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Originally announced in 2008, it looks like Pizzuti’s Short North development plan for the “UCT Block” has been updated. It now calls for a hotel of up to 130 rooms in a building of up to 15 stories located on the west side of High Street along with a parking garage with office space above on the east side of High next to Marcella’s. Pizzuti is presenting the plan to the Italian Village commission next week. It should be interesting to see what their reaction to a 15 story building will be. This is awesome news and I hope they can move forward this time.
More information can be found in a Business First article on the development, located here.
No, this project was started long before the casino and if I am correct, should have been up already (or at least partially) were it not for a lot of commission red flags. A great destination hotel in a great neighborhood is a win win.
I am always skeptical of developers’ intent. A boutique hotel developed to serve and benefit the community/local businesses would have unlimited potential…
Same here, though I’m usually more skeptical of the business acumen of developers rather than their intent. A look around town at the developments that have “broken ground” and then become urban eyesores fuels that skepticism.
With this project I don’t have that skepticism.
Good News! I hope the VV lets this one go through quickly. A hotel like this could be a huge draw. I hope also that financing goes through just as quick so this can be built. fingers crossed. I won’t get too excited till shovels are in the ground.
This will NOT be a financial disaster by any means. I really cannot think of a better location for a boutique hotel. It’s within blocks of the convention center, Arena District, maybe a casino and the Short North, all of which attract alot of out-of-towners. The parking garage is huge as well. I too hope that this doesn’t drag on like most everything else does, with the exception of projects headed by the county and NRI. They seem to have it down.
I have to assume someone from Pizutti’s camp is checking this thread. Please PM me if you want me to organize store owners to attend this meeting. We need the commission to know how important this project is to all of us.
I love Proof, and the 21C looks like a great hotel (I wandered around the galleries with my drink, but didn’t stay there). Hotel or no, it they had a place like Proof in the SN, I’d probably go there several times a month for food and drink.
Same here. I think that’s what I like about boutique hotels that do great food and drinks. They integrate into the community well.
No. If it had anything to do with a casino, it would be built in the arena district.
any word if an art gallery to house some of the Pizzuti modern art collection is in the new plans. it was part of the former, and i think would be a great addition to the SN:
http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/08/18/story4.html
Wow, missed that. I really hope they do put in a large gallery/museum in the ICT building. I’d be all for that.
(Side note, do we really have to explain what the word cruciform means?)
It’s several hours later, and I’m still extremely excited about the prospect of this happening.
Probably not a bad idea. Show up in the masses.
Build it. Hotels and pedicabs work great together $$$!
I don’t like the location of the garage though unless it had a nice face to High St. There is a nasty gravel valet lot (most valet lots are) immediately west of Eleven on Poplar that might be a better alternative as a freeway buffer.
As for the ICT building, what a myustery that place is. I’ve never seen anyone go in or out, never seen lights on inside, weird place. There’s a really weird monument to its founder (Flagg?) in the rear along Millay. Is that place a secret society? It would make a great little museum/portrait gallery: elegant building facing Goodale Park.
Very exciting news to see this project move back onto the front burner, and get a little bigger and better in the process. While I often find myself using those two parking lots that this project will eat up, I’m more than happy to see the density and development taking their place.
I’m surprised Jon hasn’t mentioned the fact that this will do away with those pesky panhandlers who hang out around those lots and bug people for money when they point you into a parking spot. ;)
Anyway, hope that it all goes through the commission with little drama. Hammering out the fine details is always a tough job, but I think this will be a huge new development boost for the south end of the district.
@cyclist II (Re: garage on high)
According to the article, “developments on both sides of the street would offer ground-floor space for retailers and restaurants.”
Why would the Italian Village Commission have a say on what happens on the west side of High street?
@jon – i don’t think they would have a say on the garage on the west side, just the new hotel site on the eastern side.
if IV can land this hotel + wonderland, it will be very good.
@dru
Don’t forget Ibiza too……..aaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha.
@jpizzow – i am hoping these 2 projects help mitigate some of the frustration w/ both Ibiza and Jeffrey Place.