Well that's a serious downgrade...that building looks just about as bland as you can get now. Unfortunate.

They made it look more like the White Castle factory on Goodale.

Geez, the Short North projects are coming so fast its getting hard to comment on one before another one comes along.  Although that's not a bad problem to have.  So, I'll try to take a look at each of the three most recent project updates:

 

1) Brunner Building - 930-940 N. High Street (Italian Village side of High Street) - The least controversial of these three projects.  And a project that actually gained one story in its latest revision.  The six-story, mixed-use project would have ground-floor retail, second-floor office space and 33 apartments on the remaining floors - http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/11/02/6-story-short-north-apartment-project-going-to.html.

 

 

Kind of a no-brainer approval for the IV Commission.  The six-story building would replace two single-story buildings setback from High Street with large surface parking lots.  It's also a Mark Wood / Wood Companies project.  This is the same company and long-time Short North developer that added three-stories to the Northstar Cafe across the street - Google streetview of the Wood Co. addition across High Street from the Brunner Building site.  And if they take the same care with materials and design details on the Brunner project (and they likely will) this new building should look amazing.

 

Interestingly, the Brunner project is located next door to the Donatos project, which has begun construction.  The completed Wood Co. project across High Street from the Brunner project is located next door to the White Castle proposal.  Quite a nexus of project activity near High and W. Second Avenue.

2) 711 N. High Street (Victorian Village side of High Street) - Probably the middle-most controversial project of these three projects.  This is an office building with ground-retail and a parking garage proposed for an existing mid-block surface parking lot.  An earlier article said that it may have Cameron Mitchell Restaurants as an office anchor plus operator of a street-level restaurant and rooftop bar in the building - http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/02/developers-plan-high-rise-in-short-north-with.html.

 

This project is a joint venture between Wood Cos. and Schiff Capital Group (the group that renovated the historic Atlas Building in downtown).  Originally proposed as an 11-story building, the latest proposal is for 9-stories.  Below is a comparison of the High Street elevations of the 11-story vs. the 9-story proposals and a current Google streetview of the 711 N. High parking lot looking from Lincoln Street that has a similar view:

 

 

 

Not too different with the top two stories removed.  And the reworked roofline and south side of the building is a little more interesting.  The new 'old building' along High Street looks unchanged.  Will be interesting to see how much push-back they get from the VV Commission.  The mid-block location plus the height reduction could be enough to get approval.

3) White Castle proposal - 965 N. High Street (Victorian Village of High Street) - The most controversial of these three projects.  This would replace the existing one-story White Castle restaurant at the northwest corner of High & W. Second Avenue - Google streetview of the existing White Castle location at High & W. Second.  The replacement building would contain a new White Castle restaurant in the ground-floor (ala the Campus Wendy's project), office space and residential apartments in the upper floors and a parking garage.  And it's gone through some significant changes through its proposal process this year:

 

April 2015: 6-7 stories along High & Second with an 11-story tower portion set back from High Street.  A more-or-less conventional contemporary design:

 

May 2015: After feedback from the VV Commission, they returned with similar building massing and a more dynamic contemporary design.  Perhaps too dynamic, because it received a polarized response (check out CU).  Some felt this was a vast improvement and an interesting modern counterpoint to the historic Short North.  Others felt this was "too busy", "cartoonish" and a mish-mash of competing architectural styles.

 

November 2015: The developers, Borror Properties, reduced the overall massing of the project.  According to the developer in the latest CU article (posted above), “We’re down to six stories on High Street and eight stories on the alley — just under a 30 percent reduction in the building size.”

 

They also brought in a new designer, Michael Bongiorno of DesignGroup (fresh off the addition/renovation of the Columbus Museum of Art), although Berardi+Partners, who designed the previous two versions, will remain the architect of record.  This third design harkens back to the original April design with a calmer contemporary approach.  Although this one seems to have much more glass/transparency, particularly at the ground floor corner:

 

The new massing (as seen from this overhead rendering) does seem to work well for its context.  Less looming over the neighboring historic three-story buildings, which might equal being more palatable for the VV Commission, who is scheduled to hear this at their next meeting on November 12:

My wish-list for 2016: UDF and CheckSmart.

