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Updated almost 7 years ago, 12/15/2017
Next Short North? Columbus OH
I am a Realtor in the Greater Columbus area. I have a question for all of those in Columbus. Simple and short. What area in Columbus do you think will be the next "Short North"?
We all know that Columbus is building and building. If you look south on High st in the University District you can literally see 4 cranes building.
The areas that I think have a good chance of turning include:
Milo Grogan
West Franklinton south of W Broad
Olde Towne east
University District
Near Parsons Ave( Nationwide wants this to turn I'm sure)
I was just reading Columbus underground and saw that there are multiple things going up in W Franklinton.
What are your guys thoughts?
Please feel free to share what you think will "turn" and what you think will not.
This is one of my favorite conversations! And one that I consider to be a "million dollar question"...
I agree with your insights, except the University District. Yes, definitely, there are a number of developers improving that area significantly, but in regards to it being "The Next Short North", I don't think it ever will be since by nature that district caters to transient college kids.
I agree that all the areas you mentioned are going to continue to improve. If I had to pick one area right now that will change the most in the near future, I would pick Franklinton for a number of reasons. I think Kaufman's Gravity project under construction on W. Broad is going to spur a lot of change that neighborhood, and if this Scioto Peninsula project moves forward as planned, it will be a game-changer for downtown west of the Scioto River. Plus the fact that the Short North became what it is today due to a significant numbers of artists that moved into the area and turned it around from the sketchy district it once was, which is exactly what is happening in Franklinton with the Idea Foundry and 400 W. Rich.
With that said, there's a revitalization ceremony in Milo Grogan today and significant development happening in that neighborhood, as well as a lot going on in the Parsons Ave area. You're right, Children's Hospital has a vested interest in improving that neighborhood and their construction alone is changing the landscape around that part of the city. New apartments are going up southwest of the intersection of Parsons & Livingston that look like they'll be ready by spring or early summer next year, behind the new(ish) building that has Crest Parsons, the Fitness Loft & Local Matters, etc. There's also the East Public development that I'm hoping will come to fruition just south of there along Parsons.
Regarding Old Towne, improvements seem to be slowly chugging along though not quite as quickly as some other areas. I used to live in the area and it has changed a LOT since then, but I think the fact that a lot of the houses are huge and many with significant deferred maintenance is a deterrent for many. I hope to see them all restored to their former glory as some are, because they are truly beautiful homes!
So much more happening all around the city - it's a pretty exciting time to be in Columbus and watching all the changes happening! Obviously this is all just my thoughts -- would love to hear other's opinions! Thanks for starting the conversation @Austin Steed!
Hi Austin My opinion is Olde Towne East due to all the higher priced homes already coming to the market. What the area needs is some more nice retail shops but hopeful that will happen with the remodeling of the trolley barn.
I think University District will continue to improve in classiness as I see more young professionals moving there to be centrally located but not pay as much as Short North rent.
Franklinton I see some high priced homes being listed but I still don't get a good feeling in most of the streets that I drive down. I think it still needs more time.
While I think there are good things happening and plenty of opportunity to be had in all of the neighborhoods that have been discussed, I believe the Parsons corridor may have the best chance of becoming the next Short North. I see the strong demographics on the West and the improving demographics on the East coming together with the support needed to transition the existing retail infrastructure into a healthy commercial district.
I think some of the young professionals who are being priced out of Clintonville are preferring the university district as well @Michael Hamby . I'm actually in the process now of selling my Clintonville house and moving into a TriPlex househack in the SoHud area and it seems like there is a good chance for continued commercial expansion there as well.
I'm surprised to hear you say West Franklinton, and not East Franklinton. I think it gets much harder in that neighborhood the further entrenched you get to the old community. So as far as "Short Northish," your Rich, Town, Broad St. corridors have more opportunity for flare in the East. My personal opinion, since you asked
Great topic! My opinion is that either Parsons Ave or West Broad has the most potential to be the next Short North. Both areas are coming along nicely and are commercial corridors to downtown.
I’m pulling for Parsons Ave because it almost mirrors the Short North but on the southern side of the city. A lot of residential investment has already gone into that area and those are potential customers that may want walkable shops and restaurants.
Either way I’m excited to see all the new development in Columbus. As an investor, it’s great to ride the wave!
Originally posted by @Austin Steed:
I am a Realtor in the Greater Columbus area. I have a question for all of those in Columbus. Simple and short. What area in Columbus do you think will be the next "Short North"?
