During the last few years, High Street has received a lot of attention from the City with a focus on improving the “look” of the corridor. High Street between Arcadia and North Broadway underwent a facelift that apparently failed. Ironically, High Street from Lane Avenue to Arcadia appears to be a new neighborhood even though it has gateway signage reading “Old North Columbus.” Where did our facelift go wrong? Why did the City move onto other projects adjacent to Clintonville and not finish the plan? Why subject our business district to immense disruption and then fall short of completion? This is unacceptable. We need to finish the projects that were agreed upon when the planners came to us and developed the concept for our area. A lot of time and effort was wasted since the agreed upon plan wasn’t implemented!
I have been told that back-in parking was planned but scrapped because the speed limit was too excessive to narrow the road. But when we asked to lower the speed limit we were told that it can’t be done because the road is too wide! Did you just scratch your head like I did when you heard this explanation? Quite frankly I am finished with the double talk and the runaround that becomes an excuse for the status quo.
A past Commissioner reported that the City ran out of money to bury utility lines on High Street and therefore could not complete that part of the project. What a shame and a waste of our dollars to put nice new concrete around wooden poles that are not at a 90 degree angle to the ground. Now, in the last few months the poles are being replaced while Old North Columbus has buried utility lines! I guess someone found the money but used it for another project outside Clintonville? Do you see a pattern here?
Recently, when members of the 25 mph speed limit sub-committee of the Planning and Development Committee of the CAC requested to meet with the Transportation Department to discuss lowering the speed limit on various streets in Clintonville, they received this response: “Call the 311 line.” I don’t think that this is acceptable. Do you?
Clintonville has been an important part of Columbus during the past 100 plus years and has not received the attention it deserves. While we have a City Overlay Plan that attempts to help with developing a common theme to new projects, it does not address the needs of our unique community. Development in Clintonville reflects our history like rings in a tree. Sections of Clintonville have been very differently developed and therefore should be handled differently when they are redeveloped.
I believe that our overlays should have 4 or 5 zones. I suggest that these zones should be:
High Street Overlay
• Arcadia Avenue to Torrence Road
• Torrence to Croswell Road
• Croswell to Henderson Road
• Henderson to Morse Road
• Morse Road to Selby Boulevard
Indianola Overlay
• Arcadia Avenue to Weber Road
• Weber to Oakland Park
• Oakland Park to Cooke Road
• Cooke Road to Morse Road
Each overlay and zone should reflect the era of development with particular scrutiny towards architectural preservation. Consideration should also be given regarding the implementation for complete streets development.
Enhancements to our neighborhood should be intended and considerate. It is not about trying to inflate the tax base by stacking floors upon floors on High Street developments and increasing density. I advocate helping developers understand what we find important and want to preserve in our community. The reason we all love Clintonville and chose to live here is because it is unique. We should not try to be a Worthington, Grandview Heights or New Albany, but rather embrace all our community offers and preserve it for future generations.
I have been told that back-in parking was planned but scrapped because the speed limit was too excessive to narrow the road. But when we asked to lower the speed limit we were told that it can’t be done because the road is too wide! Did you just scratch your head like I did when you heard this explanation? Quite frankly I am finished with the double talk and the runaround that becomes an excuse for the status quo.
A past Commissioner reported that the City ran out of money to bury utility lines on High Street and therefore could not complete that part of the project. What a shame and a waste of our dollars to put nice new concrete around wooden poles that are not at a 90 degree angle to the ground. Now, in the last few months the poles are being replaced while Old North Columbus has buried utility lines! I guess someone found the money but used it for another project outside Clintonville? Do you see a pattern here?
Recently, when members of the 25 mph speed limit sub-committee of the Planning and Development Committee of the CAC requested to meet with the Transportation Department to discuss lowering the speed limit on various streets in Clintonville, they received this response: “Call the 311 line.” I don’t think that this is acceptable. Do you?
Clintonville has been an important part of Columbus during the past 100 plus years and has not received the attention it deserves. While we have a City Overlay Plan that attempts to help with developing a common theme to new projects, it does not address the needs of our unique community. Development in Clintonville reflects our history like rings in a tree. Sections of Clintonville have been very differently developed and therefore should be handled differently when they are redeveloped.
I believe that our overlays should have 4 or 5 zones. I suggest that these zones should be:
High Street Overlay
• Arcadia Avenue to Torrence Road
• Torrence to Croswell Road
• Croswell to Henderson Road
• Henderson to Morse Road
• Morse Road to Selby Boulevard
Indianola Overlay
• Arcadia Avenue to Weber Road
• Weber to Oakland Park
• Oakland Park to Cooke Road
• Cooke Road to Morse Road
Each overlay and zone should reflect the era of development with particular scrutiny towards architectural preservation. Consideration should also be given regarding the implementation for complete streets development.
Enhancements to our neighborhood should be intended and considerate. It is not about trying to inflate the tax base by stacking floors upon floors on High Street developments and increasing density. I advocate helping developers understand what we find important and want to preserve in our community. The reason we all love Clintonville and chose to live here is because it is unique. We should not try to be a Worthington, Grandview Heights or New Albany, but rather embrace all our community offers and preserve it for future generations.
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It looks like the exterior of the Turkey Hill at the corner of Dodridge and High is complete. It helps make a great gateway and looks fabulous. Unless Clintonville can get it together and be more development-friendly, we will always have empty lots and dilapidating storefronts.
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