September 14, 200816 yr Rezoning sought for Bethel Road shopping center Wednesday, September 10, 2008 By GARY SEMAN JR., ThisWeek Staff Writer More restaurants could be headed to Bethel Road if the ownership of a strip mall gets its way. Owners of the Bethel-Kenny Center, located at the southwest corner of Bethel and Kenny roads, are seeking a rezoning that will allow them to add food-service operators to the mix of tenants. They are now prohibited because of parking restrictions. The Northwest Civic Association, in a 5-3 vote Sept. 3, recommended approval of the rezoning. The Columbus Development Commission will hear the case Oct. 9. City council will make the final decision. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/dublin/stories/2008/09/10/0911dubethel_ln.html
September 25, 200816 yr Fifth by Northwest plan nears completion Wednesday, September 17, 2008 By ALAN FROMAN ThisWeek Staff Writer A draft of a neighborhood plan under development by the Fifth by Northwest Area Commission will be unveiled at a Sept. 30 public workshop. The final plan is "about 80 percent complete," commission chair Andy Byerly said. The document is being developed with the assistance of Mark Dravillas, neighborhood planning manager for the city of Columbus. At the Sept. 30 meeting, Dravillas will review details of the proposed plan and seek public input, Byerly said. The Fifth by Northwest Area Commission was formed last year. It reviews issues relating to the area roughly bounded by Kinnear Road to the north, the alley south of Third Avenue to the south, Wyandotte Road to the west and Olentangy River Road to the east. The commission forwards recommendations to Columbus City Council. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/grandview/stories/2008/09/17/0918gvfifth_ln.html
September 25, 200816 yr Absence causes delay in rezoning decision Tuesday, September 2, 2008 By JENNIFER NESBITT ThisWeek Staff Writer Representatives from the New Albany Co. failed to appear at the Northland Community Council development committee's August meeting, causing the committee again to delay voting on a rezoning request for a proposed gas station and fast-food restaurant. The committee tabled the proposal for the 2.5-acre parcel at 5475 N. Hamilton at its July meeting, following complaints from residents of the Blendon Park condominium complex, which borders the land. To allow for a gas station and fast-food restaurant, the New Albany Co. would need the city to change the zoning for the property from limited commercial to commercial planned development. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/northland/stories/2008/08/27/rezoning.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 25, 200816 yr NWCA signs off on Savko proposal Wednesday, August 13, 2008 By GARY SEMAN JR., ThisWeek Staff Writer After an intense discussion at its monthly meeting last week, the Northwest Civic Association recommended approval of a housing project on Olentangy River Road. The NWCA voted 10-2 last Wednesday in favor of rezoning that would allow a 10-unit housing complex at 5598 Olentangy River Road. Developer Pat Bigler had hoped to build 12 luxury homes on the 4.7-acre parcel. He began excavating the site but his company, Camelot Custom Homes, ran out of money and was unable to complete the work. The lot is now vacant. Another local developer, Marty Savko, stepped in with a plan that essentially called for the same layout as Bigler's. His attorney, Connie Klema, told the NWCA last Wednesday that Savko has refined the plan, which calls for a minimum of 2,200-square-foot homes priced at $600,000. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/dublin/stories/2008/08/13/0814dunwcaproposal_ln.html
October 6, 200816 yr Wedgewood Office Park now open Wednesday, September 24, 2008 By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Staff Writer Flexibility, energy efficiency, and green space are core elements of the Wedgewood Office Park, said developer George Bergantz, vice president of the Benchmark Group. The company held an open house Sept. 18 celebrating the completion of the first two of five buildings that will make up the office park, at 3751-3847 Attucks Drive off Sawmill Parkway. The individual buildings are 13,330 square feet and have an interior modular design that can accommodate office space needs from 667 square feet to the entire building, or anywhere in between, said Carol Evans, broker for the offices. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/olentangy/stories/2008/09/24/0925poofficepark_ln.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 8, 200816 yr Consumer Square East comes tumbling down after 23 years Consumer Square East, a sprawling, 23-year-old retail destination, is coming down in a heap of rubble, its owner hopeful that the demolition will help the site gain a new life. Benderson Development of Florida recently decided to raze the center to make the 40-acre site along I-70 near Brice Road more attractive to future tenants. Brice Road is slowly being abandoned as new centers sprout up nearby. Stores such as Best Buy, Babies "R" Us and hhgregg recently fled for Taylor Square in Reynoldsburg, about 2 miles east of Brice Road. Target could be next. A new Target store is expected to open in Reynoldsburg near Taylor Square on March 8. Speculation is that the Brice Road Target will close as a result, but a Target spokeswoman said yesterday that no decision has been made. This past summer, the departure of a Meijer store in the Brice Road area left another huge retail void. "They don't exactly have retailers beating down the doors to get there right now," said Columbus retail analyst Chris Boring of Boulevard Strategies. "I can't imagine (Benderson) doing something else with it, retail-wise. The market is terrible for everything. It's hard to think what that area would need." Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/11/08/Consumer_Square.ART_ART_11-08-08_C10_0MBR1JL.html?sid=101
