On 2/24/2023 at 8:49 PM, amped91 said:

The Development Commission’s March agenda came out today. Some of the agenda items:

 

1. A three story, 20 unit building in Northland at 2600 Lauffer Ravines Dr. on vacant land. 
 

 

2. A revised plan to develop nearly 800k sqft of warehouse space on the huge vacant lot at 6500 Tussing Rd, off of Brice. 
 

 

3. Two more Sheetz: one at 7480 Sawmill and one at 2480 Walcutt. 
 

4. 552 units and commercial space on mostly vacant land developed by Metro Dev that would include land annexed into the City of Columbus from Prairie Township at 795 Galloway Rd. 
 

How did I miss this (#4)?  They really need to fill in the areas that they can up to the protected creek areas. I bet some people around there will not like apts, but too bad lol. And I am glad they are boxing in Columbia Heights Church-I have personal reasons to dislike that church.  I hope it gets on their nerves.

 

Central Ohio growth from Intel, others, will require union construction workers to double

 

"Between Intel, Amgen, Facebook, Google, Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center and other projects, tens of billions of dollars worth of factories, hospitals, data centers and other work are promised for central Ohio in the coming years.

 

Add Honda's move to set up an electric vehicle hub in Ohio, more than $2 billion worth of solar farms planned throughout the state and Ohio's new $13.5 billion transportation budget, and even more union building trade workers will be needed to keep up. One official said union construction workers will essentially need to double in number to keep pace.

 

The Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council says $140 billion in the Columbus-area region, led by the Intel project in Licking County that the council anticipates will be worth $100 billion one day and promises construction work for decades. Other projects include more data centers by Google and Facebook, a new terminal being planned by John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and expansions planned at OhioHealth's Riverside Methodist Hospital and Grant Medical Center."

 

 

Full story found here:

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/employment/2023/04/04/central-ohio-intel-growth-requires-union-construction-workers-double/70061291007/

 

Columbus zoning overhaul to focus on commercial corridors, city seeks public input
 

 

“Columbus has unveiled a map of key corridors and commercial areas with the most potential to address housing, mobility and affordability challenges.

 

And it's asking the public to comment on this next step in the city's overhaul of its zoning codes.

 

The map, which the city put together with the help of California-based Lisa Wise Consulting, identifies 62 areas where updated zoning will be considered.
 

The city looked at corridors where area plans recommended mixed-use, where there is existing COTA bus routes, commercial zoning overlays and suggested LinkUs corridors, said Kevin Wheeler, assistant director in the Development Department in charge of the "Zone In" initiative.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/06/zoning-overhaul.html

52 minutes ago, amped91 said:

Columbus zoning overhaul to focus on commercial corridors, city seeks public input
 

 

“Columbus has unveiled a map of key corridors and commercial areas with the most potential to address housing, mobility and affordability challenges.

 

And it's asking the public to comment on this next step in the city's overhaul of its zoning codes.

 

The map, which the city put together with the help of California-based Lisa Wise Consulting, identifies 62 areas where updated zoning will be considered.
 

The city looked at corridors where area plans recommended mixed-use, where there is existing COTA bus routes, commercial zoning overlays and suggested LinkUs corridors, said Kevin Wheeler, assistant director in the Development Department in charge of the "Zone In" initiative.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/06/zoning-overhaul.html

Did they just skip all of downtown itself? I know that's our most urban and dense area, but I hope they are at least still going to be looking at the zoning code down there in some capacity. *couch cough* parking minimums.

 

I still really hope they consider removing all street parking on High Street in the Short North and through Downtown. Imagine if all that parking was reclaimed for pedestrian use? All those Short North restaurants could have outdoor dining that isn't 5ft from cars on the road.

Edited April 6, 20232 yr by TIm

11 minutes ago, TIm said:

Did they just skip all of downtown itself? I know that's our most urban and dense area, but I hope they are at least still going to be looking at the zoning code down there in some capacity. *couch cough* parking minimums.

