August 29, 20204 yr On 8/15/2020 at 11:33 AM, Columbo said: Another NIMBY story for my fellow UO's -- Far North Side edition: Above is an aerial view of the Olentangy Valley Centre - a shopping center north of Worthington in Sharon Township and just south of the Delaware County border. The shopping center is located north of I-270 on the east side of Route 315 (that's the main left-to-right street on the above aerial). The street with the median leads to the Worthington Hills Country Club, an unincorporated community built around a golf course. And the WHCC - plus the nearby smaller unincorporated community of Mt. Air - are none too pleased at the recent renovations to the Olentangy Valley Centre. -- First, the Hills Market grocery store and the adjoining storefronts which contain the popular Rusty Bucket restaurant got an exterior refresh. Okay that wasn't so bad, although an inconvenience during the construction. -- But then the shopping center removed an office building at the rear of the property and replaced it with a four-story 109-unit senior assisted living center. The horror! More people! More traffic! -- But the final straw was when an three-story office building at the front of the property facing 315 was demo'd. That office building used to have a dentist, CPA and other professionals in it. And the owner of the shopping center, Continental Real Estate, wants to replace it with a Sheetz gas station. Additional horror! Additional traffic! https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20200810/proposed-sheetz-gas-station-opposed-by-worthington-hills-neighbors The above article link goes into detail about why the Worthington Hills Country Club and Mount Air residents oppose the Sheetz project at the shopping center. However, the Sheetz project is permitted according to a 2018 rezoning approved by Franklin County that allowed Continental Hills LLC (aka Continental Real Estate) to move forward with the shopping center's renovation. But that isn't stopping the erstwhile WHCC/Mt. Air neighbors from opposing this Sheetz project. A “Stop Sheetz” website was created to seek petition signatures opposing it. There are on-site pickets (see the photo below) showing their opposition to the Sheetz project. And on Tuesday, more than 200 people piled into an online video conference held by Franklin County Commissioners that was to approve minor sign changes for the Hills Market and the Rusty Bucket restaurant at the Olentangy Valley Centre (see the below link): https://www.thisweeknews.com/news/20200811/franklin-county-commissioners-table-sign-change-request-amid-sheetz-debate Although there wasn't any request to consider the Sheetz gas station on the commissioners' agenda, that became the focus of this virtaul meeting on Tuesday. And although the sign modifications were routine -- following 2½ hours of discussion(!) -- all three county commissioners voted to table the sign changes, with plans to reconsider them next month. In the meantime, the commissioners directed the county economic development and planning office to arrange a community meeting to further discuss the Olentangy Valley Centre development. SO MUCH MORE FUN TO COME!!! AND SO MUCH MORE SHEETZ!!!! STAY TUNED UO!!!! ^ Welp. I won't cry over the loss of a gas station/convenience store (even if it is the vaunted Sheetz). And I guess it was going to be located right next to the local water treatment plant for the tony unincorporated community. So okay - something else, like a restaurant or office building will go there instead. But it's still a funny story how Sheetz freaked out the Ken's and Karen's of Worthington Hills(!) Sheetz drops plan for new store near Worthington Hills Sheetz will not build a new gas station and store near Worthington Hills. The Altoona, Pennsylvania-based company’s short-lived and controversial plan was to open a location next to the Olentangy Valley Shopping Center. The site also is next to an Aqua America aquifer and water treatment plant. That, and other issues, drew concerns from the community. Late Wednesday night Sheetz announced it was not moving forward with the plan. ... Sheetz was scheduled to meet virtually with community members Thursday evening at a gathering suggested and hosted by the Franklin County Commissioners. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/08/27/sheetz-decides-against-store-near-worthington-hill.html
August 29, 20204 yr I'm pretty sure gas stations have gotten a lot better at containing leaks and pollution since the '70s.
August 29, 20204 yr 22 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: I'm pretty sure gas stations have gotten a lot better at containing leaks and pollution since the '70s. How dare you show such unconcern regarding the drinking water of the fine citizens of Worthington Hills and Mt. Air. Think of the children(!) ? ? ?
