"Save-A-Lot, Simply Fashions open in Near East Side center" Business First of Columbus

Link: Save-A-Lot, Simply Fashions open in Near East Side center
Business First of Columbus
May 21, 2008

The first tenants of a planned $4.1 million shopping center on Columbus' Near East Side are open, months ahead of the project's second phase development.

City officials and nonprofit developer Columbus Compact Corp. cut the ribbon Wednesday on Heritage Square Marketplace, going up a mile east of downtown. The Main Street project is anchored by a 16,000-square-foot Save-A-Lot grocery store and discounter Simply Fashion Stores Ltd., both of which opened their doors Wednesday.

With the first 19,000-square-foot phase of Heritage Square completed, Columbus Compact expects to break ground this fall on an additional 12,000 square feet of commercial space east of the Save-A-Lot and Simply Fashions stores. A vacant eight-unit apartment building on Wilson Avenue was demolished to make room for the expansion...

"Near East Side gets grocery after years without one" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Near East Side gets grocery after years without one
Sherri Williams
The Columbus Dispatch
May 21, 2008

Neighborhood and city leaders packed into the parking lot of the new Save-A-Lot on the East Side today to celebrate the opening of the discount grocery chain's latest Columbus location, at 1170 E. Main St.

Neighbors shopped at the store in Heritage Square Market Place commercial development for the first time six years after the plan to put a store in there...

Redevelopment Group Announces Grand Opening of New Shopping Center

(Columbus, OH)  The Columbus Compact Corporation (“the Compact”) announced today that it is opening Phase One of the Heritage Square Marketplace – a new shopping center on the Near East Side of Columbus – on May 21, 2008.

The Grand Opening celebration is Wednesday, May 21st, from 8:30 – 9:00, after which the stores will open for business.  Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the majority of Columbus City Council will be on hand to cut the ribbon on the 19,000 square foot redevelopment project.  The public is invited to the Grand Opening celebration.

The Compact has been working to bring new retail goods and services to East Main Street, and the opening of Phase One of Heritage Square signals the coming fruition of those efforts.  The first tenants for Heritage Square are Save-A-Lot grocery store and Simply Fashions Stores, LTD. 

Save-A-Lot store is America’s fifth largest grocery chain, and provides extreme value on high quality produce, meats, dairy, frozen foods, and other grocery items.  The company has nearly 1,300 stores nationwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperValu Inc., a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest companies in the grocery industry.

Simply Fashions specializes in offering the latest Junior, Misses, and Plus size fashions and accessories, with pricing generally under $30.  The firm has operated since 1987 as a privately-held company, with nearly 320 stores in 17 states.  Simply Fashions was recognized by Inc. Magazine as being one of the 500 fastest growing privately-held companies in America. 

Jonathan Beard, President and CEO of Columbus Compact Corporation, says “at a time when Americans are experiencing skyrocketing food prices and gasoline is taking more and more of a family’s budget, we are excited about bringing high quality groceries at up to 40% off competitor prices to this area of Columbus.  At the same time, we find some synergy with Simply Fashion, which provides women’s clothing – including offering stylish fashions for plus size women – and offers these lines of clothing at a great price.”

Darlene M. Davis, Chair of the Compact’s Board of Directors, says “we are excited to bring this project to our neighborhoods.  Central city residents deserve the same type of high quality retail environment found in other areas of the city.  We have great central city neighborhoods that are now under-served by retail – we can deliver the types of goods and services that continue to improve the quality of life in our historic neighborhoods.”

The $2.4 million project completely redevelops 1.6 acres of land, and included the remediation of a long-abandoned and contaminated gasoline service station site.  The project will create a local payroll of nearly $800,000 per year.  The General Contractor is National Contracting Group (Columbus), and the project architect was HKI Architects (Columbus).  Financing was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Empowerment Zone program), Ohio Community Development Finance Fund, City of Columbus, Community Capital Development Corporation, and the Columbus Foundation’s Martha G. Staub Fund.

Phase 2 of the project will consist of a 12,000 s.f. new-build retail/commercial structure, to be located on the land immediately east of this building.  The Compact is engaged in leasing activities, and expects to break ground by the fall.

Other projects by the Compact include the 52-unit Franklin Park Condominium project now in pre-construction sales period, and the co-development of a 14-unit condominium conversion project at 143-151 Sherman Avenue.  Both projects are located in walking distance of Heritage Square.

