Yay, the Dispatch says Merion Village is "trendy"  :lol:

 

Hot neighborhood: In trendy Merion Village, the real-estate market is sizzling

By Debbie Gebolys, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A real-estate secret on the South Side seems to have leaked out. Home values are rising dramatically in Merion Village, a long overlooked neighborhood that abuts German Village.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2005/03/28/20050328-C1-03.html

good news. that nabe is a gimme for gentrifying!

 

why am i not surprized the dispatch is slow on the draw about this?

"When you bring the gay people in, the neighborhood gets nicer"

 

Quote of urban renewal

I remember driving up Parsons Aveneu from that big foundry or steel mill on the south end of town...the area looked pretty rough. 

 

That map upthread...I didn't know Columbus' south side had that many identifiable neighborhoods...Hungarian Villiage?  Shumacher Place?

 

Cols is getting more and more interesting...I can see I need to explore more over there....

 

 

 

 

Yeah, the area you mentioned is south of that map, closer to route 104 I believe by the neighborhood once known as Steelton, and yes it is pretty shady down there. However there are plans to revitalize that area of the South Side too, starting at the recently vacated Shottensteins Dept store. There was an extensive article in the Dispatch recently about it (the article mentions that it's not clear who owns the land where the old Schottenstein's store sits, but a later article mentions that the land was donated to an OSU foundation, the city is working with the foundation and Retail Ventures to secure the land):

 

DOWN FOR THE COUNT?

Schottenstein's closing is latest blow to reeling neighborhood on South Side

Debbie Gebolys and Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

When Schottenstein's closed last week after more than nine decades on Parsons Avenue, the neighborhood's welcome mat went with it.  The discount department store that started a retail empire was the last draw to a downtrodden stretch of bars, storefront churches, pawn shops and used appliance and furniture stores, neighborhood activists say.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/dispatch/2005/03/29/20050329-C1-03.html

"You give us two years and $10 million and they'll be talking about Parsons Avenue as the next Easton and Polaris," he said. "We're going to have the delis, the diners, the bakeries, the specialty shops. . . . We'll be the ones they'll be talking about."

 

That's pushing it but hey, atleast they have ambition.

That's what I was thinking. The neighborhood might be destroyed, but it looks like the spirit of those that live there is not. Hopefully with that mindset, they can see their neighborhood start to turn back around in their lifetime.

Merion Village is west of Parsons Ave.  Between Parsons and High St. so its not the slightly shady area your thinking of.  There's an outstanding amount of development in the neighborhoods surrounding downtown.  If Columbus' old city limits has lost some population that is the near east side areas.  The amount of development that is occurring in the urban neighborhoods in the central city (Brewery District, Merion Village, Short North, Victorian Village, downtown, Italian Village, Olde Town East and near Franklin Conservatory) is at a level unheard of in the Columbus' recent history and will be enough to  offset any previous population lost.

From ThisWeek Newspapers, 7/10/05:

 

 

Strategic vision for Parsons Avenue

Columbus firm to be consultant for plan

Sunday, July 10, 2005

By MARK A. CLAFFEY, ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

The Columbus planning firm of Burns, Bertsch and Harris (BBH) has been selected by a committee of South Side residents as the company to prepare a strategic vision plan for the area surrounding South Parsons Avenue.

 

"They were already very familiar with the city's South Side," said Rowena Onesko, a member of the nine-person selection committee. "I was very impressed with their plan and their ideas to get input from the children in the schools."

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/071005/South/News/071005-News-616335.html

 

Does "strategic vision plan" equal "streetscape" or are they different in this case?

I took it to mean a "comprehensive neighborhood plan" for the areas along and adjacent to Parsons.

 

The website is up, but there's nothing there yet.

From ThisWeek Newspapers (South Side), 9/4/05:

 

 

Parsons Avenue

Residents can provide input at meetings

Sunday, September 4, 2005

By MARK A. CLAFFEY

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

South Side residents can share their thoughts on the future of what is known as the Parsons Avenue Vision Plan at one of nine community meetings in the next seven months.

 

"We want to listen to the people about this project before any plans are finalized," said Dale Bertsch, a planner with the Columbus planning firm of Burns, Bertsch and Harris (BBH). "The public's feelings on this issue are very important."

 

The firm has until next spring to present a plan to Columbus Urban Growth to bring back commercial and retail development to the community. Any plan must receive final approval by Columbus City Council. Council authorized spending $80,000 to hire BBH to conduct the study.

