The Daimler Group and Kaufman Development are ready to make history in Columbus: The two companies are partnering to build the tallest ground-up mixed-use project in the history of the city.
The new 17-story building — Two25 Commons — will rise at the intersection of Third and Rich streets in downtown Columbus. The building will fill the last open parcel of land adjacent to the Columbus Commons, seven acres of green park space in the middle of downtown Columbus.
Two25 Commons will have about 20,000 square feet of retail space on its ground floor, 125,000 square feet of Class-A office space on five floors and 11 stories holding about 170 residential units.
The project is definitely in its infancy. Daimler Group and Kaufman Development say that Two25 Commons will be ready for occupancy in 2017 or 2018. But officials from both companies already say there is buzz about the project and about the Columbus Commons/Rive South area of Columbus in general.
“The downtown office market and Columbus Commons/River South area specifically is one of the hottest in the Midwest,” said Bob White Jr., president of the Daimler Group, in a written statement. “Companies and employees are looking for vibrant, walkable locations.”
Including Two25, there has been an investment of more than $200 million in the Columbus Commons/River South district since the city demolished the closed City Center Mall. That investment has already brought in more than 1,100 housing units, 250,000 square feet of office space and 102,000 square feet of retail.