August 29, 20204 yr Mt. Air isn't just a dot on the map? I think its CBD is an insurance office located in an old house.
August 29, 20204 yr 18 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: Mt. Air isn't just a dot on the map? I think its CBD is an insurance office located in an old house. Next to the Mt. Air sign is an eye doctor's office, some medical rehab facility and the Goodard School. It's practically German Village compared to the Worthington Hills Country Club (aka Worthington Hills).
September 22, 20204 yr On 3/7/2018 at 2:37 PM, Columbo said: Although this isn't type of project we usually highlight here at Urban Ohio, this new Franklin County Jail is a large development under construction on the city's west side. Below are two renderings, an article link and a project recap: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/03/02/two-companies-get-big-bite-of-175m-new-jail.html Franklin County approved two major contracts for the construction of a new $175 million Franklin County Jail at 2551 Fisher Road. The county broke ground on the new jail in November. The 900-bed jail is expected to be complete in 2019 and would replace the current Jackson Pike facility that opened in 1969. With room on the Fisher Road site to expand, the new Franklin County Jail could grow to 2,000 beds in the future. ^ An update on from the Dispatch on the under construction new Franklin County Jail. Also, according to this article, the existing Jackson Pike facility will continue to be used after this Fisher Road facility opens next year and not be closed, as was originally reported. Although a smaller downtown lock-up facility located within the County Courthouse complex will be closed down: Work progresses on new Franklin County jail As the construction of a new Franklin County jail on Fisher Road continues, officials say that inmates will probably be moved in by the fall of 2021. The main building, which is to have nearly 870 inmate beds and about 429,000 square feet, is now expected to be substantially complete by early April, but it will take months to add furnishings and equipment, complete deputy and staff training, and otherwise prepare the facility for inmates, said Deputy County Administrator Kris Long. That puts actual inmate occupancy about a year from now. Some initial contracts are out for bid on the second phase of the jail, which is to add more than 430 inmate beds and 166,000 square feet. Site work on that phase is expected to begin this year, and the facility is to be completed in 2023. The overall project is to cost about $360 million, funded by a sales tax increase implemented by the commissioners in 2013. The new jail will replace the decades-old Downtown lockup; inmates will be housed in the county’s other jail, on Jackson Pike, as well as in the new facility. MORE: https://www.thisweeknews.com/story/news/local/2020/09/22/work-progresses-on-new-franklin-county-jail/42677019/
October 1, 20204 yr On 10/19/2018 at 4:39 PM, ColDayMan said: New Plan Calls for Aviation Hall of Fame at Historic Terminal The latest plan for the original Port Columbus Air Terminal calls for the historic building to serve as the home of a new entity, the Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame. The building, located at 4920 E. Fifth Ave, boasts a long and interesting history. It was used as the main terminal for the airport from 1929 to 1958, hosted early aviation pioneers like Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart, and served as the initial transfer point in the nation’s first transcontinental air service. There have been multiple efforts through the years to restore the building and find a suitable tenant for it. Heartland Bank was interested in using the building and an adjacent hangar for its headquarters, but abandoned those plans in late 2015 after it became clear that retrofitting the hangar building would be too expensive. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/new-plan-calls-for-aviation-hall-of-fame-at-historic-terminal-bw1 Looks like its gonna happen: Cross-posted from the Columbus: Historic Preservation thread -- https://forum.urbanohio.com/topic/15224-columbus-historic-preservation/?tab=comments#comment-983099 Nonprofit to spend $2M to transform original Port Columbus terminal into HQ, educational center An Ohio nonprofit that aims to celebrate the state’s air and space pioneers announced that it has secured a long-term lease to create its future headquarters at the original Port Columbus terminal. The Ohio Air and Space Hall of Fame and Museum is planning to spend $2 million to renovate the 12,000-square-foot space at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The terminal, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was dedicated in 1929 and served until 1958, when a modern terminal was built nearby, according to the group. There have been several plans to redevelop the space over the years, but they have fallen through, including a 2015 idea from Heartland Bank to turn it into its new headquarters. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/10/01/port-columbus-terminal-renovation.html
