April 6, 20187 yr Kaufman Development has submitted an updated proposal for the IBEW site which is in the residential portion of the neighborhood between Price and 2nd near but not on High St. The proposal appears to provide adequate parking and preserves a good portion of the original IBEW buildings. However, the massing and height are substantial and will dramatically impact the residential portion of the neighborhood including several single family homes that abut the development. The tallest part of the project will be 180 ft (14 stories) making it by far the tallest structure in the Short North. For comparison: 711 N. High (under construction) = 144.8 feet Bollinger Tower = 142.04 feet The Jackson = 110 feet White Castle = 103.6 feet Hubbard Park Place = 84 feet The Victorian Village Commission will consider this proposal at their meeting on Thursday April 12th, 6 pm at the new Michael Coleman Government Center, 111 N Front St. Wow! Kaufman is not backing down like Woods did at the Grandview Mercantile site. 800 N High will probably be 130-150 feet tall.
April 6, 20187 yr I love this development. They have made pretty drastic changes to the renderings over the course of the proposal, but I think they've landed in a good spot scale-wise and aesthetic-wise. It is very tall, but they've made a good use of setbacks and stepping back from the traditional residential housing. Also, you have to consider that, to keep getting downtown views, with taller and taller buildings going up right along High Street, we are going to be seeing more height from these newer proposals. Also, we are seeing less empty and parking lots available for development in the Short (and growing taller) North so the density is going to be going up with each new development proposal we see. I'm excited for this one and hopefully it gets the height and encourages other developers to follow suit.
April 6, 20187 yr ^Isn't Grandview Mercantile a Pizzuti project? Correct. I knew Woods didn't sound right, and the only other one that came to mind was Edwards and I knew it wasn't them. Disappointing from Pizzuti. They were the original pushers of height with Le Meridien and the Joseph. And they backed down QUICK. I feel like the Kaufman project was initially announced not long after the Grandview Mercantile project, and here they are going in with a taller proposal!
April 6, 20187 yr Well, I hope it comes true but, as always, this will be Village'd and may be a height of...80 feet :D! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 6, 20187 yr Someone needs to send that height info to places like Emporis. And I really hope this goes through and helps break down the stupid "too high...we will never see the sun..think of the children!!!!" view that some have about structures along the most important street in the city.
April 6, 20187 yr Wow wasn't expecting that kind of design revision for the Kaufman project. But if they can get approval for it, I'd love to see it built And glad to see the awning marquee for the Garden moving forward too. It's crazy how much is happening along High St
April 6, 20187 yr Someone needs to send that height info to places like Emporis. And I really hope this goes through and helps break down the stupid "too high...we will never see the sun..think of the children!!!!" view that some have about structures along the most important street in the city. I think peoples' issues aren't with the height itself, it's that this height is not on High St and is set back. Now you can argue the Park St. development(which I hated initially and now love) is showing us this can be done properly. However it's nearly half it's height. If this building was going on the plot of land where the Wood Cos plaza sits then I would have ZERO issues with it. However it's sitting in-between one VERY narrow residential street and one "normal" sized residential street. Access is the main issue I have with this because it is going to lead to more and more congestion. I am and I encourage folks that live in the neighborhood to attend the parking meeting tomorrow morning or Thursday to voice your opinions.
April 8, 20187 yr Someone needs to send that height info to places like Emporis. And I really hope this goes through and helps break down the stupid "too high...we will never see the sun..think of the children!!!!" view that some have about structures along the most important street in the city. I think peoples' issues aren't with the height itself, it's that this height is not on High St and is set back. Now you can argue the Park St. development(which I hated initially and now love) is showing us this can be done properly. However it's nearly half it's height. If this building was going on the plot of land where the Wood Cos plaza sits then I would have ZERO issues with it. However it's sitting in-between one VERY narrow residential street and one "normal" sized residential street. Access is the main issue I have with this because it is going to lead to more and more congestion. I am and I encourage folks that live in the neighborhood to attend the parking meeting tomorrow morning or Thursday to voice your opinions. I think it is close enough to High-the 14 story part will start only about 150 feet back. You are just being a NIMBY! ;) *of course I don't have to deal with the parking and congestion issues....but never mind about that..lol.
