Columbus City and Suburban Development News (Hamilton, Westerville: garage door, shelter, substitute)

[jbcmh81]

Livingston Theater site may be reborn with senior housing | The Columbus Dispatch


The old Livingston Theater at 1567 E. Livingston Avenue in the Old Oaks neighborhood will be converted into a 3-story, 45-unit senior residential building. The original façade and lobby of the theater will be preserved. Nothing else of the theater remains.

[jbcmh81]

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/...entine-in.html


The Florentine restaurant at 907 W. Broad Street in Franklinton, which recently closed after 71 years, will likely become another restaurant as part of a larger mixed-use project that will also include the redevelopment of its surface parking lot. No further details are available yet.

[Mplsite]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Livingston Theater site may be reborn with senior housing | The Columbus Dispatch


The old Livingston Theater at 1567 E. Livingston Avenue in the Old Oaks neighborhood will be converted into a 3-story, 45-unit senior residential building. The original façade and lobby of the theater will be preserved. Nothing else of the theater remains.

Senior housing with nothing within walking distance. We are that developers are willing and able to build on Livingston and Main, but only as long as it's residential. Unfortunately, that's because the elderly here have no say in the matter and the developers likely see the inclusion of storefronts to be too risky ( I mean, look at the fiasco that Bollinger Tower was by giving seniors the freedom to walk to destinations). The city should be stepping in to provide incentives for there to be walkable businesses near old folks' homes as the rule, not the exception.

[Mplsite]

With the closing of these stores comes the rare opportunity to build well designed urban stores in their place, particularly at the Neil Ave location serving Victorian Village and Harrison West. I doubt we'll see smart development on the Hilliard-Rome or 161 sites even though the city should start somewhere in these areas that are very lacking in any sort of walkability.

Giant Eagle to close three Columbus area stores | NBC4i.com

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Mplsite

With the closing of these stores comes the rare opportunity to build well designed urban stores in their place, particularly at the Neil Ave location serving Victorian Village and Harrison West. I doubt we'll see smart development on the Hilliard-Rome or 161 sites even though the city should start somewhere in these areas that are very lacking in any sort of walkability.

Giant Eagle to close three Columbus area stores | NBC4i.com

So I take it your New Year's resolution was NOT to try to be more positive this year.

Why would another grocery store, even an urban-concept one, build on the Neil Avenue spot when the newer and much larger one at Grandview Yard would cannibalize the business? That's why that one is closing. No other grocery chain, large or small, is going to want to go in there. Sure, it's currently convenient for some of the local residents, but a grocery store doesn't just rely on walk-in customers within a 5-block radius. What's far more likely is some kind of mixed-use project with a retail element gets built there, but you're not going to see a grocery store back in that location. At best, you might see some kind of specialty product store, but I don't think that's likely, either.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Mplsite

Senior housing with nothing within walking distance. We are that developers are willing and able to build on Livingston and Main, but only as long as it's residential. Unfortunately, that's because the elderly here have no say in the matter and the developers likely see the inclusion of storefronts to be too risky ( I mean, look at the fiasco that Bollinger Tower was by giving seniors the freedom to walk to destinations). The city should be stepping in to provide incentives for there to be walkable businesses near old folks' homes as the rule, not the exception.

I would like to see retail included as well, and that's my one criticism of this, but I think that, once again, you're missing the positive overall to focus on the negative. This is a project that provides new residents to an area that needs them, maintains some historic elements of an existing building and raises the profile, however slightly, of the corridor.

[jbcmh81]

120 Units of Affordable Housing Planned for Vacant Lots on South Side | ColumbusUnderground.com


Here are some planned Near South Side projects that include mixed-use elements, including retail.
Included is a 62-unit, 3-story at Washington and Barthman, and a 60-unit, 4-story at Washington and Reeb, both of these facing Parsons.

[captainclipper]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Why would another grocery store, even an urban-concept one, build on the Neil Avenue spot when the newer and much larger one at Grandview Yard would cannibalize the business? That's why that one is closing. No other grocery chain, large or small, is going to want to go in there. Sure, it's currently convenient for some of the local residents, but a grocery store doesn't just rely on walk-in customers within a 5-block radius. What's far more likely is some kind of mixed-use project with a retail element gets built there, but you're not going to see a grocery store back in that location. At best, you might see some kind of specialty product store, but I don't think that's likely, either.

Really? The demographics of VV and the SN are extremely attractive. The Neil Ave location may not have made sense any longer for GE, but I'd imagine many other grocers will be looking at the space.

If they are not precluded from taking it by any lease restrictions/shenanigans GE may or may not be able to impose, I could easily see something along the lines of Lucky's, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, or even Trader Joe's occupying it relatively quickly.

The space is basically move-in ready, in a very strong location, with ample parking. From CASTO's point of view, this is probably one of their strongest retail centers, so I doubt they will be looking to tear down and redevelop it just yet when they will likely be able to lease it quickly and continue basically printing money.

You may be right too, of course, but only time will tell...

We all can probably agree that the sites on 161 and H-R are much more challenging.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by captainclipper

Really? The demographics of VV and the SN are extremely attractive. The Neil Ave location may not have made sense any longer for GE, but I'd imagine many other grocers will be looking at the space.

If they are not precluded from taking it by any lease restrictions/shenanigans GE may or may not be able to impose, I could easily see something along the lines of Lucky's, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, or even Trader Joe's occupying it relatively quickly.

The space is basically move-in ready, in a very strong location, with ample parking. From CASTO's point of view, this is probably one of their strongest retail centers, so I doubt they will be looking to tear down and redevelop it just yet when they will likely be able to lease it quickly and continue basically printing money.

You may be right too, of course, but only time will tell...

We all can probably agree that the sites on 161 and H-R are much more challenging.

There are 5 grocery stores within a 1-mile radius of this location. Grocery stores have ridiculously small margins- on the order of 1%-2%- so you definitely won't be seeing another big chain go in there, not with that competition. Giant Eagle stayed there longer just because it wasn't competing. As I said, the only option left is some kind of specialty, small-scale grocery like Trader Joe's, but I don't think that's likely. Business First ran an article that suggested a mixed-use development could be possible, but it may depend on the other tenants of the building. To be sure, there's likely to be a retail component with whatever happens, but grocery is probably out of the picture with so many other options nearby. This is not a grocery desert.

[captainclipper]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

There are 5 grocery stores within a 1-mile radius of this location. Grocery stores have ridiculously small margins- on the order of 1%-2%- so you definitely won't be seeing another big chain go in there, not with that competition. Giant Eagle stayed there longer just because it wasn't competing. As I said, the only option left is some kind of specialty, small-scale grocery like Trader Joe's, but I don't think that's likely. Business First ran an article that suggested a mixed-use development could be possible, but it may depend on the other tenants of the building. To be sure, there's likely to be a retail component with whatever happens, but grocery is probably out of the picture with so many other options nearby. This is not a grocery desert.

Take a look at the 1-mile radius drawn around Henderson Rd/Dierker on the NW side. Within that there is a Walmart Supercenter, Giant Eagle, Aldi, 2 Krogers, Marcs, Fresh Market, and several ethnic groceries as well. Grocery stores don't at all mind clustering in the same area when there is a market well-heeled to be served.