"Group calls raceway wrong track for area" This Week News

Link: Group calls raceway wrong track for area
David J. Cross
This Week News
July 2, 2008

A group of Columbus residents, including several from German Village, met last week to discuss the effects of a potential raceway at Cooper Stadium.

Redevelop Our Area Responsibly (ROAR), a group composed of organizations surrounding Copper Stadium, last Thursday held an open meeting to inform residents on why its members believe a racetrack would be detrimental.

Among the group's talking points was that a track would cause excess noise and lower real estate values, among others...

"City Ready To Repair German Village Brick Streets" nbc4i.com

Link: City Ready To Repair German Village Brick Streets
Denise Yost
nbc4i.com
July 2, 2008

...Next week, the city is set to gear up again, starting a $200,000 project, aiming to fill in holes and clean up the streets.

But why spend the money on rehabbing brick streets when there are other streets to pave and fix? The city said it's a matter of safety and that just because the process is more expensive, it can't be ignored.

Several areas that are on the list to be fixed include parts of East Kossuth Street, Bruck Street and South Wall Street...

"Brick street rehabilitation slated to start next week" This Week News

Link: Brick street rehabilitation slated to start next week
David J. Cross
This Week News
June 25, 2008

German Village residents can expect to see crews marking and working on brick streets next week.

Barring poor weather, contractors are expected to start the city's brick street rehabilitation project July 8. The contract is with G&G Concrete Construction.

"What the people will see is we will be going out and putting markings down on the brick," said Mary Carran Webster, Columbus' assistant public service director. "It doesn't necessarily mean they are digging up the whole road."...

...There are 32 miles of brick streets in the city and German Village will be the first area worked on. Webster estimated the entire cost of the program will be about $200,000...

"Society seeks raceway noise study" This Week News

Link: Society seeks raceway noise study
David J. Cross
This Week News
June 3, 2008

The German Village Society Board of Trustees earlier this week unanimously voted to send a letter to the Franklin County Commissioners asking for an independent noise study related to a proposed racetrack.

At the June 2 meeting, members discussed the impact of the county selling Cooper Stadium to Arshot Investment Corp., which proposed turning the home of the Clippers into a motor vehicle raceway.

The $3.3-million deal has gone through, but will take up to 17 months to close because of various contingencies, include a desired 100 percent tax abatement for 10 years from Columbus...

"New commission's boundaries questioned" This Week News

Link: New commission's boundaries questioned.
David J. Cross
This Week News
June 3, 2008

A minor misunderstanding between the German Village Area Commission and the proposed Livingston Avenue Area Task Force is still being worked through.

At a Columbus City Council meeting last month, members of the task force -- which is in the process of becoming an area commission -- proposed a boundary that included property along Livingston Avenue up to Interstate 70, directly across from the German Village Area Commission.

Katharine Moore, executive director for the German Village Society, said the village's commission and her non-profit opposed the boundaries because the German Village Area Commission planned to extend its own purview into the area once Columbus finalized plans for a cap in the area...

"GVS finishes tax hearing" This Week News

Link: GVS finishes tax hearing
David J. Cross
This Week News
May 15, 2008

The German Village Society last week wrapped up an appeal hearing to have its Meeting Haus ruled tax exempt.

On Friday, in front of the Board of Tax Appeals, Katharine Moore, executive director of the society, testified on revenue raised by the not-for-profit’s gift shop and a deal that allows the Tree of Life Community Church to rent space inside the building.

To reach tax-exempt status, an organization must prove it is a charitable organization. The testimony was a continuation of an earlier hearing, where Moore and others connected to the society spoke to the matter of what the haus is primarily used for...

"Grant denoted to study Third Street" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Grant denoted to study Third Street
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
April 17, 2008

The German Village Society will soon have a better understanding of what it will cost to renovate Third Street.

Bill Curlis, society trustee and immediate past president, announced at last week's board meeting, that the not-for-profit is planning to use a long-held $250,000 grant to study the street.

"The issue is, what do we want to do," Curlis said. "We don't know."

Some of the possible enhancements that will be studied include street lighting, power boxes, signs and sidewalks, Curlis said, adding that it will be an all encompassing study...

"Village Society seeks tax exemption" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Village Society seeks tax exemption
David J Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
April 17, 2008

An upcoming appeal hearing could determine whether the German Village Society's will have to pay property taxes on its meeting haus.

The society will go before the Board of Tax Appeals at 9 a.m. April 28 at The Rhodes Tower, 30 E. Broad Street. It's the not-for-profit's hope that the board will overturn an earlier decision in which the meeting haus was ruled not to be eligible for tax exemption...

...In a 2006 document, the Ohio Tax Commissioner said the society's goals were commendable, but serve a self-interest and as such it is not exempt.

"The society's purpose and the clear results of its efforts have been to protect and to increase the property values in German Village, and to improve the economic benefits of business in the area," the document stated...

