"Residents continue talks on plans for neighborhood" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Residents continue talks on plans for neighborhood
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
March 6, 2008

Sustainability, green space, walkability and development continue to be key topics as Clintonville residents work to develop their community plan.

Over the past month, the Clintonville area commissioners have conducted meetings within their districts to allow residents to address concerns directly related to their neighborhoods...

"Community fund restores grant program" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

If you look hard enough, you can find ways to better your neighborhood. The is a great example in Clintonville:

Link: Community fund restores grant program
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
February 7, 2008

...While still working toward that goal, Bingle said the fund will offer $4,000 in grants to community groups, with no grant to exceed $1,000.

Any community group with a specific project in mind is eligible to apply for a grant, Bingle said. "It's art and culture. It's educational funds.

It's programs for children and programs for seniors," Bingle said. "It's pretty broad."...

...Bingle said he expects that the fund's board of directors will receive between six and eight applications for grants, but he said it's anyone's guess as to what new projects community groups are eying...

"CAC briefs city council on area issues" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: CAC briefs city council on area issues
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
January 17, 2008

...At the top of the commission's list of concerns was the lack of communication between the city and area commissions during the development process.

Commission Chairman Chris Gawronski said developers come before the commission as the first step in the development process.

As developers take their case before various city departments and boards, Gawronski said, projects change and too often, the commission isn't aware of the changes...

"Residents to map Clintonville's future" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Residents to map Clintonville's future
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
January 3, 2008

Clintonville residents will have the opportunity to shape the future of the area in 2008, as the Clintonville Area Commission works with the city to create a comprehensive plan for the district.

Residents will be charged with finishing the plan by the end of the year and addressing urban design, land use, transportation and other development-related issues.

As part of the process of developing an area plan, the commission will nominate a working committee of stakeholders in January, which will meet regularly to discuss the plan...

"Proposed overlay changes cause concerns" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Proposed overlay changes cause concerns
Jennifer Nesbitt
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
December 6, 2007

...Under a proposed change to the Urban Commercial Overlay, the city would require developments to occupy 60 percent of a property's frontage...

...With the suggested changes, buildings smaller than 2,000 square feet automatically could take a 75 percent reduction in required parking. Buildings between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet would automatically be able to take a 50 percent reduction...

...Dravillas said the proposed changed was based on research that showed many parking lots weren't filling up, even on the busiest of business days.

"What we found is we are applying suburban parking requirements to urban development," Dravillas said...

"Neighbors concerned about panhandlers" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

From the Short North to Clintonville, the panhandler story makes its way all the way up High St.. Far from epidemic though, it is indeed a nuisance in my opinion. It's the panhandlers that get lippy after you walk by and ignore them that rattle my cage:

Link: Neighbors concerned about panhandlers.
Jennifer Nesbit
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
September 13, 2007

Aggressive panhandlers, mostly homeless people who have set up camp in Clintonville, are targeting seniors and causing residents to feel unsafe.

"We have numerous homeless invading our residential neighborhoods, and they are preying on our seniors," Clintonville Area Commissioner Dave Southan said. "I've got neighbors who are complaining because every time they go out in their front yards, they're being panhandled."

Police say they're also hearing complaints from residents about homeless camps and aggressive panhandlers, and they are working to address the problem...

City Investing $4.7 Million In Three Neighborhood Sewer Improvement Projects

press release
(Columbus)  Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Department of Public Utilities is proposing the investment of $4.7 million to improve sanitary sewers in three neighborhoods through a trio of projects going to City Council tonight.

“We continue to invest millions of dollars in neighborhoods each year to improve sewers and the quality of life for families in Columbus,” Mayor Michael B. Coleman said.  “These projects improve our infrastructure, create jobs and insure we have some of the best sewer service in the nation.   This means healthier, cleaner and greener neighborhoods in Columbus.”

All three projects are related to the City’s Wet Weather Management Plan (WWMP), a 40-year, $2.5 billion effort that will bring Columbus into compliance with two Consent Orders signed with the State of Ohio to reduce sewer overflows during some heavy rains.  A 2002 Consent Order regarded sanitary sewer overflows; a 2004 Consent Order pertained to combined sewer overflows.  The Department of Public Utilities submitted the WWMP to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in July 2005.  The project will result in cleaner waterways and fewer basement backups.

