sans Tom Hanks...

Columbus nonprofit developer opens Chantry affordable housing project

Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball, Business First

Friday, December 22, 2006

 

National Church Residences has opened its 100-unit Commons at Chantry on Chantry Drive in Columbus.  The $11.2 million project consists of 60 two- or three-bedroom townhouse-style residences and 40 one-bedroom apartments.  The nonprofit National Church Residences owns and manages the campus, and recovery services will be provided by Maryhaven Inc.

 

The project was funded in part by the Community Shelter Board and other nonprofit and government sources and private donors.  Fifth Third, Huntington and National City banks also provided funding for the project that opened Dec.15.

 

MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/12/25/newscolumn1.html

Congratualtions to Kevin Chastine from Ohio State University. He recieved a National Planning Leadership Award for Student Planners from the American Planning Association:

 

   

Kevin Chastine (graduate student)

    Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

    Kevin Chastine has shown exceptional enthusiasm for the field of planning, not only in the classroom, but through an internship, doing community service, and serving as president of the City and Regional Planning Student Association at Ohio State University. His strong work ethic led him to receive the two university planning program awards — the First Year Student Faculty Prize and the Outstanding First Year Graduate Student Award.

 

    Typically students wait until the second year of the graduate program to begin taking studio courses, but Kevin has already participated in two studios, including work on rebuilding Mississippi gulf coast communities. He also has written articles for a university magazine, participated in a Planner's Day in School program involving sixth grade students, and raised funds to attend APA's National Planning Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2006.

 

To read about all of the awards (including one for Youngstown) go here:

http://clevelandplanner.blogspot.com/2006/12/youngstown-2010-city-vision-and-plan.html

Kevin is awesome.  Good for him!

^ You are awesome too, Mr. "Ohio."

From the 11/24/06 Dispatch:

 

Central Ohio a buyer’s market

Prices slip as housing inventory rises, experts say

Friday, November 24, 2006

Mike Pramik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A year ago, the central Ohio real-estate industry was buzzing about record inventories creating a buyer’s market for single-family homes.  That buzz was nothing more than a prelude.  Residential property listings this year were up 14.6 percent through October compared with the same period a year ago, as the number and price of homes sold have dropped.  Home buyers looking for a bargain in October got to choose from 17,746 properties on the Columbus Multiple Listing Service.

 

This year, 22,672 houses have been sold, 3.7 percent fewer than through the first 10 months of 2005.  Chris Reese, president of the Columbus Board of Realtors, said inventory levels year over year were running 30 percent higher in the summer. So from that perspective, 14.6 percent doesn’t seem too bad.  "We are having a major correction," she said. "We’ve just had year after year of record sales, and just like the stock market after a time, it’s a housing correction. When you compare us to other states and cities, I see us not being as nearly off as they are."

 

Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/24/20061124-G1-03.html

 

From Business First of Columbus, 11/27/06:

 

 

Housing construction continues slide

Business First of Columbus - November 27, 2006

 

Residential construction contracts dropped 60 percent in the Columbus area in October, while contracts for nonresidential construction fell 10 percent compared with a year earlier, according to a report from McGraw-Hill Construction.  Residential contracts last month dropped to $102.5 million, from $251.9 million in October 2005.  Nonresidential contracts totaled $153.7 million, compared with $169.9 million a year ago.  Nonresidential contracts this year - driven by big gains in the spring - are running 27.2 percent ahead of 2005, while contracts for housing have fallen 20.9 percent.

 

McGraw-Hill's research and analytics unit compiles monthly reports on construction contracts using data from Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties.  Nonresidential buildings include those for commercial, manufacturing, educational, religious and hotel uses.  Residential buildings include one- and two-family houses and apartments

 

Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/11/27/daily4.html?surround=lfn

 

From Business First of Columbus, 12/21/06:

 

 

Central Ohio home sales fall 7% in November

Business First of Columbus - December 21, 2006

 

Central Ohio saw a 7 percent drop in the number of houses sold in November, compared with a year ago.  The Columbus Board of Realtors said Thursday that 1,763 residences were sold in the region last month, down from 1,899 sold in November 2005.  The average sales price slipped 3 percent to $167,371, from $172,586 last year, with houses spending an average of 104 days on the market, compared with 86 days last year.

