Masonry Magazine October 2001 Page. 42
The NHL deal included a difficult provision: they would only agree to come to Columbus if the arena was ready for the opening of the 2000 season, which meant the arena had to be built in only two years. Normally it takes six months or longer just to obtain the architectural zoning and land use permits for a project of this size. However, in June 1997 Columbus had formed a special Downtown Commission that united all of the zoning and land use approval groups into one committee. This commission was able to complete the approval process for the district in two long sessions, granting the necessary permits in just 60 days.
The Plan
The leading reason the Nationwide Arena District became a reality was the creation of a Master Plan. It mapped the 95-acre area in great detail, and the commission was able to approve the plan on the condition that each phase be reviewed further before it was built. Therefore, the arena was approved and constructed immediately, with the rest of the area to follow. Normally there would be numerous investors, government committees, city officials, designers and builders involved in a project of this magnitude. However, because there were so few people involved, they were able to reach a common understanding of the goals for the Nationwide Arena District and meet the promised deadline.
"This project was a tremendous surprise and a gift to the city," says Ken Ferell, Planning and Project Management, Downtown Development. "It has been a pleasure working on it because everyone involved worked together to reach a common goal of aesthetic beauty and functionality for our city."
Making Choices
Although Nationwide was the primary coordinator of the project development, the city of Columbus was responsible for major infrastructure improvements, including street and utility enhancements and the ownership and maintenance of the park. So, the master planners worked with both Nationwide and the city when choosing
42 MASONRY OCTOBER, 2001
Great Ideas In Masonry Construction
one of a series
What To Use
On Shaky Ground:
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