400 West Rich Street

An energetic open house took place yesterday in the multi-use warehouse at 400 West Rich Street in Franklinton. The 105,000-square-foot space just began renting affordable artist studios, offices, and gallery spaces, and it will host the fifth annual Urban Scrawl on August 27 and 28. The first phase of studio build-outs will be completed by October, and the entire renovation is slated to be finished by spring of 2012. Current tenants include Columbus Artmobile and Wonder Viv Studios. Plans to incorporate live music, a bar, and other community minded events are in the works, and some of you may remember this charismatic urban building from the May, 2010 Pecha Kucha. During yesterday’s press conference, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, City Councilmember Zach Klein, Chris Sherman, Jim Sweeney, and Kris Howell passionately stated their beliefs in this project and in Franklinton. Sunbeams shot through angled windows at exposed brick and in between street art panels, and it was so clear that this is a huge win for Columbus. Click here and here for more photos.