The Gateway Center, which is proposed for the area of 11th Avenue and High Street, will be the signature project in Campus Partners' neighborhood revitalization effort. The project will be one of the largest, mixed-use urban redevelopment projects ever attempted in central Ohio. The current concept includes an estimated 466,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, office space and rental housing, plus a major parking facility.

Pursuant to the terms of the economic development agreement, City Council on Dec. 13 also adopted an ordinance establishing a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the site of the Gateway Center. The non-school portion of the TIF revenue will be used to help fund the proposed 1,200-space parking facility associated with the Gateway Center.

Under terms of the agreement, City Council will hold a public hearing on Jan. 12 on a draft relocation plan for businesses and residents who may be affected by the acquisition of property for the Gateway Center. The hearing will be at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers in City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.

The relocation plan must be adopted by City Council before it becomes effective. Campus Partners already has purchased about 85 percent of the 7.4 acres designated for the Gateway Center project. The relocation plan outlines the compensation which businesses and residents of rental property will receive when their properties are acquired by eminent domain.

Notices of the public hearing were delivered to property owners, businesses and residents of rental properties in the proposed site of the Gateway Center. For further information on the relocation plan, contact Bill Courson, community development director of Campus Partners, at 294-7300.

The economic development agreement was the result of several months of discussion between Campus Partners and representatives of the city's Department of Trade and Development and City Council. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of both the city and GARI in the development of the University Gateway Center.

Economic Development Agreement Between GARI Partners and the City of Columbus

George Arnold, director of the city's Department of Trade and Development, distributed a memorandum dated November 29, 1999, to City Council members which summarized the economic development agreement between the city and the Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative (GARI), a non-profit affiliate of Campus Partners, to develop the University Gateway Center.

After the memorandum was given to City Council members, they discussed the agreement at their council caucus session and in other meetings with University District leaders and city staff. As a result, a section was added to the economic development agreement that states:

"In accordance with the University Neighborhoods Revitalization Plan: Concept Document and subsequent community planning efforts, the city agrees to diligently explore the feasibility of other recommended High Street revitalization implementation measures including the reopening of 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th Avenues at their intersections with High Street (subject to necessary turning movement restrictions), the provision of on-street parking along High Street during non-peak hours, the establishment of mechanisms to provide additional off-street parking along High Street, additional streetscape enhancements, and the provision of a facade improvement program for properties along the University District portion of High Street which are not currently eligible for such incentives." 

Public Hearing on Relocation Plan

Columbus City Council will hold a public hearing on the draft relocation plan for businesses and residents who may be affected by the acquisition of property for the University Gateway Center. The public hearing will be Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.

A sign language interpreter to sign this meeting will be made available for anyone with a need for this service, provided the Columbus Department of Trade and Development is made aware of this need and is given a reasonable notice of at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time. To schedule an interpreter, please call the Mayor's Action Center and leave a message on the TDD line 645-6200.

The relocation plan requires adoption by Columbus City Council before it becomes effective. Campus Partners has purchased about 85 percent of the 7.4 acres designated for the University Gateway Center project. The relocation plan outlines the compensation which businesses and residents of rental property will receive when their properties are acquired by eminent domain.

For further information on the relocation plan, contact Bill Courson, community development director of Campus Partners, at 294-7300.

Updated January 7, 2000.