised the "Guy who knows everything about Columbus" wouldn't know something like that.

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

 

Not to mention that his claim doesn't make sense from a business perspective.  Businesses don't tend to move to "bad" areas in order to build up an area.  If they go there at all, it's because building space is much less expensive than it would be in higher profile areas.  This is also why so many of them fail, because while it may be less expensive, there are also far fewer people patronizing them (unless they have an amazing word-of-mouth).  Businesses are in it to make money, not to rebuild neighborhoods.  The vast majority of businesses like established areas with a more proven formula for success.  While it's great to get new entrepreneurs in up and coming neighborhoods, they don't do it for charity, and in no other city does it work the way Keith seems to believe.  Not even in Minneapolis. 

And speaking of Keith (i.e. the forumer formerly known as Columbusite):

 

And once again, parking is cited as the big problem in the Short North.

 

Which is like saying the sun is hot.  NBC4 really?  Their coverage of development issues is like Fox News coverage of politics. 

 

I got that article from CU, where it's acknowledged that Columbusites in general find parking in the SN to be a major issue and one of the city's leading entrepreneurs, not some NBC4 employee, was quoted in the article saying that it is the #1 complaint from her customers. Here's the CU link & discussion: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/parking-improvements-needed-in-the-short-north

 

I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking.

 

Then you either didn't see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  Or you are being willfully ignorant.

 

Nope, must have missed that page altogether.

 

For Columbus' premier urban street that signals a need for more residents/residential developments.

 

Like the Dakota, the Jackson, the Pizzuti Short North Hotel, the new five-story building proposed for the former Ibiza site (now that its out of bankruptcy), the Fireproof Building, the York Condos, the Janitol Building, and the proposed five-story mixed-use building at High & Seventh?

 

Being as we're talking about the city's hottest strip for several years more should already be done; it's not like it still needs to prove itself worthy. There are other similar neighborhoods, around the same size at the SN too, where much more development has already occurred.

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

 

Those skyways are a bit of a bummer, but they didn't stop the success of an intact ten block urban wall which is very popular and almost totally occupied by businesses, including a couple of urban big-box stores. You're missing the point, which is that any great city doesn't just stick to one little area, but instead created more new vibrant places and building parking garages is only going to provide more incentive to drive in a car to go to the SN and it's proposed as if that is the one and only solution. Remember, we're talking about the same populace who when offered a streetcar shot it right down. There was a study, which I can't find at the moment, which states that with parking garages once a driver can't find a spot at X floor or below, they're much more likely not to use the garage. Seemed to pan out that way at the Gateway garage, which is a short bus ride down to the SN. It's about time that Columbus joins other cities that also have a Short North equivalent and moved on to other business districts which now offer quite a bit more than they used to.

 

Which is like saying the sun is hot.  NBC4 really?  Their coverage of development issues is like Fox News coverage of politics. 

 

Yeah, NBC4 is just terrible.  6 used to be worse, but not anymore. 

 

I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking.

 

Then you either didn't see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  Or you are being willfully ignorant.

 

Yeah, I hope he's not referring to the old Ibiza site, as the ongoings of that fiasco have been well-known for years now.  It's certainly not because the lot's been ignored for development.  I'm surprised the "Guy who knows everything about Columbus" wouldn't know something like that.

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

 

Not to mention that his claim doesn't make sense from a business perspective.  Businesses don't tend to move to "bad" areas in order to build up an area.  If they go there at all, it's because building space is much less expensive than it would be in higher profile areas.  This is also why so many of them fail, because while it may be less expensive, there are also far fewer people patronizing them (unless they have an amazing word-of-mouth).  Businesses are in it to make money, not to rebuild neighborhoods.  The vast majority of businesses like established areas with a more proven formula for success.  While it's great to get new entrepreneurs in up and coming neighborhoods, they don't do it for charity, and in no other city does it work the way Keith seems to believe.  Not even in Minneapolis. 

 

I was talking about the lot right between the UDF and the hookah lounge. You should read that article on Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh which contradicts your notion that businesses, and I'll narrow that down to urban businesses, only stick to established areas. If that were the case, Lawrenceville would not have gained an additional 16 new businesses in 2010 alone and they all would have opened in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill instead: two established neighborhoods just southeast of there. But that is not what happened. No one said anything about a new business district being charity except you and it does work in other cities: I've seen these firsthand in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Hell, isn't Lessner about to open the first bar in the Discovery District? I guess that must have been a dream because it's not already a vibrant, established neighborhood.

For Columbus' premier urban street that signals a need for more residents/residential developments.