 

I still really hope they consider removing all street parking on High Street in the Short North and through Downtown. Imagine if all that parking was reclaimed for pedestrian use? All those Short North restaurants could have outdoor dining that isn't 5ft from cars on the road.

I believe downtown does not have parking requirements, the developers are the ones adding so much parking. I’m guessing they skipped downtown because it meets the zoning overhaul already. If I remember correctly, downtown doesn’t really have any rules or zoning issues. 

4 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

I believe downtown does not have parking requirements, the developers are the ones adding so much parking. I’m guessing they skipped downtown because it meets the zoning overhaul already. If I remember correctly, downtown doesn’t really have any rules or zoning issues. 

Yeah I guess these particular areas are areas identified as needing zoning changes to allow for more height and density. That's like the one thing downtown excels at haha.

 

More on this in today's Dispatch:

 

Columbus leaders ID corridors for vertical growth, denser development

 

"Columbus officials have identified 62 major street and road corridors they believe are best suited for for higher-density growth through future zoning changes, which could lead to taller buildings and more apartments in areas that currently don't have them.

 

Some of the major corridors you might expect: West Broad Street from Downtown through the Hilltop, East Broad Street east of Downtown to Bexley, Bethel Road on the Northwest Side and Morse Road from Interstate 71 to Westerville Road.

 

But it also includes Sawmill Road near Interstate 270 on the Northwest Side and what is currently its suburban feel.

 

High Street, which has seen a number of taller buildings that have risen in the Short North and near the Ohio State University campus, often with pushback from community leaders and residents is also on the list. But the idea also includes denser zoning all the way up High Street through Clintonville to the Worthington border."

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/04/06/where-should-columbus-build-denser-housing-developments-map-shows-ideas/70069444007/

 

 

 

Edited April 6, 20232 yr by Luvcbus

2 hours ago, TIm said:

Did they just skip all of downtown itself? I know that's our most urban and dense area, but I hope they are at least still going to be looking at the zoning code down there in some capacity. *couch cough* parking minimums.

 

I still really hope they consider removing all street parking on High Street in the Short North and through Downtown. Imagine if all that parking was reclaimed for pedestrian use? All those Short North restaurants could have outdoor dining that isn't 5ft from cars on the road.

 

Downtown has no parking requirements or building height minimums or maximums. Developers can build what they think the market can absorb. They feel they cannot rent or sell residential without parking so they build parking.

I'm looking forward to some yahoo trying to sue the city *if* they follow through with overriding the old community zoning and guidelines in some of these places. 

4 hours ago, TIm said:

Did they just skip all of downtown itself? I know that's our most urban and dense area, but I hope they are at least still going to be looking at the zoning code down there in some capacity. *couch cough* parking minimums.

 

I still really hope they consider removing all street parking on High Street in the Short North and through Downtown. Imagine if all that parking was reclaimed for pedestrian use? All those Short North restaurants could have outdoor dining that isn't 5ft from cars on the road.

The cars are a pain! Driving down spring you always feel you’re gonna end up hitting someone who parked wrong in the left side! Then on front street someone keeps parking right in the turn lane! It’s a mess! All for giant, wide sidewalks. So much potential for street vendors, food trucks, kiosks, etc too!

They’re also restoring the brick on this (I think) historic building on Broad. A positive sign!

10 hours ago, amped91 said:

Columbus zoning overhaul to focus on commercial corridors, city seeks public input
 

 

“Columbus has unveiled a map of key corridors and commercial areas with the most potential to address housing, mobility and affordability challenges.

 

And it's asking the public to comment on this next step in the city's overhaul of its zoning codes.

 

The map, which the city put together with the help of California-based Lisa Wise Consulting, identifies 62 areas where updated zoning will be considered.
 

