Updates of two major projects on the Italian Village side of High Street in the Short North.  Both the Hubbard and the Fireproof Building are up for approval at this month's Italian Village Commission.  First, the Hubbard:

 

The Hubbard is the five-story mixed-use building (18,000 sq. ft. ground floor retail and 68 residential units) to be built at the northeast corner of N. High Street and E. Hubbard Avenue plus a four-story, 322-space parking garage with 4 residential units to be built on Hubbard Avenue.  It looks like the Hubbard is up for its final approval - the project has previously received conditional approval and zoning variances.

 

From the Italian Village Commission Agenda - Tuesday, June 19, 2012

 

3. 11-9-17b

830 North High Street/26 East Hubbard Avenue

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

 

This project was conceptually reviewed September 20, 2011.  The mixed use, footprint, height, massing, and density were approved October 18, 2011. The Commission commented on revised drawings November 15, 2011 with no action taken.  The Commission recommended the approval of eight variances on December 20, 2011.  Those variances were approved by Council on February 27, 2012.  The application was continued in January and February 2012.  Conditional approval was granted for the site plan, footprint, mixed use, height, massing, density, and parking on March 20, 2012.  The Commission recommended the approval of a revision to the height variances on April 17, 2012.  No review of the application took place in May.  Revised drawings have been submitted.

 

New Construction

• Construct new five (5) story commercial/residential building and four (4) story parking garage on the northeast corner of N. High St. and E. Hubbard Ave., per the submitted drawings.

• 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.

 

Now the Fireproof Building:

 

This project would demolish the rear two-thirds of the existing Fireproof Building.  The remaining front third of the Fireproof Building facing High Street and a new five-story mixed-use addition to be built at an existing parking lot at northeast corner of High Street and Second Avenue would contain 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space and 58 residential units.  It looks like the Fireproof project is also up for its final approvals.  Below is the agenda information for this project:

 

From the Italian Village Commission Agenda - Tuesday, June 19, 2012

 

5. 12-2-4

1024 North High Street

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

 

This application was conceptually reviewed at the November 15, 2011 and February 21, 2012 IVC hearings.  Conditional approval of the site plan, footprint, mixed use, height, massing, density, and parking was granted at the March 20, 2012 IVC hearing.  No review of the application took place in April or May.  Revised drawings have been submitted.

 

Demolition/Renovation and New Construction

• Demolish the rear two-thirds of the existing “Fireproof Building.”

• Renovate the front section of the existing “Fireproof Building,” per the submitted drawings.

• Construct new five (5) story addition, per the submitted drawings.

• Addition to include fifty-eight (58) residential units, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 87 parking spaces.

Short North housing aided by city tax breaks, assistance

Business First by Brian R. Ball, Staff reporter

Date: Friday, June 22, 2012, 6:00am EDT

 

Plans for the construction of more housing in the Short North got a shot in the arm from Columbus on June 18, when the city passed legislation extending tax breaks to developers of high-density residential projects.

 

Columbus Housing Administrator Rita Parise said plans for the Aston Place and Leafy Dale apartment projects in Victorian Village and the Hubbard apartment project planned for the former Ibiza site in Italian Village served as “the driving force” behind legislation creating the Short North Community Reinvestment Area.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/06/22/city-adds-tax-breaks-assistance-to.html

The five-story apartments are nice, but with the Fireproof addition 87 parking lots, and I'm guessing these are surface, requires a lot of room. Right now, the large parking lot on the corner of 2nd doesn't even provide parking for half that number and even with the 2/3 of the Fireproof building gone that's not going to be enough space. And come on, does every single resident really need a car in the heart of the SN? At least for residents working not so far away there are four bus lines along there and those sharrows aren't just meant to be looked at. I wonder what the "assistance" in addition to the tax-breaks the city is providing for dense residential + commercial and why isn't it doing somehting similar to encourage even lower-density development in less popular strips?

I wonder what the "assistance" in addition to the tax-breaks the city is providing for dense residential + commercial and why isn't it doing somehting similar to encourage even lower-density development in less popular strips?

Say what ?!?!?