 

Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/090405/South/News/090405-News-4486.html

 

From ThisWeek Newspapers (South Side), 9/11/05:

 

 

Parsons Avenue

Residents hope to retain local businesses in area

Sunday, September 11, 2005

By MARK A. CLAFFEY

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Business owners along Parsons Avenue need to pay attention to what is being stated by South Side residents at community meetings mapping out the future of the corridor, according to one local business owner.  Meetings are also scheduled with the Parsons Avenue Merchants Association on Dec. 1 and Jan. 5 and with the Parsons Avenue Corridor Development Group on Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Jan. 19.  For more information on the Parsons Avenue Vision Plan, visit www.parsonsvisionplan.org.

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/091105/South/News/091105-News-8697.html

 

From ThisWeek Southside, 10/23/05:

 

 

DEADLINE IN THE SPRING

Details of Parsons 'Vision Plan' to be unveiled on Nov. 3

Community, school and business leaders invited to 3-hour session

Sunday, October 23, 2005

By MARK A. CLAFFEY

ThisWeek Staff Writer  

 

Preliminary details of the Parsons Avenue Vision Plan will be revealed to the community during a Nov. 3 community meeting scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. at the South Side Settlement House, 310 E. Innis Ave., according to Dale Bertsch, a planner with the Columbus planning firm of Burns, Bertsch and Harris.

 

Columbus City Council authorized spending $80,000 in May to hire a planning firm to conduct the study and Burns, Bertsch and Harris was selected in July by a committee of residents to prepare a strategic plan for the area surrounding South Parsons Avenue.  The firm has until spring to present a plan to Columbus Urban Growth and Columbus City Council that would bring commercial and retail development back to the community.

 

Read more at

http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/102305/South/News/102305-News-34647.html

 

From ThisWeek South Side, 11/13/05:

 

 

Preliminary data unveiled for Parsons Vision Plan

Business and community leaders pleased with progress of study

Sunday, November 13, 2005

By MARK A. CLAFFEY

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

Initial data by the Columbus planning firm of Burns, Bertsch and Harris (BBH) indicates that 21 percent of retail establishments along the Parsons Avenue corridor deal in automotive sales, resales, parts and service.  The preliminary study also shows that industrial properties could be better encouraged along the corridor with the construction of a trade or technical school.

 

"This type of data can help us learn what the neighborhood is lacking and start the ball rolling to bring back the retail and the type of development to the neighborhood that everybody wants," Nancy Patzer of Vogt, Williams and Bowen, LLC, told a group of more than 50 business and community leaders Nov. 3 at the South Side Pride Center on Innis Avenue.

 

Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/111305/South/News/111305-News-46607.html

 

 

For more information on the Parsons Avenue Vision Plan, visit www.parsonsvisionplan.org

From ThisWeek South Side, 1/6/06:

 

 

PARSONS AVENUE

Vision Plan moves to strategy phase

By TRISTAN CROWE

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

The Parsons Avenue Vision Plan group addressed at a Dec. 19 meeting improvements that could occur along a three-mile stretch of Parsons Avenue.  Mike Wiles, president of the Council of South Side Organizations, said the group is well beyond the general planning stages and into developing concrete strategies.

 

http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=South&story=thisweeknews/010106/South/News/010106-News-73564.html

 

EPA weighs in on pollution at South Side foundry

Columbus Steel lags on equipment fixes, report says

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Spencer Hunt

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

 

 

Columbus Steel Castings soon could face a state order to curb the smoke and foul odors neighbors have complained about for years. An Ohio Environmental Protection Agency investigation and report, spurred by some of those complaints, calls the South Side foundry a "public nuisance." It says the company should do more to reduce pollution.

Craig Butler, the Ohio EPA’s central district director, said the problems spring from equipment breakdowns that let smoke escape from windows and vents. He said repairs sometimes take weeks...

 

[email protected]

 

http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/11/20060211-D1-04.html

From ThisWeek German Village, 3/9/06:

 

 

PARSONS AVENUE

Gateways could prompt redevelopment

Thursday, March 9, 2006

By SUE HAGAN

ThisWeek Staff Writer

 

The consultants putting together an economic development plan for Parsons Avenue came up with three "gateways" that lend themselves best to redevelopment.  They are located at three sections of the corridor: from East Columbus to Kossuth streets, which includes the current Parsons Avenue branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library; the Columbus Metropolitan Area Community Action Organization (CMACAO) site at Parsons and Reinhard Avenue; and the stretch between Innis Avenue and Marion Road, including the Schottenstein building, which closed more than a year ago.  The plan proposes the following as gateways to ongoing redevelopment:

 

* A "northern cluster" of retail establishments -- such as restaurants and banks -- to replace the current Parsons library site and some nearby properties. According to the planners, such enterprises would be attractive to Children's Hospital employees and to the residents who live nearby. The library would move to another location, which has not yet been chosen.

