Metrovia Shopping Center Project Cancelled

By: Walker

17 Comments

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  Coremodels August 25, 2007 11:54 am

  LOL! Wasn’t ground supposed to be broken like now????

  How the hell could things change so fast!
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  CbusIslander August 25, 2007 2:19 pm

  Actually, I am glad they did pull the plug, better now than later. I thought the location in general would have been a poor one. A possible site being Marysville?? If that happens Tuttle and Polaris will fall. I personally don’t think the metro area can support another retail giant without a few more “current” malls falling.
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  Walker August 25, 2007 2:42 pm

  The south side suburbs are growing rapidly. If population trends continue at the rate they’re currently at, Grove City will be the largest suburb of Columbus in another 5 years.

  But I agree that the Urbancrest location was probably a bad choice. I was anticipating this type of development to go on Stringtown Road, which I already refer to as “Polaris South”. Better highway access there, and typically malls will build more towards the edge of development so that when the suburbs continue to sprawl outward the mall winds up with a centralized location for their peak years.

  As for the choice of Marysville, I think that’s another spot that’s growing quickly. Hilliard, Dublin, and Muirfield are all rapidly growing in that direction. A new mall up in the NW corner of the metro area is probably going to hurt Tuttle more than it would Polaris just because of the slight age difference.

  And I’d expect Westland, Eastland, and City Center to all be 100% closed in the next five years whether there’s a new mall coming soon or not.

  Personally, I don’t really care where shopping pops up in the burbs, as I’m not too likely to travel out there to shop if retail can penetrate downtown once again with a mixed-use development on the horizon at the City Center’s current space.
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  jpizzow August 25, 2007 6:55 pm

  wow, didn’t see that coming, not sarcasm
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  Brewmaster August 25, 2007 7:07 pm

  That developer did everything but call those residents “hillbillys”. He sounds bitter.

  Here’s a thought though…instead of moving things further out into the hinterlands (which will of course lead to loads of dollars being needed for road and infrastructure improvements), why not start talking to Grandview Heights to see if they’d be interested in a denser, mixed-use proposal for the Grandview Ave/Rt. 33 site?

  We’ve got some great infill sites, but developers would rather build a walkable, mixed-use community that you need to drive to. :roll:
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  Walker August 26, 2007 3:29 pm

  Brewmaster wrote Here’s a thought though…instead of moving things further out into the hinterlands (which will of course lead to loads of dollars being needed for road and infrastructure improvements), why not start talking to Grandview Heights to see if they’d be interested in a denser, mixed-use proposal for the Grandview Ave/Rt. 33 site?

  You should email the guy behind this whole thing and suggest this.
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  scottlitch August 26, 2007 7:31 pm

  Brewmaster wrote That developer did everything but call those residents “hillbillys”. He sounds bitter.

  Here’s a thought though…instead of moving things further out into the hinterlands (which will of course lead to loads of dollars being needed for road and infrastructure improvements), why not start talking to Grandview Heights to see if they’d be interested in a denser, mixed-use proposal for the Grandview Ave/Rt. 33 site?

  We’ve got some great infill sites, but developers would rather build a walkable, mixed-use community that you need to drive to. :roll:

  Great idea!
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  Outerloop August 26, 2007 8:19 pm

  I live in Marysville. I moved to the area because of a job, thus I’m not a native. I feel I have a outsider’s perspective to the area.

  I don’t believe an upscale mall/destination will be received by the locals any better than the south side. Those seeking entainment, finer restaurants, and shopping want to drive down SR 33 to Columbus for the diversity. The local fast food joints do plenty of business for those that aren’t too adventurous.

  In addition, Marysville is developing two (some would say competing) retail/restaurant districts. The new stores/restaurants are Home Depot, Super Walmart, Bob Evans, Maurices, Fashion Bug… Need I say more.

  I totally agree with Brewmaster’s idea of trying the Grandview area. Fill in the urban spaces first. That area has a whole lot more immediate potential for something upscale.

  Please do not misinterpret my thoughts on Marysville. Its a wonderful place to live and a great place to raise a family. It just not too adventurous
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  brothermarcus August 26, 2007 9:08 pm

  ^ They are probably aiming to fill the void of recent breakdowns in the 33/42 development project if they are looking at marysville… won’t be “in” marysville – more like equidistant between marysville, plain city, and dublin. there’s already a lot of money there, just not a lot of communication recently among the people that initially pushed the development agenda at that location. this is all from what i’ve heard second-hand, of course.

  i could always be misinformed, it happens.
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  gramarye August 27, 2007 8:10 am

  I’m not sure Grandview would even welcome a development like this, though sadly, they might be more receptive to a sprawling one-floor development than they were to the original five-floor plan for The Heights. Grandview residents already have retail options within easy driving distance.
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  The Hegemo August 27, 2007 9:10 am

  Brewmaster wrote

  Here’s a thought though…instead of moving things further out into the hinterlands (which will of course lead to loads of dollars being needed for road and infrastructure improvements), why not start talking to Grandview Heights to see if they’d be interested in a denser, mixed-use proposal for the Grandview Ave/Rt. 33 site?

