PRESERVATION
The developers — Connect Realty and Schiff Capital Group — are spending $20 million to convert the power plant’s buildings into an auction house and office space.
Brad DeHays of Connect Realty said there has been a “monumental shift” in the city toward saving and restoring historic structures, and Black has been one reason for that.
“Randy has been kind of the chief of procurement for making developers look at historic buildings in Columbus,” said DeHays, who also is working to redevelop the trolley barn complex on Oak Street on the Near East Side.
“He’s done a remarkable job.”
Lentz said Black recognized that the power plant is a “phenomenal piece of property that needs a solution.” Ultimately, multiple developers submitted proposals to transform the site.
“We are much more preservation-minded as a city and community,” Lentz said. “Columbus was a bit late getting into all of this.”
In the past 10 years, there has been a resurgence of downtown development in Columbus and many other cities. When that happens, big pieces of land with older buildings become inviting targets for developers, Lentz said.
“When that happens, historic buildings are on the chopping block.”
Case in point: a 118-yearold house at 571-573 Oak Street just east of Downtown that Motorists Insurance Group wanted to demolish to make room for parking and, ultimately, townhouses that will be part of a planned 256unit development on several city blocks.
The city’s Historic Resources Commission voted this month to board up and secure the building and remove a fire escape, with the developer to then determine whether the house can be incorporated into the project.
Becky West, Columbus Landmarks’ current executive director, said the city and developers are moving toward “adaptive reuse,’’ with demolition as a last resort.
“He’s helped tee up this philosophy,” West said of Black. “Maybe we’re on the brink of a cultural shift.”
Black is worried about the Macon’s condition. Columbus Landmarks placed the building on its most-endangered list in 2016.
“Its story is a great story,” Black said. The Macon was one of several clubs — including the Yacht Club, Jamaica and Skurdy’s — where jazz musicians entertained for years.
Z on Main LLC bought the former hotel at 366 N. 20th St. in 2017 for $45,000. The Franklin County auditor’s website says it was built in 1888. Yhezkel Levi, who is behind Z on Main, wants to convert the building into apartments, Black said.
Al Edmondson, who leads the Mount Vernon Avenue District Improvement Association, said if nothing is done soon he’d rather see the building demolished, despite its historic significance.
“It’s gutted out. Just a shell,” said Edmondson, who said that he’s concerned about pieces of the building falling.
“Children walk by that building,” he said. “It’s really an eyesore in the community.”
Black has often found himself in the middle of that kind of debate, said Steve Schoeny, Columbus’ development director.
“Randy balanced purists and pragmatists,” Schoeny said. He also said Black was never afraid to challenge him about how the city can do better.
“He was great at teaching me what was old and what was historically significant,” he said.
Black’s position will be filled, Schoeny said.