 

* The single-story portion of the CMACAO building would be removed, and the rest of the building and surrounding area would be restored and adapted for other uses.

 

* The proposal for the Schottenstein area is the most complicated, combining neo-traditional houses with commercial uses that could include a call center, affordable senior housing and a COTA transportation hub.

 

* Across Parsons, near Marion Road, the drawings show a farm market and a pocket park.

 

Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/thisweek.php?edition=GermanVillage&story=thisweeknews/030906/GermanVillage/News/030906-News-109173.html

 

From the 4/4/06 Dispatch:

 

 

MAP

 

City buying South Side lots

$1.6 million bond approval part of plan to reclaim neighborhood

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Debbie Gebolys

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

More than a year after Schottenstein’s closed its decrepit landmark store on S. Parsons Avenue, the city’s effort to reclaim the neighborhood is taking shape.  The Columbus City Council agreed last night to buy 33 properties close to the former Schottenstein’s store, the first of what is expected to be several purchases along Parsons Avenue.

 

The council approved $1.6 million in bond funds to buy roughly two city blocks west of Parsons between Barthman and Innis avenues. The properties include a closed grocery store, a body shop, a church and several houses and duplexes. In all, the city is buying property from 13 owners. Much of it is owned by various Schottenstein family trusts.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/04/04/20060404-D2-00.html

 

Columbus buying Parsons land in economic-development bid

Business First of Columbus - 1:06 PM EDT Tuesday

 

The city of Columbus is buying $1.6 million of property on South Parsons Avenue in a bid to redevelop the south-side neighborhood's economy and attract jobs.  The purchase of about 30 parcels along South Parsons is part of an initiative by Columbus Urban Growth Corp., a nonprofit development company affiliated with the city, and Columbus City Council to attract private investment to an area hit hard by job losses and business closings.

 

For more information on the Parsons Avenue Vision Plan, visit www.parsonsvisionplan.org

 

City buying former Schottenstein’s building

Officials won’t reveal cost, plans for site until deal is done

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Jodi Andes THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Columbus is in the process of buying the old Schottenstein’s store, a building that has been touted as key to revitalizing a section of the South Side along S. Parsons Avenue.  City officials announced the pending deal yesterday, which hinges on several things, including approval from Columbus City Council. The deal is expected to close in the next 30 days, Columbus Urban Growth spokesman Mike Duffey said.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/29/20060729-C2-02.html

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/08/14/daily19.html 

 

Columbus Steel Casting to spend $200K to update plant

Business First of Columbus - 3:42 PM EDT Wednesday

 

The Columbus Steel Castings Co. will spend a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to repair its water replacement systems, retaining hundreds of jobs and making the plant more environmentally-friendly.

 

Franklin County applied for the state's Industrial Site Improvement Fund grant in December, and voted to accept it Tuesday for the following improvements to Columbus Steel's headquarters on South Parsons Avenue...

From the 8/25/06 Dispatch:

 

PHOTO: Yvonne Collins, left, and Lee Carter, who worked cleaning the building, pack up supplies at the John R. Maloney Health Center on Parsons Avenue after its abrupt closure. The building is unstable and falling apart.

 

CRUMBLING BUILDING

South Side losing its health center

City scrambling to help clients get their services; plan is to rebuild center

Friday, August 25, 2006

Kevin Kidder

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The John R. Maloney Health Center on the South Side closed unexpectedly yesterday and will be torn down following inspections that found the building is falling apart, Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s office said last night.  The city-owned building’s façade has been sinking, causing it to crack and crumble, an inspection showed.  That prompted an emergency order from the mayor to close the city-run health clinic at 1833 S. Parsons Ave.  Severe roof leaks also had plagued the building, leading to mold.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/25/20060825-E1-01.html

 

From the 8/26/06 Dispatch:

 

GRAPHIC: Alternative sites

 

PHOTO: Barriers and warning tape keep former patrons away from the John R. Maloney Health Center on Parsons Ave. The 14-year-old building was deemed dangerous by city inspectors and abruptly was closed Thursday.  RENEE SAUER DISPATCH

 

