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If apartment buildings were flowers, Downtown Columbus would be on the verge of a full bloom next season. Over a dozen new apartment projects have been announced over the past few months with hundreds of new units coming online over the course of the next few years. The various projects range in size, and their locations spill over into other near-Downtown neighborhoods, but there’s little doubt that this flood of new development will be instrumental in furthering the growth of the inner core of Columbus.
Here’s a list of 12 new apartment development projects, and some quick information about each of them:
The Atlas Building – The historic Atlas Building, located at the Downtown corner of High & Long Streets, is slated for a redevelopment that will convert the upper floors from vacant office space into 100 new apartment units. The ground floor of this building is already home to several restaurant tenants including The Deli Boys and Si Señor.
The Wonderbread Building – This Italian Village factory was previously planned to host the Wonderland arts development, but instead is planned to eventually be home to 57 apartment units. The building will also include some retail space available for a restaurant tenant.
The Fireproof Building – There is a proposal currently being reviewed for the Fireproof Records Building which would convert this historic Short North landmark into 47 new apartments, with a new-build addition to fill in the parking lot at the corner of Second and High Streets.
Wood Companies Building – The Wood Companies is adding an extra three stories of 12 apartments units on top of their building located at High Street & Second Avenue in the Short North. The ground floor is home to existing restaurant businesses including Northstar Cafe and zpizza.
West Arena District – The site that was originally proposed for The Hollywood Casino was purchased by Nationwide Realty Investors and eventually will become home to a new neighborhood development that will include 600-800 condo, townhome and apartments units. NRI has not yet revealed a master plan for the site, so there’s no information exactly how many apartment units will be included in the development.
Kimball Midwest Apartments – Wagenbrenner Development purchased the old Kimball West building located on Goodale Boulevard in between The Arena District and Grandview Yard. The building was was recently razed, and the proposed development calls for a new build that will house 180 new apartment units.
Columbus Coated Fabrics Apartments – The Weinland Park neighborhood is undergoing a major renovation thanks largely to private investment from Wagenbrenner Development. In a recent interview, Wagenbrenner revealed that they have plans to potentially add 200-300 apartment units at the former Columbus Coated Fabrics site on the southern end of the Weinland Park neighborhood.
Grandview Yard Apartments – The next phase of the Grandview Yard development includes three apartment buildings housing 154 new apartment units. Work has already begun on the first building, and they should be open by Fall of 2012.
Discovery District Commons – The Discovery District Commons is a new 102-unit apartment building proposed for Downtown at the corner of Spring and Neilston Streets, close to Columbus State and the new Hills Market grocery store.
The Charles – The Charles is a new building already under construction on East Long Street in The King Lincoln District, located just outside of Downtown. This smaller three-story building will add an extra 10 apartment units to the neighborhood.
High & Seventh – A new 84-unit apartment building has been proposed to replace the Wash & Tan located just north of the new Short North / Weinland Park Kroger. This building marks the latest development that is closing the gap between The Short North at the South Campus Gateway at OSU.
The New Ibiza – The Ibiza condo project never materialized, but this hot property quickly changed hands a new building has been proposed that will bring 68 new apartments to the center of The Short North.
There’s a few other miscellaneous developments throughout these neighborhoods, but if these 12 projects are any indication, the demand for inner-city apartments is on the upswing.
Where else would you like to see new apartments for rent in Columbus?
IMHO, Apartments are great as they give more flexibility to ‘try before you buy’ in a neighborhood.
Grand total = 814 units officially + 200-300 conceptually at Coated Fabrics and 600-800 housing units (not sure how many are apartments) at West Arena District.
Pretty amazing to see all of these coming online at the same time!
I am still waiting for more to be built in the Riversouth District. Want to live in that area but there aren’t many options besides the Annex.
what’s the occupancy rate at the Annex, looks to be pretty full
downtown commission agenda also notes a low-income housing project by the old firehouse downtown as well as apartments next to the atlas building lining high street with a parking garage behind.