 

The total number of homes listed for sale in the area was up 15.4 percent from this time last year at 16,501, but the 2,899 new listings added during the month was down 13.9 percent from November 2005.  Year-to-date home sales are off 4.2 percent to 24,498, from 25,561 residences sold in 2005. Inventory grew 3.2 percent with 49,119 new listings, from 47,615 houses added in the same period last year.

 

The Columbus Board of Realtors monitors sales in all of Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Madison, Morrow and Union counties, and portions of Licking, Pickaway, Fairfield, Champaign, Clark, Knox, Logan and Marion counties.

 

Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/12/18/daily31.html

I saw alot of For Sale signs (both for pre-existing housing and undeveloped land) in NE Delaware County during my two week stay at my parents.

Bond issue for Indian Lake schools passes by two votes after recount

Lima News, 11/30/06

 

A new building project for Indian Lake schools will move forward after voters, by a slim two-vote margin, approved a bond issue for the construction of a new elementary building.  The victory was confirmed Wednesday after the Auglaize County Board of Elections conducted an automatic recount of the 16 ballots that were cast in the county for the race.

 

Logan County elections officials conducted their recount on Tuesday.  With a narrow six-vote lead with unofficial numbers, the two elections boards were forced to conduct automatic recounts and the margin of victory decreased by four votes in Logan County. The issue, a 4.2-mill bond issue for 28 years, passed 2,276 to 2,274.

 

The bond issue was needed to generate about $18.5 million to build the new 92,258-square-foot elementary building at the district complex at the intersection of state Route 234 and state Route 274 in Logan County, McGlothlin said.  The new building will consolidate two older facilities — Huntsville Elementary, which was built in 1912, and Lakeview Elementary, which was built in 1929 — which will be closed.

 

From the 12/9/06 Mansfield News Journal:

 

 

PHOTO: This home being built at 116 Bowman St. is part of the Chamber District Redevelopment project.  Dave Polcyn/News Journal

 

Chamber District neighborhood housing built with low cost in mind

By Linda Martz

News Journal

 

MANSFIELD -- The first house is under roof in the city's experiment to revitalize a neighborhood for low- to moderate-income working people.  Monark Builders is in charge of putting together the two-story house.  It was designed by Richland Correctional Institution inmates, with oversight from architect Dan Seckel. Sections were prefabricated inside prison walls by a Mansfield Correctional Institution construction crew.

 

Now, the house is being assembled at 116 Bowman St., near John Simpson Middle School.

 

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061209/NEWS01/612090312/1002/rss01

 

Statehouse walkways upgraded

January 22, 2007

 

COLUMBUS - Crumbling sidewalks and plazas around the Statehouse are being replaced at a cost of more than $1.1 million, officials said. "We've got 75 percent of it done," said William Carleton, director of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the agency in charge of overseeing the building and grounds. The work is scheduled to be done by mid-June, he said.

 

Each 2-by-2-foot square of granite weighs about 125 pounds and costs $80. Carleton said concrete, a less-costly option, was ruled out because concrete wouldn't fit with the look of the Statehouse, which underwent a $120 million renovation and restoration completed in 1996. The sidewalks being replaced were made of lighter granite blocks when they were built in the early 1990s.

 

Carleton said much of the damage was done by heavy equipment and television satellite trucks crossing and parking on sidewalks in an area that former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell used as a media briefing area before the November 2004 presidential election.

 

Read more at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070122/NEWS01/701220350/1056/COL02

Residents, complex reach compromise

Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/06

 

More than 200 people crammed into Columbus City Council chambers last night.  Many came anticipating an argument over their South Side neighborhood.  Residents there said they needed to protect it from yet another complex for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics coming in without support or their input.

 

Hadler seeks input on Columbus Square

Northland News, 3/15/06

 

The Northland Area Business Association's former president has tapped the organization to provide help on how he might best sell his retail center to shoppers and potential tenants.

 

Affordable housing efforts get help

Business First of Columbus, 3/16/06

 

Two Columbus affordable housing initiatives will receive a combined $1.7 million in funding and loans from the state for the projects' development.