October 4, 20204 yr Metro Development plans 720 new apartments near Columbus airport, Easton Metro Development LLC plans to invest nearly $80 million into two new complexes near John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The two projects – 480-unit Victoria Manor at Stelzer and Codet roads and 240-unit Woodfield Park at 2845 Austin Manor Blvd. – would bring workforce housing to the residential area north of where I-670 and I-270 meet, between Easton and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The developer has been exploring the sites for a year and a half, motivated by many large employers a short drive away, said Andy DiBlasi, vice president of investment sales and marketing for Metro Development parent Donald R. Kenney & Co. Realty, during a virtual hearing with the city Wednesday night. ( . . . ) Both sites are empty land now. The 10-acre Woodfield Park property sits along a developing corridor of Cassady Avenue. The 34-acre Victoria Manor site, which abuts I-270, has been owned by Salem Baptist Church for 20 years. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/10/02/720-new-apartments-pitched-near-easton.html
October 16, 20204 yr East Columbus Gets City’s First Black-Owned Grocery in Over a Decade After a summer of social unrest and revitalized calls to Buy Black, community members began to request something missing from the local business community — a Black-owned grocery store. It’s reportedly the first Black-owned grocery store in Columbus since the Carl Brown IGA, the city’s first, which closed in 2007. Over a dozen investors, many of whom were strangers, eventually came together to purchase The Culture Market, at 2915 E. Fifth Ave., in a fairly short turnaround. “From the time that the idea came to us until the time that we signed the final purchase agreement was seven weeks and six days,” said business developer, financer, and Minding My Black-Owned Business founder Shaundretta House Boykins. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/east-columbus-gets-first-black-owned-grocery-in-over-a-decade-tm1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 19, 20204 yr Renovation completed on a nine-story, 260-suite Sheraton hotel on the city's north side at 270 & 23 (High St.): Photos: Sheraton Suites reopens on Columbus' north side following 10-month renovation The Sheraton Suites on Columbus' north side has reopened following an extensive, 10-month renovation that was partially delayed by Covid-19. Lewis Center-based Regal Hospitality, which has 13 properties in its portfolio, purchased the 260-suite hotel in 2017 from a Rhode Island hospitality company. As of 2017, the hotel ranked as Central Ohio's ninth-largest property by number of sleeping rooms. The property features all suites, meaning that each suite has a separate living and bedroom space, and each suite has a kitchenette. The hotel also features seven new jumbo suites with two separate bedrooms. Regal Hospitality did not reveal the cost of the renovation, but we reported at the time of the sale that it wanted to spend $10 million on the project. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/10/07/inside-the-renovated-sheraton-suites-columbus.html
November 4, 20204 yr Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) trustees have approved a contract with New York developer BQ Energy Development LLC to lease the 173-acre closed Model Landfill off Jackson Pike near I-71, and develop a 50-megawatt, 150,000-panel solar energy array. BQ Energy Development specializes in restoring landfills to solar energy farms, and was selected after an RFP process. The developer has three years to complete the construction of the facility, to be named Columbus Solar Park. ... The array will be large enough to power about 5,000 homes. A feasibility study SWACO put together last year estimated a development of this size would cost about $60 million. The Model Landfill opened in 1967 and closed in 1985, replaced by the Franklin County Landfill off Route 665. SWACO took over the real estate in 1989 and subsequently developed a golf course atop the property, Phoenix Links Golf Course. But after running for a few years, problems developed with the methane gas system and the situation ended in a lawsuit and the shuttering of the course in 2015. Franklin County's former landfill will soon become a giant solar farm AEP to buy energy from new Columbus solar farm