I’m shocked we haven’t heard of a development at the Columbus Commons. What city in the world has prime land right in the inner core?!
All of the lots across from Flats on Vine. Those have got to go. Riversouth could use some more as well.
Great list! Nice to see Columbus is healthy in the real estate development aspect.
The Brewery District needs a little love too… given that the FBI is moving out it’s of note that the old Salvation Army Building/Born Brewery building is already under construction - 47 units of apts courtesy of Edwards Cos. The underground tunnel from the Grange Garage was already built in anticipation of this project.
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/08/05/edwards-brewery-district-project.html
Suber17
I am not sure of the occupancy rate at the Annex right now. I do remember hearing at one point that all of their apartments East of Front st. were filled, but don’t quote me on that.
Walker, have you published the Wagenbrenner interview? Very curious to hear more about plans for the Columbus Coated Fabrics site.
@ColumbusMike…..Millennium Park in Chicago comes to mind, as does Central Park in NYC, not that Columbus Commons is on the scale of either. But it is good to see even such a small break in the rush to cover every square inch of the city with concrete
Does anyone know if the buildings currently being worked on between Front and High just North of Greenlawn are going to be apartments?
^^ Next to Brewer’s Gate?? I thought I read somewhere that those are going to be office lofts, but don’t quote me on that.
@YoderMan
It would be a huge mistake for land along high st not be redeveloped into apartments/condos w/grand floor retail. In fact, the three sections between the main strip of the park and High St is only covered in grass as this was always designated for development (see below).
http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/974611805_do7Ba-M.jpg
Also, don’t forget that some of the Le Veque tower was to be possibly converted to apartments as well.
@Suber – Yes, the Annex at Riversouth is full. They couldn’t sell the condos, so those were switched to apartments. last I checked it was hovering at 95-100% occupancy. Might be a waiting list there.
@ColumbusMike – I’ve heard that CDDC put out an RFP for Columbus Commons development, but that’s all I’ve heard. They weren’t willing to share yet on if there’s any developers interested or not. I would imagine some interest is there, but the right type of project is needed for that site. Don’t want to take the first thing to come along, I’d imagine.
@Jpunkster – I’ve heard that the Edwards Co Brewery District apartments may be getting a timetable soon. It was on the backburner for awhile, but that area is getting hot again. Additionally, we may soon hear about the second phase of the Liberty Place Condos. That was put on hold by ODOT because they might have needed to claim some of that land for the Split Fix, but it sounds like the project isn’t going to be impacted after all.
@Labi – The Wagenbrenner apartments was mentioned in the big Weinland Park article we did. No formal details, but they mentioned that it could be something announced soon for that site: http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-rebirth-of-weinland-park
Also, I forgot to include the Franklinton Apartments planned near 400 West Rich that the FDA is working on. That’s another 42 units aimed at being affordable live/work space for artists:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/state-of-the-city-focus-on-housing-jobs-safety
Not sure what the timeline is on that though…
This is all great stuff, very exciting. The two biggest areas moving forward that I would like to see developed would be the lot at 5th and High, which is as big an eyesore as Ibiza. And Jeffrey Place. If something happened at either I would be very very happy.
+1 on Jeffrey Place. I’m surprised someone hasn’t tried to grab up those parcels yet.
One location I’m sure most people haven’t considered, the surface lot behind Hubbard Grille. Would make a great location for a small garage flanked by apts and/or townhomes.
Also, and I know I’m sounding like a broken record here, but I really hope they don’t “close off” Columbus Commons with buildings. Maybe one near the 5/3 tower but that’s all. They should not hide the park from the main drag of Columbus and there are more than enough surface lots that need developed.
I’m sounding like a broken record too, but our other treasured urban parks (Goodale & Schiller) are “closed off” from High Street and they’re fine without that High Street visibility. ;)