Closing brings questions

Clients of South Side clinic redirected as city seeks answers on decline of 14-year-old building

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Mark Ferenchik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

All she was looking for at the John R. Maloney Health Center yesterday were the results of some medical tests. But Carmen Marte, a Columbus resident for a month and a half, walked out frustrated. Marte showed up yesterday, unaware that the mayor had shut down the clinic because the 14-year-old South Side building that houses it is unsafe.  In the meantime, Mayor Michael B. Coleman told department heads yesterday to gather records on the 14-year-old building at 1833 S. Parsons Ave.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/26/20060826-C1-01.html

From the 2/24/07 Dispatch:

 

 

South Side plant could be revived

Former Techneglas building center of redevelopment plan

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Debbie Gebolys

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A South Side neighborhood that?s taken its share of hard knocks could be poised to return to better economic days. City officials say they?re willing to do whatever it takes to help the former Techneglas plant, empty since 2004, become home to hundreds of workers. It?s the latest of three sizable developments announced for the Parsons Avenue corridor between Children?s Hospital and Rt. 104.

 

Last year, Columbus officials said they planned to buy the former Schottenstein?s store and use it as the foundation for a retail redevelopment. Children?s Hospital is expanding its campus. And Mayor Michael B. Coleman on Thursday announced city support for renovating centuryold Techneglas quarters to become home to a group of businesses.

 

Westerville developer Marvin Katz, who grew up on the South Side, wants to convert the 1 million-square-foot, former television picture-tube plant into a combination of offices, lightindustrial space and retail outlets that could employ hundreds.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/24/20070224-C1-03.html

 

Didn't know about Merion Village, Hungarian Village or Schumacher Place even though I lived in Columbus for 20 years.

I think the only people who really know about them are people who live on the South side of downtown and between High and Parsons.

South Side may get housing cooperative

Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 3:07 AM

By Mark Ferenchik, The Columbus Dispatch

 

Cooperative housing, common in many large cities but foreign to Columbus, is being proposed to help spur the renovation of a South Side neighborhood.  A nonprofit group wants to build "co-ops" on city-owned land between Reeb and Barthman avenues behind the old Parsons Avenue Schottenstein department store.  Cooperative housing is supposed to give people the chance to build some equity when they otherwise wouldn't be able to buy a home.  The building is to cost $3 million and have up to 24 units.

 

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/05/17/COOPHOUSE.ART_ART_05-17-08_C8_QSA7M4N.html?sid=101

Things are beginning to heat up in the Parsons Avenue commercial corridor.  Columbusite's recent photo thread (which can be viewed here) documented its current down-and-out nature.  However, Childrens Hospital is currently in the middle of a $842 million implementation of their 2012 Master Plan.  That plan would redevelop their main campus at the northeast corner of Parsons and Livingston Avenue.  The hospital recently completed a new parking garage at the southeast corner of Parsons and Livingston.  The northwest corner of Parsons and Livingston is owned by the hospital and is listed in the 2012 Master Plan as a future West Campus. 

 

These Childrens Hospital projects and some recent news about a mystery project at Parsons and Kossuth reported here at ColumbusUnderground inspired me to start this project thread. 

First, some background on the Childrens Hospital projects at Parsons Avenue and Livingston Avenue.  Childrens Hospital is in the middle of a $842 million redevelopment of their main campus and in the process of implementing their 2012 Master Plan. 

 

This has been discussed in this thread and in the recent Business First article "Children’s Hospital expansion reaches beyond campus boundaries".  The first image is a map of the current Parsons and Livingston intersection from the Franklin County Auditor website.  The second image is Childrens Hospital 2012 Master Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

SE CORNER (PARSONS & LIVINGSTON) AND NEARBY LIVINGSTON AVENUE PROJECTS

Childrens Hospital has a trio of recently completed projects on the south side of Livingston Avenue.  The Livingston Avenue Parking Garage which fronts both Livingston and Parsons.  The Ronald McDonald House which is further west on Livingston.  And the Center for Child and Family Advocacy office building which located between the Parking Garage and the Ronald McDonald House.  Let's take a look at them - starting with the Ronald McDonald House on Livingston and moving west toward Parsons Avenue.

 

1) RONALD McDONALD HOUSE - 711 E. LIVINGSTON AVENUE

According to the Hospital website, the Ronald McDonald House houses 80 guest rooms and was opened in July 2008.  Unfortunately, the most recent auditors photo is from Nov. 18, 2007, when the building was still under construction.  The smaller photo shows the completed building from the hospital website.

