Columbus Commons Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the schedule for demolition?
Exterior demolition of the mall began October 1, 2009. The southwestern side of the building is the first section to be demolished. The Rich Street Sky Bridge (which formerly connected the Main Parking Garage with the mall) will be taken down at night during mid- through late October, to minimize inconvenience to downtown residents, visitors and employees. Then, demolition will move north, as the exterior of the mall is dismantled piece by piece.
By spring 2010, the mall demolition will be complete. The support system to create the park will be in place by summer 2010, and the park infrastructure will be complete by December 2010. Seasonal landscaping will be installed in the spring of 2011.
What will be some of the park’s amenities?
Columbus Commons will be the ideal place to catch a concert, play a sport, relax, walk your dog or enjoy lunch outside. There truly is something for everyone.
Columbus Commons was designed as a classical park, with a Grand Lawn, perfect for events and concerts. The Grand Lawn will be lined with ten flower beds, featuring seasonal displays, and a grove of trees that will create an entrance canopy from
A brick pathway, running east/west along the park, will create a pedestrian connection along
Unlike the majority of parks in central
In developing the design, the
What is the project schedule?
Our plan is to have the demolition completed in spring 2010. The support system to create the park will be put in place by summer 2010, and the park infrastructure will be complete by December 2010. Seasonal landscaping will be installed in the spring of 2011.
It will take at least one growth season for the plantings and grass to realize their full potential, with an expectation that the park will continue to mature over time.
How will this be funded?
As announced in February, we expect this project to cost between $15–20 million for the initial work, but we cannot know for certain until contractor bids are received.
CDDC/Capitol South is seeking federal, state and local grants in addition to corporate sponsorships, to fund this project.
The $165 million estimated to be invested in the future, such as residential buildings over street-level retail and office buildings, will be private investment, which will be made as the market dictates.
Do you believe, in this environment, that it’s a wise use of funds to work on this project?
It may surprise you to learn that keeping
In addition to the money it costs Capitol South to maintain an abandoned mall, it is of zero benefit to the community, we also need to consider the opportunity cost of letting a central property one block from the Ohio Statehouse sit empty.
What is the park security strategy?
Security is a priority for us as we design and program the park. We believe Columbus Commons will be one of the safest areas in the city by virtue of its visibility, plans for lighting, security presence and the safety in numbers that comes from active use.
Capitol South is in discussions with the Columbus Association of Performing Arts (CAPA) to program the park. Additionally, we are in discussions with Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District about assisting with security.
What is the plan to begin Phase 2 and 3 (resident/retail and office)?
Future phases will consist of market-driven private investment.
While the private sector is currently waiting to recover, we have held many discussions with private investors and have reason to believe it is a very attractive site.
As contemplated, Columbus Commons will have enough space for approximately 400 residential units as well as 435,000 square feet of office space.
We will reduce the amount of retail that formerly existed at
We are currently in discussions with residential developers in order to gauge the speed with which this development component might occur.
What is the most complex part of this project?
The demolition. The value of the parking garage is tremendous. As a result, we are unable to just “blow up” the structure in a conventional manner.
It is more accurate to describe our process as a surgical dismantling – the mall will be taken apart piece by piece, just like it was built.
What’s the plan for programming of the park?
Parks are about people. Columbus Commons will be a great place to come, whether for a concert, festival, walking the dog, Frisbee- you dream it. There will be movable tables and chairs for lunches or dinner al fresco. We are in discussions with CAPA about the creation of an active, diverse and exciting program for this park.
What’s the plan to recycle
Demolition contractors are the original “green” team. They’ve been recycling longer than almost any other industry, because part of their price is based on how much they can recycle. We estimate that every part of the
Who is paying for upkeep of this park?
Capitol South will fund the maintenance and programming for Columbus Commons. At this point, we do not contemplate using any city funding for upkeep and programming. In the future, as parkland is gradually replaced by development, we expect private investment to foot the bill for residential, retail and office construction as well as shared maintenance of the remaining permanent park in the center.
Could this become a haven for criminals?
To the contrary, we believe this design will be vastly superior to that of an empty mall in terms of discouraging illicit activity, precisely because it will be in plain view for everyone to see. We are working with professionals to ensure that the lighting, landscaping, programming, security and layout are all designed to maximize safety. As a nine-acre park that gradually transitions over time into a one-acre green space where people live and work everyday, we expect Columbus Commons to be one of the safest areas in the city.
