January 7, 200916 yr Macy’s may be out of revamped Kingsdale Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 4:36pm Redevelopment of the Kingsdale Shopping Center in Upper Arlington could eventually expand to include the Macy’s Inc. department store that anchors the 50-year-old suburban retail property. Columbus developer Frank Kass told reporters before a Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning work session on Jan. 5 that his Continental Real Estate Cos. plans to nearly double the size of the Giant Eagle Inc. grocery store which anchors the southern section of the shopping center close to Zollinger Road. The $60 million redevelopment project does not include the Macy’s store located at the northern end of the property close to the intersection of Tremont Road and Northwest Boulevard. When asked about the Macy’s store, Kass said Columbus-based Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd., the developer of the Arena District in downtown Columbus, has had preliminary discussions with Macy’s about closing the Kingsdale store and building a new department store as the retail anchor for the Grandview Yard redevelopment in nearby Grandview Heights. Moving to Grandview Yard, he said, would allow Macy’s to better serve the Short North and downtown residential markets. “My guess is, long-term, (Macy’s) doesn’t stay at Kingsdale,” he said. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/01/05/daily15.html?surround=lfn
January 13, 200916 yr Deal to buy, redevelop Kingsdale near completion Monday, January 12, 2009 - 5:18 AM By Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH In the past year, plans for a renovated Kingsdale Shopping Center have gone from wishful thinking to a near certainty. That's a rapid pace, considering how long the '60s-era center has languished. Continental Real Estate Cos. is close to wrapping up a deal to buy Kingsdale from Regency Centers for $20.2 million. Continental's vision for a renovated center includes a rebuilt, expanded Giant Eagle supermarket, about 100,000 square feet of office space and several new retail buildings. There's even the possibility that Continental, one of the top commercial developers in central Ohio, might eventually gain control of the aging Macy's building and redevelop it, should the retailer close at Kingsdale. Continental Chairman Frank Kass, working with local developer Mark Catalano on the project, said he expects the deal to buy the center will close in late March if Upper Arlington approves Continental's preliminary development plan for the site. That could happen in early February at a public meeting of the city's planning and zoning board. The city tried for years to persuade Regency to include new offices in a renovated Kingsdale rather than simply plug retail gaps, and some city officials seem genuinely excited about Continental's involvement. "What you have is Continental's ability to market the office (space)," said Matthew Shad, the city's economic development director. "That's not something that was Regency's forte." Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/01/12/ZONE0112.ART_ART_01-12-09_C8_3RCFC2T.html?sid=101
January 16, 200916 yr Giant Eagle crucial, Macy's a wild card in redevelopment plan Wednesday, January 7, 2009 - 12:11 PM By CHRIS BOURNEA, ThisWeek Staff Writer The Kingsdale Shopping Center may not ever become the mixed-use facility with retail, residential and office components outlined in Upper Arlington's master plan. But Continental Real Estate Companies CEO Frank Kass believes his redevelopment plan for Kingsdale will breathe new life into the aging center. While presenting a preliminary site plan to the Board of Zoning and Planning Monday night, following a press conference on the subject, Kass said relocating the center's Giant Eagle store from Tremont Road to Northwest Boulevard is key to the redevelopment. The Kingsdale store is Giant Eagle's highest-grossing central Ohio location, Kass said, with $39-million in annual receipts. "We are Giant Eagle's sole contractor and sole builder in central Ohio," which will facilitate the redevelopment process, Kass said. Kass explained that one of the barriers to Kingsdale redevelopment over the years has been Giant Eagle's lease, which the grocer inherited from now-defunct Big Bear. "The lease had such restrictions protecting Big Bear's parking that it prohibited any other retailers or any other tenant from doing anything different," Kass said. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2009/01/07/0108uakingsdale2_ln.html
February 10, 200916 yr Upper Arlington OK with simpler center Suburb denied town hub in tough economy Thursday, February 5, 2009 - 3:21 AM By Martin Rozenman, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Upper Arlington's vision for Kingsdale Shopping Center called for a much grander makeover than what developers now propose. It was part of a $500,000 master plan that city officials unveiled in 2001 after three years of public meetings. The shopping center, built in 1959, was to be remade as a town center with offices, shops, restaurants, residences and a park. A grid of streets with trees and landscaping would transform the half-empty center into an urban hub. Instead, Kingsdale will continue to look more like a shopping center, with a 105,000-square-foot supermarket and its 564-space parking lot. After years of pursuing their vision, why are Upper Arlington officials accepting something so different now? Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/05/copy/KINGSDALEPLAN.ART_ART_02-05-09_B1_EACQ6DH.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
February 10, 200916 yr The economy is no excuse; this is a rich neighborhood we're talking about. If they really wanted a transformation they could make it happen. Oh well, other suburbs will become more attractive while Tremont looks more and more like Morse Rd.
