gramarye
In Exile
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Pablo said:
Given the cost of the property, it seems to me that the developer would want to build up to help cover the purchase cost.
I'd have thought so, too; it certainly looks like that lot was priced under the assumption that there would be some reasonably intensive (i.e., high total square footage) development there.
joshlapp
Short North
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labi said:
AHF responded that they needed to move quickly so they could “get back to saving people from AIDS” and had thought that the other city dept’s response was sufficient. So – that will have to be settled.
After the article in the dispatch and now this I'm going to go ahead and say these folks are giving the LGBT community a bad name.
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
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joshlapp said:
After the article in the dispatch and now this I'm going to go ahead and say these folks are giving the LGBT community a bad name.
I don't think it really reflects at all on the local LGBT community (who in my private conversations with many of my friends who are members, is just as offput by AHF as everyone else).
More so, it reflects an unfortunate type of coastal mindset that the Midwest is just a place for cheap land where you can drop your concept however poorly tailored to the area and populace. Couple that with a manufactured outrage political strategy and your not exactly on the road to winning hearts and minds.
LATFJoss
Columbus
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Was I the only one who was annoyed at the Dispatch for this article? Given their current dire straits, I thought yellow journalism might be at work here. That said, my personal expectations of the Dispatch are pretty low, and I had also hoped for better conduct from AHF. For shame.
labi
Weinland Park
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LATFJoss said:
Was I the only one who was annoyed at the Dispatch for this article? Given their current dire straits, I thought yellow journalism might be at work here.
I don't see why you'd be annoyed by the Dispatch doing their job of reporting current news. Yellow journalism is "the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation." I don't see that in this article. AHF's accusations were freely and very aggressively made, not whipped up out of nothing by the Dispatch reporter. And then the reporter went on to interview several different appropriate sources to get their responses, all of which shed light on the accusations and actually de-sensationalized the story.
Just because someone says something loud and stupid, the newspaper reports it, and readers have strong responses to it, doesn't make it yellow journalism.
Evelyn Van Til
Weinland Park in the Historic Short North
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The article in the Dispatch was nothing short of preposterous, reprehensible, and manipulative.
Although they have made some alterations to the site plan and architectural renderings that are responsive to previous feedback from the community, I also find it particularly troubling and problematic that to date AHF has not publicly released an updated color rendering of the building, so people can really provide thoughtful feedback on the actual proposed design. I am hopeful that they will soon do so, as well as release publicly the results of the Environmental Site Analysis they say they had done prior to purchase.
Mr. Ouderkirk, of AHF, did come to the WPCCA Land Use & Business Development committee this evening in an effort to engage the community after the Dispatch article and a good conversation ensued. Apparently, he has been on vacation and did not know about the article until he got back.
I hope that his efforts are genuine and that AHF considers the feedback provided which encouraged a development of more substantive scale, more appropriate materials, and more density. Also noteworthy was the encouragement to incorporate more green design (such as a green roof top, permeable pavement, bio-swale, gardens, etc...) into the development, possibly include a mural or other artwork as befitting of an Arts District, and that while we are sympathetic to the limitations of a non-profit, that there are many developers who would be great partners on this project who could do the housing or other pieces that bring more density, scale, and substance to this project.
This is on the agenda of the Monthly General WPCCA meeting for this Wednesday at 6:30 PM at the Schoenbaum Family Center on 7th (part of the Weinland Park Elementary Building) and all are welcome. Additionally, UARB meets this Thursday as well to hear from AHF and the community on this project.
Collaborations have shown in the past to improve projects for the betterment of all and I truly hope to see many people engage with this project so that in the long run this project is a great contribution our vibrant community.
labi
Weinland Park
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At tonight's University Area Review Board meeting, new site plan and elevations showed:
--High St curb cut retained because city zoning staff said that an existing cut could be retained
--parking on the north side of the building (adjacent to the High St curb cut) eliminated
--scale drawings comparing the building to immediately surrounding buildings show that the proposed building is a little taller than the building to its north, and just shorter than the building across 5th St to the south
--apparently window proportions were revised and some of them were grouped in pairs, but the drawings couldn't be seen from the audience, so I can't say more than that
Several Weinland Park residents and several University District residents spoke against the proposal's design, site plan, and lack of density. There was considerable, detailed board discussion, but overall, board members said they were disappointed by the design, by the lack of substantive change from last month, and by the poor quality of the drawings and elevations. One said "This looks like a weak 2nd-meeting proposal, not a 3rd-meeting proposal." AHF decided to table the proposal and come back again in June (next meeting is June 28, 6:30, at the North Side Library).
