Two long-vacant brick buildings at 21 E. Arcadia Ave. in Columbus’ Old North neighborhood can be renovated into a food hall after receiving unanimous approval from the University Impact District Review Board in September. The proposal, called The Arcadia Yard, would add small extensions to the buildings to accommodate multiple kitchens and indoor seating, with additional seating outside. The structures were built in 1949 for the Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company and later used as utility buildings by AEP. The project team revised the design after feedback from the board. Changes include concrete pavers in the plaza, separate pedestrian entrances and a permanent shade structure over the front seating area. The plaza is intended for food trucks, not customer parking. The plans also show improvements to the back of the property, which could become a main entrance if the project team reaches an agreement to use the neighboring CVS parking lot. No such arrangement was confirmed. The applicant who presented the revised plans was identified in application materials as Ying Fang. Board member Tim Sublette welcomed the proposal, saying it was good to see the buildings reused. Earlier redevelopment efforts did not move forward. The site was rezoned for residential use in 2017, but plans to convert the buildings into housing stalled. A 2022 proposal for a single-family home and a five-bedroom rental also failed to advance. The approved food hall does not require another zoning change. The property is in the Urban Center district, which permits buildings up to five stories by right and does not set a minimum parking requirement. The board’s approval addresses the project’s design; the plans also depend on completing the renovation and securing any other required permits.