ADVERTISEMENT

    Mixed-Use Development Proposed for West Fifth Avenue

    Preliminary plans for a mixed-use development on the former Fifth Avenue Elementary site in Dennison Place have been presented to the zoning committee of the University Area Commission (UAC).

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The development was also the subject of a neighborhood meeting in September, in which residents provided some initial feedback on the proposal to the developer, Upper Arlington-based Vision Development.

    A second meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. at King Avenue United Methodist Church.

    “We have incorporated elements from our first neighborhood get-together and I would expect more of the same this evening,” said Brent Wrightsel, President of Vision Development. “We are looking at building a Class A mixed-use project and are getting input from all constituents before presenting to the full UAC.”

    The plan as presented to the zoning committee calls for a six-story building on the north side of West Fifth Avenue, between Forsythe Avenue and Highland Street. It would hold 140 apartments over parking and ground-floor retail. Behind that would be about a dozen three-story buildings containing condos and townhomes.

    No vote was taken at the committee meeting on the required zoning variances. The northern portion of the site is zoned for a maximum height of 35 feet, while the Fifth Avenue portion allows for building heights of up to 45 feet.

    The three-acre site currently features some green space (along Fifth Avenue and Highland Street), a parking lot, and the former school building, which was built in 1975 and most recently held the music industry career center Groove U. The property was placed back on the market this spring after a Chicago company backed out of a deal to buy it from Columbus City Schools.

    Correction: the original article was updated to include the correct height limitation for the Fifth Avenue portion of the project – it is 45 feet, not 35 feet.

    Don’t miss the next update! Subscribe to CU via email for news in your inbox:

    Enter your email address:

    The proposal calls for three-story residential buildings to face both Forsythe Avenue and Highland Street.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    CCAD Wants to Uncover Historic Building, Fill in Parking Lot

    The Columbus College of Art & Design has submitted...

    Intel Gets More Federal Funding for Ohio Production Plants

    Nearly $20 billion in federal grants and loans is on its way to Intel to support work on semiconductor fabs in Ohio and around the country. The funding is part of the CHIPS Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. Ohio’s New Albany-area Intel facility currently under construction stands to benefit substantially.

    Updated: Madison County Solar Farm Would Be One of the Largest in U.S.

    UPDATE (3/21/24): The Ohio Power Siting Board voted seven...

    The Confluence Cast: Downtown with Michael Brown

    We're exploring the evolution of downtown with Michael Brown, who has been a cornerstone in the city's development planning and worked both in and outside city government to cheer on its growth. Columbus Underground editor Walker Evans and Mike delve into the city's challenges and triumphs, the synergy between projects, the balance between iconic and neighborhood-level public art investments, and the concerted efforts to address systemic issues like homelessness and affordable housing. Through anecdotes and insights, they highlight Columbus's young, creative energy and the dynamic urban policies that continue to drive its growth.
    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.
    ADVERTISEMENT