The current site is located on the East Side of Columbus, near the Franklin Park Conservatory and Bexley, OH. The site is accessible through Oak Street and Kelton Avenue. There are three brick buildings on the site in various states of disrepair, the foliage on site is overgrown, and there is litter in and around the area. The Trolley Barn Block Watch set up with the 12th Precinct of Columbus police covers the neighborhood surrounding Franklin Park, lowering crime levels in and around the site.

Street view of the current lot

Street view of the current lot

Our group has the vision of creating a space that will not only stimulate the economy of the area, but work towards building a vibrant and cohesive community. We imagine spaces that will narrow divides and provide a forum for unity. Planned Neighborhood aims to develop a local produce hub along with a community-learning center. In addition our plan is to include a local brewery and tap house that will provide the nearby residents with a relaxing get away from their normal hustle and bustle. This development will be named The Trolley Barn Block.

The Westernmost side of the site will house our Barn Brewery and parking area.

Current conditions, westernmost building

Current conditions, westernmost building

Bar name and logo

Redevelopment proposal, front view

The more centralized region of the site will be the home of our community gardens, where local gardeners can purchase a small plot to grow crops, herbs, and flowers. Located in the middle of the site, this area should get moderate sunlight in the middle of the day and shade in the dusk/dawn periods. Provided the soil is thoroughly tested, this area could support carrots, radishes, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy vegetables, some of which, including carrots and radishes, grow into the winter months, allowing for sustainable returns of produce. Considering the size of the site, yields would be modest, supporting the small market on a weekly, or every-other-week basis.

Current conditions, mid site

Current conditions, mid site

Redevelopment proposal

Located on the easternmost region of the site will be the proposed Trolley Car Market, Community Center, Learning Kitchen, and a loading dock to support deliveries to the market. The Learning Kitchen will act as an instructional site where families can learn about healthy eating options and how to prepare fresh meals. The Community Center is intended to be used as a space for family gatherings, community events, etc. to support healthy attitudes towards food and to promote the benefits of supporting local growers.

Current conditions, easternmost building

Current conditions, easternmost building

Market name and logo

Redevelopment proposal, front view

The re-purposed brownfield site will be accessible through many modes of transportation, but geared mainly towards those who use non-motorized transportation and public transit. Our consumers will be able to travel to the site on bus, by bike, driving, or with a quick walk. There will be parking amenities for both for bikes and cars, as well as street parking available in the case of lot overflow.

Redevelopment Site Plan

We imagine that although many neighbors will greatly favor our proposal, there will be skeptics. One concern could be that because this site is a brownfield, chemicals and toxins could have infiltrated the ground making it unsafe to grow healthy crops. We have a plan to clean the area of toxins through soil treatments, growth of plants that will revitalize the plots, transporting non-toxic dirt to the site, and the use of compost to create a healthy soil for our families. The compost will be provided from the market and brewery leftovers. Another concern might be that our site will bring in traffic and increase pedestrian visits in what is a relatively calm neighborhood. Although we do hope to bring traffic to the area, our plan is to create a serene space that one can visit to relax, run errands, or learn. In addition, we have taken measures that will act as a buffer to minimize noise from inside the development such as lining the site borders with trees and shrubbery. Finally, we understand that the brewery could have negative connotations associated with it. Our vision for the brewery is to have a tap house/restaurant location that would offer an inviting and relaxed atmosphere. This would be a family restaurant and have a separate brew room were customers could indulge in a few beverages. The establishment would have normal business hours, closing at ten on weekdays and midnight on the weekends, to respect the neighbors and reduce commotion and noise. This facet of the proposal would, of course, first have to gain public support at a neighborhood meeting, but we feel we could provide enough benefits to prove the Barn Bar an asset to the site and the neighborhood.

Overall, we know that the Trolley Barn Block will pay tribute to its roots but add a modern twist to the present neighborhood. We want our guests to be able to see landmarks such as the trolley barn and know that was the same trolley barn that their grandparents passed walking home from church each Sunday. In addition, we want to create a space that will one day be a lasting asset for the community and be a new piece of history for the site.

While arriving at the brownfield site on Kelton and Oak many emotions come to mind. One might feel scared, hopeless, disinterested, or solemn. The surrounding neighbors seem to have an evident divide. Looking through the lens of planner, however, one can see potential for a thriving site that will contribute to a much deserving community.

Street view of the current lot

Street view of the current lot

We have the vision of creating a space that will not only stimulate the area economically, but as a community. We imagine spaces that will narrow divides and provide a forum for unity. Planned Neighborhood aims to develop a local produce hub along with a community-learning center. In addition our plan is to include a local brewery and tap house that will provide the near by residents with a relaxing get away from their normal hustle and bustle. This development will be named The Trolley Barn Block.