For more information, contact Jonathan C. Beard at 251-0926 ext. 101.

"Group raises some eyebrows by razing old Firestone home" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Group raises some eyebrows by razing old Firestone home
Mike Pramik
The Columbus Dispatch
May 12, 2008

The Columbus Foundation wants to create a majestic block along E. Broad Street, one worthy of the history embodied in the old governor's mansion that serves as its headquarters.

To do so, last week, the charity demolished a century-old home that the foundation said didn't fit with its $7.8 million project.

The Joseph Firestone house at 1266 E. Broad St. had been vacant for years and last was used as an office. Columbus Foundation President Doug Kridler said the charitable organization considered saving the building as plans came together for renovation of the site. But the house's structure made it too impractical and expensive to be converted to meet the foundation's needs...

"Demolition of Firestone Mansion Imminent" Columbus Landmarks Foundation

Link: Demolition of Firestone Mansion Imminent
Columbus Landmarks Foundation
May 6, 2008

COLUMBUS LANDMARKS FOUNDATION’S RESPONSE TO IMMINENT DEMOLITION OF 1266 E. BROAD ST.

Physical evidence at the Joseph Firestone Mansion located at 1266 E. Broad Street suggests that demolition is imminent. Columbus Landmarks Foundation (CLF) is disappointed with the Columbus Foundation’s decision to demolish this historic building as part of the restoration and expansion of its headquarters at the Old Governor’s Mansion. CLF’s Board of Trustees and membership have made significant efforts over the past several months to persuade the Columbus Foundation to preserve the National Register-listed residence in the East Broad Street Historic District in recognition of its architectural, historical and urban design importance. It appears however that those efforts were in vain and that the building will be lost...

"Firestone Mansion Falls to Wrecking Ball" WOSU

Link: Firestone Mansion Falls to Wrecking Ball
Same Hendren
WOSU NewsRoom
May 6, 2008

Efforts to save the city's Firestone Mansion from demolition have failed. Workmen have completed salvaging pieces from the 3-story home built by Columbus carriage maker Joseph Firestone.

The Columbus Landmarks Foundation wanted to save the Firestone mansion at 1266 E. Broad St. It put together a team of preservation consultants, architects, engineers, developers, and contractors who drew up alternatives to demolition. There were negotiations with the building's owner, the Columbus Foundation. But in the end, the owners decided to tear the building down. Columbus Foundation spokeswoman Carol Harmon.

"Our governing committee has decided as it did last summer that the structure did not have viability and we've delayed its removal as long as we can," Harmon says...

"East-side Save-A-Lot back on track" Business First of Columbus

Link: East-side Save-A-Lot back on track
Dan Eaton
Business First of Columbus
February 29, 2008

...Site work is under way at 1179 E. Main St. in Columbus for a 16,000-square-foot Save-A-Lot grocery store, one year after the store licensee pulled out of the project, triggering a lawsuit. The store has a projected summer opening.

"I don't know if (the project) was ever off the table completely," said Columbus Compact Corp. CEO Jonathan Beard. "Save-A-Lot had interest in it. They knew there was a market here, and we kept going after it."

Columbus Compact is the nonprofit developer behind the project and the site's owner. Lofino's Columbus Foods II LLC left the project last March, citing concerns over competition from a new Wal-Mart store four miles away in Whitehall. Columbus Compact responded with a lawsuit alleging Lofino's broke its contract. Beard said he withdrew the suit in May to promote a better relationship between the organization and the company...

"Near East Side to get its grocery" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Near East Side to get its grocery
Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
February 29, 2008

A year after a deal to build a Near East Side grocery appeared dead, a Save-A-Lot discount store is taking shape along E. Main Street in a neighborhood desperate for a chain food store...

...Save-A-Lot focuses on urban neighborhoods. With a limited number of national brands and its own store brands, it advertises prices up to 40 percent lower than other grocery chains. Customers select products out of cases and bag their own groceries.

The grocery is scheduled to open by July, the centerpiece of a 60,000-square-foot retail and commercial development called Heritage Square Marketplace.

Developer Casto is marketing the project, which will include a new 12,000-square-foot retail building on the southwest corner of E. Main Street and Wilson Avenue...