“The projects Council will consider tonight are the latest in a massive effort to invest in improvements to our city’s sewer infrastructure,” said Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, Chair of the Public Utilities Committee. “These projects are a sign of our ongoing, long-term commitment to provide a safe and healthy environment for our families and our community to continue to grow, while delivering on our obligation to provide the high-quality services residents of Columbus have come to expect.”

The projects include:

• Bill Moose Run Area Sanitary Sewer Improvements ($2.2 million) -  Improvements to 5,500 feet of eight-inch, 2,319 feet of 24-inch and 340 feet of 27-inch sewer lines in Clintonville immediately north of Graceland Shopping Center.  Also, 1,681 feet of an existing eight-inch sewer will be replaced with a new 12-inch line.  Fenway Road east of North High Street, Fenway Place, Fenway Court, a portion of Westview Avenue west of High Street and Sunnyside Lane will be included in the project.  Construction is scheduled to start in November 2007 and be completed in November 2008.
• Como Avenue/Milton Avenue Area Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project ($1.4 million) – Improvements to 11,364 feet of existing sewers and replacement of another 571 feet of pipe  Improvements also will be made to 56 existing manholes; nine new manholes will be added.  The project in Clintonville will be in an area bounded by Kenworth Road on the north, Pacemont Avenue on the south, North High Street on the east and the Olentangy River on the west.  Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2007 and completed in December 2008.
• Deland/Zeller Area Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project ($1.1 million) – Improvements to 16,800 feet of existing eight-inch sewer in Clintonville.  The project will be on multiple streets within the boundaries of Dominion Boulevard on the north, Ceramic Drive on the south, the first alley west of North High Street on the east and Olentangy Boulevard on the west.  Construction is scheduled from November 2007 to September 2008.

The Department of Public Utilities’ 2007 capital improvements budget totals $522  million.

"Neighborhoods want to be part of civic groups" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Neighborhoods want to be part of civic groups.
Residents seek help with crime, zoning
Saturday,  June 9, 2007 3:22 AM
By Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...Residents of the Glen Echo neighborhood, now represented by the University Area Commission, also want to join the Clintonville commission. Glen Echo residents will meet June 19 to discuss a petition drive to change their affiliation.

Glen Echo neighborhood leader Martha Buckalew said the character of her area -- from the style of its homes to its ravine to its homeownership rate -- is more in line with Clintonville than the University District. Houses for sale in the Glen Echo neighborhood are marketed as being in the "Clintonville area."...

"Hadler plans Indianola Plaza renovations" Business First of Columbus

Link: Hadler plans Indianola Plaza renovations
Business First of Columbus
April 11th, 2007

..."This is not about attracting new tenants -- we don't have a leasing problem at Indianola Plaza," Mark Murphy, vice president of leasing for Hadler Real Estate Management, said in a release. "This is about making dramatic improvements to the center for the neighborhood and our merchants."

The 76,000-square-foot plaza is anchored by Weiland's Gourmet Market and a thrift store run by Volunteers of America...

"Commission opposes plans for cottages willed to OSU" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Commission opposes plans for cottages willed to OSU
Clintonville panel objects to making them part of condo complex
Friday, March 02, 2007
Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

First, neighbors argued against plans to make two old stone cottages on N. High Street part of a condominium complex.

Now, there’s official opposition.

The Clintonville Area Commission passed a resolution unanimously last night opposing a developer’s plan to build at the northwest corner of N. High Street and W. Dominion Boulevard....

"Clintonville residents battle OSU, condo plans" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Clintonville residents battle OSU, condo plans
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

For months, Clintonville residents have fought a developer’s plan to incorporate two stone buildings along N. High Street into a condominium complex.

But before resolving the neighborhood’s concerns, property owner Ohio State University went to the lame-duck state legislature for permission to sell the buildings to the developer...

"New idea for building on High" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: New idea for building on High
By RANDY NAVAROLI
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Thursday, January 25, 2007

The developers of a site at the corner of North High Street and California Avenue have modified their plans for the property, according to Clintonville Area Commission officials.

Commissioner Clare Balombin said FairFax Properties LLC is now considering building a two-story structure on the property that currently houses two boarded-up buildings that at one time included a rental office and a driving school. The site is at 3130 N. High St...

"New shopping center going up soon; abortion clinic will move" ThisWeek Newspapers

A few weeks back I had a chance to drive through a good portion of Clintonville. While not truly one of the main neighborhoods that I count as our "urban core", being just one step beyond the borders RetroMetro follows it is encouraging to see continued growth and development in the area.