The city looked at corridors where area plans recommended mixed-use, where there is existing COTA bus routes, commercial zoning overlays and suggested LinkUs corridors, said Kevin Wheeler, assistant director in the Development Department in charge of the "Zone In" initiative.“

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2023/04/06/zoning-overhaul.html

Baby steps. Really hoping this change pushes through quickly and the goal of taller, denser development becomes easier to see through and more prevalent in our city. 

GOOGLE MAPS UPDATED DOWNTOWN!!!!

32 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

GOOGLE MAPS UPDATED DOWNTOWN!!!!

Broke the news before @cbussoccer!

Just now, CMHOhio said:

Broke the news before @cbussoccer!

@cbussocceryou've met your match!

4 minutes ago, columbus17 said:

@cbussocceryou've met your match!

I let you win so now you have to give us your inside scoops! Haha

5 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

I let you win so now you have to give us your inside scoops! Haha

Only if you get me an Earth cam for the Merchant Building 😉

16 hours ago, columbus17 said:

GOOGLE MAPS UPDATED DOWNTOWN!!!!

The new Hilton looks so beautiful 😍  The Scioto Peninsula/Franklinton area too

Mine is still out dated and I don’t get why 😠

4 minutes ago, 614love said:

Mine is still out dated and I don’t get why 😠

 

The 3D 'earth' view is fully updated, the 2D flat image version is still out of date. But I imagine it will also update soon

 

https://earth.google.com/web/@39.97356153,-83.00129291,242.00122595a,1227.68712179d,35y,0h,0t,0r

Dammit I discovered this on my own and did not even think to post about it. I am so out of it lol. But yes seeing all of the infill and the Peninsula is great. 

 

Can anyone else get lost in examining these when they update and spend way to much time on it or am I just a weirdo?

58 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

Can anyone else get lost in examining these when they update and spend way to much time on it or am I just a weirdo?

 

You're both, Thom Yorke.

21 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

 

You're both, Thom Yorke.

At my age actually it is not weird, it is eccentric.  This is one of the few benefits of age and I am taking it lol.

 

*Check out on Youtube Post Modern Jukebox and Hailey Reinhardt's jazzy rendition of "Creep". It has over 100 million views and was at the top of the Jazz charts at one time.

 

*someone needs to post comparison shots of downtown now vs 2000. The Great Downtown Columbus Parking Crater is no more. 

Edited April 12, 20232 yr by Toddguy

1 hour ago, Toddguy said:

At my age actually it is not weird, it is eccentric.  This is one of the few benefits of age and I am taking it lol.

 

*Check out on Youtube Post Modern Jukebox and Hailey Reinhardt's jazzy rendition of "Creep". It has over 100 million views and was at the top of the Jazz charts at one time.

 

*someone needs to post comparison shots of downtown now vs 2000. The Great Downtown Columbus Parking Crater is no more. 

With Google Earth finally updating for Columbus, it would be cool to see side by side comparisons of some key areas to see the difference.  I moved here in 2010, and I can literally walk block by block through this city and point out what has been newly developed in 13 years.  Sometimes I feel like people get impatient irrationally, because when I start adding it up, it is remarkable to see the infill!!  Other peer cities would kill for what has happened here in the last decade+.  The exciting thing is we have so much more momentum in the pipeline now than we did then.  It's been and continues to be a fun time to live here and see all the changes and development always going on.

Edited April 12, 20232 yr by Gnoraa

17 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

With Google Earth finally updating for Columbus, it would be cool to see side by side comparisons of some key areas to see the difference.  I moved here in 2010, and I can literally walk block by block through this city and point out what has been newly developed in 13 years.  Sometimes I feel like people get impatient irrationally, because when I start adding it up, it is remarkable to see the infill!!  Other peer cities would kill for what has happened here in the last decade+.  The exciting thing is we have so much more momentum in the pipeline now than we did then.  It's been and continues to be a fun time to live here and see all the changes and development always going on.

Nah, I’m listening to J Mann, Columbus is doomed and we will never be an actual city. 

12 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Nah, I’m listening to J Mann, Columbus is doomed and we will never be an actual city. 