November 24, 20204 yr Redevelopment of Premier at Sawmill Athletic Club comes thanks to Covid-19 The Premier at Sawmill Athletic Club has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. That's why its landlord wants to redevelop the site. Recently unveiled plans to tear down the fitness center at 3111 Hayden Road and build a 213-unit apartment complex were granted rezoning approval by the Columbus Development Commission Nov. 12, having already been given a favorable rating by the Northwest Civic Association last month. Jill Tangeman, an attorney with Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP representing landlord Donald R. Kenney & Co. Realty, explained what prompted the decision to close the well-known club that sits on a 5.4-acre site along Hayden Road, near the intersection with Riverside Drive. The 38,000-square-foot club has been open since 1980, but hasn't seen major updates in 10 years. Now, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult to finance improvements and make the project profitable while dealing with the decline in attendance, Tangeman said. Drawings show possibly three connected four-story buildings with parking below and behind. DRK's apartment development arm, Metro Development LLC, would build the new complex. Unit sizes and price points haven't yet been disclosed. ... The zoning change and the needed variances would ultimately need to be approved by Columbus City Council. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/11/18/premier-at-sawmill-closing-because-of-covid.html
December 26, 20204 yr On 11/24/2020 at 11:42 AM, Columbo said: Redevelopment of Premier at Sawmill Athletic Club comes thanks to Covid-19 The Premier at Sawmill Athletic Club has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. That's why its landlord wants to redevelop the site. Recently unveiled plans to tear down the fitness center at 3111 Hayden Road and build a 213-unit apartment complex were granted rezoning approval by the Columbus Development Commission Nov. 12, having already been given a favorable rating by the Northwest Civic Association last month. Jill Tangeman, an attorney with Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP representing landlord Donald R. Kenney & Co. Realty, explained what prompted the decision to close the well-known club that sits on a 5.4-acre site along Hayden Road, near the intersection with Riverside Drive. The 38,000-square-foot club has been open since 1980, but hasn't seen major updates in 10 years. Now, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it difficult to finance improvements and make the project profitable while dealing with the decline in attendance, Tangeman said. Drawings show possibly three connected four-story buildings with parking below and behind. DRK's apartment development arm, Metro Development LLC, would build the new complex. Unit sizes and price points haven't yet been disclosed. ... The zoning change and the needed variances would ultimately need to be approved by Columbus City Council. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/11/18/premier-at-sawmill-closing-because-of-covid.html https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2020/12/18/premier-sawmill-club-close-allow-site-redeveloped/3955017001/ Renderings and site plan for 213-unit apartment complex proposed to replace the Sawmill Athletic Club at 3111 Hayden Road. Plans presented to the city show three connected four-story buildings facing Hayden Road with a pool and courtyard in the middle:
December 26, 20204 yr 3 hours ago, Columbo said: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2020/12/18/premier-sawmill-club-close-allow-site-redeveloped/3955017001/ Renderings and site plan for 213-unit apartment complex proposed to replace the Sawmill Athletic Club at 3111 Hayden Road. Plans presented to the city show three connected four-story buildings facing Hayden Road with a pool and courtyard in the middle: Looks good for that area. Not sure why the setback in the middle is needed but still least the bushes can hide it.
December 29, 20204 yr Has big implications for Columbus projects: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 29, 20204 yr 2 hours ago, KJP said: Has big implications for Columbus projects: Wonder if the north market tower was waiting around for this?? Could also help get some better height on the peninsula.
December 30, 20204 yr 20 hours ago, KJP said: Has big implications for Columbus projects: Looks like Columbus Business First picked up this news: Ohio skylines could dramatically change under legislation signed by DeWine By Mary Vanac – Staff Reporter, Cleveland Business Journal Ohio's skylines could dramatically change under legislation that Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on Tuesday. Senate Bill 39 authorizes a capped tax credit for insurance companies to invest in major construction projects in downtowns statewide. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/12/30/dewine-signs-commercial-real-estate-legislation.html
December 30, 20204 yr 17 hours ago, VintageLife said: Wonder if the north market tower was waiting around for this?? Could also help get some better height on the peninsula. Could make Harmony Tower easier to develop as well. And, dare I say...MILLENNIAL? 😂🤦♂️
December 30, 20204 yr 8 minutes ago, CMHOhio said: Could make Harmony Tower easier to develop as well. And, dare I say...MILLENNIAL? 😂🤦♂️ I wouldn’t be surprised... awfully good timing by all tower projects in central Ohio to “go back to the drawing board” and announce new ones and that Millennial is still on the table... my guess is we see all 3, perhaps another
December 30, 20204 yr Also, I wonder if gravity 2.0 was waiting on something like this also?? Who knows, but hopefully it brings some height to Columbus.