April 8, 20187 yr Updated Short North Development Proposal Grows to 14 Stories The latest proposal revision from Kaufman Development for their “IBEW” Victorian Village project on Price Avenue has grown in height once again. When the mixed-use project was first announced in July 2016, it was envisioned with a maximum height of 10-stories. It was later redesigned and shortened to nine stories, which was actually approved by the Victorian Village Commission at their March 2017 meeting. Typically, that approval means that the project is ready to move forward, but this one actually returned to the Commission in December 2017 with an updated architectural style. Kaufman Development CEO Brett Kaufman stated that the company made the changes “…so that we have something that really functions, and that we can build – that we can afford to build and get financed – and that works in the market.” More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/updated-short-north-development-proposal-grows-to-14-stories-we1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 8, 20187 yr Honestly it does seem pretty imposing in those views, but I think it fits in a lot better looked at with more of the neighboring context - White Castle building, Brunner, Pizzuti project, etc
April 9, 20187 yr Just out of curiosity, why is this project in the Short North thread and not in the Victorian Village thread (like Hubbard Park Place)?
April 9, 20187 yr The view from High Street will be funny with the tower hovering above the strip mall. Hopefully that goes away too at some point.
April 9, 20187 yr The view from High Street will be funny with the tower hovering above the strip mall. Hopefully that goes away too at some point. I have to believe that strip mall will be gone within the next few years. With almost every surface lot being gobbled up, I would imagine the strip mall and the old Dollar General (or Family Dollar or Dollar Tree or whatever it was) will be bought up and redeveloped soon.
April 9, 20187 yr The view from High Street will be funny with the tower hovering above the strip mall. Hopefully that goes away too at some point. I have to believe that strip mall will be gone within the next few years. With almost every surface lot being gobbled up, I would imagine the strip mall and the old Dollar General (or Family Dollar or Dollar Tree or whatever it was) will be bought up and redeveloped soon. The strip mall is owned by the Wood Cos and is slated to be a twin of the Northstar-topped building. My guess is once phase two of the 711 project, Hubbard Park Place and the Brunner Building is finished(finally) that they will start or announce plans for the plaza. The former Family Dollar is owned by a suburban strip mall company based on Henderson Road. The store was shut down as part of a buyout by Dollar General, the future of that property is up in the air. There are a ton of things on the board for the Short North currently, I'll be attending the meeting on Thursday and can hopefully provide some updates.
April 10, 20187 yr So...uhh...back to the Short North. Short North proposal grows to 14 stories — would be neighborhood's tallest building A proposed development in the Short North has gotten taller, putting it on track to be highest building in the neighborhood if approved. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/09/short-north-proposal-grows-to-14-stories-would-be.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 9, 20187 yr Kaufman's IBEW proposal has seen some minor revisions (darker materials, reorganizing some balconies) and will be up before the VVC again this Thursday. The height of the tower portion remains the same as last month - 14 stories Tower proposal for Short North grows to 14 stories, awaits approval The building would stretch from W. 2nd Avenue to Price Avenue just west of High Street. It would include about 200 apartments, 35,000 square feet of offices, parking and retail/restaurant space. Most of the project would be included in a single building with several different elevations, the highest of which would be 14 stories high. Kaufman said the new proposal shifts the tallest part of the building toward High Street, away from the single-family-home neighborhood to the west. “Obviously, we think there’s demand in the area for additional density but it’s really about moving the density toward High Street away from the neighborhood, instead of having a single height throughout,” said Kaufman, adding, “A 14-story building in most urban environments isn’t considered to be tall. It’s quite natural.” http://www.dispatch.com/business/20180508/tower-proposal-for-short-north-grows-to-14-stories-awaits-approval
May 10, 20187 yr Kaufman's IBEW proposal has seen some minor revisions (darker materials, reorganizing some balconies) and will be up before the VVC again this Thursday. The height of the tower portion remains the same as last month - 14 stories Tower proposal for Short North grows to 14 stories, awaits approval The building would stretch from W. 2nd Avenue to Price Avenue just west of High Street. It would include about 200 apartments, 35,000 square feet of offices, parking and retail/restaurant space. Most of the project would be included in a single building with several different elevations, the highest of which would be 14 stories high. Kaufman said the new proposal shifts the tallest part of the building toward High Street, away from the single-family-home neighborhood to the west. “Obviously, we think there’s demand in the area for additional density but it’s really about moving the density toward High Street away from the neighborhood, instead of having a single height throughout,” said Kaufman, adding, “A 14-story building in most urban environments isn’t considered to be tall. It’s quite natural.” http://www.dispatch.com/business/20180508/tower-proposal-for-short-north-grows-to-14-stories-awaits-approval I love how their rendering is trying to pretend like that side of the building isn't on a narrow one way street.
