"Housing development will give urban Harrison West area a park" Business First of Columbus

Link: Housing development will give urban Harrison West area a park
Kevin Kemper
Business First of Columbus
January 18, 2008

After years of planning, a riverside park is set to become a reality for the Harrison West neighborhood in Columbus, thanks to new financing.

The Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority issued almost $3.1 million in bonds last month to buy and develop nearly five acres along the Olentangy River into much-needed green space for the city neighborhood.

The land had been the site of a roofing company warehouse and office building.

The park is a component of Wagenbrenner Development LLC's redevelopment of the site, home for decades to an AC Humko vegetable oil processing plant...

"Suitors sought for Gowdy site" Business First of Columbus

Link: Suitors sought for Gowdy site
Brian R. Ball
Business First of Columbus
October 5, 2007

The city of Columbus plans to sell off the Columbus Police Department's heliport as a continuation of the redevelopment of the former Gowdy Field landfill site.

The city has put the 4.85-acre site on the market even though the heliport will not be relocated for at least another 18 months. A developer could be identified shortly after an Oct. 19 deadline for proposals.

Joel Taylor, director of the city's Department of Finance and Management, said three undisclosed developers had already expressed interest in redeveloping the site, which the city expects to sell for at least $1.75 million...

"Gowdy to get 2nd building" Business First of Columbus

While part of this posting is just to pass alone the info about further development, the other part is to point out the pilings that were needed in order to build the new Time Warner building that is nearing completion. Because of the clay-capped landfill that is sits on top off, the building needed to be built on concrete pilings which reach down into the ground for more stable soil to prevent it from sinking into the earth which is unstable for such weight due to the landfill beneath.

This is the same issue that would and will be faced, among others, when the time comes to redevelop the Whittier Peninsula. This process of adding concrete pilings for stability adds a significant (and currently prohibitive) amount of money to the cost of development of a large scale mixed-use project such as the one that was originally envisioned for the area:

Link: Gowdy to get 2nd building
Brian R Ball
Business First of Columbus
July 27, 2007

...Daimler Group Inc. expects to begin construction in August on a five-story, 141,120-square-foot office building in a bid to land other companies looking for a place near downtown and visible to those traveling Route 315...

...Daimler and project partner Wagenbrenner Co. worked with the Columbus Urban Growth Corp. to secure a $3 million grant from the state in 2005 to help pay for the cleanup.

The city pitched in $780,000 toward the remediation and $2.7 million for road and utility upgrades .

The project required putting 312 concrete pilings 50 to 70 feet into the ground as a means of ensuring a firm foundation atop the clay-capped landfill...

"Harrison West Rails to Trails proposal approved!" Harrison West Society

That's what I'm talking about! Community activism making a difference. This is a great example of a residents coming together to better their community. And if it is the neighbors and residents in a neighborhood that make their communities great, as exampled here, in the the Short North, Victorian Village, German Village...you get the idea...then what are we expecting to make downtown great?:

Link: Harrison West Society » Blog Archive » Harrison West Rails to Trails proposal approved!.

The City of Columbus Department of Development has approved our Harrison West Rails to Trails proposal and has awarded us $300,000 from the UIRF 2005-2007 round. The Department of Recreation and Parks has been given notice to proceed.

"These things take time" is what I hear the most when it comes to downtown. Yeah, they take time, but its more than that and big projects. These things take people. People opening their mouths and asking for things...not just complaining about what we don't have.

Where are the downtown activists looking into what's available in terms of government funded projects (aside from city dollars) or coming up with ideas and proposals to establish a community framework which could then be used to work on them? Trust me, if I had more time it would be me...and someday I hope it will be, but just trying to keep this information portal running takes up my spare time. I making my contribution. If you are a downtown advocate, ask yourself what you're doing for the cause and whether or not you've found your place to plug-in and get involved.

Words are words and without action behind them, all the passion they may have been spoken with amounts to absolutely nothing. We've all heard of "put you money where your mouth is." How about "put some action where your passion is."

If you live downtown, just ask yourself who is advocating for your "neighborhood" and what is being done to better that community fabric.

Just some food for thought...

Avenue One Blends Vintage Spirit and Smart Design

press release
COLUMBUS, OHIO -- With its handsome brick exterior, curved entry and copper awnings, Avenue One, a new luxury 24-unit condominium building, captures the vintage character of Harrison West while offering a contemporary lifestyle choice for urban dwellers. The development, at 431 West First Avenue, features loft style one-bedroom units starting at under $200,000.