"GVS to seek city grant" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: GVS to seek city grant
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
March 20, 2008

The debate on whether the German Village Society should seek grant money from the city to support its various gardening projects has come to an end.

Last week, Katharine Moore, executive director of the not-for-profit, said the group will seek several hundred dollars from the city to help purchase planting materials for Schiller Park. No exact figure was given.

The society was having a difficult time deciding on whether to seek a recently enacted grant, which made $10,000 available to Columbus gardening groups. The city will match up to $1,000 per group...

"Village Garten Club passes on grant program" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Village Garten Club passes on grant program
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
February 28, 2008

Though Columbus recently established a parks beautifications grant program, the German Village Garten Club is not expected to seek money for its annual planting.

Last week Columbus City Councilwoman Pricilla Tyson established a pilot program where $10,000 is available to local groups that help maintain the city's parks.

The city will match a groups' efforts up to $1,000, Tyson said.

Nonetheless, German Village's Garten Club does not plan on seeking a grant and some believe the amount the city has put forth is far too meager...

...Still, Glick acknowledged that the city's Parks and Recreations Department has been routinely cut over the years. Since 2000, the Parks and Recreations Department's operating budget has dropped about 48 percent...

"Beck Place condos to be ready by summer" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Beck Place condos to be ready by summer
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
February 28, 2008

Beck Place, an area condominium project, is expected to be ready for buyers in mid to late summer this year, despite initial plans for the project to open in summer 2007...

...About 10,000 square feet of the 40,000-square-foot building -- the section of the building that fronts Beck Street -- will be retained and renovated.

The project includes eight three-story town homes that will face Grant, four two-story units with rooftop terraces that will face Beck, and eight two-story lofts that will face Jaeger Street. Units will average 2,400 square feet...

...Goodsell said the condos are limited to two or three bedrooms and will cost between $462,600 and $726,300...

"Dessert shop expands hours, adds seating" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Dessert shop expands hours, adds seating
Daivd J Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
February 28, 2008

Starting early next month, Pistacia Vera, an area dessert boutique, will adjust its business hours and add more seating...

...In addition to the new hours, Pistacia Vera will now offering indoor seating for 12 to 15 costumers. During the summer months outside seating will be expanded, Fletcher said...

...New business hours will be: 10 a.m to 7 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"Oktoberfest to change locations" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Oktoberfest to change locations
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
January 24, 2008

For the second straight year, the German Village Society's Oktoberfest will change location.

Katharine Moore, executive director of the society, said last week the festival is expected to move to Genoa Park and Amphitheater near COSI.

"We don't have a final contract, but that is certainly our working site," Moore said. "It's a place we had tried to get before and scheduling wouldn't allow it."...

(FYI, the image with the full article shows Battelle Park, not Genoa park with is adjacent to COSI and the amphitheater on the west side of the Scioto)

"MoJoe Lounge an area 'hangout'" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: MoJoe Lounge an area 'hangout'
David J. Cross
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
January 10, 2007

Mark Swanson, owner of the new MoJoe Lounge in German Village, hopes his new establishment is another "hangout" for area residents.

Columbus's third MoJoe Lounge, which is housed at the former site of Caterina, was expected to opens its doors early this week. The business is adjacent to Cup O'Joe, 627 S. Third St.

"It's not a fine restaurant; it's a lounge were people can hang out," Swanson said. "It's a hangout in German Village."...

The 2007 OKTOBERFEST at McFerson Commons in the Arena District

2 Munich-style entertainment tents, 34 band performances, 400 kegs of beer and plenty of parking!

Download Oktoberfest Fact Sheet

Columbus, OH (August 2007) From the ribbon cutting at the great arch at Noon on Friday, September 28, and the tapping of the first keg at 5:30PM on Friday, guests at the 2007 Oktoberfest will experience the dramatic vitality and spirit of this Columbus tradition.  Honorary Bürgermeister, Mayor Michael Coleman will kick off the event.  Once through the historic arch from Columbus’s train station, visitors will be charmed by the traditional beer gardens, great food, lively music and dancing, Kinderplatz for the children, and the renowned Marketplatz craft fair.

Oktoberfest is a significant and highly successful fundraiser for the German Village Society, the 48-year-old historic preservation organization in downtown Columbus.  “Oktoberfest is a reflection of our twenty-first century community.  It is grounded in the traditions of the German immigrants who built our neighborhood, but it also focuses on the interests of the diverse and sophisticated audiences who live, work, and play in the German Village neighborhood today. Our success has been tied to our ability to produce this uniquely contemporary interpretation of an old world festival,” said William Curlis, Chairman of the event.  He points out that, "even now, over one hundred and fifty years since the major immigration of Germans to American shores, one fourth of the American population is at least partly of German heritage. And, during Oktoberfest, we find that just about everyone that enters our gates are somehow German."

WHY THE MOVE?

