Right Now Downtown

HAUNTING ALOFT

There are always rumors around about creepy downtown haunts, but there’s one spot that’s so spooky, the haunting has been showcased on professional video productions.

It’s the uber-cool hotel, The Lofts, at 55 E. Nationwide Blvd.  Seated in a structure that was built over one hundred years ago, not only is the hotel haunted, it’s also the final destination for weekend-package-partiers in Columbus Landmarks’ Best of Twenty Year Haunted Bus Tour.

What kind of ghost are we talking about?  According to the video production, she’s from the last century and wears a high-necked gown.  The on-screen tour guide notes, “She’s appeared in the stairwell off the lobby between the first and second floors, and on the second floor – period.”  Ms. Ghost knocks on doors, and occasionally on the heads of housekeepers.

And then last year, for the very first time, Ms. Ghost made an appearance to a couple of lag-behinders on the Landmarks tour.   The tourists were described as “visibly shaken.”

While the Landmarks tour date for October 31 is sold out, there might still be some space to spend the night with the ghost at the Lofts (614.461.2663).

Not convinced about ghosts at The Lofts? Check out the video.

I am sad to see that Giant Eagle might move from its current Victorian Village location at Buttles and Neil to a new location at Vine and Neil.  The move apparently allows Giant Eagle to increase its store size from large to huge in the never ending trend to make everything a big box store.

To the auto-addicted shopper, this move of four blocks might look insignificant.  But anyone who walks, bicycles or takes the bus to the grocery knows that this proposed location is a hostile place, wedged among a freeway, freeway ramp and busy streets.  And it is just far enough away from Victorian Village to make walking impractical.

Big box stores are incredibly anti-urban.  Their whole premise is to draw motorists from as big a geographical area as possible.  They require oceans of parking, which precludes integrating them into commercial strips like the Short North.  And they tend to be “category killers,” which makes walkable competitors unlikely.

BEHOLD: BE-HOLED

Unlike other downtown structures, the Sky Bridge isn’t going out with a BOOM.  There will be no explosions… nor will there be implosions.

But the big Bridge is going out in style.  You might even say that it’s going out in unprecedentedly unique style.  On October 22, the demolition team will showcase the destruction and area political leaders and the community will gather as they reveal… a giant hole in the Bridge.

Normally, a hole isn’t something to celebrate.  A hole in the nylons, a hole in an inflatable pool:  all bad things.  But this particular hole in the skyline will eventually allow dramatic changes to take place on that centralized stretch of High Street.

Columbus Downtown Development Corp.’s Amy Taylor shared the timeline on the project.  “The Bridge will be removed by the beginning of December, and retail storefronts will be built out sometime in the spring.”  That’s right, spiffy new retail storefronts.  With the bridge gone, daylight will spill down into that dark corridor and will illuminate fun, street-side spending opportunities.

So, even if there’s no explosive BOOM in the near future, the big hole is surely an explosive BOON for downtown’s future.

In this vlog, Cleve is in search of a really good reason for a skywalk. Finding none, he celebrates the pending demolition of the Lazarus skywalk, which is set to come down tomorrow, Wednesday, October 22. (Taped last Friday, Oct 17 during Pearl Market).

Cleve’s Comments on the Skywalk System on Vimeo.

OR GO COMMANDO…

Sure, Wall Street is crashing and the economy is tanking.  Things look kinda grim in the investment portfolio.

But at least ya’ got clean underwear.

It’s easy to take the Bare Necessities for granted, but for downtown’s homeless population, basics like shampoo, toothpaste and (yes) new undies can be real luxuries.  That’s why this year’s charity drive – the Bare Necessities Drive, is focused on the really critical basics for those in need.

From October 13 through November 14, drop off travel-sized hygiene products, as well as undergarments like socks, briefs and undershirts.  New, unused items only, please.  The skivvies are especially wanted.  Dr. Allison Pond explains why, “At a real basic level, it promotes health and sanitary conditions and prevents…”  The good doctor then rattled off a list of conditions too horrifying to transcribe.

In any case, downtown’s City Center just happens to be home A Dollar, which stocks plenty of the essentials at a price that allows you to treat others (and yourself) to a few little luxuries in tight times.

The Franklin County Commissioners made a huge contribution to the health of downtown in September.  They approved a resolution to pay 80% of the cost of monthly transit passes for county employees.  This one-year pilot program allows County employees unlimited access to COTA buses for $9.00 per month and unlimited access to local or express buses for $12.40 per month.

Unfortunately, parking benefits are the norm in Columbus.  Many employers think nothing of building and maintaining employee parking facilities or shelling out money for commercial parking spaces, but balk at offering comparable transit subsidies.

They create an artificial demand for parking that drives up the cost of doing business in downtown and creates a host of environmental and social problems.  Columbus parks 84 cars per 100 downtown employees, compared to 59 in Portland, Oregon.

Area universities, including Ohio State University and CCAD, have offered unlimited access to COTA for years.  These “eco pass” programs have successfully encouraged students to use transit and leave their cars in their home towns.  Finally, Columbus has a major employer willing to do the same thing.

The countdown has started.  Only four weeks remain for you to get your fill of the vendors at Peal Market.  Four weeks remain for the organic fresh-from-the-farm ice cream and the baked goods and the spring rolls and the massages… And then?

And then the vendors pack up for the winter.  That is, some of them do.  Some of them can still be found right here downtown.

Project Coordinator, Kacey Campbell, keeps tabs on the Pearl Market vendors and their movements.  When it comes to tracking them down for an off-season fix, she’s the go-to-gal.  Some of the vendors are easy to find, Campbell points out.  “Body Mechanix, now known as Take Ten Body Therapy, has moved into its new space – as you know.”  She’s referring to the new spot at 116 N. High Street we told you about a few weeks back.