May 10, 20187 yr Here's a second rendering showing the true width of Price. Keep in mind the Pizzuti project which will be two large buildings, and the new UDF and White Castle projects are not shown here
May 10, 20187 yr Here's a second rendering showing the true width of Price. Keep in mind the Pizzuti project which will be two large buildings, and the new UDF and White Castle projects are not shown here Also what are they going to do when Woods Cos completes their project on High. That will mean all of those folks up to floor 6 will be blocked in by a building, that would be GREAT!
May 10, 20187 yr Honestly this looks like an amazing project, I know a ton right now in Columbus, but would kill to have this built somewhere in Cincy!
May 10, 20187 yr ^ I agree that it looks great. Sure, the placement is a bid odd right now, but I think once the Short North is pretty much built out you won't even notice it. Also, I'm not sure why we are concerned about people in one building having their view blocked by another building if we want to have a dense urban environment. We are always asking developers to go bold in Columbus, and this is bold. Hopefully it gets built.
May 10, 20187 yr With all the projects on High Street, and the streetscape project, it is really booming. I haven't been able to go through Columbus before, crazy because I live so close but don't know anyone who lives there. Starting in more sales with my company so hopefully will have the chance to do so soon
May 10, 20187 yr Look at their Columbus Commons project and realize that you're getting 14 stories of that in the Short North. I love the density but not in this location. It's a small residential street on one side and a narrow one way on the other, it doesn't fit.
May 10, 20187 yr Look at their Columbus Commons project and realize that you're getting 14 stories of that in the Short North. I love the density but not in this location. It's a small residential street on one side and a narrow one way on the other, it doesn't fit. This looks absolutely nothing like even the rendering of the Columbus Commons project. This looks far better. But I don't know, maybe the surface lot and vacant piece of grass that is there right now is much better for the neighborhood. I fail to see how this is much different than The Castle, or the parking garage being built along with 711 N High. The entrances for both of those are on small residential side streets. The only difference with something like The Castle is that part of it fronts High. The flow of traffic, however, is directed down side streets, not unlike this project at all.
May 10, 20187 yr It's a small residential street on one side and a narrow one way on the other, it doesn't fit. You just described every cross street in Manhattan. It works there thousands of times over. I think it can work here in Columbus at least once
May 11, 20187 yr Looks like the VV Commission didn't vote on the Kaufman project. Neighbors concerned about potential apartment complex in Victorian Village The commissioners expressed their concerns about the height of the project. The developers requested to continue to discussion. There will be a special meeting to that further. http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/neighbors-concerned-about-potential-apartment-complex-in-victorian-village
May 11, 20187 yr I struggle to understand opposition to projects that are tall simply because they are "too tall". If you want to argue that it's going to have a negative effect on traffic flow, or that it's going to put too much additional stress on the parking situation, or something else along those lines, I can understand the argument even if I might not agree with it. The argument that the building is just too tall for the neighborhood is somewhat of a baseless argument to me. The way I see it, if you are going to be concerned with preserving nearly every building that isn't a suburban-style drive through restaurant, which I think is the correct approach, then you are going to have to deal with increasing heights as available areas for development become even more scarce.
May 11, 20187 yr It's a small residential street on one side and a narrow one way on the other, it doesn't fit. You just described every cross street in Manhattan. It works there thousands of times over. I think it can work here in Columbus at least once It's Manhattan and has been like that for a century. This street is fronted by 2-3 story houses so it's not the same. Drive down that street and then come back with a response because you sound ridiculous and it is a major problem for folks who bought there. It's a half a block off of High Street and 14 stories, it does not belong, this is not Houston or any other city without guidelines and I believe WE need to stick to them in this case or else we'll have a 14 story uninspiring mass towering over our pride and joy.
May 11, 20187 yr It's a small residential street on one side and a narrow one way on the other, it doesn't fit. You just described every cross street in Manhattan. It works there thousands of times over. I think it can work here in Columbus at least once It's Manhattan and has been like that for a century. This street is fronted by 2-3 story houses so it's not the same. Drive down that street and then come back with a response because you sound ridiculous and it is a major problem for folks who bought there. It's a half a block off of High Street and 14 stories, it does not belong, this is not Houston or any other city without guidelines and I believe WE need to stick to them in this case or else we'll have a 14 story uninspiring mass towering over our pride and joy. Honestly, what is the biggest problem you have with this project? That there will be a couple more cars per minute traveling down Price? That it is too tall and will block out the sun? If this building were shifted about 75 feet to the East and built over top of the hideous strip mall so that it directly fronts High Street would it be acceptable?