We all know that Columbus is building and building. If you look south on High st in the University District you can literally see 4 cranes building.
The areas that I think have a good chance of turning include:
Milo Grogan
West Franklinton south of W Broad
Olde Towne east
University District
Near Parsons Ave( Nationwide wants this to turn I'm sure)
I was just reading Columbus underground and saw that there are multiple things going up in W Franklinton.
What are your guys thoughts?
Please feel free to share what you think will "turn" and what you think will not.
- Robert Ellis
I like your point about how the University District will continue to attract college kids. Restaurants like Cazuela's will continue to exist (dollar tacos on Tuesdays) not The Pearl.
Yes I am a huge fan on Parsons because of programs like HNHF ( Healthy Neighborhoods and Healthy Families) http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/healthy-neighborhoods-healthy-families If Nationwide is on board I'd love to ride that wave.
@micheal Hamby
That is a good point about Olde Towne. I was working with the investor that did the flip on Miami Ave and running comps for that place was remarkable. We are talking most of those homes on Miami Ave are beating that new conforming loan limit of $453,100.
Franklinton I think will turn my maybe not the short north. Nonetheless, I'm a big fan of Kaufman Development and I think it's one of the areas we havn't seen to start to "turn". We should be buying when no one else is right?
My mooney is on Parson Ave though, if nationwide get's more determined I think we could see some big changes in the upcoming yaer.
Thanks for all the replies everyone!
I actually just got off the phone with one of the major multi-family brokers in the area. He was saying that he likes Clintonville along high street quite a bit.
I kid you not, he actually said "it may be the next Short North", completely unprompted from me. What a great tie-in to this thread!
@David Roberts : He actually had the opposite view of Clintonville: he was saying that he's seeing more young professionals moving up into Clintonville from the university district, rather than the other way around. I guess both are technically possible.
As far as turn-around plays go, I personally think the area around the Children's hospital is a good bet, but it still has a long way to go. @Amanda Roderick : Is that are what you are referring to as "Parsons's Ave area"?
Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, everyone!
James
@James Kojo - yes, Parsons Ave south of Children's Hospital. German Village is west of Parsons and the east side has been neglected for several years but is starting to turn around. It's great to hear everyone's optimism about this area, I'm really hoping to see it turn around because there's so much potential there.
Really great to read everyone's thoughts on this! @Michael Hamby & @David Roberts - when you say "University District" are you talking about the Old North? I do agree that the area north of OSU has potential since Clintonville has become so hot, but when I think of "University District", I can't help but picture all of the run-down college rentals that exist in that area (though I admit I pretty much avoid the OSU area and have for many years so perhaps it has changed since I lived there).
I agree with your Franklinton comment @Michael Hamby, that it "needs more time" -- it will definitely take a long time to turn that area around and in order for it to become the "next Short North" and I think it will rely on the Scioto Peninsula development. Would love to see that happen!
Probably the area that I would most LIKE to see flip around is E. Main St. in Olde Towne, which hasn't yet been mentioned in this thread... the street is already set up to be a commercial district, and it's a connector between downtown & Bexley.
What would be great would be to see ALL of these areas turn into their own unique awesome neighborhood!
@Amanda Roderick - Yes I am talking about Old North. In my experience land lords are either lowering rents if they do not want to remodel the run-down rentals or remodeling/increasing rents to attract young professionals. It is still a strong rental market in my opinion even with the OSU Sophomore living requirements that have been implemented.
Originally posted by @Amanda Roderick
@Michael Hamby - thanks for clarifying! Good to hear not too much impact from OSU's living requirement change, I remember reading of the "scare" prior to that switch.
The developer has been chosen for the Scioto Peninsula project I was talking about.. excited to read progress of it moving forward!
To directly answer your question of "next Short North" I think it is either Parsons or Town or Broad in EAST Franklinton. Parsons has the benefit of Childrens Hospital anchoring one end as well as Schumacher Place/German Village bordering the west. If you drive through the side streets east of Parsons (but stay close to Parsons and Livingston) you will see a lot of properties fully re-developed and there's more to come. In fact, if you are a flipper that can handle a full rehab this is the area for you. Parsons itself as a "corridor" still has a ways to go and is moving slower than EF.
East Franklinton is going through the largest change for a neighborhood and it's happening all at once. And it is all made up of the big boys in town with little room for us small investors. Thus, this is most likely going to be the next SN as residential, restaurants and retail are all going in at the same time.