Construction fencing is up and six buildings have been demolished in the block of North High Street between West Northwood and West Oakland avenues in Old North Columbus. The View on Pavey Square, the controversial mixed-use development that was debated for much of 2016 before being approved last September, will soon start to rise on the site.
The final approved plan calls for 132 apartments, an automated parking garage that will accommodate about 250 cars, and a little over 6,500 square feet of retail and office space. Six historic buildings along High Street will be preserved — a new five-story building will sit directly behind the original buildings, stepping down to three stories along Northwood and Oakland.
The original proposal for the site called for an 11-story building that would have required demolishing all but two of the buildings on the site.
The recently-demolished buildings include the former home of Cazuela’s Grill, at the corner of Northwood and High, as well three single family houses on Oakland and the original red farmhouse at 2253 N. High St.
Cazuela’s moved about a block north, to 2321 N. High St., earlier this year. Japanese Oriental Restaurant, located in one of the buildings that is to be preserved, recently announced on its Facebook page that it would be closing during construction but would announce a new, temporary location soon.
Becky West, Executive Director of Columbus Landmarks, confirmed that the organization signed a declaration of protective covenants last month with the owner of the development site. The idea behind the document, which was first discussed at a University Area Review Board (UARB) meeting last summer, is to ensure the preservation of the six remaining buildings on High Street even if the property is sold at some point in the future.
Solove Real Estate and Celmark Development Group are the developers who first brought the project to the UARB, although Mike Balakrishnan of Celmark recently confirmed to Columbus Underground that he is no longer involved with the project.
A new website lists Solove Real Estate, Pace Financial, and Hometeam Properties as contacts for the development. Hometeam will likely handle the leasing of the apartments, a role they’ve also taken on with Solove’s View on High and View on Fifth projects.
Hometeam is also leasing Wilson Place, which is currently under construction at the southeast corner of Lane Avenue and High Street.
