Topic: Columbus: Gay Street Condos / Neighborhood Launch Development

[UncleRando]

I don't see a problem with that kind of contrast.  One of the most successful downtowns with a large residential focus is Vancouver.  In Vancouver they have implemented a design tactic that is tall/slender towers with a low residential base (2-4 stories).

This allows for a great mix of urban residents and an amazing population density.  People out on the streets only notice the first several floors of a building...so the contrast is not that problematic outside of photographs.  Projects like this aren't the sexiest, but they are probably the most effective at creating a vibrant urban core.

[David]

Cincinnati has 3-4 story buildings downtown. You just don't notice them as easily because they aren't built on entire blocks. I love E. Gay st. I think the stuff they're building will be great for Downtown Columbus.

I agree it is better than a parking lot.  What my problem was when this project first began it seemed to me that they were trying to bring the suburbs downtown.  We did that in '89 with City Center and we see where that got us. 

Look at LeVeque Tower. My friend has an office in there and I know first hand that they have about a 50% occupancy rate, including restaurants that aren't being utilized. The penthouse in LeVeque is for rent and it's going for less than 2k a month. Everything is a gamble. Overall, I think smaller scale stuff is less of a gamble, especially in this economy.

[WalkerEvans]

Love the development...how is it selling though in this bad economy?

You can see for yourself here: http://www.neighborhoodlaunch.com/floorplans

Looks like the 4th Street Side has completely sold...
The new "Park" development wrapping up is mostly all in contract with 4 units remaining...
And the 5th Street Side (that I posted photos of) that just started construction recently is still readily available.

Seems like they're selling well. I know someone in the process of moving in this month.

[WalkerEvans]

Can someone explain why on this forum and Columbus Underground, people strongly dislike the idea of 3-4 story buildings next to skyscrapers or high-rise next to human scale?

You pretty much already answered your own question. I think people were expecting something taller/denser and were more upset when it was first announced. Now that they're coming alive people seem to be swinging to the other side and liking this development now that they can see how it fits into the urban fabric of downtown.

[Columbo]

Some construction photos of the condos along the Fifth Street side from yesterday:
(Image removed from quote.)

From: http://www.neighborhoodlaunch.com/news?page=1

The new Contemporary building (photo above) is nearly complete at Neighborhood Launch and you have a chance to see the first finished units during our open house on Sunday, March 1 from noon until 5 p.m.  Stop by and see these new condominiums located at the corner of Fifth and Gay Streets in downtown Columbus.

[327]

Can someone explain why on this forum and Columbus Underground, people strongly dislike the idea of 3-4 story buildings next to skyscrapers or high-rise next to human scale?

You pretty much already answered your own question. I think people were expecting something taller/denser and were more upset when it was first announced. Now that they're coming alive people seem to be swinging to the other side and liking this development now that they can see how it fits into the urban fabric of downtown.

I felt similarly toward the Avenue District townhomes in Cleveland.  I still hope the main street frontage, which isn't underway at all yet, involves a little more height.  But I've warmed up to them generally because they look good and they perform their intended function, getting people to live downtown.  And I still think this Gay Street project is one that Cleveland should look to as a model, because the design really is nice.

[Keith M.]

Live right across the street from our very own (very gay) Warehouse District!

[ColDayMan]

I dig those!

[SFSpike]

Not bad!

[J.Remy]

I can totally dig those!

[Columbo]

Bucking the trend: Developer doesn't shy away from putting up more condos, townhomes
Monday,  March 16, 2009  - 2:57 AM
By Mike Pramik, The Columbus Dispatch

Edwards Cos.' Neighborhood Launch project, which covers several city blocks east of the intersection of 4th and Gay streets, is one of the exceptions to the recent condo downturn.  The neighborhood aspect of the project -- Downtown condos you don't need an elevator to reach -- is a major selling point.