 

Like the Dakota, the Jackson, the Pizzuti Short North Hotel, the new five-story building proposed for the former Ibiza site (now that its out of bankruptcy), the Fireproof Building, the York Condos, the Janitol Building, and the proposed five-story mixed-use building at High & Seventh?

 

Being as we're talking about the city's hottest strip for several years more should already be done; it's not like it still needs to prove itself worthy. There are other similar neighborhoods, around the same size at the SN too, where much more development has already occurred.

 

Ignoring the worst residential/commercial economic downturn since the Great Depression, why exactly should more have been done?  Those projects just mentioned were/are almost exclusively infill on vacant lots.  The list above does not include the countless renovation projects to existing buildings, the 670 cap, the continuing gentrification of IV and projects around 4th, etc.  You, knowing everything about the city, should already know this.  Here are the number of vacant/surface parking lots between 670 and the Fireproof along High and their known status:

 

-2 lots, one just north of Marcellas, the other just south of Bernard's: Both are part of the Pizzuti Hotel project, of which construction has begun.

-1 lot just south of Buttles and High next to TwoFish.  I am not aware of any plans for this lot as of now, but it's size and location practically make it a given that something's going to eventually be built there.

-1 small lot that is part of the L'Antibes building.  3 or 4 businesses exist there along the length of that building, so it's not really practical to build there.

-Haiku lot.  This has the potential to eventually go away, but I doubt the owners would be willing to sell the lot until better parking is established nearby.  Perhaps the Hubbard garage can accomodate this need.  As of now, no plans to develop it.

-2 lots, the largest in the SN, that were part of the failed Ibiza site: Now planned residential/retail project tentatively called The Hubbard.  Will include a 5 story building in the front lot with a garage on the 2nd lot along with a row of concealing condos.  This project is going through approvals.

-Greystone Building lot.  Again, like the Haiku lot, probably not going away unless overall parking improves.  Plus it's a source of income.

-Vacant lot just south of United Dairy Farmers.  This lot, for many years, was simply fenced and empty.  It was finally put to some use when parking was allowed there this year.  It's in a great location, but I have no idea if the current owners plan to do anything with it.

-Salon Lofts building lot.  This building is set back from High, so unless they rebuilt this similar to what they did with the Kroger, this is probably not going away anytime soon.

-Donatos lot.  Again, a business lot and probably not going away unless Donatos closes. 

-Old "Concrete Jungle" lot.  Overall, this is pretty small, so any development here would include demolition of the small building.  I believe there is another business there now, though. 

-White Castle lot-See Donatos.

-City lot near 2nd, just north of White Castle-has potential, but I haven't heard anything related to developing this.

-Fireproof Building lot along 2nd.  Will get a building, though no renderings have come out for the new construction part of this.

-PayDay Loans lot-See Donatos.

 

It's really easy to say that every lot should have development, but it's a lot more difficult to make that a reality.  You have businesses that don't want to part with them, existing parking problems that need to be addressed, lots with owners who don't seem to want to do anything with them, and impractical existing development that make certain lots almost impossible to develop.  Throw in an economy like we've had since 2007, and I think we're lucky to be living in a city that is still able to push projects forward, albeit fewer of them.  It seems we turned a corner this year, though, and 2012 looks like a pretty banner year for new projects.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

 

Those skyways are a bit of a bummer, but they didn't stop the success of an intact ten block urban wall which is very popular and almost totally occupied by businesses, including a couple of urban big-box stores. You're missing the point, which is that any great city doesn't just stick to one little area, but instead created more new vibrant places and building parking garages is only going to provide more incentive to drive in a car to go to the SN and it's proposed as if that is the one and only solution. Remember, we're talking about the same populace who when offered a streetcar shot it right down. There was a study, which I can't find at the moment, which states that with parking garages once a driver can't find a spot at X floor or below, they're much more likely not to use the garage. Seemed to pan out that way at the Gateway garage, which is a short bus ride down to the SN. It's about time that Columbus joins other cities that also have a Short North equivalent and moved on to other business districts which now offer quite a bit more than they used to.

 

What?  When did we ever take a vote on the streetcar?  Coleman didn't even propose it until the 2006 State of the City address, and polling of Downtown residents had 7/10 people saying they would use it.  Everyone from the City to COTA to MORPC wanted this to happen.  The problem was that the economy nosedived and we elected Kasich.  The city residents, however, were never given a chance to vote for the streetcar proposal, so that is an outright fabrication.   