December 30, 20204 yr 30 minutes ago, VintageLife said: Also, I wonder if gravity 2.0 was waiting on something like this also?? Who knows, but hopefully it brings some height to Columbus. I don't doubt for a second that the peninsula will have more height, even like you said gravity. The people in the know have their reasons for sitting on things. This seems to be the biggest one of all, my guess is we see quite a bit of height in the 3-C’s and maybe beyond in the 2020’s. Edited December 30, 20204 yr by wpcc88
December 30, 20204 yr 3 hours ago, CMHOhio said: Looks like Columbus Business First picked up this news: Ohio skylines could dramatically change under legislation signed by DeWine By Mary Vanac – Staff Reporter, Cleveland Business Journal Ohio's skylines could dramatically change under legislation that Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on Tuesday. Senate Bill 39 authorizes a capped tax credit for insurance companies to invest in major construction projects in downtowns statewide. https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/12/30/dewine-signs-commercial-real-estate-legislation.html This would also theoretically help the towers planned for Easton. Millennial will never happen. It's not the project, it's the developer. Edited December 30, 20204 yr by jonoh81
December 30, 20204 yr 35 minutes ago, jonoh81 said: This would also theoretically help the towers planned for Easton. Millennial will never happen. It's not the project, it's the developer. Yeah that is pretty obvious with millennial. They said they couldn’t find companies that wanted the space, but the peninsula developers found a company, during a pandemic, that said they would move in to the office building. Maybe millennial tower was just for show or whoever does their leasing needs a new job.
December 31, 20204 yr 3 hours ago, VintageLife said: Yeah that is pretty obvious with millennial. They said they couldn’t find companies that wanted the space, but the peninsula developers found a company, during a pandemic, that said they would move in to the office building. Maybe millennial tower was just for show or whoever does their leasing needs a new job. To be fair, there've been a few developers that feigned corporate disinterest for office space in their projects. One of the reasons 80 on the Commons was reduced from 17 to 12 stories, supposedly, was that the developer couldn't drum up enough interest for the extra space. Meanwhile, other projects have had zero issues filling up. I think it comes down to 2 things- The quality of the sales team and whether the developer really has the finances for the projects they originally propose. With the case of Millennial, the developer has a history of proposals that go nowhere, so the problems there seem to be at least both of those reasons and more. Edited December 31, 20204 yr by jonoh81
December 31, 20204 yr I kinda don't see Arshot having a bad sales force I guess? I don't blame them for SPARC not happening -- that was a tough project to pull off. Now on the Roundhouse Triangle by the new Crew stadium I'm thinking they didn't want to spend the enormous amount of money on drainage that didn't need a ton of profit-destroying retention ponds and the city wouldn't help them out with a monster storm sewer; though that is pure speculation on my part. I mean who wants all that space devoted to retention ponds in a Downtown project as seen in the renderings?
December 31, 20204 yr 17 hours ago, GCrites80s said: I kinda don't see Arshot having a bad sales force I guess? I don't blame them for SPARC not happening -- that was a tough project to pull off. Now on the Roundhouse Triangle by the new Crew stadium I'm thinking they didn't want to spend the enormous amount of money on drainage that didn't need a ton of profit-destroying retention ponds and the city wouldn't help them out with a monster storm sewer; though that is pure speculation on my part. I mean who wants all that space devoted to retention ponds in a Downtown project as seen in the renderings? Well I think that would fall under not having the finances to accomplish the proposal. That one lasted 2 whole months before they cancelled it, which is better than dragging it out for years pretending it's still going to happen like SPARC. Didn't they also propose an alternative project for the site when SPARC was eventually officially cancelled? No one has heard a peep about that since then, either. It's a pattern. They keep writing checks their butts can't cash.