Excerpts from City Press Release: June 22, 2012

 

City’s Reconstruction of Pearl Street In Short North Makes Street Safer For Motorists, Pedestrians and Bicyclists

 

North Pearl Street between Warren Street and East Russell Street in the Short North is reopening to traffic today (June 22), after the completion of a three-month city of Columbus project that reconstructed the brick street.  The project that replaced all roadway bricks and curbs on the street was done one block at a time to avoid closing the entire street for three months, reducing inconveniences for Pearl Street residents and their visitors.

 

The project was sorely needed as the street’s bricks and curbs had severely deteriorated over many years of use.  The Department of Public Service worked with residents and Short North neighborhood leaders to coordinate the construction schedule and provide alternate parking for Pearl Street residents who had no access to their garages during the project.

 

The project made the following improvements on Pearl Street between Warren Street and East Russell Street:

· Replaced all the bricks and curbs on Pearl Street

· Repaired damaged sidewalks as needed

· Constructed six Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps and upgraded a total of 11 ADA curb ramps with warning mats that assist the blind in using the ramps

· 150 feet of new storm sewer pipe and two new catch basins to improve stormwater drainage

 

And as was noted earlier in this thread:

 

The city will make the same improvements to North Pearl Street between East Hubbard Avenue and East Prescott Street after The Wagenbrenner Company and Elford Development, Ltd., complete The Hubbard, an apartment building and parking garage to be built on the southeast corner of North High Street and East Hubbard Street. (Renderings and elevations of The Hubbard)

 

Full press release at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/pearl-alley-makeover-through-the-short-north

Another construction progress photo of the Wood Companies' three-story vertical addition to 937-951 N. High Street from the June Construction Roundup at Columbus Underground:

 

 

Previous news about this project in this thread from May 2012 at http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2062.msg618377.html#msg618377

Interesting Short North update that is not a bricks-and-mortar development, but still an addition to an already vibrant arts district.  Ten new murals are being installed in the Short North this week.  It is part of a project known as “10x10x10″, representing the 10 murals, 10 art galleries and 10 show openings.  The mural installations coincide with celebrating the bicentennial birthday year of Columbus at this weekend's Gallery Hop.

 

Below is a photo of one mural being installed, and the same mural after installation is finished.  This mural was installed on the side wall of the Callander Cleaners building at 608 N. High Street (which looks onto the public plaza next the I-670 Cap). 

 

 

Below are some local media reports about the "10x10x10" mural installations from Columbus Underground, the Columbus Dispatch and ABC6 News.  The Dispatch and ABC6 News links each have videos showing the mural installation process - which is pretty fascinating.  The installation is an updated high tech version of the traditional painted-on-wall murals originally done in the Short North.  These new "10x10x10" murals use images printed onto vinyl sheets.  The vinyl sheets are glued to the building wall.  Then the vinyl sheets are heated to "shrink wrap" the sheets onto the walls.  The shrink wrapping process conforms the sheets to the imperfections of the building wall and gives the new murals a "painted on" appearance.  The process also allows the murals to look permanent and be long lasting - but also allows for future removal without damaging the building wall.

 

Columbus Underground: The Short North Gaining Ten New Outdoor Murals

 

Columbus Dispatch: Short North: Mural project shows changing landscape

 

ABC 6 News: Art Hits the Walls at Short North

 

---

Here are the locations of the 10 murals; the title of each mural along with the artist; and the Short North gallery sponsoring the mural:

 

•  459 N. High St.: Neighborhood Scene by Mark Thomas; sponsor: Lindsay Gallery

 

•  608 N. High St.: Fields of Columbus by Heather Nibert; sponsor: Terra Gallery

 

•  650 N. High St.: Blueberries for Black by Jason Morgan; sponsor: Brandt-Roberts Galleries

 

•  700 N. High St.: Columbus Celebrates 200 by Larry Hamill; sponsor: Marcia Evans Gallery

 

•  721 N. High St.: Fibers of America by Cory Piehowicz; sponsor: Rivet

 

•  765 N. High St.: Curious Cultures by Amandda Tirey Graham; sponsor: Ray’s Living Room

 

•  944 N. High St.: Precocious by Stephanie Rond; sponsor: Roy G Biv gallery

 

• 1081 N. High St.: Shadows Extending by Marty Husted; sponsor: Studios on High Gallery

 

• 1130 N. High St.: Emily Dickinson-Amherst Maid by Sid Chafetz; sponsor: Sherrie Gallerie

 

• 1209 N. High St.: Dawes Arboretum by Michael Secrest; sponsor: pm gallery

 

Nice write-up in the NYT about recent projects in the Short North:

In Columbus, Ohio, an Arts Belt Is Thriving

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/realestate/commercial/in-columbus-ohio-the-short-north-arts-belt-is-thriving.html?pagewanted=1&src=recg

 

The Mayor sure isn't shy about his opinion!

