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    Residential Conversion of Downtown Building Almost Complete

    The conversion of a prominent Downtown office building to residential use is almost complete, with the first units expected to be available for rent starting in July.

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    Historically known as the Mercantile Building, the structure at 309 S. Fourth St. held offices for many years, although it was built in 1902 as the home of the United States Carriage Company.

    “They were one of the first carriage manufacturers in the country in the early 1900s, so we’re going to name the building after the United States Carriage Company,” said developer Eli Adahan, who made news recently with his purchase of the Broadwin Building on the Near East Side.

    “We’re looking to occupy units on some of the floors in July,” he added, “and we’re in the process of finding a retailer or restaurant as well as an office user for the first floor.”

    The project was awarded historic preservation tax credits by the state of Ohio in 2014.

    Adahan also provided an update on his other downtown project, a proposed mixed-use building at the southwest corner of East Town Street and Washington Avenue, across from the Topiary Park.

    “We’re still in the planning stages on that,” he said. “We want to build a luxurious building on the park, with retail on the first floor. In that part of Downtown, there’s hardly anything, apart from the Starbucks in the hospital.”

    “We need to be innovative,” he added, “it’s a beautiful, historic street, so we don’t want to propose something that will stand out too much. We hope to come back to the commission with a proposal by the end of year.”

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    The Confluence Cast: Downtown with Michael Brown

    We're exploring the evolution of downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city's development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground editor Walker Evans and Mike delve into the city's challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between iconic and neighborhood-level public art investments, and the concerted efforts to address systemic issues like homelessness and affordable housing. Through anecdotes and insights, they highlight Columbus's young, creative energy and the dynamic urban policies that continue to drive its growth.
    Brent Warren
    Brent Warrenhttps://columbusunderground.com/author/brent-warren
    Brent Warren is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering urban development, transportation, city planning, neighborhoods, and other related topics. He grew up in Grandview Heights, lives in the University District and studied City and Regional Planning at OSU.
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