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From The Dispatch:
Developer doesn’t shy away from putting up more condos, townhomes
By Mike PramikEdwards Cos.’ Neighborhood Launch project, which covers several city blocks east of the intersection of 4th and Gay streets, is one of the exceptions to the recent condo downturn. The neighborhood aspect of the project — Downtown condos you don’t need an elevator to reach — is a major selling point. Edwards has nearly completed the first 47 units of the 300-unit project and this spring will begin building the next phase.
Condo sales Downtown peaked in 2006 at 281, according to data from Community Research Partners. They tumbled by more than 50 percent in each of the past two years. But Columbus real-estate analyst Ken Danter thinks that won’t be the case with Neighborhood Launch because it’s creating a suburban feel.
Am I missing something here? I’ve not really been in these condos, but when I walk or jog by them it certainly doesn’t give me a suburban feel. Do they just mean it’s nice and not a high-rise with a doorman? Does that make it suburban? I’m confused.
I don’t get “suburban” out of them either. They’re still very densely laid out despite the height limit.
Unless having a garage = suburban.
I think it was the having no elevator thing = suburban
Calling this development “suburban” is a slap in the face.
Even though they are townhomes in a very urban setting, I’ve never seen anything that looks like this (or this nice) in the burbs. When I say nice, I’m referring to the overall exterior appeal; the buildings, the parks, the density, etc.
95% of suburban townhomes = crap.
Me thinks Ken Danter has foot in mouth disease. I don’t think this is what N.L. perspective it, I had read originally it wanted to recreate the NY or Chicago brownstone environment. I toured these in the Fall and they are one of my favorite developments. The craftmanship is definately there…wrought iron rails which are solid, not hollow. Metal key slides over the locks, well laid out designs. I would buy the model unit in a heartbeat….if I had the cash…
Neighborhood Launch is not as dense (i.e. tall) as projects like Miranova or Ibiza, but “suburban” is definitely not the right label. The model for NL was Chicago’s Gold Coast, not the highrises close to the lake but the townhouses further in. Overall, I think they’ve done a good job, though something taller really should’ve been done on Gay and 4th. It’s too prominent a corner for what they’ve built there.
Besides (or rather due to) the lowrise layout, the other factor that has helped the Edwards Co. is that the project can be phased in finance and construction more extensively than a single highrise, which has to be built and sold in one go. I’ve written up my observations on sales data from Ibiza and Jackson on High: http://indiecolumbus.com/site/post/finding_the_sweet_spot_in_the_urban_condo_market/
They don’t fare nearly as well as NL.
suburban!?
Also, I am really interested in these 1 bedroom flats.
If you’ve ever known anyone who was interviewed in a Dispatch story, their reporters seem to have a knack for using things out of context to simplify or shorten. He was probably explaining that the development is less like typical downtown condos and more like those found elsewhere (urban neighborhoods, suburban areas, etc). “Suburban” is much easier than saying “ya know those townhomes you see here and there in some of the older areas of Columbus and those medium density low rise apartment buildings.” I’d believe lazy journalism over gross incompetence on Ken Danter’s part.
I really like that development.
these are my favorite condos going up right now downtown. very nice finishes and attention to detail. we’ll see how lifestyles project shapes up in comparison, as far as low-rises go…
Glad to hear this development moving forward so well. Looking forward to see what phase is next.
It sounds like the next phase is going to be a mix of more townhomes & flats (similar to what we’ve seen in the first phase) as well as that new five-story building at the corner of 6th & Gay that was recently discussed.
I’m eager for that 5 story building and no, this is not at all suburban, unless you mean streetcar suburban. Developers: build your condos next door for high desirability.
I’ve walked through these multiple times and like them more and more each time.
The graphic the dispatch made has me a bit confused. The article says the next phase is either townhomes from along Gay from 5th to 6th, or a 5-story building at the NE corner of Gay & 6th but the graphic shows either a stretch from 5th to Normandy or a building at the NE corner of Gay & Normandy, nothing going up to 6th at this point.
So, did the dispatch get it wrong in writing the story or making the graphic? If they just messed up making the graphic by thinking 6th immediately followed 5th than it means with the next phase Gay St will be all developed from High on up and that would be an amazing state from just a while ago! (All developed by counting only Neighborhood Launch property, i know there are a bunch of empty lots on the south side and on both once you get up by grant/cleveland)
Cool video update from Joe Peffer today:
What’s up @ Neighborhood Launch from joe peffer on Vimeo.
The 5th Street side is nearly done with the details:
And a quick shot of Gay Street in the summer: (So green!!!)
the CU ad above irks me a bunch. people wonder why Columbus has no soul, it doesn’t seem to want anything to be its own. I mean, I think this just SUCKS for Columbus, “Chicago brownstone neighborhood a first in Columbus” I just find that in poor taste, but whatever…
“What we have in Columbus isn’t good enough so we bring you something like what they have in Chicago, a BIG city! Now give me your money Yuppie!”
whatever…
Hrm. I guess I read it a little more differently and see it as a descriptor of the style of the development, not so much as a dig on the city for not having something comparable prior.