Chuck Williams: A steady change downtown

Now that there is steel coming out of the ground at the corner of Broadway and 12th Street, you can see what is taking shape.

The prediction here is the new Columbus State University College of Education and Health Professions is going to reshape downtown in a way that few can imagine. And you can start to see those possibilities now. It is funny how it takes concrete and steel to see what is happening along the fringes of that construction site.

Sometime between now and the end of the year, do yourself a favor and make a trip downtown. Park -- if you can find a space -- near the old Ledger-Enquirer site at 12th and Broadway. Allow yourself some time and just start walking.

Walk and look all around you.

First, go north on Broadway toward the 14th Street pedestrian bridge. As you walk in the 1200 block of Broadway, look at the storefronts and businesses.

One thing you will notice is there is more construction activity than in previous years. This is a direct result of the CSU investment that will bring 1,800 or more students, faculty and staff to downtown.

Cross 13th Street and look toward the river. That 6.5 acres between the 13th and 14th street bridges owned by the W.C. Bradley Co. is the real prize of downtown redevelopment.

Take a good look at that asphalt and dirt. It doesn't take much of an imagination to see something big. Will it happen sooner rather than later? That is the multi-million dollar question.

The bet here is you will start to hear more about the plans early next year. W.C. Bradley Real Estate Division President Mat Swift is not ready to talk about specifics, but he will toss out some clues.

"I think it is going to be a classic waterfront, mixed-use development," Swift said Monday. "You will likely see apartments, offices, retail, restaurants and potentially a hotel."

What you will have when those puzzle pieces are in place is a nice flow that will compliment downtown and spread the love for five blocks along Broadway.

Because of the size of that property, the construction will change upper Broadway in a number of ways -- and it is hard to imagine how those changes won't be instrumental to bringing more people to the area.

After you have walked around that part, stroll back down Broadway. Look at what's happening in the 1000 block. It is subtle, but you can see the investment in the gaps.

The pace of downtown redevelopment has been steady and consistent for the last 15 years. When 2016 dawns in a few days, here is the bet that the pace and the investment are about to accelerate.

I'm not sure how others feel, but from someone who lives, works and plays downtown, it appears to be a good thing.

Chuck Williams, senior reporter, at chwilliams@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 10:24 PM with the headline "Chuck Williams: A steady change downtown ."