ADVERTISEMENT

    Plans for 15th and High Being Refined as Demolition at 16th Set to Begin Soon

    Work is scheduled to begin this summer on the demolition of eight buildings on the east side of High Street between 16th and 17th avenues. A 448-bed apartment building with underground parking and 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail will soon start rising on the site, with a goal of being open by the start of fall semester, 2018.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The new building, which is being developed by Edwards Communities, will be the first major piece to be completed of the larger 15th and High redevelopment. As it is being built, significant infrastructure and streetscape improvements will also be undertaken – a new sewer line will be installed under High Street that will help to prevent the flooding during storms that has plagued the area for decades, 16th Avenue will be reconnected to High Street, and 16th, 17th, and Pearl will each be redesigned and upgraded with a focus on pedestrian-friendly amenities.

    Design work is also currently underway for similar improvements south of 16th, with OSU-affiliated Campus Partners working alongside the City of Columbus to finalize those plans. The most significant of those improvements will be a new public plaza at the corner of 15th and High, the cornerstone of Campus Partners’ plan.

    15th-high-03
    This group of buildings will soon be demolished — Photo by Brent Warren.

    That plaza — which will be made possible by the re-alignment of 15th Avenue so that it meets High Street at a right angle – represents the culmination of years of effort from the city, OSU, Campus Partners and the surrounding neighborhood to create a quality public space at the primary entrance to the campus.

    And while the new Edwards development is primarily residential, zoning text developed by Campus Partners (and approved last year by neighborhood groups and the city) ensures that the remaining parcels to be developed in the overall 15th and High footprint will not be dominated by student housing — a hotel is planned to look out over the new plaza, retail will likely line both sides of Pearl Alley, and up to 300,000 square feet of office space could fill in spaces stretching south to 14th Avenue.

    Another planning project that will have a large impact on the immediate area is OSU’s Arts District Master Plan, which calls for reconfiguring Mershon Auditorium and the Wexner Center. A substantial addition would provide a High Street presence for programming such as the Wexner Center Store and the Film/Video Theater. That plan was approved by the OSU Board of Trustees in April, although there is currently no funding lined up to implement its recommendations.

    Additional details on the new plans are expected to be made available later today.

    Update (4:00PM 6/17) — For additional details on the update, CLICK HERE.

    CLICK HERE to read our indepth interview about the 15th and High plan

    CLICK HERE for photos of all buildings that could be impacted by the 15th and High plan

    15th-high-02
    This group of buildings will soon be demolished — Photo by Brent Warren.

    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