January 4, 20214 yr The pandemic certainly cut into the 2020 development pipeline. But as CU's always excellent year-end development roundup shows, alot still got accomplished. Below are the CU year-end roundups for projects completed, projects under construction, projects announced and projects in limbo for 2020: Completed: https://www.columbusunderground.com/40-urban-development-projects-completed-in-2020-bw1 Under-construction: https://www.columbusunderground.com/56-urban-development-projects-under-construction-in-2020-bw1 Announced: https://www.columbusunderground.com/35-urban-development-projects-announced-in-2020-bw1 In limbo: https://www.columbusunderground.com/in-limbo-still-no-shovels-in-the-ground-for-these-56-projects-bw1
January 19, 20214 yr New Group Formed to Take On NIMBYs A new group has formed to advocate for more housing in urban Columbus. The founders of the organization, called Neighbors for More Neighbors Columbus, are hoping to push back against the Not-In-My-Backyard arguments that tend to dominate most discussions of new development in the city’s established neighborhoods. “We’re here to raise the voice of community members who want to see more and diverse housing stock,” said Mindy Justis, a Downtown resident who is serving as spokesperson for the new group. “Our founders have been part of these conversations in our respective neighborhoods for years and saw the trend of pro-housing voices being drowned out by negativity.” There is more info in the article and a link to a website the group created. Edited January 19, 20214 yr by VintageLife
January 19, 20214 yr 16 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: I knew the first comment on there would be pro-NIMBY. Of course, they are the only ones that speak out. So hopefully this group can help. Also, hopefully the group in Worthington can get some stuff done.
January 27, 20214 yr Just in case you haven't seen this post about a Northwest Corridor open house over in the transit section. Discuss there... 19 hours ago, .justin said: Northwest Corridor Online Open House LinkUS Columbus has published a set of materials for an online open house to gather input on the alternatives that are being considered for the Northwest Corridor. They considered light rail and BRT and are recommending BRT for the corridor (which I don't think should be a surprise). Unlike CMAX, though, it looks like they are looking to do full BRT with dedicated lanes, stations with off-board fare collection and level boarding, etc. Open house materials - https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/57dc8bff17014071bbf0a367ee56190e Survey - https://linkuscolumbus.com/nw-open-house/ There's a lot to look at in the open house materials, but here are a few snippets - Graphic showing key elements of the BRT stations / what they could look like: Alternatives north of Goodale: Alternatives south of Goodale: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 10, 20214 yr Couple of articles about a vertical farm operation that plans to build about two miles west of Rickenbacker Airport: Orlando firm plans 'vertical farm' in Columbus An Orlando-based company is building a "vertical farm" in Columbus, a significant expansion in an effort to modernize the food farming business. Kalera Inc. has acquired a building near Rickenbacker International Airport, where it will construct a new 75,000-square-foot indoor growing facility that will have the capacity to produce millions of heads of lettuce and create 65 jobs locally when it opens in 2021, CEO Daniel Malechuk said. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/12/22/columbus-getting-a-vertical-farm.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vertical farming: Florida company plans Columbus facility near Rickenbacker A Florida company plans to build a "vertical farm" in Columbus as part of the company's effort to become one of the nation's largest operators of indoor, year-round farms. Kalera, based in Orlando, plans to build the farm next year at 1302 London Groveport Road near Rickenbacker Airport, said company CEO Daniel Malechuk. The 75,000-square-foot facility is expected to employ 65 workers and grow greens for restaurants, groceries, airports and institutions. Kalera opened its first farm in 2018 at the Orlando World Center Marriott and early this year opened a second Orlando farm. MORE: https://www.thisweeknews.com/story/news/local/clintonville/2020/12/30/vertical-farming-florida-company-plans-columbus-facility-near-rickenbacker/4008671001/
February 10, 20214 yr It's been mentioned before in other spaces but one of the untapped potentials for Columbus, or many cities for that matter, is parking decks. There are prototypes and examples of adding vertical and hydroponic farming as an additional level to a parking decks. It also creates an additional level of covered parking for whatever that is worth in the grand scheme of things. If there was a concerted effort to do this to the parking decks in the Arena District and along Front Street, the impacts and example that could set would be significant. It's a super ambitious idea that seems more utopian right now. And I don't see Columbus or anyone investing in anytime soon if ever but, fun to think about. Would be even more fun if Columbus was the one to set that example. Edited February 10, 20214 yr by DTCL11
