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The demolition of the City Center mall is officially underway, and the new Columbus Commons project is moving forward. The skywalk over Rich Street connecting the former mall to the parking garage has already come down, and much of the southwest corner of the structure has been stripped away over the past few days. The Dispatch reported last week that the project was getting a financial boost from Franklin County Metro Parks, which contributed $2 million toward the development of the new Downtown greenspace.
Several demolition photos can be found below, and we’ll be continuing to provide updates and the demolition progresses.
Such a shame to see it go. I wish they had a real plan for what to do with the space once it’s all gone. Making it a park seems to only benefit homeless people.
Think of how many people benefit from Goodale and Schiller. If you don’t have a backyard (like a lot of renters) these are great places to enjoy being outside. A lot of events are held in Goodale, and both parks add a lot of beauty to their neighborhoods. Having a good-looking city is a good thing for all of us. City Center should not be mourned.
Turning a massive empty building into a park benefits much more than just “homeless” people, it helps our environment. Urban parks are very valuable spaces. They provide habitat for wildlife and people…..(yes plants and trees give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide). They also help to improve water quality by adding pervious surface where impervious surface previously existed. This allows storm water to absorb naturally into the ground supply (keeps our water cleaner) and reduces urban flooding. Let’s look at this as a positive thing for downtown!
Downtown needs a big park like Goodale and Schiller. This will be a real gem for downtown residents and workers to congregate if they do it right. A few things IMO that they need to do or don’t do.
1. Don’t pass a dog leash law. I’m astounded often times at Goodale by the percentage of people who are there with dogs. You see the creepy homeless people (especially that bearded, black guy with glasses and full trash bags that’s always under that tree on the north end), but they are so outnumbered that you almost don’t notice.
2. Don’t have any bus stops right in front. The stops in front of the statehouse and in front of that rundown section across the street often draw a seedy looking crowd that trash the place with litter.
3. Do something to that rundown section. This is the worst looking section of High between Merion village and Worthington.
4. Have one of those safety people in the blue uniforms be assigned to the park at all times. These people do a great job and are very friendly.
5. Encourage sports leagues to be held there like the kickball that used to be at the statehouse.
6. Make sure it is well lit. Goodale is too dark at night. Having all the buildings around will help.
This doesn’t have to be a homeless and miscreant haven like so many have predicted. I hope they are all proven wrong and look forward to the finished product.
I’m optimistic that this project will be a great success. I’ve seen located central downtown parks in other cities that are the center point of bustling activity. Restaurants, shops, hotels, and residential areas. I want that to happen here!
This is a great effort for downtown revitalization.
I’m curious/concerned with all of the rubbish this project is creating. Does anyone know what is happening with all of the drop-ceiling, insulation, re-bar, etc that is being demolished?
Hopefully this project will be designed for a broader spectrum of people. Not just those who have money!!! We need a place in downtown where people all over the city can feel they have access too. Not just another place to look at as you drive by………………
mattchew Says: Such a shame to see it go. I wish they had a real plan for what to do with the space once it’s all gone. Making it a park seems to only benefit homeless people.
The long-term plan is to eventually shrink the park and to find developers to add somewhere around 5 additional mixed-use buildings on site. You can view a top-down map of the long-term solution here. The large-scale park is only the short term fix.
Jergarr27 Says: Hopefully this project will be designed for a broader spectrum of people. Not just those who have money!!!
I don’t think there will be any entry fee for the park.
What a shame, That building could have become a one stop for either City or State government, The office space, the parking how easy would that have been? $10,000.00 to tear it down could have been better used. But now it will be a park and I’ll bet ya a trolly stop, but then it’s only tax payer money. There will be plenty more with new taxes coming due. Just remember that in City and State government we don’t have anyone that cares that no one cares about the problems.
… all of the parking is being saved which includes the parking garage next door and the underground lot.
Obviously this will be on a much, much smaller scale, but if you have ever been in Central Park or Boston Common, you know how good an urban park can be for a city. It makes the city feel much more alive, serves as a central gathering spot and should benefit the businesses around it. City Center hasn’t done any of those things in years.
I am also curious about if they are trying to go green at all with this deconstruction like the Lazarus building did, are they recycling or re-using any of the materials that they are ripping down?
Yeah, they really went to town on this last week. The bridge between the parking garage and the mall went down in just a few days. I have mixed feelings about the park plan. But it’s all in motion now, so we’ll see how it turns out.
#9
Walker Says:
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am
Jergarr27 Says: Hopefully this project will be designed for a broader spectrum of people. Not just those who have money!!!
I don’t think there will be any entry fee for the park.
I was actually referring to when this whole Columbus Commons area is supposed to be complete. Mixed use buildings and all. I just hope it’s less high priced apartments/ condos.. and more decently affordable shops/ stores/ restaurants/ nightlife… etc..
Walker Says: The long-term plan is to eventually shrink the park and to find developers to add somewhere around 5 additional mixed-use buildings on site. You can view a top-down map of the long-term solution here. The large-scale park is only the short term fix.
YUCK, I still hate that plan. The first rendering from MSI was really really good…what the hell happened??
To MStimple…RE: Suggestion #2
What do you mean by your ugly sniff: “Don’t have any bus stops in front. The stops in front of the statehouse often draw a seedy looking crowd that trash the place with litter.†I’m a regular transit user who is “drawn†to bus stops because that’s where I can catch the bus. Frankly I’m grateful that bus stops are conveniently located for the users of transit. It’s actually quite a common feature in big cities. You want to live in a big city, enjoy an urban park in a big city, but only if they hide the “seedy looking crowd†away from your backwoods sensibilities??? And I’ve got to wonder, if you saw me waiting for my bus after work (dressed rather professionally, I like to think), would I fit your stereotype of “seedy?†And if so, would you like me removed from your sight? And, if litter is a problem in the public right of way, why don’t you contact law enforcement and request that they enforce the existing littering ordinances? One more thing, the “seedy looking crowd†at Broad and High…they’re the ones inside the statehouse, not outside.
@colinperkins I was thinking along the lines of Central Park as well. Even if the plans for the Commons don’t pan out I think a major park space downtown will help draw residents into the area. I’d always questioned the viability of downtown living for families since there isn’t anywhere nearby with space for children to play, or to walk a dog (yes, yes, tiny dog park on Spring), a central park would alleviate this concern altogether.
Now for some decent grocery/home goods shopping…maybe even just a large traditional bodega…
This space is large enough to have a small fish pond, dog park, and maybe even a tennis court..It would be nice see some of these things added into Columbus Commons..a Large open greenspace and a few benches is not going to cut it.
I’m confused why this new park has a huge ampitheater when they’re building another big ampitheater a few blocks away at the Scioto Mile. Are these parks going to try to compete with eachother? Is the right hand not in-sync with the left hand? Or are we just going to have all kinds of music downtown all summerlong?