"Buster Douglas condos: No visible progress yet" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Buster Douglas condos: No visible progress yet
in Prelude to 2008 article
Mike Pramik
The Columbus Dispatch
December 30, 2007

A plan to turn boxing champion Buster Douglas' vacant field on E. Main Street into condos didn't come to pass in 2007, but a community activist said the project is still moving forward...

...$14 million to build 72 two- and three-bedroom town houses and up to 10,000 square feet of retail space along Main Street. The condos were to range from 1,000 to 1,550 square feet and hit the market at between $150,000 and $200,000.

Kathleen Bailey, chairwoman of the Near East Area Commission, said she thinks the project is still moving forward...

"Ohio Avenue paves the way for historic schools" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Ohio Avenue paves the way for historic schools
Sue Hagan
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
November 22, 2007

The tin ceilings are still there, and the original wooden floors are polished to a soft gleam. Central hallways, brightly painted in cream and blue, are 16 feet wide and the terrazzo tile in the stairs has stood the test of time.

These are features architects wanted to keep in the original 1898 Ohio Avenue Elementary building.

On the other hand, a 1950s wing has been replaced by a new cafeteria - a bright space with soaring ceilings and a bank of windows. The computer lab is state of the art, and is supported by a technology room that the original designers of the 109-year-old building could never have dreamed of...

"Historic home of Firestone tire manufacturer set for demolition" WSYX6.com

I hadn't realized the Firestone home was on the National Register of Historic Places nor did I realize Councilwoman O'Shaughnessy had joined the effort to try and save the property:

Link: Historic home of Firestone tire manufacturer set for demolition
WSYX6.com
August 25, 2007

...The Firestone home was built in 1906 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The movement to save the building, led by neighborhood preservationists and Columbus City Councilwoman Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, want the foundation to find a way to reuse the mansion...

With the issue of historic preservation popping up with the demolition of the Firestone House as part of the expansion of the Columbus Foundation's campus and with the demolition of the three homes that happened in the south side as part of the expansion process of Children's Hospital just a few months back, not to mention the razing of the Livingston Street School (which I never was able to verify) I'm really surprised to not see any leadership pop up in the form of a champion on the historic preservation front.

There are neighborhood and community champions, but so far there has been no group or individual that has been front and center on each of these issues.

I've never been clear on the position of Columbus Landmarks Foundation when this type of issue rises and whether or not they have been involved behind the scenes. One of the lines from their mission statement is "Promoting preservation of our community's historic and architectural resources" but I would imagine they walk a thin (and challenging) line at times depending on their organizational affiliations. I'm surprised not to see any quotes or references in the papers regarding their stance on the issue. I'd be curious to know what it is.

I'm also surprised to learn that the fact that a home is on the National Register for Historic Places has no bearing whatsoever on a city's ability to approve the demolition without some sort of window or opportunity for some group or entity to takeover the property in order to preserve it. If I'm not mistaken, the previous owner could have passed along some sort of restrictive covenant in the deed but then again I'm not a lawyer.

I pass the building everyday...it's right across the street from my office. I'd really hate to see it go so I'll be interested in the outcome and the precedence it will set either way it goes. Columbus has a history of erasing its history which is a big check for us in the "minus" column when it comes to retaining what little historic character we have left in this city.

While the funds are not coming out of my own pocket book, it is easy enough to say what I think should happen with it but at the end of the day that is what it is going to boil down to.

Work is already underway on cleaning up the former gas station lot just to the east of the Firestone home.

"Columbus Foundation to raze historic Near East Side mansion" The Columbus Dispatch

View Larger Map

Link: Columbus Foundation to raze historic Near East Side mansion
Debbie Gebolys
The Columbus Dispatch
August 22, 2007

Historic preservationists and Near East Side residents are helpless, they say, to stop the Columbus Foundation from bulldozing a vestige of their neighborhood's past.

The one-time home of Joseph F. Firestone, whose relatives created the world's largest buggy manufacturer here and a tire empire in Akron, will fall to a bulldozer this autumn as part of an $8 million renovation project announced a few weeks ago...

...Kridler defended the foundation's decision saying, "We're investing $8 million and ridding the neighborhood of a gas station and a non-contributing office building."

"In the aggregate, those are wonderful things," he said.