November 13, 200816 yr Developers eye opportunities in down market By Brian R. Ball, Business First of Columbus, November 13, 2008 Only a few years ago, developers toured a lot of old buildings in downtown Columbus’ central business district with an eye toward converting the Class C office and storage spaces into hip residential condos or loft offices for creative-services tenants. But interest in those properties has waned with the downturn in the housing market, and many of the unsold condos became apartments. At the same time, office vacancy rates climbed. While the housing market has not improved, investment on East Broad and North High streets as well as along the Gay Street corridor has perked interest in redeveloping off the North High spine primarily as commercial space. Count real estate investor Tom Fortin among those hoping to find an opportunity in the down market. Fortin said he first looked at the three-story 51 E. Gay St. property in May and signed a master lease on the building in August with an interest in commercial offices on the two top floors with possibly a tea salon or another commercial tenant on the ground floor. “Gay Street is where the action is.” Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/11/10/focus1.html?b=1226293200^1729519
December 11, 200816 yr This was torn down recently at Long & Jefferson. Why? It seemed to be in decent condition that could be re-used. Any word on what will be going in here?
December 17, 200816 yr From here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18031 <b>Long Street Demolition may have been Illegal</b> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/longstdemo.jpg"> A month ago, I <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17490">posted a question</a> regarding the demolition of the old Cadillac Motor Company Building at 600 E. Long Street (corner of Long & Jefferson near the CSCC Parking Garage). The old building had been for sale for some time, and had fallen into a state of disrepair. The topic was brought up again <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18012">yesterday</a> and I decided to follow up with a few contacts to see if I could find out what was being planned for this site. And just a few moments ago I got off the phone with one of those contacts at City Hall who said that it appears the demolition could have been illegal. They were not able to find any demolition permits filed by the owner. I will post more information as it becomes available.
December 22, 200816 yr Downtown hotel reborn Westin's Great Southern updated without neglecting its character, history Monday, December 22, 2008 - 2:58 AM By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The owners of the Westin Great Southern hotel have welcomed the historic property into the 21st century by emphasizing the past as well as the present. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/12/22/ZONE1222.ART_ART_12-22-08_C8_EJC9CIR.html?sid=101
December 22, 200816 yr ah it's a westin. i was in there once in the arly 90's, but it didint look like that -- gorgeous!
January 7, 200916 yr Macy's discussing a move to Grandview Wednesday, January 7, 2009 3:03 AM By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Macy's could replace its decades-old Upper Arlington store with a new store at the planned Grandview Yard development, central Ohio development sources said. Nationwide Realty Investors has had initial discussions with Macy's and other department stores to set up shop at Grandview Yard, the 100-acre development on the former site of Big Bear warehouses in Grandview Heights, Brian Ellis, president of Nationwide Realty, told The Dispatch. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/01/07/Kingsdale.ART_ART_01-07-09_C8_OACENJC.html?sid=101
January 9, 200916 yr I did my best to see if this was posted anywhere else, sorry if it was... Being from Cincy, I'm always pulling for and keeping an eye on Cincy's light rail plans, but since I'm in Athens at the moment for school, I get Columbus local news: COLUMBUS, Ohio—Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is asking for $200 million from the federal government to build a 13-mile light rail system in Columbus as part of a $334.5 million economic stimulus package funding request. From NC4i.com: http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/coleman_asks_obama_for_200m_for_light-rail_system/11593/ Think it will happen?