Campbell keeps a list of the other wayward vendors.  Cook Shack BarBQ is planning to open a spot on Long Street.  New Orleans Pralines can be found in the City Center.  Snowville Creamery has their dairy products at the North Market’s Greener Grocer.  And Red Snapper is working on a deal to sell its island fare in downtown.

What about the rest?  Say bye-bye on October 31.  There is always next year; Campbell is already planning for 2009.  “We’ll open in early June – perhaps Tuesday, June 2… or maybe even May 29.  Keep an eye on our website!”

I recently saw a clip on television of Naked Cowboy performing on Times Square.  Naked Cowboy plays a guitar dressed only in skimpy underwear, a cowboy hat, and cowboy boots.  He used to be a regular at Broad and High.  The clip made me nostalgic for all the great characters that populated downtown in past years.

My favorite was Rooster Man, who dressed in a railroad conductor’s uniform and pushed a baby buggy through downtown as he gave rooster calls.  He could be heard for several blocks.  Rooster Man rode COTA and served as a self-appointed conductor.  After helping people board the bus, he would shout, “All Aboard!”  Between stops, he would perform a hilarious monologue for passengers.  He even appeared on a late night talk show.

Bird Man was another great character.  He would stand at the base of office towers and give amazing bird calls.  When I asked him one day why he gave bird calls, he explained that he fell from the top of an office building.  Hundreds of birds came to his rescue and grabbed his clothing with their talons before lowering him safely to the ground.

Does anyone know what became of Rooster Man and Bird Man?

Downtown…it’s on everyone’s lips, at least it seems that way to me.  Whenever people find out that I work for the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and Capitol South, I literally get overwhelmed with ideas, suggestions, concerns and hopes.

Obviously what to do with City Center is a hot issue, but other downtown topics frequently arise, ranging from where to walk your dog to where to park your car… from whether downtown is safe to the why there isn’t a grocery store close.  Everyone has an opinion and the discussions give me a chance to hear some great ideas, as well as correct some common misperceptions… downtown is actually one of the safest neighborhoods in Columbus and you are closer to a grocery store if you live downtown than if you live in the ‘burbs.

These conversations also give me a chance to share some of the exciting things we have going on downtown.  The residential options continue to grow, Gay Street has been energized, The Lazarus Building has been given a new life, and the Arena District continues to be the hottest place in town.

Soon, we will have a riverfront park in The Scioto Mile.  The Grange Insurance Audubon Center will open in the spring, as will the new home of the Columbus Clippers, Huntington Park.  A residential neighborhood in RiverSouth is emerging, and will offer a prime price point for the young and talented.  The future is bright!

I am proud of downtown, this community, the people, and the progress being made.  I’m excited about what’s to come!  So if you run into me, don’t hesitate to bring up your ideas – and don’t be surprised if we get into an enthusiastic discussion about downtown.  It’s one of my favorite topics.

The dirt is flying at downtown’s Scioto Mile, and Jeff Ruschau couldn’t be happier.

Ruschau is the Project Executive for Messer Construction, the company hired by Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) to manage renovation plans in this area.  In this role, he oversees day-to-day construction activities, communicates with the project’s stakeholders, and makes sure that project goals are being met.  Ruschau has been involved with the project since the early proposal stages, so he’s glad that shovels are finally hitting the ground.

Phase 1 of the project began in June.  Most of the initial phase involves roadwork and utilities – some of the basic building blocks for the project.  Phase 2, still in the design stage, will address specific elements such as a new promenade, fountains and expanded park space.  Renovations are scheduled to be completed in 2011, in time for the City’s bicentennial.

One of Ruschau’s primary responsibilities is to ensure clear, consistent communication between the many entities that have a vested interest in the Scioto Mile.  For example, he leads a weekly update meeting with representatives from CDDDC, MSI (the lead architects), EMH&T (the civil engineering firm), and the Columbus Recreation & Parks Department.

“Team and relationship building is an important part of my job, since there are so many different stakeholders,” said Ruschau.  “Communication is the key, so in addition to status reports, we evaluate and strategize to make sure that everyone’s on the same page moving forward.”

According to Ruschau, his day-to-day construction management activities focus on four main areas: safety, quality, schedule, and cost.  With dozens of workers and thousands of square feet of construction space, managing all of those factors is a significant task.  Ruschau’s experience and training, however, have him well prepared for the demands of the job.

“Jeff’s experience and dedication makes him a valuable asset to the project team,” said Ed Mendelson, director of construction services, CDDC.

Ruschau graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Civil Engineering.  A resident of Columbus and member of the Messer Construction team since 1989, he has worked on many local projects including the state capital building, Franklin County office tower, the Ohio Supreme Court building, and several projects on The Ohio State University campus.

In his off time, Ruschau stays busy with his family activities involving his four children, and frequently tackles handyman projects around his 1920’s-era house.  He and his family have been active with the local Easter Seals program for the past five years, and sponsored the organization for a recent grant from the Messer Foundation.  The $25,000 grant will help complete construction of a new facility located in Hilliard, Ohio.

He gets special satisfaction from working on civic projects, knowing that the public will be enjoying the results for years to come.  The Scioto Mile project is a good example of that.

“By the end of this project, we’re going to have a world class park facility,” Ruschau said.  “It’s an important part of my job to help people keep that goal in mind while they’re dealing with the challenges of construction.”

When he hangs up his hardhat at the end of the day, Ruschau has a single measurement for his success.  “It’s a good day when the customer is satisfied,” he said.

Let the dirt fly.