May 11, 20187 yr It's Manhattan and has been like that for a century. This street is fronted by 2-3 story houses so it's not the same. Drive down that street and then come back with a response because you sound ridiculous and it is a major problem for folks who bought there. It's a half a block off of High Street and 14 stories, it does not belong, this is not Houston or any other city without guidelines and I believe WE need to stick to them in this case or else we'll have a 14 story uninspiring mass towering over our pride and joy. Oh please. Your last sentence is the only thing around here that sounds ridiculous. I've been up and down Price many many times and lived on 1st a block off High for several years. The tower portion will be across from Pizzuti's apartment project and have practically no effect on homes further down the block other than raising their property values. I just don't see any reasonable argument against this project
May 23, 20187 yr FYI: Previous posts about the Kaufman IBEW project proposed along Price Avenue and W. 2nd Avenue have been moved from the Short North thread into this Victorian Village thread. There is also this update to the Kaufman IBEW project. Another Victorian Village Commission meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6PM regarding this project. This is a special meeting with the Kaufman IBEW project as the only agenda item. Apparently there is also another design revision (which there is a brief view of in the video at the WCMH/NBC4 link below): http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/victorian-village-residents-still-fighting-proposed-development/1192938001
May 23, 20187 yr ^ There is also this update to the Kaufman IBEW project. Another Victorian Village Commission meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6PM regarding this project. This is a special meeting with the Kaufman IBEW project as the only agenda item. Apparently there is also another design revision (which there is a brief view of in the video at the WCMH/NBC4 link below): http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/victorian-village-residents-still-fighting-proposed-development/1192938001 Not at all surprised. The "lego" comment is totally valid, though. They need to show precedents in other cities if they haven't already -- and further explain that this is an EMPTY site and the potential tax advantages of having 200+ apartments on this small site. They are an urban-adjacent residential neighborhood. If not here then on High Street. What difference does it make? The Short North is only going to get wider... Might as well start here with a building that actually attempts to mitigate the difference in scale.
May 23, 20187 yr These people need to go down to Atlanta for a couple of days and see that you can in fact build a 40-floor condo tower a block from some two-story houses without the world coming to an end. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
May 23, 20187 yr These people need to go down to Atlanta for a couple of days and see that you can in fact build a 40-floor condo tower a block from some two-story houses without the world coming to an end. It's not a block, it's right next door. That's also why I referred to Houston in a previous post, but where those are built they're in master-planned communities not one that's a century+ old. And this thing looks like the hideous monstrosity on Columbus Commons, that Kaufman also built.
May 23, 20187 yr ^ There is also this update to the Kaufman IBEW project. Another Victorian Village Commission meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6PM regarding this project. This is a special meeting with the Kaufman IBEW project as the only agenda item. Apparently there is also another design revision (which there is a brief view of in the video at the WCMH/NBC4 link below): http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/victorian-village-residents-still-fighting-proposed-development/1192938001 Not at all surprised. The "lego" comment is totally valid, though. They need to show precedents in other cities if they haven't already -- and further explain that this is an EMPTY site and the potential tax advantages of having 200+ apartments on this small site. They are an urban-adjacent residential neighborhood. If not here then on High Street. What difference does it make? The Short North is only going to get wider... Might as well start here with a building that actually attempts to mitigate the difference in scale. You're missing a huge point. There are parking/traffic constraints already and this is along price which is a narrow one way street on one side and a primarily residential street that doesn't even feed down to Neil on the other. People need to stop comparing this to Atlanta and NYC because it is not in any way similar. I am 10000000000% for apartments and a project at that site, but not at it's proposed size. Something more like the Jerome, Aston Place or even something from Neighborhood Launch are more appropriate.