"Columbus Foundation sprucing up its corner" The Columbus Dispatch

Being that The Broadwin condominiums in Olde Towne East are directly across the street from part of the site that is being developed on the corner of Winner and Broad, this will make for some great views and a much better neighbor than a huge lot of broken concrete. Not that the fact that I have a unit in The Broadwin has anything to do with why I'd be happy about this...:

Link: Columbus Foundation sprucing up its corner.
The Columbus Dispatch
August 2, 2007

The northwest corner of E. Broad Street and Winner Avenue will look a lot different by next summer.

A concrete lot that used to be a gas station, an abandoned house and an unattractive office building are to be replaced with grass and landscaping.

From the street, the focus will be the former governor's mansion that has been home to the Columbus Foundation for the past two decades.

The changes are part of the foundation's $7.8 million renovation and expansion announced yesterday...

"Boxer tries hand at building condos" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Boxer tries hand at building condos
Mike Pramik
The Columbus Dispatch
April 27, 2007

...Douglas said yesterday that he is teaming with Columbus developer Joe Recchie to turn 4 acres on the Near East Side into a condominium and retail development. The partnership between Douglas Development and Community Building Partners is expected to yield 72 two- and three-bedroom town houses and up to 10,000 square feet of retail space along E. Main Street.

The project would end 15 years of languishing for the site, which Douglas acquired two years after he defeated Mike Tyson to become the heavyweight champion. It’s a $14 million investment that has garnered the participation of George Acock, one of the city’s top architects, and has drawn interest from investors and the local community...

"Near East Side grocery shelved" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Near East Side grocery shelved
Save-A-Lot was part of revitalization plan
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Debbie Gebolys
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Plans for a Near East Side grocery appear to have crumbled just weeks after it looked like a done deal.

The Columbus City Council approved a tax abatement six weeks ago to help Save-A-Lot open a store at 1179 E. Main St. It looked like the conclusion of a two-year effort by Columbus Compact, a nonprofit group that uses federal grants to revive the inner city.

Some neighbors had opposed plans to rehab a long-closed Kroger store into a 16,000-square-foot grocery. Critics preferred to clear the site and start over. But Compact leader Jonathan Beard spearheaded the Save-A-Lot deal. He used $500,000 in federal taxpayer money to buy the building that most recently housed the Salvation Army.

Then last week, Beard filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against Lofino’s Columbus Foods, the Columbus Save-ALot franchise owned by Mike Lofino of Dayton and Todd Fitz of Columbus...

"City doubles firetruck order, approves tax abatement" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: City doubles firetruck order, approves tax abatement

Council authorizes $1.7 million to buy 2 more ladder trucks

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Mark Ferenchik and Robert Vitale

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...In other business last night, the City Council approved tax abatements for a new grocery store on the Near East Side that some neighbors and community leaders had fought.

A new Save-A-Lot store will be part of a redeveloped site on E. Main Street just west of Wilson Avenue. The council approved a 10-year, 75 percent real-estate tax abatement and a two-year, 75 percent personal-property tax abatement for the Columbus Compact, a nonprofit group developing the site.

The abatements will save the store $232,175 in taxes over 10 years. Save-A-Lot and the corporation that the compact formed will split the savings.

The $2.5 million project is to create 16 full-time jobs and 30 part-time jobs. The compact is looking for the project to anchor a shopping area between Ohio and Wilson avenues that officials hope will lead to 200 jobs...

"Olde Towne East: 30 years of diversity" The Columbus Dispatch

Olde Towne East is one of the only urban neighborhoods in recent years to receive any attention regarding gentrification and other cultural issues in Columbus. From a documentary a few years back that highlighted some of the issues int Olde Towne between the gay community and the black community ("Flag Wars") to the development of a controversial Wendy's on Broad Street, Olde Towne East has some very deep roots and a growing depth of character that is stemming from its community members coming together to both collaborate, and clash from time to time, over neighborhood issues.

Relatively speaking we see and hear very little about neighborhood issues and conflicts beyond our own streets. While spreading controversy is not necessarily a benefit of hearing more about various neighborhoods and their struggles, seeing how they deal with them is. The more stories we hear, the more opportunity we have to learn from them:

Link: Olde Towne East: 30 years of diversity
Near East Side neighborhood still figuring out identity
Friday, October 06, 2006
Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Talk to residents of the Olde Towne East neighborhood, and the word diversity comes up a lot.

So do the words wealth and poverty. Black and white and gay. Showcase homes. Crack.