January 9, 200916 yr I certainly wouldn't complain if we got it, but that said a complete streetcar system would be better, since commuter light-rail will only densify a small area around each station in the sprawling suburbs and people there will still be car dependent anyway. See DC. A comprehensive streetcar system would be great for connecting all of our urban neighborhoods and re-urbanize and revitalize suburbanized commercial streets. Not to mention more useful for suburbanites traveling into the city.
January 9, 200916 yr There is a Columbus Streetcar Thread in Transportation and the story from the Dispatch has already been posted.
January 13, 200916 yr Very interesting article by the Dispatch on the densification trend in many of the Columbus surburbs. Although its headline is slightly misleading. Thus far only one suburb - Gahanna - has actually built a parking garage (its part of the Creekside Gahanna development). All of the other proposals are yet to be built.
January 13, 200916 yr It was interesting but kind of silly. Malls in the suburbs have long had parking garages and those suburbs with a decent office buildings often have them as well. It is nice to see them going into the suburban core.
January 17, 200916 yr I agree with the mayor of Hilliard: the man gets it! Now as much as I like Coleman I wish he'd take the same position for Downtown instead of building two more parking garages. How about a bunch of covered bike racks instead?
February 1, 200916 yr Ohio city throws out rules on downtown By Tom Eblen, Herald-Leader columnist, February 1, 2009 Lexington, like most American cities, created a complex system of zoning regulations a generation or two ago to make its bustling downtown more neat and orderly. In recent years, like most American cities, Lexington has been trying to figure out how to make its dull and dying downtown bustle again. That's because people are attracted to vibrant downtowns — especially the young, creative people who are the engines of the 21st-century economy. The issues are complex, but one thing many planners, developers and citizens have come to agree upon is that those strict rules — and the bureaucratic systems and adversarial cultures that have grown up around them — can be a big part of the problem. It's a Catch 22: The rules, regulations and government processes designed to improve a city as it grows can sometimes have the opposite effect. That's because developers and regulators sometimes don't have enough flexibility to use common sense or foster excellence. Read more at http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/679486.html
March 11, 200916 yr Columbus officials put two city-owned golf courses on market Business First of Columbus - by Jeff Bell Friday, March 6, 2009 The city of Columbus is looking to sell two money-losing golf courses, including the highly rated Champions layout on the northeast side. The city is in the initial stages of getting property surveys and appraisals for the Champions and Walnut Hill courses, said Terri Leist, golf administrator for the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks. No sale prices have been set, she said, and the courses will continue to operate while buyers are sought. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/03/09/story2.html
March 15, 200916 yr <b>Sandbox coworking community opening soon in Short North</b> By Walker | March 11, 2009 9:04am <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sandbox.jpg"> The Short North will soon see the opening of its first coworking community space when Sandbox opens up its doors in a few weeks. This new space will provide a flexible working environment for creative professionals, freelancers, and independent entrepreneurs who need a spot to work outside of their home office or their local coffee shop. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of coworking, then perhaps Tina & David from Sandbox can help shed some light on things. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/sandbox-coworking-community-opening-soon
March 17, 200916 yr Downtown Holiday Inn renovated Monday, March 9, 2009 By Mike Pramik, The Columbus Dispatch Renovation of the Downtown Holiday Inn has been completed nearly three years after the hotel changed hands. Sound Hospitality of Miami bought the 240-room property at 175 E. Town St. for $6.1 million in summer 2006. Since then, it has nearly completed a planned makeover. The exterior has been completely redone, said General Manager Doug Pollock. That includes new masonry and double-pane windows. Inside, the old meeting space and pool area were deconstructed, and a new pool, fitness center and 4,500-square-foot ballroom were added. Pollock said a new heating and air-conditioning system includes individual controls in the rooms, and the lobby has been renovated to make it brighter and more conducive to hanging out. The final change was to the name: The hotel used to be the Holiday Inn City Center. With the Downtown mall about to become rubble this year, the switch to linking the hotel to Capitol Square was a necessity. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/03/09/ZONE0309.ART_ART_03-09-09_C10_DDD4PD9.html?sid=101