Oktoberfest has been “site challenged” off and on since the German Village Society began producing it 19 years ago.  The original Brewery District location has been developed, the Brewer’s Yard site has a new Kroger Store on it, and the school grounds at Grant and Livingston are slated for a major reconstruction project. The Oktoberfest committee worked closely with Nationwide Realty Investors and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to utilize this handsome park for the first time as a festival site.  “Even Germans need to park!” says Chairman Curlis when asked why the entertainment district is so ideal.

While music and beer are the significant elements of any and all Oktoberfests, guests can look forward to a great array of local and national food vendors offering German as well as 'festival' fare.  Strudel, bratwurst, pretzels, sauerkraut balls, pickles on a stick, cream puffs, and, of course, funnel cakes will all be available.  A full line of Pepsi soft drink products will be on tap along with a number of beer and wine gardens operated by Oktoberfest volunteers.  Warsteiner beer that was brewed in Germany and shipped to Columbus will be poured, as well as a selection of German wines.

Oktoberfest is for young and old alike with a special Kinderplatz for the youngest of all.  Children can learn to polka, join in craft projects, be mesmerized by a magician, be tickled by a juggler, and maybe learn a German phrase or two in the Kinderplatz tent. 

Adult tickets are $8.00; senior citizen tickets are $5.00; and children under twelve are free when accompanied by an adult.  Group discounts are available by contacting the German Village Society office one week in advance of the event. General admission discounted tickets are available online and at all 5/3 Banking Centers.

For more information about parking, tickets, food, entertainment and directions to the event please visit www.GVOktoberfest.com or call 614.221.8888.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

While music and beer are the significant elements of any and all Oktoberfests, guests can look forward to a great array of local and national food vendors offering German as well as 'festival' fare.  Strudel, bratwurst, pretzels, sauerkraut balls, pickles on a stick, cream puffs, and, of course, funnel cakes will all be available.  A full line of Pepsi soft drink products will be on tap along with a number of beer and wine gardens operated by Oktoberfest volunteers.  Warsteiner beer that was brewed in Germany and shipped to Columbus will be poured, as well as a selection of German wines.

Oktoberfest is for young and old alike with a special Kinderplatz for the youngest of all.  Children can learn to polka, join in craft projects, be mesmerized by a magician, be tickled by a juggler, and maybe learn a German phrase or two in the Kinderplatz tent. 

Adult tickets are $8.00; senior citizen tickets are $5.00; and children under twelve are free when accompanied by an adult.  Group discounts are available by contacting the German Village Society office one week in advance of the event. General admission discounted tickets are available online and at all 5/3 Banking Centers.

Polka music is, of course, at the heart of the Oktoberfest entertainment schedule.  Regional stars Hank Haller, Franz Klaber, Joe Fedorchek, and Joe Novak all return, and Tommy Shober and the Sound of Sorgenbrecher are back. 

For the folks seeking a sampling of the Columbus music scene, performances of Shucking Bubba Deluxe, Chrome, The Reagonomics, Lt. Dan’s New Legs, Snow Shoe Crabs, and the Hoo Doo Soul Band are slated for evening showings throughout the weekend.  For a complete entertainment schedule, check the website at www.GVOktoberfest.com

ABOUT THE GERMAN VILLAGE SOCIETY
The German Village Society serves over 1,250 members dedicated to retaining the character of its historic German Village community, conducts Ohio History education programs for children, foster preservation and restoration services, and helps to sustain community charitable and service organizations.

"Garage break-ins plaguing the village" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Garage break-ins plaguing the village
SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
September 6, 2007

Residents in German Village, Schumacher Place and Merion Village have been experiencing a rash of break-ins and thefts from garages, with the thieves prying open or kicking in doors.

For the month of August, according to reports listed on the Columbus Division of Police Web site, at least 40 garages were broken into. Items stolen ranged from tools or a few dollars worth of change to bicycles and electric scooters.

On Aug. 22 and 23 alone, seven such break-ins were reported. All of those were within blocks of each other and some took place in broad daylight...

"Public input sought on construction guidelines" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

If you've never paged through construction guidelines that are in place for Columbus' various historical neighborhoods which have city appointed architectural review commissions, they are interesting documents is a sense that they actually put into words some of the elements that give neighborhoods like German Village some of their character:

Link: Public input sought on construction guidelines.
Sue Hagan
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
August 16, 2007

German Village residents are encouraged to review a draft document that revises the guidelines on new construction in the village. The document, which will be used by the German Village Commission (GVC) to guide its decisions, is available at the Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St. Comments are due by Aug. 28.

The GVC -- with input from the city's Historic Preservation office -- has been working on the revisions for several years in an effort to clarify the language and add sections where there had been no coverage in the past...

Think of these guidelines as taking a neighborhood, documenting common architectural features that are unique to that area (house size, height, materials, lot size, rooring configuration...) and putting them in print to use as a standard far any new development that takes place going forward.

