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This is a cool old building with a TON of space in an area with good disposable income. Why has nobody turned this into a restaurant/retail/office space? Does anyone have any information on plans for this space? Yeah, yeah, I know it's a down economy but that's when you get the good deals. Somebody's missing a bet here.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Development
Clintonville Electric Do something with this space!!!
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Pablo
Crestview Addition
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In late 2003 or early 2004, Glimcher abandoned plans to redevelop this corner. My recollection is that a tenant deal fell through and residents were against some aspects of the project (parking issues and a desire to renovate the theater which the developer initially planned to demolish). I can't remember if the developer worked the theater into a revised plan. Either way, it didn't work out financially. Maybe some of the success of the block just south of Clintonville Electric would spill over Brighton Rd...
Posted 2 years ago # -
daniel
Old Town East
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Almost anything would be better than the boarded up state that block is in now.
Another piece of the rumor i heard was: one of the 3 owners did not want to sell for sentimental reasons. It's where their father/grandfather started their business.
It seems to me to be a pretty short sighted and selfish reason to keep a block from it's potential. I mean, you can't hold on to it forever.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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I think once the results of the 2010 census are released, retailers are going to be like "holy crap we need to go there!" and you'll see a lot of new stuff. Most retailers of late have been following the money to the suburbs/exurbs but if they're smart they'll realize that's no guarantee of success anymore as it once was. You'd be amazed at how much a store relies on demographic information in making location decisions though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
futureman
Grandview Heights
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I've heard the roof started failing about a year ago from someone who toured the property. I can only imagine it's gotten worse now, so you'd be looking at significant water damage.
On a different note, did anyone else notice that Clintonville Electrics location over on Bethel is now closed?
Posted 2 years ago # -
jennyw
Clintonville
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futureman wrote >>
I've heard the roof started failing about a year ago from someone who toured the property. I can only imagine it's gotten worse now, so you'd be looking at significant water damage.
On a different note, did anyone else notice that Clintonville Electrics location over on Bethel is now closed?If memory serves, Clintonville Electric went out of business not that long after the move to Bethel and the shuttering of the High Street store. (Edited: the Bethel site closed in October of last year, four years after the move.)
I did find an article in SNP archives from a 2008 Clintonville Area Commission:
Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center Executive Director Bill Owens recalled a proposal just a couple of years ago. He referred to when representatives from Glimcher Realty Trust proposed a renovation of the Clintonville Electric and theater site with restaurants and offices, and apartments, on the second story.
The challenge at the time was to provide adequate parking, he recalled. "That is an area that is still an eyesore," he said.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Analogue Kid wrote >>
I think once the results of the 2010 census are released, retailers are going to be like "holy crap we need to go there!" and you'll see a lot of new stuff. Most retailers of late have been following the money to the suburbs/exurbs but if they're smart they'll realize that's no guarantee of success anymore as it once was. You'd be amazed at how much a store relies on demographic information in making location decisions though.+1
Posted 2 years ago # -
CMH Gourmand
(King of) the (Clinton)ville
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This block is long due for an overhaul. Another delay to the site - talk of High and EN Broadway street widening at the intersection. I would be happy to see this as a small park with some parking and bike racks - that would look better and provide broad options for the future when the intersection issues are sorted out. Clintonville is hot but this intersection and a few other spots are keeping the simmer down.
Posted 2 years ago # -
jennyw
Clintonville
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lizless wrote >>
I've known many restaurateurs that would love to go in there. Clintonville is dry right there, no one is able to secure a liquor license without massive amounts of red tape and expense.Has that changed at all since Kroger got the beer/wine permit, or are such things only good for that location?
Posted 2 years ago # -
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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here's the catch: to apply for a liquor permit you need a signed lease or proof that you own the property. then it goes to vote and you may or may not get the permit based on that vote. it's a big risk to buy a building or sign a lease with no guarantee of a liquor permit.
Posted 2 years ago # -
jennyw
Clintonville
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Gotcha. I thought that might be the case, but it's been a while since I've covered this stuff. Would it be possible for a restaurateur to sign a lease contingent on getting a permit? If so, I imagine the vote issue would still be a pretty significant hurdle, but ... well, a girl can dream. (Is it obvious that I reallyreallyreally want something to happen at this spot?)
ETA: Or perhaps some deep-pocketed developer could take on the job first and then lease out the space? That seems to be the scenario under the Glimcher plan ... maybe if the credit markets loosen up, someone would be amenable to taking it on.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lizless
Columbus/Hocking Hills
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I've been looking to open up shop in Clintonville for almost a decade. The red tape is just too daunting. My restaurants are funded by banks, you can't apply for that bank loan to purchase that liquor license until you have that address for that new business.
Clintonville needs to open for business if they want restaurants to move in. There is enough risk involved in opening a restaurant without the added hurdle of managing a ballot initiative, organizing a campaign and finding a landlord willing to draw up a lease based on a contingency that no one can predict. Borrowing money to pass legislation in Clintonville seems silly to me personally.
Most of us choose to set up shop where we feel welcomed and supported by the community. Clintonville regulations don't exactly send out that vibe to restaurateurs holding liquor licenses so we set up shop elsewhere.