It’s those juxtapositions that make Olde Towne East a complex community with longstanding concerns that include street crime and boarded-up homes. Some wonder whether continuing gentrification will force out poorer residents...

"Apartments nearing completion" The Columbus Dispatch

In case you were wondering what that large development was as you leave downtown and head into Old Towne East on E. Broad St., a little past the brand new controversial Wendy's, now you know...

Link: Apartments nearing completion
found in: New focal point is in the works for historic downtown Dublin
Monday, July 10, 2006
Mike Pramik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

The new Jenkins Terrace, a Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority project at 1100 E. Broad St., has gotten smaller but better.

At four stories, the public housing project for senior citizens is eight stories shorter than the dilapidated tower it replaced. The framing of the building is complete, and interior construction is expected to begin soon, the authority’s Steve Havens said...

"Broadwin building to go condo" The Columbus Dispatch

The Broadwin, postioned on the eastern border of Olde Towne East, is now entering into its construction phase and is slated to be one of the most impressive renovations to be added to the books for Olde Towne. I'm a huge fan of the artchitecture of the building and will be rather excited to see the end results in the months ahead.

Needless to say, I am a little biased towards the project myself because I'm a buyer:

Link: Broadwin building to go condo
Friday, June 09, 2006
Mike Pramik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...Work began this week on redeveloping the 82-year-old Broadwin building, 1312 E. Broad St., into 43 condominium units. Developer Joe Recchie said the first units could be ready by December and that the project would be completed in about 12 months.

Recchie said fixing up the eight-story, beaux-arts style structure will continue a long trend of rebuilding homes in the Olde Towne East neighborhood...

Visit The Broadwin website

"City drops Deaf School plan" Business First of Columbus

I'll be curious to watch as the future of the Deaf School unfolds now that the city has determined that it is not feasible for them to renovate and reuse the facility:

Link: City drops Deaf School plan
Business First of Columbus
Brian Ball
May 26th, 2006

Columbus is purchasing property along East Broad Street for two city departments after the tab to renovate the former Deaf School for government offices got too pricey.

The city signed a letter of intent May 19 to buy CNA Financial Corp.'s insurance offices at 1111 E. Broad St. to house the city's departments of Technology and Recreation and Parks. The city will pay $5.15 million for the 228,000-square-foot building...

..."Office rents can't justify the cost of renovating it," he said. "But for residential, you could."...

2006 Spring into Olde Towne Home & Garden Tour Coming Up May 21st

Tour shows updates to historic homes & businesses in Columbus’ top renovation district

COLUMBUS - The Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association (OTENA) will hold Spring into Olde Towne, their 24th annual tour of historic homes & gardens, on Sunday, May 21 from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. The tour begins at the Broad Street Presbyterian Church at 760 East Broad Street and includes the homes’ interiors, exteriors and gardens.

The Spring into Olde Towne home & garden tour, held yearly on the Sunday after Mother’s Day, supports the revitalization efforts of Columbus’ Olde Towne East by publicizing the area and raising funds for neighborhood improvement projects.

OTENA’s last tour of homes, held in December of ‘05, brought visitors from throughout Central Ohio. Organizers of this year’s spring tour look forward to a similarly successful turnout. "Spring into Olde Towne allows residents of Columbus and its surrounding areas to view the rehabilitation and renovation projects that are being done to the homes and businesses in Olde Towne, in various stages from beginning to completion" says Roger Bohn, tour organizer. "It brings to light the work that residents are doing to preserve and beautify our historic neighborhood."

The tour begins at the Broad Street Presbyterian Church, where tour-goers can view its newly completed renovations, including an 8,800-square-foot addition, relocated fellowship hall, expanded narthex (lobby), and new offices and classrooms. Their newly painted sanctuary showcases the church’s wall of exquisite, refurbished Tiffany stained glass windows, which are valued today at $2.9 million.

Other featured homes and businesses are in the active area between East Broad Street and Long Street, bound on the West by the stately Hamilton Park Avenue area and on the East by the grand Governors Place homes, including the historic Lincoln Theatre and Kibibi’s Art Gallery.

Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance. Advance tickets can be purchased at: Shane’s Gourmet Market, Elemental, Piece of Cake, Mary Catherine’s Antiques, Morse Road Antiques, Cherry’s Art Center, Café Brioso, Nora’s Coffee Corner, Columbus Main Library Bookstore and online at www.oldetowne.org (powered by TicketWeb).