This guideline process, enforced by the architectural review commissions who interpret and apply the guidelines on any publicly visible development or renovations, ensure the architectural integrity and character of a place remains intact as much as possible.

German Village has integrated their guidelines into the German Village Society's Web site if you want to get an idea of what these documents general cover.

"Hospital seeks input on plans for expansion" Suburban News Publications

Link: Hospital seeks input on plans for expansion
Jennifer Nobilt
Suburban News Publications
August 8-15, 2007

..."The top three concerns in the neighborhoods are the top three concerns for us," Allen told German Village Society Board of Trustees members at their monthly meeting.

With security, retail development and historic preservation topping the list, Allen said, it's important for the area around the hospital to be in good shape...

...As plans stand, new construction will add more than a million square feet. A new main hospital building, clinical building, parking garage, energy plant and research building are all in the plans. Six acres on the campus will also be turned into green space.

The next public open house on the hospital additions is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 21 in the second-floor auditorium at the Columbus Public Health Department, 240 Parsons Ave...

"Stauf's gets its MoJoe working again" Business First of Columbus

Link: Stauf's gets its MoJoe working again
Dan Eaton
Business First of Columbus
July 27, 2007

Customers who like their coffee mixed with something stronger than cream will soon have a new dining and drinking destination in German Village.

Stauf's Coffee Roasters Ltd. is ready to bring its MoJoe Lounge bar and restaurant to the neighborhood, after getting the approval of Columbus City Council July 23 on a set of variances. The company's MoJoe restaurants serve coffee and an expanded menu of food, as well as wine, mixed drinks and beer...

"Brick streets still hold their appeal" The Columbus Dispatch

It's the last line of the following article quote that I thought was an interesting factoid regarding brick streets:

Link: Brick streets still hold their appeal.
Gail Martineau
The Columbus Dispatch
July 25, 2007

...Bexley decided to save its bricks.

Within the next couple of weeks, Bexley will start repairs on N. Roosevelt Avenue between Broad Street and Maryland Avenue, a project that will cost about $120,000.

The city has also uncovered a portion of brick street adjacent to the Governor's Residence on N. Parkview Avenue that was paved over with asphalt, said Dorothy Pritchard, Bexley's service director.

Like Bexley, the German Village Society has come up with a plan to take up the asphalt and uncover the brick on 3rd Street between Livingston Avenue and Schiller Park.

Although there isn't a timeline yet, the group is looking for grant money and donations, said Jody Graichen, the society's director of historic-preservation programs...

...For Bexley, the attraction is twofold: Residents like the brick because it slows traffic, while city officials say the roads can last 100 years...

German Village Art Crawl

"Stray cats overwhelm Columbus neighborhood" WSYX6.COM

Link: Stray cats overwhelm Columbus neighborhood
WSYX6.COM
June 27, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Stray cats are doing more than strut in Columbus' German Village neighborhood.

Residents say the historic district is being overwhelmed with felines that can be found lurking under cars, in garages and in boarded-up buildings.

An animal welfare group estimates there are 500 strays in the area. Save the Wild Side is trying to control the population by trapping cats, neutering them and then letting them go.

Why'd I post this?

There are many necessary elements to living in any successful community. Animal control is one of them.

While an article on cats may seem somewhat out there, if another urban neighborhood I cover experiences issues with animal control, being able to see how another neighborhood dealt with or is dealing with the same or a similar problem can save both the community and the city time by not having to reinvent the wheel to resolve various problems.

"Commission vote lets MoJoe move forward" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Commission vote lets MoJoe move forward.
Sue Hagan
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
May 10, 2007

The German Village Commission has approved the change of the former Caterina Ltd. space from retail to restaurant, allowing plans for a German Village MoJoe Lounge to move ahead.

According to Jeff Brown, the attorney representing Cup O' Joe owner Mark Swanson, Columbus City Council will still need to approve the change, which also allows outside service to continue.

Brown said that planners are continuing to identify all the required parking spaces, but will be allowed use of the parking lot across from the new location for Caterina Ltd., a short distance north...

Columbus’ Historic German Village designated as a “Preserve America Community” by the White House

press release

First neighborhood in Ohio to achieve honor

(Columbus)  First Lady Laura Bush has notified Mayor Michael B. Coleman that Columbus’ beautiful and historic German Village is designated as a Preserve America Community.  While other towns and cities have achieved the designation, German Village is the first neighborhood to achieve this honor.

“Building neighborhood pride and improving the quality of life are the cornerstones of Columbus’ mission, and we are proud to stand with the residents of German Village in celebrating this national recognition,” said Mayor Coleman.  “We must protect our historic buildings and cultural heritage, and the homes of German Village are among the best examples of preservation in the nation.”

Area residents will host a celebratory breakfast with Mayor Coleman on April 27th at the Olde Mohawk Restaurant at 819 Mohawk Street.  The event includes a $10 buffet breakfast, doors open at 7:45 a.m.

