Historic preservation is extremely important to communities and local economies. It is rightfully boosted, in some cases, by federal tax credits, and Ohio is planning to expand last year's limited state historic tax credit. Preserving our heritage beautifies the city, keeps neighborhoods intact and, while it may often be to the benefit of the well-to-do, the limited tax credits are available only to people and businesses that already are investing in places that have been neglected. What's more historic restoration may be comparable is cost to new construction, but restoration is more labor-intensive, which means it creates jobs and keeps money in the local economy. And restoration of a key building in a neighborhood may inspire further investment in the neighborhood. Preservation is one of the most cost-effective (from a public-spending standpoint) ways to strengthen communities.
Another interesting commentary on this topic. Peter Shane Columbus <http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/05/15/northeast-ohio-muni-wireless-brings-together-education-city-officials/>Guest commentary: Northeast Ohio muni wireless project brings together education, city officials Cathy Horton | <http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/05/15>May 15, 2008 at 1:55 am | <http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/05/15/northeast-ohio-muni-wireless-brings-together-education-city-officials/#comments>0 Comments This week The Chronicle of Higher Education published a story entitled: “Struggling Communities Turn to Colleges: Small private institutions work to help ailing local economies.” The article discusses the value of collaboration between higher education and local government. Author, Karin Fischer, reports that “civic leaders say they are looking to colleges not simply to spruce up their city centers but also to help position them in an economy that values smarts more than strength.” She goes on to report: “In old mill towns and declining manufacturing centers, in the Rust Belt’s former company towns and in the rural South, small, private liberal arts institutions like King’s [College – Wilkes-Barre] are assuming a greater responsibility for community and economic development. They and their alumni are raising money to purchase abandoned buildings. They are relocating college facilities, like bookstores and residence halls, to buy up urban cores. They are working to better connect faculty experts with local entrepreneurs.” This important trend speaks to what the Beta Strategy Group understands about Muni Wireless. In our last <http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/05/08/economic-value-and-collaboration-in-municipal-wireless/>article, we suggested that of the broadband deployments we are engaged in, most involve solving complex community and economic challenges. Nothing is more complex than re-inventing the business communities of our nation through information technology and entrepreneurship. Right now, we are involved in deploying what will be the first Muni Wireless Broadband deployment in Northeast Ohio, a network that will serve the city and the local college, as well as its surrounding cities and county offices. Thus, despite the ongoing dialogue concerning the validity of broadband deployment, smart cities and colleges in our path understand that the objective of drawing students and businesses to state-of-the-art technology centers will be the defining component of the future of their Main Street landscape. For example, in Painesville, Ohio, City Manager Rita McMahon and local officials at Lake Erie College are building the exact case study called for by Ms. Fischer in her timely article. Painesville’s community has embraced a broadband strategy to advance not only community safety and improved city operations, but the network connects with Lake Erie College. Lake Erie College, a recipient of the Kaufman Entrepreneurship Award, intends on building student businesses and sees the value of keeping these businesses in the local community. Painesville and Northeast Ohio have been in the forefront of broadband deployment and have become examples of successful technology roadmaps. But what is not always apparent is that the region receives the value of collaboration. The success of Muni Wireless is not just about deploying the technology or creating a new utility. The true value and allure rests in the programs that shape and envision an economic future by leveraging and raising the intellectual value of the surrounding community. In other words, the biggest challenge for Muni Wireless is not technological; it is about building community economic models that provide for broad inclusion. This means that city leaders need to identify “all” of the stakeholders in a deployment whilst structuring a business model that accounts for the value of the participants’ assets, whether they are technological or intellectual. These are exciting times, and I encourage you to get started. My colleagues and I welcome your questions and commentary and we will research and provide you with the best possible, unbiased input. Peter M. Shane Jacob E. Davis and Jacob E. Davis II Chair in Law and Director, Project on Law and Democratic Development The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law 55 West 12th Avenue Columbus, OH 43210 Executive Director, Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy www.knightcomm.org Phone: 614-688-3014 FAX: 614-688-8422 URL: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/pshane E-Mail: <email obscured> or <email obscured>
