Downtown Commission Takes No Action on Columbus Diocesan Office Demolition Proposal
City planners found replacing the five-story building with surface parking is inconsistent with downtown zoning code and design guidelines.
An application before the Columbus Downtown Commission sought conceptual feedback to demolish a five-story brick building at 197 E. Gay St. According to municipal application records, the filing's status is listed as Conceptual Review - No Action.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus submitted plans to demolish the five-story Downtown building. Filed by architecture firm Meyers + Associates, the application sought to raze the structure and add roughly 30 asphalt surface parking spaces and a small pocket park. Site plan documents for the project indicate 115 total parking spaces.
In a staff summary, city planners determined that the proposed parking replacement use is inconsistent with the Downtown District Code and Downtown Design Guidelines. Under city standards for Parking Zone A, non-accessory surface parking is not permitted. The Downtown Design Guidelines further specify that non-accessory parking lots are not an appropriate replacement for a razed building.
Located at 197 E. Gay St. behind St. Joseph Cathedral, the building holds offices for the diocese and Catholic Social Services. The Catholic Diocese of Columbus has owned the property since the 1960s, according to Columbus Underground. In January, the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services issued an unsafe building order after a brick wall collapse on the structure's upper floors. City building officials confirmed that no demolition permit has been pulled with the department.
The proposal follows wider real estate restructuring and controversial church demolition filings across Columbus. Previously, Pique Media reported on preservation concerns at St. John the Evangelist Church on Sept. 30, and on binding oversight facing Holy Family School on Oct. 19.
Under municipal zoning standards, city code prohibits demolishing downtown buildings without commission approval via a certificate of appropriateness, outside of public emergencies.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (5)
An application before the Columbus Downtown Commission sought conceptual feedback to demolish a five-story brick building at 197 E. Gay St.
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197 E Gay St. is a 5-story brick structure built in 1906 located between 5th and 4th streets to the East and West. In addition to the structure, the site contains a 70+ space surface parking lot. The applicant is seeking conceptual feedback from the Commission to demolish the structure and add roughly 30 asphalt surface parking spaces and a small pocket park.
Filed by architecture firm Meyers + Associates, the application sought to raze the structure and add roughly 30 asphalt surface parking spaces and a small pocket park.
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Owner/Applicant: Bishop Edward J Herrmann (Owner)/ Meyers+Associates Architecture (Applicant) Project Request: Conceptual Project Classification: Demolition Work Description: Demolition of a 5-story brick Structure Proposed Work Description: 197 E Gay St. is a 5-story brick structure built in 1906 located between 5th and 4th streets to the East and West. In addition to the structure, the site contains a 70+ space surface parking lot. The applicant is seeking conceptual feedback from the Commission to demolish the structure and add roughly 30 asphalt surface parking spaces and a small pocket park.
In a staff summary, city planners determined that the proposed parking replacement use is inconsistent with the Downtown District Code and Downtown Design Guidelines.
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Summary: The proposed non-accessory parking lot replacement use is inconsistent with the Downtown District Code and Downtown Design Guidelines.
The Downtown Design Guidelines further specify that non-accessory parking lots are not an appropriate replacement for a razed building.
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The Downtown District code does not permit non-accessory parking uses, and the Downtown Design Guidelines state that non-accessory parking lots are not an appropriate replacement for a razed building.
Under municipal zoning standards, city code prohibits demolishing downtown buildings without commission approval via a certificate of appropriateness, outside of public emergencies.
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Except in cases of public emergency as determined by the city's chief building official or by court order, no permit for the demolition of a structure in the downtown district shall be granted without the approval of the commission via a certificate of appropriateness.
COA2600949 · Certificate of Approval/Appropriateness — 197 E GAY ST
Supporting evidence (1)
According to municipal application records, the filing's status is listed as Conceptual Review - No Action.
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{Address=197 E GAY ST, Applicant=Chris Meyers; Meyers + Associates Architects; Meyers+Associates Architecture; Nicholas J Munoz, Document listing=Listed, Documents=2, Public view=Detail page, Record=COA2600949, Series role=historic, Status=Conceptual Review - No Action, Type=Certificate of Approval/Appropriateness, Type role=other}
https://columbusunderground.com/church-wants-to-tear-down-5-story-downtown-building-bw1/
Supporting evidence (5)
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus submitted plans to demolish the five-story Downtown building.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus has submitted plans to the City of Columbus to demolish a five-story Downtown building it has owned since the 1960s.
Located at 197 E. Gay St. behind St. Joseph Cathedral, the building holds offices for the diocese and Catholic Social Services.
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The building, which was constructed in 1908 and is located at 197 E. Gay St., holds the offices for the Diocese as well as Catholic Social Services and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center. It sits behind Saint Joseph Cathedral
The Catholic Diocese of Columbus has owned the property since the 1960s, according to Columbus Underground.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus has submitted plans to the City of Columbus to demolish a five-story Downtown building it has owned since the 1960s.
In January, the Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services issued an unsafe building order after a brick wall collapse on the structure's upper floors.
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Anthony Celebrezze, Deputy Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services, said that there was an unsafe order put on the building after a “brick wall collapse back in January,”
City building officials confirmed that no demolition permit has been pulled with the department.
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there has been no demolition permit pulled with his department
Supporting evidence (1)
Site plan documents for the project indicate 115 total parking spaces.
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05197 E GAY | PROPOSED SITE PLAN St Joseph Cathedral Li m its o f e xi si tin g bu ild in g TOTAL PARKING: 115 SPACES
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Under city standards for Parking Zone A, non-accessory surface parking is not permitted.
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Parking Zone A Staff Comments • Except for exceptions defined herein, non-accessory surface parking is not permitted. Non-accessory surface parking means automobile parking as a principle rather than a subordinate land use and is not accessory parking.
Preservation Fears Mount Over Historic St. John Church Amid Columbus Diocesan Demolitions
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on preservation concerns at St. John the Evangelist Church on Sept. 30, and on binding oversight facing Holy Family School on Oct. 19.
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Preservation Fears Mount Over Historic St. John Church Amid Columbus Diocesan Demolitions
Holy Family School Demolition Requires Binding East Franklinton Review Board Approval
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on preservation concerns at St. John the Evangelist Church on Sept. 30, and on binding oversight facing Holy Family School on Oct. 19.
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Holy Family School Demolition Requires Binding East Franklinton Review Board Approval