Preserve America is a White House initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.

“The German Village community has achieved national attention because our civic association, The German Village Society, has successfully partnered with the City of Columbus over the last fifty years. The focus and tenacity of our membership is truly remarkable” said German Village Society board president Mary Cusick.

The German Village community has led the way in historic preservation both locally and nationally," O'Shaughnessy said. "I was happy to have the opportunity to write a letter in support of the nomination and delighted that we've achieved this prestigious designation."

The Preserve America Community designation is granted to eligible neighborhoods that meet three general criteria:

      ·       The neighborhood, in partnership with the city government, has recently supported a historic or cultural preservation project that promotes heritage tourism or otherwise fosters economic vitality, and involves a public-private partnership between government entities and at least one civic association, nonprofit, and/or business enterprise.

      ·       The neighborhood has recently adopted a resolution or policy statement indicating its commitment to the preservation of heritage assets within the neighborhood.

      ·       The neighborhood meets at least five criteria specified in three broad categories: discovering heritage through historic places, protecting historic resources, and promoting historic assets.

German Village met the criteria in each category with impressive programs and projects that include the Ralph and Dorothy Fischer Archives (a collection that includes an archival file for each structure in German Village); the German Village Visitors’ Center; Stewart Avenue School tutoring and sponsorship; architectural scavenger hunts for Ohio history and German language students; the German Village Commission; the German Village Society Historic Preservation Committee; German Village Oktoberfest; the Society’s printed materials; their award-winning Visitors’ Center Video; their involvement as a charter member of the Council of Historic Neighborhoods; and the annual Caretakers of a Legacy Awards program.

German Village was Columbus’ first historic district, with boundaries recognized by City Council in 1963.  The German Village Commission was the city’s first architectural review board, established in 1963.  The entire 233 acres of German Village were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 by the National Park Service.

"Village now a 'Preserve America Community'" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Village now a 'Preserve America Community'
Thursday, April 19, 2007
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

..."The very successful private-public partnership that we have forged with the City of Columbus has made this honor possible," said German Village Society Board President Mary Cusick in a news release. She thanked Jody Graichen, who is the GVS historic preservation officer, for "being able to pull together such a worthy application."

The Preserve America Community designation is granted to eligible neighborhoods that: partner with city government to promote heritage tourism or otherwise foster economic vitality; commit to the preservation of heritage assets within the neighborhood and reflect that commitment through a resolution or policy statement; and meet specific criteria in the categories of discovering heritage through historic places, protecting historic resources, and promoting historic assets...

"Commission echoes residents on MoJoe plans" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Commission echoes residents on MoJoe plans
Thursday, April 12, 2007
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

Members of the German Village Commission have some of the same concerns as neighbors about a proposed MoJoe Lounge, and have asked Cup O'Joe owner Mark Swanson to return with detailed responses to their questions.

At the same time, they offered enough encouragement that Swanson is hopeful he'll be able to get his project off the ground...

"German Village homeowners may face fee" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: German Village homeowners may face fee
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Mike Pramik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

German Village one day might be seen as even more special than it is now, but residents may have to pay for the privilege.

Members of the German Village Society are exploring the possibility of creating a specialimprovement district within the boundaries of the neighborhood that would require assessments of all property owners. Use of the money has not been nailed down, but society members say added security is at the top of the list...

"German Village residents sound off on MoJoe plans" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: German Village residents sound off on MoJoe plans.
Sue Hagan
ThisWeek Newspapers
March 28th, 2007

About 30 people crowded into a German Village Meeting Haus room on March 27 to hear more about Mark Swanson's plans to expand Cup O' Joe on South Third Street into a MoJoe Lounge.

They mainly wanted assurances that patrons wouldn't place an excessive demand on parking spaces, that cooking odors wouldn't waft into their homes and that noise would be kept to a minimum.

Swanson and his representative, attorney Jeff Brown, did their best to set their minds at ease...

"Village to focus on 'sidewalk education'" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Village to focus on 'sidewalk education'
SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
March 22nd, 2007

..."We always have to address the misunderstanding among property owners regarding public domain and the responsibility of the homeowners," she said.

In other words, the public gets to use the sidewalks, but residents are responsible for taking care of them...

"Cup O' Joe seeks views on MoJoe" Suburban News Publications

Link: Cup O' Joe seeks views on MoJoe
By Garth Bishop
Suburban News Publications
March 7 - 14, 2007

Before deciding to go forward with a plan to add onto the company's German Village location, Cup O' Joe is looking to gain the public's input.

In January, Cup O' Joe went to the German Village Commission with an idea to add a MoJoe Lounge to its location at 627 S. Third St. As suggested, the lounge would go into the space that was occupied by Caterina Ltd. prior to that company's move up the street...

...The German Village Society is planning to host a public forum sometime before April's commission meeting so that residents can weigh in on the possible addition. Architectural renderings and other information will be available so that attendees can better understand what Cup O' Joe is trying to do...

