November 22, 201014 yr The sod is down on the large central lawn of the Columbus Commons Park. Some of the other features are getting pretty far along too (i.e. brick piers at the High Street entrance, planters and landscaping flanking the central lawn) There's even two mystery structures in the plaza near Rich Street - mystery because they weren't shown in any previously published plans. DowntownColumbus.com has some photos of this at their Columbus Commons Construction Gallery - November 2010:
December 22, 201014 yr Botanical experts at Franklin Park Conservatory will keep new Columbus Commons in bloom Business First - by Jeff Bell Friday, December 17, 2010, 10:43am EST Guy Worley has to admit Columbus Downtown Development Corp.’s expertise doesn’t extend to planting perennials and designing flower beds. Given that shortcoming, the city-sponsored agency has turned to the Franklin Park Conservatory to design, plant and maintain gardens that can be a draw to Columbus Commons, the 9-acre park nearing completion at the site of the former Columbus City Center mall. The two organizations recently decided to work together on the project with a formal agreement, including financial terms, to be signed early next year, said Worley, Columbus Downtown Development’s CEO. The gardens are to be in bloom when Columbus Commons holds its grand opening in May. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2010/12/17/botanical-experts-will-keep-new.html
December 22, 201014 yr That's not enough to stop me from yawning. I'm all ready for them to build anew along High St so that there'll be bars, restaurants, and/or cafes spilling out into the park. Whether or not that happens basically determines the success or failure of this public space. I'll predict that the some will chide the developer(s) for building "too short" when they finally do, as I'm all but certain that there's simply not enough demand for three eight-story apartment or office buildings. If they can just build one mixed-use apartment building here that would be great. That might happen rather soon, after all I believe the RiverSouth apartments are already at 90% occupancy IIRC.
December 23, 201014 yr I liked the original plan better than this revised plan. But I will give the CDDC some credit for bringing in the Franklin Park Conservatory people to do their best with what the revised plan allows.
December 23, 201014 yr DowntownColumbus.com has some updated snow covered photos of this at Columbus Commons Construction Gallery - December 2010: Aerial view looking north Aerial view looking south View of the two formerly "mystery structures". According to the map with the previous article, the left building will be for food services and the right building will be for restrooms. Close-up of one of the buildings
December 23, 201014 yr Whoa, I had to look upthread to see how the designers planned to take the focus away from the windowless building. Looks like they aren't. But how could they? The blank wall looks enormous, at least right now it is the dominant feature of the park.
December 23, 201014 yr It does show a Band Shell in front of the back of the Ohio Theatre. Not sure the Band shell will be that noticed against the wall........I also see the placement of the Carousel in the map opposite the Band Shell..
December 24, 201014 yr Blank wall is good for nightly Pink Floyd laser light shows like we had in the late '80s.
December 26, 201014 yr How about a painting of Buck Rheinhart crushing a beer can when he was in that Budwesiser commercial?
December 27, 201014 yr Also something that isn't related to OSU. A history of Ohio mural or a history of Columbus for the bicentennial.
January 6, 201114 yr Link below to an article from today's Dispatch about the Columbus Commons Park. No breaking news or new information. Just a general recap and current status of the project. A few decent photos though. Just waiting for spring: New park on City Center site is ready now for visitors
January 7, 201114 yr any chance they can move Comfest there, or a new music fest? That's not a bad idea. The owner/operator of Columbus Commons (CDDC/Capitol South) has seemed to be very open to programming the space with activities. Although it's still very early for the park and nothing been confirmed for next summer's use of the big lawn space. But some kind of weekend summer concert series or music fest would make sense. However, as for ComFest moving there, that's probably unlikely. Columbus Commons Park is 9 acres in size. The existing ComFest location, Goodale Park, is almost 33 acres in size. And since ComFest has maxed out the Goodale Park site, it seems like Columbus Commons would be too small to accommodate it.