February 15, 200916 yr From Elephants on Bicycles: http://elephantsonbicycles.com/?p=798 <b>Getting Honest About Kingsdale</b> by Andrew Miller <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/eobsm.jpg"> I’ll preface by saying that I hope the Kingsdale redevelopment takes place, even if it remains essentially the same as it is right now. The problem here is that young people do like the idea of living in UA because it is close to the city. People of my generation and younger generally are looking for one of two things; an urban experience or a full service suburban community - or else they go and live on a farm. UA currently offers neither of these things. More: http://elephantsonbicycles.com/?p=798
April 21, 200916 yr UA might invest in Kingsdale Tuesday, April 21, 2009 9:04 AM By Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A new Giant Eagle that will serve twice as many customers, featuring food that most grocery shoppers don't see. A hardware store, spa and health club. And a public square for parents to rest and kids to prance. Those details for a new Kingsdale Shopping Center emerged last night in a development agreement presented to the Upper Arlington City Council. Under the proposal, Upper Arlington would buy 5 acres of the site for at least one office building that eventually should bring the city $400,000 a year in additional income taxes. That and other public improvements would cost the city $5.3 million. But there would be no immediate cost to the suburb, according to the proposed agreement, because the improvements would be paid for over time through tax-increment financing. Resident Paul Kreitler sat through half the meeting, disappointed that the plan sounded less like Easton Town Center and more like "a huge surface (parking) lot with a strip mall at the end." Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/04/21/uamall.html?sid=101
April 21, 200916 yr The public area would be "where people could come out and play the banjo," Kass said. Weirdest...quote...ever. I wonder if this guy has even been to Upper Arlington.
April 30, 200916 yr The public area would be "where people could come out and play the banjo," Kass said. Weirdest...quote...ever. I wonder if this guy has even been to Upper Arlington. ^That quote is just strange. My nomination for the best quote from the article: Resident Paul Kreitler sat through half the meeting, disappointed that the plan sounded less like Easton Town Center and more like "a huge surface (parking) lot with a strip mall at the end."
April 30, 200916 yr Giant Eagle bringing upscale Market District store to Kingsdale Business First of Columbus - by Brian Ball Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 3:28pm Giant Eagle Inc. plans to introduce its upscale Market District supermarkets in Central Ohio in 2010 as part of developer Continental Real Estate Cos.’ planned redevelopment of the Kingsdale Shopping Center in Upper Arlington. Officials with the Pittsburgh-based grocer unveiled the Market District plans Monday night at an Upper Arlington City Council meeting, where members also heard the second reading of a proposed development agreement between the city and the Kingsdale developer. Giant Eagle in 2007 renovated two supermarkets in Pittsburgh into its high-end concept that features more premium brands, ready-to-eat gourmet foods, an expanded in-house bakery, sushi bar and other amenities such as a beverage bar offering coffee and specialty fruit drinks. Matt Shad, Upper Arlington’s deputy city manager for economic development, called the announcement a promise kept by the grocery chain and the developer, which unveiled its latest bid to redevelop the 50-year-old Kingsdale center in early January. “They were hinting they would give us a great store,” he said. The 110,000-square-foot Market District at Kingsdale would replace a 56,000-square-foot Giant Eagle the retailer acquired after the Big Bear Stores Inc. grocery chain went out of business more than five years ago. Construction of the store is expected to start in August, said Continental Chairman Frank Kass, with a completion expected about a year later. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/04/27/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
May 2, 200916 yr My nomination for the best quote from the article: Resident Paul Kreitler sat through half the meeting, disappointed that the plan sounded less like Easton Town Center and more like "a huge surface (parking) lot with a strip mall at the end." Ha! Agreed! :D
