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ColumbusING wrote
Junctionview Studios to be sold to Nationwide Realty
Published by Eddy Monday
November 28th, 2007
So I received word from a reliable source that the owners of Junctionview Studios will be selling the warehouse full of artists studios to Nationwide Realty. Why should this pass as news? Well the Couchfire Collective who are the current tennants of Junctionview Studios have been setting the Columbus art scene on fire (no pun intented) with their Agora art exhibitions will not be able to renew their lease when Nationwide takes over the property in early 2008. This is unfortunate because The Couchfire Collective has played a significant role in giving exposure to Columbus’ underappreciated indie artscene. In addition to The Agora exhibitions showcasing performances, music, and art from Columbus artists, they have also spearheaded the campaign for Columbus to adopt the slogan as the “Indie Art Capital of The World”. Which is a pretty damn good slogan the city should adopt if you ask me. Not to mention The City won’t have to dole out $85,000 in consulting fees to accept it.
Related Stories:
- Nationwide snatching up Grandview Heights property
- Couchfire Collective brings together the art scene
- Agora attracts wide range of artists, patrons
“If need be” is a good way to put this right now.
We’ll talk.
Anybody have any discussions with the powers that be about moving into the newly renovated Lazarus Building? At one point, there was supposed to be an artists space built there.
I was part of some of the original discussion about that building. I believe it has been largely converted to other uses. I don’t know that it would meet alot of our needs anyway. Not in size… but in functionality and price.
Keep the ideas coming though. If anyone knows of something open… we’d love to hear.
If you haven’t already, you guys should talk to Jon Beard at Columbus Compact. They are closing or have just closed on a huge property a block from Franklin Park. He mentioned having some sort of craft market in there, this could fit too. The big downside is that the place is currently in really bad shape, it would take a while to renovate.
From the Trolley Market + Franklin Park Condiminiums thread:
We are in contract to buy the old streetcar facility at Oak &
Kelton. The facility was built in the 1880s, and covers about 3.2
acres in about 5 buildings in various stages of falling down. Our
goal would be to rehab and preserve the existing buildings — I
repeat — we have no plans for demolition!!!
We are exploring a couple different concepts for the site. The one
that has resonated the most with the people I have talked with is a
concept for a community market — a gathering place where you can
come and spend a few hours on a weekend, browsing, looking, and
ultimately BUYING unique, one-of-a-kind items made by local
craftspersons or antiques.
This concept would involve leasing small spaces to craftspersons
(jewelery, pottery, woodwork, stained glass, artists, etc.) for
around $100-$150 per month, but running the market like a department
store with centralized management/cashier. Ideally, there would be
+/- 50-75 different small vendors, selling any number of mix of
items (ideally self-made), which could include:
- The aforementioned craftspersons
- Antique dealers (probably focusing more on furniture and home
goods more than knicknacks)
- Speciality food items (a hot sauce store, like in New Orleans!!??)
- Local/speciality beers and wines
- Health/wellness items, vitamins, nutritional supplements
- Candles, incense, aromatherapy, soaps/bath products
- Bakery
- Flowers/Greeting cards/Books
- Coffee shop/small restaurant or grill/gathering place
There is also room on the site for a small amphitheater that could
host things like clowns, jugglers, acoustic music, etc. In my mind,
if we went down this path, the goal would be to create a funky,
eclectic kind of place unlike any other in the city — a place kind
of like my favorite book store, the Book Loft, that you want to show
other people because it is so unique.
Obviously, there would be zoning questions that would have to be
satisfied to do this type of thing, so what we could consider is
something that would ideally have the buy-in and rabid support of
surrounding residents. (And before that, there are project funding
questions — can you create a solid enough plan to convince lenders
to finance something like this?)
The questions I have for the group are:
1) the site is off the beaten path — do you think a concept like
that could survive (and then thrive) in this “tucked away”
location?,
2) what types of things could be offered there that the neighborhood
needs and that would draw steady business from within the
neighborhood?
3) what would need to happen to make this a funky, cool, quirky kind
of place where you would want to hang out with your friends for a
couple hours on a sunny Saturday (or is that even the right goal)?