 

As for the city spreading development, we've already been over this 1000x, so I'm not sure why you continue to bring this up.  You don't even live here anymore, so why should it bother you (despite the fact that it's completely untrue).  And I think it's ironic that you are talking about Columbus putting too much development in too small of an area when Minneapolis is 1/4th the size of Columbus' city limits.  It's a lot easier to concentrate development when you have a much smaller area to work with.  Columbus has to develop and revitalize 217 square miles.  Minneapolis has to do it for 58 with a significantly large metro population to pull resources from.  This is not rocket science, Keith. 

 

Which is like saying the sun is hot.  NBC4 really?  Their coverage of development issues is like Fox News coverage of politics. 

 

Yeah, NBC4 is just terrible.  6 used to be worse, but not anymore. 

 

I still don't understand why that big fenced off, empty lot is not only not being developed, but it's not even being used for parking.

 

Then you either didn't see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  Or you are being willfully ignorant.

 

Yeah, I hope he's not referring to the old Ibiza site, as the ongoings of that fiasco have been well-known for years now.  It's certainly not because the lot's been ignored for development.  I'm surprised the "Guy who knows everything about Columbus" wouldn't know something like that.

 

Basically just reposting my lengthy response here, but I'd say that's what is expected to happen when businesses will only stick to one segment of one street, whereas in other cities businesses will actually move to not-so-great, empty districts with plentiful parking and as a result you have alternatives which take pressure off of having one major, dense business district.

 

It is certainly a shame that Columbus didn't build a huge network of upper-level walkways like those in your new city of Minneapolis.  But I'm sure that Keith/Minneapolisite is now working very hard to get those anti-urban structures removed.  In the meanwhile, the Short North will just have to be content with a 250-vehicle parking garage to be built with the new 5-story residential building at Hubbard & High and the 313-vehicle parking garage to be built with the Pizzuti Short North Hotel further south.

 

Not to mention that his claim doesn't make sense from a business perspective.  Businesses don't tend to move to "bad" areas in order to build up an area.  If they go there at all, it's because building space is much less expensive than it would be in higher profile areas.  This is also why so many of them fail, because while it may be less expensive, there are also far fewer people patronizing them (unless they have an amazing word-of-mouth).  Businesses are in it to make money, not to rebuild neighborhoods.  The vast majority of businesses like established areas with a more proven formula for success.  While it's great to get new entrepreneurs in up and coming neighborhoods, they don't do it for charity, and in no other city does it work the way Keith seems to believe.  Not even in Minneapolis. 

 

I was talking about the lot right between the UDF and the hookah lounge. You should read that article on Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh which contradicts your notion that businesses, and I'll narrow that down to urban businesses, only stick to established areas. If that were the case, Lawrenceville would not have gained an additional 16 new businesses in 2010 alone and they all would have opened in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill instead: two established neighborhoods just southeast of there. But that is not what happened. No one said anything about a new business district being charity except you and it does work in other cities: I've seen these firsthand in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Hell, isn't Lessner about to open the first bar in the Discovery District? I guess that must have been a dream because it's not already a vibrant, established neighborhood.

 

I didn't say businesses only stay in established areas, I said that they tend to, which is absolutely true.  Businesses build where they think their customers are.  They don't pick random neighborhoods and build in some hope that, while they will probably go out of business, they at least raised the profile of the area.  You have way too naive a view of how business works. 

 

Having the first bar there doesn't mean it's the first new business.  It's going right next to the Hill's.  And none of the businesses would be moving in unless they believed that the customer base had reached the critical needed level to support them.  That came with all the new residential/park/improvement projects that you've been negative on the last several years.   

Please stop dissembling about Columbus, Keith.

 

The Dispatch has an article in today's paper about the recent Italian Village Commission meeting regarding the Fireproof Building renovation (discussed in this thread) and the Wonder Bread Building renovation (discussed in a separate thread).  Not really any new or different project information than what's already been posted here.  But it's still a good read - so here's the link: Demand spurs new apartment projects

 

What did catch my eye in this article - and was a different take on these two Short North/Italian Village renovation projects - was the way the projects were placed within the context of the many other recently announced residential projects in the Short North and Downtown area.  They talked with two real estate research professionals about why so many residential projects are being proposed in these urban areas of Columbus (plus one in Grandview Yard).  Their conclusion can summed up by one word: Demand.

 

Some quotes from the above linked article about this:

“We’re seeing a vacancy rate below 3 percent Downtown and in the Short North neighborhoods,” said Robert Vogt, a partner in the real-estate research firm Vogt Santer Insights.  “For all intents and purposes, those areas are fully occupied.”

 

The rental demand is driven by caution about homebuying coupled with a desire to live in an urban setting, said Vogt and Ken Danter, owner of the real-estate research firm the Danter Co.

