**UPDATE: The developers will go before the University Area Review Board on March 17 with a proposal for 115 apartment units in two buildings, a 230-space parking garage and restaurant and offices, while preserving six historic homes along High Street. >>READ 3.10.16 Columbus Business First story
For almost a century Dr. Charles W. Pavey was a living legend in the University District adjacent to the main campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus. He spent most of his life in the house on North High Street where he was born in 1906. In the course of a medical career resulting in the successful delivery of more than 30,000 babies, he also acquired most of the houses in his neighborhood between West Northwood and West Oakland Avenues. His intention and the guiding principle for his family was to preserve the century old homes and adaptively reuse them as rental housing. To this end, he supported the down-zoning of the neighborhood west of High Street in the 1980s from high density residential to a lower density, and his son and daughter-in-law, the late Chuck and Bonnie Pavey, lived in their High Street home, were community leaders, and continued Dr. Pavey’s vision.
At least that was the vision until recently. Now it appears that much of what was saved will be lost. In December, 2015, the Pavey family, through its family held-business of Eventide Inc., made public its preliminary plans to remove most of the houses on the west side of High Street between Northwood and Oakland Avenues and replace them with an apartment complex rising 125 feet above the streetscape. As a reminder of what once was here, the two houses constituting Dr. Pavey’s home and his office would be retained and integrated into the new construction behind them. The zoning is C4 which requires no variances for the project. It is, however, subject to the University Area Review Board, for appearance review.
It should be emphasized that the plans presented to the public are preliminary and subject to change as the project moves forward. Nevertheless it is fair to say that Columbus Landmarks Foundation has serious concern about the proposed demolition of most of a city block as exquisitely preserved as this one has been. In addition to the houses along High Street which would be lost, an original 19th century farmhouse and corner grocery store (now a restaurant) would be demolished.
The Advocacy Committee of Columbus Landmarks will follow this project closely as it moves its way through the development process. We will, as we have in the past, take steps to explore and express the consensus of the community as to the appropriate use of this historic site.
If you wish to express concern about this project, we recommend contacting Dan Ferdelman at the University Area Review Board: [email protected] or 614-645-6096.