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From The Dispatch:
A Downtown gem when it opened in 1989, the forlorn mall will be torn down by summer
BY MARLA MATZER ROSE AND MIKE PRAMIKColumbus City Center is coming down, and Downtown as we know it is about to change. This summer, nearly 20 years after City Center opened as the shining star of central Ohio’s retail universe, the obsolete and nearly abandoned mall will be demolished. It is to be replaced by an urban park and, within several years, a collection of buildings that will contain residences, offices, restaurants and shops.
The city has dubbed the $165 million project Columbus Commons. It is seeking federal stimulus money to pay for the mall demolition and development of the park, which city officials expect to start this summer and complete within 18 months. The remainder of the project will take shape over the next five to 10 years, as the market dictates.
All that will be left are the parking garage, underground parking and the entryway to the mall off State Street.
In my opinion this is going to make downtown look even more suburban than it already does. We already have the downtown launch neighborhood and and lifestyles project in the River South area being does not fit in the area but most are giving it a chance. The city now can’t come up with a better idea for City Center so they decide to plop a huge field right in the heart of the city! We already have the Scioto Mile under construction and we have the statehouse lawn. Two very large parks both downtown. While they do play a huge role for events and festivals what about about any normal day. I usually only see 3 or 4 people using the parks. We as a 21st century need to set high standards for other us cities with a great urban downtown and its not going that great. While downtown has become a better place, it does not compare to other cities of the same size. Its a downtown spread out far and beyond with nothing to offer!
Surber: completely agree. I feel like some people have it backwards: bring in an anchor and everything will be okay. Why can’t it be the opposite? Why can’t it thrive with restaurants and boutique stores to the point where a big box says, “Whoa, we HAVE to be here”?
Looking at downtown Austin, they do quite well without any big box retailers. Sure, there are some mall-type stores, but they don’t need Macy’s or Sak’s or even a Target or Wal-Mart. (quick thought: Staples or OfficeMax would be a fantastic retailer to have in the heart of dowtown)
If we keep looking at Austin, it would be great to do what they do and encourage vibrancy – they pipe music and sounds out all up and down the street. Not blaring and loud and obtrusive, but loud enough to create excitement and energy.
In fact, here is their “mission” – if you will – for 2nd Street District. I think we could adopt a very similar strategy:
A 24-HOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WALKS THE WALK…
Austin is a fusion of culture and style all its own. People want something beyond a cookie-cutter mall experience transplanted from another city. The 2nd Street District speaks to Austin in its unique language. It’s Austin’s very own city neighborhood experience, and looks, feels and tastes like one place and one place only…Austin.
I am just glad that this is finally coming down. I was hoping for perhaps another hotel and also as has been mentioned in other posts, I was hoping for a Central Market similar to the North Market. I do like the park setting as long as there is a stage. I think we can utilize this to spawn some downtown music shows on Friday nights during the summer months.
There’s been some good questions being thrown around in here so far. What other questions do you all have if you were theoretically speaking one-on-one with Guy Worley (CEO of Capital South) today?
With or without federal money …. what is the demo start date?
One question I would have is are they planning any residential/retail or office right after completion of the park or will that come in Maybe if the funding is there? I am sure it is going to be a beautiful green space but will enough people use the park on a regular basis.
This seems like a pretty good idea to me. I think they have the right people involved.
Well, the plan to move this along by tearing CC down to the underground parking is a good one- I think we need to keep in mind that this park in its final form will only be about as big as the Topiary Park (actually smaller), and it will be usable in a way that the Riverfront Park and Statehouse wont, so good addition to the overall picture downtown.
Probably want to move quickly on the first phase of development to do two things- 1) make the open space viable as an amenity that attracts entertainment use to downtown 2) keep everyone from looking at the ass-end of the Ohio Theater and 5/3 Building. Say, I have a great idea for Phase one:
How many jobs will this generate in the short term (let’s say within a year)? I’m wondering if this is really a good use of federal stimulus money or if it’s just another piece of pork.