So, too, are the unique finishes and architecture, not to mention a temptingly low mortgage rate and partial property-tax abatement.  Edwards has nearly completed the first 47 units of the 300-unit project and this spring will begin building the next phase.  The project is drawing star power, of sorts.  Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and her husband bought two units and turned them into one.  Former Ohio State University football player Anthony Gonzalez owns a unit, too.


Map of the Neighborhood Launch/Gay Street Condominium Project Area

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/03/16/ZONE0316.ART_ART_03-16-09_C12_KPD7BB0.html?sid=101

[CMH_Downtown]

Edwards is confident enough in the project that he's planning the next phase. Sometime this spring, Edwards Cos. will begin building one of two styles of condos, depending on demand.

The first would be a combination of the townhomes and flats that will reflect the majority of the project's current construction.  The traditional-style project would begin at E. Gay Street and N. 5th Street and proceed east nearly to N. 6th Street.  The "Bishop's Walk" phase will include a mixture of condo types.  Prices have not been set.

Another building planned for the second phase is a five-story structure on the northeast corner of 6th and Gay streets that will include mostly one-bedroom flats.  Edwards said he'll determine which will kick off the construction depending on which types of units are preferred in the final building of the first phase, which is going up along N. 5th Street.

Awesome. Cannot wait for the second phase to begin (bye-bye surface lots)!

[David]

I was admiring this development a few days ago while walking downtown. It's interesting that these very modern architectural styles contrast so much with the other 2 sides of the block. For some reason it just doesn't bother me. So much attention is being paid to detail in this development.

[WalkerEvans]

I wasn't entirely sold at first on Neighborhood Launch, but it's quickly become one of my favorite developments in the whole city.

[Keith M.]

It's hard not to like it. It's swallowing up a bunch of surface lots and it's not an eyesore.

[seanguy]

I think on paper many were skeptical of this project.  It seemed to take a large amount of land that many had envisioned for denser, mixed use development.

 Heck I thought the area wouldn't be developed until 2015 at the earliest.  I saw it as a spill over as the rest of "traditional" downtown is developed out and there's a demand for midrise/highrise office space on the periphery of this NE side of downtown.

Now that the development has started and is well into 1/4 done (judging by the full plan) the Columbusites can better see the realistic goals this development will achieve in turning a area of parking lots and random warehouses into a true townhome/brownstone neighborhood of different architecture styles.  Before we had our more Utopian ideals running wild and are willing to settle with this development in the short run hoping higher density development or infill will return as the economy picks up in the long run.

[David]

There are far too many surface lots for dense development to take place on every block. Cohesion should take precedence over density imo. Downtown is too fragmented. These are much more pedestrian-oriented than a high rise office building or that giant beast Miranova would be. I think these give Columbus a more contemporary, modern flair. Like Toronto... except nicer hehe.

[Columbo]

Bucking the trend: Developer doesn't shy away from putting up more condos, townhomes

Edwards is confident enough in the project that he's planning the next phase.  Sometime this spring, Edwards Cos. will begin building one of two styles of condos, depending on demand.

The first would be a combination of the townhomes and flats that will reflect the majority of the project's current construction.  The traditional-style project would begin at E. Gay Street and N. 5th Street and proceed east nearly to N. 6th Street.  The "Bishop's Walk" phase will include a mixture of condo types.  Prices have not been set.

Another building planned for the second phase is a five-story structure on the northeast corner of 6th and Gay streets that will include mostly one-bedroom flats.  Edwards said he'll determine which will kick off the construction depending on which types of units are preferred in the final building of the first phase, which is going up along N. 5th Street.

(Image removed from quote.)
Map of the Neighborhood Launch/Gay Street Condominium Project Area
The ""Bishop's Walk" condos would be at the left-most Phase 2 labeled on this map. The proposed five-story building would be at the right-most Phase 2 labeled on this map.

Here is some additional information on the five-story structure proposed for the northeast corner of 6th and Gay in the Edwards Companies Neighborhood Launch development (aka Gay Street Condominiums).  This information was part of an earlier Business First article (full article located here).