I was really surprised by the amount of commercial development that had taken place in the area of High Street around and above Whetstone Park of Roses. Looks like it's not stopping yet:

Link: New shopping center going up soon; abortion clinic will move
Thursday, April 27, 2006
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Newspapers

A Clintonville abortion clinic will move to a new location in the next two months to make way for the construction of a strip mall.

Paul Bloomfield, vice president of real estate company Kohr Royer Griffith, said construction will begin in June on Weber Place, a 7,000-square-foot retail center at 3040 N. High St...

"Public invited to meetings on UCO" ThisWeek Newspapers

Here's an article that covers Clintonville's dealings with their Urban Commercial Overlay (UCO) which has been a topic I covered in the past. They are taking an educational approach to working with the UCO by holding public meetings to discuss the topic.

The last paragraph I quoted from the article has a comment that is one that I hope the meetings can help sway with a bit of education. UCOs are not about concrete canyons. But, to each their own:

Link: Public invited to meetings on UCO
Aim is to reach consensus on designs standards for High, Indianola
Thursday, February 9, 2006
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Staff Writer

...All three sessions will be held from 7 to 8:45 p.m. at the Whetstone library, 3909 N. High St. The first meeting, slated for Feb. 16, will be an informational meeting on the overlay. The second meeting, on March 23, will talk about parking challenges. And the final meeting, on April 20, will focus on the prohibition of alcohol sales in most of Clintonville...

...The overlay was put into place to improve aesthetics along the neighborhood's commercial corridors and to create a pedestrian-friendly environment. The UCO, among other things, requires buildings be placed at the street level and parking be placed to the rear or sides of buildings...

..."It's trying to transform our area into something we're not," DeFourny said. "We shoe-horning ourselves into a narrower canyon of concrete and brick."

"High Street building to offer condos" ThisWeek Newspapers

It's been a little quite in Clintonville on condo development. I just came across this mixed-use renovation project that will, among other uses, include 14 condo units:

Link: High Street building to offer condos
Thursday, December 8, 2005
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Newspapers

...The upper two stories will contain 14 condominiums -- 10 two-bedroom units and four one-bedroom units, ranging in size from 950 to 1,100 square feet. Rollins said he did not have sales figures immediately available...

"Businesses eager for project to wrap up" The Columbus Dispatch

Business owners are feeling the pain of rebirth in Clitonville as the streetscape overhaul continues. Most of the owners feel that the long term effects will be positive, and they are without question, correct. I predict that High Street is on the cusp of a rebirth and we will once again have is become a "place" to visit and shop.

From Union Station Place all the way up to Clintonville, we will see some serious growth over the next two years.:

Link: Businesses eager for project to wrap up
Friday, May 20, 2005
Leah Rupp
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...Most of the small-business owners on N. High in the heart of the $4.4 million Clintonville streetscape project agree that the construction is a headache, though some say it will pay off. The project began last September and is to be completed this September. Construction has run along N. High Street between Arcadia Avenue and Torrence Road...

"Streetscape program to begin this week" ThisWeek Newspapers

The facelift on High Street in Clintonville continues:

Link: Streetscape program to begin this week
Thursday, March 24, 2005
By GARY SEMAN JR.
ThisWeek Staff Writers

The first phase of the $4.35-million assessment project -- to which businesses will contribute roughly $950,000 and the remainder will be paid by the city -- started last year. The city completed work on the east side of High Street from Arcadia Avenue to Weber. On the west side of the road, the city completed work roughly from North Street to the front of Mozart's. Once done, both sides of High north to Torrence Road will be redone.

ThisWeek Newspapers

ThisWeek Newspapers - High Street project under way

"...Several community and Columbus city officials gathered at the scene and hailed the project -- which will include such amenities as new curbs, sidewalks, street trees, benches and mast arms for traffic signals -- for the positive influence it will have on Clintonville's main commercial corridor. They also lauded property owners, who will contribute about a quarter of the cost, for their support of the project. They further commended the cooperation between the city and several of the community's civic organizations..."

Clintonville Street Upgrades

Clintonville is getting a bit of a facelift according to a brief article in Business First:

"...The $3.4 million project will add new curbs, trees, benches and mast arms for traffic signals along High Street between Arcadia Avenue and Torrence Road...."

Clintonville project to kick off - 2004-09-13 - Business First of Columbus

Clintonville Boundary Map

This map is on the Clintonville website:

Clintonville Map