February 23, 201114 yr Commons park lures quick-service lunch spot Business First - by Dan Eaton Date: Monday, February 21, 2011, 11:41am EST A carousel and bandstand won’t be the only additions to the new Columbus Commons this spring. Burgers Dogs and Fries is planning to peddle its fare – burgers, hot dogs and french fries, appropriately enough – from a 650-square-foot building at the park, starting May 1. Owner Kevin Ames said Columbus Downtown Development Corp. approached him last month about setting up at the park, which was developed on the site of the demolished Columbus City Center retail mall. Burgers Dogs and Fries runs two shops – at Broad and High downtown and at Kingsdale in Upper Arlington. Ames said the outlet at Columbus Commons won’t have indoor seating, unlike his other shops, but the park includes 300 outdoor seats. Given that, the business will be seasonal, open from May through October. The walk-up stand, Ames said, is modeled on the Shake Shack chain in New York. He will add chicken sandwiches and salads to the menu, though he has no plans to change the restaurant name. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2011/02/21/commons-park-lures-quick-service-lunch.html More about this from the Columbus Dispatch at the link below. Includes site map showing the concession stand location in the park: Burgers, Dogs & Fries coming to Columbus Commons
February 23, 201114 yr Keith, that's what I was thinking. I worked at Via Vite restaurant on Fountain Sq. Columbus should really do something similar. We had a local celebrity chef and another great one recuited from Napa Valley. They worked 80 hrs a week, came up with new dishes all the time that people LOVED. I got to meet politicians, entertainers, althletes, execs, etc from working there. We had this great wrap-around second floor balcony overlooking the square. There were tons of other great 3 and 4 star restaurants downtown too and probably there still are. I can't believe it's considered newsworthy that a Burger Dogs and Fries is opening up down the street from their current location. This is pathetic. The same old predictable lunch options downtown...it bores me. Just sayin.
February 24, 201114 yr Yeah, I mean how many bland restaurants do we need Downtown for the office crowd? I just have a hard time believing there were no other takers at all. Like I said before, and it applies 10x for Downtown, is that there is a lack of local entrepreneurs looking to open quality establishments. That or no one is reaching out to them like they should. Maybe if BD&Fs didn't open there Liz Lessner would have opened a mini-Tip Top, which would be open past 4 and serve booze. Oh yes, pics.
February 24, 201114 yr Yes, but now that I think about it she has already opened up three bar-restaurants in Downtown, so can't someone else pick up the slack for once? Otherwise, we might as well change the name of the city to "Lessnerville".
February 25, 201114 yr Thanks for the pics Keith! I know it is not finished but this sh!t just looks boring....SMH @ Columbus
February 25, 201114 yr I miss City Center, that building had such a presence! The green space is killing me! There's plenty of room in the Lazarus building, facing High, for sit down restaurants. Hopefully, as the build out around the Commons is completed, more will come. Give it a chance.
February 25, 201114 yr I can't believe it's considered newsworthy that a Burger Dogs and Fries is opening up down the street from their current location. Apparently the concession stand vendor news was a sneak preview to the CDDC's presentation at this week's Downtown Commission meeting. Columbus Commons plans Wi-Fi, farmers market Wednesday, February 23, 2011 By Marla Matzer Rose, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A farmers market, literary events and free Wi-Fi are planned as part of an expanding menu of attractions for Columbus Commons park, those behind the project said yesterday. The Downtown park, on the site of the former Columbus City Center mall, is nearly complete, with a grand opening planned over Memorial Day weekend. Park details were presented yesterday to Columbus' Downtown Commission by Guy Worley, CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The review group approved design details for the small carousel that will sit at the southern edge of Columbus Commons, along with the nearby concession stand that will be operated by local chain Burgers, Dogs & Fries. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/02/23/columbus-commons-plans-wi-fi-farmers-market.html?sid=101
February 25, 201114 yr Yes, but now that I think about it she has already opened up three bar-restaurants in Downtown, so can't someone else pick up the slack for once? Otherwise, we might as well change the name of the city to "Lessnerville". I would live in Lessnerville, or it's suburb St.Jamestavernopolis
February 25, 201114 yr Is that Lazarus in that first pic? Any chance they'll open up some windows on that building? Yeah, I mean how many bland restaurants do we need Downtown for the office crowd? I just have a hard time believing there were no other takers at all. Like I said before, and it applies 10x for Downtown, is that there is a lack of local entrepreneurs looking to open quality establishments. That or no one is reaching out to them like they should. Maybe if BD&Fs didn't open there Liz Lessner would have opened a mini-Tip Top, which would be open past 4 and serve booze. Oh yes, pics.
February 26, 201114 yr Lazarus is in the bottom pic. I have no idea if the building in the top picture or the Lazarus are planning changes to their exteriors.
February 26, 201114 yr I'm still not impressed. If they sell Amish cheese at the farmers market, it might ease the pain a little. I eat cheese cubes by the pound. It's delicious!
March 28, 201114 yr I was recently thinking about the status of this project. As a former Columbus resident I think this will be a GREAT addition to downtown and hopefully will infuse activity in central downtown. Can't wait to see it on my next visit.
March 28, 201114 yr It's a totally linear park which belongs in Sim City, since it doesn't take into consideration how it's supposed to be used in real life.
March 29, 201114 yr Considering a good portion of it is supposed to be built on within the next 10 years, the layout seems fine to me.
