Here’s a list of potentially big stories that we didn’t hear much about in 2016. They didn’t fit into any of the categories for our annual Year in Review — completed, under construction, or proposed — so we thought we’d compile another list, this one focused on projects that first came to our attention in 2015 or earlier but did not make waves in the past year.
Although the news first surfaced in the summer of 2015 that 20 acres of land owned by Battelle in Harrison West might be developed, the final plans have yet to be revealed. A Battle representative tells us that an announcement could be on the way in early 2017.
Frustration is growing on the West Side as another year goes by with no progress to report on the Westland Mall site. The mall owner, Plaza Properties, also controls a number of historic buildings downtown that are sitting empty.
Same story for the many surface parking lots lining North Third Street downtown, most of which are controlled by Schottenstein Property Group.
There’s been no movement at the corner of North Broadway and High in Clintonville since a development plan for the site was officially presented to the neighborhood in March of 2015.
A smaller plan for demolition and new construction in German Village has apparently been put on the shelf.
Plans for the 41-acre United Methodist Children’s Home site in Worthington have been scaled back significantly after a mixed-use proposal from Lifestyles Communities was met with concern from neighbors. The latest proposal is for a two-story medical office building.
In East Franklinton, Urban Smart Growth’s 69-unit Lucas Lofts project was approved in May of 2015, but difficulties with financing have delayed the project. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, Nationwide Realty Investors has declined to reveal any plans for the 74 parcels it controls in the area.
A 12-story Canopy by Hilton on Nationwide Boulevard was back on the Downtown Commission agenda in December with a request for minor design changes, so look for some movement in 2017 on that one.
No new timeline has been provided for a proposed office and residential development at the western end of Nationwide Boulevard.
For some projects, the lack of news has not been a surprise, like a 12-story concept from the Day Companies for High Street or a new parking garage and nine-story office building from the Wood Companies – both developers have a number of other projects ahead of those in their pipelines.
The same can be said for the five-story, 105 unit building from Lifestyle Communities at the corner of Front and Main streets downtown – LC is focusing on its RiverSouth buildings, as well as major projects in other markets.
READ MORE: 32 Urban Development Projects Completed in 2016
READ MORE: 65 Urban Development Projects Announced in 2016
READ MORE: 55 Urban Development Projects Under Construction in 2016