We could have kept building through 2008 here but the national situation was so bad that it stopped anyway. That's how Columbus was still able to build multifamily in the early 2010s.

1 hour ago, GCrites80s said:

We could have kept building through 2008 here but the national situation was so bad that it stopped anyway. That's how Columbus was still able to build multifamily in the early 2010s.

Didn’t the 2008 crash cause a lot of small developers and construction to close in Columbus? I think that is a large part of it. I wouldn’t be surprised if during that time all the big companies downtown also bought up all the properties and won’t let them go now. 

I know there were a lot of unemployed construction workers. A lot of people switched to rehabs instead.

A couple outside-the-outerbelt projects, one residential and the other industrial.

 

Metro Development plans $30M, 162-unit apartment complex near Rickenbacker

 

 

“Metro Development, one of Central Ohio's busiest multifamily developers, plans to build a 162-unit apartment complex near Rickenbacker International Airport. 

 

The project, dubbed the Orchards, will cost between $25 million and $30 million, Metro CEO Tre' Giller said.

 

The developer closed its construction loan for the project Friday. The project will start construction next week, with the first units being delivered in May 2023.
 

The Orchards will have 162-units, mostly two- and three-bedrooms, across seven buildings. Rents will range from $1,300 to $1,650. The development will sit on about 13 acres on Rathmell Road.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/09/19/rickenbacker-apartments-metro-development.html
 

Xtreme Express plots $20 million expansion to establish large Blacklick campus
 

“A growing logistics firm is embarking on an approximately $20 million project to expand and consolidate its Columbus operations in one large campus. 

 

Xtreme Express recently began the first of a multi-phase effort to grow its footprint while bringing all its local facilities together in the same place. The company partnered with Elter Building Systems and Alterra Real Estate Advisors — two other Central Ohio businesses — on the project.

 

The first two phases will be additions to the company's existing home at 6611 Broughton Ave. in Blacklick, while the third phase will involve ground-up construction of a separate building on land Xtreme Express is acquiring next to its current facility. Phase one is an 80,000-square-foot warehouse and office extension to the east, and phase two is a 46,000-square-foot warehouse addition to the south.
 

The third phase will be a new, 70,000-square-foot building that will house more warehousing. Xtreme Express Owner Fernando Crosa said he may also move one of his other businesses, Xtreme Limo, to the new building. Xtreme Limo is currently located near Dublin, and is in the same facility as another one of his companies, US Tank Alliance.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/09/19/xtreme-express-20-million-dollar-expansion-project.html

4 hours ago, amped91 said:

near Rickenbacker International Airport. 

 

Interesting...

While it's not too far from Rickenbacker, I've never heard the area near South High and Rathmell described as "near Rickenbacker" before.

 

18 minutes ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Interesting...

While it's not too far from Rickenbacker, I've never heard the area near South High and Rathmell described as "near Rickenbacker" before.

 

Yeah, relatively close (~6 miles per Google Maps), but still kinda odd. Looks to be pretty much across the street from the new data center, although that shouldn’t be a big employment center, unless the site continues to be built out. 

1 hour ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Interesting...

While it's not too far from Rickenbacker, I've never heard the area near South High and Rathmell described as "near Rickenbacker" before.

 

If you live south of the 70 divide, you’ll understand that the people north of 70 are mostly oblivious to anything south of 70. It’s like a foreign land to them. I’ll tell people I live in Groveport and they’ll say “oh is that like close to Grove City or something?” Canal Winchester isn’t even on their radar (even though it should be, the downtown area is lovely), and I’ve heard many struggle to pronounce Pickerington correctly. 
 

So I say all that to say, the fact Rathmell was identified as being in the same general area of the metro area is enough to impress me. 

We used to call my buddy whose last name is Worthington "Westerville" as a riff on how clueless we were about the north side in high school.

5 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

We used to call my buddy whose last name is Worthington "Westerville" as a riff on how clueless we were about the north side in high school.