According to Avenue One’s developer, Santer Communities, the new residential landmark weaves the spirit of modern, urban living into the context of this historic American neighborhood.

"Avenue One is the quintessential urban residence that offers modern, urban living in a classic turn-of-the-century neighborhood,” says Chip Santer, president of Santer Communities. “We expect to draw buyers attracted to downtown living, but who also want to live in a real neighborhood with a broad mix of 19th-century homes, multi-family dwellings and offices as well as restaurants, shops and entertainment.” Avenue One is in walking distance to the Short North, Arena District, Downtown and OSU.

The new development reflects the classic urban profiles of other great American cities such as Chicago, New York and San Francisco. Copper covered roofs on the ground level entry porches and private balconies lend a sense of scale and enhance the streetscape.

The contemporary floor plans celebrate today’s informal lifestyles with large, open, versatile spaces for living, dining and entertaining. Floor to ceiling windows reinforce the feeling of openness while allowing natural light to flood the interiors. The residences, which range in size from 890 to 1,259 square feet, feature luxury finishes, including granite, hardwood, stainless steel appliances and ceramic tile, as well as private balconies. A rooftop deck capitalizes upon the site’s dramatic views of the Downtown skyline while offering flexible outdoor space for relaxation and entertainment. Secure parking is conveniently located on the ground floor.

Santer Communities’ first development in the area, Delaware Place, was recognized as “best new development” by the Victorian Village Commission in 2003. The company is currently developing Boulevard Green, a townloft community in the Grandview area.

Bruce Dooley, CRS, and Bradley Weatherford, CRS, of Dooley & Company are marketing Avenue One. Avenue One was designed by the Design Group and is being constructed by Ruscilli Residential, Ltd. Below market rate financing and a special down payment program from National City Mortgage are available to qualified buyers.

For sales information, contact Dooley or Weatherford at 297-8600 or visit avenueonelofts.com.

"Santer works urban niche" Business First of Columbus

It's been a little while since we've had a developer profile to read up on. Santer Communities not only has work underway in Harrison West but also has another project on the books for Grandview too:

Link: Santer works urban niche
Business First of Columbus
Brian Ball
July 14th, 2006

...Santer Communities Ltd. has begun construction on 24 condominium flats at West First Avenue and Thurber Drive adjacent to the Harrison West neighborhood. The project, named Avenue One, is two blocks from a Santer-built condo project that the city's Victorian Village Commission lauded as the community's top construction project in 2003...

..."My experience with Boulevard Green," he said, "is people need to see it before buying in."...

Perry & Third Virtual Tour

Looking over Harrison West Park we are situated at the corner of Perry St. and W. Third Ave. in Harrison West, another one of Columbus' up-and-coming urban neighborhoods.

View: Perry & Third Virtual Tour

Harrison Park Virtual Tour

The scene at Harrison Park is that of construction these days. One by one the new homes in Harrison West's largest residential development are popping up.

View: Harrison Park Virtual Tour

Harrison West Society Newsletter for May, 2006

Here is the May, 2006 issue of the Harrison West Society Newsletter. Check out what is happening in the Harrison West neighborhood:

Link: Harrison West Society Newsletter for May, 2006

Visit the Harrison West URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD section of RetroMetro.

"Developer says Harrison West condos create new price point in neighborhood"

RetroMetro Reader Submission
Posted by:
Walker Evans

Walker says: The main thing I've heard most people complaining about in regards to the Columbus urbanization movement is that there just aren't enough mid-range condos that are easily affordable by 20-somethings interested in moving downtown. I keep telling people to look to the neighboring areas adjacent to downtown for more affordable housing to start popping up, and this morning there's a perfect example in an article posted by The Daily Reporter.

The 950-square-foot Courtyard at Harrison West condos are setting a new price point for the neighborhood. The average price of a new home in Harrison West is about $200,000 and these one bedroom, 1.5 bath units at the Courtyard range from $159,900 to $165,900.

Article Quote:
"Developer says Harrison West condos create new price point in neighborhood"
The Daily Reporter
February 9th, 2006

..."There are no other homes in this area at this price point," said Joe Armeni, owner of Short North development firm The New Victorians Inc. and broker/owner at Re/Max City Center Realtors.