 

I have to imagine that they can't hold out much longer...

Classical-music-UDF is a neighborhood staple though. Hopefully we can get a UDF highrise.

2) 711 N. High Street (Victorian Village side of High Street) - Probably the middle-most controversial project of these three projects.  This is an office building with ground-retail and a parking garage proposed for an existing mid-block surface parking lot.  An earlier article said that it may have Cameron Mitchell Restaurants as an office anchor plus operator of a street-level restaurant and rooftop bar in the building - http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/09/02/developers-plan-high-rise-in-short-north-with.html.

 

This project is a joint venture between Wood Cos. and Schiff Capital Group (the group that renovated the historic Atlas Building in downtown).  Originally proposed as an 11-story building, the latest proposal is for 9-stories.  Below is a comparison of the High Street elevations of the 11-story vs. the 9-story proposals and a current Google streetview of the 711 N. High parking lot looking from Lincoln Street that has a similar view:

 

 

 

Not too different with the top two stories removed.  And the reworked roofline and south side of the building is a little more interesting.  The new 'old building' along High Street looks unchanged.  Will be interesting to see how much push-back they get from the VV Commission.  The mid-block location plus the height reduction could be enough to get approval.

 

CU has an update about this project with alot of more detailed renderings at http://www.columbusunderground.com/new-shorter-design-presented-for-short-north-office-building.  The revised 9-story building retains the basic program of the original 11-story concept — office space and structured parking along with ground floor retail and a roof-top restaurant.  This revised building design apparently got a positive response at the November 12th Victorian Village Commission and is scheduled to return to the commission in December for final approval.

 

You can view the updated renderings at the CU link (which look really good).  But I did want to include this rendering of the roof-top restaurant in this update.  The updated renderings reveal more details of the restaurant concept, showing glass walls and ceilings that would be almost fully retractable, leaving a large outdoor dining space with views of High Street below and Downtown to the south:

 

I really love these two renderings which give a sense of how the project will feel from the vantage point of being down on High St.

 

I think it borrows some nice cues and detailing from the historic buildings around it, and the massing (while reduced from 11 to 9 stories) still helps to fill out and complete the street.

 

Will really be a dramatic improvement for the surrounding area!

 

 

I'm okay with this.

The four-story building at the corner of High & Buttles (immediately north of the 9-story project at 711 N. High that was just approved) has been undergoing an interior renovation over the past year:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-diplomat-short-north

 

The above linked CU article reports on this project and has interior photos of the renovation work.  Wood Companies/Schiff Capital Group (the same group developing the 9-story project next door) are doing this renovation.  The second, third and fourth floors in the building are being converted from the previously existing 37 apartments into a slightly larger set of 34 apartments.  This project is expected to be completed in Spring 2016.

 

Below is a photo from the original CU announcement report in 2014 of this renovation:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/high-buttles-apartment-building-to-be-renovated

 

The new Donatos at 1st and High is having its grand opening today! I was the Service Manager there before I moved to CLE. The new Donatos features a lot of menu items you can't find at any other location. The interior is post-modern as they recognized their interiors are starting to look dreary and outdated so this location basically serves as a new standard for the company and their franchise partners. Soon they will be featuring a full bar and live music stage! I can't wait to drive down to Columbus and check it out and see all of my old friends there. It's cool to see a local chain open such a progressive fast-casual restaurant in the trendiest part of its hometown. Donatos will finally be still competition for all of its neighbors in the Short North, with what all they now offer (I swear they're not paying me to say that; I just feel inclined because I can honestly say it was a great company to work for!)