More information can be found at www.oldetowne.org, or by calling 1-866-234-0414.

OTENA is a not-for-profit group whose goal is to preserve, promote and improve Columbus’ historic Olde Towne neighborhood.

"Red Capital underwrites housing project" Columbus Business First

In case you, like me, have driven out East Broad and noticed the huge dirt lot between 22nd and Ohio Ave that replaced the tower that was torn down a few months back, you may have wondered what was going to be developed there. Well wonder no more:

Link: Red Capital underwrites housing project
Columbus Business First
October 13th, 2005

..Jenkins Terrace Apartments (100 units) will be open to low-income senior citizens and will feature one-bedroom apartments and elevators. It replaces a previous building on the site, 1100 East Broad St. The authority hopes to open it late in 2006...

The Broadwin Condominiums of Olde Towne East

Momentum continues to build again on The Broadwin Condominiums as an Open House is announced for this coming Sunday, August 7th 2005 from 1-4pm. If you haven't visited The Broadwin yet and you have some time to kill this Sunday go check it out. This is one of the few buildings in urban Columbus to have as such character and architectural detail.

Just like the old hair-club-for-men commercials from a few years back..."I liked it so much I bought a unit." (hopefully someone got that...) The Broadwin will personally mark one of my first investments as I am currently in the contracting process for a unit on one of the higher floors. I have no shame and don't mind endorsing the project.

You can't miss the lobby since that is where the open house will be stationed, but if you can, be sure to get up to the higher floors and not only see the character of the individual units, but the views of downtown and Bexley. They are pretty spectacular for as spectacular as a flat state gets anyways (I'm from the very diverse terrain of New England so I'm a little snobby about the landscape).

Rehabing of the building has not started yet but the kick-off is anticipated within the next few months. The developer behind the project, Joe Recchie, will be on hand to answer any questions and to talk about the project along with the rest of the Broadwin Sales Team:

OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, August 7th
1-4pm

The Broadwin Condominiums
1312 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43205
http://broadwinliving.com
sales@broadwinliving.com

New Website for The Broadwin

There hasn't been much news out of Olde Towne East recently but things are moving along with The Broadwin restoration and condo conversion. This former luxury apratment building, from days gone by, is by far one of the most eye catching buildings as you head out East Broad a few blocks before the Franklin Park Conservatory. 1312 East Broad to be precise (Columbus 43205).

Great lengths are being taken to restore the buildings architectural details and character. There are some 3D renderings posted to the site that give you an idea of what the units will look like when renovations are complete.

The new website was launched yesterday:

Visit The Broadwin Website

North of Broad Website Launched

As reported earlier in the year on Columbus Retro Metro, vacant lots and urban decay are on the way out while new housing stock is on the way in. North of Broad is promising to create "as many as 32 new or remodeled homes in the King-Lincoln District on the near East Side." The website was unveiled this week and is promising to further spur the ongoing development momentum just east of Downtown.

The turn of events for this district has been interesting to say the least. Only last week was I driving down Long St. and came face to face with a group of picketers protesting the development project announced by the City of Columbus at the corner of Hamilton and Long which would place the police internal affairs and accident investigation units on a vacant lot in a fantastic new building. This along with the demolition of the Whitney Young Apartments seems like a great boost for the area.

To learn more, visit the North of Broad website

The Broadwin

I've become a little more familiar with the Olde Towne East area of town in the last couple of weeks and have recently become aware of a great renovation project being developed by National Community Builders called The Broadwin. This eight story building located at 1312 East Broad Street was built in 1925 and it's by far one of the more ornate buildings in all of the metro Columbus area. I've actually been through part of it in it's unrenovated state and haven't seen anything with so much potential as this building.

There are a total of 41 units (this may change) in The Broadwin and it includes 1, 2, and 3 bedroom floor plans. At the time of this posting, approximately 23 units are reserved so I strongly advise looking into it. If you are thinking about getting a bit more urban but aren't ready to head downtown this is the perfect spot.

Lest I forget...did I mention that Olde Towne East is the #1 spot for property appreciation?

Get in touch with Jack Travis and go have a look at the property. Renovations should be kicking off in the next few months.

OLDE TOWNE EAST

Here's the map to the boundaries for Old Towne East:

OLDE TOWNE EAST Boundary Map on www.oldetowne.org