Current State:
The exit/entrance for the Ohio Stater apartment complex is on High Street, which can cause traffic issues at times. The building itself is split in half by a parking garage and underneath the parking lot out front, there is a strip mall underneath the parking lot. It is difficult to see the stores from the street and there doesn’t seem to be enough parking out front for the number of stores at that location. Through improved planning and design, the building could provide storefronts on High Street, creating prime retail spaces with high visibility. Parking can be moved to the rear of the building, alleviating some of the traffic issues on High Street.
Option 1:
Shift the building up so that it touches High Street on all sides. Raise the bottom apartment units and create retail space that can be used by current tenants. This will increase visibility for those businesses currently located on the corner, underneath the parking lot. Move the parking lot behind the building to alleviate traffic problems in the area. This is the more expensive option of the two, but it would provide better spaces for tenants and it would fix the traffic problems of cars pulling into and out of the lot on High Street.
Option 2:
Add a green space to the property instead of having a parking lot. A green space in this area would clean up the look of the building altogether without changing any of the current features of the building itself. In this option, only the parking lot outside would change. Allow shoppers to park in the parking garage located behind the building and create a green space in the current parking lot. Residents would be able to use this green space to walk their dogs or to just relax and enjoy the weather.
Implementation/Feasibility:
To raise money for this project we will first contact the owner of the property and explain to them the benefits of redesigning the lot. We will also reach out to investors in the area as well as local, state, and federal grants to help fund the rest of the project. Tenants in the retail space currently located could also help fund the project. As an incentive, they would get to choose where they want their new storefront once the project is completed. The area is zoned as an apartment building/commercial space so it would remain that way. Currently, the parking code of Columbus states that there must be one parking space for every 200 square feet of retail space. This parking code must be kept in mind when making any changes to the building. An update to this site would provide economic benefits to the property owner and businesses alike, increasing visibility, fixing traffic woes, and making the area more visually appealing.