The Westernmost side of the site will house our Barn Brewery and parking area.

Current conditions, westernmost building

Current conditions, westernmost building

Bar name and logo

Redevelopment proposal, front view

The more centralized region of the cite will be the home of our community gardens, where local gardeners can purchase a small plot to grow crops, herbs, and flowers.

Current conditions, mid site

Current conditions, mid site

Redevelopment proposal

On the Eastern most region of the site will be located the Trolley Car Market, Community Center, learning Kitchen, and Loading Dock. The learning kitchen will act, as an instructional site where families can learn about healthy options and how to prepare fresh meals. Our Community center will be used as a space for family gatherings, community events, etc.

Current conditions, easternmost building

Current conditions, easternmost building

Market name and logo

Redevelopment proposal, front view

This Brownfield Site will be accessible through many modes of transportation. Our consumers will be able to travel to the site on bus, by bike, driving, or with a quick walk. There will be parking amenities for guests, both for bike and cars, as well as street parking in case of overflow.

Redevelopment Site Plan

We imagine that although many neighbors will greatly favor our proposal, there will be skeptics. One concern could be that because this site is a brownfield, chemicals and toxins could have infiltrated the ground making it unsafe to grow healthy crops. We have a plan to clean the area of toxins through soil treatments, growth of plants that will revitalize the plots and the use of compost to create a healthy soil for our families. The compost will be provided from our Farmers Market and Brewery leftovers. Another concern might be that our site will cause commotion in what is a relatively calm neighborhood. Although we do hope to bring traffic to the area, our plan is that we will create a serene space that one can visit to relax, run errands, or learn. In addition, we have taken measures that will act as a buffer to minimize noise from inside the development such as trees and shrubbery. Finally, we know that the brewery could have a negative stigmas associated with it. Our vision for the Brewery is to have a tap house restaurant location that would have an inviting and relaxed feel. This would be a family restaurant and have a separate brew room were customers could indulge in a few beverages. The establishment would have normal business hours, closing at ten on weekdays and midnight on the weekends, to respect the neighbors and reduce commotion and noise.

Overall, We know that the Trolley Barn Block will pay tribute to its roots but add a modern twist to the present neighborhood. We want our guests to be able to see landmarks such as the trolley barn and know that was the same trolley barn that their grandparents passed walking home from church each Sunday. In addition, we want to create a space that will one day be a lasting asset for the community and be a new piece of history for the site.

The Roseway Railyard

Currently, the site contains three large, predominately brick buildings along with two smaller buildings. The landscape is overgrown and trash litters the area. Bricks in disrepair cover some areas of the ground, while others are mostly dirt. In addition, in the middle of the site there is an irregular ditch and densely growing plants. The buildings themselves are in poor condition. Rotting wood, broken windows, and collapsed sections of roof are all part of the site. The brick on the eastern and western-most buildings is in relatively good condition along with the stone at the base of the western most building. However the surrounding area is mostly residential with a small park, a family center and a corner store to the south, and the Franklin Park Conservatory to the north.

The eastern most building in its current condition.

Relationship to human-size.

Brick pavement already on site.

Development plan:

Historic sites, such as the Rose Avenue Car Barn, should be reused and redeveloped because it helps to create a local neighborhood feeling, a place that is unlike any other. It’s important to maintain facilities as much as possible, and incorporate design elements from these areas into new construction or thought processes.

Overall, we wanted to create a family/tourist friendly area by re-purposing the old buildings and creating a new market space. Our first idea is to transform the old trolley barn (western-most building) into a streetcar museum, complete with a small café and gift shop located in actual street cars that designate the main entrance to the museum on the north façade.

The current condition of the museum space. Notice the skylights filtering natural light in to the space.

The space inside of the museum would utilize its natural skylights and the large garage door facing Kelton would be sealed, but maintained as much as possible, and a new entrance would be on the northern side of the building, facing the parking lot. This concept gives the building a new purpose, while maintaining its past, drawing in families, tourists, and education based groups to learn about the history of streetcars in Columbus.

Shows which direction the loop would run, the new open-space event/market area, and the handicapped parking. Also shows the pond and the positioning of all buildings to be maintained as per the plan.

In the middle of the lot, we have planned a newly constructed, open, indoor marketplace with restaurants, groceries from farmer’s markets and event space. Local families can shop, dine, and attend events without having to leave their neighborhood. It is built in a style that reflects the lower density of the area and brings modernity to contrast the very traditional, old buildings on site, bringing the area into the 21st century, whilst recessed from the street view to help maintain the neighborhood aesthetic. The back wall, on the northernmost side of the loop, would be covered in murals from people who utilize the site.

The new, open event/market space with capacity for a restaurant.

Roses and trees, ivy on the walls, and proposed ideas for the westernmost building, complete with the streetcars on the northern face of the building.