After the decision was made to table, John Angelo of the Short North Foundation said that within the next 2 weeks, the board (and other city officials) would be receiving a group of letters from the Italian Village and Victorian Village Commissions and a number of other neighborhood groups in support of the UARB in its efforts to steer the proposal in a more appropriate direction.
mrpoppinzs
Arena District
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Thanks for that informative update. It looks like this won't be rubber stamped.
labi
Weinland Park
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mrpoppinzs said:
Thanks for that informative update. It looks like this won't be rubber stamped.
It was good to see University Area residents from outside Weinland Park there last night, and a representative for many other Short North neighborhoods.
The project won't be rubber-stamped, but I think it would be a mistake to think that the UARB's reservations (or even a final decision against) will conclusively stop the project from going forward as proposed. Apparently the AHF has been working to pressure city staff/officials and has had a habit in numerous other cities of threatening (and then following through with) litigation if they feel thwarted.
Given that there are so many nooks and crannies of authority WRT to zoning/planning, the more public demonstration of dissatisfaction we can put together on this project, the better.
You don't have to put together elaborate statements or stand up and yell at meetings, but if you think quality design is important in this key location, it would be great if you would put the next UARB meeting on your calendar and plan to attend. Just having 5 extra people at a meeting to say "I'm a resident, I care about this, and I support revision of the plans" sends a strong message that helps reinforce the spines of those with influence in Columbus zoning/planning decisions.
jimbach
Your father's Short North
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At the meeting last night, the architect working on the project presented findings of an informal survey he did of building height/number of stories of existing structures along the High Street corridor. His argument was that, even if only one story, the proposed structure fits comfortably within the range of existing buildings. However, this neglects the fact that the Out of the Closet building is on a corner (and a major corner at at that) and buildings on corners are invariably larger, taller, even grander, than the rest of the buildings on that particular block. In presenting these findings the AHF people are giving a distorted view of reality.
One of the UARB members pointed out how important the High Street corridor is to area residents. The AHF group are deaf to these concerns, as they are to any other concerns of neighborhood residents. Given that they have failed in their attempts to ram this project through quickly via guilt, shame, and intimidation, their latest strategy seems to be based on doing the absolute minimum possible to get approval without addressing the substantive concerns of the neighborhood, and without any attempt to work with the neighborhood or to become part of it in any way. Their end goal seems to be, in every way possible, exploitative rather than cooperative.
Flyairbird
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jimbach said:
At the meeting last night, the architect working on the project presented findings of an informal survey he did of building height/number of stories of existing structures along the High Street corridor. His argument was that, even if only one story, the proposed structure fits comfortably within the range of existing buildings. However, this neglects the fact that the Out of the Closet building is on a corner (and a major corner at at that) and buildings on corners are invariably larger, taller, even grander, than the rest of the buildings on that particular block. In presenting these findings the AHF people are giving a distorted view of reality.One of the UARB members pointed out how important the High Street corridor is to area residents. The AHF group are deaf to these concerns, as they are to any other concerns of neighborhood residents. Given that they have failed in their attempts to ram this project through quickly via guilt, shame, and intimidation, their latest strategy seems to be based on doing the absolute minimum possible to get approval without addressing the substantive concerns of the neighborhood, and without any attempt to work with the neighborhood or to become part of it in any way. Their end goal seems to be, in every way possible, exploitative rather than cooperative.
It does appear to me that all of a sudden everyone is against a project when no one could buy the lot at a low-ball price. Now the UARB board is upset and even made reference to that price in their notes. If that corner was so major, it should have sold a long long time ago.
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
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Flyairbird said:
It does appear to me that all of a sudden everyone is against a project when no one could buy the lot at a low-ball price. Now the UARB board is upset and even made reference to that price in their notes. If that corner was so major, it should have sold a long long time ago.