“It is now, frankly, the premier arts district in the nation,”

Mayor Coleman's no Boris Johnson, but we still like him!

 

That was a surprisingly knowledgable and non-snarky article from the Times.  The author was very accurate about the Short North's history and comprehensive with the long list of recent, current and future development projects here.  I'm actually impressed.

 

(EDIT: I did spot one error.  The name Short North actually came from the police dispatchers jargon - "Short" of the University District and "North" of Downtown.)

And speaking of development projects in the Short North - here is a photo update on the three-story vertical addition that Wood Companies is building at High & Second from Columbus Underground - Construction Roundup - July 2012.  The three-story addition is for 24 apartments and 10,000 sq. ft. of office space over an existing retail building.  More about this project with a rendering of the finished addition posted earlier here:

 

 

 

 

And here is a construction photo update for part of the Joseph project from Columbus Underground - Construction Roundup - July 2012 and from the Columbus Underground thread Pizzuti Short North Hotel - News & Updates.

 

These photos show the work being done to the former UCT Building at 632 N. Park Street.  This building is being renovated into The Joseph Gallery and will contain the art collection compiled by Pizzuti Company CEO Ron Pizzuti.  The rear part of the building is being demolished to make way for the office/parking garage part of the overall Joseph project.  This future office/parking garage will be on the west side of High Street.  The future parking garage will support the future Joseph Hotel to be located on the east side of High Street.

 

More about the multiple parts of the Joseph project posted earlier in this thread here.  Below are photos showing the UCT Building renovation and the demolition of the rear portion of it:

 

 

 

 

Le Méridien to fly flag at Joseph hotel in Short North

 

 

Pizzuti Cos. will fly the high-end Le Méridien flag over the Joseph hotel it is planning to build north of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

 

“They’re the premier operator of luxury boutique hotels,” said President Joel Pizzuti. “It will fit in perfectly in the Short North.”

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/08/10/posh-le-meridien-flag-to-fly-in-short.html

Columbo,

Thanks for all of your Columbus updates.  As a former Akronite living in LA, I've been thinking of moving back to Ohio.  I have been very, very impressed with all of the construction and projects happening in Columbus over the last few years.  I'm seriously considering Columbus if I move back, instead of the Akron/Cleveland region.  I was back in Akron/Cleveland for a couple weeks in June, and I have to admit, for the first time, I was a bit disappointed.  Even with all of the projects happening in Cleveland, the area just lacked a certain vitality I've become used to in other cities.  Things seemed tired and worn.  I think Columbus may have that vitality.

Yes absolutely - thanks Columbo!

 

re: jeremeyck01

I was in columbus for a weekend in mid july and absolutely loved the short north.  It was definitely world class feeling.  The problem, still, is that outside of the central city there's not much appeal (at least for me).  And I also don't think the short north has the overall density to keep the vibrancy throughout the work week and the day time.  The short north on Friday and Saturday nights is much different than the short north on tuesday at 1pm.  Density would help that tremendously - and it's coming, just slowly.

Thanks for enjoying the updates.  I like putting them together just as much for myself.  It helps me keep track of all the development going around Columbus.  And Columbus is definately heading in the right direction.  The Short North has seen the most change for the better.  But virtually every part of pre-1950 Columbus (i.e. the historically urban city) is seeing improvements.  Some slower than others - but some areas showing dramatic improvements over the part 10-15 years.

Le Méridien to fly flag at Joseph hotel in Short North

 

 

Pizzuti Cos. will fly the high-end Le Méridien flag over the Joseph hotel it is planning to build north of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

 

“They’re the premier operator of luxury boutique hotels,” said President Joel Pizzuti. “It will fit in perfectly in the Short North.”

