Topic: Columbus: Ohio Deaf School renovation

[buildingcincinnati]

Capitol South seeks buyer, ideas for remnants of former deaf school
Business First of Columbus, 6/26/06

Developers interested in revamping the remaining section of the former Ohio School for the Deaf complex in Columbus have until September 8 to present detailed redevelopment proposals for the property.  Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. on June 16 released its request for proposals to buy and redevelop the 107-year-old property at 400 E. Town Street. 

The city's desire to sell the downtown property comes after government officials determined in May that the cost of redeveloping the complex proved too high for the Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks and the city Department of Technology to proceed with the project.

Capitol South has spent nearly $200,000 on capital improvements since the city directed the nonprofit affiliate to acquire the remaining leasehold interests in the property for $1.8 million from a Dallas developer in 2004.

[Keith M.]

FORMER OHIO DEAF SCHOOL
Historic building may be redeveloped
City consultants like Philadelphia group’s plans for upscale apartments
Friday, January 05, 2007
Mike Pramik, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



The historic Ohio Deaf School, a grand structure tucked along E. Town Street, is moving toward a luxurious rebirth.  A plan by a Philadelphia developer to turn the building into upscale housing has gained the approval of the city’s top real-estate consultant, giving the project the likely momentum it needs to be completed.  Campus Apartments Inc. has offered to pay the city $2.25 million for the former school for the deaf, at 400 E. Town St., and spend about $11 million to convert it into apartments.  The acquisition would end the city’s 25-year ownership of the building and breathe new life into a structure that was built in the 1800s and stands just west of the city’s Topiary Park.  Columbus recently scuttled plans to move some of its offices to the building.

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/01/05/20070105-G1-00.html

Click link  for the location, history & pics.

[buildingcincinnati]

Housing aimed at Deaf School building
Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball
Friday, January 5, 2007

A Philadelphia urban housing developer has tentatively won a three-way race to redevelop the former Ohio Deaf School building in downtown Columbus into housing.  Campus Apartments Inc., which is redeveloping the former Seneca hotel building at East Broad Street and South Grant Avenue, would pay the city $2.25 million to turn the late-19th century school property at 400 E. Town Street into 71 rental units.

Campus Apartments CEO David Adelman expects to spend $13 million on the Deaf School project, which would open in the 2008.  The project would mark the next development phase for Campus Apartments in Columbus, where it has the 80-apartment Seneca project under way.

Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/01/08/story1.html

[Wheelingman]

The more residential development for downtown Columbus, the healthier and more vibrant the downtown will become. I think this is a very good idea.

[Keith M.]

What I like about this is that more focus is on rentals, which are few and far between downtown. I'm guessing this might mean less people are buying condos.

[seanguy]

I don't know if that is the case. This developer focuses on rental units, usually around urban campuses in central cities. They are not usually into the condo biz.  Also, they are from the east coast, where the condo market is dipping, so they are most likely nervous to enter the condo biz.  However, Columbus urban condo market is in the opposite mode and is still growing rapidly and units are selling.  Nationwide, wouldn't be constructing a 20 story condo tower in downtown if the condo market in Columbus is soft.

Im at odds right now over the details of this project, first this is a nice old building which has been used as offices for some time.

This conversion is an okay idea because the Old Deaf School is located in the old town st neighborhood and has the deaf school park right next to it.  Making it ideal for condo or rental.  There is a lot of rentals already in the area, so it is a nice little collection of apartment dwellers already.

However, the company that has been awarded the contract is already working on the Senaca Hotel (now sitting empty) into apartments,
The Seneca sits on broad st (anyone have a pic) and is a grand old hotel brick structure like 8 stories i believe (somewhere around that)
This same company (from Phili) announced that they would redo the Senaca into apartments over 2 years ago.  Still today the apartments are not completed.

Now the city or capital south , whoever, has awarded the same company, who hasn't fullfilled their existing rental conversion promises, another contract to convert a second historical building?

I find that a bit odd, in urban condo or apartment conversion projects the most important aspect is the developers history, not just the initial plan. 

There were some other local developers with experience in Columbus not Phili.  For instance, one was the developer who oversaw the construction of the Hampton Inn in the Short North.

[Columbo]

From today's weekly column in the Dispatch by Mike Pramik, which covers Central Ohio construction projects and updates.

• Campus Apartments of Philadelphia is planning to unveil to the Downtown Commission on Tuesday its initial plan for the conversion of the Ohio Deaf School building into 71 apartments.  Campus Apartments said in January it wanted to spend more than $13 million to acquire and convert the historic building at 400 E. Town Street.  The project will include reconfiguring the parking lot to build an entrance plaza to the adjacent Topiary Garden.

[UncleRando]

Looks like a cool structure, and in this market it is probably a good thing to go with apartments over condos.

[cbus_guy]

This building has always been one of my favorites.  Glad to see it being used for apartments/condo rather than government offices.

