Yesterday afternoon, OSU president Gordon Gee and Mayor Michael Coleman jointly announced a new partnership in relation to the previously announced 17-story OSU Medical Center expansion. The City of Columbus will provide OSU with an income-tax rebate that OSU would then be required to reinvest in neighborhood revitalization efforts surrounding OSU’s University Hospital East located on the Near East Side. Gee announced that OSU is dedicated to spending $10 million over the next ten years to improve housing stock and the quality of life surrounding the East Hospital. [Read More]

The Dispatch continues their “Where We Live” neighborhood profiles today with a look at the Woodland Park area located on the Near East Side. The area was originally developed as an upscale subdivision and much of the historic charm remains in the large homes that line the streets just north of Franklin Park. The article profiles several residents who live in the area and does a nice job of highlighting the various amenities that can be found nearby.

The article can be read here, and more info can be found at WoodlandParkNA.com.

The best part about exploring and throwing caution into the wind is the fact that you will find the best places merely by taking a chance or by what would be described as total accident. That was the result of the drive Christine & I took on Saturday and Gloria’s Soul Food, along East Main Street, was our accident.

After working up a sweat losing to Christine (again) on the tennis court, we hit the ground running scavenging the Memorial Day weekend barrage of yard sales and various bicycle shops in hopes of finding a decent set of leisure wheels for summer cruising. Around mid afternoon we found ourselves on Columbus’ Near East Side. This area has some great history and architecture, but unfortunately portions of the neighborhoods have fallen into unsatisfactory condition. Working up an appetite from playing tennis and searching yard sales, we set out to find some grub. [Read More]

This time we wander over to Woodland Park to tour the home of Matthew Arnold and Scott Ramsey. Woodland Park bills itself as Columbus’ Best Kept Secret, boasting many big, beautiful homes of exquisite architecture and two beautiful neighborhood boulevards that provide lush green spaces. The neighborhood is located in the Near East Side of Columbus and has also been called the “North Gateway to Franklin Park.” The proximity to Franklin Park and Wolfe Park are things Matthew and Scott both really like, as it gives them ample areas to walk their two dogs, Polu and Dusty. [Read More]

From The Dispatch:

New Near East Side social event adopts hip urban attitude
By Kevin Joy

Seeking an art-focused nighttime alternative, graphic designer Marshall Shorts founded the monthly BRUSH in February. “In the black community, art is kind of a dying culture,” said Shorts, 25, of the East Side. “It’s my motive to help revive that.”

For $10 on the first Saturday of the month, patrons can sip a beer or glass of white wine, or sample live tunes or a disc jockey’s stylings. Perhaps most appealing, they can create art with their peers (small canvases, brushes and paint are distributed to guests).

The April gathering of BRUSH will take place from 8 to midnight tonight in the loft space above the Urban-Spirit Coffee Shop, 893 E. Long St. Admission is $10 for patrons 18 and older.

[Read More]

From Bizspace Columbus:

The Broad-Nel Shoppes, located at the NWC of East Broad St. and Nelson Road is scheduled to open in Fall 2008. Phase I of 7,200 SF will be anchored by Tim Hortons. The project will offer up to 15,600 SF of total GLA in multiple buildings. Designed to reflect the historical Broad Street Corridor as well as buildings located on the site in the early 1900’s, this new center will provide the densely populated Near East and Bexley neighborhoods, with convenient shops and restaurants. This very visible corner, a “gateway to Columbus,” will soon become a vibrant and beautiful new retail center.

[Read More]

While sometimes overlooked, the Chop Chop Gallery was voted as the the number one art gallery space in Columbus in 2008. This Parsons Avenue gallery opened in mid-2006 and was created as a collective space to be used not only for art shows and events, but also as a workshop and workspace for a variety of projects. Everything from skateboard ramps to bike messenger bags have been created inside the Chop Chop space by local creative entrepreneurs. [Read More]

I was tipped off yesterday about some possible movement on the very quiet Buster Douglas Condo Project on Main Street. There’s a sign up on the site pointing eyeballs towards informationless GreenBridgeColumbus.com website. (Coming Soon!) The tipster also spotted a construction trailer and some pickup trucks on site. Could this project be getting ready to break ground? Anyone else have any details?

Dispatch wrote Lighting project ready to give greenhouse a gemlike glow 

Thursday, August 7, 2008

BY TIM FERAN

The Franklin Park Conservatory is ready to shed light — times 7,000 — on its landmark greenhouse.

During a public gathering Friday, artist James Turrell will give an old building a new perspective with a permanent installation that will keep the Palm House glowing colorfully from dusk to dawn daily.

“We’re revealing the extra personality of the building at night,” Turrell said recently during a break from programming the computer-controlled display. In effect, he said, the Victorian-era glass building on E. Broad Street will assume a new persona after the sun sets.

READ MORE

Related Stories:

- Conservatory commissions light artist

- Next for conservatory: garden ‘campus’

- Franklin Park Conservatory expansion begins