"Scioto's bank may go au naturale" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Scioto's bank may go au naturale
Robert Vitale
The Columbus Dispatch
June 6, 2008

...City officials are seeking permission from the federal government to tear down a stretch of 80-year-old concrete wall along the eastern bank of the Scioto River. As part of the Scioto Mile riverfront makeover, they want to recreate an earthen slope from Civic Center Drive down to the water 25 feet below.

The Scioto's limestone cage would stay in place north of Town Street, where the bridge is scheduled to come down in 2010. But between Town and Main Street, where a new bridge is scheduled to open next year, the riverfront would take on a more natural look as part of the $38 million Scioto Mile project.

"We're taking a man-made barrier and replacing it with a natural river's edge," said Amy Taylor, spokeswoman for the Columbus Downtown Development Corp., which is overseeing the Scioto Mile work...

AEP, City of Columbus and Partners Celebrate Groundbreaking for The Scioto Mile

Park is set to transform downtown riverfront

(Columbus)  Project leaders Michael Morris of American Electric Power (AEP) and Mayor Michael B. Coleman today joined partners from the business community, Federal Government, State of Ohio and Franklin County to celebrate the groundbreaking for the $38 million Scioto Mile Park.  The Scioto Mile will transform Columbus’ downtown riverfront, creating places for festivals, families and recreation with water features, fountains, a café and variety of attractions for downtown residents, employees and visitors.

“Great cities are built around great parks, and it is time that we built the downtown park system that Columbus’ residents deserve at the Scioto Mile,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman.  “This new park system is historic in nature, with unprecedented partnership and funding from local businesses like AEP and our partners at the Federal, State and County level.”

In February 2007, AEP and the City of Columbus announced an historic partnership to fund the Scioto Mile, each committing $10 million as part of a 50-50 public/private sector fundraising effort to raise $38 million to build the park.

“Proven success in developing new public spaces has come from a strong partnership between the public and private sectors. That’s the approach we have taken with this project,” said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Together, we have raised more than $38 million to build the project and endow a fund at The Columbus Foundation to support the ongoing operations, maintenance and programming of the Park.”

The Scioto Mile is another key cornerstone in the community’s plan to revitalize downtown, and is designed to attract and complement on-going residential development, boost property values and stimulate commercial growth.

“Every great American city has a place in the heart of their downtown where people can gather and enjoy the energy and vitality the community has to offer, said Council President Michael C. Mentel. “The Scioto Mile park will be the signature setting for all things Columbus for generations to come.”

When complete, the Scioto Mile will revitalize the riverfront with an interactive Promenade and a transformation of Bicentennial Park.  Key elements will be included that will attract people from all over the region.  The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has been charged by AEP and the City to manage this project through completion. 

“The design of the Scioto Mile is unique in nature, with a Promenade that integrates water with a canal and fountain, and benches for seating and playing games,” said Guy V. Worley, President and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. “In addition to a café and permanent band shell, Bicentennial Park will also include a fountain unlike any other we’ve seen, serving as a signature element for the Scioto Mile.”

The Scioto Mile is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2011, in time for the City of Columbus’ Bicentennial in 2012.

The City of Columbus is helping lead the implementation of the Downtown Business Plan with CDDC and local businesses.  2008 marks the sixth year of the 10-year plan to bring new investment, energy and activity to downtown Columbus.  There is a new market for downtown housing – with more than 5,000 housing units opened or under development, including the recently announced Lifestyle Communities apartments and condos that will be moderately priced and attract younger local workers.  North Bank Park is already open and the Audubon Center Park on the Whittier Peninsula is going to begin construction later this Spring.  The City is also moving forward with the construction of two new parking garages, and private partners are looking at developing acres of surface parking lots into new housing and retail throughout the district.  Since 2002, the Mayor also has worked with 35 companies to keep or bring 3,000 jobs downtown.  The total new investment in downtown since 2000 is estimated at $2.19 billion, with $711 million in public funding helping leverage $1.48 billion in private investment.  This includes projects proposed, under construction, or built since 2000.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states.  AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S.  AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.  AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is a private, non-profit development corporation designed to lead City-changing projects, including The Scioto Mile. The Board of Directors consists of senior business and institutional leaders who have a strong commitment to downtown revitalization.
Graphic renderings of the future park are available by contacting Amy Taylor at CDDC, 614-545-3942 or  at ataylor@downtowncolumbus.com

