June 26, 200717 yr Author >Ten years ago this month, Nationwide drew up plans to turn the former Ohio Penitentiary site into the Arena District. ...and they moved 3,000 or however many workers out to Dublin. My aunt works for Nationwide, and was one of the employees that was relocated from downtown to Dublin several years ago. I remember her saying that the offices were unused, and Nationwide wanted to make use of the empty space they were paying for. Even though the company did move a lot of jobs to Dublin, they have since added many more jobs downtown and continue to do so. I think, by in large, Nationwide and subsidiaries have been good for downtown.
June 26, 200717 yr Wow, has it been that long already!? Geesh. Who remembers Issue 1!? haha. I still wish Crew Stadium was built down there! I always invisioned that since the Arena is where it is at that a baseball park would go on the Scioto Peninsula and a soccer stadium would go on Whittier Peninsula, but I am happy with what we got.
July 13, 200717 yr Wow. They hauled ASS on that thing. Lookin' good indeed! Now if only it had tenants...
July 13, 200717 yr I get the sense that the blonde on the phone in the backround on the right is calling her plastic surgeon. Nonetheless, "Beef! It's What's for Dinner!"
July 17, 200717 yr We're talking about the building David. LMAO!!! I like the external look of the build, I just do not like the layout of the individual units. IMO, it seems like a person would have to make significant design changes to their unit, to maximize square footage and flow from room to room.
July 17, 200717 yr We're talking about the building David. Damn I get distracted easily-- *Swallows ADHD pills* Oh hey, nice building! (JK I don't take them) MTS are there layouts in this thread? If not; I call shinannigans on your x-ray vision!
July 17, 200717 yr We're talking about the building David. Damn I get distracted easily-- *Swallows ADHD pills* Oh hey, nice building! (JK I don't take them) MTS are there layouts in this thread? If not; I call shinannigans on your x-ray vision! who needs x-ray vision when you have the internet. simply type www.northbankcondos.com to view individual units.
July 17, 200717 yr Wow; didn't think you'd go through so much trouble. Considering moving to the C-BUS are we?!
September 4, 200717 yr Brewmaster has a construction update for the North Bank Condos and some other downtown projects at www.capcitysavvy.com/2007/08/27/construction-update-the-leftovers/ Also the project's website has a couple new renderings:
September 11, 200717 yr Still more on the ever-growing Arena District in Downtown Columbus - from the latest Business First . . . One more piece of Arena District coming together Business First of Columbus - September 7, 2007 by Brent Wilder for Business First Kyle Katz of Katz Interests Inc. expects development in Pen West to benefit his Buggyworks mixed-use project. Once dominated by the grim, hulking Ohio State Penitentiary, the area west of the former pen - known as Pen West - may be sentenced to a term of accelerated development with the addition of the new Columbus Clippers downtown stadium. Developers of Pen West, an area west of Neil Avenue adjacent to Nationwide Arena, say there's no doubt the construction of the ballpark at the northwest corner of Neil and Nationwide Boulevard will help spark development in the former industrial area. The only question is how much and how fast. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/07/story3.html
September 12, 200717 yr Here's some renderings of the Buggyworks Building residential lofts project mentioned in the Arena District. I got these from the project's website - http://www.thebuggyworks.com Phase 1 of the project is done and looks as good in person as these renderings. However, I haven't got any recent photos and the Nationwide Boulevard area is currently torn up for infrastructure work related to the Huntington Ballpark construction. So the renderings will have to do for now. View of the Buggyworks from Nationwide Boulevard Closer view of Firestone Alley on the Buggyworks property Buggyworks Lofts - Site Map Location of the Buggyworks in relation to the rest of the Arena District
September 12, 200717 yr NICE! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 12, 200717 yr Couple questions - 1. Location #2 notes that that area is a proposed residential. Has anything formally been proposed for this section? I know there was quite a discussion of it in the BusinessFirst article a few posts, but I wasn't sure if there was something in the works that had been announced. 2. Where is the second phase of the Buggyworks going to be located? I saw the renderings, but was never able to figure out where it would be located.
September 12, 200717 yr I've wondered about that myself (the location of phase two of the buggy works). Have you noticed how the building looks like a bridge and is at one end of Firestone Alley? I think it straddles the railroad tracks. :-)
September 13, 200717 yr Colossal! What do they cost? A lot, I'd imagine. Columbus needs more affordable housing downtown, as I fear that the expensive loft thing is saturated for now -- but not over the next five years! And do those beams between the buildings need to be there?
September 13, 200717 yr Couple questions - 1. Location #2 notes that that area is a proposed residential. Has anything formally been proposed for this section? I know there was quite a discussion of it in the BusinessFirst article a few posts, but I wasn't sure if there was something in the works that had been announced. 2. Where is the second phase of the Buggyworks going to be located? I saw the renderings, but was never able to figure out where it would be located. 1) There's been talk of residential at this location from the property owners since construction in the Arena District began. This is a relatively isolated area because of the elevated railroad tracks and lack of through streets (Nationwide Blvd. dead-ends here). There hasn't been any formal residential proposal yet, and it may still be 3-5 years off - if this area develops like the area surrounding the Nationwide Arena. You recall that much of the office and residential surrounding the arena didn't develop until after the arena opened. The new ballpark at Neil & Nationwide is the anchor for this former PenWest area and it won't be opening until Spring 2009. 2) I think SlipperyFish is right. Some friends attended a Buggyworks open house a few months ago and they saw a rendering of this Phase 2 Tower. It did straddle the railroad track behind the existing Buggyworks Building. From the article, it sounded like the Buggyworks developer Kyle Katz is focused on finishing the existing building renovation first and then moving on to the tower. This again would probably occur after the opening of the new ballpark. Colossal! What do they cost? A lot, I'd imagine. Columbus needs more affordable housing downtown, as I fear that the expensive loft thing is saturated for now -- but not over the next five years! And do those beams between the buildings need to be there? 1) According to the Phase 1 portion of the website - www.thebuggyworks.com - the units range in size from 750 square feet to 2,500 square feet and from $160,000 to $600,000 in price. 2) I think the steel beams are not structual but are for aesthetics.
