Rendering via Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design.

A new plan for the parcels controlled by Schottenstein Property Group at the corner of North Third and East Long streets was presented to the downtown commission yesterday.

Sarah Mackert and Jonathan Barnes of Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design (JBAD) walked through the new proposal, which calls for the restoration of two existing buildings on the site – the five-story Westwater Supply building at 154 N. Third St., and the two-story brick building at 118 E. Long St.

A new L-shaped building would serve as an addition to those buildings, connecting to 154 N. Third via an external hallway, and extending over top of the two-story Long Street building.

Not included in this iteration of the plan is 134 E. Long St – the three-story black and gray building will still be renovated, but likely in a future phase, according to Barnes.

“That Long Street building to the east,” he said, “we will be working on it, but it will be a separate permit…it will be a part of whole project, though.”

The larger project was first brought before the commission in August.

The new concept calls for a total of 82 apartment units and roughly 40 ground-level parking spaces. An amenity deck would sit on top of the parking and be accessible via a stairway leading from up from the sidewalk on North Third.

Mackert said that they are interested in opening up that space to the public, at least during daytime hours.

“We’re also looking at ground-level outdoor café space,” she said, “we’re trying to activate all of these intermediate outdoor areas.”

Commercial space on the first floor could potentially be connected, uniting the new and existing sections of the project.

Because this was a conceptual review, no vote was taken, although the response from the commission was generally positive, with chair Stephen Wittmann calling it “a really creative and different look at this site.”

Some commissioners inquired about the Budget Rental Car building and surrounding parking lot, which occupies the immediate corner of Long and Third.

“The existing owner likes their Budget rental business,” said Barnes, adding that efforts to acquire the parcel by Schottenstein Property Group have so far been unsuccessful.

Renderings via Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design.