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/08/10/posh-le-meridien-flag-to-fly-in-short.html

This announcement that the Joseph Hotel will be a Le Meridien seems like a very big deal.  As was said in the Business First article: "The Le Meridien brand dates to 1972, when Air France opened a hotel under that name in Paris, later expanding it to cities overseas.  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. bought the chain, now at 111 properties, from another owner in 2005."

 

The Le Meridien brand has only seven hotels operating in the U.S. - New York; San Francisco; Philadelphia; Dallas; Minneapolis; Palm Springs, CA; Cambridge, MA; Arlington, VA.  An Atlanta location is opening in October 2013.  Columbus would be only their 9th U.S. location. 

 

This would also be the third Starwood Hotel brand in downtown area.  Beside the future Short North Le Meridien, there is a Westin at the historic Great Southern Hotel near the County Courthouse and Sheraton took over the Hyatt on Capitol Square in 2011.

A quattro of business profiles from Metropreneur Columbus.  The Metropreneur profiles look at businesses that have moved to, or expanded in, the Short North (or will shortly be opening in one case) as listed and linked below:

 

Metropreneur Columbus: At Work: Modern and sleek space in the Short North - A look at Kaufman Development's new space at the corner of Warren and Pearl.  Kaufman is currently building the new five-story 174-unit apartment complex in the area known as 600 Goodale.

 

Metropreneur Columbus: At Work: Orbit Design’s mod aqua building in the Short North - A look at the women behind the Orbit Design business and their aqua colored building on Poplar Avenue.

 

Metropreneur Columbus: Amy Clark Studios has a new home in the Short North - A look at a photography business that outgrew an in-home studio and expanded to a retail spot on High Street.

 

Metropreneur Columbus: Dames Bond Market Place to open in the Short North next month - A look at an online business that will be opening a brick and mortar shop on High Street in September 2012.

Update for part of the Joseph project from Columbus Underground - Construction Roundup - July 2012 and from the Columbus Underground thread Pizzuti Short North Hotel - News & Updates.

 

These photos show the work being done to the former UCT Building at 632 N. Park Street.  This building is being renovated into The Joseph Gallery and will contain the art collection compiled by Pizzuti Company CEO Ron Pizzuti.  The rear part of the building is being demolished to make way for the office/parking garage part of the overall Joseph project.  This future office/parking garage will be on the west side of High Street.  The future parking garage will support the future Joseph Hotel to be located on the east side of High Street.

 

More about the multiple parts of the Joseph project posted earlier in this thread here.  Below are photos showing the UCT Building renovation and the demolition of the rear portion of it:

 

 

 

Another photo showing demolition of the rear portion of the UCT Building.  This one is from the MyUrbanhood twitter feed showing the rear portion almost completely removed.  This demolition area, and the parking lot where the photo was taken from, will become the office building/parking structure portion of the Joseph Hotel development project.

 

 

...which gives the origin of the somwhat unsual neighborhood name. 

 

National recognition of a place that just gets better and better...

 

In Columbus, Ohio, an Arts Belt Is Thriving

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The transformation of the Short North — a 14-block artsy strip here — from scruffy to chic began in the 1980s. And the scrappy neighborhood, which connects downtown Columbus to the sprawling campus of Ohio State University, has defied the recent economic downturn by continuing that evolution with a string of new developments...

 

 

I saw an article from the early '80s calling the Short North "SoButt" for "South of Buttles". Imagine if that stuck.

I think that's like the 4th NYT article on the SN since 2004. And where are all of these "traditional red brick" buildings they're talking about?

^That article was posted a couple weeks ago in a Columbus thread.  It's a good read.

^ Yes it was.

 

Nice write-up in the NYT about recent projects in the Short North:

In Columbus, Ohio, an Arts Belt Is Thriving

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/realestate/commercial/in-columbus-ohio-the-short-north-arts-belt-is-thriving.html?pagewanted=1&src=recg

So the "artilce" thread and discussion gets merged into this thread.  And it is a very good read.

Dang.  Bankruptcy estate sales seem to take forever don't they?  But it looks like the former Ibiza / now Hubbard site is in the hands of the new developer.  Below is the link to the full Business First article. (this one is free for the full read)  According to the article, construction for the Hubbard - which will contain 72 apartments, ground-floor retail and a parking garage - is expected to begin in October 2012.  Finished apartments are scheduled to be ready by Fall 2013.

