November 23, 200816 yr Another photo of the High Street walkway's continued deconstruction. This was taken by a Dispatch photographer on 11/19/08 looking north along High Street from slightly above the walkway level. I love this picture and would almost argue to keep it as it is and add plants and turn it into a floating garden.
December 11, 200816 yr The City Center Mall Bridge over High Street is going... going... The first image was taken on Tuesday, December 9 and the second was taken on Thursday, December 11. At this rate the bridge might be gone by next Monday.
December 16, 200816 yr …gone (except for four steel posts in the sidewalk). The overhead structure was removed over the weekend. This photo was taken Monday, December 15.
December 16, 200816 yr I think I might miss the bridge...a moment of silence for the departed if you pl...MOMENT OVER! Bring on the lighted arches and street cars!
December 17, 200816 yr The skywalk is no more! :D YAY! A couple more photos from yesterday: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_10.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_11.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_12.jpg">
December 17, 200816 yr Wow, that is crazy. Ever since I was a kid and my family would go downtown to visit City Center I remember that sky bridge being there. I must say, opening up High St. by tearing the thing down is a HUGE improvement. I can't wait to have the Lazarus facade restored and (later) something done with City Center.
December 18, 200816 yr As much as I hated the skybridge at least it had volume. From the photos it looks like a ghost town, and even more depressing than before, if possible. Am sure it is only temporary. Being older, I remember the throngs of people racing between stores laden with packages and huge shopping bags. A trip to Lazarus downtown was an adventure. The outlying shopping centers just did not have the same quality merchandise as downtown, nor the great customer service. How long before they begin to restore the facade?
December 28, 200816 yr Here's a link to an update on what is getting repaired after the removal of the City Center skybridge. Timeline for the repairs at the link too. http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/progress/the-lazarus-building Rendering of new Lazarus storefronts
January 3, 200916 yr Businesses Face Uncertain Future At City Center By Donna Willis, NBC4i.com - Web Content Coordinator Published: December 30, 2008 COLUMBUS, Ohio - City Center is almost an empty shell. The mayor's office told NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt, "There will be an announcement [on City Center] when there's an announcement." Officials didn't want to hurt potential economic development deals by releasing information too early. Mayor Mike Coleman has told NBC 4 before, though, the mall most likely will never look the same way again. NBC 4 called the Columbus Downtown Corporation to find out how many businesses inside City Center will close for good Wednesday and what the plans are for those that remain. A representative said she is unaware of the lease arrangement for the stores that are left but does know seven tenants will be left after Jan 1. They include: Third John Two BBQ, Subway, Mark Pi's, A to Z Dance, Dance Infusion, A Dollar Store and Igel Construction. Full story at http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/businesses_face_uncertain_future_at_city_center/11250/
February 4, 200916 yr Columbus City Center will be razed by summer. Columbus Commons will be built in its place. Plan calls for green space and eventually 7 to 8 new buildings. Town Street likely will be reconnected to 3rd St.
February 4, 200916 yr Goodbye, City Center A Downtown gem when it opened in 1989, the forlorn mall will be torn down by summer. The city wants to develop the land as a park, ringed by housing, restaurants, shops and offices -- all to be completed in five to 10 years. Wednesday, February 4, 2009 3:16 AM By Marla Matzer Rose and Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Columbus City Center is coming down, and Downtown as we know it is about to change. This summer, nearly 20 years after City Center opened as the shining star of central Ohio's retail universe, the obsolete and nearly abandoned mall will be demolished. It is to be replaced by an urban park and, within several years, a collection of buildings that will contain homes, offices, restaurants and shops. The city has dubbed the $165 million project Columbus Commons. It is seeking federal stimulus money to pay for the mall demolition and development of the park, which city officials expect to start this summer and complete within 18 months. The remainder of the project will take shape over the next five to 10 years, as the market dictates. While the timing of the development is somewhat fluid, the plan is now clear. City Center will close March 5, said Guy Worley, chief executive of Capitol South Urban Redevelopment Corp., a nonprofit group that was created in the 1970s to develop the area around the mall and that took ownership of City Center more than a year ago. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/04/citycenter_plan.ART_ART_02-04-09_A1_MKCPKVM.html?sid=101
February 4, 200916 yr This was bound to happen, but I am a little sad and nostalgic for the mall. When I started at OSU in 93 the place was 100% occupied and lively,then came Easton, Polaris, and the other malls. Anyone know what buildings were cleared out to build the city center mall? Will they wind up building buildings that look similar to ones that were there before the mall?