May 8, 200916 yr Kingsdale plan gets go-ahead from council Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 3:10 AM By Chris Bournea, ThisWeek Newspapers Despite last-minute objections by a handful of residents, the Upper Arlington City Council approved a development agreement that will make a new Giant Eagle store the centerpiece of a revamped Kingsdale Shopping Center. Council members voted 6-0 this week in favor of a plan put forth by Echo/Continental, a Columbus-based development company that's in contract to buy Kingsdale for $20 million from Regency Centers of Jacksonville, Fla. The agreement calls for the city to invest $5.3 million -- through the establishment of a tax-increment-financing district -- to facilitate office development on 5 acres of the Kingsdale property. Those funds will cover the installation of a new traffic light on Northwest Boulevard and other public improvements. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/05/07/Kingsdale_Approved.ART_ART_05-07-09_A11_EQDPKAG.html?sid=101
June 3, 200916 yr Plans for Kingsdale's new Giant Eagle call for variety, versatility Developers hope to introduce a 'village green' gathering place on Tremont side once Giant Eagle is moved By DONAVON CAMPBELL, COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS Published: Tuesday, June 2, 2009 4:52 PM EDT Continental Real Estate officials said Monday they hope to rebuild a Kingsdale Shopping Center with versatility and variety. Company officials shared final site plans for the redevelopment of their portion of Kingsdale with Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning members during a work session June 1. The work session is an informal review. BZAP is scheduled to vote on the plans during a June 15 meeting. Still included in plans for the center is a new 110,000-plus square foot Giant Eagle Market District store that will be constructed along Northwest Boulevard. The store will be the first of its kind in Ohio -- offering a variety of shopping options including organic foods, prepared foods and even occasional farmers markets with local produce. Read more at http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2009/06/02/multiple_papers/news/alluakings_20090602_1232pm_9.txt
June 3, 200916 yr Well, the redo of Upper Arlington's Kingsdale Shopping Center is chugging forward. Here are the latest renderings of the project that according to the developer "is what we plan to build". I like the multiple facades concept. But I still agree with what resident Paul Kreitler said in a previous article this looks "less like Easton Town Center and more like a huge surface (parking) lot with a strip mall at the end." The renderings and additional project information are at http://www.ua-ohio.net/news/specialprojects/kingsdale/renderings.asp. Here's an aerial of the existing Kingsdale Center. Tremont Road is the street at the top of the photo. Northwest Boulevard is the street at the bottom of the photo. A view of the Kingsdale Shopping Center from Northwest Boulevard. View of Giant Eagle's Market District as seen from Northwest Boulevard. A view of the Kingsdale site from Tremont Road.
June 4, 200916 yr Anywhere, USA: just what's needed in UA to make it a more attractive place to live and stop population loss.
August 5, 200915 yr UA city officials express relief, excitement that Kingsdale deal is done BY DONAVON CAMPBELL, COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009 - 9:20 AM EDT The Kingsdale Shopping Center officially has a new owner. So now city of Upper Arlington and Continental Real Estate officials can share their relief and excitement about the future redevelopment of the center. Continental Vice President of Planning and Development Sean Cullen said the company finalized the purchase of the 21.6-acre shopping center from former owner Regency Centers on Friday, July 24. "We're just excited to be able to move on to the next phase," said Cullen, referring to the demolition of a number of buildings on the site. Read more at http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2009/07/29/multiple_papers/news/alluakings_20090729_0854am_7.txt
August 5, 200915 yr That's the most bland, uninspired plan I've ever seen. Lane Ave looks like it need not worry about losing it's place as the best shopping destination in UA to Kingsdale.
August 5, 200915 yr Kingsdale rehab ‘off and running’ Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball Friday, July 31, 2009 The $60 million redevelopment of the aged Kingsdale Shopping Center has begun after an affiliate of Continental Real Estate Cos. bought the Upper Arlington property July 22. Echo Continental Kingsdale paid Regency Centers LP $20.2 million for the 21.7-acre site, which will undergo a transformation through 2012. The first phase of the $45 million retail project calls for the demolition of buildings along Northwest Boulevard north of Zollinger Road. That will become the site of a 110,000-square-foot Giant Eagle Market District, the first upscale grocery store Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle Inc. has planned in Ohio. Read more at http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/08/03/story6.html
August 6, 200915 yr Well, any pro-urban UA-er knows where the community stands. They could have had another downtown Bexley/Grandview sort of development but instead went for the oh-so-classy strip mall. Might as well contribute to the declining population of UA for better upper-class urban hoods.
