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From The Dispatch:
Coleman asks for more details before committing to help Grandview Yard
Thursday, January 8, 2009
By Martin RozenmanGrandview Heights’ massive plan for commercial, retail and residential development between Goodale Boulevard and W. 3rd Avenue has Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman concerned.
Coleman sent Grandview Mayor Ray DeGraw a letter on Nov. 24 saying he’s worried that Grandview Yard will compete with Columbus and asking for more details about it.
“Columbus and the private sector have already invested significant resources, time and effort in creating new housing opportunities and attracting and retaining jobs in our Downtown and core city, including such projects as Techneglas, Children’s Hospital, the Scioto Mile, the Arena District, River South and the King-Lincoln District,” Coleman wrote.
Very interesting news. I’ve heard the same issues with Grandview Yard from just about every resident of downtown as well as everyone interested in seeing downtown retail redeveloped in any capacity.
you should send them that aerial image of the rail link again. this shouldn’t be an either, or. it should be both.
I wondered when this issue would pop up. There is a inherent problem in the tax funding for G.Y., and I don’t know if it was any solution.
The city of Columbus has lots of development project going on downtown, and in this recession they have no spare money in the budget.
G.Y. has a huge $160m public funding price tag. Working out a deal with Columbus for some public funds (possibly in exchange for a share of future taxes) is a requirement to make G.Y. happen.
The Arena District was planned without retail, and yet it still seemed to suck the development dollars out of central downtown.
So when Columbus planners look at the cold hard numbers, are they going to conclude that it is better to stiff-arm G.Y., and focus on getting the development money to go to the city of Columbus?
While I would also like to see projects such as these go in downtown, I think we can at least take solace in the fact that this is occurring in a brownfield within 270 and very close to downtown. Also, without knowing much more than information contained in the press releases, it seems to incorporate smart urban design techniques–density, mixed-use, etc.–and is not another Lennox.
Also, this bit piqued my interest: “Grandview has asked Columbus to collaborate to secure money for widening railroad bridges at Goodale and W. 3rd…” Any thoughts?
The rail bridges are possibly the biggest problems. Both the Goodale and Third bridges are two lanes, too small for the traffic G.Y. could produce. Rebuilding them wider is a massive project, maybe more than $20m. They are both inside the Cbus property lines.
The rebuilding of the 315 ramp at Goodale has some positive effect on the city of Columbus, so that makes sense for them to help pay. The rail bridge widening helps only Grandview.
Really I see no reason why the AD and GY can’t coexist. Considering AD did not deal with retail, I’m guessing this has been on the drawing board for years and prob. always part of the plan. Really, with some infrastructure changes you could basically walk from AD to GY.
I do understand the tax situation, but i feel with a couple compromises that can easily be worked out.
Dru wrote:
Heh. You mean this one?
jeffz wrote:
I could be wrong, but I think they’re talking about widening the roadway underneath, and therefore expanding the rail bridge up top, not actually giving the rail ROI up top a wide path.
surber17 wrote:
I think AD & GY can exist. But I think GY is going to sap any enthusiasm that any potential redeveloper of the City Center might have for a retail-heavy project downtown.
Then again, City Center doesn’t necessarily need to rely on a retail-heavy redevelopment plan to begin with. I think there could be room for two dozen small street level boutique retail shops and the rest of the property can be converted to residential or other commercial use.
I think another thing that people might be concerned with is GY having the same impact that AD had on downtown office space. A lot of larger tenants with AD office space have simply relocated from the core of downtown. I don’t think the city wants to see even more office tenants fleeing to Grandview for the shiny new offices there.
Agreed. In fact I think High Street should shy away from retail giants. There was a previous article with a heading like “Could Columbus become the Fashion Capitol of the Mid-West?” …. I think we can and I think High Street could become the area for this to happen. Why put in another Banana Republic or J.Crew downtown? Let GY have them. Let downtown turn into the Soho of the Mid-West. Make it so starting a concept business is super easy. Could you imagine walking 1 mile where you hit nothing but up-and-coming designers? All you need is 1 or 2 of them to take off and Columbus could solidify its spot as Fashion Capitol. Forget having an Arts District …. we could become the Art City.
This kind of ties into your second point about office space and people moving. I agree and disagree with you. People are renting these spots. There has to be some responisbility of the owner of the building to keep the building itself in good shape and appealing to the eye. If I had a business and the building I was in became dated or started falling apart I’d leave too.
Sorry if some of that doesnt make sense, I’ve had a bit too much coffee.
Surber,
That’s a great idea. The only reason people (or at least suburbanites) will shop downtown is if there is something they can’t get somewhere closer with easier/cheaper parking. Downtown needs to be unique and have things that are only available downtown.
It makes sense, and I’m in the same agree/disagree boat. Part of it is up to the market forces at work, and part of it is up to the city and local governments to help dictate what is healthy for the region. It’s tough to strike a balance between the two.
I think fostering a healthy business environment downtown for ANY type of independent/startup businesses (fashion or otherwise) is going to be key to redeveloping downtown retail.
Speaking of which, have you had a chance to listen to this week’s podcast yet? Very timely… and interesting to hear things from the perspective of existing retailers already downtown.
High St. has been the traditional commercial street in town. I think any commercial (local, chains, startup, etc.) would be a good thing. But until downtown’s population increases I think national retailers will follow their tried and true suburban models. GY looks like any town center project (like Easton or the Greene in Dayton) that national retailers have gotten comfortable with in recent years. It’s up to the locals!
Of course GY and AD can coexist – Nationwide isn’t going to shoot itself in the foot.
Walker,
thanks for posting the rail link pic. i hope someone sees that and actually thinks about making that happen. what a great start that could be. doesn’t that track go all the way out to dublin? oppty for the future?
I agree with a lot of what has been said. The large, national fashion and other retailers can go to G.Y. and allow downtown (High St. as some have suggested) become a haven for local or small independent fashion stores or other shops to thrive. I really like the idea of downtown becoming something like a soho or something very original. People are not going to come downtown to a shop or store they can go to at a local strip mall. Whatever goes in downtown has to be unique, enticing, and something of a draw to bring people downtown.
Second, when did it occur to Mayor Coleman that G.Y. was in the works? Hasn’t he known about it longer than most of us? It wasn’t a surprise to anyone. I believe the two can co-exist.
Part of the reason why City Center and other parts of downtown suffered was because of developments like Easton. Not only did such projects happen but it happened with city funding. I think it’s a good sign that the mayor’s concerned – why should the City shoot itself in the foot again?
Why would the city shoot itself in the foot again? Tradition!
“Why would the city shoot itself in the foot again?”
Are you suggesting that city support for Easton/Polaris/Tuttle were bad moves? If anything, theyre a success as they draw in tax dollars since theyre within city limits.
If Mayor DeGraw thinks GV Yard will be that great, then Mayor DeGraw should reach into his coffers and get it done.
gmcsoccer Says:
When I originally made that graphic last year shortly after details on GY first emerged, I forwarded it around to a few contact via email. I was told it was passed along to Brian Ellis at NRI, but I never heard what his reaction was, if any.
Probably just deleted the email without looking. ;)
“If Mayor DeGraw thinks GV Yard will be that great, then Mayor DeGraw should reach into his coffers and get it done.”
I’m sure if Grandview could afford to do it they would. The fact is that Grandview is a small suburb of about 7000 residents and doesn’t have a very large tax base. They have been hurting bad ever sense Big Bar warehouses closed.
Granted I’m bit bias because I just bought a house there :)