"Edwards’ Gay Street Condominiums LLC will seek approval for construction of 24 one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom penthouses at 223-235 E. Long Street.  The contemporary-style project designed by Brian Kent Jones Architects Inc. would include a 30-slot parking deck set half a level below grade on three sides of the five-story condo building.  An environmentally friendly roof is proposed to cap the garage with landscaping beds along North Sixth and East Gay streets."

The project would mark the fourth phase of development Edwards has planned on the 8-acre site.  When completed, the project will have 251 housing units.  Edwards has sold 22 of the 26 completed units, and it has four condos in contract among 21 under construction along North Fifth.


And here is a rendering of the proposed five-story building at the northeast corner of 6th and Gay Streets, as posted here in the Columbus Underground.

[David]

Booo! - the setbacks..

I like the other ones better. Smaller scale; makes the street look more cozy (God knows DT Columbus could use that).

[WalkerEvans]

You know... I was really skeptical at first when I saw the renderings for the first few buildings of Neighborhood Launch, but they've all really turned out nice. So while that rendering isn't quite the optimal design for me either, I'm willing to bed I'm going to find the completed project more impressive.

Either way, I love the fact that this neighborhood they're building is comprised of completely different looking buildings, different layouts, and different styles. It's sort of the polar opposite of the all-brick Arena District.

[David]

True that. I love the arena district but I would have liked to see more experimentation.

[J.Remy]

I LOVE this building.  This is so what Columbus needed; one bedroom flats!  I would so live here!

[Keith M.]

Any word when it will break ground?

[WalkerEvans]

Anne (my wife) and I went to the open house condo tour they held today to showcase the newer "Contemporary Building" along fifth street. We had been in some of the other model units before on the corner of Gay & Fourth, and while these are very different on the outside, the interior looks somewhat similar.

Which is a good thing.

These are very nice spaces. A little pricey, but the location is definitely worth the money. I love how everything seems to be laid out in a very smart manner. These 5th street units all have garage access in the back, and there's semi-private walkways in between the garages and the units that make for a beautiful linear maze of porches and pathways. From the views on the top floors, you might notice some of the air conditioner units placed up on the roofs and mostly out of sight and out of the way. Every little space gets maximized. Very nice.

Here's some photos I took today:

[David]

Those look so cool! I wish I had the money for one lol

[Keith M.]

Looks comfy.

[LAsam]

Not a big fan of the wood paneled appliances/cabinets... looks kinda cheap to me... like particle board.  I do, however, think they look rather charming overall.

[WalkerEvans]

Yeah, I took a photo of that fridge as I thought it looked a little silly. The dishwasher looked the same.

But there was only one unit (that we saw) that contained those appliances. They had different kitchen appliance finishes in each unit, and thankfully most of them were more of the stainless-steel or solid black variety.

[Sherman Cahal]

Such awesome views. Where else can you have a flat and look up to see towering structures next door?

[Sherman Cahal]

I went back and tried to compile the various news articles into one article. Without access to my old newspaper subscriptions via my university anymore, I can't dig up anything too old on this.

Gay Street Condominiums
Scroll towards bottom to view the article. Click "Photographs" for more images.
Jeff Edwards, a Columbus developer of the family-owned Edwards Company, began assembling land to construct low-rise residential units along Gay Street in March 2006 at a cost of $7.8 million. Edwards had been in talks with the city about converting a 700-space surface parking lot at Gay and Long streets into upscale residences. On November 21, he unveiled plans for the proposed $70 million development that would consist of 250 units on 6.5 acres at East Long and East Gay with a design to evoke Chicago's Lincoln Park or New York's Murray Hall. Conceptual plans called for garden and townhouse-styled condos with no defined style, to evoke a sense of a community that formed over the period of decades.

The announcement and subsequent approval of the project was lauded as the largest urban housing development project since the launch of the tax breaks and initiatives in 2002.

Click the link above for the remainder of the article.