More restaurant space in the works in Clintonville
A plan is in the works to add even more restaurant space in Clintonville.
The owner of the professional building at 3400 N. High St. is seeking variances to allow for the construction of a first‐floor restaurant and exterior patio in the existing 4‐story office structure.
Steve Hutchinson, owner of Broker One Realty Inc., said he is in the process of building a 4,700-square-foot space with an additional 1,100-square-foot patio that has heating elements, making it useable for about eight months out of the year.
The restaurant is expected to seat about 135 guests.
“I’ve been here 20 years,” Hutchinson said. “I think that we need additional restaurants in the corridor and different concepts.”
Hutchinson has applied for variances for the building, which is at the southeast corner of North High Street and East North Broadway.
The variance would allow for the modification and alteration of an existing building’s primary frontages in order to increase transparency and light into the proposed first-floor restaurant.
The variance would reduce the requirement of a minimum of 60% of the façade between 2 and 10 feet above the nearest sidewalk be clear, nontinted window glass to 33% along the East North Broadway façade and to 44% along the North High Street façade.
“Truly, it’s quite an upgrade to the building,” he said.
The Clintonville Area Commission on Dec. 1 recommended approval of the variance. The Columbus Board of Zoning Adjustment would have the final say.
The site is zoned C-4 and has 22 existing parking spaces.
A parking study has identified 247 additional spots within a 1,000-foot radius of the building, Hutchinson said. He said he also has made arrangements with nearby businesses for additional parking spaces.
Hutchinson said he purchased the building in 2003. Residents in 2017 voted to approve alcohol sales in the area. Hutchinson said the restaurant space has a full liquor license.
He said the plan to reconfigure the ground floor started two years ago, but COVID slowed down the process.
A restaurant, which has not been identified, should be ready to open by June, he said.
“It’s going to be a great space for someone and we hope somebody gets in here and thrives,” Hutchinson said.
Meanwhile, Five Guys has expressed interest in an open restaurant space, formerly a Chase Bank branch, at 3655 N. High St.
The 2,902-square-foot storefront would need a parking variance. The CAC has recommended approval of the variance, which would have to go to the BZA for approval.
Perrie Wilkof, owner of Dough Mama, a café specializing in pies at 3335 N. High St., said the neighborhood could use more dining spots but worries that chains can overrun the area and force out small businesses.
“I am also a resident of Clintonville and it’s always nice to have new things that are good, Wilkof said.
“I don’t know that many neighborhoods need more fast-food restaurants. And I think Clintonville, the culture of Clintonville, more small businesses are more exciting, building that community.”
gseman@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekGary
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: More restaurant space in the works in Clintonville