August 23, 200915 yr The demolition of UA's Kingsdale Shopping Center has begun. Seems to be a trend developing in tearing down aging retail centers with Northland, City Center and now Kingsdale biting the dust. Anyway, below is a ThisWeekNews article on Kingsdale demolition and redevelopment. And for the destructoporn fans out there, a great update from Columbus Underground with demolition photos. Kingsdale 'Wrecking Ball' rescheduled for Aug. 20 Kingsdale Shopping Center Demolition Begins
August 23, 200915 yr ^ "destructoporn". hahaha Thanks! I wish I could claim to have originated the phrase, but I got it from curbed.com - the incredibly snarky and entertaining NYC development website. This was the first chance I had to use it here.
November 20, 200915 yr As rubble is moved at Kingsdale, efforts move forward on new offices By Donavon Campbell, Columbus Local News Published: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 9:30 AM EST Officials close to the redevelopment of Kingsdale Shopping Center are saying work is coming along as planned -- and efforts are beginning to heat up regarding the office component at the site. Mark Catalano is a local developer working with Continental Real Estate -- the firm that purchased Kingsdale, located just south of "Five Points" intersection between Northwest Boulevard and Tremont Road, earlier this year from former owner Regency Centers. He said efforts to market office space at the site are beginning to ramp up. According to the plans for the center, Giant Eagle will move from its current location to a new 110,000-plus square-foot building on the Northwest Boulevard side of the center. Some of the existing retail spaces will be renovated and some new space will be added. The plan then calls for the construction of two, four-story office buildings of roughly 42,000 and 62,000 square feet along Zollinger Road. The office buildings will get under way once the new Giant Eagle store is completed and the current store is vacated, Catalano said. Full story at http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/multiple_papers/news/alluakings_20091118_0905am_10.txt
January 7, 201015 yr <b>Roll: Opening New Lane Avenue Location in May</b> By Walker | December 30, 2009 9:00am | Filed under Shopping <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lane-ave-roll-bikes-store.jpg"> Local bike store Roll: will be opening their third Columbus location this May at 1510 W. Lane Avenue near Whole Foods. According to their blog, the building is already under construction, and this new Upper Arlington store will be their largest location to date. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/roll-opening-new-lane-avenue-location-in-may
April 2, 201015 yr I am wondering if anyone has any updated news on any retailers/restaurants or specialty shops that have agreed to move in or who are looking at moving into the Kingsdale Shopping Center when it is finalized. I have heard that Kenneths will be moving in and that they are planning a small sitting area with a fountain. I have noticed by peeking through the cloth covered chain link fence that it looks like a new Restaurant is going into the space between First Watch and the Shipping Store. Does anyone know?
April 2, 201015 yr Hello and welcome to Urban Ohio, bababooey. I merged your post with the existing Upper Arlington Kingsdale redevelopment thread. I don't have any updates right now but I'll keep an eye out for any updates and post them here.