May 23, 20187 yr ^ There is also this update to the Kaufman IBEW project. Another Victorian Village Commission meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6PM regarding this project. This is a special meeting with the Kaufman IBEW project as the only agenda item. Apparently there is also another design revision (which there is a brief view of in the video at the WCMH/NBC4 link below): http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/victorian-village-residents-still-fighting-proposed-development/1192938001 Not at all surprised. The "lego" comment is totally valid, though. They need to show precedents in other cities if they haven't already -- and further explain that this is an EMPTY site and the potential tax advantages of having 200+ apartments on this small site. They are an urban-adjacent residential neighborhood. If not here then on High Street. What difference does it make? The Short North is only going to get wider... Might as well start here with a building that actually attempts to mitigate the difference in scale. You're missing a huge point. There are parking/traffic constraints already and this is along price which is a narrow one way street on one side and a primarily residential street that doesn't even feed down to Neil on the other. People need to stop comparing this to Atlanta and NYC because it is not in any way similar. I am 10000000000% for apartments and a project at that site, but not at it's proposed size. Something more like the Jerome, Aston Place or even something from Neighborhood Launch are more appropriate. Oh for heaven's sake...it is along Price and 2nd and is what, 100 or 200 feet from High-which is where all of the traffic will be going. It sounds like you live right on this street and are being a NIMBY lol. There is nothing wrong with the size or location. You don't put something like Neighborhood Launch here for God's sake. That is crazy. How far do you live from this project?-it sounds like you are very much more concerned about this one than any other project ever proposed for the city. *now the materials, colors, quality, etc. -that is a different matter. And yes the thing on the Commons is a monstrosity and I agree I would be more concerned with that than the height on this. If it turns out like that thing, it will be disastrous. I will agree on that.
May 24, 20187 yr These people need to go down to Atlanta for a couple of days and see that you can in fact build a 40-floor condo tower a block from some two-story houses without the world coming to an end. It's not a block, it's right next door. That's also why I referred to Houston in a previous post, but where those are built they're in master-planned communities not one that's a century+ old. And this thing looks like the hideous monstrosity on Columbus Commons, that Kaufman also built. Did Kauffman actually design those buildings? I thought that was, ironically, Carter from Atlanta? I'm also curious... let's say this gets built. What will actually change with Victorian Village, or even the homes next door? If anything, it would probably raise their property values, but the detrimental effects would be what? You brought up traffic concerns, but won't this project include parking? And we're talking about maybe a 100 cars for residents? In the bigger picture, would anyone even notice that additional amount? Besides, I think people in these neighborhoods just have to get used to the parking issues, because development is not stopping. If they can't, maybe they need to consider whether the neighborhood is right for them anymore. It's not like there wouldn't be a ton of people lined up to buy their houses or rent their apartments. Sometimes I think the people fighting this all thought... "Hey, let's create the best urban neighborhood in Ohio, but once it gets to the point we like, let's demand no more development!" The old people all sitting around on the porch in the video seem like those people, who have been there a long time, helped make the neighborhood attractive, and now they're upset a lot more people want to live there and still make changes.
May 24, 20187 yr Im actually impressed with this level of NIMBY in the urban core. Kaufman is basically trying to play nice with the commission and residents but in the end it's going to be built because it is ultimately up to the city. I was at the meeting and people were threatening lawsuits which is absolutely laughable because that's not how this works at all, seeing as no laws are being broken. Realistically this will not hurt any of their property values, just their egos. Yes, the project is large but it's either that or nothing (a parking lot?). What I know is that Kaufman won't build it with less than 200 units and that means it has to go up. Placing my bets now....this is only the start of taller development. Today it was 14 floors but every project they fight is just going to push the next one taller. No we're not NYC or Atlanta, we are however a boom city with rising costs and insane real estate pressures. Chicago is a neighbor with some of the most architecturally diverse neighborhoods with density (high rises) along arteries and single family homes on the same block and guess what.. it's working just fine.
May 24, 20187 yr ^You shouldn't "laugh" at threatened lawsuits. No laws have to be broken to start the ball rolling. Really the only thing preventing a lawsuit is cost and the amount of time a person or persons have to devote since it could be a long and drawn out process. Will this project require a simple zoning variance? In Cleveland, a significant apartment development was proposed for a blighted site in Little Italy and numerous zoning variance were required. The lengthy and expense (retention of real estate experts for the presentation the zoning board) process was initiated and the city granted the variances. There after a single nearby homeowner with apparent deep pockets and a lot of time on his hand began the statutory appeal process challenging the variances. The case lasted for more than 3 years (going to the court of appeals twice). The city and developer won at all levels on the substantive issues and had a strong case to win over all, but recently (for unknown reasons-possibly increase costs due to the delay) just gave up and the project is dead. Reading Curbed New York I am constantly amazed by the nit-picky grounds that are used to support lawsuits by opponents of developers and they seem to go on and on.
May 24, 20187 yr These people need to go down to Atlanta for a couple of days and see that you can in fact build a 40-floor condo tower a block from some two-story houses without the world coming to an end. It's not a block, it's right next door. That's also why I referred to Houston in a previous post, but where those are built they're in master-planned communities not one that's a century+ old. And this thing looks like the hideous monstrosity on Columbus Commons, that Kaufman also built. The more I look at the renderings, the more the bigger part and part of the middle look JUST LIKE the monstrosity on the commons, even the same ugly color with projecting balconies. I would be more concerned about that than anything else. It may not just be the tallest but also the ugliest. Why do they even think that crap looks good at all?