J man did try to compare Columbus to Fort Wayne the other day on the article about the 15 story proposal on S High. He is consistent and I enjoy reading it like satire.

Just now, clippersandyank said:

J man did try to compare Columbus to Fort Wayne the other day on the article about the 15 story proposal on S High. He is consistent and I enjoy reading it like satire.

Yeah, I was the one that called him out. My wife is from Fort Wayne, and we were just there. I can assure you, it isn’t Columbus haha. 

55 minutes ago, VintageLife said:

Yeah, I was the one that called him out. My wife is from Fort Wayne, and we were just there. I can assure you, it isn’t Columbus haha. 

 

It's Better!

To be fair, Fort Wayne has the fantastic Electric Works development featuring a food hall, restos, condos, urrrything.  In Columbus, it'd be demolished due to a brick falling on the sidewalk in the Discovery District.

 

*shade thrown*

 

1 minute ago, ColDayMan said:

To be fair, Fort Wayne has the fantastic Electric Works development featuring a food hall, restos, condos, urrrything.  In Columbus, it'd be demolished due to a brick falling on the sidewalk in the Discovery District.

 

*shade thrown*

 

Oh yeah, this place is great, and it’s still a miracle it survived all those years. Fort Wayne has a huge amount of empty parking lots that probably had buildings at one point. In fairness Columbus has fixed up old buildings, like the buggy works and many other small ones. The Kroger bakery site is another good example. 
 

I saw many people annoyed that Fort Wayne was spending city money fixing this up, so it’s even luckier they have a mayor that wanted to preserve it. 

Chile, I wish the Kroger Bakery was even 50% of that Electric Works but agreed overall.

4 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Chile, I wish the Kroger Bakery was even 50% of that Electric Works but agreed overall.

 

Kroger should be closer to Ponce City Market than what it is going to be. But the soon to be gone Ice House is one of the last opportunities for something big along either of these lines downtown in an old warehouse in the warehouse district

 

*air quotes*

1 hour ago, ColDayMan said:

Chile, I wish the Kroger Bakery was even 50% of that Electric Works but agreed overall.

Did downtown Columbus even have anything even close to the size of Electric Works though? I’m sure most major cities didn’t have something that large, that close to the downtown core without it being demolished years and years and years ago. 
 

I will agree that the Kroger site isn’t what it could be, and it’s sad the developers that bought it did. Would have loved if an outside developer got that one. It should have at least had a 10+ story addition with parking below that matched the highway height. 
 

Edit to add: I feel like The Fort is going a good job of making something unique, and that whole area down there has a ton of potential to be something great. It’s sad the factory buildings on parsons couldn’t be turned into something like electric works.

Edited April 12, 20232 yr by VintageLife

On 4/11/2023 at 9:12 PM, CbusOrBust said:

 

Snatched a few quick ones earlier as I passed under the freeway reconstruction at the 70/71/315 interchange on the south side 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALSO I think it's worth noting that the exit to 315 N from I-70 WB is now from the RIGHT lane instead of the middle left. No more dodging through lanes of traffic when getting onto 70 from downtown! 

2 hours ago, PrestoKinetic said:

ALSO I think it's worth noting that the exit to 315 N from I-70 WB is now from the RIGHT lane instead of the middle left. No more dodging through lanes of traffic when getting onto 70 from downtown! 

So, what you're saying is...ODOT finally did something right?

34 minutes ago, CMHOhio said:

So, what you're saying is...ODOT finally did something right?

Conversely I think it's a huge step in the wrong direction that they are permanently removing theI-70 east bound access to 315N.  It's a major cutoff of access to that major artery for the West/SW side of Columbus.  Doing all this major updating and the end result limits access. 

2 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

Conversely I think it's a huge step in the wrong direction that they are permanently removing theI-70 east bound access to 315N.  It's a major cutoff of access to that major artery for the West/SW side of Columbus.  Doing all this major updating and the end result limits access. 

As usual, it is another FU to the West/Southwest side of the city.