March 17, 200916 yr Hibernian Haven Irish-Catholic fraternal group celebrating St. Patrick's Day in new headquarters Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 3:14 AM By Jeffrey Sheban, The Columbus Dispatch A new home for an old fraternal organization will give some Irishmen twice the reason to toast this St. Patrick's Day. For the first time since 2001, a central Ohio chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians has a permanent hall to mark the holiday. The group, which supports Roman Catholic causes mainly in Northern Ireland, found its pot of gold when member Jim Fath, riding his bike, happened upon an abandoned bar on the South Side. Fath spent months with other members, including police officers and firefighters, restoring the latest incarnation of Tara Hall, which opened Friday at 274 E. Innis Ave. The organization lost the previous Tara Hall, at 195 E. Main St., to a dispute with the property owners. Ever since, it has borrowed and rented space to share its culture, its music and a pint of beer. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2009/03/17/1_ANCIENT_ORDER_-_st._paddys.ART_ART_03-17-09_D1_DMD6S7O.html?sid=101
March 23, 200916 yr In this week’s podcast we sit down for a chat with Mark Lundine who works for the Urban Development Division with the State of Ohio. Mark shares with us some insight on various development efforts around the state, as well as several Columbus projects including Columbus Commons and our various passenger rail efforts. <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/urbandev.png"> Click <a href="http://blip.tv/file/get/ColumbusUnderground-CUPodcastEpisode11CoffeeWithMarkLundine855.mp3">here</a> to download an mp3, click <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=301024381">here</a> to subscribe via iTunes, or click <a href="http://columbusunderground.blip.tv/rss">here</a> to subscribe to the rss feed.
March 31, 200916 yr Columbus State on track to break enrollment record Business First of Columbus - by Matt Burns Monday, March 30, 2009, 3:41pm Columbus State Community College on Monday said a preliminary tally of quarterly enrollment hit 24,272 students, up 11 percent from 21,922 students a year ago. Spokesman David Wayne said the school typically sees fewer students enrolling in the spring compared with fall and winter, but this quarter could become the third consecutive record-breaker for Columbus State. Driving that growth, he said, is likely the fact that Columbus State’s comparably lower tuition cost is becoming more attractive amid the recession. A full load of classes runs about $2,900 a year at Columbus State, versus $8,000 or more at Ohio's four-year schools, he said. http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/03/30/daily8.html
April 6, 200916 yr City’s fed courthouse in line for stimulus update Business First of Columbus Wednesday, April 1, 2009, 2:56pm The agency in charge of the federal government’s real estate plans to spend nearly $7 million to make energy-efficiency improvements to the Joseph P. Kinneary Courthouse in downtown Columbus. More than $6.7 million has been earmarked by the General Services Administration for “high-performance green building” modernization and improvements at the courthouse building, according to a list released Wednesday. The Kinneary Courthouse, at the corner of Long Street and Marconi Boulevard, is the only Columbus building on the administration’s list for limited-scope energy projects, though it is among seven across Ohio totaling more than $15 million. The Columbus project is the largest, followed by a $4.5 million earmark for work at Dayton’s federal building and U.S. courthouse. To download the administration's spending plan, click here. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/03/30/daily30.html
April 6, 200916 yr Walker posted this interesting little tidbit about a luxury housing developer offering a Smart Car with a condo purchase. Prescott Place is in Marble Cliff, which is a small village located between Grandview and Upper Arlington. It's a decent enough infill project (if you got the money, of course). Move to Prescott Place, Get a free Smart Car Columbus Underground By Walker | March 23, 2009 - 11:39am http://www.columbusunderground.com/move-to-prescott-place-get-a-free-smart-car Last week The Pizzuti Company announced an interesting new incentive for moving into their Prescott Place development in Marble Cliff: a free Smart Car. Yep, that's right. If you move into one of their 23 new luxury condominiums between now and June 30th, a free Smart Car will come along with it. http://www.prescott-place.com/ Wouldn't people respond just as well to 15k reduction in price? Even if they got the Smart Cars at wholesale value - what if people are perfectly content with their current car? Maybe I'm biased, I don't really understand how people think they're saving the world by buying a car that gets slightly better gas milage while drastically compromising their safety (those things do terrible in a crash test).
