I got an anonymous tip this morning about the Franklin County Courthouse project delays having to do with the fact that the project may be moving into the City Center. I hope this rumor isn’t coming true because while it might save some construction dollars, the City Center is perfectly poised to bring a breath of fresh air downtown in the form of a mixed-use urban center. A courthouse would make it a 9-to-5 office block that’s unwelcoming to anyone who doesn’t belong there.
Anyway, here’s the rumor:
Rumor has it – The reason they are spending (wasting) so much time on the new courthouse project is not a design issue at all. Instead they are studying the options of taking over the City Center buildings for this complex. With the current series of events it could be argued that this is true especially with the adjacency to the Lazarus building and with the fate of the mall having now become such a big secret again, not to mention the revenues the parking garages would create for the city.
I actually like this idea.
Get the government away from the water front. That land is too valuable and too important for the city to place lifeless buildings along the water/neighboring district.
As for the Courthouse moving to City Center land. Its an interesting idea. In 1918, this city had big plans for itself and its citizens. It wanted to create a real Civic Center from the Statehouse to the Supreme Court, with a large open plaza and neighboring buildings to provide life. Much like European cities have.
We all know this didn’t happen. If there are plans to incorporate this idea of a civic space and it happens to be at the city center site this is a good thing for the city. If it contains a court house fine, so long as it contains elements that are needed – hotel, art space, a downtown attraction, etc.
I think it is just that, a rumor. On Tuesday the commissioners voted to approve construction contracts for excavation of the site and for construction management. See here:
http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/fc/content/press/boc11-13-07.cfm
Not happening. They are going ahead at site as planned, other things are afoot for City Center.
I like what Matt said. I also worry a bit.
Good to hear. I get a lot of rumors via email and this one came from a pretty reputable source, so I thought it was worth posting even if it could have possibly been born out of watercooler chatter.
Can’t wait to hear what’s going to happen with the City Center.
A friend of mine who works for an architecture firm downtown is working on a proposal for Nationwide Realty. He showed me some of what they’ve drawn up and its very unimpressive thus far. Their plan involves keeping the existing building and putting fake facades and store fronts on the part of the high street that has the mural of building’s shadows painted on it. That green space in front would become a parking lot. Its way to reminiscent of a suburban shopping center for me. I hope that idea doesn’t go far before being shot down.
Ugh. While I’d like to see the whole structure contain outward-facing storefronts, I think that greenspace needs to become something better than a parking lot.
wow. That parking lot mess sounds horrible.
Like matt was saying i think it would not be that bad of an idea . Personaly i say tear the damn thing down and start over. Even though the city center mall was a very popular desitnation in the 90′s, there are too many malls as is. I used to be SOOO opposed to that mall even being closed but with our downtown being built up again maybe another plan for that particular space would work.