The plan for the easternmost building is to convert the northernmost section into a community art gallery and the southern most section into a bar or cocktail lounge with a relaxed setting. South of the market and lounge we have a rainwater pond that can be used as an ice rink in the winter, and a picnic area that can be used by the site’s visitors and community members. The southern façade of the lounge that borders the picnic area will also serve as a community mural where locals can write words of inspiration on a chalk-painted wall. Other aspects of our plan help to bring a sense of history and cohesiveness to the site. Our first aspect is landscape. Kelton Ave used to be named Rose Ave, so we thought that it was important to bring roses into the landscape along with trees and other vegetation that borders and runs throughout the site.

Gateway archways reflecting the arches that used to power streetcars in Columbus.

We also will use arches that form a gateway over the entrance and exits in order to continue the streetcar concept and give the site identity. The pedestrian paths will be made out of repurposed brick from the torn down buildings in order to maintain history and the aesthetic of the site. One way vehicular circulation throughout the site also incorporates the streetcar concept, as the one-way loop resembles the route of a streetcar. There will also be handicap spaces available on the loop between the market area and the gallery.

The eastern most building, with the middle section that has a collapsed roof re-purposed as a garden between the gallery and lounge.

Overview of eastern most building

Garden view, looking at gallery

Neighbors:

The residents surrounding the site may have issues with the increased traffic, and increased activity in the space that could disrupt their daily lives. However, they would most likely be more inclined to embrace the redevelopment of the site. It will bring in new economic opportunities for the residents, create a community oriented space, and will retain its historic value through the redevelopment of the eastern and western-most buildings.

Oak Street Center for the Arts

             The redevelopment first started as a brownfield with several old, worn down buildings and torn up land in between. The buildings were dirty and crumbling, but a few of them showed potential. The area is surrounded by Franklin park to the North and Rainbow Park to the South. There is a one-way street (Kelton Avenue) running South to North on the West side of the brownfield, an alley North of the site, and Oak Street along the South edge of the brownfield. The neighborhood has many Churches, a couple parks and stores all ready, so we focused on what the area needs and will use.

We plan to revitalize the long building on the Western most edge of the property into a multi-use space. Half of it will be an artist studio with a very open, industrial design. This space will be used for trades such as pottery and glass work. There will be a wall separating the studio space from the other half, which will be used as an event space. In this event space there will be a built in bar/prep kitchen to be used for events. There is access to an outdoor patio of the Eastern side of the building. We see this event space being used for occasions such as galleries, banquets and wedding receptions.

For the building on the Eastern edge of the brownfield, we have the idea to restore it and use the space for a dance studio and music school. The studio will have a few different dance rooms, a viewing area, staff rooms and closets for costume/prop storage. The music school will have several rooms that are sound proof, offices, storage for instruments and a waiting area for parents. Since the neighborhood is mostly residential we predict these institutions being busy during after school hours as parents will sign their kids up for the programs.

We are keeping two additional buildings from the brownfield. These are the two small buildings located in the middle of the Southern edge. We have designated these buildings as artisan restaurants such as a bakery or wine and cheese eatery. There will be intimate outdoor space that includes a patio with plants and art from the art studio. The restaurants will feel very local, warm and friendly.

A new development we are adding is a residential unit on Northwestern corner of the field. There will be 8 townhomes with 2 families per house. The design will replicate that of row houses further East of Oak Street. The homes are facing the studio with green space in the front and back. Since the houses are similar to those around it, the cost will be in the same price range of them. The medium density and smaller size of the residential units will make sure the houses are affordable for the income of the neighborhood. Parking for the units is provide to the East of the development.

            The main entrance to the site will be on Oak Street, with an additional entrance on Kelton Avenue. Traffic will be controlled with one-way streets separated by medians with green space. The parking will consist of large concretes squares with grass in between. This controls water runoff, and also gives the option of using this lot for event space if desired. There will also be diagonal off street parking South of the dance/music school. The development will be very pedestrian friendly as we want to encourage surrounding residents to spend time and walk around the area.

The design of the buildings from the brownfield we are keeping will be preserved, and the new residential unit will look like others in the neighborhood. The row houses will be two floors and the existing developments will stay the way they are. We want the buildings to match those of the surrounding area because we want to keep the identity of the area and promote community.

We expect positive response from the neighborhood because the Oak Street Center for the Arts will promote local culture and municipality. The arts are a great way for kids and adults alike to express themselves, and our development is the perfect accessory. The skills and talents the kids have the chance to learn are important because they can provide excellent opportunities for their future such as scholarships and jobs. This is important in lower income areas because it gives the kids hope and motivation.

Redeveloping historic sites is a great way to preserve culture and community in a neighborhood. They create great spaces for people to gather and share experiences. These spaces can often become the heart of a community and the identifying element of a town.