 

“There is a real move to urban living, that’s for sure,” Danter said.  “And there’s a tremendous employment base in that area with Ohio State and all that involves — the hospital and Battelle — and Nationwide and everything else Downtown.  And the Short North is a great lifestyle, as is Downtown and the Arena District.”

 

Danter and Vogt said they thought the neighborhoods could accommodate all the new apartments.  “Over time, the market can absorb that,” Vogt said.  “In the short term, if all those get built, we may see some higher vacancy rates — I mean 6 or 7 percent ... but the attitude among young people today is ‘I want to live in an urban environment.’  They will be absorbed over time.”

 

^Columbus is seeing similar demand as Cleveland is seeing in their downtown and warehouse district and Cincinnati is seeing in its downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Dayton, Toledo, and--even--Youngstown are also seeing strong downtown rental markets. Our cities are almost responding too slowly.

Isn't it funny that I say that Columbus could be doing so much more (has huge potential) in comparison to other 2nd tier cities, but when pointing out that it's not doing more I'm told it's not because it *can't* happen and somehow I'm the naysayer.  All I'm saying is that Columbus doesn't exist in a bubble where it's facing unique obstacles unlike any other American city. jbcmh81 repeatedly posts about how there will never be a new Short North, how Columbus is unable to do X, Y, and Z while I say there's no reason it can't be done based on the experiences of other 2nd tier cities. The only difference is that I don't want to wait and see if these next five years see the rebirth of another "Short North" or not. So let's do Cbus-Cbus comparisons.

 

Need I remind everyone again that the Short North was at least as bad or worse than the run-down urban districts of today from the stories I heard from residents there in the 80s. The Short North was a half-empty business district and the population was much lower than it is now with many abandoned, boarded-up homes and apartments. If the potential "pioneer" businesses in the mid-80s hat were contemplating moving in had instead dissembled about the Short North and how the residential base at the time just didn't make business sense, then the crowds that went to eat at Rigsby's would have been dining out at Rigsby's on Main: in Whitehall.

 

Going the new business district route would eventually take a little pressure off of the Short North, which granted does have traffic moving slower than walking speed on weekend nights from Vine St to 1st Ave. In the meantime, there are numerous ways to get around the parking issue which visitors complain about without defaulting to a parking structure.

 

As for the Short North warranting more residential development than it has seen built so far, it almost seems that if a neighborhood that no one even heard about like American Addition has the demand to quadruple the current number of houses from 50 to 200 (who is their demographic anyway?), then based on that wouldn't it possibly follow that a neighborhood that is as well-known and visited as the Short North could be handling more residents today? Or perhaps I'm underestimating the appeal of having Jeff's Place and PSC Metals being just down the street. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Short North should be seeing development to similarly quadruple the population from 10,000 to 40,000, but seeing as how quantitatively less-popular Downtown saw a 42.5% population increase north of Broad and 34% increase south of Broad the last decade vs. the largest increase in the SN on the VV side being only 21.6% and IV a higher 31.8%, couldn't it have likewise handled a similar or higher increase in percentage of residents? I think so.

(SIGH)  Keith, you once offered cantankerous yet reasonable opinions about Columbus here at Urban Ohio.  But in the past year, you've turned into someone who posts off-topic rants and attempts to troll other forumers.

 

People move to other cities for all kinds of personal reasons.  Like many others here, I wish you well in your new city.  But also like many others here, I urge you stop your ceaseless Columbus-bashing here at Urban Ohio. 

 

Isn't it funny that I say that Columbus could be doing so much more (has huge potential) in comparison to other 2nd tier cities, but when pointing out that it's not doing more I'm told it's not because it *can't* happen and somehow I'm the naysayer.  All I'm saying is that Columbus doesn't exist in a bubble where it's facing unique obstacles unlike any other American city. jbcmh81 repeatedly posts about how there will never be a new Short North, how Columbus is unable to do X, Y, and Z while I say there's no reason it can't be done based on the experiences of other 2nd tier cities. The only difference is that I don't want to wait and see if these next five years see the rebirth of another "Short North" or not. So let's do Cbus-Cbus comparisons.

 

We all know what you're doing and it's not in the name of constructive criticism and hasn't been for some time.  You constantly ignore success stories to find some negative aspect or completely spin it into something Columbus is doing wrong.  And in some cases, like the streetcar, you outright lie.  If you don't like Columbus, fine.  You moved to a city you found more to your liking... so why are you still here bashing Columbus?  I've said this before, but your negativity seems almost personal, as if the city wronged you in some way and you're still trying to make up for it.  And no one is arguing that Columbus is facing necessarily unique circumstances, but my point that every city faces different challenges remains valid.  Not every city is able to do the same things at the same time, if at all.  Where have I *ever* said there will not be or cannot be a new SN-type neighborhood?  I would absolutely love for you to point out where I said that.  Otherwise, I'll just assume you're lying yet again. 