Thank you, Ashley...and let me add a slight digression, but still in line with all of our values... This Saturday there is a big MORPC event in Pickerington to promote saving time, and our gasoline, and shrinking the carbon footprint... it's RIDESHARE 43147...a commuter's solution! Jim Coe, "ProPoint" Marketing (www.propoint.org)
In response to Joshua's last post I wanted to throw in my two cents. My name is Ashley Lester and I work at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's (MORPC) Center for Energy and Environment, and we, at MORPC, completely agree that people need to feel that they can take action in their own lives to improve our environment. As a result, we are raising awareness with "simple solutions"- Check out our website at these links for tips (we would love your feedback): http://www.morpc.org/energy/individuals/page_1.asp; http://www.morpc.org/energy/individuals/page_3.asp; http://www.morpc.org/energy/individuals/page_2.asp. As far as changes that can be made as a renter, I definitely struggle with that as well. I still haven't figured out how to convince the management of my apartment complex to make changes on their property. Something you may not know is that MORPC offers free residential energy conservation assistance to renters and homeowners that qualify based on income. This link http://www.morpc.org/energy/center/page_4.asp has more information. Additionally, the Center for Energy and Environment works with communities that have signed onto the Central Ohio Green Pact on implementing the ten goals of the pact, which in-turn will directly affect the quality of life within each community and the region as a whole. We host bi-monthly Education Forums that foster a valuable discussion among participants, providing first-hand examples of best sustainable practices--from reducing waste to purchasing green products. Mark your calendars for the next forum, which will be held on July 11 at 10 a.m. Other great events are coming your way, including Riverfest on May 31--visit www.riverfestcolumbus.org (volunteers needed) for more information--and the Summit on Sustainability and the Environment September 11-13. Visit www.greenregion.org (scholarships available) for more information. Thanks for your time, Ashley Lester Columbus
In general, most of the discussion about global warming seems to focus on policy initiatives and other actions occurring at the governmental level. While these discussions are critically important, I?m often left wondering what steps I can take in my personal life to reduce energy consumption and limit my carbon footprint. I?ve switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs and try to walk places as much as possible, but I know that there are probably many other things I can do to reduce my impact on climate change. Undoubtedly this is a question that is relevant to us all, and I am hoping that the rest of you may have some good ideas about steps that Central Ohio residents such as myself can take to conserve energy and combat global warming on a personal level. What do you do to reduce your personal energy consumption? Also, as someone who resides in an apartment building I recognize that there are differences in people's ability to alter their living environment. Does anyone have ideas about steps renters can take since we generally are not able to make physical changes to the property on which we live? Conversely, what additional options are available to homeowners? Thanks for your help.
SUSTAINABLE PICKERINGTON - First Official Meeting SUSTAINABLE PICKERINGTON, a newly formed group interested in developing and influencing sustainable living practices in the Pickerington/Violet Township area, invites you to attend their first official meeting on Monday, May 19, 2008 from 7-8 PM at the O'Brien Shelter House, Victory Park, Pickerington. Current interests include: promoting a walkable and bikeable community, promoting year-round access to locally grown food, reducing and recycling solid waste, and educating those wanting to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. Community input and a sharing of ideas will make the vision of a SUSTAINABLE PICKERINGTON a reality. All interested parties are welcome! Questions can be directed to Kely Mertz at <email obscured>.
As part of our ongoing effort to develop a stronger regional identity and foster discussion about the issues impacting Central Ohio, we encourage members of the forum to share information about upcoming events, meetings, or presentations that may be of interest to the forum community at large. Face-to-face communication and interaction compliment the discussions taking place here, and we are establishing this topic thread to provide a space for you to make general announcements to the community about relevant upcoming events. Along with the Introductions thread, this topic will always remain at the top of the Forum's topic list to encourage continual sharing of announcements and updates. Feel free to contact the forum managers if you have questions about the appropriateness of announcing a particular event or meeting.
