Sim City’s Blog 3

Photos of Existing Site:

Problems with the Site:

The first problem with the site is the eye-sore of a parking lot. The parking lot is the first thing you see when passing this area on the street and is not pleasing to look at. The look of this also makes people not want to live in the Ohio State Student Housing that is housed just behind this parking lot. On top of the unpleasing look, it is also hard to get in and out of due to the incline. The parking lot is raised so it makes using it potentially dangerous. The shape of this building leaves much to be desired as well. The building is a horseshoe shape that is unsymmetrical. The stores on one end stretch out in weird directions and some are placed under the parking lot. Due to the stores being underground, there is a small area where one can walk down the stairs. There are often people who smoke in this area and linger. This makes the customers at these stores and restaurants uncomfortable and weary of shopping there. These stores also have signs that do not match with one another. Although all the buildings are in the same parking lot, the signs seem wonky and ugly. Another unpleasing aspect of this site is the color. The surrounding buildings are a red brick that match the University dormitories across the street. However, this building is a yellow taupe that washes out the building. On top of all this, the sidewalks and streets are in desperate need of repair. They have cracks and potholes that could be dangerous for pedestrians and automobiles.

 

Recommendations for the site:

1st potential option: A messy parking lot in front of the building badly and negatively affects the outlook of the area. In order to solve this, we suggest that the parking lot can be placed underground, such as a B1 Floor. This can not only save the space in front of the building and use the underground space more efficiently, but also provide more opportunities to add additional facilities around the building. For example, if we push the building half-way forward, then a fountain or a more beautiful entrance can be built, which may attract more people to move into the apartment and further contribute economically aspect as well. At the same time, the backyard of the building can be built as a garden or a Gym for people who live there to relax and hangout. 

 

Sketch:

2nd potential option: The building could be demolished and then rebuilt closer to the street. The outside of the building would mimic the red brick of the surrounding buildings on campus and off. That way the area would look more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing. The top couple floors of the building can be used for the student housing that previously existed. The ground floor can offer commercial businesses like Dunkin’ and Joy’s Village Chinese Food. The parking can then be moved to the back of the building where part of the previous building existed.

 

Sketch:

 

Implementation and Feasibility:

1st potential option

Implementation: Provide off site temporary parking for the students that reside in the student housing. This leaves the parking lot open for upheaval and placement of underground parking structure. The underground parking would include an access doorway to the sunken shopping area on the corner of the lot. Once the parking structure is complete, providing temporary off site housing for the students while a demolition and rebuild of the main housing building is underway. The building will be moved farther forward on the lot, leaving enough room for a courtyard with benches and greenery for extra space for congregation. Once the housing is rebuilt, utilize the empty space behind the housing for a garden/grilling area or perhaps an indoor gym.

 

Feasibility: Finding off site parking and housing will be the greatest hurdle for this project. Parking is a bit easier, although it will create strain with the relationship between building project management and the students. Finding temporary housing for the students will be the biggest detriment to this project. Perhaps the renovations of the housing can be done in stages, so only sections of the Ohio Stater will be under construction. If there are enough empty units, there is the possibility of shifting students to other rooms and wings of the Ohio Stater in order to facilitate construction. The monetary funds needed to undergo this project could mostly come from the parent company that manages Ohio Stater to improve student experience and increase profitability of the site. Grants from OSU and maybe the city of Columbus are also possible in order to maintain quality housing for off-campus students.

 

2nd potential option

Implementation: The demolition of the sunken shopping area would be the first action needed. After the front area of the lot is leveled out, the main Ohio Stater building would need to be at least semi demolished and moved further forward on the lot. The first floor of the building would become the businesses that were originally on the sunken corner, making a pseudo shopping mall at the ground floor of the housing complex. An addition of one to two floors on top of the building to accommodate for the space taken by the businesses, and the attraction of more students wanting housing, would give more than enough room for growth. The area where the housing originally stood could be repurposed as the main parking lot. With parking in one whole area, tighter security and fencing can be implemented for peace of mind.

 

Feasibility: Shutting down the businesses would be the bigger issue with this option. The revenue lost due to the construction would put these businesses in the negative. It is possible that off-site temporary pop-up shops could be used, especially in considering the restaurants. Again, as with the first potential option, finding off-site housing during reconstruction for the Ohio Stater would present some issues. Off-site parking, while an issue, can be solved far easier. The rehousing of the students would be necessary in both options listed; another possibility stated above would be cyclical reconstruction and having students migrate to other open units.