 

Need I remind everyone again that the Short North was at least as bad or worse than the run-down urban districts of today from the stories I heard from residents there in the 80s. The Short North was a half-empty business district and the population was much lower than it is now with many abandoned, boarded-up homes and apartments. If the potential "pioneer" businesses in the mid-80s hat were contemplating moving in had instead dissembled about the Short North and how the residential base at the time just didn't make business sense, then the crowds that went to eat at Rigsby's would have been dining out at Rigsby's on Main: in Whitehall.

 

The SN was bad even up through the 1990s, though it was in revitalization mode by then.  But, if we look at it realistically, it took a full 20-30 years for it to reach the point that it has.  Most neighborhoods don't turn around in the timeframe that people think they do, at least not without massive assistance, and sometimes not even then.  And I bet none of the original businesses in the SN moved there out of charity to help the neighborhood's property values go up.  How many businesses over the years completely failed in the SN? 

 

Going the new business district route would eventually take a little pressure off of the Short North, which granted does have traffic moving slower than walking speed on weekend nights from Vine St to 1st Ave. In the meantime, there are numerous ways to get around the parking issue which visitors complain about without defaulting to a parking structure.

 

As for the Short North warranting more residential development than it has seen built so far, it almost seems that if a neighborhood that no one even heard about like American Addition has the demand to quadruple the current number of houses from 50 to 200 (who is their demographic anyway?), then based on that wouldn't it possibly follow that a neighborhood that is as well-known and visited as the Short North could be handling more residents today? Or perhaps I'm underestimating the appeal of having Jeff's Place and PSC Metals being just down the street. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Short North should be seeing development to similarly quadruple the population from 10,000 to 40,000, but seeing as how quantitatively less-popular Downtown saw a 42.5% population increase north of Broad and 34% increase south of Broad the last decade vs. the largest increase in the SN on the VV side being only 21.6% and IV a higher 31.8%, couldn't it have likewise handled a similar or higher increase in percentage of residents? I think so.

Of course the SN can handle more residents.... That's why vacancy rates from Downtown north are less than 3%.  That's why hundreds of new units are getting built in and around the area.  You also have to consider that Downtown had the larger increase in population because it started so low to begin with, not necessarily because the SN didn't have a significant increase in residents as well.

 

Here are 12 new projects alone.  http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-list-11-new-apartment-developments-around-columbus  Read the comments.  These dozen projects cover up to 2,000 new residential units, and this is not a full list of what's going on.

All I'm saying is that similar area in other parts of the country have seen much more residential development in the same time frame as the Short North. That's not a subjective statement as you can count all of the modern 5+ story buildings that have been built vs. those in the Short North. It's like people noticed at the last second that the area could handle it.

All I'm saying is that similar area in other parts of the country have seen much more residential development in the same time frame as the Short North. That's not a subjective statement as you can count all of the modern 5+ story buildings that have been built vs. those in the Short North. It's like people noticed at the last second that the area could handle it.

 

Yeah, I guess Columbus could've had hundreds of new buildings with tens of thousands of new residents, all within the last few years during the Great Recession.  Unfortunately, just like light rail, we voted against it.  :roll:  If only we were forward thinking and added more enclosed pedestrian bridges like other cities, eh Keith?

Some cities have both skywalks and large groups of pedestrians on downtown sidewalks thanks to several blocks of destinations lining said sidewalks, but that's neither here nor there. Other cities were hit by a recession too and yet more 4+ story residential buildings in similar neighborhoods were built and people live in them today. A few streetview tours will bear that out. It's great that more dense apartments *will* be built, but Columbus needs to remember it doesn't exist in a bubble where the only competition is in Ohio, that other neighborhoods like the Short North in other cities nationwide already offer these units today thanks to previously recognizing and responding to the demand available in trendy neighborhoods accordingly, despite The Great Recession. I'm just saying that I'd go one step further than Ink and conclude that yes, we're not responding sufficiently to the demand for housing in our hottest neighborhoods. i.e. being a bit too conservative. Just look at the fact that Jeffrey Place was going to have 1,120 units delivered from 2005 onward and obviously was no longer going to respond to that demand years ago. Harrison Park offers the most out of newer development at 322 units and helped fill some of that void, but only recently are developments filling the unmet demand that both Jeffery Place and Ibiza never answered like the 46 units at The Jackson and 48 at The Dakota.

