The Columbus Dispatch
Kramer Place Among Projects Taking Shape in Downtown
by Mike Pramik
July 24, 2006

Construction Zone is a weekly look at construction, development and real-estate news in central Ohio. While the weighty Jeffrey Place development takes shape just outside Downtown, other projects are filling in some of the nearby streetscape.

The most recent is Kramer Place Condominiums, a residential project being built on the site of the former Kramer Paint warehouse at 803 N. 4th St. Highland Management Group plans to erect a three-story building and offer 46 one- and two-bedroom units. Scott Mallory, Highland Management chief executive, said he's planning to include about 5,000 square feet of retail space in his development. "Ideally, we'd like to find a local business like a restaurant or a cafe or coffeehouse, something that would fit in there very nicely," Mallory said.

Highland Management bought the site last winter and in June tore down the aging building, which served as a paint factory and warehouse since the 1940s. Mallory said it was a clean site. "Mr. Kramer was about one of the most fastidious guys," Mallory said. "The place was immaculate."

Mallory is calling Kramer Place a transitional residence. It's near I-670, yet is just a couple of blocks from the Short North. Plans call for units ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet in a price range of $149,000 to $450,000. The condo will offer a gated garage, and penthouse units will have glass fronts and terraces.

Just north of Jeffrey Place , JDS has long-range plans to put apartments in the gutted Jeffrey Mining headquarters building. A few blocks north, a real-estate office building is being planned.

Mallory is working with architect Ted Goodman on Kramer Place. "We're excited about the 4th Street corridor," Mallory said. "This is an area that's growing and emerging."