April 7, 200916 yr great building i think this building is a manufactured and made by great architect and engineers i am impress because i want to build to my own building.,
April 8, 200916 yr <b>Crimson Design Group Relocates Downtown</b> By Walker | April 6, 2009 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/crimsondesign.jpg"> Tucked into Pearl Alley, just off Gay Street might seem like a location that’s a bit off the beaten path for an interior design firm, but Cheryl Beachy is exactly where she wants to be. Her company, Crimson Design Group recently relocated their office from Merion Village to Downtown when they outgrew their old space. “I wanted to be in an environment that encourages young entrepreneurship and is part of a bigger community,” said Beachy. “I love the changes that have been done on Gay Street, and it’s these changes which have really created that ‘big city’ feel in Columbus.” MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/crimson-design-group-relocates-downtown
April 8, 200916 yr <b>At Home: In Sixty Spring</b> By Anne | April 5, 2009 12:00pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dlivingroom.jpg"> This month we are back downtown to take a look inside Dawon Hawkins’ condo at Sixty Spring. He has been living in Sixty Spring for three years, and has been a downtown resident for quite sometime. He first lived in German Village and then moved to an apartment on East Town Street across from the Topiary Park. When he decided he wanted to buy, he looked at everything downtown. Everything. If there was a condo development Dawon knew all about it and had checked it out. When he took a tour of Sixty Spring, he saw his future home when it was very bare bones and fell in love with it. The 800 sq. foot condo had soaring windows, gorgeous views of downtown and the original floors from its former life as an electrical supply warehouse. He was the first person to rent his place and the second he was able to purchase it, he did. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/at-home-in-sixty-spring
April 8, 200916 yr <b>Ohio Statehouse Museum Will Open on June 10th</b> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ohiostatehouse.jpg"> Press Release: A new Ohio Statehouse Museum will open to the public on June 10 at 10 a.m. The Museum will be located on the ground floor of Ohio’s Capitol Building and will function as an interactive place for learning about Ohio government for more than 80,000 Ohio Statehouse tour visitors annually. The opening of the Ohio Statehouse Museum will enrich the experience of Statehouse visitors by providing stronger and more diverse orientation and education about Ohio government and history. Admission to the Ohio Statehouse Museum will be free. The opening celebration is scheduled to begin with a short ribbon cutting ceremony on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. The celebration will be preceded and followed by a cannon firing of the Ohio Statehouse’s Civil War era cannons by members of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A Civil War re-enactors group. The Ohio Statehouse Museum will include interactive, hands-on exhibits that will challenge visitors’ knowledge about Ohio history and the workings of state government and equip them to more fully participate as citizens. Historical artifacts and images will tell the stories of those who have come to serve at the “People’s House.” Audiovisual media and theatrical effects will transport visitors to historical events and invite them to imagine themselves as one of Ohio’s governors or legislators. The opening of Phase II of the Ohio Statehouse Museum will create nearly 10,000 square feet of updated, high-tech, interactive exhibits to enrich the experience of school children and visitors. Funding of the Ohio Statehouse Museum is the result of a public/private partnership. The Museum has primarily been made possible by private contributors through an on-going capital campaign entitled “Enriching the Experience.” The capital campaign is being managed by the Capitol Square Foundation. The Capitol Square Foundation has raised more than $2.25 million for the Enriching the Experience capital campaign. Construction of the new Ohio Statehouse Museum officially began on March 18, 2008. Hilferty and Associates, an accomplished design firm based in Athens, Ohio, completed the interpretive conceptual plan for the new Ohio Statehouse Museum. Mill’s James, Ohio’s largest media production company, is providing the audiovisual production services. 1220 Exhibits, of Nashville, Tennessee, is manufacturing the exhibits and display panels. Communications Electronic Design, Inc. is the project systems integrator. Exhibit resources have been provided by the Ohio Historical Society and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. For more information please visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.