Some more photos of the new Donatos at 1st & High that just opened from the CU article - 'Flagship Store Represents the Modern Evolution of the Donatos Brand' - at http://www.columbusunderground.com/new-short-north-donatos-rw1

 

 

 

This new Donatos is the first phase of the redevelopment of 1st & High.  The second phase involves the demolition of the previous Donatos at the corner (shown below) and the construction of a new two-story building in its place (rendering below):

 

 

The new two-story building will add a new 700 square foot Donatos-concept Black Brick Bar to the just completed Donatos building.  The Black Brick Bar will also have a High Street-facing patio seating an additional 36.  More about this at http://www.columbusunderground.com/donatos-black-brick-bar.  The remainder of the new two-story building will contain a Zest juice bar and a Seattle-based RAM brewpub.  The RAM’s brewpub will have a second-story patio that overlooks the Black Brick Bar patio.  More about the RAM brewpub at http://www.columbusunderground.com/ram-restaurant-brewery-coming-soon-to-short-north.

Oats and Barley Market Bringing Grocery Store to The Short North

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

January 11, 2016 - 11:17 am

 

On December 23rd, Breathe Fitness closed their doors at 970 N. High Street after eleven years in business. ...  A new health-food centric grocery store called Oats and Barley Market is planned to replace it. ... Oats and Barley will feature a combination of staple grocery items like cereal, bread and milk, along with healthy, organic and local selections, as well as beer and wine.

 

While the Short North is currently home to several larger grocery options on the edges of the neighborhood, many residents have called for the addition of a centrally located store, which aligns with what Oats and Barley may offer. ... Oats and Barley will certainly be one of the smallest of grocery stores in the area, measuring only 3,000 square feet.  By comparison, the Downtown Hills Market store is 12,000 square feet.  The Weinland Park Kroger — located just a half mile north of the future Oats and Barley — measures just under 60,000 square feet.

 

Construction will begin soon with a planned opening sometime this Spring.  The store will be open seven days per week, with store hours yet to be determined.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/oats-and-barley-market-short-north-grocery

Business First is reporting that the White Caste project is going back in front of the VV Commission with a revised design - here are the previous White Castle project designs.  This new design has the same 8-story layout as the previous design from November 2015.  But the White Caste project is no longer white - now its red:

 

Short North's White Castle project up for approval with new design

 

 

 

 

Well that just keeps getting uglier.

Well that just keeps getting uglier.

 

It's awful, like some kind of hospital.

And they were such a tease with those original renderings which were interesting and had thought behind them. Now it's just brown. That's it.

^ Wasn't that due to NIMBYs in the neighborhood who kept objecting to the design and forcing each iteration to be more and more boring? (I haven't been following this development super-closely so maybe I am wrong about that.)

^Yes.

And it's approved!

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/short-north-white-castle-development-approved-bw1

 

Oh well.

That's obnoxious. It looks nothing like it originally did. It doesn't even look distinct. Let a legendary home-grown fast-food chain stay somewhat true to their brand and vision; let them make a huge mark on the hottest street in the city.

 

Let's face facts. The NIMBYs think fast-food is weakening the neighborhood's elegance. It's probably fair to say that the nay-sayers are not from Columbus or care about its heritage if they're treating it as if White Castle is some invasive species that needs to be subdued as much as possible. Any true Columbusite would be proud to see White Castle, Wendy's, Donatos, etc. all having a very strong presence with glorious flagship restaurants along the High St. corridor. Whether or not they admit it, I'm sure the NIMBY's are more concerned about the Short North actually becoming affordable, the more square footage we have popping up. Cut the nonsense. This is all about investors being worried that they'll lose money to someone else's success. If shadowing and disparity in height/mass from one building to another were so disasterous, then downtown Cincinnati should be a hideous, epic and gloomy failure, especially with regard to its ratios of street width and setbacks to building height.

 

I live in a SUBURB where $250k houses were built only 20 feet directly behind lots containing 10-12 story large scale buildings that face a damn train station and almost a hundred years later, it's still nationally known as one of the best suburbs in America.

 

High St. was planned and designed to accommodate the kind of growth in the original renderings. The only "gloom" I ever notice is that which comes from the chronic complainers.