April 19, 201114 yr Some updates on Columbus Commons: Outdoor reading 'room' coming to new Downtown park Library books, Wi-Fi at Columbus Commons Friday, April 15, 2011 By Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Springtime in Paris conjures images of outdoor cafes, street-corner artists and, especially, relaxing in an urban park with a good book. Columbus' version will include lots of books, a dedicated area of the Columbus Commons park Downtown in which to read them, and wireless Internet, thanks to the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The "outdoor reading room," scheduled to open at the end of May, will include benches, shade trees and book carts provided by the library. Tables and chairs, a grove of trees, restrooms and the park's carousel will be nearby. At a board meeting this week, Pat Losinski, library director, announced that the library will provide the Wi-Fi. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/04/15/outdoor-reading-room-coming-downtown.html?sid=101
April 19, 201114 yr And there was a big announcement about the concert stage that is part of the new park: Music in the city In time for the city's bicentennial in 2012, a $5 million pavilion will be built to host Picnic with the Pops and other concerts in the Downtown park emerging on the site of the former City Center mall Tuesday, April 19, 2011 - 03:07 AM By Marla Matzer Rose, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH As finishing touches are put on Downtown's new Columbus Commons park ahead of its Memorial Day weekend opening, the park's backers want to let you know there's more to come next year. A permanent stage will be completed by May of next year, allowing the park to become host of the Columbus Symphony's Picnic with the Pops series and a wide array of local and national acts in the future. The cost of the stage, estimated at $5 million, will be paid for using $2 million from the city's capital fund along with an expected $3 million from some of Columbus' leading corporations, including $1 million each from American Electric Power and Nationwide. The venue will be called the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion, in recognition of the city's 200th anniversary next year. This rendering depicts the stage that is planned to open Downtown next May. Planners hope that by 2013, the venue can attract national acts that used to play at Germain Amphitheater. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/04/19/music-in-the-city.html?sid=101
April 19, 201114 yr Ugh, that blank wall! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 19, 201114 yr Ugh, that blank wall! Ha ha...yeah, to me it looks like large, windowless buildings are the dominant feature to the park. I sure hope it's not as bad as I'm imagining it to be.
April 19, 201114 yr THE living wall! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 20, 201114 yr I think that is a good candidate for a living wall I've long though this would be a good solution.
April 24, 201114 yr http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/04/22/effort-warming-to-circle-columbus.html The developer of Columbus Commons is gauging developers’ interest in building housing and stores along the High Street perimeter of the new downtown park. Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. has sent requests for qualifications to 25 developers for a plan to put as many as 300 apartments atop 40,000 square feet of street-level retail space on three sites between Town and Rich streets. “We’ve decided to test the market,” said Capitol South CEO Guy Worley, noting the stretch of High Street “has always been intended for mixed-use development.”
April 24, 201114 yr Bank's ugly back will be beautified Sunday, April 24, 2011 03:14 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH While the nearly completed Columbus Commons park has become more attractive, the south wall of the Fifth Third building got a whole lot uglier when Columbus City Center mall was demolished. The hole left after City Center came tumbling down has been covered in recent months by a tarp. Soon, it should get a more attractive covering with a trompe l'oeil effect. Orange Barrel Media plans to create a giant (30 feet high, 140 feet wide) scaffold banner depicting what that side of the building will look like by next year, after the park is completed and windows and glass doors have been added. A raised plaza is also planned, which would include outdoor seating and stairs down to the park. The banner will mask the construction starting this year. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/04/24/banks-ugly-back-will-be-beautified.html?sid=101
April 24, 201114 yr I like those renderings. I am still amazed at the life cycle of City Center. I can remember when it opened, and now it's history, with a park in its place. And I'm only 32!
April 25, 201114 yr I'd like to see much taller buildings going in there. It seems like prime real estate for low-rise apartment buildings.
April 25, 201114 yr I would be happy with those renderings...the more traffic downtown after 5pm, the better!
April 25, 201114 yr I'd like to see much taller buildings going in there. It seems like prime real estate for low-rise apartment buildings. I think they have room for only so many apartments based on the existing parking. Given that, i think these 10 storyish buildings will have a pretty nice scale adjacent to that space. Any less and it would be too short IMO, but it could go a few stories taller and still be ok without being overwhelming.
April 25, 201114 yr It's Downtown, so we need to be thinking on a larger scale. Parking downtown is not a major issue, and there are plenty of places nearby that a garage can be built.
April 25, 201114 yr It's Downtown, so we need to be thinking on a larger scale. Parking downtown is not a major issue, and there are plenty of places nearby that a garage can be built. 10 stories is quite suitable for any downtown. The expectation of "downtown=skyscrapers" has left a dubious legacy in America.
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