 

Business First: Ibiza site sold, clearing way for Short North apartment tower

 

Below is the previous update for the Hubbard project - with clickable images of project renderings and elevations in the quote box:

 

Q & A from Columbus Underground with two of the principals involved with the Hubbard Apartments.  The Hubbard Apartments are going to be built at the corner of N. High Street and Hubbard Avenue, the former Ibiza Condos site.  Below is also a rendering of the project.

 

The Hubbard Apartments to Rise Over The Short North

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

Published on December 13, 2011 7:00 am

 

The northeast corner of Hubbard Avenue and High Street has been one of the most widely discussed plots of land here on Columbus Underground over the past five years.  Originally proposed in 2006 as the home of the failed Ibiza condo development, the site is going through a change of ownership where local development firms Elford and Wagenbrenner are jointly working on a revised plan for the neighborhood.  The Hubbard will be a five-story mixed-use apartment building with ground-floor retail and a public parking garage located in the back.

 

For more details on the project, we spoke recently with Mark Wagenbrenner, President of Wagenbrenner Development, and Mike Fitzpatrick, President of Elford Development, Ltd.

 

Interview at http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-hubbard-apartments-to-rise-over-the-short-north

 

An update of sorts about the Hubbard Apartments planned for the northeast corner of N. High Street and Hubbard Avenue and site of the former Ibiza Condos project.  A bankruptcy court judge awarded the development site to the new Elford/Wagenbrenner development team to build the Hubbard Apartments (see the above article).  Last week, a Franklin County Common Pleas jury awarded a judgement against the previous Ibiza developers (see this article).  Hopefully these judgements now clear the way for the new development team to procede with the Hubbard Apartments project.

 

In the meantime, the Elford/Wagenbrenner development team has a website for the Hubbard Apartments project at http://www.830northhigh.com/.  On that website they have the High Street and Hubbard Avenue building elevations for the project with some neighboring buildings for context. 

 

Below is a High Street elevation of the Hubbard Apartments with neighboring buildings to the left.

 

 

Below is a Hubbard Avenue elevation showing the main apartment building - the connected parking garage with townhouse/brownstone units lining the garage that front Hubbard Avenue - and neighboring houses to the right. (Note: I combined the main building and garage/brownstone building elevations together for clarity.  This combined elevation is not on the 830northhigh website.)

Catching up on a couple of older Short North items:

 

The first one is about PM Gallery moving to a new location on High Street within the Short North.  The owner of PM Gallery is moving from its location of the past 32 years at 726 N. High Street.  As the oldest continually operating art gallery and retail store in the Short North, PM Gallery and its owner Maria Galloway have had a front seat near the corner of High & Buttles to the area's dramatic urban revitalization.  She is having to move now because - according to the Columbus Underground article linked below - 'The owner of the building where PM Gallery resides was investigated by the IRS on charge related to tax evasion, which Galloway became entangled in through her business relationship with her landlord. Offices were raided, charges were filed and the investigation has run its course. “They agreed to drop multiple charges against me down to one charge if I plead guilty and testified against my landlord,” says Galloway. “He was found guilty two weeks ago, and he served me with an eviction notice last week".' :-o

 

So PM Gallery has moved approximately six blocks north to a new location at 1190 N. High Street (they opened for their first Gallery Hop in September).  The PM Gallery move has an interesting parallel with the development of the Short North.  The new gallery location is near the corner of Fifth & High, the official northern boundary of the Short North (north of Fifth Avenue is considered Weinland Park and the University District).  So after being in the original heart of the Short North at High & Buttles for 32 years and watching it grow and thrive.  Now the gallery is in an expansion area of the Short North near Fifth & High.  Ready to grow and thrive in a new area with businesses like the Garden Theater, Rivet, What The Rock?!, Fringe Boutique, Royal Factory and Surly Girl Saloon and new developments like the planned Out of the Closet development and the recently completed Jackson Condo project.  Unfortunate she needed to move but it sounds like she landed in a promising new location.

 

Much more detail about the PM Gallery move from the two Columbus Underground articles linked below and the PM Gallery website linked below:

 

CU: PM Gallery Planning Relocation After 32 Years in The Short North

 

CU: PM Gallery Relocating to Former Attic Location

 

More information about PM Gallery can be found online at www.pmgallery.com or on their Facebook Page.

