36 minutes ago, aderwent said:

An idea I had to rebuild/replace Thompson Community Center, Columbus Aquatic Center, and the International School. I thought we had a visionary thread here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

 

All buildings would be zero setback. The school building currently is ugly from the 70s. The community center seems undersized for being in the most urban area of Columbus. The new aquatic center would be in the basement of the community center. This could have a direct connection to the underground garage. We gain a new park where parks are needed and on a parcel that is severely underused right now. I also threw in a bonus tower for the final city lot on High Street. The underground garage spaces gained do not include the 59 city lot spaces, but the underground garage could expand all the way to that site for some extra spots. We also gain a reconnected 4th Avenue. This wouldn't provide much vehicularly, but it'd be a nice pedestrian connection from Founders Park to the Short North.

 

The High St portion is similar to an idea I had, except I was thinking extend part of the tower on the parking lot behind Brew Dog (of course, would require acquiring part of that property). That way you could have first level parking behind Skully’s (preferably tucked under parking) to allow musicians to load/unload their equipment. 
 

But overall I really like it!

25 minutes ago, aderwent said:

Hmm. The auditor's website says built in 1950 and renovated in 1970. Is there any saving the original building? Not just physically, but ADA/modern fire code wise.

Anything is possible. This could be a similar rehab and addition like the Barrett School site on the south side. The school district thought about selling this property a few years ago but decided to hang onto it. I agree with reconnecting 4th Ave. It would be nice to connect Dennison as well.

23 minutes ago, Pablo said:

Anything is possible. This could be a similar rehab and addition like the Barrett School site on the south side. The school district thought about selling this property a few years ago but decided to hang onto it. I agree with reconnecting 4th Ave. It would be nice to connect Dennison as well.

Yeah, Dennison would be nice, but I doubt the rehab hospital is looking at divvying up their parcels. Apollo Place does a good job of connecting north to south. The 4th Avenue connection also is a straight shot from the Short North to the Olentangy Trail.

 

As for the original school building; it could stay as part of the park. The footprint doesn't look very big from the aerial. Maybe it could be a separate building, but part of the new Thompson Community Center. A cool auditorium or something.

 

edit:

 

Edited January 24, 20232 yr by aderwent

14 minutes ago, amped91 said:

The High St portion is similar to an idea I had, except I was thinking extend part of the tower on the parking lot behind Brew Dog (of course, would require acquiring part of that property). That way you could have first level parking behind Skully’s (preferably tucked under parking) to allow musicians to load/unload their equipment. 
 

But overall I really like it!

Thanks. This set of buildings and lots is just a mess currently. I think a set of developments like this would really help anchor the northern stretch of the Short North and Victorian Village.

 

Yes, a garage stretching from behind Brew Dog to behind Skully's would be best case! I wonder when the City is going to shop this last lot? What was the process for "selling" those lots in the southern Short North?

I believe the green area above is all City Schools property. 

Just now, Pablo said:

I believe the green area above is all City Schools property. 

Yes, as is the parcel where I pasted x2 the Aston Row townhomes/condos that's currently surface parking. Where the new school would be is currently the Thompson Community Center. So they'd do a land swap with Columbus Recs and Parks in this scenario. 

Does anyone have any insight on what is happening at 335 W Third Ave (where Harrison’s is)?

I saw today that Harrison’s is closing in January, but a “335 W Third LLC” (I assume the property owners?) has submitted somewhat substantial updates to the commission for the August, October, and now November meetings. Weird to me to submit changes if the tenant is leaving.

 

I’m curious if someone bought out the lease and wants to make updates? 

Lefty's is taking over the space. They have been for some time now with menu changes and such. 

 

614Now got the jump on it in August but it didn't make big news rounds until it was rephrased as 'Harrisons is Closing'

 

They’re planning on rebranding the entire place. Harrison’s has been the local neighborhood spot for drinks and food for the past 15 years, and it’s housed in a 125 year old building. Both the owner and the team behind Lefty’s are going to gut the place, remodel it, and “work towards bringing back the neighborhood bar that everyone talks about. We’re going to revive it,” said TJ.

 

https://614now.com/2023/food-drink/patrons-worried-local-bar-grill-is-closing-due-to-sign-on-door-heres-what-happened

Wow great find. Thanks!

A little infill project at 1st and Dennison. This was a medical office recently and I think a gas station originally. Wonder what’s going to happen in the parking lot, I don’t think the units need all this parking unless the office will remain on the first floor. (I like how the pedestrians are giving me the stink eye 🤣)
 

1 hour ago, Pablo said:

A little infill project at 1st and Dennison. This was a medical office recently and I think a gas station originally. Wonder what’s going to happen in the parking lot, I don’t think the units need all this parking unless the office will remain on the first floor. (I like how the pedestrians are giving me the stink eye 🤣)
 

Seems like a dumb place to leave parking like that, but I bet you 100% it is parking for the residents 

I noticed the parking lot all around the buildings too. A bit strange looking. 

I heard rumblings recently from friends that live a few blocks within this that the VV Commission called the original standing structure "historic" and would not allow them to demo and build up to the sidewalks.  An absolute joke...