OK wait is this from 70 to 315 North or 670 to 315 North? 

Nevermind I don't care about the 70/315 work(as long as I am not impacted by the FU-age going on lol).

Can they just go around the innerbelt and get on 315N from 670 westbound?

On 4/12/2023 at 9:02 AM, Gnoraa said:

With Google Earth finally updating for Columbus, it would be cool to see side by side comparisons of some key areas to see the difference.  I moved here in 2010, and I can literally walk block by block through this city and point out what has been newly developed in 13 years.  Sometimes I feel like people get impatient irrationally, because when I start adding it up, it is remarkable to see the infill!!  Other peer cities would kill for what has happened here in the last decade+.  The exciting thing is we have so much more momentum in the pipeline now than we did then.  It's been and continues to be a fun time to live here and see all the changes and development always going on.

 

Yea I wish you could look at historical imagery similar to how you can in street view. I've been messing around with the recent 3D updates and it's amazing how much is new. 

 

I was actually driving 670 westbound through downtown and got onto 315N yesterday and it's amazing how vastly different that stretch is than even just 5 years ago. Most of what you see, from the time you go under the High Street cap on 670 until you get north of campus on 315 has been built within the last five years or so. It's incredible. 

10 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Yea I wish you could look at historical imagery similar to how you can in street view. I've been messing around with the recent 3D updates and it's amazing how much is new. 

 

I was actually driving 670 westbound through downtown and got onto 315N yesterday and it's amazing how vastly different that stretch is than even just 5 years ago. Most of what you see, from the time you go under the High Street cap on 670 until you get north of campus on 315 has been built within the last five years or so. It's incredible. 

Exactly that is the way I go but from the other direction and 315 is so much fun with all the cranes and new buildings. I really want another OSU building of decent height (like over 12 floors or something). The new hospital building is awesome coming back down 315 when it is straight ahead at that one point and very very dominant.

35 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

As usual, it is another FU to the West/Southwest side of the city.

OK wait is this from 70 to 315 North or 670 to 315 North? 

Nevermind I don't care about the 70/315 work(as long as I am not impacted by the FU-age going on lol).

Can they just go around the innerbelt and get on 315N from 670 westbound?

Trying to determine whether the U in your acronym stands for "up" or "you".

Well that's somewhat of a relief, but I can still think of scenarios where you would want that 70 to 315 access from the near-westside. It's too much of a hassle snaking up and through Franklinton to get to Grandview Avenue or 315. 

14 minutes ago, PrestoKinetic said:

Trying to determine whether the U in your acronym stands for "up" or "you".

Well that's somewhat of a relief, but I can still think of scenarios where you would want that 70 to 315 access from the near-westside. It's too much of a hassle snaking up and through Franklinton to get to Grandview Avenue or 315. 

So just for reference, the neighborhoods outlined in blue have been cutoff and it's such a pain now and takes up way more time to go out of your way.  The red lines indicate the alternative routes now.  Basically you either need to go out of your way to 270, or snake up Wilson or Hague to hop onto 70/670.  The old easy route I have in green which you could easily drive down Sullivant, hop onto 70W and quickly loop onto 315N.  The other nice part of this was you could also loop quickly onto 670W on this route and shoot onto Neil Ave way quicker if you were going to the Short North area.

46 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

So just for reference, the neighborhoods outlined in blue have been cutoff and it's such a pain now and takes up way more time to go out of your way.  The red lines indicate the alternative routes now.  Basically you either need to go out of your way to 270, or snake up Wilson or Hague to hop onto 70/670.  The old easy route I have in green which you could easily drive down Sullivant, hop onto 70W and quickly loop onto 315N.  The other nice part of this was you could also loop quickly onto 670W on this route and shoot onto Neil Ave way quicker if you were going to the Short North area.

