The lights have been off at 145 South Front Street for 16 years, and local developer Brad DeHays is ready to do something about that. A collaborative effort between his company Connect Realty and nonprofit business group The Columbus Partnership will transform the former office building into a mix of residential, office and retail uses.
“My favorite view of the skyline is of the river, and this has been a bit of an institutional void,” stated DeHays. “Our hope is that we’ll be able to add some vibrancy to this part of Downtown again.”
Plans call for rehabbing the 58-year-old office building into 94 apartment units, 47,000 square feet of office space and a 4,000 square foot cafe on the ground floor. The project has officially be dubbed “The Civic”.
“Some of the apartment units are located on three stories, and those are going to be pretty fantastic with rooftop patios that will give a great view of the riverfront,” said DeHays. “We’ll also feature a huge amenity deck with a pool, built out over the underground parking ramp.”
The Columbus Partnership announced plans to purchase the building back in October 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic slowed their plans shortly after. The collaboration with Connect Realty was announced in March 2021 as the property was acquired. DeHays said that the project will go before the Downtown Commission next week for review, and that he thinks the time is right to move this renovation forward.
“Downtown is really starting to come back,” he stated. “The timing of this project could help start some additional projects on Front Street. And we’ll be doing this as everything across the river is completed by COSI.”
DeHays doesn’t expect work to begin immediately, as the project is contingent on acquiring Ohio Historic Tax Credits. As someone familiar with the process — Connect Realty has secured the same type of state tax credits for multiple projects including The East Market and a former Value City building that will build modular homes — DeHays is hopeful that the timing works out.
“This round is going to be flooded with a lot of good projects,” he explained. “We applied last round and didn’t get it, so we’re cautiously optimistic. If we don’t get it, we’ll have to apply again next Spring, because this project doesn’t work without it.”
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