 

 

 

2) CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCACY - 655 E. LIVINGSTON AVENUE

This is a two-story 28,500 sq. ft. office building.  Here is a view of the completed building from Livingston Avenue from the auditor website, which unfortunately is only a partial view of the entire building.

 

 

3) LIVINGSTON AVENUE PARKING GARAGE

According to the hospital website, this is a 1500-space garage that is dedicated for hospital staff parking and was opened in February 2008.  The parking garage fronts both Livingston Avenue and Parsons Avenue.  But the garage footprint does not extend to the corner of Livingston and Parsons.  The corner is occupied by a KFC restaurant.  The parking garage was actually built around the KFC!  Quite an unusual arrangement! 

 

I don't know the history of the parking garage project or why the KFC remains at the corner.  However, it is quite possible that Childrens Hospital and the KFC owner could not come to an agreement to purchase the property.  According to the auditors website, this KFC property is corporately owned, not locally owned.  Maybe corporate KFC asked for an extremely high price and Childrens said "to hell with KFC, we'll build around you".  Because that's what it looks like.  Anyway, here are views of the parking garage looking from Livingston moving toward the KFC at corner of Parsons & Livingston.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SW CORNER (PARSONS & LIVINGSTON) - FORMER BOBB CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP PROPERTY OWNED BY BOBB CHEVROLET

This is the former location of a Bobb Chevrolet dealership and service center.  It is currently closed but is still owned by Bobb Chevrolet.  According to the auditor website, the property contains 4.35 acres.  Currently there are no known redevelopment plans for this property.  Its a potentially prime corner property for a relatively large scale new development project. 

 

The map is from the auditor website and shows the Bobb Chevy property hi-lighted in tan.  The photo is from the original post.  The view is from Livingston looking toward Parsons - the Bobb Chevy property is on the right in the photo.

 

 

 

 

NW CORNER (PARSONS & LIVINGSTON) - WENDY'S, FORMER KROGER STORE AND OTHER PROPERTY OWNED BY CHILDRENS HOSPITAL

This property is shown in the Hospital's 2012 Master Plan as their "Future West Campus".  Currently, no details are available on the future West Campus from the hospital.

 

This is a parcel map showing the northwest corner of Parsons and Livingston.  Childrens Hospital owns all the property in the area bordered by Livingston to the south, Parsons to the east, I-70 to the north and the Columbus Public Schools Africentric property to the west (this property is hi-lighted in tan).  This corner contains a Wendy's restaurant that is still operating.  There are hospital administrative offices in a one-story building located next to the school property.  There is a hospital-owned orthopedic office building located next to I-70.

 

The photo is from the original post.  The view is from Livingston looking toward Parsons - the Wendy's/former Kroger property is on the left in the photo.

 

 

 

 

NE CORNER (PARSONS & LIVINGSTON) - CHILDRENS HOSPITAL MAIN CAMPUS

 

And finally we get to Childrens Hospital Main Campus, which is the main focus of the $842 million investment.  Below is a Business First map of the main campus work to be done.  The final image is the new hospital tower, which is currently under construction.  The campus graphic and tower rendering are from the Business First articles "Children’s Hospital expansion reaches beyond campus boundaries" and "Features of new Nationwide Children's tower"

 

 

Next, the recent news from Columbus Underground about Parsons & Kossuth.  As reported at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/the-mystery-project-at-parsons-038-kossuth:

 

Q: "Mr. Coolbuckeye mentioned a development project that he spotted at the corner of Kossuth and Parsons.  I had no clue what he was talking about and looked for it on my way back home, and then it hit me.  I recalled a few weeks ago seeing that old abandoned sandwich shop next to the Library being torn down."

 

A: "The lot has been leased to Nationwide Children's Hospital and it is where they will relocate Family Dollar (because they still have an active lease) that is currently in the old Kroger complex on the Northwest corner of Livingston and Parsons Avenue, so that Childrens they may begin constrution of a new phase."

 

Here is a site map of Parsons and Kossuth, with the hospital owned parcel highlighted.  It is located immediately south of a Columbus Public Library branch at Parsons and Columbus:

 

Columbusite caught the parcel being demo'd on his photo thread.  This is a view from the Library looking south toward the hospital parcel where a new Family Dollar will be built:

 

This is good news on two fronts.  One is the construction of a new Family Dollar on Parsons Avenue.  Because it is being built in a City Urban Commercial Overlay zone, it is likely to placed either at or near the street corner with any parking being located at the side or back of the property.  So its probably not going to be a junky looking store and it should pair nicely with the existing Library property on the same block.