May 24, 20187 yr These people need to go down to Atlanta for a couple of days and see that you can in fact build a 40-floor condo tower a block from some two-story houses without the world coming to an end. It's not a block, it's right next door. That's also why I referred to Houston in a previous post, but where those are built they're in master-planned communities not one that's a century+ old. And this thing looks like the hideous monstrosity on Columbus Commons, that Kaufman also built. Did Kauffman actually design those buildings? I thought that was, ironically, Carter from Atlanta? I think he's referring to the 12-story '80 on the Commons' building, which is a Kaufman project.
May 24, 20187 yr The more I look at the renderings, the more the bigger part and part of the middle look JUST LIKE the monstrosity on the commons, even the same ugly color with projecting balconies. I would be more concerned about that than anything else. It may not just be the tallest but also the ugliest. Why do they even think that crap looks good at all? The most recent renderings didn't make the move to this thread with everything else for some reason, but I think they look better than what is shown above and a lot less 225/80 Commons-like https://www.urbanohio.com/forum/index.php/topic,2062.msg912095.html#msg912095
May 24, 20187 yr ^ Yea, I really don't think the newest renderings are all that bad. The western portion of the project looks really good and does a good job of blending with the neighborhood. The taller eastern portion is somewhat mediocre, but it's more contemporary style meshes relatively well with some of the new developments along High Street.
May 24, 20187 yr ^You shouldn't "laugh" at threatened lawsuits. No laws have to be broken to start the ball rolling. Really the only thing preventing a lawsuit is cost and the amount of time a person or persons have to devote since it could be a long and drawn out process. Will this project require a simple zoning variance? In Cleveland, a significant apartment development was proposed for a blighted site in Little Italy and numerous zoning variance were required. The lengthy and expense (retention of real estate experts for the presentation the zoning board) process was initiated and the city granted the variances. There after a single nearby homeowner with apparent deep pockets and a lot of time on his hand began the statutory appeal process challenging the variances. The case lasted for more than 3 years (going to the court of appeals twice). The city and developer won at all levels on the substantive issues and had a strong case to win over all, but recently (for unknown reasons-possibly increase costs due to the delay) just gave up and the project is dead. Since this project is located in the Victorian Village Historic District, the Victorian Village Commission must approve "the overall design" of the project. Basically this is approval of the exterior design/massing/materials etc. and a recommendation to approve any zoning variances. Any zoning variances would then go to the City's BZA for final approval (although if the VV Commission recommends approval, the BZA will almost always concur). A height variance is definitely needed for this Kaufman project, and possibly some more minor setback and parking variances. As far as a threatened lawsuit being nothing to laugh at. Possibly - if Kaufman doesn't want to wait on the eventual outcome. But with a hot real estate market like Columbus/Central Ohio, most developers do stick around through any court appeals, if they have an approved project. In Central Ohio, I've found that the ballot referendum process can be more threatening to local developers. There have been some projects in Upper Arlington and Powell that have been overturned (or at least delayed) at the ballot box. However, the signature threshold to get a referendum on the ballot is much lower in UA and Powell then in the City of Columbus. It can be done in Columbus, but it requires something like 10% of the citywide registered voters (at least 20,000+, I think). And getting 20,000+ signatures citywide for what is essentially a neighborhood issue seems unlikely.
May 24, 20187 yr The most recent renderings didn't make the move to this thread with everything else for some reason, but I think they look better than what is shown above and a lot less 225/80 Commons-like Thanks for the heads-up. Those renderings and the reply posts have now been moved into this thread.
May 24, 20187 yr Here's NBC4's report about last night's Victorian Village Commission meeting: http://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/residents-dissatisfied-with-updated-victorian-village-high-rise-proposal/1195635381
May 24, 20187 yr The more I look at the renderings, the more the bigger part and part of the middle look JUST LIKE the monstrosity on the commons, even the same ugly color with projecting balconies. I would be more concerned about that than anything else. It may not just be the tallest but also the ugliest. Why do they even think that crap looks good at all? The most recent renderings didn't make the move to this thread with everything else for some reason, but I think they look better than what is shown above and a lot less 225/80 Commons-like https://www.urbanohio.com/forum/index.php/topic,2062.msg912095.html#msg912095 Thanks. These look much much better.
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