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2008
Contact:
Mike Brown, City of Columbus, 645-6428
Pat Hemlepp, AEP, 716-1620
Amy Taylor, CDDC, 545-3942

"Loss of earmark stymies 5th Avenue dam removal" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Loss of earmark stymies 5th Avenue dam removal
Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
April 12, 2008

The demolition of the 5th Avenue dam on the Olentangy River, which is key to helping clean the river by returning it to its natural flow, won't happen anytime soon.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers couldn't secure more than $1 million needed to pay for the $1.82 million project.

Officials in the corps' district office in Huntington, W.Va., were recently told they would receive only $100,000 for environmental testing...

Community and Business Leaders to Break Ground on Scioto Mile Park

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mike Brown, City of Columbus, 645-6428
Pat Hemlepp, AEP, 716-1620
Amy Taylor, CDDC, 545-3942

Long-held community dream will become reality

(Columbus)  The Scioto Mile will be a signature park for the community and will transform the riverfront into an active, urban amenity, attracting people from the entire region. The park will play an essential role in the revitalization of downtown – attracting and complementing residential development, boosting property values and stimulating commercial growth. The public and private sectors have joined together in an historic 50-50 funding effort to raise the $38 million to build the Scioto Mile.

WHO:
Mayor Michael B. Coleman
Michael Morris, Chairman, President and CEO, AEP
U.S. Representative Deborah Pryce
State Senator Steve Stivers
Franklin County Commission President Marilyn Brown
City Council President Michael Mentel
Guy Worley, President and CEO, CDDC

WHAT:
Groundbreaking for the Scioto Mile riverfront park

WHEN:
Monday, April 14 11 a.m.

WHERE:
Bicentennial Park
Corner of Civic Center Drive and Rich Street

"Summer along river is all work, no play" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Summer along river is all work, no play
Tim Doulin
The Columbus Dispatch
April 10, 2008

Civic Center Drive is going to be a happening place this summer -- if you prefer heavy machinery and construction over festivals.

Work is under way to transform the east riverfront strip from Bicentennial Park to W. Broad Street into the Scioto Mile, which includes a promenade with benches and swings, bicycle and pedestrian paths, planters and fountains along Civic Center.

To accommodate the work, Civic Center is down to one lane southbound. Besides inconveniencing drivers, some of the festivals and events traditionally held there are moving elsewhere temporarily, some for at least two years...

"Corps advises removing Olentangy dam" The Columbus Dispatch

Curious riverfront development. I don't really know what the ramifications are for the removal of the dam and whether or not that will actually increase boating in that stretch of the Olentangy by potentially effecting the depth of the water along with the additional access.

Curious news nonetheless given that this is the first article I can recall coming across that pertained to the Scioto itself as opposed to just park plans:

Link: Corps advises removing Olentangy dam
By Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
August 17, 2007

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to remove the low-head dam near 5th Avenue on the Olentangy River, which would give boaters an unimpeded route from the University District to Downtown.

The Corps is recommending removing the dam to improve water quality. Low-head dams cause sediment to build up and can reduce the oxygen level in the water.

Removing the dam would open the river to boaters from Dodridge Street to Downtown. The corps will discuss its recommendation from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Goodale Park shelter house...

View Google Map of area near dam

"Road extension to increase cost of park" Dispatch Reports

If you've visited the Arena District or driven downtown via 33 recently, you've no doubt seen the construction of the North Bank Park progressing over the past several months. The project promises to be a great addition to the downtown area, hopefully adding more incentives for business to head back to the central city. This article cites a near million dollar increase to the project:

Link: Road extension to increase cost of park
The Columbus Dispatch
December 11th, 2004
[online account required]

"The cost of the city's new North Bank Park will jump by $849,291, the cost to extend a road near the Downtown park.
Columbus City Council is expected on Monday to approve paying Complete General Construction more money to extend Hanover Street south across Spring Street to Long Street, which runs along the 12-acre park under construction on the bank of the Scioto River south of the Arena District."