I think we should seriously consider how Ohio has fallen so far behind in this regard.  Short North is doing a better job than the rest of the state, but Keith M. is right... a few streetview tours are worth a thousand words.  What's practically impossible here seems routine elsewhere.  We need to get to the bottom of that.  We need to shut down anti-density forces in our cities and we need to rearrange our spending priorities.  We need to stop focusing on "boulevard vibrant greenspace" and focus on getting buildings built.  Frankly, we've been getting our asses kicked.

Just look at the fact that Jeffrey Place was going to have 1,120 units delivered from 2005 onward and obviously was no longer going to respond to that demand years ago. Harrison Park offers the most out of newer development at 322 units and helped fill some of that void, but only recently are developments filling the unmet demand that both Jeffery Place and Ibiza never answered like the 46 units at The Jackson and 48 at The Dakota.

Keith M. seems to be under the mistaken impression that both the Jeffrey Place and Ibiza projects will never be going forward.  If he means never going forward under the original developers control, then yes.  In both cases, an inexperienced developer got in over his head with his original concept and then got finished off financially by the 2008 real-estate meltdown.  In both cases, the projects got tied up in bankruptcy court.  In both cases, the projects are now emerging from bankruptcy court with new developers.  In both cases, these new developers are experienced in the Columbus development market and know a good residential development opportunity when they see it - which is what the unfinished Jeffrey Place and Ibiza sites are. 

 

For the updates on the Jeffrey Place development, please go to the Columbus: Jeffrey Place development thread. 

 

For the updates on the former Ibiza site in the Short North, please see posts #464, #468, #469 and #476 - a few pages back in this thread - which explains the history of that site, how the previous developer of the site went into bankruptcy, and how a new developer was recently given the go-ahead by the bankruptcy judge to proceed with a five-story retail & residential building with parking garage.  For the latest on that five-story development on the former Ibiza site - to be called the Hubbard - see the next post.

 

From the Business First article: Ibiza payback offers half on deposits, more to lender

 

E.W. High Street Ltd., the Elford-Wagenbrenner joint venture, plans to develop 68 apartments in a five-story building at 830 N. High to be called the Hubbard.  The partnership stepped into the picture over the summer, proposing a replacement project, but one that would be targeted at renters.

 

The Italian Village Commission has approved the overall project but still must sign off on materials and other details.

 

The acquisition price for the site is what Apex Realty paid for it prior to the collapse of the residential condo market.  Elford Development President Michael Fitzpatrick said the project could get under way in the spring if the reorganization plan is approved.  “It’s really in the hands of the bankruptcy court,” he said, “in terms of when we’d be able to close.”

 

---

Updated rendering of the Hubbard:

 

Some cities have both skywalks and large groups of pedestrians on downtown sidewalks thanks to several blocks of destinations lining said sidewalks, but that's neither here nor there. Other cities were hit by a recession too and yet more 4+ story residential buildings in similar neighborhoods were built and people live in them today. A few streetview tours will bear that out. It's great that more dense apartments *will* be built, but Columbus needs to remember it doesn't exist in a bubble where the only competition is in Ohio, that other neighborhoods like the Short North in other cities nationwide already offer these units today thanks to previously recognizing and responding to the demand available in trendy neighborhoods accordingly, despite The Great Recession. I'm just saying that I'd go one step further than Ink and conclude that yes, we're not responding sufficiently to the demand for housing in our hottest neighborhoods. i.e. being a bit too conservative. Just look at the fact that Jeffrey Place was going to have 1,120 units delivered from 2005 onward and obviously was no longer going to respond to that demand years ago. Harrison Park offers the most out of newer development at 322 units and helped fill some of that void, but only recently are developments filling the unmet demand that both Jeffery Place and Ibiza never answered like the 46 units at The Jackson and 48 at The Dakota.

 

As mentioned above, both Jeffery Place and Ibiza are moving forward, both with different plans and new developers.  Neither delay had anything to do with Columbus not attempting to make projects happen.  But you know this and just continue to be dishonest, just like lying about light rail.  Nor is the city holding anyone back when dozens of new projects are being announced representing thousands of new units through next year.  Whether or not you think it's late is really irrelevant.  And honestly, I don't care what every other city is doing.  Maybe you consider it all to be a giant contest.  I don't.  Like every city that moves at its own pace, so will Columbus.  You moved because you couldn't handle it.  So why not stay in the Minneapolis forum where you can pat other residents on the back on what a perfect, shining example of modern urbanism you now live in.   

 

BTW, the reason why Minneapolis has so many skywalks is because winters there are incredibly cold and miserable and no one wants to venture outside to cross the street. 