Yeah this would have sucked for me when I lived in Cbus-I would get onto Mound in Wilshire Heights and go right down and get on 70 and would be screwed over If I still lived there.  Given how far south I was(south of Sullivant)I would probably have just stayed on 70 and looped back around to 71 or 315 since it would not involve any traffic lights, but yeah it is still an inconvenience any way your look at it. 

 

Also the area in blue(IMO)is one of the most forlorn and neglected areas of Columbus now.  Outside of a few nice neighborhoods it is seen as just a mass of crime, killings, drugs and OD deaths.  :(   Especially the Central Hilltop and out to Wedgewood-which is a disaster. 

 

I wish I knew what the City has planned for this area, any action to be taken(if any).  This cutoff seems, as I said before, just like another FU to an area of the city that is just not cared about. Why do those poor Hilltoppers need to be going up North anyways, they need to stay down there(and keep their problems there with them). It is like the Hilltop is the new South Linden, etc..  It used to stand for the Asylum("You better act right or they will take your crazy self over to the Hilltop")and now it is just another "worst area of the city/abandon hope all ye who enter here" type of thing.

 

JMHO.

 

Edited April 13, 20232 yr by Toddguy

I just had this conversation yesterday with someone who uses the highways to get everywhere. He was trying to explain it to me and my brain didn't fathom it because I never use the highways inside 270 so this map helps alot.  I was like, 'oh yeah, just down summit to broad, and he revolted in horror.'   I can navigate the city on surface streets but ask me what highway exit gets you to what neighborhood... 

5 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

 

Yea I wish you could look at historical imagery similar to how you can in street view. I've been messing around with the recent 3D updates and it's amazing how much is new. 

 

If you download Google Earth Pro for desktop (it's free) you can do this

There's a time slider for aerial imagery which varies by location depending on what's available. For most of Columbus you can go back to about the mid-80s

 

https://www.google.com/earth/about/versions/

 

Historic Aerials also has their own web viewer which goes back even farther (early 50s pre-freeway) and is super interesting 

 

https://www.historicaerials.com/viewer

 

Edited April 13, 20232 yr by NW24HX

6 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

If you download Google Earth Pro for desktop (it's free) you can do this

There's a time slider for aerial imagery which varies by location depending on what's available. For most of Columbus you can go back to about the mid-80s

Is it 3D though?

3 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

Is it 3D though?

 

Unfortunately, mostly no

 

However you can pan around in 3D as well as toggle on the current 3D buildings over top of the historic imagery which is interesting in its own way

 

Wasn't sure where to put these ones, but just some good perspectives from the top of the new Hilton tower.  I really like the view of the Short North.  I also really like the view of all 3 stadiums lined up.  Can only imagine in 5-10 years when there are several condo towers likely to add.  Also all the infill to come in the Warehouse/Discovery districts will be fun to watch in the coming years I'd assume mostly residential with the cities plan to continually work towards 40K+

 

I still say the 20K mark will be a tipping point for more commercial/market/restaurants to finally pull the trigger on planting roots downtown.  This city is just getting started!!

 

I also like how you can see the foothills rising in the views to the Southeast.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 20232 yr by Gnoraa

6 minutes ago, Gnoraa said:

Wasn't sure where to put these ones, but just some good perspectives from the top of the new Hilton tower.  I really like the view of the Short North.  I also really like the view of all 3 stadiums lined up.  Can only imagine in 5-10 years when there are several condo towers likely to add.  Also all the infill to come in the Warehouse/Discovery districts will be fun to watch in the coming years I'd assume mostly residential with the cities plan to continually work towards 40K+

 

I still say the 20K mark will be a tipping point for more commercial/market/restaurants to finally pull the trigger on planting roots downtown.  This city is just getting started!!

 

I also like how you can see the foothills rising in the views to the Southeast.

 

 

 

 

Nice! I posted a few evening shots a while ago in the random photos thread:

 

 

The City has announced upcoming topics for their Zone In community engagement series:

 

 

I completely forgot about the initial webinar, and can’t find the recording online yet. Anyone get a chance to catch any of it?