February 14, 20214 yr Hundreds of New Units Approved at Busy Commission Meeting The Pizzuti Companies’ proposal for the Schumacher Place Giant Eagle site wasn’t the only significant project approved by the Development Commission earlier this week. During a five-hour virtual meeting on February 11, the commission signed off on several high-profile developments, sending them on to City Council for final approval. Although the actual start of construction for any of the projects is still likely months off – permits will need to be obtained, and in some cases final design details like lighting and landscaping have still not been completed – the slew of approvals is a sign that the pace of new construction in Columbus is likely to pick up in 2021. Here’s a rundown of projects that received a vote of approval at the meeting: ...below! https://www.columbusunderground.com/hundreds-of-new-units-approved-at-busy-commission-meeting-bw1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 23, 20214 yr Crescent development near airport lands new tenant The 112-acre Crescent at Central Park project is east of the airport's main runway and inside the I-270 jog. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/02/22/crescent-development-near-airport-lands-new-tenant.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 23, 20214 yr Why in the world do they want to put apartments at the threshold of Runway 28R? Not that CMH is incredibly busy, but with the commercial air traffic plus the NetJets flights that primarily use that runway, that's a decent amount of activity that will be buzzing over those roofs.
February 25, 20214 yr Columbus Reveals Urban Forestry Plan This is a great thing and hopefully it has tons of support. This would be perfect for broad st and Livingston, with a BRT line also.
February 26, 20214 yr New Website Centralizes Information on Columbus Area Commissions A new website launched by the Department of Neighborhoods is centralizing information about the city’s 21 Area Commissions. Created at the recommendation of the commissions, the website provides general information about Area Commissions, details on how to establish a new Commission, the appointment process and an interactive map. Links to each of the 21 commissions provide residents with specific information on meeting agendas, dates and locations, membership, committees, bylaws, events and more. “In order to have vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, we need residents to be engaged, to be the voice for their communities at City Hall,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “Area Commissions recommended a website to help with the establishment and management of commissions, and we listened. This should be a great tool for greater resident involvement.” More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/new-website-centralizes-information-on-columbus-area-commissions-sp1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 26, 20214 yr Columbus starts the process to update antiquated zoning code "We have a tremendous number of variances being requested which is a red flag that the code doesn't reflect today's trends," said Anthony Celebrezze III, assistant director in the city's Building and Zoning Services department. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/02/25/columbus-begins-the-process-to-update-zoning-code.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 4, 20214 yr Are there any other sites or forums anywhere that you guys follow to stay up to date with things going on?
March 4, 20214 yr 2 minutes ago, 614love said: Are there any other sites or forums anywhere that you guys follow to stay up to date with things going on? Columbus Underground used to be a great site. They had an active forum with tons of development discussion. Walker (the guy who runs the site) decided to shut down the forum to save costs, and then proceeded to focus more on pushing crappy political articles. Even after he shut down the forum, I still visited the daily for quite a while, but now they are so slow on their development news that I don't even bother going to the site unless someone posts an article on here. Heck, uncover the 6-story building being proposed in the Brewery District like a week before CU ran an article about it. When I started coming here to UO instead of CU, there didn't seem to be too many Columbus-centric posters, likely because most people who would have been here were using CU instead. Over time, I've noticed a slow but steady increase in Columbus-centric posters here, which is exciting.
March 4, 20214 yr While smaller in scale and more adapt to social media posts, Columbus Navigator posts some decent news stories and discussions: https://www.columbusnavigator.com/ There's always traditional media as well, but that usually comes with a subscription.