September 13, 200717 yr Link to a previous thread in Central & Southeast Ohio Projects & Construction about the Buggyworks Phase II Condo Tower discussed here: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=9312.0 This thread contains a link to the architect's website which shows multiple renderings of the Phase II Tower. Unfortunately, they are flash images and I can't save them or post them here. You'll need to visit the link below to view them. Look at the fourth image to compare to the Firestone Alley image posted here. http://www.jbadusa.com/projects/live_BWPII/index.html
September 13, 200717 yr It would be nice if some of the beams had glass between them in case of rain. Personal preference, I suppose.
September 20, 200717 yr It seems like the Buggyworks project has been around forever... but I think that the new ballpark is going to give it a boost towards completion.
September 27, 200717 yr Reminds me of some European-inspired towers. And that's not a bad thing. I crave European architecture.
September 27, 200717 yr I'm not really a fan of the reflective glass. I like the balconies. The interior rendering shown is kind of funny. It's a contemporary building, but the interior they are showing is almost Victorian.
September 27, 200717 yr I heard the CEO of Nationwide has already purchased the penthouse. yea, he did. that damn rich sob. oh well, thanks for the good development nationwide.
September 27, 200717 yr Really beautiful looking tower... we could use some of those in LA. Yay for Columbus!
September 28, 200717 yr hey it looks done, pretty cool. and the ascent is going up in greater nati and the avenue in the cleve? cranes in the air all around -- good job ohio!
September 28, 200717 yr The Ascent is in Kentucky, not Ohio :P But yeah, there is a lot of cranes going up in Ohio. And we just need more regional and state cooperation, TIF financing, and we'll see even more cranes!
September 28, 200717 yr It might as well be! The Ascent is in Kentucky, not Ohio :P But yeah, there is a lot of cranes going up in Ohio. And we just need more regional and state cooperation, TIF financing, and we'll see even more cranes!
September 28, 200717 yr I like this building although, i'm not a "new build" person, I like this joint.
September 28, 200717 yr I guess not every downtown condo project is struggling for sales. NRI wraps up Burnham Square sales Business First of Columbus Thursday, September 20, 2007 Developer Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. has sold out its 98-condo Burnham Square project in Columbus' Arena District. Nationwide Realty President Brian Ellis said the last unit was sold Sept. 19 for just under $500,000. The first purchase closing took place in December 2005. "We exceeded our expectations by velocity and pricing," Ellis said. "It just couldn't have been a better result." Nationwide Realty has sold 37 of the 109 units being built at its Condominiums at North Bank Park across the street from Burnham Square. Purchases there are expected to begin closing in December. All but one of the 37 units sold are in the $50 million project's 20-story tower, with one loft sold in an adjoining renovated warehouse section. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/09/20/daily27.html
September 28, 200717 yr It might as well be! The Ascent is in Kentucky, not Ohio :P But yeah, there is a lot of cranes going up in Ohio. And we just need more regional and state cooperation, TIF financing, and we'll see even more cranes! Can we include the RiverCenter complex? :)
September 28, 200717 yr Wow; didn't think you'd go through so much trouble. Considering moving to the C-BUS are we?! HELL NO!
September 28, 200717 yr I'm not really a fan of the reflective glass. I like the balconies. The interior rendering shown is kind of funny. It's a contemporary building, but the interior they are showing is almost Victorian. Reflective glass always looks 80's to me. Yes, strange interior for a contemporary design. Over all though the building is pretty sweet.
September 29, 200717 yr Uh... NO! It might as well be! The Ascent is in Kentucky, not Ohio :P But yeah, there is a lot of cranes going up in Ohio. And we just need more regional and state cooperation, TIF financing, and we'll see even more cranes! Can we include the RiverCenter complex? :)
September 30, 200717 yr Downtown living has perks, say residents Sunday, September 30, 2007 4:02 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH One Downtown resident said she likes that the sidewalks clear after 6 p.m. and a dead quiet falls. "That's sort of nice," Ruth Lantz said. "We have the place to ourselves." Another sees the upside of developers at Carlyles Watch auctioning up to 24 condos at the 100 E. Gay St. development. [email protected] http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/30/Dtown.ART_ART_09-30-07_B1_NM826QT.html?sid=101
October 5, 200717 yr The 2007-2008 NHL season is opening for the Arena District. Despite the title of the article, the big news is the reopening of an upgraded Marconi railroad pedestrian crossing one block south of the Nationwidie Arena. The railroad company finally finished its part of the upgrade to allow for its reopening just before the hockey season began. Although, according to the article, the 6ft fence that was previously in place didn't stop people from using the ped crossing anyway! Even the inconvenience of Nationwide Blvd. being temporarily closed west of Neil is actually good news. This is infrastructure work for the future Huntington ballpark. Hockey season opens to closures Nationwide Blvd. partially blocked, so some parking is inaccessible Friday, October 5, 2007 By David Conrad, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Read more at http://dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/10/20/ZONE0625.ART_ART_06-25-07_C8_2S7344P.html
October 9, 200717 yr Columbusite snuck this beautiful photo of the North Bank Tower into his Upper Arlington photo post. I hope you don't mind if I post it here too. It's just too beautiful not to include here.
Create an account or sign in to comment