 

The divide definitely goes both ways, but the cluelessness is much more pronounced with people north of 70. This is largely because there really aren't many reasons for them to go south of 70, while people south of 70 have many reasons to go north of 70. 

30 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

The divide definitely goes both ways, but the cluelessness is much more pronounced with people north of 70. This is largely because there really aren't many reasons for them to go south of 70, while people south of 70 have many reasons to go north of 70. 

I think you hit it spot on here. I live north of 70 and the only reason I ever go south of 70, specifically outside 270 is to play a few disc golf courses (German Village area is probably excluded form this as everyone knows what is over there). I know the names of the towns in the area but a few of them I would certainly point to the wrong location if you asked me where it is. Other than the disc golf courses, there is nothing I've ever felt the need to go visit out that way. This certainly leads to warped impressions of what areas are actually like since people form opinions via what they hear from others and read online (e.g., the whole Grovetucky thing).

16 minutes ago, TIm said:

I think you hit it spot on here. I live north of 70 and the only reason I ever go south of 70, specifically outside 270 is to play a few disc golf courses (German Village area is probably excluded form this as everyone knows what is over there). I know the names of the towns in the area but a few of them I would certainly point to the wrong location if you asked me where it is. Other than the disc golf courses, there is nothing I've ever felt the need to go visit out that way. This certainly leads to warped impressions of what areas are actually like since people form opinions via what they hear from others and read online (e.g., the whole Grovetucky thing).

 

Woah, a fellow DGer?  Funny you mention, I live in German Village now, but am moving here soon.  If you ever want someone to play with, shoot me a pm.

 

It's kind of sad - Columbus really is under represented in terms of DG courses, both in quantity and quality.  Just look up what is available in Dayton and Cincinnati, for comparison.

 

That said, I think you could skip the Grove City course, unless you're a completionist (which I'd get lol).  Scioto Grove is just a slog.  A few good holes, but it mostly just feels like you're roaming on Mars.  Area 51, to me, is a slightly tighter Glacier Ridge.  And a group has said they're "close" for over a year now on a new 18 hole course in Lockbourne, but it's still just a crappy temporary 9 hole course.  Really, Simsbury in Pickerington is the only course south of 70 in the area that is worth it to me, unless you count Flat Rocks and Eagles Nest.

 

As for the south / north divide...there's just a lot more dedicated shopping areas north of 70 -> Easton, Polaris, Dublin, Hilliard.  South of 70 it's basically Grove City.  You still have store in other areas, but certainly nothing like Easton & Polaris.  Some examples of stores only located north of 70 - Costco, Sam's Club, Menard's (the Hilliard store is technically like a 1/2 mile south of 70).  70 does sit farther south, geographically, within Columbus, so naturally I'd think there would be more population north of 70.

 

I'd be curious to see a population divide of the metro area north vs south of 70.  I'm sure someone has already pulled that data haha.

Edited September 20, 20222 yr by DarkandStormy

It didn't used to be so unbalanced when I was a kid. Then the jobs all started getting pulled up north and away from Downtown bringing the rest of the economy with them.

20 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

South of 70 it's basically Grove City.

 

Pickerington has pretty much everything Grove City has, but it's just barely south of 70 lol. 

3 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Woah, a fellow DGer?  Funny you mention, I live in German Village now, but am moving here soon.  If you ever want someone to play with, shoot me a pm.

 

It's kind of sad - Columbus really is under represented in terms of DG courses, both in quantity and quality.  Just look up what is available in Dayton and Cincinnati, for comparison.

 

That said, I think you could skip the Grove City course, unless you're a completionist (which I'd get lol).  Scioto Grove is just a slog.  A few good holes, but it mostly just feels like you're roaming on Mars.  Area 51, to me, is a slightly tighter Glacier Ridge.  And a group has said they're "close" for over a year now on a new 18 hole course in Lockbourne, but it's still just a crappy temporary 9 hole course.  Really, Simsbury in Pickerington is the only course south of 70 in the area that is worth it to me, unless you count Flat Rocks and Eagles Nest.

