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    59 Urban Development Projects Announced in 2022

    We wrote about more new development announcements and proposals in 2022 than we have in years. As always, some of those projects were approved right away, others were revised and brought back for a final sign-off, and others are still working their way through the process. Scroll down for our list of the urban development projects announced in 2022 that have not yet started construction.

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    Downtown

    In January, we learned that the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority had commissioned a study to look at the feasibility of building an Amtrak station near the convention center. Renderings were presented and plans discussed, but we’re still waiting to see if Ohio will apply for funds to expand passenger rail in the state. Find the latest update on those efforts here.

    The largest proposal for Downtown this year in terms of number of units (336) is a plan to renovate the former Continental Centre at 150 E. Gay St., which just received state historic preservation tax credits.

    The tallest proposal is for a 12-story building on the site of the United Way’s headquarters at 360 S. Third St. It’s a collaboration between United Way, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and national nonprofit The Community Builders (TCB).

    Several significant renovations were proposed – the Salesian Building’s owner presented new plans for the historic structure in March; a long-vacant building close to the river could finally be repurposed; a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places could be repurposed, and the Godman Guild is eyeing a building on Grant Avenue for its new base of operations.

    Two proposals involving demolishing existing structures ran into opposition from the Downtown Commission – one on East Broad Street and the other on Oak Street (Library Park Phase Four).

    A unique proposal for a six-unit, seven-story building was heard by the commission in June.

    Some projects Downtown that began life as apartments have been converted to for-sale condominium units.

    A plan to build a three-story, 24-unit apartment building behind an existing two-story apartment building on East Town Street was brought before the commission in April.

    Finally, a plan to install new public restrooms Downtown was approved in July.

    A rendering of the proposed building at 630 W. Broad St. – by ArchAll Architects.

    Franklinton

    A seven-story building was proposed for a prominent site on West Broad Street.

    This five-story proposal led to Glass Axis looking for a new home, which they announced would be on the South Side.

    A renovation of the former Starling Middle School is planned, along with new-build apartments on the same site. The project was just awarded state historic tax credits.

    Plans for a 40-unit building on West Town Street are moving forward, as is an affordable project to be built on parcels controlled by the Central Ohio Community Land Trust.

    A charter school is moving into a building on West Broad that had previously been eyed for redevelopment.

    South Side

    An expansion of The Fort and a significant new mixed-use development across the street – with as many as 1,000 residential units – was announced in September.

    Another large project in the area took a major step forward in July, when a revised plan for a 780-unit development on the Whittier peninsula was approved by City Council.

    A new plan for redeveloping a historic shoe factory site in the Brewery District has been making its way through the approval process.

    In January, a five-story mixed-use building was proposed for a key block of East Livingston Avenue, across from the expanding Nationwide Children’s Hospital campus.

    Further to the east on Livingston, this affordable housing proposal would require demolishing the former cookie bakery that still stands on the site.

    A smaller affordable housing development was proposed for an under-utilized site on Jenkins Avenue.

    University District

    Lots of time was spent discussing the intersection of Lane and High this year. A plan to redevelop the northeast (CVS) corner of the intersection has been before the University Impact District Review Board multiple times. The latest iteration calls for an 11-story, mixed-use building with 173 apartments on the site. A separate proposal, from Austin-based American Campus Communities, calls for a 12-story building at 50 W. Lane Ave. and a seven-story building at 2195 N. High St. 

    A new plan surfaced in August to redevelop the former Patrick J’s site on High Street.

    Two prominent churches in the district went up for sale earlier this year, and at least one could be redeveloped.

    A proposed renovation of a unique building was discussed by the review board in March.

    A group of students presented some ideas for a temporary park at the corner of 14th and High.

    A rendering of the proposed development at 720 E. Long St. – by The Columbus Design Co and Moody Nolan.

    Near East Side

    A 90-unit mixed-use development was proposed for the northwest corner of East Long Street and Hamilton Avenue, the longtime location of the Diehl-Whittaker funeral home.

    A six-story development was proposed for a parking lot in Olde Towne East. 

    In October, City Council approved a plan to build a three-story, 48-unit apartment building on a vacant lot at 514 Taylor Ave.

    The former Douglas Alternative Elementary School will be demolished to make way for a new Broad Street Arts and Senior Campus.

    Finance Fund got approval to build a 50-unit affordable housing development on two empty lots on East Main Street.

    Fifth by Northwest

    A 208-unit development was proposed for a block of West Fifth Avenue currently occupied by several one-story commercial buildings and parking lots. In August, the Fifth by Northwest Area Commission approved a plan for a five-story, 180-unit mixed-use development on Chambers Road. Both projects are from Preferred Living.

    A plan from Elford Development to build an Aldi grocery store and 250-unit apartment building at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Edgehill Road got commission approval in September.

    The Windsor Arms, a three-story apartment complex on West Third Avenue, is in the process of being demolished. A five-story, 75-unit apartment building has been proposed to replace it.

    The proposed building at 21 W. Hubbard Ave. Rendering by Columbus Architectural Studio.

    Short North

    Wood Companies proposed a 12-story building at 21 W. Hubbard Ave., just west of High Street. The developer also submitted a scaled-down plan to renovate a two-story building at 700 N. High St.

    Equitas Health submitted plans for a new Short North pharmacy to the Victorian Village Commission in July.

    West Side

    A 780-unit development was proposed for the river-adjacent site of a west side auto salvage yard.

    The operator of Hollywood Casino Columbus plans to build a 180-room hotel on the site.

    In October, the Ohio Power Siting Board approved a plan to build a 250-megawatt solar energy facility on about 2,400 acres of land in western Franklin County.

    Other Neighborhoods

    Plans appear to be moving forward on the long-awaited redevelopment of the Cooper Stadium site.

    These ideas for new development around Buckeye Lake got a lot of attention, as did a plan to build a tiny home village on the southeast side.

    A new plan was unveiled with lots of new proposals for the fairgrounds.

    Design concepts were presented earlier this month for new Bus Rapid Transit stations that are planned as part of the LinkUs initiative.

    A five-story building is now planned for this car lot in Clintonville, and more new apartments are on their way to Italian Village.

    The city dropped its plan to build a sports complex at the old Crew Stadium, announcing instead a plan to make improvements to Kilbourne Run Sports Park.

    Rogue Fitness plans to build a bike factory in Milo-Grogan.

    Plans to build a new mixed-use development in Grove City’s Town Center was announced in September.

    In Hilliard, a new development is planned for a 27-acre site currently occupied by a single office building.

    A 159-year-old building in Delaware could see new life under a redevelopment plan announced in March.

    READ MORE: 21 Urban Development Projects Completed in 2022

    READ MORE: 74 Urban Development Projects Under Construction in 2022

    READ MORE: Still No Shovels in the Ground For These 38 Projects

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