Finally one current bit of news - the annual Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens will be this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

The many single-family and smaller multiple unit residential projects rarely get posted in this development thread.  Partly because they have become so commonplace that they tend to fly under the radar and don't get any media coverage anymore.  Partly because its usually just an individual, couple or family doing the project, so you don't want to pry in the same way you might pry about the larger more developer-driven project.  However, these residential projects constitute the heart and soul of the Short North and its two neighborhoods - Victorian Village and Italian Village.

 

But once a year, the public gets to see these projects though the Short North Tour of Homes.  Links to the Short North Civic Association's website - which offers a preview of the homes on this year's tour and a Columbus Underground profile on the tour are below:

 

SNCA: 2012 Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens

 

CU: The List: 5 Must-Sees on the 2012 Short North Tour of Homes & Gardens

The Wood Companies development at High and Second was recently unveiled as construction moves to the secondary facades. Excuse the quality of these photos; I grabbed them with my phone en route to UDF for milk this morning.

 

 

Dang!  That is looking good.  Thanks for the pics, ink.

 

Previous post about the addition here and the original post about this project from 2010 here.

no place to hang bikes 8 feet off the ground with the fencing and scaffolding gone

More photos of the Wood Co Building at High & Second from Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup - September 2012 - Part 1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

More about the Joseph Project in the Short North being done by Pizzuti.  First, a construction update from last Sunday's Dispatch about the first part of the project - the renovation of the former UCT Building at 632 N. Park Street - and the future phases.

• Phase One: The former UCT Building at 632 N. Park Street is being renovated into The Joseph Gallery.  The Joseph Gallery will contain the art collection compiled by Pizzuti Company CEO Ron Pizzuti.  A rear portion of the UCT building was demolished to make way for other phases of the overall Joseph Project.  UCT stands for United Commercial Travelers - although technically the full name is "Supreme Council of the Order of the United Commercial Travelers of America", which is carved in stone above the building's entrance facing Goodale Park.  According to the Dispatch article, this gallery containing the Pizzuti art collection could be open to the public this year.

• Phase Two: A 313-space parking garage will be located immediately east of the Joseph Gallery/UCT Building and will span the existing mid-block alley on the site.  Utility work has begun in this alley area to bury the existing overhead power lines.  According to the Dispatch article, construction on the parking garage should start by March 2013 and is expected to be completed in late 2013.

• Phase Three: A six-story, 55,000 sq. ft. office building will be located immediately east of the 313-space parking garage.  This office building will be located on an existing parking lot and will be built to High Street.  According to the Dispatch article, construction of the office building is expected to be completed in early 2014.

• Phase Four: The 11-story, 135-room boutique hotel called The Joseph will be located across High Street on another existing parking lot.  According to the Dispatch article, the hotel on the east side of High Street in expected to be completed in mid-2014.

Also according to the Dispatch article, "The cost of the garage, office building and hotel are about $60 million".  Although the renovation cost for the gallery building - which the Pizzuti Company did not disclose - is not included in that $60 million figure for the Joseph Project.

Photos of Phase One of the Joseph Project: The former UCT Building at 632 N. Park Street is being renovated into The Joseph Gallery.  From Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup: September 2012 Part 1

 

VIEW OF THE UCT BUILDING FRONT THAT FACES PARK STREET AND GOODALE PARK

 

 

VIEW OF THE UCT BUILDING REAR - LOOKING NORTH  (older Victorian Gate infill in background)

 

 

VIEW OF THE UCT BUILDING REAR - LOOKING SOUTH AT MID-BLOCK ALLEY (downtown in background)

 

MORE PHOTOS: http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-september-2012-part-1

Some new Short North development projects are apparently on the horizon.  Information is via two subscription-required articles from Columbus Business First (with a big assist from futureman for posting them at Columbus Underground).  One is from April 2012 and the other is from one week ago.