What was the inspiration for the park design?
Columbus Commons will be anchored by a permanent 6-acre green space. The park has a classical design, featuring a grand lawn, complemented by a bosque of trees, 12 flowerbeds and pedestrian pathways. The design was influenced by the Luxemburg Gardens in Paris as well as Bryant Park in New York. The elegant, stately lawn will be a perfect host for large entertainment events, recreational activities, picnicking or relaxing, all while enjoying the dramatic Downtown skyline.
What are the phases of Columbus Commons?
Phase 1: The plan is set to demolish the vacant City Center Mall and create Columbus Commons, a world-class urban park, which will be a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and spur economic development along High Street.
Columbus Commons will be the ideal place to catch a concert, play a sport, relax, walk your dog or enjoy a meal outside. The Grand Lawn, perfect for performances and events, will be lined with 12 flower beds, featuring seasonal displays, and a grove of trees that will create an entrance canopy from Rich Street.
A brick pathway, running east/west through the park, will create a pedestrian connection along Town Street. Movable tables and chairs will provide dynamic, attractive places to enjoy the park.
Phase 2: In the following 5-10 years, market-driven, mixed-use redevelopment is anticipated including multi-story buildings with residential units above street-level retail, office buildings and entertainment venues, all anchored by a permanent 6-acre green space.
What are the details of Phase 2 development on Columbus Commons?
The mixed-use development to surround the Columbus Commons will be market-driven. The exact materials and height will be chosen by the developer of the project. The initial phase will prepare the site for redevelopment by clearing the mall, adding the necessary utilities and creating clean, green slate to begin development when the market dictates.
The plan is for residential development to occur along High Street – the design, scale and scope will have to fit into the surrounding neighborhood and feature first-floor retail spaces, with residential units above. The commercial/office development is planned for the corner of Rich and Third Streets.
What are the limitations on construction?
Engineering studies have determined that the 950-space underground garage below City Center could not bear the weight of traffic or a new multi-level structure. While that limits development directly above the garage, it provides two important opportunities:
The sites along the perimeter of the park are NOT over the parking garage, and are planned to have a dense, urban neighborhood.
Since construction of roads and buildings over the garage is not possible, 6.1 acres will be dedicated as permanent parkland.
Will there be bike racks on the Columbus Commons site?
Yes! Our plans include multiple bike racks throughout the park and we hope that the Town Street pedestrian connection helps to make walking and biking more viable options for transportation Downtown.
Why are we building an amphitheater at both the Scioto Mile and Columbus Commons?
The two new Downtown amphitheaters will complement, rather than compete, with one another. The Columbus Commons amphitheater will have the capacity to host large-scale events, while the Scioto Mile amphitheater is meant to host smaller, more intimate gatherings.
It is important for Downtown to have a variety of entertainment venues, both indoor and outdoor. These two venues will be connected through the Scioto Mile and Town Street, creating an opportunity to coordinate the programming of the two amphitheaters. Together, these two venues will enhance outdoor Downtown arts and cultural entertainment and events.
Why are you knocking down retail to build retail?
The Columbus Commons development will ultimately reduce the amount of retail that formerly existed at City Center by 93%, to a new total of approximately 50,000-70,000 square feet of retail space. In addition to reducing the total square footage of retail, we are creating a retail cluster with a more urban feel. The retail space in City Center Mall was closed off from High Street. The new retail will have street presence and will help to enliven the High Street corridor and engage with the emerging RiverSouth neighborhood. Our plan calls for retail to be located in the first floor of residential buildings along the east side of High Street, creating a synergy with the new retail spaces in the first floor of the Lazarus Building. This retail will support both the residential and working downtown populations, as well as visitors to Columbus Commons.
How will Columbus Commons be connected to High Street?
Current plans call for a park entrance from High Street though a pedestrian Town Street connecter. The Town Street pedestrian connecter will be a brick pathway that will run east/west through Columbus Commons and provide access to Third Street. Further design details of the connector, such as gateways and signage, will be finalized in Phase II of construction. This connector will create a green corridor, linking Columbus Commons and the Scioto Mile.
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