From the 12/4/06 Dispatch:

 

 

RENDERING: A rendering of planned changes to the Downtown Holiday Inn  JONATHAN BARNES ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

 

CONSTRUCTION ZONE

Owner to rejuvenate Downtown Holiday Inn

Monday, December 04, 2006

Mike Pramik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The Holiday Inn Columbus City Center has become a bit long in the tooth.  The hotel’s new owner says he’s willing to put up more than $4 million to revitalize the property, which has reported low occupancy in recent years. It might not attract top acts, but it could be a star of its own right, said Ben Castera, president of Sound Hospitality of Miami.

 

Sound Hospitality paid $6.1 million in July for the 240-room property at 175 E. Town St. Castera has brought on architect Jonathan Barnes to come up with a fresh facade and other exterior changes.  Castera said that the lobby and restaurant also will be renovated, and new windows will be installed throughout the hotel.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/04/20061204-E6-00.html

 

From the 12/25/06 Dispatch:

 

 

PHOTO: Ruscilli’s Steve Houghtaling looks over the Arlington Pointe construction site at on the southeast corner of Henderson and Reed roads.  TOM DODGE

 

CONSTRUCTION ZONE

Arlington Pointe taking shape

Da Vinci’s Ristorante site is being transformed into an office and retail center

Monday, December 25, 2006

Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

It's been about seven months since Da Vinci’s Ristorante, the longtime Italian restaurant that sat at the corner of Reed and Henderson roads, has been torn down. Arlington Pointe, the office and retail center that is taking its place, is nearing completion. While the Ciotola family still owns the site and the development, Da Vinci’s won’t be part of the mix at Arlington Pointe. Tina Ciotola and her husband opened Caffe Da Vinci a few months ago at 3080 Tremont Rd.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/25/20061225-G4-00.html

 

From the 12/4/06 Dispatch:

• John Gaylord, whose family operated several Little Professor bookstores in central Ohio, is slowly building another bookstore chain. He’s opened his third Liberty Books & News in the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River. Gaylord opened a Liberty Books store last November at the Shops on Lane Avenue. The other Liberty Books is in Huntington, W.Va.

 

John Gaylord operated Little Professors in more than Ohio. There were stores in Kentucky.

 

His first store was not Liberty Books, but Empire Books at Pullman Square in downtown Huntington. He originally intended one store, but with the fledging success of the downtown operation, he is expanding his empire (no pun intended).

Embassy Suites hotel joining field at crowded Port Columbus market

 

A Columbus real estate investor plans to expand his hotel holdings by building a 185-room Embassy Suites near Port Columbus International Airport. Core Properties LLC this month secured development rights for the full-service hotel from Hilton Hotel Corp., the parent of Embassy Suites. The building is scheduled to go up on 6.5 acres amid a cluster of hotels off Cassady Avenue.

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/12/story7.html

 

From the 1/17/07 Dispatch:

 

 

Wal-Mart closing in

Latest area supercenters will open this week within I-270, evidence of the retailer’s growth strategy

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Jeffrey Sheban THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The company that made its name in small towns and rural areas is taking on the big city. Wal-Mart is opening two supercenters this week that are well away from its traditional haunts along I-270. One is in the Carriage Place Shopping Center on Bethel Road; the other is on E. Main Street Street in Whitehall. Both are in densely populated areas about 3 miles inside the Outerbelt.

 

Wal-Mart’s one-two punch to the midsection of town is the most visible evidence yet that the retail champion of the world is looking inward for further growth in Columbus. "We definitely want to have a presence in the urban areas," said Ron Mosby, a Wal-Mart spokesman for Ohio.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/17/20070117-D1-01.html

 

From ThisWeek New Albany, 2/8/07:

 

 

Columbus clears way for NACo project

Office-retail complex OK'd on Central College, just outside New Albany

Thursday, February 8, 2007

By GALE CADY WILLIAMS

ThisWeek Staff Writer  

 

Columbus City Council approved a rezoning request Jan. 29 that will allow The New Albany Co. to build another office-retail complex just outside the village corporate limits. NACo is both owner and developer of a 12.47-acre site at 6037 Central College Road. The site is on the south side of Central College Road and about 300 feet west of New Albany Road West. A slightly larger 6-plus-acre section of the site will be for retail use, and a slightly smaller 6-plus-acre plot will be for offices.

