State Auto Beginning E. Broad St. Construction Project? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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State Auto Beginning E. Broad St. Construction Project?

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Started 1 year ago by Pro Se
Latest reply from robertsd247

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Pro Se
OTE-Franklin Park
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I noticed that several lots on E. Broad, Washington and Oak Streets were fenced off this weekend across from State Auto's headquarters. Anyone know what State Auto plans to do on this site? That type of temporary fencing typically comes with a construction project. For my part, I can confirm that State Auto owns the land that was fenced off through several purchases dating as far back as 2004. I am awaiting a reply e-mail from State Auto's media relations director. It seems any planned development at this site would be have been discussed/hyped during the Downtown Strategic Plan meetings. Indeed, one of the focuses was filling in the gaps in this portion of the Discovery District.

In any event, I look forward to any insight others may have.

Posted 1 year ago #
CalebR
Lincoln Village
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I dont know hopefully they do build something. Maybe something pleasant to the eye

Posted 1 year ago #
Matthew
Hilltop
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Hopefully they pull those buildings down. They are in horrible shape on the inside and somewhat on the outside too.

Posted 1 year ago #
TheBigComeUp

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They are building a new parking lot. In the last 12-24 months, State Auto has grown pretty significantly and they need the extra space. The building on the south side of Broad Street has been condemned and they are tearing it down for more parking.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pro Se
OTE-Franklin Park
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That's unfortunate. Though I don't mind seeing those buildings go, parking lots ultimately seem like a step in the wrong direction for such a prominent spot on E. Broad Street.

Posted 1 year ago #
Urbanboi
Downtown
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Its so easy to tear down buildings and replace them with flat surfaced parking lots...what a shame! I know the 2 buildings coming down are not anything great its still bad news they are turning this prime spot on Broad street into a parking lot..WTF LETS PROMOTE MORE CARS COLUMBUS!!

Posted 1 year ago #
Urbanboi
Downtown
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The city would condemn the State Capital if they thought they needed more parking!

Posted 1 year ago #
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
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i always liked the 50's mod looking building with the decorative facade. oh well, boo on the parking lots if that be the case.

Posted 1 year ago #
TheBigComeUp

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I totally see everyone's point on the anti-parking lot campaign. But, here are a few things to consider. I am somewhat impartial to State Auto as they are a client of mine and I happen to be there fairly often. In the last 2 years, they have been one of the few companies in Columbus that have increased revenue, hiring, and marketshare; and, due to that growth, they have overgrown all of their current parking spaces in all directions with the exception of due west (Museum of Art). They are actually in desperate need of a parking lot for their employees. While they do have a substantial parking lot behind their building just south of Columbus State, that too is at capacity. A great deal of their employees are suburbanites who don't have the types of transportation options that someone inside 270 have at their disposal. Not looking to pick any fights here, just presenting the facts.

Posted 1 year ago #
Urbanboi
Downtown
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It seems like downtown is kinda going in circles with the parking situation which means they still havent figured out we need better public transportation..I have so many friends who live in Olde Towne and the Short North who work downtown but yet they still drive...That is a problem.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pro Se
OTE-Franklin Park
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@TheBigComeUp: You make a good and practical point. I am pleased to hear that State Auto is healthy, especially while so many others are not. Hopefully, their continued growth translates into some alternative use for this site down the road. From an aesthetic standpoint, however, I remain disappointed as this further weakens the continuity of that portion of E. Broad St.--an area already targeted as having too many surface parking lots. Perhaps the most sensible solution for them is a parking structure, but this is an easy suggestion for someone with no perspective of the costs, etc. of such a project.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Pro Se wrote >>
@TheBigComeUp: You make a good and practical point. I am pleased to hear that State Auto is healthy, especially while so many others are not. Hopefully, their continued growth translates into some alternative use for this site down the road. From an aesthetic standpoint, however, I remain disappointed as this further weakens the continuity of that portion of E. Broad St.--an area already targeted as having too many surface parking lots. Perhaps the most sensible solution for them is a parking structure, but this is an easy suggestion for someone with no perspective of the costs, etc. of such a project.

Yeah, why not a parking garage with ground level retail? If anything the lease rates might help offset costs over time.