 

 

 

 

Renovation proposal from late last year for a block of High Street buildings between 3rd & 4th Avenues:

 

 

Concept Equity Proposes Renovation of Four Short North Buildings

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

October 19, 2015 - 3:27 pm

 

After years of quietly acquiring property, Concept Equity is quickly making a name for itself as a major real estate development company in the Short North and Downtown areas.  The newest proposal from the locally-based organization will be presented to the Italian Village Commission tomorrow evening, and will present a concept for the renovation of four buildings located between 1088 North High Street and 1112 North High Street.

 

“The presentation tomorrow will show just a rendering of ideas to clean up the block running from the old plasma business to the Cigar shop,” said Concept Equity owner Chris Corso. ... Corso said that the renovation calls for approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space with apartments above and a possible rooftop restaurant patio.  He said that while no concepts have been firmly established as far as retail tenants go, he expects his restaurant company that owns both Forno and the Pint House will likely create a concept within the renovated space.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/concept-equity-short-north

The above article also contained a hint of a redevelopment proposal for the northwest corner of 3rd & High (which is located next to the 40 West renovation/redevelopment at 40 W. 3rd Avenue and found in the Victorian Village thread). 

 

Also from http://www.columbusunderground.com/concept-equity-short-north:

 

“Concept Equity also owns a portion of the block across the street where Yoga on High and Little Dreamers Day Care are located,” added Corso.  “We are currently in talks for that corner to be redeveloped with apartments or a hotel above the retail.  Nothing is firm yet, but that would the plan going forward.”  (Location map shown below):

 

I'm pleased by this.

Very cool. I'd like to see them go forward with a hotel + retail for the Yoga on High site. Other than Le Meridien, there really isn't anywhere to stay in the SN outside of BnBs. You're either across the river on suburban-style Olentangy River Rd, or Downtown right at the convention center. Would be great to see more options embedded in the neighborhood itself.

Investor group buying 11-story Bollinger Tower in Short North, could become hotel

 

 

The 11-story Bollinger Tower for low-income residents in the Short North is being acquired by an investor group, with a hotel or other redevelopment being considered.

 

Schiff Capital Group and partners Kevin James and Micha Bitton of Colliers International are in contract to buy the 100-room tower at 750 N. High St., reaching a deal with affordable housing provider Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/02/26/exclusive-investor-group-buying-11-story-bollinger.html

^I found this to be very surprising news as CMHA invested so heavily in redoing the exterior of the building just five or so years ago.

 

That said, I hope any redevelopment includes some type of false podium to bring the building out to High Street.

Investor group buying 11-story Bollinger Tower in Short North, could become hotel

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/02/26/exclusive-investor-group-buying-11-story-bollinger.html

This is both financially sound and ethical. Props to CMHA.

 

Although low-income residents will be displaced by the sale, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority says proceeds will be used to provide about 300 additional affordable housing units elsewhere.

 

Residents of Bollinger Tower will be assisted in finding and relocating to affordable, local housing, the nonprofit said.

 

“Selling Bollinger Tower fulfills our long-term strategy to expand CMHA’s capacity to assist more residents,” CEO Charles Hillman said in a press release. “This transaction furthers our plan to divest ourselves of high-maintenance real estate in order to invest directly in people’s lives. Residents will receive portable housing vouchers enabling them to live in apartments of their choice in neighborhoods of their choice.”

The Borror - White Castle project received its final approvals from the Victorian Village Commission last week.  The final stats for the project - which is 8-stories at its tallest point - are 98 apartments, 11,000 square feet of street-level retail, 12,000 square feet of second-floor offices and a 205-space parking garage:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/03/14/slideshow-final-designs-approved-for-short-norths.html

The final approvals for the Borror - White Castle project involved selecting the final exterior materials:  http://www.columbusunderground.com/white-castle-development-gets-design-approval-construction-starting-in-summer

 

According to Jeff Baur, Executive Vice President at Borror Properties at the above linked CU article, ”We’ve decided on a white masonry brick on the first two levels with a terra cotta type high-performance panel on the upper floors.  We changed the color of our brick on the garage at the recommendation of the commission (it is now dark gray) that helps to blend it in with neighborhood.”  Also, the 8-story residential portion of the project is now light gray to contrast with the medium red of the High Street portion of the project.