 

The older article from April 2012 was posted in this thread, but at the time, focused on the Leafy Dale apartment project on Dennison Avenue.  Here is the link to that article: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/04/13/4th-time-around-brings-apartment-plan.html  --  Below is an excerpt related to another project and a location map:

 

"Investor Michael Schiff is a partner in what's likely to be a residential projecet dubbed Hubbard Park Place. "(It) is kind of speculative." Wood said. "We really don't have a plan at this point"

 

"The combined surface parking of more than a 1 acre cannont be built on immediatly, however, because of a deed restriction.  It bars development for three years or until the opening of a planned public parking garage off East Hubbard Avevenue as part of an apartment project proposed for the former Ibiza condo site."

 

 

---

The newer article from last week's Business First expands upon the April 2012 reference to Hubbard Park Place and also talks about two additional apartment projects.  Here is the link to that article: Short North real estate deal to lead to more apartments

 

Below is an excerpt related to those three projects and a location map:

 

"Real estate investor Michael Schiff and developer Mark Wood plan to build up to 250 housing units in the Short North as part of a $50 million investment in the Columbus neighborhood." 

 

"Columbus Business First has learned the two are expanding earlier plans for Short North development with a deal to acquire White Cross Properties LLC, a real estate company that owns a 48,800-square-foot building at 717-721 N. High St., which is anchored by the Two Fish Bistro; a building at 790 N. High St., anchored by the La Fogata Grill restaurant; and a 0.3-acre tract behind the La Fogata."

 

"That deal builds on their plans for a residential and commercial project at West Hubbard Avenue and Park Street, tentatively dubbed Hubbard Park Place."

 

^ The above post contains quite a bit of raw information.  So here's a better rundown off the Short North Projects mentioned by the two Business First articles.  Again with the thanks of posters at the Hubbard Park Place - News & Updates thread at Columbus Underground:

 

This does not include The Hubbard (former Ibiza) which is 63 apartment units.  The 250 units mentioned in the Business First article are coming from the following three projects:

 

- 717-721 High St (above Two Fish) going from 37 to 34 units after renovation

- 790 High St (behind La Fogota) 0.3 acres

- Hubbard Park Place - the surface lot at Park and Hubbard behind Hubbard Grill (1 acre).

 

From the Business First article: "Schiff and Wood expect to develop 200 to 250 residential units between the Hubbard Park project and the White Cross properties over the next three to five years." White Cross refers to owners that are selling 717-721 and 790 High Street.

 

This aerial, which was posted at the Hubbard Place thread (linked above), shows the location of the Hubbard Park Place project (RED OUTLINE) on a lot at Hubbard & Park Streets.  The aerial used an existing aerial from the Wagenbrenner Hubbard website - so "The Hubbard" (YELLOW OUTLINE) is shown at Hubbard & High Streets.

 

According to the Fireproof Building Redevelopment - News & Updates at Columbus Underground, the Fireproof Company has vacated their namesake Fireproof Building at 1024 N. High Street.  And it looks like preparations are underway for the renovation and addition to the landmark five-story building in the Short North.

 

Since its been many pages ago since the original posts about this project, here's a recap:

 

- 58 rental units in the existing Fireproof Building and in the five-story addition at the existing parking lot at High Street and Second Avenue. The development will also contain a total of 15,000 square feet of space that could include a mixture of restaurant, retail and office tenants.  More info at CU: Fireproof Plans for New Five-Story Mixed-Use Building in The Short North.

 

- The back two-thirds of the Fireproof Building will be demolished as well as a smaller one-story building at the rear of the site.  Below is a before and after site plan showing the five-story addition on the parking lot.  Also below is a High Street elevation showing the Fireproof Building with the addition.  More info at the project website: http://www.1024northhigh.com

 

 

The Fireproof Company also produced a YouTube video about their history in their namesake building on North High Street.  It also contains a brief rundown of the project with renderings at the 9:00 mark.

 

The residential addition on top of Z-Pizza looks great overall and I'd say is successful in adding features found on surrounding historical buildings without looking cheesy. Although the angled windows, I don't know what it is, but something seems off: can't put my finger on it. Quality infill in any case.

More about the United Commercial Travelers Building at 632 N. Park Street that is being renovated into The Joseph Gallery from last Sunday's Columbus Dispatch.  The Dispatch had an article that focused on the Pizzuti art collection that will be going into the renovated building.  The article also profiled Rebbeca Ibel is the curator of the Pizzuti collection - hence the pun in the title "Ready willing & Ibel". 