From the Business First article: Ibiza payback offers half on deposits, more to lender

 

E.W. High Street Ltd., the Elford-Wagenbrenner joint venture, plans to develop 68 apartments in a five-story building at 830 N. High to be called the Hubbard.  The partnership stepped into the picture over the summer, proposing a replacement project, but one that would be targeted at renters.

 

The Italian Village Commission has approved the overall project but still must sign off on materials and other details.

 

The acquisition price for the site is what Apex Realty paid for it prior to the collapse of the residential condo market.  Elford Development President Michael Fitzpatrick said the project could get under way in the spring if the reorganization plan is approved.  Its really in the hands of the bankruptcy court, he said, in terms of when wed be able to close.

 

Updated rendering of the Hubbard:

 

As it turns out, the approval for the Hubbard project on the former Ibiza site involved more than just the 68 apartments in the five-story building fronting High Street.  A four-story parking garage for 322 spaces to be screened by four townhome units along Hubbard Avenue was also approved by the Italian Village Commission.

 

Below is the text and a pdf link to the November 15, 2011 Italian Village Commission Agenda published by the City of Columbus Historic Preservation Office.

 

From the published Italian Village Commission Agenda for its Tuesday, November 15, 2011 meeting:

 

11-9-17

830 North High Street / 26 East Hubbard Avenue

E.W. High Street, LLC (Applicant) Apex Realty Enterprises, LLC (Owner)

 

An application, site plan, and drawings have been submitted. The proposed project was conceptually reviewed at the September 20 IVC hearing. Revised drawings have been submitted to address Commission comments.

 

New Construction

• Construct new five (5) story commercial/residential building and four (4) story parking garage, per the submitted plans.

• First floor includes 18,002 square feet of retail space.

• Second through fifth floors include sixty-eight residential (68) units.

• Four-story parking garage to include 322 +/- parking spaces, screened by four (4) townhome units along the south side/East Hubbard Avenue.

Some cities have both skywalks and large groups of pedestrians on downtown sidewalks thanks to several blocks of destinations lining said sidewalks, but that's neither here nor there. Other cities were hit by a recession too and yet more 4+ story residential buildings in similar neighborhoods were built and people live in them today. A few streetview tours will bear that out. It's great that more dense apartments *will* be built, but Columbus needs to remember it doesn't exist in a bubble where the only competition is in Ohio, that other neighborhoods like the Short North in other cities nationwide already offer these units today thanks to previously recognizing and responding to the demand available in trendy neighborhoods accordingly, despite The Great Recession. I'm just saying that I'd go one step further than Ink and conclude that yes, we're not responding sufficiently to the demand for housing in our hottest neighborhoods. i.e. being a bit too conservative. Just look at the fact that Jeffrey Place was going to have 1,120 units delivered from 2005 onward and obviously was no longer going to respond to that demand years ago. Harrison Park offers the most out of newer development at 322 units and helped fill some of that void, but only recently are developments filling the unmet demand that both Jeffery Place and Ibiza never answered like the 46 units at The Jackson and 48 at The Dakota.

 

As mentioned above, both Jeffery Place and Ibiza are moving forward, both with different plans and new developers.  Neither delay had anything to do with Columbus not attempting to make projects happen.  But you know this and just continue to be dishonest, just like lying about light rail.  Nor is the city holding anyone back when dozens of new projects are being announced representing thousands of new units through next year.  Whether or not you think it's late is really irrelevant.  And honestly, I don't care what every other city is doing.  Maybe you consider it all to be a giant contest.  I don't.  Like every city that moves at its own pace, so will Columbus.  You moved because you couldn't handle it.  So why not stay in the Minneapolis forum where you can pat other residents on the back on what a perfect, shining example of modern urbanism you now live in.   

 

BTW, the reason why Minneapolis has so many skywalks is because winters there are incredibly cold and miserable and no one wants to venture outside to cross the street. 

 

Lying? Prove it. Columbus residents don't want light rail or the streetcar otherwise I wouldn't have seen so few people at those meetings. Both were put out there to the public along with a hybrid of both and not enough people wanted it. I never said projects aren't going forward, but addressing demand in 2012 from back in 2005 leaves Columbus behind in addressing demand from 2010. Other projects did go forward but none brought the numbers that those two major developments would have done + others like the Jackson, Dakota, etc. I find it hard to believe that's so contentious.

Well, if you saw the turnout for some of the Cincinnati streetcar meetings, you'd think that Cincinnatians were not pushing for the streetcar project down here either. Just because a handful showed to a meeting doesn't gauge public opinion or interest.