February 4, 200916 yr The proposed plan The Columbus Commons project could turn the 9-acre Columbus City Center site first into a park, then into a mix of green space, offices, residences, restaurants and shops. The 1,000-space parking garage under the site and the 3,000-space garage on Rich Street are to remain. The project could create up to 1,700 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs. Costs and development details may vary depending on market conditions. PHASE 1 Site preparation and creation of a 9-acre park Cost: $15 million to $20 million Time frame: Completed by fall 2010 What’s proposed: • City Center demolition • Creation of Columbus Commons, a park that would occupy the entire current footprint of City Center PHASE 2 (buildings 1-5) Residential/retail development Cost: $70 million to $75 million Time frame: 2010 to 2019 What would be built: • 400 residential units • 30,000 square feet of retail space • 40,000 square feet of restaurant space PHASE 3 (buildings 6-8) Office development Cost: $70 million to $75 million Time frame: 2010 to 2019 What would be built: • Three buildings containing 434,000 square feet of office space Source: Columbus Downtown Development Corp.
February 4, 200916 yr And here are the pretty pictures... A park called Columbus Commons will be landscaped once City Center is demolished, a process the city hopes to begin this summer. A tree-studded walk would line much of Columbus Commons, which is to feature several new structures. The view is toward the southwest and High Street. The view looking toward the north along High Street should include shops and green space. City Center is boarded up where the pedestrian bridge stretching across High Street was removed.
February 4, 200916 yr Looks to me this park idea is fantastic, and should be a great addition to columbus. I'm not quite sure I get then coming back and building on about 80% of the land. If they stick to the currently shown phases 2 and 3 it looks like all that will be left is a postage stamp sized lawn in the middle of some mixed use buildings.
February 4, 200916 yr Not a huge fan of the new idea. I would love to just have the park and not worry about the buildings, except the ones just north of the newly expanded town street and that is it. I would even say tear down part of the city center garage and put buildings there. Keep an open park between town street and rich street.
February 4, 200916 yr that's what I'm saying... why build this great new park, and then phase it out?
February 4, 200916 yr I should state here as I did on CU that I would like the building not to be torn down, sans the town street connection. I think the building is structurly sound and should be converted.
February 4, 200916 yr Yeah, not crazy about the time line at all. Apparently I should move and come back when I'm 40. Yeesh. I think with a few improvements to this would work very well. I'm confused about what will happen to the wide sidewalks through the park where there are currently no roads. It looks like with the addition of buildings are new roads that are going to cut through the park and leave a much smaller version, or the postage stamp size as pointed out. Why can't there be no roads between the buildings and the park so that there is more park and better connectivity between businesses and the park? It's not like we're removing roads, since city center was taking up all the space where they would exist. And can we get some chess tables and a nice big fountain?
February 4, 200916 yr Found another rendering of the new Columbus Commons proposal at the NBC4 website... Columbusite, I'm surprised you're not getting behind this commons proposal because... http://columbus-ite.com/2009/02/02/downtown-columbus-needs-a-damn-plaza/ ...now you got your "damn" plaza! :wink:
February 4, 200916 yr I am behind it, but I am 100% against new roads cutting through here. In a good European plaza you don't have to dodge traffic to reach the retail: the buildings are on the plaza without a road cutting through it. Think about this. Would you rather have a restaurant/cafe/bar patio spilling onto the park itself, or have to cross the street? Would prospective residents rather walk out their door to encounter a traffic filled road or a park right on their doorstep? It's more attractive for would-be residents and businesses and visitors to not build new roads cutting through here. To summarize, why create a problem that doesn't exist? Maybe I'll get my wish, since it looks like someone's listening.
February 5, 200916 yr There's a photo of it in the Columbus Biz Journal. It looks...alright. I need a bigger context shot but I definately like the amphitheater. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 5, 200916 yr Well, it's better than Capitol Square! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 5, 200916 yr Agree on the fact that they need a fountain and some public art. Also agree that they should focus more on making this a pleasant place to congregate downtown, and let the subsequent commercial/residential development occur naturally around the park in all the vacant parking lots/half-occupied buildings.
