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Get out your walking shoes for the 6th Annual Columbus Landmarks’ City Hop Tour and Showcase of Downtown Living, on Saturday, June 18th. Purchase tickets here.
City Hop will feature 15 residential projects in the Short North, Arena District and North Downtown (Uptown) District in all stages of development. Click here to view a description of all the properties.
City Hop Tour starts at the Showcase of Downtown Living, this year to be held at the North Market (Mezzanine Level). Showcase features developers and real estate agents from properties for sale or lease downtown as well as other organizations supporting Downtown living. This one-stop-shopping opportunity only happens in conjunction with City Hop, allowing prospective downtown dwellers to learn first hand about the exciting opportunities available or soon to be available to live Downtown. The Showcase will be open on Friday, June 17th from 11am – 2pm for those who cannot make the tour the next day.
Thanks to our Event Sponsors: Capitol South, Casto, Fifth Third Bank, and Nationwide Realty Investors.
City Hop Kick-off Party
Join us the night before City Hop on Friday, June 17 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the City Hop Kick Off Party at the Cap at Union Station, where you can enjoy food from Liu Pon Xi, a steel drum band and cocktails from Mo Joe Lounge. Sponsored by Continental Real Estate Companies. Tickets are $65/person or $100/couple and include a ticket to the tour the next day. Purchase tickets here.
Join us for this fabulous kick-off party supporting Landmarks’ 6th Annual City Hop Tour. Enjoy live music, food (and one complimentary drink!). Your ticket also admits you to the Tour the next day.
For more info CLICK HERE.
Sounds Awesome!
Does sound fun and what a great idea! Too bad I probably couldn’t afford a single place. :(
But you can look for only $10! :)
Get your tickets before June 1st and they will only be $10. After then they go up.
I feel ya.
I wanted to move into Brewer’s Yard last year, but the rent went from $750 to $850 for a one bedroom in the span of about a month. :(
The city hop is definitely an event I would recommend to people in a variety of situations.
For those in the market, it is a way to meet with many people and see many locations without the hastle of setting up individual appointments for places that may turn you off in the first five minutes. Then you can set up appointments for the places you are still interested in to get more detail.
For those who are flirting with the idea of finding someplace new, the hop gives you a good feel for what the downtown market can offer, again with minimal investment of time and effort.
Finally, for those who are not considering moving, it is an opportunity spend a day strolling around downtown to see a bunch of cool places for no more than the price of a movie. There is usually a happy hour or two that follows the event.
No, I do not have any association with the event, but I went last year and found it to be one of my favorite local events of the year.
Sweet. I can’t wait. This will be my first year going. Anne & I have tried to attend before, but other schedule conflictions always came up on the same day. ;)
We’re not quite looking for a new place just yet, but as you said… this should give us a great idea of what all is out there. ;)
I had a BLAST at City Hop on Saturday! I’ll be going again next year for sure! Here’s my quick run-down/review of each of the places on the tour. We were able to hit every single place at a comfortable pace, and one drove to two places (Jeffery Place & Washington Rich) at the end. It took us a total of about 6 hours.
Arena Crossing, 425 North Front Street Rating: 4/10
I can’t say that I was too impressed with these places. The layouts were a little strange and the units felt a little bit too small. The location makes up for it some though, being dead center between the Arena District, the Short North, The North Market, and the whole northern downtown area.
Victorian Gate, 663 North High Street Rating: 3/10
This was probably my least favorite stop on the tour. These places felt small and poorly designed compared to the other projects, probably because they were constructed 10 years ago as apartments, and not to be modern-styled lofts. I guess if you’re looking for a suburban style apartment in the middle of the short north, it would suit you perfectly, but I thought the design defeated the purpose of urban living.
Battleship Building, 444 North Front Street Rating: 5/10
The battleship building is cool and unique. The units are very small and designed for people who are mostly on the go. The displayed units feature loft-style bedroom areas above the living space on the main floors. Nice for 1 person, but would be cramped for a couple. Not suitable for someone who likes to entertain, but nice for someone who wants a small comfy space to maintain.
Parkview Condominiums at Goodale Park, 22-48 West Poplar Street Rating: 7/10
These condos displayed were very nice, spacious and expensive. If you have a bit more money to spend on a spot to live these are a great option. The layouts in most were unfinished, but very modern and open. The first floor units had side-entries that were a nice feature, and the location across the street from the park is wonderful.
Lofts at 106, 106 North High Street Rating: 5/10
The standard unit on display was nice, but this building features no windows for most of the units. The natural light comes from an atrium shaft that will run down through the middle of the building. A cool concept, but I still thought it would feel weird. I felt almost like I was underground while on the 6th floor! Their top-floor penthouse level featured giant windows and a great view. So if you can drop a million bucks on a place to live, that would be the unit of choice in this building.
EcleXtions, 221 North Front Street Rating: 6/10
This display unit was very open and spacious, but the layout was a little awkward with the entry coming through what would usually be the bedroom area. I wasn’t sure if there was potential to add a division or wall there to create an entry hallway, but that would be essential for anyone who values bedroom privacy. Otherwise, the modern lofty layout was very nice. The balconies were some of the largest features on the tour, but the view faced a parking garage across the street, so it wasn’t much to be looking at.
