ADVERTISEMENT

    Development Roundup: Updates from German Village, Downtown & Beyond

    Our Development Roundup feature is designed to keep you up-to-date on the latest proposals, approvals, delays and ribbon-cuttings. Whether it’s incremental updates on the many projects we are tracking, or short blurbs on some of the smaller or more far-flung developments that we have yet to cover, the aim of the roundup is to keep you informed.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    A plan to upgrade South Third Street in German Village has been discussed and studied for many years. The German Village Society has an update on the latest – findings presented to the neighborhood that outline the costs of different options, like re-bricking the street and burying utilities (both of which may end up being cost-prohibitive).

    Kevin Lykens, developer of multiple projects in Italian Village (like the Wonder Bread Lofts, two Detroit Avenue developments, and a recent proposal for the Budd Dairy site on North Fourth Street), appears to have made his first foray into Weinland Park, acquiring the Beer Barn site at the northwest corner of East Fifth Avenue and North Fourth Street. Lykens said he has no set plans for the parcel at this time.

    union-cafe
    The Union Cafe building — Photo by Walker Evans.

    A proposed three-story addition to the Union Cafe building at 782 North High Street is moving forward. The addition is to the rear of the building and will provide additional storage and office space, not directly affecting the restaurant itself.

    The Stonehenge Company’s proposed seven-story apartment building at 330 East Oak Street (pictured up top) was approved by the Downtown Commission at their April meeting. The building will replace a former pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility that the commission agreed – after multiple meetings – was too contaminated to redevelop.

    The strong apartment market has shown no signs of letting up in the suburbs, either, with projects popping up all along the outer belt and beyond. The Schottenstein Real Estate Group recently completed two large apartment developments on opposite ends of the metro area; the 228-unit Grove City Summit on London-Groveport Road near I-71, and the 196-unit Grand at Polaris on Old State Road, just north of Polaris Parkway.

    OSU's Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute.
    OSU’s Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute — Rendering provided by OSU.

    Ohio State isn’t letting continued work on the massive North Residential District keep it from building elsewhere on campus. Infrastructure work is underway on the 115,000 square-foot Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute, which will sit at the southwest corner of Ackerman Road and Fred Taylor Drive, just east of SR 315. The $35 million building is scheduled for completion in early 2016.

    Construction could start soon on a small mixed-use project on West Poplar Avenue that has been delayed many times through the years. Architect Mike Paplow of Feinknopf Macioce Schappa said that work could begin as soon as this summer on the building, which would feature loft apartments over ground-floor commercial. The three-story building would replace a quarter-acre parking lot that sits just west of the cap.

    Parsons
    Rendering of the new Shepard CML Branch Library – Provided by CML.

    The Columbus Metropolitan Library will break ground on their new Parsons Avenue Branch on June 2nd. The library also has unveiled the proposed design for a new Shepard Branch at the northeast corner of East Fifth Avenue and Nelson Road.

    Local architecture firm WSA Studios has been celebrating their anniversary with blog posts about projects from each of their 45 years. Of particular interest are stories (and before and after pictures) detailing the dramatic transformation of two iconic Short North buildings; 641 North High Street (home now to The Pearl and Lemongrass) and Carriage House Place (long-time home of Rigsby’s and Sherrie Gallerie, among others).

    For the latest updates and discussions on development in Columbus, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

    Looking to tour new apartments, condos and homes in Columbus? Join us for the Urban Living Tour on May 17th! CLICK HERE for tickets and additional details. 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    Loads of Spooky Goodness for March

    So much spookiness to choose from this week: family-friendly,...

    Navigating Social Impact: SROI Unlocked

    Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of...

    Photos: Sleater-Kinney at Newport Music Hall

    Long-running alt-punk pioneers Sleater-Kinney returned to Columbus on Wednesday...

    French Bistro Slated for Prominent Downtown Corner

    Another new restaurant is coming to the corner of...
    Brent Warren
    Brent Warrenhttps://columbusunderground.com/author/brent-warren
    Brent Warren is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering urban development, transportation, city planning, neighborhoods, and other related topics. He grew up in Grandview Heights, lives in the University District and studied City and Regional Planning at OSU.
    ADVERTISEMENT