 

As for the south / north divide...there's just a lot more dedicated shopping areas north of 70 -> Easton, Polaris, Dublin, Hilliard.  South of 70 it's basically Grove City.  You still have store in other areas, but certainly nothing like Easton & Polaris.  Some examples of stores only located north of 70 - Costco, Sam's Club, Menard's (the Hilliard store is technically like a 1/2 mile south of 70).  70 does sit farther south, geographically, within Columbus, so naturally I'd think there would be more population north of 70.

 

I'd be curious to see a population divide of the metro area north vs south of 70.  I'm sure someone has already pulled that data haha.

I'd make some hard arguments here! Scioto Grove and Area 51 are both excellent courses for what they are! Area 51 is one of my favorite late Fall to late Spring courses in the area! Easy to navigate even with snow on the ground because it's so flat and you can get a ton of birdies. Scioto Grove is such an awesome variety and basically the only course in the Columbus area that has consistent elevation changes. It's the only spot I get to work on my uphill shots!

 

I am excited about whatever those new courses in Lockbourne are going to be. I hope they do it well, but with any new disc golf course, it's generally multiple years from opening til the course is actually in solid playing condition. Excited to see what they become.

 

Keep in mind Dayton is literally one of the best disc golf cities in the entire world so you're comparing Columbus to the best of the best! We have it pretty darn good here to, so many places around this country who have way worse access to courses/good courses. Hell, my home state of Massachusetts literally has the best disc golf course in the world but is also one of the worst places to live for courses per capita. You're lucky to have two within a 90 minute drive of you, and that doesn't even factor in course quality. Ohio is an excellent disc golf state and I think every city but Toledo are in the top 50 disc golf cities in the US (2021).

Edited September 20, 20222 yr by TIm

 

Ran across a decent read in REjournals a little earlier about Columbus' commercial real estate sector.

 

Thought I'd drop it here if anyone's interested...

 

Poised for a bright future: Columbus’ CRE market remains a resilient one

 

"A booming industrial market. A multifamily sector that remains hot. And retail and office sectors that, despite challenges, are showing positive signs. That’s what the brokers working in Columbus and its suburbs say they see today in this Ohio city’s commercial real estate market.

 

And in even better news? Local brokers say they expect the rest of this year and the beginning of 2023 to be strong, too, with few signs of any slowdown in Columbus’ commercial sectors.

 

"The Intel announcement has created a lot of buzz,” Leibowitz said. “This will be a big positive for the region. To what extent, we are waiting for that. But we all expect Intel’s project to be very positive for the Columbus area.”

Leibowitz said that he isn’t surprised by Intel’s decision. Many large corporations are considering Columbus for either their headquarters or new facilities.

 

And like in other cities, the multifamily and industrial markets are especially strong in Columbus, Fitzgerald said. What is somewhat surprising is the strength of Columbus’ retail market, Fitzgerald said.

 

“Retail is doing very well in some instances,” he said. “Quality retail, especially, is doing well here."

 

 

The somewhat lengthy article can be found in its entirety here:

 

https://rejournals.com/poised-for-a-bright-future-columbus-cre-market-remains-a-resilient-one/

 

 

 

Yesterday, Hyperion posted a hype video to their YouTube account for their new factory on the West Side. 
 

Anyone been by the old Dispatch facility and noticed any activity yet?

3 hours ago, amped91 said:

 

Yesterday, Hyperion posted a hype video to their YouTube account for their new factory on the West Side. 
 

Anyone been by the old Dispatch facility and noticed any activity yet?

 

i checked it out about a month ago and didn't see much activity.

I'll definitely check again next time I'm in that area of the west side.