 

Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/020807/NewAlbany/News/020807-News-303453.html

 

It's being aired live tonight at 6 on GTC-3.  If you're closer to a computer, the webcast will be here...

 

http://www.columbus.gov/tv/index.htm

 

Here is an overview of what he's proposing...

 

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/22/20070222-B1-05.html

Mayor’s talk will outline plan to build sidewalks

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Developers have been sharing the cost of expansion in Columbus for nearly three years, paying upfront for some of the roads required for new subdivisions.  Now, the man who ushered in a policy called Pay as We Grow says it’s time to pay for how we grew.  Mayor Michael B. Coleman is to unveil plans today to spend $50 million to install curbs and sidewalks along busy streets in areas annexed without them nearly 60 years ago.

 

 

If Columbus had actually put pressure on developers to build some walkable communities within city limits we wouldn't need the US Treasury to build the sidewalks. They still should do something like that now and require X% of developments to comply with smart growth standards.

HOME & GARDEN SHOW 2007

LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

Spacious lofts entice people to move Downtown

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Lee Stratton, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Paul DiMeo has lofty ideals for city dwellers. The carpenter on the TV series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition has converted a number of commercial and industrial buildings in New York and Los Angeles into loft residences. "We saw some of that kind of development going on in Columbus" when the show visited, DiMeo said. The cast and crew came to the city in late November to record a segment of the ABC reality show. The production, in conjunction with M/I Homes, built a new house for the Jason Thomas family in Whitehall. Thomas was one of two former Marines who helped rescue two police officers from the rubble of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

 

Exposed brick, 12-foot-high ceilings, an urban ambience and a 10-year property-tax abatement attracted Karen and Louis Stabile to the Hartman Lofts building at E. Main and S. 4 th streets. "A brick wall is a work of art in itself," Mrs. Stabile said. Those features, plus the exposed ducts, industrial sliding doors and a sweeping view of Downtown give the 1,500-square-foot corner unit the New York or Chicago ambience they wanted, Mr. Stabile said.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/homegarden/homegarden.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/25/20070225-I1-00.html

Nice!!!

From Business First of Columbus, 1/8/07:

 

Newsmakers

Homebuilders may continue to struggle until closing months of year

Business First of Columbus - January 5, 2007

by Dan Eaton

Business First

 

Not surprisingly, the business of building and selling houses was a tough one in 2006, a condition expected to continue into 2007.  But some are beginning to see light at the end of a dark tunnel for the home building industry.  Bad for 2006, but potentially good for 2007 and beyond.

 

Unemployment, high foreclosure rates, predatory lending, cost of supplies, oil and heating products and bad press were among the factors that hurt the industry last year, Bennett said.  With economic indicators moving upward, improved interest rates and a good inventory of housing to choose from, Bennett said he expects to see buyers begin returning to the Central Ohio market this year.  "It won't be a quick, strong increase, but it'll be a steady gain," he said.  "Other metropolitan areas have rapid swings. We don't take those wild swings."

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/01/08/story13.html

 

From Business First of Columbus, 1/23/07:

 

 

Report: Housing construction plans dropped sharply in December

Business First of Columbus - January 23, 2007

 

Contracts for housing construction continued their year-long downturn with a 39 percent drop in December, while nonresidential construction contracts fell 26 percent compared with a year earlier.  A report from McGraw Hill Construction said residential contracts last month were valued at $78.2 million, compared with $127.3 million in December 2005.  Contracts for commercial construction totaled $75.6 million, down from $102.7 million a year earlier.

 

For the year, contracts for housing construction sank 24.8 percent to $1.67 billion, from $2.22 billion in 2005, while gains in the spring helped push nonresidential contracts up 16.8 percent for the year to $1.56 billion, from $1.33 billion in 2005.  McGraw-Hill's research and analytics unit compiles monthly reports on construction contracts using data from Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties.  Nonresidential buildings include those for commercial, manufacturing, educational, religious and hotel uses. Residential buildings include one- and two-family houses and apartments.