I should add that I live on the edge of Clintonville (north Campus technically) and I shop and support Clintonville. The current laws just frustrate the hell out of me.
Posted 2 years ago # -
fonzette
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I always thought that intersection (N Broadway & High) was the southeast corner of the dry area. I know the Pizza Hut across the street from Kroger that's now a Starbucks had beer, as well as plenty of places on Indianola north of N Broadway. How far down does the dry area go? Mozarts/Giorgio/old-Talita's all have liquor licenses...
As far as a music venue: that's my favorite brain-soother when I can't sleep, imagining all the cool stuff I'd do if I owned that building.
Posted 2 years ago # -
jennyw
Clintonville
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The whole thing is pretty maddening, sigh.
Anyway, I found a more recent story on the site. It sheds more light on some of the back-and-forth that's been going on:
Sense of History
Proposed Clintonville Neighborhood Plan lacks historical perspective, some residents said.
By KATHLEEN L. RADCLIFF
11/26/2008The proposed Clintonville Neighborhood Plan lacks one key quality, some people said last week: a sense of history.
While there has been much dialogue during the past 11 months regarding the plan, one group of advocates has been silent on the issue -- until the Nov. 18 Clintonville Area Commission Planning and Development Committee meeting. It was held at Clinton Heights Lutheran Church, 15 Clinton Heights Ave.
"It seems to me Clintonville has nothing unique to bring people here," resident Ann Woods said.
She reminded the 25 or so residents gathered that, not so long ago, renovation of the former Clinton Theatre was a real prospect for the corner of North High Street and North Broadway.
"This is one of the few last structures remaining that is really unique," she said, as she suggested perhaps holding a contest or competition for redevelopment of the theater site could be a pivotal development.
"I think, it could be an exciting thing for the community, and I would like to see that put back into the plan," Woods said.
One resident said she recalled back approximately five years ago, when developer Glimcher Realty Trust expressed an interest in developing the entire block, but the plans never came through. "Everyone lost," she said.
"The developer lost a lot of time, money and effort. The community lost, because the block is still an eyesore, and the business community got nothing," she said, adding she thinks that many people in the community are not aware that the site once was a theater.
"I was amazed," she said. "The more I looked into it, the more potential I saw."
The theater dates back to 1927, and, "It was practically the first building in Ohio to have air-conditioning," she said.
"Old-timers talked about it and said it was a classy place, with a specially built organ, first-run movies and an iridescent dome that sparkled and shimmered, like an abalone shell."
While she and other advocates spoke of the possibility of restoring the ceiling and floors, and replacing the mechanicals, Clintonville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Hartong posed the question: "Who decides if a building is a landmark of a historic structure?"
"My understanding is there are some real structural issues with that building," he said.
"If there are better uses involved, that would involve demolition of that building."
"I think, if you are going to include the theater in the plan, you need to present both sides of the issue, because both sides have such strong opinions," resident Mary Beth Hirsch said.
Committee members and city staff agreed, with some modifications.
"I'm not sure I would want to make it specific to the theater," Gawronski said.
"Rather, I would like to explore options for historical buildings through a historic preservation plan. In working with the property owner, we work at reusing old buildings."
"I think it is a great idea, and the key is to get involved early and with openness and transparency between the property owner and the developer," said Paul Harris, District 6 representative and committee.
He cited the redevelopment of the site that is currently home to Cord Camera, 4784 N. High St., as a great example of cooperation.
"That is an iconic Clintonville structure," he said.
However, Harris cautioned the economy could be a factor in making a possible development project work.
"I think trying to find that magic, one-of-a-kind development to make that work, may be more difficult, because of the unique footprint," he said.
"I think we would all like to save the theater, if possible and if it is viable."
District 8 Representative John DeFourny reminded those gathered of the neighborhood covenant.
"The covenant is why you have not seen development cross over the alley for 40 or 50 years," he said.
"It's not so much that you tear down the theater or not, it's what is going on around the area."
"Yes, indeed, there is a covenant," Woods said. "But, there were 2,000 people in this area who signed a petition to preserve the theater."
"It cannot be that ambitious," she said. "There should not be knocking down houses."
Hartong responded: "2,000 people may have signed a petition, but no one opened a checkbook to buy the property."
"Instead of a design contest, the people who have a historic interest need to step forward and do the proactive work and investigation now," CAC Chairwoman D Searcy said.
"What do we really know? A lot of people have opinions, but not a lot of facts," she said.
"It will never move forward unless there are advocates pushing it forward."
"In times like this, a smaller scale development may have more viability, but it should show the options," Hirsch said.
Woods cited two examples of renovated theaters -- one right in the neighborhood as the Columbus Sports Connection and a renovated theater in Uptown Westerville.
"It's not impossible," to redevelop, she said. "The thing about theaters and movies in the Depression is, they never went through the Depression. People went to them to escape for a while."
Commissioners will vote to approve or reject the neighborhood plan at their regular meeting Dec. 4. Following the commission's vote, the plan will go to the Columbus Development Commission, then to Columbus City Council for approval or rejection.
"The earliest Council will see it is in January," Columbus Department of Development Senior Planner Christine Palmer said.
Posted 2 years ago #
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