May 31, 201015 yr City, market try to negotiate compromise on site plan Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 3:18 PM By KIM TOLLEY, ThisWeek Contributor Members of the Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning told representatives of Whole Foods Market that the store needs to work within the city of Upper Arlington's zoning laws as they continue renovation plans at the Lane Avenue location. Whole Foods officials intend to expand the former Wild Oats store to 35,000 square feet, down from the proposed 50,000 square feet. Changes that the city and store officials are currently debating include the store's plan to have the building sit back from Lane Avenue. Board chair Thomas J. Riley reminded store officials and project architect Mark Ford that the city's staff has wrestled with the location of the building. Chad Gibson, a senior planner for development in Upper Arlington, has said that the proposal conflicts with the city's redevelopment guidelines because it would cut back on the density of the shopping center site. Full article: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2010/05/05/city-market.html
May 31, 201015 yr Master plan update about to begin Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 12:38 PM By MICHAEL J. MAURER, ThisWeek Contributor Infrastructure issues dominated the Upper Arlington City Council work session Monday night as members discussed potential roundabouts, curbs and gutters, multi-use recreational paths in lieu of traditional sidewalks. In particular, they talked about the pending update of the city's master plan. Assistant city manager Joe Valentino presented an 18-month timeline to council by which a 10-year update of the city's master plan would be completed, and suggested two tracks for the update. Valentino said he would like to add two goals — technology and environment — to the eight goals of the existing master plan. Those original goals were land use, economy, community appearance, facilities, services, housing, transportation and implementation of the plan. The suggested timeline for the master plan update calls for formal adoption by council at the end of 2011. City manager Virginia Barney said the process would be less involved than the initial adoption of the plan in 2001, because many of its components, such as parks and recreation, had more or less been in continual development. Full article: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2010/05/19/master-plan-update-about-to-begin.html?sid=104
August 17, 201014 yr Tree of Life completes AOL site purchase despite Upper Arlington opposition Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball Thursday, August 12, 2010 Tree of Life Ministries has purchased the former AOL Time Warner property off Henderson Road for $6.5 million, even though the city of Upper Arlington has denied zoning approvals necessary for its plans to consolidate four Tree of Life Christian Schools there. Tree of Life announced its interest in the 254,000-square-foot office campus in December. The one-time CompuServe campus at 5000 Arlington Centre Blvd. has been vacant for nearly three years. The project faces stiff opposition in Upper Arlington, where the city’s board of zoning and planning determined the property’s use as a school requires rezoning, not approval of a conditional use, since it sets within an office/research district. The Upper Arlington zoning appeals panel and city council upheld that ruling and the matter is awaiting a hearing before the Franklin County Environmental Court. “The change of ownership doesn’t change the city’s zoning laws,” said Chad Gibson, the city’s senior planning officer. “If they want to pursue one of the permitted or conditional uses, then the staff is available to help them.” Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/08/09/daily35.html?surround=lfn
October 4, 201014 yr From Upper Arlington ThisWeek News: An update on the Kingsdale renovations Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Merchants at the Kingsdale Shopping Center remain open for business as renovation continues to move forward. The building being erected currently on the north side of the site off Tremont is a 12,000-square-foot retail building expected to be completed by the end of the year. Fifty percent of the building has been leased and Continental is working on terms with a restaurant for another approximately 4,500 square feet. The demolition on the Zollinger Road part of the site should start mid fall and be completed by Thanksgiving time. This will pave the way for the office/medical buildings to start in the spring once commitments have been finalized. The pile of dirt seen currently in the middle of the parking lot should be green space this fall, as well. Continental shared that the leasing for the center continues to go very well. Kenneth's Salon, Orange Leaf Yogurt and Burger's, Dogs & Fries are due to open by mid-September or shortly thereafter. Giant Eagle is scheduled for a mid-October opening. This completes the existing retail, minus a couple of tenants with the new buildings coming on line next year. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/uabusinessmonthly/stories/2010/09/An-update-on-the-Kingsdale-renovations.html
October 14, 201014 yr Giant Eagle's concept megastore in Upper Arlington opens today, with everything shoppers need - and don't yet know they want Thursday, October 14, 2010 By Tracy Turner THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Sure, it's a Giant Eagle, but the folks behind the Market District concept don't call it a grocery store. Featuring a restaurant, a bakery, a wine shop, a health clinic and three times as many employees as a normal Giant Eagle, the Market District store opening today in Upper Arlington is the first of its kind in Ohio. "It's where food utopia meets the weekly shopping trip," said Brett Merrell, senior vice president of Giant Eagle's Market District division. Food Network TV host Guy Fieri calls it the "Disneyland of grocery stores." The 127,000-square-foot store, at the redeveloped Kingsdale Shopping Center, is only the fourth of its kind from the Pittsburgh-based grocer. Giant Eagle opened its first Market District in Pittsburgh in 2006 and now has three of the stores in that market. The company said it chose Columbus to open its first Market District in Ohio because it thinks the area will support the concept. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/10/14/grocery-disneyland.html?sid=101
October 14, 201014 yr With so few businesses per capita located in UA, that Giant Eagle may really do well with it's expanded product line. On the other hand, they might not sell a whole lot of rattlesnake to Arlington locals.