 

More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/01/22/daily7.html?surround=lfn

 

From Business First of Columbus, 1/25/07:

 

Central Ohio home sales drop 9% in December

Business First of Columbus - January 25, 2007

 

Central Ohio saw a 9 percent drop in the number of houses sold in December, while home sales for 2006 were 5 percent below 2005's totals.  The Columbus Board of Realtors said Wednesday that 1,658 residences were sold in the region last month, down from 1,829 sold in December 2005.  The average sales price last month was down 2.8 percent to $168,863, from $173,723 a year earlier, with houses spending an average of 111 days on the market, compared with 93 days in December 2005.

 

The total number of homes listed for sale in the Columbus area was up 11.6 percent to 15,613, from 13,995 in 2005, but the number of new listings added during the month was down 10.4 percent to 2,302, from 2,570.  For the year, the number of houses sold fell to 26,251, from 27,493 in 2005.

 

More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/01/22/daily17.html

 

From Business First of Columbus, 2/26/07:

 

Housing market starts '07 in a slump

Business First of Columbus - 9:56 AM EST Monday, February 26, 2007

 

The residential construction market has continued its downturn from last year, while nonresidential construction started off with a boost in contracts in January, according to a McGraw-Hill Construction report.  Contracts for future construction of single- and two-family houses and apartments in the Columbus area sank 33.8 percent to $97.2 million last month, down from $146.8 million in the same period last year, the monthly report said.

 

Meanwhile, the value of contracts for commercial construction, which include contracts in the manufacturing, education, religious and hotel industries, saw big gains.  For January, McGraw-Hill said the value for contracts in the eight-county region stood at $138.7 million, up 87.9 percent from $73.8 million in 2006.  Total building contracts grew 6.9 percent to $235.9 million, up from $220.6 million in January 2006.

 

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/26/daily1.html?from_rss=1

 

From Business First of Columbus, 2/27/07:

 

 

Home sales up for 1st time in 6 months

Business First of Columbus - 3:43 PM EST Tuesday, February 27, 2007

 

With a 12 percent increase in the number of houses sold in Central Ohio in January, the region saw its first gain in home sales since June.  The Columbus Board of Realtors said Tuesday that 1,510 residences were sold in the region last month, up from 1,346 in January 2006, ending the six-month long streak of declining sales.  The average sales price was down 3.6 percent to $166,096, from $172,267 a year earlier, with houses spending an average 114 days on the market, compared with 102 days in January 2006.  The total number of new homes listed for sale in January was flat compared with last year at about 4,154.

 

The Columbus Board of Realtors monitors sales in all of Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Madison, Morrow and Union counties and portions of Licking, Pickaway, Fairfield, Champaign, Clark, Knox, Logan and Marion counties.  The report does not include sales of new houses by builders.

 

More at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/26/daily9.html?surround=lfn

 

From the 2/14/07 Booster:

 

 

Business First of Columbus: State backs new facility for blind, deaf schools (2/5/07)

Columbus Dispatch: Schools for deaf, blind may share new campus (2/1/07)

 

Time may finally be right to combine deaf, blind schools

A Columbus official said it's too soon to start thinking about how to develop the abandoned campus.

By KATHLEEN L. RADCLIFF

 

Even though a proposal to combine the campuses of two state school is only in its preliminary states, the idea is hardly new.  Discussion over combining the Ohio State School for the Blind and the Ohio School for the Deaf sites has been under way since about 2000, said School for the Deaf Superintendent Ed Corbett.  A study by the Ohio School Facilities Commission showed that both schools meet the "two-thirds" rule -- in other words, rebuilding is recommended over renovations because the cost of renovating is more than two-thirds the cost of rebuilding -- and both have been waiting for an opportunity to go ahead with rebuilding plans.

 

"The timing has always been wrong in the past ... (recently) it became right," Corbett, who is hearing-impaired, said through an interpreter.

 

Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS2-14/2-14_bostateschools.html

 

State approves $5.1M in funding for local housing projects

Business First of Columbus - February 23, 2007

 

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency's board has approved more than $5.1 million in funding and loans for affordable housing projects in Central Ohio. The following projects were approved for funding:

 

* The Columbus Housing Partnership Inc. will receive $250,000 to build and rehabilitate City View Homes, a 35-home housing project in Franklinton. City View Homes LLC is also slated to receive a $1 million loan for a construction deposit and a $1 million loan to assist with other development costs.