What is so remarkable to be about this bus rapid transit system in Columbia is that it is such a creative solution that works so well for commuting to work. It solved the parking problem by having the bike racks and free shuttles. And it solved the access problem by operating like a subway with stations. And probably solved some health problems because folks get the work out their bodies need and they don't even have to pay for a gym membership. I think we could come up with a creative workable green and healthy solution here too, and so I am encouraged. On second thought, I think we have to (its not optional) if we want our grandchildren to have a future. Its a way of thinking and a having a long term big picture vision.We can learn a lot from others successes and mistakes too.This is a success story! Not that our solution in Columbus will be the same as theirs in Columbia. The future is way more important than than just bringing in business, economic development etc. because that won't matter much if we destroy our planet. .
Actually, funny that you ask - I was at Upper Arlington's Historic Preservation Task Force meeting until 10pm last night. As a member of the HPTF we've been working to come to a consensus on implementing some HP legislation in UA. Even with the strong history in UA with many of the major developers of post 1900 Central Ohio having lived in our community we have never had HP legislation. Losing homes like the Spanish House, the Rhodes House, etc has made UA look bad from an HP standpoint and has (from the standpoint of a preservationist like myself) been very bad for our community on a whole. UA and Whitehall are the only two inner-ring suburbs with no HP legislation to date. Most of the suburbs adjoining Columbus just outside of 270 also have HP legislation. The biggest issue we've faced in UA is the property rights extremists who say "this is my house and I can do what I want with it" which is just a ridiculous notion when you live in a highly populated area. Social norms are necessary to keep the peace. Suggesting that your right to destroy your property supercedes your neighbors or your communities desire to maintain a stated standard is devisive at best. However it is important to both recognize that people do and should have a certain level of permission to do what is right for them with their property otherwise there is no sense in owning property. Our group has come to a concensus of supporting a non restrictive policy towards demolition which requires a waiting period during which education must take place in an attempt to change the property owners mind. This is far from where I would like the legislation to be but it is a step in the right direction and I think that is important enough to get me to support it. HP legislation is shown time and again (do a google search and you'll see what I mean) to be beneficial to communities when well written. Poorly written HP legislation will actually cause more demolition because that is the easier route to take. Communities which have done a good job of preservation generally have a higher property value, higher community involvement and an overall improved quality of life rating. When you look at the benefits of HP you start to see that it is as much about accepting a societal shift as anything else though. Property Rights activists are essentially saying "I'm looking out for me, not you, and I am an island to myself." This attitude fly's in the face of community building. By accepting HP you start to realize that the community at a whole is as important (if not more important) than me as an individual. It is that mental shift that leads people to concern for the less fortunate or capable of their own communities as well. At that point we all start to see a better world. Andrew http://elephantsonbicycles.com
It always amazes me to see how these issues are so deeply intertwined! It makes me think; as a Columbus native, I have a modest grasp of the historic preservation issue within the city, but I am not familiar with how this issue might impact some of the outlying communities (like older suburbs and small towns in the region with a historic 'main street'). Certainly the land value gradient in these communities must be less drastic than the one in Columbus or other bigger cities, but relative to the size of these potentially smaller municipal budgets, it seems like these governments would still have a difficult time funding preservation programs. But then the need for social programs may be greater within central cities, so that practical budget needs might outweigh aesthetics and history. Does any one have any direct experience or insight about how smaller communities differ from cities on this issue? Does your town or suburb have a preserved 'main street' and if so, why and/or how does it work? Is it more challenging to preserve historic structures and character in the central cities? If so, why?
