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COSI Pedestrian Bridge & Riverfront

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Started 5 months ago by columbusmike
Latest reply from futureman

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alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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columbusmike said:
I've noticed it already seems better than just a few years ago, although the stench is still there and if you walk the Scioto Mile, you'll notice it.

We do litter cleanups below Greenlawn, and on a few occasions a guy will tell me something like "I've been fishing here for 40 years" - I always ask, how's the river now compared to then? They always say it's cleaner, that there used to be raw sewage and grease on the banks.

Where Heritage West is now on the Olentangy, there was the Dixie Margarine plant, right on the bank. Back in the day, they had a lot of "accidental" spills of vegetable oil into the river.

Posted 5 months ago #
murfmurphy
Westgate
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Between the Broad St and the Rich St bridges, plus whatever is completed on the Main St bridge I think that area of the river is pretty well covered. There is a large portion of the Rich st bridge that is pedestrian only, and the Broad St bridge has some very wide sidewalks. Adding another span would just be a lot of overkill. Maybe it would be necessary if there was more on that side of the river than just COSI and the Spaghetti Warehouse, but the demand isn't there.

Posted 5 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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murfmurphy said:
Maybe it would be necessary if there was more on that side of the river than just COSI and the Spaghetti Warehouse, but the demand isn't there.

In all fairness, the rendering that displayed the COSI bridge span came from the 2010 Downtown Development Plan, which also proposes a lot of new development on the other side of COSI:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/downtown-2010-plan-idea-11-scioto-peninsula-development

Posted 5 months ago #
columbusmike

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One of the things that bothers me about the above plan for the area west of COSI (I think we should start calling it WestCo instead of Franklinton or "The Bottoms"), is that the development seems "oversized". It feels very arena district. I'd like to see that whole area become a network of small streets and alleys to separate it from the wide asphalt canyons of downtown Columbus.

Posted 5 months ago #
armyoflarry
Columbus, Ohio
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Pickerington_Kyle said:
I would like to see Columbia's Gas building garage be torn down, and have condos, with retail on the bottom. Idea: 28 stories 1-3 retail, 4-10 office, 11-25 Condos 26 Club, 27-28 Restaurant.

I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Even though Columbia Gas is moving, the parking garage is being renovated right now.

Posted 5 months ago #
dubdave00
Dublin
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columbusmike said:
(I think we should start calling it WestCo instead of Franklinton or "The Bottoms")

Out of curiosity, why?

I get "the bottoms" but what's wrong with Franklinton? It's the original settlement for what became Columbus. Its name honors a creative, entrepreneurial, and brilliant (Values Columbus tends to hold in high regard) historical American who defined much of the enlightenment era and set into motion much of our culture today: Ben Franklin. It has its own heritage and a story worth telling.

Sure it may suffer some image issues now, but that can be changed. They did it with the Short North and the Short North got its name as a joke: Just north of downtown and just short of campus (IE - just shy of being anywhere "good / safe").

WestCo, while contemporary, just doesn't carry those added benefits... in my opinion. :-)

Posted 5 months ago #
murfmurphy
Westgate
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Walker said:
In all fairness, the rendering that displayed the COSI bridge span came from the 2010 Downtown Development Plan, which also proposes a lot of new development on the other side of COSI:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/downtown-2010-plan-idea-11-scioto-peninsula-development

Didn't see that. I still think a 4th bridge in that area is a bit excessive. Not to be anti-urban reform, but looking at that rendering I have to ask, "where are people who are going to COSI going to park? I don't think there would be enough parking at Vet's memorial for busy weekends and holiday. I guess it's only an idea, but there are so many people that come to COSI from out of town, who would be really hard pressed if parking wasn't convenient.

Posted 5 months ago #
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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I would expect parking garages big enough to accommodate both COSI and the new development to be included in the new development.

Posted 5 months ago #
columbusmike

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dubdave00 said:
Out of curiosity, why?

I guess I was thinking "WestCo" (although I'm not really tied to that particular name) because it's a bit more catchy and, as you mention, contemporary. It will always be Franklinton, but I think WestCo or some other name gives it a bit more flare and a new identity. When I hear the word "Franklinton" I think of a generic, midwestern farm town. Maybe the new Franklinton can redefine the image in my brain.

Posted 5 months ago #
columbusmike

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murfmurphy said:
I still think a 4th bridge in that area is a bit excessive.

...who would be really hard pressed if parking wasn't convenient.

I don't think it's a matter of convenience, rather it's more of a visual connection to, ahem, Franklinton and COSI. How many times have you walked/biked over to COSI from downtown? The river and the busy Broad Street bridge are big physiological barriers.

Posted 5 months ago #
OSUPhantom
The Ohio State University
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My family actually ghoes to Disney often and we usually stay at the Boardwalk area. It really is beautiful and would love to see Columbus shoot for something even remotely like this. I agree using all that new land for a park is a little wasteful and could provide a wonderful opportunity for a cultural and retail river district.

Posted 5 months ago #
Pickerington_Kyle

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armyoflarry said:
I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Even though Columbia Gas is moving, the parking garage is being renovated right now.

I didn't know the parking garage is getting renovated. What a shame. I mean, we have prime location along the river with an old parking garage. At least they could have put retail in front of it, to cover the garage.

Posted 5 months ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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Pickerington_Kyle said:
I didn't know the parking garage is getting renovated. What a shame. I mean, we have prime location along the river with an old parking garage. At least they could have put retail in front of it, to cover the garage.

And believe it or not it's considered a historic landmark -

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2011/04/historic-parking-garage-led-to.html

Posted 5 months ago #