 

* Housing Services Alliance Inc. is slated to receive $550,000 to acquire and rehabilitate Luke's Crossing in Licking County. Additionally, the 45-unit Luke's Crossing Limited Partnership will receive a $100,000 start-up loan and another $1 million loan to help with development.

 

* Inner City Catholic Parishes Inc. is in line to receive $250,000 to rehabilitate the 211-unit Nazareth Towers in Columbus.

 

* Riverside Mill Development LLC is slated to receive $450,000 to build Riverside Mill Homes II, a six-home housing project in Grove City.

 

* Zanesville Housing Development Corp. will receive $550,000 for the Zanesville Family Homes II, which has 50 houses in Muskingum County.

 

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/19/daily32.html?from_rss=1

 

New signs to beckon visitors

Council OKs $588,000 for Downtown upgrade

ROBERT VITALE | [email protected]

March 6, 2007

 

COLUMBUS - Out-of-towners chugging along in the left lane on Front Street need to make some quick maneuvers by the time they see a small green sign that points the way to the Statehouse.  They have plenty of time to find their way to the Arena District, though, from a huge sign outside the Franklin County Courthouse that points them west instead of north.

 

Columbus spends a lot of money every year to lure visitors, but it doesn’t offer much help directing them.

 

City Council members approved $588,000 last night for an overhaul of Downtown signs that officials said will give a more hospitable welcome to people navigating around town. Dozens of new signs, uniform in color and design, will replace the few that were erected by the state and city.

 

Full article at

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/06/20070306-D1-01.html

The sticker price of $558,000 does sound much more realistic than the previously quoted figure of $1.5 million. Just about anything will be an improvement over the sporadic and inconsistant wayfinding signage that currently dots downtown.

 

They also voted last night to spend $600,000 for a makeover of High and Broad streets, around a $15 million development of condominiums, retail and office space at the historic intersection.

 

The city will reimburse project owner Casto for granite, brick and concrete sidewalks, granite curbs, trees and decorative streetlights, said David Bush, interim public-service director.

 

"This is a lot of money, but certainly Broad and High is the heart of ‘the heart of it all,’ " said Councilwoman Maryellen O’Shaughnessy. "It’s a very important corner, and it has been neglected for way too long."

 

Hold up. Shouldn't this money be going to the proposed median on Broad St.? The sidewalks sound pretty and all, but the Broad St. median has been proposed for ages. If the money was available to throw at Casto, why couldn't it have been put into the median instead?

People wouldn't need signs all that much with a streetcar going to all major sights & neighborhoods, but I digress. It sure would be nice if we had a downtown 1st before they go and make some big nice signs for it. It's still a work in progress. Wait, a "Capitol District" sign? They might as well make a sign for the "Market Exchange District" (which, with a few residential projects going on & a couple finished something is starting to happen, but let's not get ahead of ourselves).

One of the great things about Urban Ohio is that is shows (reminds) you how long it takes local government to get something done.  We started talking about this in 11/05 and this is now just making progress.

From New Albany News, 3/7/07:

 

 

Problems persist over Hamilton Road development plans

By JENNIFER WRAY

 

Casto Development and The New Albany Co., is helping the developers in their efforts to rezone 330 acres around the Hamilton Road-state Route 161 interchange to allow for, among other things, a 187,000-square-foot Super Target. Roughly 60 acres originally planned to be part of the project were pulled from the rezoning request last month because of concerns regarding wetlands development. Despite that change, the developers' overall plans still have the residents of the neighboring Albany Park subdivision crying foul.

 

Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS3-7/3-7_nanndvlpmt.html

 

Business First of Columbus - March 12, 2007

 

City planners studying downtown parking

Business First of Columbus - March 9, 2007

by Brian R. Ball, Business First

 

The expected loss of 5 percent of downtown parking lots to redevelopment this year has planners looking at how to put the parking puzzle back together for three areas of Columbus.  Condominiums planned along East Gay Street and two projects in the RiverSouth District have prompted the city and Capitol South Community Redevelopment Corp. to study parking problems in those areas,where a combined 1,600 to 1,800 spaces are expected to be lost. 

 

Officials expect the three-month study to identify sites where parking garages could be built.  City officials need those answers because they think alleviating chronic parking shortages downtown could help attract employers to set up shop in the center city.

 

Full story at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/03/12/story5.html 

Also...