He said pricing is why he expects the 950-square-foot condos to be quite popular with buyers looking to relocate to the neighborhood.

While the average price of a new home in Harrison West is about $200,000, the one bedroom, 1.5 bath units at the Courtyard range from $159,900 to $165,900, he said...

"City votes money for Gowdy Field redevelopment" Columbus Business First

Gowdy Field Gets the go ahead from the City Council:

Link: City votes money for Gowdy Field redevelopment
Columbus Business First
January 10th, 2006

...City council voted to spend $2.7 million to upgrade utilities and streets leading to the site on Olentangy River Road known as Gowdy Field. Council also allocated $780,000 to match a $3 million Clean Ohio grant to help clean up the site. The city funds will help drain off methane gas and place a clay cap over the former landfill...

"City OKs construction funds for offices at former landfill" The Columbus Dispatch

More details on the City Council's approval of funds for the Gowdy Field development project on Grandview's eastern edge, technically a part of Harrison West:

Link: City OKs construction funds for offices at former landfill
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Jodi Andes
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

..."I think you’ll start seeing movement in 30 days," said Susan Delay, the Department of Development’s capital-improvements manager.

The legislation designated about $3.5 million in city funds for the project. The money will be matched with $3 million from the state’s Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund.

The site, a partially wooded lot south of 3 rd Avenue, will house Time Warner’s headquarters and other business offices, possibly by the end of 2006...

"Gowdy Field to get $3-million for clean-up" ThisWeek Newspapers

Gowdy Field gets the go-ahead with a $3 million grant to clean up the former landfill to make way for new office buildings, one of which will be utilized by Time Warner for their regional headquarters:

Link: Gowdy Field to get $3-million for clean-up
Thursday, December 22, 2005
By RANDY NAVAROLI
ThisWeek Newspapers

The state has awarded a $3-million grant to the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to help clean up Gowdy Field to make way for Time Warner's 160,000-square-foot regional headquarters.

The project was ranked second of 15 proposed brownfield clean-up projects across the state. The State Controlling Board still must give its approval to the 15 projects, which will each get a portion of the $40-million in grants awarded Dec. 14...

Flats of Harrison Park

As promised, I said I'd let you know when Harrison Park updated their website and released more information on their flats...Well, uh, Wagenbrenner Realty has updated their site and has released more information on their flats. (Didn't I just say that?)

Go the the main site and click on "Renderings & Floor Plans" to see all the details:
Visit the Harrison Park Website

Thanks to Josh Miller for keeping me in the loop.

Harrison Park Update

This is just a quickie on the Harrison Park development in Harrison West:

I had a chance to speak with Mark Wagenbrenner the other day and he shared with me the fact that the buildings that were once planned as rentals (I believe they were called "The Commons") have been reconfigured and redesigned as for-sale flats.

That's good news for the project and the local neighborhood since home values are known to appreciate better in areas that don't have high concentrations of rentals.

The concept is now to build units that are "flats" which have floor plans where the live-able space is all on one floor, similar in concept to "The Foundry" at Jeffrey Place if you aren't familiar with what a flat is.

If I am remembering correctly from our conversation, there will be 3 buildings with 42 units in each, with parking potentially integrated on the first level for some units. The mix of the units will be 1 and 2 bedrooms.

Their website is currently being update and you will soon be able to see more specifications, including pricing and square footage within another week or so. I'll keep an eye on it for you.

Santer Communities Announces Avenue One Lofts in Harrison West

It's been a while, but here;s a recent addition to new projects. This time it's a loft building in Harrison West. Follow the link below and you can find your way to a rendering of the building.

Not much more details than what you see below. The plan is for one bedroom loft-style units that will start under $200,000:

Link: Santer Communities.

Avenue One Lofts Coming Soon to Harrison West Luxury, loft style, one-bedroom condos at First Ave. and Thurber Dr.

Thanks to Jacob Sukosd for the tip

"Former factory site sprouts homes" The Columbus Dispatch

Actual construction has begun on the Harrison Park Development in Harrison West. If you drive by the site located at First and Perry you can see a few foundations of their single-family homes starting to go in.

It will be interesting to see how this project develops given it's unique development plan, community structure, and unit mix. I've been asked in the past how this project compares to Jeffrey Place in the past and it is significantly different for a number of reasons. It is somewhat apples and oranges from a community perspective. It's all about what you are looking for. Bottom line, I'm all for brownfield reclamation and urban neighbohood redevelopment.