"Clarmont owner pitching plan for condo, commercial complex on site" Business First of Columbus

Link: Clarmont owner pitching plan for condo, commercial complex on site
Brian R. Ball
Business First of Columbus
March 2, 2007

The landmark Clarmont Restaurant in Columbus could become the site of a 10-story condominium and commercial complex under plans owner Thom Coffman is testing for the 60-year-old restaurant.

Coffman and real estate broker Peter H. Luft have proposed building a 180,000-square-foot complex with 54 condos and 20,000 square feet of commercial space at 684 S. High St...

"Clarmont could become place to live, eat, shop" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Clarmont could become place to live, eat, shop
60-year-old restaurant site may be redeveloped
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Mike Pramik and Barnet D . Wolf
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

One of the city’s pre-eminent powerdining spots has plans to shift into overdrive.

The owner of the Clarmont Restaurant, 684 S. High St., would like to tear down the 60-year-old icon and build in its place an eight-story restaurant, condominium and retail development.

Many of the particulars are to be determined, such as how the project would be funded and how long the restaurant would have to be closed. But owner Thom Coffman thinks that it’s time to take the Clarmont, a longtime favorite of politicians, lawyers and business people, to another level...

Neighborhoods Concerned about Children's Hospital Expansion

This is a forwarded message from our firends in German Village and Schumacher Place. Please read below.

As you are all aware, Children’s Hospital has huge expansion plans.  We feel very lucky that they made the decision to stay downtown to build their research campus, rather than to take it out to the suburbs, and we have enjoyed a terrific relationship with them as members of their “Good Neighbor” network, partners in the 70/71 advisory council, and we are very proud to have a number of their professionals as German Villagers.

That said, we have been disappointed to learn that the hospital is proposing the demolition of several houses on the south side of Livingston Avenue to make way for a new Ronald McDonald House.  That they are starting over, in spite of the less-than-2-year-old Ronald McDonald House because they don’t like the location after all, is their issue, but that they are asking City Council to donate two alleys to them so they can demolish houses and create a new building site without looking for other solutions is bad precedence.

Three of the houses are classic story and a half cottages that could be moved, and two larger structures, filled with beautiful woodwork, vintage hardware, and original stained glass should be at least considered for incorporation into the new plan.

As they expand into the neighborhoods they are going to have to take the extra care that comes with dealing with historic houses.  Just because a neighborhood isn’t protected as an official historic district doesn’t mean that what is unique and significant should be demolished because it is the cheapest and quickest way from A to B. Purchasing residential properties and then allowing demolition by neglect isn’t necessary for the success of the Children’s Hospital master plan.

As members of the preservation community, we encourage you to join our neighbors from Merion Village and Schumacher Place in urging City Council to delay action on the “emergency” legislation that has been proposed to vacate and the alleys and transfer them, waiving the $39,000 cost, (Ordinance 85-07) until a careful study of all of the options is completed and solutions are given a chance to be implemented. We are NOT obstructionists, be we know, perhaps better than anyone, what can be gained by careful management of historic resources.

You may write all Columbus City Council members in care of Council President Michael Mentel at
MKrutkus @ Columbus.gov

"'Special' status explored" Suburban News Publications

Link: 'Special' status explored
The status would raise village taxes, bringing in money for extra police protection.
By GARTH BISHOP
Suburban News Publications
February 7 - 14, 2007

The German Village Society is looking at the prospect of making the neighborhood a "special improvement district."

Though the society is still gathering information to see if becoming a special improvement district is right for the village, preliminary figures show that such a move could bring in funds for -- among other things -- additional police patrols, society Board of Trustees members said at the board's Monday night meeting...

"Hospital's announcement a surprise to its neighbors" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: Hospital's announcement a surprise to its neighbors
Sue Hagan
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
February 8th, 2007

...Residents and property owners who live near Children's Hospital say they wish they'd had an earlier heads-up as to the hospital's latest plans.

If they had, they might have been able to make arrangements to move what some of them call the "secret garden" house at the corner of East Livingston Avenue and Ann Street.

The Victorian-style home and its surrounding wall, along with five other homes in the same block, will soon be razed to make way for a new Ronald McDonald House...

"GVS factors rainy day into its budget" ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Link: GVS factors rainy day into its budget
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Thursday, January 25, 2007

With last fall's Oktoberfest earning $80,000 rather than the $150,000 planners had hoped for, the German Village Society has revamped its budget to -- literally -- anticipate a rainy day.

The GVS has approved a 2007 budget that expects $634,587 in revenue. Last year, it planned for $728,770 but fell about $50,000 short...

"Big bother: Neighborhood security cameras look like fakes" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Big bother: Neighborhood security cameras look like fakes
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Bill Bush
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...Whatever they are, or aren’t, the cameras, which are on a stretch of Stewart in German and Merion villages, are coming down. The city will remove them within days because they are illegally attached to city telephone poles, utilities spokesman Rick Tilton said.