23 hours ago, amped91 said:

 

Yesterday, Hyperion posted a hype video to their YouTube account for their new factory on the West Side. 
 

Anyone been by the old Dispatch facility and noticed any activity yet?

I get some serious Theranos vibes from this company. 

3 hours ago, Mogilny89 said:

I get some serious Theranos vibes from this company. 

Hopefully not. At least it sounds like Hyperion is already getting involved in some energy projects in the state, and they’re not claiming to develop some totally new form of energy—which could sound more Theranos-y. I dunno enough about the company to say for sure one way or another, though. 

 

The Budget at Bethel & Godown is finally closed and should be coming down soon- making way for another Sheetz location.

 

 

 

I just noticed some streetview images around Columbus now have September 2022 updates!

 

Meanwhile the satellite imagery is still years out of date 😡😭

1 hour ago, NW24HX said:

Meanwhile the satellite imagery is still years out of date 😡😭

Those seem to be updated every 5-6 years which is about where we are at. Cincinnati was about as outdated as us until a month or two ago when there’s got updated, so my guess is ours will get updated soon. 

On 9/27/2022 at 12:54 PM, CbusOrBust said:

 

The Budget at Bethel & Godown is finally closed and should be coming down soon- making way for another Sheetz location.

 

 

 

 

The old Winking Lizard got demoed with no replacement, didn't it? Also becoming a part of the Sheetz property?

4 hours ago, GCrites80s said:

 

The old Winking Lizard got demoed with no replacement, didn't it? Also becoming a part of the Sheetz property?

Yes- Sheetz is taking that whole area including where Winking Lizard was 

Pic from the Axios Columbus newsletter of new artwork being painted on the Commons garage:

 

4 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Pic from the Axios Columbus newsletter of new artwork being painted on the Commons garage:

 

This looks great now they need to have the entire garage painted, not just one corner. Hopefully that happens. 

This artist painted “we are stronger together” on the Mound St bridge that was recently demolished. She’s painted a lot of cool stuff

https://www.birdyco.com
 

 

More office to residential conversion news. 
 

 

A NY firm is in contract to buy the above, currently vacant office building at 326-8 S High St. They propose converting it to 29-33 one and two bedroom apartment units. 
 

1 hour ago, amped91 said:

More office to residential conversion news. 
 

 

A NY firm is in contract to buy the above, currently vacant office building at 326-8 S High St. They propose converting it to 29-33 one and two bedroom apartment units. 
 

Saw this was for sale and was hoping it would be converted to some great. Love this little stretch of high st. 

7 hours ago, VintageLife said:

Saw this was for sale and was hoping it would be converted to some great. Love this little stretch of high st. 

Now, hopefully someone will buy this stretch of buildings on High and open them back up too. I seem to remember plans to rehab them, but that may have been pre-pandemic. 

Anyone else notice that you can travel south on S. Front St from downtown all the way into the Brewery District now?

 

(Once they closed the freeway exit to Front St, it enabled them to allow southbound traffic on S. Front to continue over the freeway and into the Brewery District)

 

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 20222 yr by Luvcbus

Oh right. You were always forced to turn left on Livingston, correct?

32 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

Oh right. You were always forced to turn left on Livingston, correct?

 

If you was traveling south on S. Front St downtown, you couldn't go further south than Mound St.  

 

(S. Front St was restricted to only northbound traffic from Livingston to Mound until the recent freeway exit closure)

 

Edited October 17, 20222 yr by Luvcbus

Oh that's it. Through the jail area.

2 hours ago, Luvcbus said:

Anyone else notice that you can travel south on S. Front St from downtown all the way into the Brewery District now?

 

(Once they closed the freeway exit to Front St, it enabled them to allow southbound traffic on S. Front to continue over the freeway and into the Brewery District)

 

 

 

 

 

i use it almost every day.  its very convenient 

Putting this here rather than Westerville since it’s still technically Columbus city limits. 
 

