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    Development Roundup: Updates from Downtown, German Village, and More

    The latest Development Roundup features news from German Village, Grandview Heights, Victorian Village and more. Read on for an assortment of project updates, new proposals, and other nuggets from the world of Columbus development:

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    The German Village Society is hosting a community meeting tonight about two recent development proposals that continue to work their way through the commission process: a hotel proposed for the western edge of the neighborhood and a residential project on East Livingston Avenue.

    A new fund targeting affordable housing in the area around Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been established. An initiative of the Ohio Capital Finance Corporation, the new South Side Renaissance Fund aims to provide funding for as many as 170 units of affordable rental housing, proving a boost to the ongoing work of the Healthy Homes initiative.

    A plan to build a five-story hotel on Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington has been approved and will be moving forward. Next up is the second phase of the project, which calls for a five-story, mixed-use building with a 248-car parking garage wrapped by two-story townhomes.

    A proposal for the former Deo Davis Funeral site on W. First Avenue was approved by the Grandview Heights planning commission in June. The three-story building will have 18 condominium units above ground-level retail and parking. A previous proposal had called for four stories and 32 residential units.

    With the Victorian Village Commission split on Kaufman Development’s plans for the former IBEW land on W. Second Avenue, and the project on hold as a result, some have asked about the procedure for filling the vacant seat on the board that makes the split possible. A representative of the City of Columbus said that they are in the process of looking for a replacement, which would be appointed by city council. Although there is no professional or residential requirement for the seat, Council Chief of Staff Michael S. Brown said that they hope to find someone that “lives in the near area,” and that has a background in city planning or a related field.

    A new proposal for an empty lot across from the Topiary Park Downtown was presented for a first review to the Historic Resources Commission last week. The plan, which differs from a concept floated for the site in 2016, calls for a five-story, 70-unit residential building. Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design presented the proposal on behalf of the owner, which is listed as Town at Topiary Park LLC.

    Also heard by the Historic Resources Commission was a proposal for a five-unit condominium project at 987 Bryden Rd. in Olde Towne East. No vote was taken on the project, which will return to the commission on August 16.

    In transportation news, Smart Columbus recently announced a new program that will help Yellow Cab electrify its fleet. The $30,000 in rebates will help the taxi company replace 10 vehicles, although the long term plan, according to a press release, is to convert the entire 175-vehicle fleet to electric vehicles.

    The announcement follows news that the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is planning on adding 10 new electric buses to its fleet by the end of 2019. COTA’s board of trustees approved a plan earlier this summer to explore possible grant funding for the new buses and to seek bids for a supplier this fall.

    The roll-out date for the Short North parking plan has been delayed until January 22, 2019. Originally planned for November, the new implementation date is meant to “enhance the planning and execution” of the plan, according to a press release. More information is available on the city’s website.

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    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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