April 8, 200916 yr <b>Wasted Space in Downtown: Motorist Parking Lot</b> By Walker | March 30, 2009 1:54pm <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/motoristparking.jpg"> All it takes is a quick walk around Goodale Park, Schiller Park, or Franklin Park to find some of the nicest, largest, and most valuable homes in our urban neighborhoods. A stroll through the Topiary Park downtown is just as pleasant, but the residential aspect surrounding the park is drastically different. The south side of the park still boasts several beautiful old brick homes, but the north and east sides of the park are surrounded mostly with parking lots. The largest of these parking lots runs almost completely along the north side of the park and is owned by the Motorists Mutual Insurance Company located on East Broad Street. They’ve also got a multi-story garage next door and several other small buildings in the area. MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/wasted-space-in-downtown-motorist-parking-lot
April 15, 200916 yr Columbus State breaks enrollment record Business First of Columbus Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 3:10pm A record-breaking spring quarter of enrollment for Columbus State Community College has turned out to be even better than expected. The school on Tuesday said a final tally of quarterly enrollment showed 24,368 students, up 10 percent from 22,136 students a year ago. That’s nearly 100 students more than a preliminary tally Columbus State disclosed March 30, the first day of the quarter. The new number reflects enrolled students who have paid tuition. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/04/13/daily16.html
April 16, 200916 yr Columbus State science scholarships aim to lift economy Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 3:24 AM By Encarnacion Pyle, The Columbus Dispatch Columbus State Community College will give 200 new students full scholarships over the next five years to study science and technology to help jump-start Ohio's economy. Nearly two-thirds of those students will continue their education at Ohio State University for another two years to earn bachelor's degrees on the taxpayers' dime. "The future of the work force is in science-based programs," said Larry Mayer, chairman of the biological and physical science department at Columbus State. To read more about the application requirements, visit www.cscc.edu/futurescientists/scholarships.html. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/15/STEM.ART_ART_04-15-09_A1_4NDICLC.html?sid=101
April 18, 200916 yr Buildings offered for historic list Friday, April 17, 2009 3:05 AM By Alan Johnson, The Columbus Dispatch The oldest commercial structure on Capitol Square and a building that housed the fledgling National Football League will be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com
April 20, 200916 yr The 20 E. Broad Street building is a well deserved nominee. The oldest remaining building facing the Statehouse Capitol Square. The ground floor was previously used as a State Savings Bank branch. Later it was the location of the city's downtown development resource center. I was inside there a few times when the downtown center was open. Nicely remodeled interior with two reminders of its bank past - a very ornate set of brass entry doors and a beautiful stainless steel bank vault in the back. The Dispatch photos were small b&w images. I thought I had a larger color photo of the exterior. But all I could find was this Auditor's web image from 2002.
May 5, 200916 yr Columbus State, Ashland cooperating on early childhood ed Business First of Columbus Friday, May 1, 2009 Columbus State Community College and Ashland University have signed a new partnership agreement that creates a pipeline to a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education for students at the two-year institution. The schools this week signed a deal that allows Columbus State students with an associate’s degree to transfer most credits and continue toward an early childhood education bachelor’s degree at Ashland’s main campus, between Columbus and Cleveland, or at its Columbus Center on Dublin-Granville Road. That degree is the largest major and initial licensure program at Ashland, which also offers programs through the doctoral level. http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/04/27/daily51.html?surround=lfn
May 11, 200916 yr I just posted most of these Columbus Alive surveys over in the City Discussion - What Columbus Needs thread. Noozer posted the Transportation survey/discussion over in the Transportation - COTA thread. And I'll post the Jobs survey over in the Columbus: Economy & Market News thread in the Ohio Business and Economy section. But I thought the Downtown survey/discussion should go here. Here are the links, followed by the Downtown survey. What Columbus Needs What Columbus Needs: City Life What Columbus Needs: Discussion What Columbus Needs: Downtown What Columbus Needs: Jobs What Columbus Needs: Transportation What Columbus Needs: Youth movement
May 11, 200916 yr What Columbus Needs: Downtown What comes first, residents or retailers? Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 7:09 AM By Chris DeVille, Columbus Alive If perception is reality, the reality is harsh: Living Downtown just isn't worth it. The What Columbus Needs survey respondents coughed up a combination of factors keeping Downtown from becoming a bustling residential hub, chief among them the belief that the area lacks attractive, affordable housing options for young professionals. One respondent put it plainly: "The housing Downtown is too [expensive] for the young adult that just got a new job or just got out of college." Do you think Downtown housing is affordable and attractive for young adults? 32% yes 68% no What could be done to improve Downtown housing options? "More businesses (groceries, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops) that cater to locals for longer hours - i.e., after 5 p.m." "Renovated older buildings - rather than shiny new condos - that are rented at low rates." "A supermarket within walking distance." Read more at http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2009/05/07/ca_u_needsdowntown.html?sid=108
May 12, 200916 yr "Build some kind of grocery store between German Village and Victorian Village," advised one respondent. "It doesn't have to be a big one, just something central." Uhhh you mean like a Kroger or North Market? lol. I could understand if they asked for a grocer downtown that was easy to walk to but if they're willing to drive/take a bus that far, then the current options shouldn't be too bad. Many people just aren't aware of what exists in their city.
