A prominent two-block stretch of East Long Street in the King-Lincoln District is poised for a major mixed-use development, although what exactly it will look like is still very much up in the air.
A one-acre parcel on the north side of Long, between North Garfield Avenue and Talmadge Street, was bought by the Columbus Next Generation Corporation in November for $475,000.
Next Generation is a nonprofit development corporation created by the city in 2012 to target key urban sites for redevelopment. Executive Director Boyce Safford said that the plan is to demolish the two existing buildings on the site and then to market the site – along with a second, adjacent parcel of land just to east which is owned by the city – to developers for a mixed-use development.
The city-owned property, which is also about an acre in size, has no structures on it.
“We will work with (Next Generation) on a comprehensive redevelopment of both parcels,” said John Turner, Administrator of the city’s Land Redevelopment Office.
“Hopefully within the next six months, will have something to present,” said Safford. “We want to be consistent with both the Near East Area Plan and the King Lincoln District Plan.”
Sanford said he thinks that the time is right for development.
“The Lincoln Theater is stabilizing, the 750 East Long building is stabilizing itself, and when you have the excitement of Downtown… this has always been the next bock to make something happen,” he said.
There are currently two vacant buildings on the site that Next Generation bought, which used to hold the McNabb Funeral Home. The brick building at the corner of Garfield Avenue was built in 1930 and the second structure, at 818 E. Long, was built in 1950, according to the Franklin County Auditor.
“We’re in the process of working with the community to demolish the buildings,” said Safford. “They have some orders on them, some environmental issues, but some in the community do not want to see them demolished.”
Joe Peffer, who owns Delicious Real Estate on Long Street and has lived on Monroe for 20 years, said he thinks both buildings are safety hazards and should come down. As for what should be eventually be built on the site – which has been the subject of speculation and rumors in the neighborhood for years – he would like to see market-rate apartments or condos above first-floor retail.
“The 43203 desperately needs density, ownership and stakeholders,” said Peffer.