BTW, Columbuzz …. the other thing I’ve heard that Austin did (and I might be wrong) but they made sure their river was clean enough to use for recreation. I thought I saw people with Kyaks in some pics.
Frank Elmer just looked over my shoulder at the article and commented that it’s quite a waste of money to demolish the building. When we put together our proposal for Columbus Monthly, we actually found a set of the original drawings, laid out the column grid, and preserved a fair bit of the existing building (and underground parking): http://www.lincolnstreet.com/make/architecture10.html
I’m still putting together my thoughts in reaction to the plan (not as quick as Frank). So far, I like the incremental approach to the rebuilding. I’d like to see the plan include more ideas for what to do with the mammoth parking garage, other than just a new building along the High Street face.
I’d ask him what the plans are to work with the other districts/developments rather than competing against them. I would not want to see the Short North go down because a district that’s doing the same thing is larger and newer with better parking down the street…
As an example, the arts community works with each other to achieve the common goal of providing us with ample opportunities to learn about and enjoy art. There is a little bit of competition for patrons and funding, but for the most part they work toward a common goal.
So, I’m curious what would differentiate this development from Grandview Yard, the Short North, River South, etc.? Will it work to fit in with those districts to make downtown better and offer something different instead of competing and cannibalizing other areas? Making a Central Market is a great idea, but at the expense of potentially losing North Market? Would adding more boutique stores steal customers and potential future business rent from Short North? Is this area now in direct competition with Grandview Yard? What retail niche is left?
I love that something’s getting done, though.
surber: What, you’ve never seen anyone “boating” in our river? :)
@johnwirtz Well, it would presumably provide work for the groups contracted to do the demolition, disposal, and park construction.
Probably not as much work if they were rebuilding full structures instead of putting in a large park, and the people doing the work may be existing jobs, not new, but it IS essentially a public works project, yes?
I think it’ll definitely be better than City Center, and I’m excited at the possibility of the new restaurant and retail space going in around the edges, but I’m a little underwhelmed at the aspect of another large park right in the middle of downtown… *shrug*
John, I believe the published numbers are 1300 construction jobs and 2000 permanent jobs, which is certainly along the kind of returns the stimulus package is going for.
I know there was a lot of talk about square footage of the proposed buildings, but I still didn’t get a clear idea of how big the park portion will actually be.
Provided it’s large enough, these are some questions I’d have:
I’d be curious as to what sort of plans there might be for events/programming in the park. Would there be place where it might be possible to set up a farmer’s market during the summer time? Perhaps getting the same vendors from the Pearl Alley market to set up shop on a Saturday?
What about outdoor music events? Is there any band shell/stage planned? (As I recall, one of the designs that was in Columbus Monthly a while back called for an outdoor concert hall for the symphony. Anything similar in the works, though on what would probably be a smaller scale?)
How does this fit in with plans for the development of the river/Scioto Mile?
Thanks. Where did you get the numbers on that?
For me, this is the greatest news and the best idea that could have come for this space. While certainly not the size of Central Park, it has the potential to be our own little version of that. Green spaces downtown are fundamentally important to the vibe of a city. I love the idea.
Frank Elmer just looked over my shoulder at the article and commented that it’s quite a waste of money to demolish the building. When we put together our proposal for Columbus Monthly, we actually found a set of the original drawings, laid out the column grid, and preserved a fair bit of the existing building (and underground parking): http://www.lincolnstreet.com/make/architecture10.html
I’m still putting together my thoughts in reaction to the plan (not as quick as Frank). So far, I like the incremental approach to the rebuilding. I’d like to see the plan include more ideas for what to do with the mammoth parking garage, other than just a new building along the High Street face.
surber, now we know why Coleman is anti Grandview Yard. Columbus Commons, plus Grandview Yard, plus Easton…
I hope there is room for all of them to succeed, but I dunno.