Board backs rezoning for University Square hotel and retail at 72 E. 15th Ave

Columbus University District review staff recommended, and the board supported, rezoning a parcel at 72 E. 15th Ave from CPD to Urban Core (UCR) to enable the proposed University Square hotel and retail component.

The rezoning recommendation follows a staff presentation describing the hotel and retail program: roughly 101,600 square feet, about 145 guest rooms and a maximum shown height of 124 feet. Staff said the parcel meets the opt‑in criteria established by City Council ordinance 1418‑2025 and recommended support for rezoning, while asking the applicant to provide additional streetscape elevations, full building elevations, bicycle and parking details, rooftop-use plans and material specifications before the board would take action on design.

Developer representatives described the project as a mixed‑use addition to the University Square master plan, emphasizing an axial relationship between the hotel's main entrance and the Long Walk/Thompson Library to activate the corner and pedestrian flows. "We're predominantly an 8 story building as we face High Street and we tapered down to a 4‑story building where we have three levels of hotel guest rooms going down 15," the developer said, describing planned terraces and rooftop restaurant/bar spaces.

During public comment, Claire Verghegan, an Ohio State University professor and University District resident, urged the board to require wider sidewalks and asked that one taller eastern "appendage" be reduced in scale to better match neighboring university buildings. "I would like to see wider sidewalk and the red building on the right of the tower going down to the level of the rest of the square," Verghegan said, noting concerns about pedestrian safety and game‑day traffic.

Board members questioned the massing of the project, sight lines, grade changes and parking circulation. Staff and the applicant said parking access and hotel valet operations would be oriented to Pearl Alley and that the project anticipates about 430 parking spaces shared across uses; the applicant said residential and parking components are on a separate timeline.

After discussion, Mr. Sublette moved and Mr. Mather seconded a motion to support the rezoning request as presented. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Mr. Fleming, Mr. Sublette, Mr. Smanski and Mr. Mather; one member was recorded as not present for the vote. The board announced the motion carries. No formal action was taken on the conceptual design at this meeting; staff asked for additional design materials to be provided as the project advances.

What happens next: the board's support is a recommendation in the rezoning process; the applicant must supply the requested streetscape and design details for further review, and the rezoning proceeds through the city's formal legislative and permitting steps.