[Columbo]

Deaf School apartments: Redevelopment under way
Sunday,  December 30, 2007 3:37 AM
Mike Pramik, The Columbus Dispatch
 
The redevelopment of the Ohio Deaf School, 400 E. Town St., into apartments is proceeding according to plan.  Campus Apartments of Philadelphia plans to retrofit the 98-year-old building with 71 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Owner David Adelman is working with the Columbus architectural firm of Schooley Caldwell Associates on the project.  Campus Apartments acquired the building in the summer from Capitol Square Urban Redevelopment Corp. for $2.2 million.

Schooley Caldwell Chief Executive Bob Loversidge said the design has been completed and his firm is working on construction documents. Loversidge has worked on several planned reuses for the building over the years, including assisted living and offices. "Most of what was done to it in the past is going to be gutted," Loversidge said. "In some cases, we'll be taking it back to the bare building."

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/12/30/20071230-G1-00.html

[CMH_Downtown]

More great news for Columbus' cultural institutions as the CML announces plans to purchase the former Deaf School building and associated property, which includes the Topiary Park:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2013/01/23/library-considering-purchase-of-former.html

CU write-up and discussion of the aforementioned news can be found here:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/expansion-of-downtown-columbus-library-proposed

[ColDayMan]

Awesome.

[Columbo]

More about the Columbus Metro Library system purchasing the Old Deaf School building and property adjacent to the system's Main Library in downtown.  As stated previously, the purchase would allow the Main Library to open up its currently blank eastern wall that faces the Topiary Park.  Early renderings show a glass facade replacing the blank wall and a patio replacing part of the existing parking lot on the Deaf School property.

The Main Library is undecided about the use of the Deaf School building.  It might include some office space for the Main Library.  It might also be leased or sold to the Chicago-based Christo Rey school, a network of Catholic college prep high schools that currently has a location in Franklinton.  Or possibly some combination of the two.  Below is the most recent Dispatch article about the Deaf School:

Buying old Deaf School won’t hinder library upgrades
By Dean Narciso, The Columbus Dispatch
Sunday, January 27, 2013 - 11:38 AM

Library officials on Wednesday announced plans to purchase the former deaf school, allowing access to a parking lot that would be converted into an outdoor patio along the rear of the Main Library.

Renovation costs of up to $11 million, in addition to the $2.1 million purchase price, would be necessary if the library moves its administrative offices into the turn-of-the-century building.  More likely, the library would sell the deaf school portion of the property, possibly to a school.

READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/01/27/buying-old-deaf-school-wont-hinder-upgrades.html

[Columbo]

Renderings about the Old Deaf School building and property adjacent to the system's Main Library in downtown.  As stated previously, the purchase would allow the Main Library to open up its currently blank eastern wall that faces the Topiary Park.  Early renderings show a glass facade replacing the blank wall and a patio replacing part of the existing parking lot on the Deaf School property.

The Main Library is undecided about the use of the Deaf School building.  It might include some office space for the Main Library.  It might also be leased or sold to the Chicago-based Christo Rey school, a network of Catholic college prep high schools that currently has a location in Franklinton.  Or possibly some combination of the two.  Below are some conceptual renderings:

[Columbo]

Couple of updates about the Columbus Main Library and the former Ohio Deaf School building adjacent to it. 

First update is that the Library closed on a $2.16 million deal with seller Campus Apartments Inc. for the 2.2-acre property and building.  More about that below from Business First (in a non-subscription required article) and an editorial from the Columbus Dispatch:

Business First: Library wastes no time buying former Deaf School

Columbus Dispatch: Turning over a new leaf - Purchase gives library room to expand, tie to Topiary Garden

[Columbo]

Second update is that the Library is selling the 88,000-square-foot Ohio Deaf School building at 400 E. Town Street to the Cristo Rey Columbus High School for $1 million. 

The library board agreed to sell the building and a portion of the adjacent surface parking lot.  The library would retain the portion of the existing surface parking lot next to the Main Library building.  This portion of the parking lot would be removed and turned into an outdoor plaza, which would connect the Topiary Garden/Deaf School Park with a renovated east facade of the Main Library building. 

They expect a final contract and a closing by late March or early April.  Cristo Rey, which is currently located in a Columbus Diocese-owned property in Franklinton, has tentative plans to move into Ohio Deaf School building for the 2014-15 school year.  More about this below from Business First (in a non-subscription required article) and from the Columbus Dispatch:

Business First: Library selling former Deaf School for $1M to Cristo Rey high school

Columbus Dispatch: Deaf school to be sold to Cristo Rey high school

 

[Columbo]

More about the Cristo Rey Columbus High School that will be moving into the Ohio Deaf School building from NBC4 News and ThisWeekNews.  The NBC 4 link contains a video report in addition to its written report, photos and links to the Cristo Rey School:

NBC4 News: Catholic High School Offering Students Work-Study Opportunity

ThisWeekNews: Cristo Rey chief excited about Deaf School property