A new apartment development has been proposed for 1036 S. Front St., the current site of radio station CD102.5 and its music venue the Big Room Bar.
The proposal, from local company Gallas Zadeh Development, calls for a 42-unit apartment building on the half-acre site. It’s listed on the agenda for this Thursday’s Brewery District Commission meeting as a conceptual review, meaning no vote will be taken on the proposal.
A site plan and elevations submitted to the city show a three-story building served by a 40-space parking lot. The parking would be accessed from either Redbud Alley or the alley running parallel to Front Street. The plan would require the demolition of the existing building on the site.
CD102.5 owner Randy Malloy said that the plan is still “speculative” at this point, but acknowledged that the station is considering a range of options for its future.
“Any future sale of real estate would only help CD102.5 transition to a location with newer and better-equipped facilities and provide an opportunity for stronger community collaborations,” he explained in an email. “We have had some recent discussions with business contacts about maximizing 102.5’s business through stronger integrations with partners who share a similar mission to promote and support local music.”
The station moved to its current location in 2011 and opened the Big Room Bar there in 2015. Swiss Family Home, LLC — registered to Malloy — is listed on the Franklin County Auditor’s site as the owner of the parcel.
“I can’t share any specifics yet,” Malloy added, “but CD102.5 maintains its longstanding mantra as the quintessential independent radio station for Central Ohio for now and for the future.”
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