The first two phases of the development of the former Riverside-Bradley public housing site will go in front of the East Franklinton Review Board at tonight’s monthly meeting, calling for the construction of two large five-story buildings south of Rich Street along the Scioto River. Together, the buildings would house approximately 310 residential units, over 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail/commercial space, and 238 parking deck spaces.
The development is a collaborative project that includes the Columbus Metro Housing Authority, CASTO, The Robert Weiler Company and others. And while most new-build construction is more expensive, this development is expected to include a mix of more affordable “workforce housing” units to fit the East Franklinton Creative Community District Plan.
“We are committed to a percentage of what I call affordable market and what the Mayor might call workforce housing,” stated CMHA Senior Vice President of Business Development Bryan Brown during an exclusive interview with CU last summer. “It’s hard to answer what the starting rent will be, because I don’t know what the city investment will be to support that starting rent. Because the thing about developing workforce housing is it really requires a public investment to bring those rents down.”
The proposal for the two buildings only represents a smaller portion of the larger development of the entire 11.5 acre site. Future phases would grow south and west of the first two buildings, likely adding more of the same type of structures to the rapidly growing neighborhood.
“This has been in the works for a very long time, and follows the East Franklinton plan very closely,” said Jim Sweeney, Executive Director at the Franklinton Development Association. “It’s a great first step in redeveloping the eastern edge of Franklinton, and a great start on some major investment in the neighborhood. We’ll see a lot more residents in the neighborhood as a result.”
The East Franklinton Review Board will also see an updated proposal on the 69-Units Lucas Lofts development located on the north side of Rich Street, directly across from the two aforementioned buildings. Long term plans include the renovation of two existing structures located just east of the site as well.
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Renderings and visuals via CASTO / Sullivan Bruck Architects.