 

The second bit of good news is that the existing Family Dollar store next to the closed Kroger store at Parsons and Livingston Avenue will be relocating to this new location.  This would free up this key location for Childrens Hospital to construct its West Campus part of its 2012 Master Plan.  And that might be the best news.  Because it shows that Childrens Hospital is very serious about implementing its master plan.

Finally, one more piece of news also as reported at http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/the-mystery-project-at-parsons-038-kossuth:

 

"Also, Bobb Chevrolet has just presented to the Schumacher Place neighborhood for a demolition permit on the southwest corner of Livingston and Parsons.  They intend to lease the lot to several business the first of which is CVS that will be situated right on the corner." 

 

That is this parcel that is highlighted below.  As was posted previously, Bobb Chevrolet relocated from this location.  The demolition would be for the remaining auto dealership buildings on the property to clear the way for new development. 

I appreciate the info, but Children's plan doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I mean, this whole stretch of Livingston east  and west of Parsons is effectively a deadzone including a cartoon greenspace where a short series of residential and commercial could exist to front Livingston and lend some life, but they want nothing in the way of the view of their new shiny building.

 

The urban Family Dollar is good news, though.

 

PS. Don't mention that Parsons is "down-and-out" to Walker, everything there is just fine!  ;)

I appreciate the info, but Children's plan doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I mean, this whole stretch of Livingston east  and west of Parsons is effectively a deadzone including a cartoon greenspace where a short series of residential and commercial could exist to front Livingston and lend some life, but they want nothing in the way of the view of their new shiny building.

 

The urban Family Dollar is good news, though.

 

PS. Don't mention that Parsons is "down-and-out" to Walker, everything there is just fine!  ;)

 

Buzz Killington

 

 

 

PS. Don't mention that Parsons is "down-and-out" to Walker, everything there is just fine!  ;)

 

When have I ever said that? I mean... I'm confident that the whole area will continue to turn around, but it's pretty obvious that it has a long ways to go.

Aw, don't be too hard on Columbusite.  He really does mean well.  And I do understand where he's coming from in his Childrens Hospital criticism.  Hospital campuses don't really do mixed uses with street level retail.  And the plan for the northeast corner of Parsons and Livingston is pretty standard hospital campus design. 

 

However, I think Childrens Hospital plans are beginning to shake the rust off Parsons Avenue.  The new urban Family Dollar store is a spin-off of the West Campus portion of the master plan.  If not for the need for the current Family Dollar location, Childrens wouldn't have acquired land further south on Parsons for a new urban store.  I also think the design of the West Campus area could have a greater impact on the Parsons/Livingston intersection than anything else Childrens might do. 

 

If Childrens produces high quality urban design that addresses this important corner, then that would be a powerfully positive influence on the streets surrounding the hospital campus.  Although, we haven't seen any design yet, Childrens track record of design on Livingston Avenue offers hope for traditional contextual urbanism.  And I think the design of the buildings on the streets surrounding the hospital campus will ultimately be more important than the hospital campus itself.  If the streets surrounding the campus have well designed traditonal urban design, then the park and tower design of the campus can act as a counterpoint to the surroundings. 

 

What Childrens does with its West Campus corner of Parsons/Livingston and ultimately what happens on the former Bobb Chevrolet corner of Parsons/Livingston is what should set the stage for the rest of the Parsons Avenue commercial corridor.

Financing problems derail South Side housing project

Group unlikely to buy site for co-op units

Friday,  July 24, 2009 - 3:11 AM

By Mark Ferenchik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A nonprofit group has dropped plans to build a 28-unit cooperative-housing project off Parsons Avenue on the South Side, citing bad market conditions and the difficulty of obtaining financing.  The decision by Community Development for All People leaves the future of the site, near the old Schottenstein store, in doubt.  The 1-acre site is among the 47 properties that the city bought for $2.7 million to redevelop the area.

 

The city allocated $450,000 in federal neighborhood-stabilization money this month for the project, a main component in the effort to turn around a neighborhood struggling with foreclosures, blight and crime.  The city planned to invest $450,000 more in the project, which was expected to cost $3.5 million to $4 million.  The city also planned to spend an additional $320,000 on road and utilities improvements, Teaford said.

