COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) announced today that it signed a lease for the historic building at 182 E. Long St., formerly the Winders Motor Sales Company, and plans to move during the first quarter of 2020. With street level presence and a community meeting room, the new space will provide Arts Council constituents with improved access to resources and staff.
“The Arts Council has been searching for a space that would provide better access for our constituents and the community for nearly six years,” said president and CEO Tom Katzenmeyer. “After looking at more than 20 buildings throughout downtown and near downtown neighborhoods, we are delighted that we have finally found a building that checks all the boxes.”
A Connect Real Estate partnership owns the building and, under the direction of Columbus developer Brad DeHays, an application has been submitted for a historic tax credit from the State of Ohio due to the building’s history. Built in 1916 by Wilbur Winders, it served as a newly branded automobile sales facility. Between 1924 and the 1940s, the building served a variety of businesses but it remains one of the few original automobile dealership buildings in the downtown Columbus area.
“Columbus Landmarks applauds the Arts Council’s decision to preserve our city’s past with creative, adaptive reuse of this historic building,” said Becky West, executive director of Columbus Landmarks.
The Arts Council will have about 1,300 more square feet in office space, as well as a community meeting room. In addition, the Arts Council will now be able to provide more accessible and some free parking for constituents meeting with Arts Council staff, as well as begin hosting open office hours twice a month for artists and organizations to stop by and meet with a grants and services team member, get more information, or work on a grant application.
The cost per square foot is $1.28 more per square foot than the 100 E. Broad St. address, however, based on historical increases at 100 E. Broad St., those costs would be level in three years, and less expensive in subsequent years.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
