ADVERTISEMENT

    Plan for Bellows School Site to be Heard by Commission

    A plan to renovate the former Bellows Avenue School in Franklinton will be heard by the Development Commission at its meeting on October 14.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Under the plan, the historic building at 725 Bellows Ave. would house office space in the basement and 27 apartments on the three floors above. On the surrounding parking lot, three single family homes and eight townhome units would be constructed.

    Yhezkel Levi bought the 1.8-acre site in 2014 and announced plans to convert it into condos in 2017. After a small fire caused by a lightning strike last fall, repairs to the roof were made, and since that time new windows have also been installed.

    The latest plan, which was approved by the Franklinton Area Commission, calls for a central parking lot with space for 81 cars, which meets the zoning code’s parking requirements.

    Architect Juliet Bullock said that the apartments in the historic building will be for rent, and that the plan for now is for the new homes and townhomes to be offered for sale.

    Built in 1905, the building was used as an elementary school until 1977 but has been mostly empty since then. It was featured on Columbus Landmarks’ Most Endangered List in 2014 and 2015. 

    For more information on the Development Commission, see www.columbus.gov.

    The renovated historic building, with three new single family homes, along Bellows Avenue.
    Townhomes would front Campbell Avenue. Elevations by Juliet Bullock Architects.
    A view of the building and the lot behind it.
    A closeup of the front of the building.
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    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.

    Before and After: Gay Street

    Last month, the City of Columbus and other partners...

    COTA Hires New CEO

    Just over a month after Joanna Pinkerton announced she...
    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