October 16, 201014 yr Exactly what I was thinking: UA doesn't have the demographic that is going to support the sale of snake meat, let alone various kinds of snake meat. Hell, they just chose to rebuild a strip mall instead of adding another urban business district to their neighborhood: not the type to think outside of the (big) box.
October 23, 201014 yr I just hope that people don't forget about the awesomeness of Huffman's Market, just down the street: <b>Huffman’s Market Celebrates 24 Years of Tradition</b> By Walker | October 19, 2010 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/huffmans4.jpg"> There’s been quite a bit of hullabaloo about the new Market District store that opened at the Kingsdale Shopping Center last week, and for good reason: It’s a massive store that contains just about everything under the sun. On the other end of the spectrum (and only a half mile down the road) Huffman’s Market continues to offer a more traditional grocery experience that is pleasantly bells-and-whistles free. The employees are friendly, product selection is diverse yet easy to navigate, and the commitment to carrying local products is a priority. To find out more about the store, we conducted a Q&A with Owner/Manager Tim Huffman: READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/huffmans-market-celebrates-24-years-of-tradition
November 1, 201014 yr Market District: BZAP still has some material concerns Wednesday, October 20, 2010 By KIM TOLLEY, This Week Community Newspapers Although the new Giant Eagle opened its Market District store in Kingsdale last week, there are still some design issues that need to be resolved, according to Upper Arlington city staff. In its monthly Monday night meeting, members of the Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning approved several requests for variances and discussed the aesthetic problem with the new Giant Eagle Market District. Board members discussed the grocery store's deviation from material for an exterior foundation that had been approved in prior meetings. Chad Gibson, the city's senior planner, told board members that city staff received complaints about a design brick that resembles a concrete foundation block. Gibson said that the block results in an "unfinished and industrial look." After several members of the board suggested that staining the problem area would provide a different color to the exterior, Gibson said he would bring the suggestion to Giant Eagle officials in a future meeting. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/upperarlington/stories/2010/10/20/bzap-still-has-some-material-concerns.html?sid=104
November 10, 201014 yr Solar energy firm has bright idea for UA municipal building By MARK DUBOVEC, COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS Monday, November 8, 2010 - 10:21 AM EST A solar energy firm is seeking an agreement with Upper Arlington City Council to install solar panels on the Municipal Services Center building and enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with UA. Tipping Point Renewable Energy would own, operate and maintain the system while selling the energy it produces to the city at a rate lower than the regulated utility, American Electric Power. City staff estimates the panels will power at least 20 percent of the building's needs and save the city more than $150,000 in utility cost during the next 20 years. MORE: http://columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2010/11/08/multiple_papers/news/alluasolar_20101104_1201pm_5.txt
February 11, 201114 yr Riverside Drive post office will move to Kingsdale Thursday, January 13, 2011 02:54 AM By Andrew Miller ThisWeek Community Newspapers The U.S. Postal Service hopes to save money by moving its branch from 3700 Riverside Dr. to the Kingsdale Shopping Center. Richard Hancock, a real-estate specialist for the Postal Service, said the new facility will be in a more central location. An official moving date has not yet been announced, but Hancock said the timeframe is between the end of July and the beginning of September. The Kingsdale post office will serve only as a retail location, he said. "The mail sorting that was occurring at the Riverside location will move down to the Twin Rivers location," Hancock said. "We are not aware of any planned job cuts associated with the move." http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/01/13/riverside-drive-post-office-to-move-to-kingsdale.html
May 30, 201114 yr Some interesting discussion surrounding the parking issues and proposed "Entertainment District" on Lane Avenue: <b>Parking Issues on Lane Avenue / Upper Arlington</b> HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/parking-issues-on-lane-avenue-upper-arlington