All the single-family homes are actually condominiums which means that your "yard" may actually be considered common space and may be subject to condominiums by-laws. For those not wanting to deal with yard work, this may be something inviting to look into. For those wanting their own "yard," you may want to talk to the developer to understand any potential restrictions or limitations:

Link: Former factory site sprouts homes
The Columbus Dispatch
Debbie Gebolys
August 6th, 2005

Work has started on the largest residential expansion of Harrison West in decades. It will add nearly 300 homes to the neighborhood northwest of Downtown, making use of the former AC Humko property, an area bounded by Perry Street, 1 st Avenue and the Olentangy River...

Gowdy Field Development

The long vacant parcel that runs along the southern-most stretch of Olentangy River Road is about to see development activity. In the first half of the century, this was a large park complete with baseball diamonds and recreational activities.

Link: Three development groups asked for Gowdy Field proposals
Friday, April 8, 2005
COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST
Brian R. Ball

Columbus Urban Growth Corp. plans to ask three development teams to submit formal proposals for the redevelopment of the Gowdy Field site near Grandview Heights.

Urban Growth will ask Continental Real Estate Cos., Opus North Corp. and Daimler Group Inc./Wagenbrenner Cos. to submit proposals to develop office buildings of 65,000 and 120,000 square feet on the 28-acre site along Olentangy River Road between West Third Avenue and Goodale Street.

Odis Jones, Urban Growth managing director, said 18 developers responded to an initial request for qualifications sent out this year.

The three finalists will submit proposals for the project by late April with selection of a developer expected by mid-May, he said.

Article from "Columbus Business First"

"The Birth of a Neighborhood: From Humko to Harrison Park" Short North Gazette Article

Here's a little more indepth overview of the Harrison West development project called Harrison Park:

Link: The Birth of a Neighborhood: From Humko to Harrison Park
Short North Gazette

"Perry Street, First Avenue, and other surrounding streets will be extended into the new development, comprising 220 rental units and 102 homes for sale. Of the homes, 64 will be single-family houses and 38 will be loft-style condos, ranging in price from an estimated $215,000 to $500,000.

The single-family houses will feature tall, elegant 3-story homes with brick and siding facades with new Victorian-style detailing and amenities like hardwood floors, second-floor laundries, stainless steel appliances, 9-foot ceilings, detached 2-car garages off of alleys, and front porches flush with the sidewalk."

Harrison Park in Harrison West

Some time ago I mentioned in a posting that there was a new project being planned in Harrison West called Harrison Park. I just poked around and realized that I didn't add the link to the site. Have a look, they are planning nearly 50+ homes, additional condos, and apartments in the 16 acre development:

Visit the Harrison Park Website

Harrison West Photo Album

Just added a photo album from a few streets in Harrison West. This in now way reflects the depth of character and archtiectural style that exists in the community but I just wanted to get a starter album together. I grabbed these shots after getting pictures of the A.C. Humko industrial complex that is in the middle of being torn down to make way for the Harrison Park development.

View the Harrison West Photo Album

Harrison Park development in Harrison West

MAYOR COLEMAN & HARRISON WEST NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS DEMOLISH INDUSTRIAL SITE, MAKE WAY FOR NEW HOMES & NEIGHBORHOOD PARK

June 22nd, 2004 - "...The new Harrison Park residential development is bringing new life to a part of the historic Harrison West neighborhood that has been a manufacturing site for more than a century. Originally constructed as Capital City Dairy in 1883, the site has housed several manufacturers over the decades, most recently a margarine factory..."

I just keep finding 'em...another new residential development. This one, called Harrison Park is being developed in the Harrison West neighborhood which is located just to the west of Victorian Village and to the east of the Olentangy River. It is being built on the former site of A.C. Humko industrial complex which is in the middle of being torn down. The western edge of the development will be a park that is part of the Riverfront Vision Plan that is redeveloping the riverfront from OSU down to the Whittier Peninsula.

I found a proposal from December 2003 for how the site will be developed on the Harrison West website:
http://www.harrisonwest.org/features/humko/images/1.1.jpg

Harrison West Boundaries

Neighborhood Link - Your Neighborhood Boundaries

North: Fifth Avenue

South: First Avenue

East: Harrison Avenue

West: the Olentangy River

How current these boundaries are is beyond me but it's at least a start...