It's curious that the article cites a reason for the addition is to "keep traffic flowing in the area" but also cites the addition of another stop light at the intersection that will be created. I'm assuming that will slow down the traffic on Spring and Long, all for the purposes of increasing access to the new offices in the western edge of the Arena District.

I'm just wondering if the added dollars are worth the benefit. It's a little hard for me to see at this point, but it should help foster continued renovation of that area.

It's also a good thing for the Buggyworks lofts project since Hanover Street dumps right into their parking lot.

Downtown Riverfront

Now this makes the third name for the downtown riverfront plan that the city has in the works...but what's in a name :) You'll hear work on the riverfront area referred to as the "Scioto Mile" or Riverfront Vision Plan (which is the larger encompassing plan). In this recent snippet from The Daily Reporter, it has been called the Scioto Vision Plan. Regardless of nomenclature, the project spans the Scioto riverfront from the Arena District to the Whittier Peninsula which adjoins the Brewery District to the west (it's actually part of the district):

"The Scioto Vision Plan took another step forward Monday night with the Columbus City Council's Approval of an ordinance to use $280,000 in state grant funds to purchase two remaining properties not under city control on the Scioto Peninsula downtown." Sean Casey The Daily Reporter 12/1/04

This is the first time I've come across the Scioto Peninsula, which is the outcropping of land that COSI sits on.

Now that the city has all the property, they can continue to move forward on the riverfront plan, which if you haven't seen, is a very exciting initiative spanning a couple of decades (it's 92 pages and was adopted in 1998...it's ok...you can skim):

View The Riverfront Vision Plan

North Bank Park Construction Panorama

Took some photos of the North Bank Park construction site this past Friday from the other side of the Scioto and stitched together a panorama of the area. I'm hoping to do a follow up in a few months and compare the before and after. What you are looking at is Neil Avenue which is dead ahead and Long and Spring Streets running east to west. That's the Arena District of to the right of the photo.

North Bank Park: First phase of the Scioto Mile Parks project

Scioto Mile Parks will Spur Downtown Revitalization and RiverSouth Development

"...the “Scioto Mile,” a mile long, downtown stretch of the Scioto River which runs from the Arena District on the north to the Whittier Peninsula on the south. Key elements of the planned Scioto Mile include a grand Promenade along a narrowed Civic Center Drive, a river-level walkway along the eastern edge of the Scioto River, an updating of Battelle and Bicentennial Parks, and green connectors to North Bank Park and the Whittier Peninsula. The Scioto Mile will include continuous bikepaths, pedestrian walkways and family activities along the river, and will “green up” downtown streets like Gay and Town that lead to the river."

For those of you who are looking for information about the Scioto riverfront in downtown Columbus, to include the North Bank Park, this press release gives a little more information about the larger "Scioto Mile" project.

Whittier Peninsula Rendering Released

Another portion of the City of Columbus' Riverfront Vision Plan has been conceptualized and posted to the city's INFOBase site:

A portion of the Riverfront Vision Plan, known as the Whittier Peninsula Reach (just west of German Village and the Brewery District on the south side of downtown), has been updated recently with a new development concept. Click on the drawing to the right to view it. If you have questions or comments, please contact Lori Baudro at lsbaudro@columbus.gov.

Visit the City of Columbus' Department of Development INFObase website

North Bank Park Under Construction

If you are headed south on Route 33 into downtown, right where the road splits into Srping and Long you'll notice a significant amount of construction and a lot of dirt. If you've been traveling that way for some time you may have thought that it was just another expansion of the Arena District. Suprisingly enough, it's not.

As part of the "Scioto Mile" or Riverfront Vision Plan developed by the city of Columbus, the North Bank Park project is well underway. It's actually the first phase in a plan that is proposed to develop the riverfront area all the way down to the Whittier Peninsula. The park, with all its greenery and a glass pavilion is slated to be completed by spring of 2005.

With all the work being done in the area to include additional office space and a variety of living spaces, you can really begin to see the vision of a revitalized downtown start to take shape.

• Construction Management for the North Bank Project by Miles-McClellan
• Landscape Architecture for the North Bank Project by MSI Landscape Architects
• Acock Associates Architects desigend the pavilion