Corner of E Woodruff Ave and High Street
Problem:
The first problem to arise with this corner is the overall appeal and inability to fit in with the existing characteristics of the neighborhood. With the revitalization and expansion of the dorms on north campus, the west side of high street look updated and revitalized while the east side hasn’t faced an update since the 1950s when the building was constructed. The pavement (whether it be the sidewalk or roads) are not flat and have many holes in them creating an unsafe environment for pedestrians and drivers. Safety should be a top priority when designing and revamping areas of a crowded city.
Recommendations:
The first recommendation we have for redoing this corner is making it a shopping and apartment area with greenery out front. The surrounding buildings follow a certain trend of storefronts on the bottom and also doubling as apartment complexes on top. The new building could be built higher to accommodate more people. Apartment complexes are beneficial for college students from OSU who don’t want a house, like the safety provided by a complex, and who are looking to get off campus.
The second idea for this corner is very similar to the first but with no greenery. The store fronts would be flush to the sidewalk. This would match the other buildings surrounding it and would allow for more apartments to be put to use. The apartments are an important feature because the building that used to stand there had apartments in it as well. Without the greenery the sidewalks would flow more with each store front flushed against the pavement.
Feasibility:
The first point to think of is the people already inhabiting that building. There are apartments that are full. For this reason we would need to check lease renewals and find new living arrangements for the people living in the apartments. Next we would have to get it cleared by the city for approval. The people need to agree with the new look that would be implemented. In order to pay for the new building, grants and loans would be taken. The rent from the new stores and new tenants would slowly amount to the cost of the building and it would essentially pay off itself. As for maintenance, those costs would be put into the rent of the stores and apartments to cover and issues that ensue within the building.