Moore said yesterday that she won’t reveal who put up the units, because that person could be subject to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine for tampering with city property.

"Mysterious cameras will be removed" The Columbus Dispatch

Link: Mysterious cameras will be removed
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Mark Ferenchik
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

...Sometime before Christmas, someone mounted security cameras on three city utility poles along the street in the German Village and Merion Village neighborhoods...

...The neighborhood near Schiller Park also was the scene of three home invasions, in which residents were bound and robbed, that shook the area in 2005...

...Attaching the cameras to the poles without permission could be construed as criminal mischief, a third-degree misdemeanor punishable by 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. said...

"German Village wants wires cleaned up" ThisWeekNews

This "wired" conversation has been on and off the boards over the years due to high costs. It looks like German Village wants to at least see what CAN be done to beautify the wire situation the best the can given the financial realities and limitations that exist in trying to make the wires disappear underground:

Link: German Village wants wires cleaned up.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

...Village officials met last Friday with representatives of American Electric Power, Time Warner, and the city of Columbus to see if anything can be done to improve the appearance along the street.

"We just wanted to get the wheels turning," said Jody Graichen, director of historic preservation programs for the German Village Society.

She said the village would love to have the wires buried but "that is probably cost-prohibitive."...

"GVS wants to know: Why come here? And why leave?" ThisWeekNews

The German Village Society is looking at trends in moving for residents who come and sometimes go from the neighborhood in order to develop an action plan to address any potential issues that may come out of the survey:

Link: GVS wants to know: Why come here? And why leave?
Thursday, October 5, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

..."What we're looking for is why they move to German Village, why they leave and what other neighborhoods they consider," said Katharine Moore, GVS executive director.

With the information, the society can decide which problems need to be addressed and which attributes can be used in marketing materials, Moore said...

...Hazel Morrow-Jones, an Ohio State University associate professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning, is conducting the survey...

"Wheelchair ramps are being changed" ThisWeek Newspapers

A little follow-up on the handicap ramp issue in German Village illustrating the benefits of communication between neighborhoods and the city. German Village is actually one of four historical neighborhoods (of some 19 or so in the area) that is officially recognized by the city and has an assigned architectural review commission that oversees and enforces architectural guidelines in their respective neighborhoods:

Link: Wheelchair ramps are being changed
Thursday, July 27, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Staff Writer

...Decker began building the ramps in late June, but the city halted the work July 14 on any intersections where brick was to be removed. That was done so the German Village commissioners and members of the city's Public Service Department could discuss how to replace as little brick as possible with concrete. They also wanted to discuss other issues, such as tree removal and the disruption of residents' landscaping...

"Village: Better communication could have warded off curb ramp woes" ThisWeek Newspapers

Unfortunate as it may be for a historic district, I can assure you that the city hasn't the time or the funding to stop and design each crossing and curb ramp area to meet architectural review commission defined standards. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I don't think it is important, but this is a city-wide federally mandated program and if the city were to stop and meet about every street corner it would only serve to grind some of our over-burdened departments even further.

My advice: If your historic neighborhood is up for repaving by the city and you have concerns, take a lesson from German Village and get out in front of the city before they come to start the work:

Link: Village: Better communication could have warded off curb ramp woes
Thursday, July 13, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Newspapers 

Concerns keep bubbling up about the construction of dozens of wheelchair ramps on Third Street and Reinhard Avenue in German Village, and some village officials think a lot of problems could have been forestalled if staff members had understood the scope of the project from the beginning.

To the city of Columbus, it's simple: the Americans with Disabilities Act says that curb ramps must be provided "wherever an accessible route crosses a curb," and the city has been installing ramps as it repaves streets...

...Said Hacker: "They are putting the ramps in a historic neighborhood. We have architects on the Commission; there might have been some options available if we had been brought in earlier in the process."

"Village: I-70/71 change will have a broad impact" ThisWeek Newspapers

Although it is too early to object to specific I70/71 splits reconfiguration options since it has not yet bet finalized by the Ohio Department of Transportation, German Village is right to be clearly voicing their concerns at this point in the process.

Whether or not there will be adverse effects on the neighborhood based on what configuration option is chosen remains to be analyzed but rather than trying to fight things at the last minute it's a wise decision to be sure that they have a chair at the discussion table.

This is one of the strongest benefits for establishing and maintaining a neighborhood association because it gives a community a voice:

Link: Village: I-70/71 change will have a broad impact
Thursday, June 15, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Newspapers

German Village officials object to a map indicating that the I-70/71 reconfiguration downtown will affect areas just along the interstate.

In a recent letter to the Ohio Department of Transportation, William Curlis, immediate past president of the German Village Society (GVS), wrote that the project could affect the entire village.

But ODOT officials emphasize the map is preliminary and will change after the state decides which highway configuration to build...

