Arshot Investment Corp. is reviving its efforts to redevelop the Cooper Stadium site on Columbus’ West Side, 10 years after the Columbus Clippers moved out.
The developer proposes a mixed-use development, but no longer the racetrack/automotive research center previously envisioned for the space.
“The racetrack component was very controversial and caused a lot of people to have great concerns, so the fact that that’s been removed from this proposal is a really positive step,” says Stefanie Coe, co-chair of the Southwest Area Commission.
The commissioners tentatively approved the proposal Wednesday night. Coe says the plans include apartment-style housing, office and retail space, and potentially entertainment.
“I think that some of the neighbors and some of the commissioners are concerned that it is a vague proposal which is consistent with a lot of zoning applications, so we did condition our support last night on some more detail,” Coe says.
Coe says commissioners still want to see a study on any potential traffic and storm water issues.
“We think that having some housing would be beneficial, but just putting hundreds and hundreds of units with nothing else would really not improve the community overall," Coe says. "Or having that 40-plus acres turned into warehousing would also not be as beneficial to the community as we hope.”
Final approval from Columbus City Council may not come until next year. However, Coe says it’s past time for action.
“I am very frustrated and disappointed that it’s taken more than a decade to get development on that site and we still don’t have development yet,” Coe says.