 

Ibel has been curator of the Puzzuti collection since it has been temporarily housed in the ground floor of the downtown Miranova office building (another Pizzuti project).  Prior to that Ibel ran her own gallery in the Short North for 18 years.  According to the below linked article, the art collection will be throughout much of the three floors in the 18,000 sq. ft. renovated building and should be open to the public by Spring 2013.

 

Columbus Dispatch: Ready, willing & Ibel

 

Two previous updates on the building's renovation in this thread here and here.  Photo of the front of the UCT Building that faces Park Street and Goodale Park from Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup: September 2012 Part 1:

 

 

Photo of the back of the UCT Building/Joseph Gallery that will face Phases Two and Three of the larger Joseph Project - a 313-space parking garage and a six-story, 55,000 sq. ft. office building from Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup: October 2012:

It doesn't look like much right now - but here is a photo of the excavation work being done for the long awaited Hubbard Project from Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup - October 2012

 

 

The Hubbard Project is a five-story building at High & Hubbard which will contain 72 apartments with ground-floor retail and an adjoining 250-space parking garage with additional townhouse units along Hubbard Avenue - previously updated here.  The Hubbard is being built on the site of the failed Ibiza project.

^The site is fully cleared and nicely leveled as of this morning.

Here's the cleared and leveled site for part of the long awaited Hubbard Project from Columbus Underground's Construction Roundup - November 2012 - Part 2

 

 

The Hubbard Project is a five-story building at High & Hubbard which will contain 72 apartments with ground-floor retail and an adjoining 250-space parking garage with additional townhouse units along Hubbard Avenue - previously updated here.

Short North's 'Hub' project signs Fifth Third, Snap Fitness, arts retailer

 

 

A 72-unit apartment project in Italian Village has already filled most of its 17,100 square feet of street-level commercial space as the developers begin construction on the residential and commercial project.

 

The E.W. Hubbard High LLC joint venture between Wagenbrenner Development Inc. and Elford Development Ltd. on Wednesday announced Fifth Third Bank, Snap Fitness and floral retailer Paper Daisy Flower Boutique have committed to operate in the space when the five-story project renamed “the Hub” opens at 830 N. High St. in late summer.

 

The project also has signed an unspecified out-of-town restaurant operator who will serve American cuisine and craft beers. The three named tenants and restaurant combined bring the total pre-leasing to 11,200 square feet.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/11/the-hub-construction-starts-with.html?page=all

So the Hubbard project has been renamed "The Hub".  If that's what the cool kids are calling it, fine. 

 

Still better than "Ibiza Urban Oasis".

So the Hubbard project has been renamed "The Hub".  If that's what the cool kids are calling it, fine. 

 

Still better than "Ibiza Urban Oasis".

 

I liked the name Ibiza. It made me think of European hedonists.

The Hubbard construction is now going vertical.  The first photo is from Columbus Underground taken mid-December.  The second photo is from the MyUrbanhood twitter feed taken early January:

 

 

 

The Hubbard is a five-story mixed-use building at High & Hubbard which will contain 72 apartments with ground-floor retail and an adjoining 250-space parking garage with additional townhouse units along Hubbard Avenue - previously updated here.

The Hubbard construction is now going vertical.  The first photo is from Columbus Underground taken mid-December.  The second photo is from the MyUrbanhood twitter feed taken early January:

 

 

 

The Hubbard is a five-story mixed-use building at High & Hubbard which will contain 72 apartments with ground-floor retail and an adjoining 250-space parking garage with additional townhouse units along Hubbard Avenue - previously updated here.

 

Very happy to see construction finally happening on this lot!  It was such an eyesore when I moved back to Columbus from 2009-2011.

The Joseph Project has a website now: http://josephhotelcolumbus.com/index.html

 

And also a PDF of the project with renderings and detailed site and floor plans: http://josephhotelcolumbus.com/TheOfficesAtTheJosephBrochure.pdf

The Wood Companies three-story apartment addition is now leasing.  More about this here at Columbus Underground.  The craigslist ad in that thread has since been removed.  But before it was removed I copied two exterior photos from the ad.

 

To see how far the property has improved, here's the building prior to the 3-story addition

 

Here is the building with the 3-story addition

 

Impressive!