"Village seeks status formerly reserved for municipalities" Suburban News Publications

German Village is going after some recognition by seeking a rare designation for their neighborhood. The amount of effort and private funds that have gone into German Village over the years definitely makes it one of Columbus' premiere revitalization success stories and they should rightly gain recognition.

It may be time to dig a little deeper into German Village and take some notes on how there process progressed over time so as to apply it in other neighborhoods that may just be starting out:

Link: Village seeks status formerly reserved for municipalities
Landing the honor could open up grant opportunities.
By GARTH BISHOP
June 7th - 14th
Suburban News Publications

German Village could become the first neighborhood in Ohio to obtain Preserve America status.

Preserve America is a program started by first lady Laura Bush to recognize historic communities that "protect and celebrate their heritage; use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization; and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs," according to its official Web site, preserveamerica.gov...

"More U.S. homeowners seek historic designation" The Wall Street Journal

Did you know...
That there are a total of 19 historic districts in Columbus? There are only 4 historical districts in the city of Columbus that are officially recognized by the City Council: Victorian Village, Italian Village, German Village and the Brewery District.

Owning a home in a historic neighborhood has pluses and minuses, some of which you should familiarize yourself with before you start house hunting. If you have big dreams of renovating a home in a historic of buying a lot and building a new home, there are explicit guidelines to which you must adhere to and get approval from the architectural review commissions for the specific neighborhood you are dealing with:

Link: More U.S. homeowners seek historic designation
Thursday, March 16, 2006
By Sara Schaefer Munoz
The Wall Street Journal
taken from www.post-gazette.com

...Experts say designation can affect home value because it leads to neighborhood pride and better upkeep of homes and yards. Most designations encourage repairs to be made with high-quality material, such as wood, rather than vinyl, and prevent a hodge-podge of styles by blocking any new construction that doesn't fit in. Historic designation can also bring financial incentives such as tax credits and matching grant programs for home maintenance. For example, homeowners in many California cities can save between 40 percent to 60 percent a year on property taxes with an historic-district designation. A matching-grants program in Scottsdale, Ariz., will reimburse homeowners in historic districts for 50 percent of the total cost of an improvement, up to $10,000.

But there are downsides to historic designation for many homeowners. Strict regulations on construction and home modification can make repairs costly and burdensome. The potential headaches are leading some homeowners to resist being included in a historic district. In Rockford, Ill., one resident recently led an unsuccessful charge to roll back part of a historic district after the town barred her from installing vinyl siding...

For more information on the 4 officially recognized districts, visit the Historic Districts page of the City of Columbus Planning Division's INFObase website.

To learn more about all of the historic neighborhoods in Columbus, visit the Council of Historic Neighborhoods website. There are only 18 historical neighborhoods shown on this website and the city's INFObase page says there are 19 so I'm not sure which one is missing.

If you are curious about how specific the guidelines get or how the commission's function check out the City of Columbus Department of Development's Historic Preservation section of the city's website on Architectural Review Commissions.

"Commission okays Grant Avenue plans" ThisWeek Newspapers

Beck Place, the new 20 unit development in German Village, continues to make its way through all the necessary approvals getting it that much closer to getting started:

Link: Commission okays Grant Avenue plans
Thursday, February 9, 2006
By SUE HAGAN
ThisWeek Newspapers

Eight months after it was first introduced, the German Village Commission on Tuesday evening approved plans to convert former office space into 20 residential town homes and lofts.

The project, to be called Beck Place, is located at 645 S. Grant Avenue, at the corner of Grant and Beck Street.

The approval came after about 90 minutes of discussion, and is contingent on the architect making some changes to window, dormer and door designs, and landscaping most of the courtyard spaces...

"Design firm focuses on window options" ThisWeek Newspapers

One of the things that you may or may not be aware of is the significant amount of work that goes into designing and developing any type of residential project in a neighborhood that has an architectural review commission.

The review commission's job is make sure that the project will fit in with the surrounding homes and streetscape without any serious deviations from the established aesthetic in the neighborhood.

There is a lot more to the commission's job, but the main idea is to maintain the character of an area and to not have it cheapened by low-quality design and development.

There are currently 5 historic Architectural Review Commissions in the city:
Brewery District Commission 
German Village Commission 
Historic Resources Commission 
Italian Village Commission 
Victorian Village Commission 
Board of Commission Appeals

As you read through this article on Beck Place, you begin to see how thorough the process can be. Some developers may choose other words to describe the process...:

Link: Design firm focuses on window options
Thursday, January 26, 2006
By TRISTAN CROWE
ThisWeek Staff Writer 

German Village commissioners may get another look at design plans for new town homes planned for 645 S. Grant St. during the Feb. 7 meeting.

For several months, commissioners and architectural representatives from Behal Sampson Dietz have addressed plans for the area, which is expected to become the site for 20 town homes...