Back in August I asked Where are all the Boutique Hotels in Columbus? It looks like my question is finally being answered:
Boutique hotel suggested
Saturday, January 12, 2008
BY MIKE PRAMIK AND MARLA MATZER ROSEA funky novelty store predating the Greater Columbus Convention Center and today’s trendy Short North may play a key part in the future of both.
The owners of Yankee Trader have enlisted a real-estate broker to seek a buyer who will convert their aging brick building at 463 N. High St. into an upscale hotel.
The downside: The potential development could hurt plans for a larger, convention-style hotel being considered a block away on property controlled by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, local officials said this week.
Yankee Trader co-owner Lynette Howard said she’s not planning to close the quirky store, known for Halloween costumes, rubber eyeballs and plastic rats. But she says she might move.
Walker-
Any ideas as to what goes on in the upper floors of that building? It seems largely empty. As do many of the surrounding buildings.
If it could become apartments I think that might be a better solution.
Allow for a full service hotel to be built while adding to the population of that area with residents. Lets face it, there is no reason why North Market should close so early.
Matt
I think the upper floors are used for storage. I agree that apartments would be nice, but probably very expensive for the location.
As for the North Market… this is an issue I’ll be addressing during the beginning of my tenure there on the North Market Development Authority Board of Trustees, which starts this month.
What would happen to the connected buildings if such plans went through? Would they also be sold/renovated and/or how could current residents live there during construction?
I’m not really sure how they’d be affected. I’d assume that the buildings next to it are freestanding, and wouldn’t be ripped down or anything.
I really haven’t heard anything on this in awhile though, so it may not have been feasible. That or the economy is making it too risky right now.