The Gahanna developer Stonehenge Co. is pitching a new plan to develop a former Brewery District shoe heel factory, this time preserving more of the original buildings.
This is Stonehenge’s second proposal for developing the two century-old buildings, at the northwest corner of Whittier and South Front streets.
Stonehenge’s first plan, presented in August, met a lukewarm reception because it called for demolishing the warehouse building on the site, which once housed the Jones Heel Manufacturing Co.
The company’s new plan calls for keeping the shell of the 17,942-square-foot warehouse, which still bears the Jones Heel sign, and building four stories of apartments above the building. The old building would be used for parking, accessed through an addition onto the north end of the building.
In addition, Stonehenge wants to convert the seven-story, 33,183-square-foot building behind the warehouse building into 34 “workforce housing” apartments.
Both buildings date from 1917, according to the Franklin County Auditor. The Jones Heel Manufacturing Co. was a division of the Jones Shoe Manufacturing Co., which once stood a few doors down, at 893 S. Front St.
The plan also calls for tearing down a two-story home, built in 1876, immediately to the north, to provide access to the parking garage.
Stonehenge bought all three buildings in September 2019 for $1.85 million.
When he presented the plan to the Brewery District Commission in August, Stonehenge President Mo Dioun said he needed to demolish the warehouse building to make the project financially viable. But after hearing from critics of the demolition, including from the head of Columbus Landmarks preservation group, Dioun said he would look for alternatives.
Stonehenge’s plan for the building would be the latest of several efforts to redevelop old Brewery District buildings, including the renovation of the former Hoster Brewing Co. complex.
Stonehenge is scheduled to present its new plan to the Brewery District Commission on March 3.
@JimWeiker
