Short North Developments

Goodale Pond Fountain

Installation of the new Goodale Park fountain is to be completed by mid-June, according to Stan Sells, president of Friends of Goodale Park. Granite for the approximately 18-foot-high fountain was cut in India and shipped last summer, which Sells said helped save considerably on material costs. The pond was drained and cleaned last fall.

The unique fountain design is drawn from the history of the park - in particular, the Sells “Circus House” at the corner of Dennison and Buttles. “The Sells Circus was a major circus that traveled internationally,” said Sells, a relative of the original circus owners. “One of the main elements of the circus was the elephants. Real elephants spray water, and the fountain elephants will be spraying water on top of the fountain.” The design is intended to draw inspiration not only from history, but also from the culture of the surrounding neighborhood. “It’s not just a fountain, it’s an art piece. It will be reflective of the arts emphasis of the Short North, and we hope this will become an icon of the Short North.” Once complete, Short North residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the installation year-round, as the fountain is being engineered to operate even during winter months. Ongoing maintenance will be paid through an endowment fund raised by Friends of Goodale Park.

While charitable contributions currently cover the majority of installation costs, the lighting component of the fountain is yet to be completely funded. Tax-deductible donations can be made to: Friends of Goodale Park, PO Box 8266, Columbus, Ohio 43201.

 

Convention Center Hotel Construction Update
Cranes went up over the winter at the construction site of the 532-room Hilton at the south end of the Short North neighborhood, with significant work expected to be completed over the spring and summer. Although currently the site is little more than a large hole, the hotel's concrete base is to be poured this spring, and the entire frame is scheduled for completion by November. The new Hilton will be "an ideal complement to our Short North neighbors, who will offer our guests hours of shopping, 'hopping’ and dining pleasure,” said Julia Hansen, a Hilton representative.

Interior of the new Hilton skywalk

A full-service 160-seat restaurant is planned for the hotel, as well as a specialty coffee outlet. Other features include a large atrium with skylights in the lobby, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, and a unique glass pedestrian skywalk connecting the hotel to the Convention Center. Once completed, the new hotel will significantly boost Columbus' convention draw and complement the momentum from other Short North projects, such as the redeveloped Kroger and the proposed Pizzuti boutique hotel.

Short North Fitness Now Open
Short North Fitness opened its doors to the public last October, and is currently offering a variety of classes for Columbus residents, including several variations of yoga, a "boot camp" run by former football players, and a number of other fun-sounding classes involving all manner of kicking, dancing, and punching (the air, of course). Classes are included free as part of membership (see www.shortnorthfitness.com for rates), or run $12 for non-member "drop-ins". A "class pass" is also available, offering a package of 10 classes for $100.

The spa-like interior design at SNF was designed to create an "ambience of class and well-being," according to Brad Howe, owner of the center and developer of Jackson
on High. "There is tremendous personal training talent as well," said Brad. Margo Lehring, a manager at SNF, is a former soccer player who - among other things - studied and taught martial arts in China. Margo is a certified as a personal trainer by National Academy of Sports Medicine and a certified Power Yoga instructor, and leads the YogaFit class several times at week at SNF. Membership is open to the public and available on both a month-by-month and yearly basis. The fitness center is located on the first floor  of the Jackson on High building at 1137 N. High. Parking for the center is located just north of Skully's.

Northstar Building Improvements
The single-story building at 951 N. High Street - perhaps best known as the home of Northstar Cafe - will be going vertical this year, as the Wood Companies plans on adding several  floors of residential and office space. The project is planned for completion by the end of 2011. The new four-story addition will contain 10,000 sq. ft. of office space on the 2nd floor and 24 rental units on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors (two units on the 2nd floor, and 11 units each on the 3rd and 4th floor). "We see the project as being a signature project for the Short North, with condo amenities and finishes but for the rental market," said Mark Wood. The rear section of the building will be converted into a 24 car parking garage, with a 4,500 sq. ft. roof-top terrace for residents above.