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Shops on Lane Ave

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Started 5 months ago by columbusmike
Latest reply from zp945

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columbusmike

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Upper Arlington is trying to create a unique Entertainment District. The Shops on Lane are nice, but they are missing a big opportunity to make it a mini-Easton, mixed-use development. These types of smaller Easton's are all over the west coast. They could easily add more retail and a residential component to their existing layout by simply adding a small 2-level parking structure in the back of the shops, and creating a pedestrian alley for people to enter the current stores.

All of this development could also allow for a prominent "green space" where they could have outdoor concerts, christmas trees, and other outdoor events. It could also all be implemented without too much obstruction to the existing tenants. It ready has 1 major anchor (the new Whole Foods store that will be completed soon) and the new proposed hotel and apartment complex across the street. Lane Avenue is also being reconstructed next year for 2-lane traffic with on-street parking. These spots could be metered for those who want to have the ability to park extra close to the shops.

Posted 5 months ago #
Pablo
Crestview Addition
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The parking garage was floated a few years before the most recent renovation happened in the early 2000s. As expected, it was vehemently opposed by the neighbors. I seem to recall that the plan was to lower the existing south lot and add on level of parking. The new level would have been at the same grade as the plaza in the middle of the current configuration. Instead, two drive aisles with angled parking increased the parking counts on the Lane Ave. side - customers are more apt to park on the Lane Ave. side than venture around back.

I like your plan - the pedestrian alley would need to double as service access to the new buildings - maybe even a road with parallel parking. I wonder if the current tenants would like to lose visibility from Lane Ave...

Posted 5 months ago #
columbusmike

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The pedestrian alley could easily allow for trucks...using some nice brick pavers, etc. Similar to the alley in the arena district by Big Bang Piano Bar.

I could see some of the stores not wanting to loose the street frontage, but most of the shops have been established now for a few years so I'm not sure it would detract customers for them at all....probably quite the opposite. The pedestrian alley could actually be a 1-way street with parallel parking so they maintain some sort of street frontage.

Posted 5 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Looks good to me.

But how realistic is something like this? Is Ramco Gershenson Properties Trust looking to redevelop The Shops on Lane Avenues?

http://www.theshopsonlaneavenue.com/

Posted 5 months ago #
BuenaVista
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The fact that they are building something here is great in and of itself. My boss lives south of Lane a few blocks in UA, and he could not understand why people would fight this. His only concern was that commercial development would lower his property taxes.

Posted 5 months ago #
columbusmike

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Walker said:
Looks good to me.

But how realistic is something like this? Is Ramco Gershenson Properties Trust looking to redevelop The Shops on Lane Avenues?

http://www.theshopsonlaneavenue.com/

With the addition of several new liquor licenses per the new entertainment district classification, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to do a small expansion. With their proximity to OSU and the new development going up across the street, I could see them looking to maximize the space they have. I don't believe they have much vacancy so I think they could support more space.

Posted 5 months ago #
zp945
Clintonville/Short North
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From what I've heard, they overpaid for the site. The rents and CAM charges there are pretty high already. I'm not sure they would be willing to sink that much more money in the project. That said, I like the idea and it would be nice to see a little more happen with that strip.

Posted 5 months ago #