CityView at 3rd Rating: 5/10
Based on the model, I wasn’t too impressed by this development. I think other units may have much more potential though, but I can’t review based on speculation. The layout was a little cramped feeling, and the living/kitchen area felt a little forced and awkward. The location was very nice though being walking distance from both the Columbus State area and the Short North.
225 – 231 N. 4th St Rating: 5/10
This project was VERY unfinished, still using an ancient elevator system to get us up to the 4th floor! The space looks like it has a lot of potential and the floor plans look very nice. I’m hoping this spot will be finished on the tour next year so I can see more of a finalized product.
Sixty Spring, 60-68 East Spring Street Rating: 6/10
I wanted to really like the Sixty Spring project, but after seeing some of the layouts of both the condos and apartments they just felt a little smaller than what I expected. Their two bedroom units felt a little cramped, but their open courtyard area was a very nice feature. The town homes opened to this area, which was very cool, keeping them a little more private than opening right onto busy Third or Spring.
Burnham Square Condominiums, 251 Burnham Square Rating: 6/10
This new Arena District development was still under construction, so the models shown had no walls. If you squint and imagine what it’s supposed to look like they’d be pretty nice units. These featured balconies that were decently sized and overlooked other Arena District building and what is going to be a very nice green space park in the middle of the cluster of buildings. They also had a wonderful view of the downtown skyline.
Brunson Building/ Lafayette Lofts, 145 North High Street Rating: 9/10
The Brunson Building was one of my favorite stops on the whole tour. This building is right next to the elevator and features a new modern addition attached to the original building for a very unique look. The models are spacious with plenty of windows for natural light and open floor plans. There are only 2 units per floor which made it feel very personal to get off the elevator and not have a long hallway of units to travel down. Unfortunately, only the models on the new construction side have balconies, which make them the more expensive units. These units were priced a little high too, which keeps them from getting a perfect 10/10 score from me. Otherwise, some top notch lofts.
The Buggyworks, 440 West Nationwide Blvd. Rating: 8/10
The model unit was one of the most impressive on the tour showing off how nice a loft can be if you have the money to spend. The mixed use plans for the building look like they’ll have a great vibe once completed. The view of downtown from the top floor was a nice one as well. The only downside is a temporary one as this development is on the outskirts of the arena district in an area full of abandoned warehouse buildings that mostly have not yet been converted. The streets and sidewalks need some improvement as well, but with the arena’s current rate of growth and the announcement of the new Clippers’ stadium right next door, I’m sure this area won’t look so run down in few more years.
Yukon Studio Lofts, 601 North High Street Rating: 8/10
I wasn’t expecting much after reading that this building would feature 1-person studio-style lofts, but the model on display was one of the best uses of small spaces on the tour. Anne loved the way the model was decorated, comparing its cuteness to the movie Amelie. If you’re a single person looking for a small space to live and aren’t looking to entertain many guests, this spot would be perfect for you. The Short North location is perfect and the first floor converting to retail space is sure to be convenient.
Jeffrey Place sales center at Berry Boltworks Building, 350 East First Avenue Rating: 9/10
Wow. Jeffrey Place can be summed up with one word… MASSIVE. This development is probably larger than all of the other developments combined. This space is a 40+ acre side north of 670 and east of 4th, right off the Italian Village area. There are over 1100 proposed residential units ranging from town homes to lofts to flats and loads of retail space, parks, and more. Basically, there’s something for everyone, no matter what style of home you’re looking for and price range you’re looking in. Personally, I like the Foundry units with rooftop garden terraces and flat-style living spaces. This place will truly be impressive once it’s completed.
Washington Rich Townhomes, 212-226 S. Washington Ave. Rating: 9/10
Our last stop on the tour was definitely not the least. These 4-unit town home style buildings are a bit off the beaten path from downtown, but close enough to the new developments in the Market Exchange District to keep things interesting. These spots feature 1st floor 2-garages, 2nd floor living space with a patio, 3rd floor bedrooms, and private rooftop space suitable for an extra patio or container garden. Again, the only thing keeping these places from a perfect score is that the asking price is a little high, but they are new construct with no previous tenants, so that’s probably the reason for their prices.
All in all a great set of spaces ranging in style, price, and features. Can’t wait for next year!
Very good post! :)
Pretty much summed up how I feel about the places too.
I think it will be nice once the developers stop making everything so expensive and price things at what regular people wanting to live downtown can afford.
Also, forgot to mention that alot of those places gave out free food and drinks and cookies! One place handed out free hot dogs too.
Pretty nice.
Well, i think the prices are fair given the large demand for downtown condos right now. Almost all of these projects get bought out before they’re even completed, so there are people out their willing to pay the asking price.
I would agree on the pricing. Depending on what other developments take place in the area, prices could go anywhere in the future.
One other thing worth mentioning; Next to Burnham Square Condos was a brand new gym called the Arena District Athletic Club. Wow! This place is nice! It has high end equipment, a spin room, a tv with 77 channels at each cardio machine, and very luxurious locker rooms that feature air purifiers and a steam room! All of this may sound froofy to some, but anything that will get my butt in the gym is a plus to me. It is pricey at around $50-60 a month, but a big difference from most other local gyms.
[url]http://www.arenadistrictathleticclub.com/[/url]
Wow, that does sound pretty nice. I’m not a big gym person either, but I read that Jeffery Place will have a gym facility and residents of the area get free membership to it. I’d probably use the facility (mainly for the pool) if it were free! ;) heheh…