 

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/24/COOPHOUSE.ART_ART_07-24-09_A14_CKEIIEM.html?sid=101

The project site in the previously posted article "Financing problems derail South Side housing project: Group unlikely to buy site for co-op units" is located about 1.5 miles south of the Childrens Hospital related projects discussed earlier.  But I think the failure of this project points to why I'm bullish on Childrens Hospital involvement having a positive impact on Parsons Avenue's future. 

 

Non-profit development groups, like the one in this article, can have enthusiasm and good ideas.  What they sometimes lack are resources and ability to bring those good ideas to fruition.  And so these groups tend to have high failure rates. 

 

On the other hand, Childrens Hospital has the resources and the proven ability to make projects happen.  Now Childrens isn't going to revitalize the entire Parsons corridor.  Nor should they.  But what they do at Parsons and Livingston can form a solid base for other groups to build on.

 

PS. Don't mention that Parsons is "down-and-out" to Walker, everything there is just fine!  ;)

 

When have I ever said that? I mean... I'm confident that the whole area will continue to turn around, but it's pretty obvious that it has a long ways to go.

 

That's what I got from this,

 

The only “problem” I see with Parsons is that it is a mixed corridor unlike High Street from Downtown all the way up beyond the Campus area. Parsons has a block or two of businesses, then a block or two of homes, and so on.

 

though I do agree with your observation.

Well, I meant that was the only real structural problem I see with the corridor when trying to compare it to a High Street redevelopment as you were doing. I didn't mean that the area has absolutely NO other problems. ;)

Another potential change for the southern section of Parsons Avenue.  Last month brought news that the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority board has agreed to sell its Sawyer Towers and Lincoln Park apartment complexes to Vaios Theodorakos, a public housing turnaround specialist from Massachusetts.  His company's intent is to turn the two public housing projects into private housing.  The Dispatch had a write-up about the Lincoln Park complex located east of Parsons Avenue.  Below is an excerpt of that write-up and a link to the full article:

 

Neighbors hope 'turnaround czar' can fulfill promise

 

At first glance, the Lincoln Park apartment complex on the city's South Side hardly sits in an ideal location.  The neighborhood is home to the shuttered Techneglas factory, the worn-out Federal Industrial Park and the closed Barack Recreation Center.  So for a Massachusetts man to come in and promise to clean up the crime-ridden complex of two-story brick apartment buildings and convert them from public to market-rate private housing has some wondering if it's all too much to ask. "That's truly going to be a challenge," said Rob Vogt of VWB Research.  He prepared a market study of the area for the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority.  "If he can pull it off, he'll be quite the hero," Vogt said.

 

If not, it will end up housing of last resort, he said, similar to Woodland Meadows.  That crime-plagued apartment project on the East Side was purchased by a Los Angeles developer who promised to spend millions to turn it around.  That complex was ultimately demolished.  Last month, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority board agreed to sell the 311-unit Lincoln Park complex to Theodorakos' V.T.T. Management of Framingham, Mass., for $2.2 million.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/16/LINCOLN_PARK.ART_ART_08-16-09_B1_UBEPICT.html?sid=101

Two oddball stories only tangentially related to Parsons Avenue development.  But its so fun to post stories about "foul odors" and "graves"!  Enjoy... 

 

• Foul odor on South Side harmless, EPA says: Natural gas was suspected, but oil company to blame

 

• City makes sure graves are gone: Cemetery lay near Children's project

Also, two positive stories from the Columbus Public Schools thread about newly renovated schools.  Two of the most impressive renovations are in the Parsons Avenue area:  South High School located one block east of Parsons and Southwood Elementary located one block west of Parsons.  Below are the links to the CPS thread which contain links to the article and slideshow of the South High renovation.

 

• Results of 2002 school levy gleam: Four historic schools renovated and one new school opened for 2009-2010, featuring a renovated 109-year-old South High School

• SLIDESHOW OF THE RENOVATED SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

The new Children's Hospital building is getting taller every day. Going to look pretty impressive when it's all finished:

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/childrens1.jpg">

 

The Bobb Chevrolet located at the SW corner of Parsons & Livingston is completely gone, and it looks like they're building a CVS on part of the site. I'm guessing they're moving it across the street and out of the old Kroger complex (which is currently being used for hospital parking). At least this new CVS is up against the street (Livingston) and should be a bit more attractive. I haven't read what Childrens has planned for the rest of that SW corner lot. It's a pretty big chunk of land:

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/childrens2.jpg">

Thanks for the updates Walker.  Especially the CVS under construction at the SW corner of Parsons and Livingston opposite the Children's Hospital campus.  That up-to-the-street construction should really help out this intersection. 