March 15, 20214 yr https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/02/24/state-of-downtown.html https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/as-pandemic-eases-columbus-eyes-major-downtown-revitalization/ 2020 was a challenging year to say the least for Downtown Columbus with a double whammy of covid and summer protests. Covid protocols emptied buildings with many offices going to a work-at-home mode. Hotels, restaurants and event venues lost customers during most of 2020. Plus, the normally large downtown festivals didn't happen in 2020. And unfortunately, the one large gathering that did happen in 2020 - protest demonstrations - left many ground floor businesses damaged. So it is no surprise that many of the downtown metrics turned in the wrong direction during 2020. Downtown's office vacancy is up 5% from 2019 to 19%. Downtown apartment occupancy is down to 86% as people didn't fill the 1,200 newly opened units as quickly as in normal times. Because of that, the Capital Crossroads SID found that the downtown population grew only to 9,855 residents last year, falling short of an expected 10,000. But despite those gloomy numbers, the panel of downtown experts assembled for the annual 'State of Downtown' meeting at the Columbus Metropolitan Club sees 2020 as a "bump in the road, and not a monumental shift". A number of major construction projects are currently underway - Hilton 2.0 tower and the build-out of the Scioto Peninsula. While other major construction projects are on the cusp of starting - Gravity 2.0 and the North Market Tower project. Plus another 1,000 residential units are expected to open downtown during 2021, with 4,000 new apartments projected to come online in the next three years.
March 17, 20214 yr Downtown Skyscraper Changes Hands A prominent Downtown skyscraper has changed hands. Continental Centre, a 26-story office tower located at 150 E. Gay St., was transferred in January from LNR Partners in Miami, Florida, to an LLC affiliated with Toldeo-based Welltower. According to public records, Welltower paid $11.97 million for the building. A representative of the company, which is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that focuses on healthcare and senior housing, declined to comment on the sale. The building’s prime location and the current level of uncertainty surrounding the Downtown office market have led to speculation that it could be ripe for at least a partial residential conversion. Two blocks to the south, the Edwards Companies purchased the PNC Plaza building in 2016 and have presented plans to convert the upper floors to residential use and build new amenities for the building at the street level. “Residential conversion of an older office building is a great reuse of Downtown space, especially as some have become less competitive with newer product both in Downtown and the region,” said Marc Conte, the acting Executive Director of the Downtown Special Improvement Districts. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/downtown-skyscraper-changes-hands-bw1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 17, 20214 yr 10 minutes ago, ColDayMan said: Downtown Skyscraper Changes Hands A prominent Downtown skyscraper has changed hands. Continental Centre, a 26-story office tower located at 150 E. Gay St., was transferred in January from LNR Partners in Miami, Florida, to an LLC affiliated with Toldeo-based Welltower. According to public records, Welltower paid $11.97 million for the building. A representative of the company, which is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) that focuses on healthcare and senior housing, declined to comment on the sale. The building’s prime location and the current level of uncertainty surrounding the Downtown office market have led to speculation that it could be ripe for at least a partial residential conversion. Two blocks to the south, the Edwards Companies purchased the PNC Plaza building in 2016 and have presented plans to convert the upper floors to residential use and build new amenities for the building at the street level. “Residential conversion of an older office building is a great reuse of Downtown space, especially as some have become less competitive with newer product both in Downtown and the region,” said Marc Conte, the acting Executive Director of the Downtown Special Improvement Districts. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/downtown-skyscraper-changes-hands-bw1 With this being so close to neighborhood launch, I feel like condos would do great here. Wouldn’t be awful to try and do partial retail or restaurant space either. That whole stretch of gay st is one of my favorite places in Columbus.
March 17, 20214 yr Some form of residential conversion would be great. I wonder if they could somehow redo some of the facade to be able to incorporate balconies for potential residential units. Balconies are pretty vital for urban living and I feel like residential units would be a tough sell here without them. If they can’t make balconies happen, perhaps hotel use would be the better option.
March 22, 20214 yr They did a condo conversion to a nearly identical commercial building in Norfolk, Virginia when I lived there in 2016 so its definitely a possibility. Its now called ICON.
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