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/12/20070312-E4-01.html

 

Monday, March 12, 2007

Mike Pramik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Brick - a - brac

 

• With several big residential, office and civic projects on tap between now and the city’s bicentennial in 2012, Columbus needs to redefine its parking strategy, said Guy Worley, chief executive of Capitol South Urban Redevelopment Corp. Capitol South has retained Walker Parking Consultants of Kalamazoo, Mich., to help it find locations for new parking garages Downtown. Worley said Capitol South is working with a panel of government and business leaders on the study, which he expects to be completed in 75 days.

 

 

Well this is a good problem to have...I wonder if the reason behind some of these projects getting off the ground is due to the fact that they didn't have to provide parking upfront.  I think thats a good move on Cbus' part, but who knows the eventual demolition of neighboring buildings might come to make way for cheaper surface lot parking rather than the construction of a garage.

I hope not.  We already have too many surface lots.  No question that parking is needed, but developers need to think vertically or at least incorporate underground parking in their buildings.

 

Ultimately though, some of that parking need could be reduced or eliminated by developing the downtown streetcar system and incorporating it with an agressive plan to build light rail. Let's hope that idea is planted with Mr. Worley as well.

It's a good problem to have, but if we don't address it correctly, it negates the progress we're making.

 

Mr. Worley - Repeat after me..."Structured parking with street level retail space."

 

This would be a good time to have a coordinated email campaign from UrbanOhioans.

Also, check the pricing first. Almost all municipal lot, garage and curb parking is underpriced, which is why you can never find a space. The estra revenue could be used to fund additional spaces if need or to operate the streetcar.

I know it's been said many times, many ways...but the sheer volume of surface lot parking downtown is staggering. The resulting lack of density is disheartening, as well. There is exactly one intersection downtown where one feels as if they are in a worldclass downtown--Chestnut and High Street. Everywhere else, it's all daylight and asphalt. I admit this is a fairly superficial criterion, but it has at least two iotas of merit. The first place developers should be looking for parking is up. The upfront investment will be larger, but so, too, will be the dividends. If Columbus developers can't see that, then they ought to be developing new vocations.

The Washington Rich Townhomes look like something Peter Eisenman would come up with.

Statehouse ‘crypt’ will be resurrected as museum

Board OKs plans despite some concerns

BY ALAN JOHNSON | [email protected]

March 14, 2007

 

IMAGE: This rendering of the new Statehouse museum shows the video displays and other interactive features that will be put up in the basement. The work is expected to be completed by March 1, 2009.

HILFERTY MUSEUM PLANNING AND EXHIBIT DESIGN

 

List of corporate donors to the project.

 

COLUMBUS - In an area where horses were stabled during the Civil War, a glittering $3.5 million interactive vision of Ohio history will be installed at the Statehouse.  The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board unanimously approved plans yesterday to convert the Statehouse basement, known as "the crypt," into museum space.  About $2.75 million is expected to come from private contributors, with the Ohio General Assembly’s $747,000 allocation accounting for the rest of the cost.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/03/14/20070314-B4-00.html

Can't say enough about the importance of private donors to a city and state's livelihood.  The ability to upgrade things that aren't really necessary without having to answer questions about inappropriate use of taxpayer money is pretty important.

^Wasn't a good portion of Nationwide Arena funded privately (nationwide insurance)?  And you're right that good corporate citizen is priceless...another city with great examples of good corporate citizenry is Indianapolis.

DeVere goes commercial at 232 N. 3rd

 

Columbus developer Don DeVere has landed a familiar office tenant to anchor a 100-year-old warehouse building he considered turning into housing.  Architects Tim Welsh and Christopher Meyers plan to move their expanding Meyers Welsh Architecture & Design Ltd. this year into about 13,000 square feet on the first two floors of 232 N. Third St. The firm fills 6,000 square feet in DeVere's building at 15 E. Gay.

 

"They've kind of grown into the nooks and crannies at 15 E. Gay and they're just busting at the seams," DeVere said. "This project presented itself and it turned out to be a good fit."

 

Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/03/19/story6.html?b=1174276800^1432709

^Wasn't a good portion of Nationwide Arena funded privately (nationwide insurance)? 

 

Yes (on both accounts).  In fact, Nationwide Insurance owns much of the "Arena District."