$60M transformation: City Village master plan to bring jobs, housing, retail (Columbus: for sale, apartments)

[Airforceguy]

Now this is what I call a game changer! I hope it will come fruition one day...
City Village Master Plan-Columbus,GA by brandon walker, on Flickr

Fully implemented, the project would require about $60 million in public funding from local, state and federal sources, according to the plan.

The plan divides the corridor into four districts: City Mills, Riverfront Campus, Bradley Circle and Johnston Mills Districts.

The City Mills District revolves around the old mills that are currently in the early stage of restoration. The intent of this district is to connect the village to downtown and to serve as a "gateway" into the village. Planners see it as a mixed-use area with retail and an entertainment venue located near the mills at 18th Street and First Avenue.

The next district to the north, Riverside Campus, is seen as a creative and educational campus on the river's edge. The centerpiece of the district plan would be the redevelopment of the Chase Homes public housing project. Planners say the 105 units could be replaced with as many as 250 mixed-income units just to the north on property that is currently owned by the city. It would also include a learning facility and a resource/innovation center.

Just north of that, Bradley Circle Village would feature an enhanced view of the river for mixed-income housing using a mix of new development and revitalization of existing homes. Planners say successful development of this district could serve as a catalyst to encourage further investment in City Village as a whole.

Finally, the Johnston Mill District is seen as the northern gateway into the village that would be centered on the former mill that has been transformed into loft apartments. It would include a mix of residential and commercial development.

In addition to the riverfront development, the plan calls for street improvements on First and Second Avenues, which could include "road diets" that add multiuse paths that encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Connected to the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, those paths could create a loop between Bibb City and downtown, and the proposed developments in between, according to the plan.

The plan also encourages connecting the current breaks in the RiverWalk. One connection, from the north end of the TSYS campus to just north of City Mills, will be connected soon by taking the path between the two City Mills buildings and beneath an elevated walkway planned to run between them. The final connection that will at last complete the entire span from the City Marina to Fort Benning will take users up and over the North Highlands Dam in Bibb City. Money for both of those connections is already budgeted and both are in the engineering stage currently.

Another aspect of the plan involves improving access to the RiverWalk along that stretch and improving visibility of the river itself from the village. That, the plan states, will involve eradicating much of the invasive and non-native plants that clog the banks and block the view, but not existing trees.

Implementing the plan is broken into three phases, 1-5 years, 6-10 years and 11 years and beyond.

The first phase would involve clearing the vegetation, securing funding to relocate the Chase Homes residents and to develop the 250-unit mixed development on city-owned property just to the north. It would also include streetscape and parking improvements along First and Second avenues. Of lesser priority in the first five years is screening the Georgia Power substation on First Avenue, making road improvements along First Avenue and establishing an existing home renovation fund.

The second phase calls for redeveloping the Chase Homes property for institutional or commercial use and modifying zoning to allow for higher density development. Of lesser priority for years 6-10 are improvements to east-west connector streets, support for developing an Innovation Center and for completing the revitalization of City Mills and implementing the existing home renovation fund.

The long-term plan calls for support for development of 500 market-rate rental units and 100 units of for sale housing. It also calls for support for developing 600,000 square feet of commercial and institutional space and for developing commercial space along Second Avenue.

Read more here: $60M transformation: City Village master plan to bring jobs, housing, retail | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

$60M transformation: City Village master plan to bring jobs, housing, retail | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

[Fountain-of-youth]

This is the type development downtown been waiting for. The true size of downtown will be shown if it does happens.

[Columbus1984]

This increases the size of downtown substantially. Creates a true urban environment with high density housing and commercial development. This is a true game changer.

[Fountain-of-youth]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

This increases the size of downtown substantially. Creates a true urban environment with high density housing and commercial development. This is a true game changer.

My thoughts exactly!

[Nick&I101]

Originally Posted by Fountain-of-youth

My thoughts exactly!

Imagine what could happen to downtown Columbus if this play out as well as they anticipate. This is the game changer we have been waiting for!!!

[Fountain-of-youth]

Originally Posted by Nick&I101

Imagine what could happen to downtown Columbus if this play out as well as they anticipate. This is the game changer we have been waiting for!!!

A lot of good things can happen from this project. It's also good to hear work has already started on the city mills.

[Fountain-of-youth]

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by Fountain-of-youth

A lot of good things can happen from this project. It's also good to hear work has already started on the city mills.

Definitely a good start.

[TheYoungProfessional]

This is the type development Columbus deserves! I completely agree, it will be a game changer for the city and the Chattahoochee Valley at large!

[TheYoungProfessional]

Any updates on this project? With the momentum gaining in the downtown area, hopefully this project will move full steam ahead.