Former Dispatch building due renovation

The building that housed The Columbus Dispatch for decades — and still bears the newspaper’s high-profile rooftop sign — will undergo major renovations soon.

Owner Capitol Square is seeking tenants for the refurbished building.

The basic outlines of the project are on the agenda for a meeting of the Downtown Commission on Tuesday morning. According to the agenda, Capitol Square and the design firm the Columbus Architectural Studio seek approval for a major overhaul including:

New windows, including those facing south toward German Village.

New mechanical equipment on the roof.

Demolition of a onestory addition at the rear of the building that has been used for indoor parking and storage.

The company did not respond to an email on Friday afternoon seeking comment on the plans.

Capitol Square has offices in the former Dispatch building and has been looking at other Downtown office space

to move into temporarily while the renovations take place.

Late last year, The Dispatch reported that the Dispatch Printing Co., the former owner of the newspaper and the parent company of Capitol Square, was seeking a historic designation for the 92-year-old building, which is across from the Statehouse. The designation would allow the company to apply for tax credits that could help finance building improvements. The State Historic Preservation Office usually announces at the end of June those buildings that have been granted historic status.

Chris Ruess, president and CEO of Capitol Square, told The Dispatch that the designation would not include the neon Dispatch sign atop the building.

New Media Investment Group, which bought The Dispatch two years ago, now owns the sign but leases the space it occupies atop the building at 34 S. 3rd St.

The Dispatch now has its offices at 62 E. Broad St.