May 12, 200916 yr I'm rather certain that person doesn't live between German Village and Victorian Village.
May 27, 200916 yr Small enhancements can make big impact Downtown Ideas from design study could be done for $5 million Wednesday, May 27, 2009 3:09 AM By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH One day, while walking Downtown in Lynn Alley at the Pearl Market, you might gaze up and see a large, artsy chandelier. Maybe you'll stop to study other public art along the way. And if you pedaled there, you might find parking spots for bicycles inside nearby garages. Those are some of the ideas a local design company came up with for the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to spruce up Downtown's core. "Can you affect an urban environment with lots of little projects? I believe you can," said Keith Myers, an urban planner with MSI, the company Capital Crossroads hired. Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/05/27/copy/CAPITAL.ART_ART_05-27-09_B4_CFE02M8.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
May 27, 200916 yr Graphic showing proposed surface lots that could be screened: Slide show of proposed changes and enchancements: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/daily_slideshows/2009/05/CAPITAL_gallery.html I especially like the plan to enchance the 3rd St. bridge. I've always admired the aesthetic enchancements Cincinnati has along their roadways entering downtown. It would be nice to have a little bit of that here.
May 28, 200916 yr Slide show of proposed changes and enchancements: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/daily_slideshows/2009/05/CAPITAL_gallery.html I especially like the plan to enchance the 3rd St. bridge. I've always admired the aesthetic enchancements Cincinnati has along their roadways entering downtown. It would be nice to have a little bit of that here. I like that 3rd St. bridge idea too. Really like some of those other creative concepts too. Such as the following... Before and after of Pearl Alley next to the Rhodes State Office Tower. Its also the location of the Pearl Alley Farmers Market two days a week from spring to fall. Here's the before and after of the Third Street Bridge concept where Third Street goes over East Nationwide Boulevard. "The corner of High Street and Nationwide Boulevard is identified as a potential area for a new dining location." I really like this dining concept. "Another location at the corner of High and Hickory streets with outdoor dining potential." And this one's great too. Landscape upgrades to a surface parking lot. Nice improvement, but I'd rather see some urban infill development. "The designs include possible changes to bike areas like the one in this parking garage. Keith Myers, an urban planner with MSI, said small upgrades like this can mean a lot for a city." See more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/foundation/slideshow.jsp?file=/multimedia/daily_slideshows/2009/05/CAPITAL_gallery.html&image=1&adsec=multimedia&tot=20
May 28, 200916 yr I'm all for the 3rd street bridge over nationwide. Also, excited for the demolition of the skyway over high street connecting the federal building to william green tower but not so sure about the restaurants located in the adjacent allyway there. I'd also want to see taller trees to the entrance to pearl alley.
May 28, 200916 yr Columbus State setting spending agenda for fall Business First of Columbus - by Jeff Bell Friday, May 22, 2009 With one eye on the Ohio Statehouse, Columbus State Community College trustees were to vote May 21 on a spending plan for the growing school’s 2009-10 academic year. A proposed $133.5 million operating budget would fund eight new faculty positions, create new degree and certificate programs and cover 3.75 percent pay raises for faculty, staff, administrators and part-time employees. The school also plans to fund a number of efforts to improve students’ chances for success at the two-year community college. More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/05/25/story8.html
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