The renovation of the Trolley Barn site on the city’s Near East Side took another step forward last night during a Near East Area Commission planning committee meeting. Representatives from developer Connect Realty presented updated plans for review, which now include a full parking plan and more information on the apartment site development on the south side of Oak Street.
“We got a good reception at the meeting last night and I think everyone understands the time we’ve taken on this, and that we’re making a massive investment in the neighborhood,” explained Brad DeHays, Founder of Connect Realty. “We’ve received support via email from different associations and we hope to continue to garner support.”
Parking for the site will include 168 spaces, which DeHays feels should adequately support market operations without overloading the existing residents of the neighborhood. The 102-unit apartment building will provide 100 parking spaces on-site, with approximately 75 percent being covered structured parking.
Due to the elevation and grade changes on the sloped site, the apartment building will vary between a three-story building at the intersection of Kelton and Oak streets, and a five-story building on the eastern side of the site. The building’s fitness center will be open to neighborhood memberships, and the mix of one and two bedroom apartments will include ten percent that rent below market rates.
“We’re still two and a half years out from these being built, but our goal is to hit a price point that is affordable to the area,” said DeHays.
New residents will have an attractive amenity located across the street with the launch of the East Market. In addition to the previously announced Columbus Brewing Company taproom, the building will house a second location for The Butcher & Grocer.
“Tony Tanner has a great business model and is already planning his space,” said DeHays. “A few others tenants are verbally committed and we also have significant interest in expansion with our tenants at the 1400 Food Lab” — a facility also owned and managed by Connect Realty.
DeHays added that he would love to see construction begin in December, but acknowledges that there are still several months worth of planning, review, approval and permitting processes to complete by the end of the year. The property was the recipient of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits in June.
“We have several hurdles to overcome, but we’ll continue to move as fast as we’re able to,” he concluded.
Renderings via Connect Realty, Schooley Caldwell, Implement.
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