Downtown Commission OKs razing City Center

clipped from columbus.bizjournals.com Columbus’ Capitol South Community Redevelopment Corp. says the demolition of City Center mall could begin as early as next month after the city’s Downtown Commission gave approval to raze the building at a Tuesday meeting. Chairman Stephen Wittmann said the commission unanimously approved the demolition of City Center and also reviewed conceptual renderings of the city park that will take its place. The demolition and Columbus Commons park project, estimated to cost between $15 million and $20 million, make up the first phase of plans for the site that include a $145 million office and retail development. Wittmann said he considered the initial idea of tearing down a building only two decades old “disturbing,” but said the decision stems from a vision of the long-term outcome. Capitol South has yet to detail how it’s funding the park after plans to seek federal stimulus dollars to fund much of the project fell through.