Columbus no longer planning for streetcars, light rail

Thursday, February 10, 2011  10:44 PM

By Robert Vitale

The Columbus Dispatch

 

Despite a lingering presence in regional planning documents, officials say the idea of streetcars for Columbus and light rail for central Ohio has been shelved.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission gave its OK yesterday to use more than $225million in federal money for roadwork, buses, bike trails, sidewalks and other projects designed to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Don't expect action soon, however, on another item on the list:

Although MORPC continues to list Mayor Michael B. Coleman's 2006 streetcar proposal among the region's priorities - on paper, it's in line for $20million from the agency starting in 2015 - even Coleman has let the idea go.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/02/10/Columbus_no_longer_planning_for_streetcarsx_light_rail.html?sid=101

 

Who are these officials?  Why did they "shelve" rail planning?  Are they still in office?  Why did Coleman relent?  None of this reflects favorably.  The Cincinnati streetcar had government backers who made transit an issue and didn't give up.  The same is true in many other cities.  Short North has a claim to being Ohio's premier urban neighborhood, but without rail it has a major competitive disadvantage.  Now would be as good a time as any for Columbus to clearly indicate that its future lies in Short North rather than... further north.  Public investment decisions do not currently display that level of commitment.   

All good points about streetcars and light rail.  But that's a citywide issue that is much larger than the Short North neighborhoods and their on-going development.

 

It also has its own thread in the Transportation Section - Columbus: Streetcar / Light Rail News

 

Please continue your discussion of streetcars and light rail in that thread.

Some cities have both skywalks and large groups of pedestrians on downtown sidewalks thanks to several blocks of destinations lining said sidewalks, but that's neither here nor there. Other cities were hit by a recession too and yet more 4+ story residential buildings in similar neighborhoods were built and people live in them today. A few streetview tours will bear that out. It's great that more dense apartments *will* be built, but Columbus needs to remember it doesn't exist in a bubble where the only competition is in Ohio, that other neighborhoods like the Short North in other cities nationwide already offer these units today thanks to previously recognizing and responding to the demand available in trendy neighborhoods accordingly, despite The Great Recession. I'm just saying that I'd go one step further than Ink and conclude that yes, we're not responding sufficiently to the demand for housing in our hottest neighborhoods. i.e. being a bit too conservative. Just look at the fact that Jeffrey Place was going to have 1,120 units delivered from 2005 onward and obviously was no longer going to respond to that demand years ago. Harrison Park offers the most out of newer development at 322 units and helped fill some of that void, but only recently are developments filling the unmet demand that both Jeffery Place and Ibiza never answered like the 46 units at The Jackson and 48 at The Dakota.

 

As mentioned above, both Jeffery Place and Ibiza are moving forward, both with different plans and new developers.  Neither delay had anything to do with Columbus not attempting to make projects happen.  But you know this and just continue to be dishonest, just like lying about light rail.  Nor is the city holding anyone back when dozens of new projects are being announced representing thousands of new units through next year.  Whether or not you think it's late is really irrelevant.  And honestly, I don't care what every other city is doing.  Maybe you consider it all to be a giant contest.  I don't.  Like every city that moves at its own pace, so will Columbus.  You moved because you couldn't handle it.  So why not stay in the Minneapolis forum where you can pat other residents on the back on what a perfect, shining example of modern urbanism you now live in.   

 

BTW, the reason why Minneapolis has so many skywalks is because winters there are incredibly cold and miserable and no one wants to venture outside to cross the street. 

 

Lying? Prove it. Columbus residents don't want light rail or the streetcar otherwise I wouldn't have seen so few people at those meetings. Both were put out there to the public along with a hybrid of both and not enough people wanted it. I never said projects aren't going forward, but addressing demand in 2012 from back in 2005 leaves Columbus behind in addressing demand from 2010. Other projects did go forward but none brought the numbers that those two major developments would have done + others like the Jackson, Dakota, etc. I find it hard to believe that's so contentious.

 

You stated that Columbus residents voted against the rail proposal in one of your many attempts to malign the population as behind the times and backwards.  Problem is, such a vote never took place.  Hence, you either didn't know that and stated it anyway in ignorance, or you outright lied.  Which is it? 

 

And you continue to not understand how demand works.  In a down economy, there is much less of it, particularly when the down economy is because of a collapsed housing market.  Someone else mentioned SimCity, and that is absolutely how you seem to think it works.  I saw plenty of articles, especially since 2007, stating that the housing demand collapsed, certainly it completely died for condos (and is still very slow).  While you think every other city in the country continued to build as if nothing happened, it's just total BS.  And frankly, the Jackson and Dakota are small-scale compared to many of the projects under construction or in planning through the next year.