 

Borror plans to break ground sometime in early summer and estimates an 18-20 month construction phase.  Below are the final renderings for the Borror - White Castle project from http://www.columbusunderground.com/white-castle-development-gets-design-approval-construction-starting-in-summer:

 

 

 

 

Aside from the classiest White Castle in history, meh.

Definitely "meh" but not as terrible as the least Sketchup renderings they released would have made it out to be.

 

It's just sort of...there. There's nothing special at all about a single element of it but at the very least the materials don't look terrible so it shouldn't be offensive either.

Late February 2016 construction photo of the Seattle-based RAM brewpub being built next to the new Donatos at 1st & High.  The previous Donatos at this corner was demolished for this new construction.  Previous post with more info about this development is here.  Photo from http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-short-north:

 

Definitely "meh" but not as terrible as the least Sketchup renderings they released would have made it out to be.

 

It's just sort of...there. There's nothing special at all about a single element of it but at the very least the materials don't look terrible so it shouldn't be offensive either.

 

I think it's kind of a typically subtle design approach from Design Group. Definitely would have gotten something bolder out of Berardi.

Short North's UDF site targeted for redevelopment

By Evan Weese, Staff Reporter - Columbus Business First

Updated: April 6, 2016, 1:38pm EDT

 

The site of a United Dairy Farmers store in the Short North is being eyed for redevelopment, as the small single-story building becomes more out of place with surrounding development.  Columbus' Elford Development Ltd. is working with Cincinnati-based United Dairy Farmers Inc. to determine the best use of the 900 N. High Street site, at the southeast corner of High Street and First Avenue.

( . . . )

UDF has owned the 0.23-acre site since 1985, public records show.  It also owns the surface parking lot extending south to High Street Tattoo.  Elford is behind the redevelopment of the Donatos across First Avenue from the UDF, as well as the Hub and Fireproof projects in the Short North.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/04/06/short-norths-udf-site-targeted-for-redevelopment.html

My wish-list for 2016: UDF and CheckSmart.

 

I have to imagine that they can't hold out much longer...

 

Woo-hoo! 1/2 down!

 

C'mon Checksmart!

Late February 2016 construction photo of the Seattle-based RAM brewpub being built next to the new Donatos at 1st & High.  The previous Donatos at this corner was demolished for this new construction.  Previous post with more info about this development is here.  Photo from http://www.columbusunderground.com/construction-roundup-short-north:

 

 

Despite the weather, they've made crazy progress on this build.  There is brick going up and it is nearly fully enclosed, I'd imagine windows will be going in this week and we will be able to enjoy this by late summer.

Catching up on a small storefront renovation project at 685 N. High Street:

 

Renovation planned for prominent Short North storefront

By Evan Weese, Staff Reporter - Columbus Business First

February 10, 2016, 2:28pm EST

 

The owner of a prominent Short North address is considering renovations to better position the building’s High Street entrance.  Short North Development Co. plans to demolish the existing storefront at 685 N. High St. and construct a new wood facade with simpler entryway placed between existing brick pillars.

 

The three-story building dates to 1900, with its current storefront designed in the 1980s, said Tim Bass, principal architect of the project.

 

MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/02/10/renovation-planned-for-prominent-short-north.html

 

---

The existing storefront at 685 N. High Street:

 

Proposed rebuilt storefronts at 685 N. High Street (side and front elevations)

^Great news--I have always commented on the terrible existing storefront and it has not had good success with retaining tenants.

 

Standard Hall Coming Soon to The Short North

By Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

April 14, 2016 - 10:17 am

 

Last fall we learned that a group of Short North buildings would soon see a historic renovation project, courtesy of local developer Concept Equity.  Today, we’re learning that the first tenant in the new buildings will be Standard Hall — a new restaurant and bar concept from Corso Ventures, which opened The Pint House in 2013 and Forno in 2015.