I don't think it is useful to get into an argument of This as opposed to That. Historic Preservation benefits the community at large by retaining historically significant structures and in some cases maintaining the stylistic elements of that period within a neighborhood or community. The effect is that residents and visitors have something beautiful to admire, feel a sense of pride and learn from. Overtly this benefits the people who can afford to own property as it raises the value of their property. The other side of that is that these same people are the ones who have to pay for maintence, etc. which can be a substantial cost on a historic home. Slate roofs which are common on historic properties in Central Ohio cost upwards of 8 times the price of an asphalt shingle roof. Most historic preservation doesn't require tax right offs by the city. Columbus has some very comprehensive HP legislation based on neighborhoods (German Village being the most stringent) and none of it is based on tax breaks. Unfortunately there are structures (such as the Firestone House) that fall outside of the current legeslation due to their location, etc. I think it is valid to fight for these structures wherever they may be but also believe that HP should come from a desire of the community to preserve important structures and not through tax breaks. As for the needy in our community I agree we shouldn't give an across the board tax break for anything that would affect our ability to pay for their services either. I would say that however poor I've been (which has been substantial at times in my life) I never wanted to live in an city that didn't appreciate beauty. Andrew http://elephantsonbicycles.com
I am all in preserving historical sites around town. History is part of our culture, however, before investing hundreds of thousands if not millions into preserving historic buildings I need to know. 1. what will the building be used for? 2. Is the plan a revitalization plan for a neighborhood for residential to prevent new suburbs from being built? My only concern as we look at preservation is that people are suffering right now in Columbus from evictions, foreclosure, homelessness, inadequate and unsafe housing etc. Investing through tax breaks or repair programs through the city and county make me feel as if we are providing welfare services to benefit the rich. Why invest in updating the electricity in one building on E. Broad street when for the same cost we could update the electricity in homes a few blocks away that have citizens living in. I do not know the history of the building and exactly what it will be used for,(my comments are not directed at the specific address mentioned but larger philosophical questions) but I have seen in Cleveland a lot of historical renovations that have taken old run down buildings and turned into wealthy housing and also into office space that primarily benefits the upper socio-economic levels when for the same cost, we could have helped a lot of low-income and moderate income persons improve their housing. > Hi all, This is my first time posting on the group. I wanted to make everyone > aware of the imminent demolition scheduled for 1266 E. Broad Street, otherwise > known as the Firestone Mansion. This building, is listed as a contributing > element to the architectural integrity of the E. Broad Street National > Register Historic District and is one of only two Second Renaissance Revival > buildings left in the City. Several entities collaborated and tried to work > with the owner of the property to develop strategies to save the building. > I've attached a Press Release from the Columbus Landmarks Foundation if anyone > wants to read more about it. This leads me to the following question and topic > for discussion: Is there more that can be done here in Columbus to help > instill a feeling of history and hence an obligation to save unique historic > properties or historic neighborhoods from demise? Do you feel this an integral > part of creating an identity for Columbus? Do you feel this is a necessar > y step when seeking to create more sustainable neighborhoods? When living in > New Orleans, my friends bought a house needingrenovation and theyreceived a > tax break from the City when they updated things like the electrical.Is it > feasible/possible tooffer incentives like this in Columbus? Though the State, > MPO, or City level? Canwe engage large corporations/philanthropers to > understand the benefits of preserving historic properties?Different viewpoints
Hi all, This is my first time posting on the group. I wanted to make everyone aware of the imminent demolition scheduled for 1266 E. Broad Street, otherwise known as the Firestone Mansion. This building, is listed as a contributing element to the architectural integrity of the E. Broad Street National Register Historic District and is one of only two Second Renaissance Revival buildings left in the City. Several entities collaborated and tried to work with the owner of the property to develop strategies to save the building. I've attached a Press Release from the Columbus Landmarks Foundation if anyone wants to read more about it. This leads me to the following question and topic for discussion: Is there more that can be done here in Columbus to help instill a feeling of history and hence an obligation to save unique historic properties or historic neighborhoods from demise? Do you feel this an integral part of creating an identity for Columbus? Do you feel this is a necessary step when seeking to create more sustainable neighborhoods? When living in New Orleans, my friends bought a house needingrenovation and theyreceived a tax break from the City when they updated things like the electrical.Is it feasible/possible tooffer incentives like this in Columbus? Though the State, MPO, or City level? Canwe engage large corporations/philanthropers to understand the benefits of preserving historic properties?Different viewpoints on thistopic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Heather Bowden