If they want to do that they can all run out there and check the tire pressure, check the oil, wipe the windshield and pump the gas every time a car pulls up with a loud "ding!"

3 hours ago, Gnoraa said:

I heard rumblings recently from friends that live a few blocks within this that the VV Commission called the original standing structure "historic" and would not allow them to demo and build up to the sidewalks.  An absolute joke...

I felt like that was the case smh

Per the Auditor, the parcel was owned by Gulf Refining Co. from 1936 to 1955. Seems it was a gas station until Dennison was rerouted to Neil south of 670 when the Goodale Expressway was built. After that Dennison became a neighborhood street with less traffic.

3 hours ago, Gnoraa said:

I heard rumblings recently from friends that live a few blocks within this that the VV Commission called the original standing structure "historic" and would not allow them to demo and build up to the sidewalks.  An absolute joke...

"historic" and most of the building is covered up with the new structure besides one wall? make it make sense...

If it was a gas station, is it a way to get around addressing brownfield or removal of old tanks by leaving the parking lot and not excavating? 

The building itself is definitely more desirable to look at but I still don't understand why they kept the ten parking spaces around the building! It would look so kuch better if the building itself came right up to the sidewalk. 

 

Obviously the last two photos are of the medical building that was torn down for this project showing the parking still in place with the new building. 

 

 

 

Edited March 15Mar 15 by sono4315

This makes me really sad to see the entire first floor used for nothing but open parking.  While it's definitely an upgrade from the strip mall it replaced, Victorian Village deserves so much better...

Edited March 24Mar 24 by sono4315

18 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

This makes me really sad to see the entire first floor used for nothing but open parking.  While it's definitely an upgrade from the strip mall it replaced, Victorian Village deserves so much better...

I guess the positive is that it could be converted?? I agree with you though, it’s awful and looks terrible 

Yeah the base could be much better if they had ground floor retail or amenity space, even screened parking would have been much better than this. Looking right in to the parking lot looks half finished and cheap. 

It’s Casto so I’m not surprised it looks like crap. 

12 hours ago, cityscapes said:

Yeah the base could be much better if they had ground floor retail or amenity space, even screened parking would have been much better than this. Looking right in to the parking lot looks half finished and cheap. 

Where exactly is this?  Neil?

3 hours ago, Scott Krajeski said:

Where exactly is this?  Neil?

Yes between Buttles and Collins

4 hours ago, Scott Krajeski said:

Where exactly is this?  Neil?

Do you remember the old Giant Eagle grocery strip mall on Neil? Same spot.

1st and Dennison

Suburban Centers Inc. submitted an application to remove the existing sign structure for 1101 N High St. Looks like they’re trying to repair the roof….

Curious if anyone has the inside scoop on this? One of the last standing bits to develop in the Short North….

https://columbusoh-my.sharepoint.com/personal/devmsonedrive3_columbus_gov/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fdevmsonedrive3%5Fcolumbus%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FPlanning%2FBoard%5FCommission%2FVictorian%20Village%20Commission%20%28VVC%29%2F2025%2F06%2E%20June%2F09%5FCOA2500517%201101%20N%20High%20St%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fdevmsonedrive3%5Fcolumbus%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FPlanning%2FBoard%5FCommission%2FVictorian%20Village%20Commission%20%28VVC%29%2F2025%2F06%2E%20June&ga=1

2 hours ago, smjjms said:

Suburban Centers Inc. submitted an application to remove the existing sign structure for 1101 N High St. Looks like they’re trying to repair the roof….

Curious if anyone has the inside scoop on this? One of the last standing bits to develop in the Short North….

https://columbusoh-my.sharepoint.com/personal/devmsonedrive3_columbus_gov/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fdevmsonedrive3%5Fcolumbus%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FPlanning%2FBoard%5FCommission%2FVictorian%20Village%20Commission%20%28VVC%29%2F2025%2F06%2E%20June%2F09%5FCOA2500517%201101%20N%20High%20St%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fdevmsonedrive3%5Fcolumbus%5Fgov%2FDocuments%2FPlanning%2FBoard%5FCommission%2FVictorian%20Village%20Commission%20%28VVC%29%2F2025%2F06%2E%20June&ga=1

People like this are annoying. Just sell the damn property, you clearly aren’t doing anything with it, and it’s just an ugly eyesore in a nice walkable neighborhood.

A crew was out last week painting over graffiti on the building, my guess is the city got on them about code violations. I wouldn't expect anything to happen with the property in the short term unfortunately, but would love to be wrong

Anyone know anything about this? Founders is the stretch of stuff along 5th by Battelle

My guess is site plan changes related to Thrive swapping the last 27 condos for 60 apartments instead

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2025/04/12/thrive-companies-gets-pushback-in-plan-to-switch-condos-for-apartments/82565286007/

26 minutes ago, NW24HX said:

My guess is site plan changes related to Thrive swapping the last 27 condos for 60 apartments instead

https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/real-estate/2025/04/12/thrive-companies-gets-pushback-in-plan-to-switch-condos-for-apartments/82565286007/

So just a bunch of nimby crybabies?? There is already an apartment complex in this development, another one isn’t going to, “erode the character” of the neighborhood. If they are so worried about parking, they should push for better urban designs and bus lines.