( . . . )

The 4,500 square foot restaurant and bar will be housed at 1100 N. High Street, in a building that was once home to the much-beloved music venue known as Little Brothers, which closed in 2007.  Standard Hall would see the space redesigned with an indoor/outdoor aesthetic in mind, and renderings showcase an expanded patio space, which Woogerd said is still very much conceptual and has not yet been approved by the Italian Village Commission.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/standard-hall-short-north

Well, this is some huge, fantastic news for the SN (!!!)

 

I've been wondering what Pizzuti was up to since finishing The Joseph, hoping for something big - And this certainly doesn't disappoint!

 

From the latest Short North Civic Association newsletter:

 

Special Neighborhood Meeting regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Grandview Mercantile site 

 

The Pizzuti Companies has submitted a conceptual proposal to redevelop the site currently occupied by Grandview Mercantile. 

 

The proposed development includes removing the current building and replacing it with a 12-story, 144 ft tall mixed use building. 

 

The project would consist of the following: 11,185-sq ft retail (no restaurant uses), 41 condominium units, 102 car parking spaces with 40 spaces dedicated to the retail uses.

 

The Short North Civic Association is facilitating a special neighborhood meeting on June 8th at 6:30 pm at Le Méridien Columbus The Joseph hotel. 

 

The Pizzuti Companies will present the project and residents will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions. 

 

Neighbors are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project and offer their comments.

 

Current site for reference, https://goo.gl/maps/tkNFD7M12Gq

One has to wonder whether Pizzuti is going for 12 stories with the anticipation of the community organizations involved in scrutinizing the proposal likely demanding its shortening. Taking bets on the final product being a 5-story brick blah; though would loved to be proven wrong.

 

Either way, glad to see the continued vertical ascent of the Short North.

^ There is probably some built-in "negotiating room" re: height with this development, but I wouldn't expect the VVC to go crazy and reduce it down to 5 stories.

 

For reference, the office building at Buttles/High was approved at 9 stories and 135 ft height, and White Castle was approved at 8 stories and 106 ft height.

 

The proposal for the GV Mercantile project would be very similar to Pizzuti's existing Le Meridien hotel. Given the lack of directly adjacent single-family homes to this site, and depending on what the building's massing is like, I don't think ~10 stories would be seen as altogether unreasonable for the location.

Nice! Lots of changes in store for this stretch of High St. I hope the architecture is on par with The Joseph - I love that building.

^Great news. I lived directly across from that vacant land/surface parking on Price Avenue for three years and always thought about its redevelopment.

 

I remember dropping you off there one time with CDM (or whatever he goes by today) and Walker and thinking "Vacant land... here? Probably some project I don't know about." Nope, it really was vacant.

I hope this is a trend-asking for 10, 11, 12 floors instead of asking right off for six or seven floors. This makes me wonder more about the Price Avenue site and the UDF site.

CU just added renderings of this proposal to their story on it, and WOW.

 

I take back my earlier comment, I can see the VVC having a thing or two to say about this...

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/12-story-building-proposed-to-replace-grandview-mercantile-in-short-north

http://www.columbusunderground.com/12-story-building-proposed-to-replace-grandview-mercantile-in-short-north

 

 

Grandview Mercantile site in Short North could be demolished for 12-story Pizzuti high-rise

 

 

A Columbus developer is planning to build a 12-story high-rise on the site of the Grandview Mercantile Co. furniture store in Short North.

 

Pizzuti Cos. would demolish the existing single-story building and replace it with a 144-foot mix of retail, condos and parking.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/06/03/grandview-mercantile-site-in-short-north-could-be.html

There's a public meeting about this project at 6:30 on Wednesday at The Joseph. Would be great to have some advocates of dense, urban development there since most of the comments on FB, Dispatch, etc are, as usual, super negative. I'm going to be attending, hope to see some of you guys there as well!