Hello all. I am Josh Vittie, a 28 year old, 5 (or so) year resident of Columbus, Ohio, originally from the Greater Niagara Frontier of Western New York (Niagara Falls - 15 miles N of Buffalo). I am finishing my B.A. this Summer at The Ohio State University graduating with Distinction in Psychology, with a Major in Psychology and a double minor in Criminology and Forensic Sciences. I will be starting in Autumn at The John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University to pursue a Master of Public Administration; the same program as Mr. J. Wiener above. I decided to join this group because in March I attended a workshop at the Moritz College of Law pertaining to the rise of E-government, and met Mr. P. Shane (also introduced above) who told me this group would be starting soon, this seems to be an interesting forum where I may be able to get some questions answered, voice my opinions, and read about issues that will have an effect on the region (and the opinions of those who are either stakeholders in those issues or are fairly well informed on said issues. My background is fairly diverse - I have done everything from assembly work, shipping/receiving, warehousing, to OTR truck driver, Paramedic in a paid service back home, volunteer firefighter, and a bunch of other stuff that wasn't all that interesting... I look forward to reading many of your opinions, educating myself on issues in the region, and seeing your comments to my opinions. With warm regards, Josh Vittie
I have to express my agreement with Mr. C. Moore on a number of issues he brings up. As a student at The Ohio State University who currently lives in Columbus (north of 270) I have a great number of issues with the street car proposal in general. 1. Mr. Moore's point of keeping already established bus transportation where it exists (High St. in particular) seems especially valid to me. He also brings up an interesting point that it would be inefficient to tear up parts of High street for this project. Furthermore, High St. is a 5 lane road (2 NB lanes, 2 SB and a central turn lane) that's not really a good example of a 5 lane road... In parts of the Short North it is legal to park on High in the right most lane - limiting traffic to 1 travel lane in that direction. South of Nationwide, during peak hours, the rightmost lane is only open to COTA and Taxi traffic - limiting High St. to one travel lane in each direction. Where is the street car lane going to be? Are they going to ride in the rightmost lane with COTA and Taxis causing the buses and cabs to weave in and out of car traffic to pass street cars as necessary or will buses and taxis be banned from running in lanes with street cars? Are we going to widen High Street and take away what precious little sidewalk space we have? 2. As a student at OSU, my tuition statement includes a line for $9/quarter that we are charged for "COTA Fee" - will this fee increase as a result of the University contributing funds to this project? Will student's be able to ride the Street Cars for free (As we can with COTA buses now) if this fee increases? 3. Considering that all parking fees - meters, garages, surface lots - will increase to raise revenue to pay for this project it will make parking downtown a less attractive option. (Which if I understand correctly is the point... we raise prices so people won't want to park downtown and should encourage them to use the streetcar.) If the streetcar is only going from the University to German Village - where are people from the suburbs supposed to park? There's already a shortage of parking near campus, and you have to have a permit to park on campus. My point here is - there's no efficient means of brining people from the suburbs to downtown to utilize the streetcars, further, if they already have to ride into downtown to catch a streetcar, why not drive the extra couple of miles to the Arena, especially since there's no where to park (at least at the Northern Terminus of the streetcar)? 4. Back to a point by Mr. Moore - you're connecting two middle-class neighborhoods where most own cars; he also suggests Broad Street as an alternative for the pilot project. This sounds like a great idea - why not connect the Hilltop and the East side, where there is a far greater number of low SES individuals without effective transportation options and bring them downtown where there are more options for them to make their purchases (even more options if City Center can be re-developed and more businesses can be brought back to downtown)? 5. I've seen a cost of $103M to build the 2.8 mile route (cited at http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-04-29-0019.html )- from what I know from a position driving bus, a transit bus can cost $200,000 to $250,000, if COTA could negotiate a price of $200,000 per bus - that money could bring 500 new buses to the area. That could replace many of the older buses and be used to establish new routes to connect the outlying suburbs to downtown. 