July 4, 201113 yr Upper Arlington puts Lane Avenue on fast track to development By Dan Eaton, Business First Friday, June 24, 2011, 6:00am EDT The suburb’s city council last week approved the creation of a community entertainment district covering 40 acres along Lane Avenue. The designation gives the area seven more liquor licenses, in addition to the 17 in the city, and it is seen by many as a catalyst for redevelopment in the corridor, starting at the shopping centers on the southeast corner of Lane and North Star Road and moving west to just beyond Northwest Boulevard. Matthew Shad, the city’s deputy manager of economic development, said Upper Arlington residents have complained there are too few restaurants in the suburb, aside from sandwich shops. Upper Arlington officials think the additional licenses will attract dining spots, which will draw more office and retail development, which will bring in more tax revenue. READ MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/06/24/lane-avenue-put-on-fast-track-to.html
July 4, 201113 yr Whole Foods Market will step aside for expansion Saturday, July 2, 2011 By Tim Feran, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Whole Foods Market in Upper Arlington will move next week from one site in the Shops on Lane Avenue to another. The organic- and natural-foods retailer's current store, at 1555 W. Lane Ave., will be torn down. The 22,000-square-foot building that housed a Wild Oats market until Whole Foods bought the chain in 2007 will be replaced by a building that, at 35,000 square feet, is nearly 60 percent bigger. Whole Foods stores average 31,200 square feet. And the trend is to get even bigger, with stores built in the past two years averaging 36,500 square feet. The nearby Dublin-Granville Road store is among the five largest in the chain, at 75,000 square feet. Whole Foods said it is expected to take 18 months to build the new store, which means it should be completed about the end of next year. LOCATION MAP OF THE WHOLE FOODS PROJECT READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/07/02/market-will-step-aside-for-expansion.html?sid=101
July 23, 201113 yr Some interesting discussion surrounding the parking issues and proposed "Entertainment District" on Lane Avenue: <b>Parking Issues on Lane Avenue / Upper Arlington</b> HERE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/parking-issues-on-lane-avenue-upper-arlington Interesting. It seems like Upper Arlington is really serious about traffic calming and parking on one of their main streets - Lane Avenue. An article from This Week News - Upper Arlington from earlier in the week: Traffic calming, on-street parking - Upper Arlington to act on Lane Avenue
July 23, 201113 yr More from today's Dispatch about reworking Lane Avenue: Consultant's plan calls for slower, narrower Lane Proposal pleases Upper Arlington officials, residents Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 03:06 AM By Dean Narciso, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The commercial stretch of Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington would become slower and narrower for motorists and safer for residents if a consultant's plan is put in place. Florida-based AECOM submitted its recommendations to city officials this month, including the creation of parallel parking in what is currently the north lane of a four-lane road and adding a center turn lane. The changes would effectively reduce the commercial roadway from two lanes in each direction to one and reduce the current speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph. "It's going to slow traffic down and make people more comfortable walking the streets," Upper Arlington spokeswoman Emma Speight said. MAP OF PROPOSED TRAFFIC CHANGES ON LANE AVENUE READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/07/23/consultants-plan-calls-for-slower-narrower-lane.html?sid=101
September 6, 201113 yr Developers proposing hotel for Lane Ave. in Upper Arlington Plan also features office, retail space; neighborhood reaction is mixed By Lin Rice, ThisWeek Newspapers Wednesday, August 31, 2011 - 2:47 PM A Columbus real-estate partnership unveiled plans last night for a Cambria Suites hotel and accompanying mixed-use development in the heart of Upper Arlington’s new community entertainment district. Lane Avenue Redevelopment LLC submitted plans for a 118-room hotel as well as 106 “luxury” apartments, 13,000 square feet of office space and a 13,000-square-foot retail and restaurant space. The proposed site, bordered by Lane Avenue on the south and Wellesley Drive on the east, sits on a parcel occupied by the Lane Avenue Baptist Church. The site is across the street from the Shops on Lane Avenue and west of La Chatelaine French Bakery & Bistro. The group proposing the development is a partnership of Real Estate Development Advisors, or RDA; Crawford Hoying; hotel developer and owner Ceres Enterprises LLC; M+A Architects; and construction manager Brackett Builders Inc. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2011/08/31/developers-proposing-hotel-for-lane-ave-.html
September 6, 201113 yr More about the Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development proposal in Upper Arlington: Business First: Lane Avenue Baptist Church site targeted for hotel, shopping complex Columbus Underground: New Mixed-Use Development Proposed for Lane Avenue Entertainment Corridor