4) what other concepts or ideas should we consider for the site?
Thanks much for your ideas and insights. Please respond robustly
(whatever that means) …
– Jon Beard
Columbus Compact Corp.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Yeah, this really saddens me considering I feel like Junctionview Studios is the anchor of the Columbus Indie Arts scene movement….but maybe this will get the artists to forge together and find a new location (maybe in a better location perhaps?)…
OSU is still doing an “Urban Arts Space” there, but I’m not sure what the size of it is. The new manager of the soon-to-open space was at the last CU meetup and is usually lurking around here. :D
maybe my ass. We will only get stronger from t his and hopefully wiser as well. I know the couchfire guys and gals have been looking forward for a while now at the concept of this happening to the space. Sure Junctionview is a great space, but with the growing size and involvement of the Agora shows and the community’s support the need for a larger more effective space I believe is present.
Yep, ya gotta break some eggs to make an omelet. This is only taking off the training wheels for you guys. And I know you’re very driven and focused, and you’ve given a lot to Columbus. I don’t expect Columbus will forget that.
That’s the great thing about doing great stuff, unprompted. Later on, people remember that, and can have your back when unexpected stuff happens. We all love what you’re doing.
Adam, I know you’ve spoken about artists collectively owning property in order to beat “pricing out” to the punch. I think that’s great and would love to be part of it, even a very small part. The building(s) mentioned above seem, as you’ve said, to be a very interesting opportunity. Why couldn’t the city, and/or Nationwide, and/or a grant or two help make this possible for an ownership collective here?
I think this is just step one of much bigger and better things! Let me know how I can help.
I believe that will be the next step looking forward.
First we have to find out exactly where we are now.
Like I said above… I think one more year in our current location would be enough time for us to gather ourselves and make bigger things happen.
Normally you can pack a bigger punch if you can set your feet before swinging.
the events that ive attended at JV have been great. if this is the case then what a shame, seems like a more perminant space is needed. the whole concept of the collective studio is a great idea. some of the ideas that we have had for east franklinton would be to have a collective building with studio spaces along with communal shops like a carpentry and welding for sculpture, along with a ceramics studio. that way every one can use the shops and benefit even more. ive disscussed these with folks in the architecture business and development. at the time we thought that columbus could harbor another studio space like JV and the whittier pen studios. bobs building on lucas used to have studios for rent 10 years ago. abit before the neighborhoods time and even now i would say, but the short term maybe 5 years from now,could be a reality. the question for me is will people come down here park there cars and rent spaces to produce art. i say yes, given the right building and tools such as communal shop spaces it can work. non FAD related of course…
Those are also probable things that could happen as well.
The Whittier Pen is a good idea. I know they want to keep the Lazarus Warehouse on the property, and were planning on renovating it into housing, but those plans have changed. Here’s some info on the building… http://home.columbus.gov/Asset/iu_files/Whittier/Reuse_Lazarus_Whouse.pdf
Lori Baudro’s contact info is at the end. I think she’s still the go-to person on this. The proposed golf course might throw a wrench in plans though.
There are also some decent sized structures to the south that the impound lot should soon abandon. It’d be cool if the city worked out some sort of green rehab and sold it to you guys on the cheap. Be right next to the future green home of the Audubon Society.
I wouldn’t mind that area. I like the idea of being in a green building. I like the idea of being in a park. It would sure as hell need to be fixed up. That Lazarus building is a piece of shit.
True, it’s pretty beat up, but I just pictured you guys having Agora type stuff in that setting…could be amazing!
Agora + fleas + leaky roof = nasty.
But if it was fixed up… you are right on.
hey CDS, what’s the story behind that enormous, empty schoolhouse just west of 315, north of 70 and south of Mt. Carmel? It’s been vacant for years, looks like a great spot for some creatives.
I -think- it is sadly in the path of the 70/71 split fix with new and improved flyover ramps…. it would be a good spot but soon-to-be out of play.
How about something without stairs! or elevators would be nice :P
Is this the building? Its on Bellows Avenue…you can get a good view going from 315 South to 70 West. I was thinking this part of 70 was untouched by the whole 70/71 split deal. Not sure though.