Bier Stube celebrates what could be last MLB Opening Day amid development applications
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A new development for the corner of Ninth Avenue and High Street near Ohio State’s South Campus looks to replace a couple of locally owned businesses with a 15-story high rise apartment building. The developers, Harbor Bay Ventures, see an opportunity. Small business owners and some students and residents see another attack on their neighborhood.
Harbor Bay Ventures presented their plan to the University Impact District Review Board Thursday. The proposal would create 177 apartments with more than 500 beds for off-campus student housing.
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Dan Whalen heads up development and design for Harbor Bay Ventures, a firm with an office out of Chicago that built Cleveland’s first ‘Mass Timber’ building in 2022.
“We began working with the neighborhood UAC many months ago. And really just before we showed them anything was getting their feedback and understanding what was important to them,” he said.
The approach of building relationships with the University Area Commission and City Council seems to be paying off for the group.
“Hopefully we can actually start construction this year. Which is ambitious. But with the way the school calendar works if you miss, you’re delayed a whole year. We’re hopeful that we can get in front of city council in the next two to three months and ideally get a decision from them early summer,” said Whalen after the meeting Thursday afternoon.
During the meeting, several UIDRB members questioned the plan. Fifteen stories tall is well above the current zoning of only 72 feet, or about six stories. Whalen said after conversations with City Council members and developers in Columbus, he believes there will be a rezoning effort through much of the High Street area from the Short North to campus.
“It’s a taller building than current zoning allows. We think it fits within the bounds of where future zoning is going to end up, which the city is entertaining right now,” Whalen said.
One of the businesses that currently occupies a parcel of land where the development would demolish is the ‘Bier Stube.’ A South Campus dive bar in business since 1966. The ‘Stube’ as many call it, held its 58th birthday party earlier this month.
“I believe the end is maybe getting near,” said owner Craig Kempton.
On the same day the development group met with the review board, the ‘Stube’ held its annual Major League Baseball Opening Day celebration. A huge Cleveland Guardians bar, the ‘Stube’ welcomes fans from all teams to pack the place from noon until games end while enjoying 10-cent hot dogs.
“Greatest day on earth I think, and why not celebrate it with dime-a-dogs just like the old days. It’s a tradition. The place has been here since the ‘60s, 1966. As you can see it’s jam packed, full of young, old. It’s just a part of Ohio State’s history,” said Kempton, taking a small break from his work behind the bar and in the kitchen.
Another small business owner on the block is Sam Faour. He moved to Columbus in 1985 from his home country of Lebanon. He opened a convenience store near Ninth and High Street with his brother. Sammy’s 14-0 Express has been serving the South Campus area since 1993.
“I just felt sad. A lot of people are sad. They’re not going to have a store to go to, or a local bar to go to. We’re going to miss a lot of the people here. I still have people come after they graduate and they’re like ‘Sam how you been you’re still here’ and I’m like yea, until they buy us out,” he said.
Faour would like to keep his store in the same area if possible. The current version of the Harbor Bay Ventures development, however, doesn’t include any retail space on the first floor.
“We’re trying to find a location within this area here to try to stay on this block but it’s really expensive,” said Faour.
Kempton also wants to stay in the neighborhood. He said he’s trying his best to see what he can do for the future of Bier Stube.
“I’m not quitting yet,” he said. “You can never replace 58 years of tradition, the building, everything that happens in this area. The people make this place. So, moving it, wherever I may go, the people will come. As long as I’ve got the right location and the right situation, I’m not worried about it. The Stube will be bigger than ever … This community is a part of us. It’s really sad that we have to go. What can you do? It is what it is.”
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