6. Mr. J. Coe - addresses the point I was going to make now pretty well. 7. Funding for projects for transportation is already scarce - MORPC reported on page 5 of the summary of the State of the Region report that "future transportation needs identified by MORPC total $31B, where as funding is estimated to be $15B". While people argue that this 2.8 mile section is just the beginning of a far larger project - where is the money for the rest of the project going to come from? According to the above quote - our region is already needing to plan for a $16B deficit IN TRANSPORTATION ALONE! Are we going to raise prices to park everywhere the route goes and continue to add a surcharge on events at venues near the route? I have a number of other questions - but this is already pretty long winded... I just want to add a disclaimer - I'm not against streetcars in general, I just think they need to have a certain type of community to support them. The European models of streetcars relies on a very high population density surrounding the routes with that population either not owning personal vehicles or feeling that using their vehicle for daily transportation is too costly compared to the alternative - I just don't see those conditions as existing in Columbus, Ohio... Regards, Josh Vittie, MPA '10
This system is very interesting, I've read several publications about it over the past handful of years. They are currently seeing issues with it but in general has been a successful system. I really like this idea and have no reservations about bus riding but with the current cultural stigma our city (and country) puts on bus systems I think it would be easier to put light rail in place than to implement what is ultimately a better use of money in a bus system such as this IMO. Andrew http://elephantsonbicycles.com
I'm not sure if there are any groups doing this in Central Ohio. Broadband Ohio is a state initiative (an expansion/pass thru of Taft's OH1 rebranded for Strickland) which aims at providing last mile broadband connectivity to all Ohioans (particularly those in Appalachia) but this is not the same as free community broadband. This contract would be available to local governments and it's agents to make this happen but there would still be a cost at some level. Many communities have backed away from providing WiFi on the basis that it is technologically difficult to support (WiFi hasn't matured enough for reliable broadband use throughout municipalites without significant cost) and secondly that the municipalities get a hard fought battle from the Telco/Cable providers in the area who say that the free broadband is harming their ability to do business. Depending on what is at risk (jobs, etc.) by pissing off those companies some cities pull back and some go forward. Even in affluent communities (I live in UA and eccentially have one option [Time Warner] for hardwired broadband) selection and availability are sometimes hard to come by. As cell based broadband gets better and less expensive I see fewer and fewer public entities willing to provide this service so it is imperative that, at least for the sake of lower income populations, nonprofits consider working this angle to help bridge the digital divide. Thanks for pointing out this organization, it is really inspiring. Andrew http://elephantsonbicycles.com
Actually, I keep seeing things about how Portland's tracks eat bike wheels too so I'm really curious what types of tracks won't and if those are indeed the type of tracks that columbus will install. Andrew http://elephantsonbicycles.com
This response is not directly streetcar-related, but certainly related to our region's vision for regional mass transit. I was forwarded this link this morning and was very impressed by the concept of the bus rapid transit system as applied in Bogota, Colombia (a city of more than 7million). http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/01/28/streetfilm-brt-in-bogota/ Check it out. I would love to hear your opinions on this. Liz Ike
I recently came across the following story about an award to Scot Rourke, CEO of the OneCommunity project (www.onecommunity.org) in Northeast Ohio. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS155456+25-Mar-2008+PRN20080325 The story reads: "As OneCommunity's CEO, Rourke led the successful effort to develop an ultra-broadband community network serving first the city of Cleveland and then the entire Northeast Ohio region. The effort began in 2002 when Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University named Lev Gonick as its new CIO. Believing that the region's nonprofits should play a more active role in its recovery from industrial decline, Gonick assembled a group of community leaders that founded OneCleveland, OneCommunity's predecessor. Rourke joined the effort, turning this vision into reality. Under Rourke's leadership, OneCommunity forged partnerships with the region's telephone and cable carriers. The OneCommunity network has expanded and will soon connect 1,500 schools, libraries, governments, hospitals and universities, cost-effectively delivering ultra broadband that enables applications such as distance learning and telemedicine." I am wondering how our region compares. Are there central Ohio efforts comparable to this? I think there's a municipal wi-fi project going on in Dublin. Any others? Who is leading the effort to give our region the broadband capacity (and relevant public policies) that we will need for the future? Peter Shane Columbus