February 6, 200916 yr Here's a round up of local news articles about the Columbus Commons proposal... "Trading mall for park has support" "City Center demolition would be piece by piece" "So long, City Center; hello, Columbus Commons" "City Center coming down in April"
February 6, 200916 yr What's going on at Front and Town Street? It looks similar to the Gay St. development. Anyone know what the renderings look like? Front St. is torn up right now; I love it.
February 6, 200916 yr Lots of stuff - two way conversion of Front Street, new condos at Front & Town and more can be found at the RiverSouth News thread here - http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1965.90.html Also, there's a new website solely dedicated to the RiverSouth area: http://www.riversouthcolumbus.com/
February 6, 200916 yr Ahh. Thanks. I've been to that thread but I never knew what was considered "River South". lol @ the website. Could they have made it any more.. I guess the word "glorious" is the best way to describe it. The music and Mayor Coleman lol.
February 7, 200916 yr What's going on at Front and Town Street? It looks similar to the Gay St. development. Anyone know what the renderings look like? Front St. is torn up right now; I love it. The Annex
February 9, 200916 yr Here's a timeline and rundown on the rise and fall of the City Center Mall... "City Center timeline" "Slide Show: Rise and fall of a mall"
February 11, 200916 yr And a few more articles about City Center Mall / Columbus Commons... "Guy Worley Answers Your City Center Questions" CEO of Capitol South, the entity responsible for the City Center/Columbus Commons redevelopment, is interviewed by Walker Evans at ColumbusUnderground.com. "Park wouldn't be city's duty" The mall's nonprofit owner, Capitol South Urban Redevelopment Corp., would be the developer and operator of the park.
February 13, 200916 yr Found another aerial view of the Columbus Commons proposal. And a color version of the site plans. Plus some smaller versions of the renderings. A park called Columbus Commons will be landscaped once City Center is demolished, a process the city hopes to begin this summer. The view looking toward the north along High Street should include shops and green space. A tree-studded walk would line much of Columbus Commons, which is to feature several new structures. The view is toward the southwest and High Street.
February 13, 200916 yr Wonderful! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 15, 200916 yr It took some time, but it grew on me. And after talking to <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/guy-worley-answers-your-city-center-questions">Guy Worley</a> I understand the reasons that the mall structure can't easily be saved right now. Looking forward to having this site finally come back alive!
February 18, 200916 yr Anyone know what buildings were cleared out to build the city center mall? Will they wind up building buildings that look similar to ones that were there before the mall? A Halle's department store and an ice rink were there before the mall, with perhaps a few smaller buildings as well. And yes, the buildings may end up looking somewhat similar -- though I think the Halle's building ended up with steel cladding covering it.
February 22, 200916 yr Are they really going to have a theater in the park? That would be a great feature. That park is going to get so trashed during Red White and Boom lol
February 22, 200916 yr Before Halle's it was the Morehouse Fashion. There were also numerous small merchants, quite a few jewelery stores, and a fantastic used book store on Town Street. The book store was 3 or 4 floors. Ho Toy was also in an ancient building on E Town. There actually were several very nice structures which were torn down to build the mall. Not dozens, but a few good ones. Especially noteworthy was a building on the corner of Rich and High. There was a photographer's studio on the first floor filled with old pictures of Columbus from the late 1800s. I remember looking in the windows every time I would pass to go to the bookstore. Then of course on to Lazarus.
February 23, 200916 yr Plenty of meetings behind 'surprise' decision Downtown development board planning City Center demolition only quasi-public Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:27 AM By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The announcement that Columbus City Center will be torn down and replaced temporarily with a park caught almost everyone by surprise. No public meetings were held before the Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Authority unveiled the plan Feb. 4, even though the group's board had voted on Dec. 19 to adopt it. Capitol South, created by the city in 1974, and the 7-year-old Columbus Downtown Development Corp. oversee millions of dollars. The two nonprofit development corporations merged two years ago, and their combined 15-member board of directors has guided the makeover of Downtown. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/22/DOWNTOWNGROUPSORIGINAL1.ART_ART_02-22-09_B4_68D0CGA.html?sid=101
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