 

I think that Bobb Chevrolet still owns that SW corner of Parsons and Livingston.  The Auditor's site shows JMM Real Estate LLC as the new property owner.  But JMM has the same W. Broad address as Bobb Chevrolet, which is listed as the owner of the remainder of the parcel.

Oh, interesting. I could have sworn that I read somewhere that Children's bought it from them. Maybe I'm just dreaming that. ;)

A pretty decent rundown of 2009 Parsons Avenue development news from the German Village Gazette:

 

Like most of area, change prominent in Schumacher Place in '09

AROUND THE VILLAGE

By Kerri L. Mollard

Published: Friday, January 1, 2010 - 1:24 PM EST

 

Schumacher Place saw much change in 2009 including both structural shifts in our urban landscape and leadership shifts in our extended community.  The impact of the auto industry losses was felt close to home as Bobb Automotive combined sales locations at their West Broad Street facility, leaving their location at the corner of Livingston and Parsons after 85 years.  Their property occupies more than 7 acres of land and its transformation is significant for the entire Parsons Avenue corridor.

 

The Kroger Plaza across the street from Bobb is changing, too, as Nationwide Children's Hospital construction expands west of Parsons.  The current CVS moves to the newly developed Bobb site and Family Dollar moves down the street to the corner of Kossuth and Parsons, near the library branch.

 

Although some neighbors disagree about the Family Dollar development, the new brick building is a welcome change from the boarded up former US Sub Shop that occupied that location for far too long.  For years, neighbors heard rumors about what was to become of the graffitied little white building including everything from a Starbucks to space for a library expansion, and for may years nothing happened, until now.

 

Full story at http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2010/01/03/german_village_gazette/news/gvaround%201_20091230_0117pm_4.txt

And some updates about the corner of Parsons & Livingston Avenues:

 

First, at the northwest corner, Children's Hospital has released their design plans and a rendering for a six-story research building to replace the Kroger Plaza.  More about that at the Columbus: Children's Hospital Projects thread.  This is the West Campus portion of the Children's $842 million campus redevelopment, which includes a new 12-story main hospital tower addition at the northeast corner.  Both the main hospital tower and the new research building are scheduled to be finished in 2012. 

 

Second, from Rumor Mill: New Hotel at Parsons and Livingston at Columbus Underground:  "Attended the Merion Village Association meeting tonight and a Children's Hospital Representative gave an update.  The Family Dollar will be moving in the next 2 weeks and CVS will relocate this weekend and open Jan 10th.  The buildings (at the northwest corner) except the old Kroger space will be gone in a matter of weeks.  The Kroger space is used for storage and will remain for 18 months.  The site will be a 6 story research building."

 

Third, about the southwest corner also from Rumor Mill: New Hotel at Parsons and Livingston at Columbus Underground:  "BOBB Chevy still owns the site and they leased the corner (registered under a seperate LLC) to CVS for the site of their new store.  From what I heard, the original plans called for a midrise extended stay type hotel to accomadate people staying in area while family members are at Chidrens Hospital.  I have not seen the plans or any parcel splits yet but this would be a good fit for that corner as this area lacks any real hotel accomadations.  They tried to get the alley vacated to allow then some more options but that was rejected by Schumacher Place so I don't think they will get that approved.  Most likely they had to redraw plans to fit the site.  We will see here probably within the next 6 months."

 

 

Lots of glass going up in the front of the Children's Hospital building. The CVS across the street is open, and most of the old Kroger building has been demoed.

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/construction3.jpg">

 

South Side aid center can help more at its new location

Friday,  April 2, 2010 - 2:50 AM

By Meredith Heagney, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A center that has helped the needy on the South Side for 30 years now has more space and resources to do so.  The Darty S. Stowe Memorial Baptist Center, more commonly called the Stowe Center, opened its new location at 888 Parsons Avenue this week. 

 

Located in a former car dealership, the new Stowe Center is larger than its previous location across the street.  The center houses a food pantry, a soup kitchen and dental and vision clinics, and it offers educational programs for children and women looking for work.  A Laotian church meets there on Sundays.

 

Purchasing and renovating the building cost $1.3 million, which came from churches and individuals who support the nonprofit.  The Stowe Center is a ministry of the Metro Columbus Baptist Association, primarily supported by 95 Baptist churches in central Ohio.

 

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/faith_values/stories/2010/04/02/south-side-aid-center-can-help-more-at-its-new-location.html