It didn't occur to many that a buyer would overpay & then propose under-building.
myliftkk
Columbus, OH
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labi said:
Apparently the AHF has been working to pressure city staff/officials and has had a habit in numerous other cities of threatening (and then following through with) litigation if they feel thwarted.
This worked so well for the last well-heeled developer to stomp around in a huff, *cough* Penn National *cough*.
jimbach
Your father's Short North
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Flyairbird said:
It does appear to me that all of a sudden everyone is against a project when no one could buy the lot at a low-ball price. Now the UARB board is upset and even made reference to that price in their notes. If that corner was so major, it should have sold a long long time ago.
An alternative narrative might be that it's only been two or three years since the area near High and Fifth has been particularly inviting to development, and during that time the entire country, including central Ohio, has been in the midst of a financial and economic crisis, so developers haven't been rushing in with their investments.
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Copy of Letter to Adam Ouderkirk at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation:
Dear Adam:
I am writing on behalf of the Short North SID in regard to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s (AHF's) construction project planned at High St. and Fifth Ave. Gradually, over the last four months, the architectural details of the project have generated more and more controversy and community feedback. While, from a jurisdiction perspective, this is an issue of Weinland Park and the University District, the project does fall within the Short North Special Improvement District’s service area. For this reason, and in support of our neighbors, I am writing to give additional perspective to the community’s push back and to encourage the AHF to more fully consider the community’s vision as the AHF makes its final decisions about development of the property.
Sometimes communities have but one shot to influence the future of their streets. If they do not speak up, they will never know what could have happened had they done so. This is the case with the property at Fifth and High… perhaps the single-most high-profile vacant property remaining along the High Street corridor. For this reason, the Short North SID strongly supports the UARB's detailed feedback and encourages the AHF to continue seeking community input, and to be open to incorporating that input into its architectural design.
The High Street corridor from OSU down to the Convention Center has undergone a steady improvement for the last 30 years. In 1980, it was a blight of boarded up buildings and illicit activities. Today it is the envy of most Midwest cities. As an example, on June 11, the Short North SID conducted a 40-minute interview with a freelance writer for the New York Times. She is pitching a story about the revitalization of the corridor and the factors that have led to its reclamation. She feels it is so remarkable that it would be of national interest. The key to the story is that it has been a grassroots effort. Property by property, the residents, developers and the city have collaboratively, and thoughtfully, advanced the corridor.
Having now attended 7-8 separate meetings with the AHF on the subject of this development, I fully understand your sense of urgency to build quickly and begin providing AIDS-related services. Please rest assured that the community is overwhelmingly supportive of your mission. I also understand that you may perceive the process of community input to be overly demanding and obstructionist in nature. The reality, however, is that the decisions made now for this project will likely be a part of this community for the next 25 years.
The High Street community has long been very thoughtful about evaluating construction projects. Many major projects have taken anywhere from one to four years to navigate before actual construction began. We need look no further than your neighbors, Kroger, or down the street to the Pizzuti development for prime examples. These developers chose to collaborate with the community to create a final product that not only met their goals, but also greatly supported the community's overall vision.
The Short North SID asks that the AHF take the UARB's recommendations to heart and consider modifying the project accordingly. In particular, we support the UARB's request to modify the design to be more Columbus-urban-corridor and less South-Florida-suburban. The materials and treatment should reflect an urban community. We also support the call for a building with greater overall scale/density and an architectural design consistent with the many projects along the corridor that were recently completed or are planned to begin this summer. Ideally, the development at this corner would stand as an anchor in the corridor.
The intersection of Fifth and High is a gateway to many communities (Weinland Park, the Italian Village, Victorian Village, the University District, and the Short North). It is noteworthy that classic, three-story, red-brick buildings stand on the other three corners of this intersection. There is a great opportunity to make a cohesive gateway experience.
We appreciate your work, but we are also sure that you appreciate all that the community has done to make this area so desirable and vibrant. After all, that is likely why the AHF would like to locate its business here now.
The Short North SID stands ready to help in any way it can, including hosting community conversations and engaging additional developers willing to partner on the project.
Sincerely,
John Angelo
John Angelo
Executive Director
Short North Special Improvement District
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