September 20, 201113 yr More about the Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development proposal in Upper Arlington: From the City of Upper Arlington: Proposed Lane Avenue Mixed Use Project Highlights of Project (See the September 14 Fact Sheet below for additional details) A private real estate development group - the Lane Avenue Redevelopment, LLC led by Real Estate Development Advisors (RDA) - is moving forward with plans to re-develop the property that currently houses the Lane Avenue Baptist Church just west of Wellesley Road and across from the Shops on Lane Avenue. At the close of business on Monday, August 29, 2011, the development group submitted a development plan for review by the Board of Zoning and Planning (BZAP) in September 2011. As this proposed project moves forward, it will be subject to formal review and a ruling from BZAP at a date yet to be determined, and possibly additional review by City Council, with opportunities for public input in both instances. The plans for the site include: • An upscale five-story Cambria Suites hotel with 118 rooms that front Lane Avenue; • 106 luxury apartments; • 26,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and office space; and • 300 +/-parking structure and 130 +/-surface parking spaces. August 30 PowerPoint Presentation - Overview of proposed project, as detailed by Lane Avenue Redevelopment, LLC at its August 30 community meeting. MORE: http://www.uaoh.net/egov/docs/1314215220838.htm From Columbus Underground: A revised rendering of the hotel building in the project fronting Lane Avenue was posted here at Columbus Underground. Previous rendering Revised rendering of the hotel
September 24, 201113 yr More about the Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development proposal in Upper Arlington: Updated renderings of the proposed Lane Avenue Mixed Use Project from the City of Upper Arlington. Updated project images presented at their September 19, 2011 Board of Zoning and Planning Meeting. Lane Avenue Mixed Use Project - whole project view from Lane Avenue - apartment building and hotel building Lane Avenue Mixed Use Project - apartment building closeup view MORE: http://www.uaoh.net/egov/docs/1316525867225.htm
September 28, 201113 yr Zoning board delays approval of 5-story hotel Planners have much more info to digest before they can make decision By MARK DUBOVEC, COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS Published: Friday, September 23, 2011 - 2:19 PM EDT The Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning isn't ready to make a decision for the proposed hotel and mixed use development on Lane Avenue. BZAP voted Monday, Sept. 19, to postpone action on the Lane Avenue Redevelopment LLC's application to build a Cambria Suites hotel and five-story mixed-use building on the site of the existing Lane Avenue Baptist Church, 1610 W. Lane Avenue. (. . .) BZAP next meets on Oct. 3 for a work session, where no formal action will be taken. Oct. 17 is a formal session, where BZAP could vote on the proposal. READ MORE: http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2011/09/24/upper_arlington_news/news/uahotel%209-_20110920_0131pm_5.txt
October 25, 201113 yr Upper Arlington's Board of Zoning and Planning (BZAP) approved the Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development proposal last week. Below are articles from Columbus Local News and ThisWeekNews about that BZAP meeting: Columbus Local News: UA zoning board accepts plans for hotel, mixed-use project ThisWeekNews: Lane Ave. hotel gets BZAP go-ahead According to the information posted on the City of Upper Arlington website, it looks like the Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development proposal approved at last week's BZAP meeting was very similar to the last renderings previously posted here. The main changes are a slight reduction in overall building height to the hotel building and the apartment/retail building. Below are pdf's of the project from the City of Upper Arlington website showing those changes: Supplemental Staff Report for October 17 BZAP Meeting October 14 Revised Elevations & Perspectives - Part 1 October 14 Revised Elevations & Perspectives - Part 2 Revised Landscaping Plans
November 11, 201113 yr The recently approved Lane Avenue hotel and mixed-use development is being appealled. An administrative hearing is set for Nov. 28 before the Upper Arlington City Council. I guess this shouldn't come as a huge surprise. After all, Upper Arlington probably has the highest per capita advanced degrees in Central Ohio. Many are OSU Professors. Many are business professionals. And many are lawyers! Anyway, here are two reports from the neighborhood newspapers about the appeal: Columbus Local News: Resident appeals Lane hotel decision ThisWeekNews: Appeal of Lane Ave. development filed
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