Weiler Co. adding 100 apartments near Westerville

 

 

“Robert Weiler Co. is adding about 100 units to an existing development near Westerville. 

 

The project is the second phase of the firm's Fenimore development, just off of Central College Road. There are 180 units in the first phase, which was finished in 2019.

 

The second phase will include one- and two-bedroom units at market rate rents. The new units, to be located at 5159 Central College Road, will share the existing amenities with the first phase of the development.
 

Pending rezoning approvals, the developer plans to start construction in March or April 2023 and expects the second phase to wrap up within six months. The rezoning for the project was just approved by the Columbus Development Commission and Columbus City Council will likely consider it before the end of the year.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/10/18/weiler-co-adding-100-apartments-near-westerville.html

On 10/17/2022 at 9:50 PM, CbusOrBust said:

 

i use it almost every day.  its very convenient 

Don't get too used to it...the Front Street bridge closes on October 28 to be rebuilt. The new bridge is apparently not expected to open until 2025.

1 hour ago, .justin said:

Don't get too used to it...the Front Street bridge closes on October 28 to be rebuilt. The new bridge is apparently not expected to open until 2025.

yeah they're just teasing us with a small taste of what to expect when it's done.

On 10/17/2022 at 6:56 PM, Luvcbus said:

Anyone else notice that you can travel south on S. Front St from downtown all the way into the Brewery District now?

 

(Once they closed the freeway exit to Front St, it enabled them to allow southbound traffic on S. Front to continue over the freeway and into the Brewery District)

 

It's also worth mentioning that Front St from Broad to Hickory is planned to be converted to two-way traffic too.

21 minutes ago, PrestoKinetic said:

It's also worth mentioning that Front St from Broad to Hickory is planned to be converted to two-way traffic too.

It's about time. Is Marconi changing to two-way too north of Broad?

29 minutes ago, Pablo said:

It's about time. Is Marconi changing to two-way too north of Broad?

Yes Marconi will be two-way between Broad and Spring Street. The Hickory/Marconi bend will still be one-way southbound, though they are bumping out the curb in a few places to narrow it (and make the intersection of Hickory/Front a more "normal" intersection).

 

There was an interesting article yesterday about the Columbus Warehouse Boom in Business Insider...

 

I thought this quote was interesting, giving us an idea of just how many warehouses there are across the city:

 

 

"Columbus is one place that has played out: Seventy-five million square feet of warehouse space has been built there since 2012, on top of more than 233 million square feet already there. Another 12 million is being built, per the real-estate investment firm CBRE — the equivalent of 210 football fields. Thirty percent of new warehouses are leased before they're completed."

 

 

 

If you're interested, the entire story can be found here:

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/columbus-ohio-warehouse-boom-tax-breaks-2022-10

 

 

7 hours ago, Luvcbus said:

 

There was an interesting article yesterday about the Columbus Warehouse Boom in Business Insider...

 

I thought this quote was interesting, giving us an idea of just how many warehouses there are across the city:

 

 

"Columbus is one place that has played out: Seventy-five million square feet of warehouse space has been built there since 2012, on top of more than 233 million square feet already there. Another 12 million is being built, per the real-estate investment firm CBRE — the equivalent of 210 football fields. Thirty percent of new warehouses are leased before they're completed."

 

 

 

If you're interested, the entire story can be found here:

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/columbus-ohio-warehouse-boom-tax-breaks-2022-10

 

 

I wonder if this warehouse boom will continue or if it's nearly played out. Pandemic delays and subsequent retailer inventory stockpiling drove huge demand for places to store things and warehouses could charge whatever they wanted. I've heard Walmart has rented runaways to serve as pop-up dock yards just to store all the containers of things they've got lying around. Every retailer right now is trying to reduce inventory, I would think that would drive down demand for all these spec warehouses. I mean if Amazon is delaying the opening of 24 facilities and canceling plans for 42 others that can't be a good sign for the market. 