Posted 1 year ago #
CalebR
Lincoln Village
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Lol dont forget were talking about Safe Auto a car insurance company. People will drive cars there and back. Now i agree they should build a parking garage near it and tear up the other parking lots for more development. But, its up to Safe Auto, the only thing we can do is get into contact with them and have them change their mind

Posted 1 year ago #
jpizzow
580 N. Park St.
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If they are growing so much then it would have been nice to see a new office expansion with accompanying parking garage. I realize that's a huge expense but such a disappointment none the less. They just spat in the face of the new downtown plan.

Posted 1 year ago #
Pro Se
OTE-Franklin Park
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Here is the official response from State Auto:

Mr. Kafantaris,
Thanks for writing. Kyle Anderson is on vacation this week and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m filling in.
The construction fencing is, indeed, the beginning of a project. WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re building a landscaped parking area surrounded by ornamental fencing that resembles wrought iron. An arch will serve as the pedestrian entrance and inside will be curbed islands, trees, shrubs and flowers. It will be well-lighted. Our plans were reviewed and approved by the Downtown Commission, which also offered some excellent design suggestions.
A parking lot probably isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t the sexy construction project you had in mind, but it became a necessity for us when our employee population outgrew our available parking. Six years ago, as a community beautification project, we gave up parking at our north lot to build the Arts Walk, which includes distinctive red arches, a brick walk way, plants, islands and the Aminah Robinson mural on our warehouse. Now, we need that lost parking and then some as we continue to add to our Columbus operations.
WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re excited, too, about the possibilities in this neighborhood. Denny GriffithÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s vision at CCAD is coming to fruition, with new buildings and landscaping that have turned his property into an attractive inner-city campus. The Columbus Museum of ArtÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s expansion is under way, and the end result will truly impress. Today, I attended the dedication of the new Jefferson Avenue Apartments. ThereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a lot happening to attract businesses and people to City East/Discovery District.
Winford L. Logan
Director, Corporate Communications
The State Auto Group
518 E. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone 614-464-5326

Posted 1 year ago #
CalebR
Lincoln Village
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So theres not going to be a parking garage????? WE DONT WANT ANYMORE GOD DANG PARKING LOTS!!!!!!!! i wonder when companies will realize this. Im fine with Parking structures. But parking lots??? THEY ARE UGLY.

Posted 1 year ago #
Urbanboi
Downtown
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If we want to have a real downtown srawling parking lots need to be a thing of the past!! Enough with the parking lots!

Posted 1 year ago #
CalebR
Lincoln Village
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Urbanboi wrote >>
If we want to have a real downtown srawling parking lots need to be a thing of the past!! Enough with the parking lots!

FINNALLY SOME1 FEELS MY PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE PARKING LOTS! NO MORE PARKING LOTS!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
ehill27
Short North
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While I share your disdain for urban parking lots, at least they appear to be making an effort on aesthetics. Parking garages are expensive, and therefore not the most cost effective solution when a business has plenty of land at their disposal. To halt or reverse the increasing demand for parking would require a significant expansion of our transportation options.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Pro Se wrote >>
Hopefully, their continued growth translates into some alternative use for this site down the road.

Agreed. The long term (10 year) Downtown plan that was recently announced includes a multi-use garage situated in between CCAD, the CMA and State Auto. See pages 48 through 51 of this PDF:

http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/docs/2010%20DCSP%2010%20Principles%20Ideas%201-6.pdf

The part of the plan I find particularly interesting is this bit listed as a "Next Step":

The institutional, corporate and cultural anchors of the Creative Campus should continue to work toward their own master plans, while coordinating investments and improvements Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in particular, working with the CDDC on a new parking garage.

It sounds like State Auto is doing just that. I imagine this new parking lot is a part of their corporate master plan for their site in this area. While the new longer-term parking garage will be a collaborative public-private investment, it sounds like State Auto has grown to the point where they can't wait that long for the parking solution.

From what I've heard, State Auto has been a great partner to the area. The aforementioned Arts Walk they've constructed on their grounds to contributed to the walkability and continuity of the neighborhood is a nice asset, and I've heard that they've been more than accommodating in working with the CMA to allow for use of their parking lots for CMA nights & weekend events.

I wouldn't be surprised that if once this new parking deck is built in the area that State Auto decides to repurpose this parking lot (and some of their other existing parking lot space) for better use. If anyone here is seriously interested in any sort of advocacy efforts, I'd say that showing support for a well-planed ground-floor-retail multi-purpose public-private parking garage would be the best course of action moving forward.

Pro Se wrote >>
Here is the official response from State Auto:

Thanks a bunch for seriously looking into this issue and finding some answers. I appreciate it. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #