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The long vacant lot at the northeast corner of High Street and Fifth Avenue will finally see some development. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) announced yesterday that they have purchased the plot of land at 1230 North High Street and will soon begin construction on a facility that will house an Out of the Closet Thrift Store, and an AHF Pharmacy and HIV testing site, in addition to serving as the organization’s regional offices. The group will also open an AHF Healthcare Center in Columbus, which offers high-quality HIV and AIDS medical care, regardless of clients ability to pay.
“I am extremely proud of this milestone,” says Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “We are excited to be following up on our recent advocacy successes in Ohio by providing our high-quality HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and outreach services to the people of Columbus.”
The organization has 22 other locations throughout California and Florida. The Columbus location will be the second Out of the Closet location built from the ground-up, following the format of their location in Ft. Lauderdale.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest global AIDS organization and provides medical care and services to over 124,000 individuals around the world.
More information about the new development can be found at www.aidshealth.org.
Glad to see something is finally happening there. Lets hope its pretty dense with residential or office floors above…
heresthecasey said: Glad to see something is finally happening there. Lets hope its pretty dense with residential or office floors above…
+1
I also hope there’s some design creativity to ensure that Middle West Spirits and Brothers Drake aren’t totally hidden behind there.
Please tell me that the photo you posted with this article is NOT what they are proposing for that corner. The organization sounds like a great fit for the neighborhood. That building, however, is hideously inappropriate.
Lisa – The photo was from the press release. As far as I can tell, it’s of their Ft. Lauderdale store. The colors are a little loud for my own personal preferences, so hopefully they can come up with a plan that fits the neighborhood. This is within the bounds of the University District Area Commission, so I imagine they’ll help steer this project in the appropriate direction.
I think it is fascinating that these folks could pay $1.6 million for a former gas station (hope you did a Phase II). I have never worked with a social service/non-profit entity that could drop that kind of cash just on land. They must have some deep pockets.
The press release says, “The Columbus location will be the second Out of the Closet location built from the ground-up, following the format of their location in Ft. Lauderdale.” Go look at that one in Street View – 1785 Sunrise Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304. Even if it doesn’t have the art deco color scheme, it is a small, one-story building. No mixed use. No landmark structure at a busy intersection. Nothing in common (use or scale) with the three other corners. Fail.
cmhcow, are we looking at the same Google maps image? I see only other 1-story buildings surrounding it. Well, OK, one 2-story building across the street, but nothing that puts it out of place in terms of scale. Heck, its neighbor to the east is a beige one-story strip mall! It’s certainly a colorful addition to the street (isn’t pink and pastels a Florida signature, anyways?).
Google maps link
Strangely, if you back up east a couple of clicks, you can see the site is an old gas station. Hmmm….a trend to their site selection process?
Some of the information on their websites press release and from CU have got me worried. I feel like someone would have heard about this by now and more discussion would have occurred. UAC/UARB/WPCA and a few other local organizations will not be happy if these guys try to steam roll a new build like this.
I wish them all the best and will be reaching out to them to see if they need any help but I hope they didn’t jump the gun on the land purchase before being advised on the order of operations in Columbus for construction.
We are looking at the same image. I am talking about a similar building (one story, approximately 5,000 square feet) at 5th and High, where it is out of scale.
I don’t care what they build in Florida, just here.
I think the cachet of a quality inexpensive charity thrift store will do great in the SN. I really hope that the UAC influences the design to be in keeping with the area. I like that it is bucking the trend of expensive retail in the SN.
Ah, gotcha, cmhcow. I thought you meant its surroundings in its location in FL. I agree a building like that would be a bad fit for that corner in the SN.
I can’t believe this lot will finally be occupied. I actually just smiled! Thank whoever, this property was sold. This is another piece to a developing urban city.
I’ve been to two Out of the Closet thrift stores in Los Angeles and they all look the same as the photo above from the press release.
I’m guessing the building design will be heavily dictated by the design guidelines of the University Area District, which it falls under. Hopefully they will go at least 2 stories with the design, as this site has a lot of potential for more than just the said center.
I’m really looking forward to this, and I too like non-expensive retail in the short north, it’ll make the area more accessible.
yay thrifting! yay charities! yay not contributing money to the “charity thrifts” that continue to persecute, discriminate, and perpetuate bigotry! now if they could just get some help on design…
the UAC doesn’t have design guidelines.
Interesting…