In many other markets it is indeed tapering off but due to Intel and the metro's growth in general demand hasn't slowed yet. With a vacancy rate of only 1.4% in 2022 according to the chart in the article at the very least you have to get to the 8-10 percent vacancy that is considered "structural" due to transitional factors. At 1.4% you build no questions asked.

 

I do remember that in 2008 a spec building was completed near Rickenbacker on Pontius Road next to Honeywell and it didn't rent until probably 2015 to Faro. When it stops, it can stop FAST. I drove past that place for years when it was empty saying, "stupid speculative building practices."

Edited October 21, 20222 yr by GCrites80s

11 hours ago, 17thState said:

I wonder if this warehouse boom will continue or if it's nearly played out. Pandemic delays and subsequent retailer inventory stockpiling drove huge demand for places to store things and warehouses could charge whatever they wanted. I've heard Walmart has rented runaways to serve as pop-up dock yards just to store all the containers of things they've got lying around. Every retailer right now is trying to reduce inventory, I would think that would drive down demand for all these spec warehouses. I mean if Amazon is delaying the opening of 24 facilities and canceling plans for 42 others that can't be a good sign for the market. 

All my clients are in the manufacturing industry and a lot of them have a huge need for more space. The reason being is because they are buying up materials whenever they are available for fear that they might not be there later if they opt to wait. Been to so many facilities just jam packed with things haphazardly because they bought 3x what their normal warehousing area can fit. A lot of them have been leasing third party warehouse space or even building/purchasing warehouse space to just maintain that level of stock at all times now. I do imagine it'll top out at some point, but people lost a lot of business because they didn't have the materials to fulfill customer orders and they are now prepared to ensure that never happens again.

Edited October 21, 20222 yr by TIm

"Business FOMO" if you will

 

State approves major solar farms in Franklin and Licking Counties

 

"State regulators have signed off on turning a chunk of Darby Dan Farms into Franklin County’s largest solar farm, one of two major Columbus-area solar farms approved Thursday.

 

The Ohio Power Siting Board, the agency that oversees applications for construction of major utility facilities in Ohio, also approved a solar project in northwest Licking County and the state’s first rechargeable battery energy storage project that will be built near New Albany in Jersey Township.

 

The solar projects, the Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy near Galloway and Harvey Solar I in Hartford and Bennington townships, can generate a combined 600 megawatts of power.

 

“That’s enough energy to power over 107,000 homes, which to put it in context, is roughly the number of homes in city of Toledo,” board chair Jenifer French said during the meeting. “This figure does not include previously approved projects, and projects that already have been constructed."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/10/21/state-approves-major-solar-farms-in-franklin-and-licking-counties/69574452007/

 

 

13 hours ago, 17thState said:

I wonder if this warehouse boom will continue or if it's nearly played out. Pandemic delays and subsequent retailer inventory stockpiling drove huge demand for places to store things and warehouses could charge whatever they wanted. I've heard Walmart has rented runaways to serve as pop-up dock yards just to store all the containers of things they've got lying around. Every retailer right now is trying to reduce inventory, I would think that would drive down demand for all these spec warehouses. I mean if Amazon is delaying the opening of 24 facilities and canceling plans for 42 others that can't be a good sign for the market. 

 

It seems like this is already in the transport side of things. Last year LCK was hopping with international freight activity from a myriad of international carriers. That's all but dried up recently, with only a few flights a week coming and going. While air transport only represents a fraction of freight logistics as most comes via train/ship/truck, I think it's a sign of where things are heading.

1 hour ago, GCrites80s said:

"Business FOMO" if you will

More like "fear of going under" haha. Seen multiple clients lose multi million dollar accounts this year because they couldn't meet orders on time due to not being able to obtain the materials. And then I've seen other clients pick up huge multi million dollar accounts because they could meet their demands.