RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
The redevelopment of the Scioto River was announced today as a new catalytic project for Downtown Columbus. However, if that’s not enough big news, then you’ll be pleased to know that the planning initiative for the next big project to follow was also announced.
“The Mayor, City Council and the Franklin County Commissioners have asked us to not only look at the river itself, but to look at the Scioto Peninsula and to come up with a plan for its redevelopment,” said Columbus Downtown Development Corporation President and CEO Guy Worley.
The Scioto Peninsula is a 56-acre piece of land located in Franklinton immediately west of the Scioto River, which has long been underutilized. This land is currently home to both COSI and Veteran’s Memorial, as well as a massive sea of surface parking lot space. All land is owned by either The City of Columbus or Franklin County, creating a unique opportunity for urban redevelopment.
“I think that it currently feels like the Scioto Penninsula is not a peninsula but an island,” said Worley. “It’s very disconnected form Downtown, but adding 33 acres of new greenspace will help bring the penninsula into Downtown.
In 2010, the Downtown Strategic Plan proposed the idea for redeveloping this area with a dense mixed-use continuation of Downtown. While the official planning effort has yet to begin, Worley anticipates that these 55 acres will see a variety of uses.
“This should be some type of mixed use opportunity that includes cultural to commercial, and residential to retail uses,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the railroad tracks, additional planning efforts for East Franklinton have already been underway over the past several months. These plans call for the renovation of industrial warehouses into artist studios, and the infill of vacant lots with affordable housing aimed at young professionals.
“Redevelopment of this amazing site would absolutely benefit everything we’re doing in East Franklinton,” said Jim Sweeney, executive director of the Franklinton Development Association. “Our first-ring neighborhoods draw energy from Downtown, but that’s not yet been the case for Franklinton because of the huge gaps, not only behind COSI but also in East Franklinton. We believe that when the peninsula area fills in, we’ll see more investment and people coming to the neighborhood.”
Worley describes the Scioto Peninsula and the redeveloped river front as the “front door” to Franklinton and expects the new plan to compliment all adjacent community efforts.
“There’s lot of ideas out there and we’re going to go through a process similar to the Downtown Strategic Plan for this parcel of land,” he added. “We think this is a great parcel and it should be a destination.”
The planning initiative for The Scioto Peninsula is expected to begin this spring. Input will be gathered from the public, community groups, neighborhoods, developers and area stakeholders, with a finalized plan expected for public presentation before the end of the year.
It would be great to see Vets get an upgrade in the process. Also, I’m wandering what the status is on the pedestrian/bike bridge from North Bank??
Awesome! We had a presentation in one of my classes yesterday about the river project and when we saw the maps I was wondering when someone was going to do something with all those parking lots. I would love to see some more family-oriented things going up around COSI and so close to bicentennial parks and those fountains… Everyone talks about young professionals and empty nesters but I’d like more reasons for families to go downtown, too.
@Jpizzow – There was also a pedestrian bridge right at COSI too, if you remember from the original concept artwork. I asked about that and the bike bridge and Guy Worley said that they’re waiting to determine the appropriate use and potential development that would fill in the peninsula before laying down solid plans for connective infrastructure. Which makes sense.
Personally, I’d love to see this land developed as an extension of Downtown proper. Taller mixed-use buildings, concealed/underground parking, and meaningful connectivity to existing resources (Vets, COSI, Main Street Bridge, North Bank, Dodge Park, etc).
And yes, Vet’s Memorial could use a modern makeover, possible expansion and perhaps even a tall hotel addition that could help boost the collective draw between it at the Convention Center.
@walker – I couldn’t agree more, I hope there’s more skyscrapers with mix uses, Vet’s needs a makeover and the parking lot needs to have a hotel built on and a large parking garage on the other side of the rail road tracks with bridges or people could just walk around. I really hope the 2010 plan goes exactly how it was conceived.
I hope we get some new skyscrapers :)
Would love to see this become a vibrant residential and mixed-use neighborhood where people live and play…and walk across the river to work.
A Downtown Stadium for the Crew. The skyline views from the stadium would be amazing.
hmm… MattCooper may be on to something.
Yes, please.
Attractions along the riverfront, to complement the parks and trails, will be paramount.
COSI on the left bank is a start. A stadium would go a long way.
What else? Let’s do something unique here.
Hopefully the development will be more walkable than the Arena District. The Arena District is great but the building sizes are way too large to make for a charming, walkable district. More narrow, but longer, high-rise buildings would go a long way to make it feel as if it’s connected to downtown, and provide opportunity for more locally owned restaurants and shops.
Looking at newer, quirky, environmentally sensitive developments in Denver, Portland, and Seattle would be a good start.
I totally agree with making that area more of an extension of Downtown. A transition from the skyscrapers across the river, to COSI, to multi-story mixed use buildings and on into Franklinton would work well in my opinion. Not to mention a restored riverfront and pedestrian bridge connecting North Bank/Arena District. Also, I just want to throw out there that I feel like we got to where we’re at now starting with the demolition of the Ohio Penitentiary. I like old buildings and all but it jump started the transformation that is still taking place today. I’m just really happy with how much positive change we’ve accomplished in this city and the Scioto Riverfront/Pininsula project is like icing on the cake.
+1 MattCooper
I have always dreamed of a longterm use for this area. It truly could be more of a downtown extension. I always picture those lots/warehouses being developed more Arena District style (not necessarily the type of architecture but the density). I could see some North Bank type towers with awesome downtown views, developed warehouses, and very dense mixed used midrises. I would prefer to keep the townhomes/lowrises out of this area. It could one day command very high land values. This is one area where I feel patience will pay off. As downtown lots/buildings are taken up one by one the demand will eventually push across the river. Right now the scioto peninsula may be short changed in quality/density of development if were desperate for quick infill.
There aren’t any warehouses in this area. There’s only four buildings: Vet’s Memorial, COSI, the police substation on the south portion, and the firefighter’s union hall (the old train station). I believe the parking lot on the SE corner of Broad and Starling is privately owned, not city owned.
When developing this area, I’d like to start thinking about the rail line south of Broad as a potential site for a future train station. High density uses, especially offices would be good here.
“When developing this area, I’d like to start thinking about the rail line south of Broad as a potential site for a future train station. High density uses, especially offices would be good here.”
Couldn’t agree more with you, John. I’d like to see any development utilize that “dead zone” between the two sets of tracks as a train/multimodal station and some sort of grand building to bridge the gap between the Peninsula and the rest of Franklinton. A North Market-type building/train station/offices above would work well here.
“A Downtown Stadium for the Crew. The skyline views from the stadium would be amazing.” ……… and build something like this around it ….. http://www.thebankscincy.com/
What are they going to do with the COSI parking lots? Hopefully public garages are a part of any plan.
New stadium would be great there, especially with a pedestrian bridge over to the arena district. Would allow people to use that parking as well and walk over.
I disagree with placing the Crew stadium here. I’d rather see a very dense development of office, retail, and commercial space located on a nice urban park or a large hardscape plaza (large hardscape plazas are rather void in this country).
However, if the stadium could somehow sit creatively in between the railroad tracks, I’d be for it. But, I say leave the area west of COSI for density.