  Funny you brought that up; I was just thinking of starting a thread on ‘What should be done with Dublin Rd?’

  I work on Dublin Rd between Grandview & 5th. Pretty much every office building along this strip has a for lease sign outside of it. Time Warner’s just left, and I heard recently that the Ohio Department of Insurance is leaving for the Lazarus building. That abandoned motel is still abandoned at Dublin & Grandview. Is there any new news on when or if something is happening there?

  There’s a new AutoZone being built next to Tim Horton’s, but that’s about it at the moment for anything new going in.

  So what do we do with a sprawling, pedestrian-unfriendly office strip when it appears to have outlived its usefulness as such? Especially when it’s adjacent to upscale suburbs and five minutes drive from downtown. Can it be repurposed or do we just sit around and wait for the downtown office market to become tight?
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  dnm August 27, 2007 9:29 am

  I just moved out of grove city to MV but have spent my entire life in Gc. I knew the minute they announced this that it would never happen. The area where the proposed development wouldve gone is surround by giant concrete warehouses, freeway and low income section 8 apartments… Not exactly where you would imagine an eastonish shopping facility. Also, the freeway access to grove city is horrific. I dunno if anyone from here has tried to enter gc between 330-630pm off 270 or 71, but be prepared for a wait. The new development off of stringtown rd is nice, but it has caused stringtown rd to be like sawmill. It takes 20 min to go 3 miles. I think it wouldve helped gc out alot, since they try to juice you for every dime you can spend, but Im not suprised to see it flounder
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  BetsyB August 27, 2007 12:52 pm

  Funny you mention about the area where the development is and thinking its not suitable for something eastonish. I think the area surrounding Easton is really bad and was when they began developing it. However, Easton is supported by nicer communities such as New Albany, Westerville, and Gahanna that are pretty close by and have pretty good demographics. Unfortunately, the southwest area just doesn’t have those same set of demographics in the neighboring communities to support something like this.

  I would be quite content if Dublin Rd. was developed a little more, but alot of those buildings would need to be razed to make it more inviting as they are very industrial looking.

  Other areas I would love to see better developed:

  West Broad Street past the Hilltop (going west)

  Franklinton

  South High Street past the downtown

  The growth of the suburbs is killing Columbus’s infrastructure. I would rather see empty fields than abandoned buildings in some of the older neighborhoods in Columbus. Mayor Mike seems to be catering to the 3% of wealthy residents in Columbus, than the 97% that would just like to see sidewalks added and abandoned homes torn down in their neighborhoods. I think adding the greenspace downtown is great, but I would like to just be able to walk my son and dog to Westgate park (already existing greenspace) without having to trapse through someone else’s yard or walk on the street.
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  Walker August 27, 2007 1:03 pm

  BetsyB wrote Mayor Mike seems to be catering to the 3% of wealthy residents in Columbus, than the 97% that would just like to see sidewalks added and abandoned homes torn down in their neighborhoods.

  Really? I thought many of his development plans that he pushes target poorer neighborhoods like Franklinton and Olde Town East.

  For example, the “Home Again” program is supposed to take control and tear down around 1,000 abandoned properties around Columbus, most of which are in bad neighborhoods.

  He’s been a huge pusher of the revamp of the Lincoln Theater and the redevelopment of the King-Lincoln neighborhood. I was always under the impression that he was getting more flak for concentrating TOO much on the poor inner neighborhoods and ignoring the needs of the middle and upper class neighborhoods (what few of them there are that are actually under his jurisdiction in Columbus-proper).
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  BetsyB August 27, 2007 1:08 pm

  I guess I look around my neighborhood and see whats not being done and then hear about multimillion dollar projects concerning downtown green space that the 1000 or so residents of downtown (if that) get to enjoy.

  Oh wait I guess if worked downtown, I would enjoy the greenspace…yeah if my actual lunch hour was like 2-3 hours instead of 1 and it didn’t just take me 15 minutes just to get down there.
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  Walker August 27, 2007 1:33 pm

  BetsyB wrote I guess I look around my neighborhood and see whats not being done and then hear about multimillion dollar projects concerning downtown green space that the 1000 or so residents of downtown (if that) get to enjoy.

  Oh wait I guess if worked downtown, I would enjoy the greenspace…yeah if my actual lunch hour was like 2-3 hours instead of 1 and it didn’t just take me 15 minutes just to get down there.

  Well sure, I can understand if you feel your neighborhood is being ignored, but that doesn’t mean that the mayor is focused only on the nicer neighborhoods.

  And I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that the riverfront downtown is enjoyed by millions during the 20-something festivals held there every year. And the vast majority of those folks don’t live downtown.

  The City of Columbus also gives money to the Columbus Zoo, but that’s hardly something that only benefits the people that live next door to it. I’d say the riverfront festivals are just as much of a destination as the Zoo. And there are plenty of other nice metroparks spread throughout the city if you don’t feel like driving downtown.

  I too wish the mayor paid special attention to my specific wants, but Columbus is too big of a city to expect that everyone will be pleased 100% of the time with everything.
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  dnm August 27, 2007 1:57 pm

  Id also like to see something done with S high past say the old hospital. Maybe some resteraunts, mixed use stuff would be cool