The University Gateway Center Project being undertaken by Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative, an Ohio non-profit corporation, is expected create or preserve jobs and employment opportunities, to improve the economic welfare of the people of the City of Columbus, and to stimulate and cause a significant redevelopment of an area that has seen nearly three decades of decay and decline without any sustained public/private efforts to reverse the deterioration. However, this redevelopment project will necessitate the displacement of a number of residents and businesses that--despite the blight, crime and decay witnessed in the south campus area--have been able to survive due to the strong student market that exists in the University area or due to their recent entry into the area. The City of Columbus, Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative, and Campus Partners For Community Urban Redevelopment (the owner of a majority of the University Gateway Center Project area) are all committed to a fair relocation program available to the persons, families, business concerns, and others residing or operating in the University Gateway Center Project area. To that end, this Relocation Plan, approved by the City Council of the City of Columbus after a public hearing, constitutes the program for the relocation of persons, families, business concerns, and others to be displaced by the City of Columbus’ acquisition of the University Gateway Center Project area in accordance with the provisions of Section 719.011 of the Revised Code of Ohio.

The basic objectives of this Relocation Plan for the University Gateway Center Project are:

In establishing this Relocation Plan for the University Gateway Center Project, relocation strategies were developed for the following three distinct categories of displaced persons:

Residential Tenants

Benefits: One-time $500 payment in lieu of moving expenses, plus any difference in rent between their current apartment and the average rent for a comparable, decent, safe and sanitary replacement apartment for 12 months.
Eligibility: All residential tenants in full compliance with a valid lease at the time they receive their Relocation Notification, unless they commenced their occupancy after December 13, 1999, previously agreed to waive their relocation rights, or are subject to eviction under the lease.

Residential Owner-Occupants

Benefits: In addition to the fair market value of their property, a supplemental payment for all costs necessary to purchase a comparable, decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling, plus all necessary, actual and reasonable moving costs, plus an alteration payment up to $2,000 for any alterations they may choose to do to the replacement dwelling.

Eligibility: All individuals owning and occupying a property as their primary residence at the time they receive their Relocation Notification, unless they commenced their ownership or occupancy after December 13, 1999, were compensated for their relocation as a part of the purchase of their property, or previously agreed to waive their relocation rights.

Businesses

Benefits: Either (i) actual, reasonable and necessary moving expenses plus a one-time payment of up to $12,000 for re-establishment expenses, or (ii) a one-time $20,000 payment in lieu of moving and re-establishment expenses.

Eligibility: All businesses being operated in the Gateway Redevelopment Area and in full compliance with a valid lease at the time they receive their Relocation Notification, unless they commenced their business after December 13, 1999, previously agreed to waive their relocation rights, or are subject to eviction under the lease. Businesses operating under a lease that waives the tenant's right to relocation benefits in the event of condemnation will not be eligible for relocation benefits.

3.A. Eligibility Requirements For Residential Tenants. All residential tenants in full compliance with a valid lease on any property being purchased as part of the University Gateway Center Project at the time they receive their Relocation Notification will receive the relocation benefits described in this Relocation Plan, unless the tenants commenced their occupancy after December 13, 1999, previously agreed to waive their relocation rights, or are subject to eviction under the lease.

3.B. Relocation Benefits For Residential Tenants. Eligible residential tenants will receive a one-time $500 payment in lieu of moving expenses, plus an amount equal to the difference for 12 months between the current rent the tenant is paying and the average rent for a comparable, decent, safe and sanitary apartment in the University District or surrounding area, based upon a survey conducted within one year of the date of their Relocation Notification.

Example for a two-bedroom, non-furnished apartment :

4.A. Eligibility Requirements For Residential Owner-Occupants. All individuals owning and occupying a property being purchased as part of the University Gateway Center Project as their primary residence at the time they receive their Relocation Notification will receive the relocation benefits described in this Relocation Plan, unless the residential owner-occupants commenced their ownership or occupancy after December 13, 1999, were compensated for their relocation as a part of the purchase of their property, or previously agreed to waive their relocation rights.

4.B. Relocation Benefits For Residential Owner-Occupants. Eligible residential owner-occupants will receive, in addition to the fair market value of their property, a supplemental payment for all costs necessary to purchase a comparable, decent, safe and sanitary replacement dwelling, plus all necessary, actual and reasonable moving costs, plus an alteration payment up to $2,000 for any alterations they may choose to do to the comparable replacement dwelling.

Items eligible for the supplemental payment are all costs associated with the transfer of real estate such as, but not limited to, closing costs, surveys, title work, realtor costs, recording fees, and the actual price difference between the current dwelling and the comparable replacement dwelling.

Items eligible for the $2,000 alteration payment are costs associated with changing the aesthetics of the comparable replacement dwelling such as, but not limited to, painting, wallpapering, lighting, carpeting, and re-decorating changes.

5.A. Eligibility Requirements For Businesses. All businesses that are located within the University Gateway Center Project area and that are in full compliance with a valid lease on a property being purchased as a part of the University Gateway Center Project at the time the businesses receive their Relocation Notification will be eligible for relocation benefits unless the businesses commenced their business after December 13, 1999, previously agreed to waive their relocation rights, or are subject to eviction under the lease. Businesses operating under a lease that waives the tenant's right to relocation benefits in the event of condemnation will not be eligible for relocation benefits.

5.B. Relocation Benefits For Businesses. Eligible businesses will receive either (1) payment for actual, reasonable and necessary moving expenses plus a one-time payment for re-establishment, or (2) a one-time $20,000 payment in lieu of payment for moving and re-establishment expenses, in accordance with the following provisions:

All displaced residential tenants, residential owner-occupants, and businesses will receive a written Relocation Notification notifying them of their relocation benefits eligibility status at least three months prior to the date they will be required to move. It will be the responsibility of Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative, or its agents, to provide such Relocation Notifications, and to otherwise administer and implement this Relocation Plan. As a part of this responsibility, Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative, or its agents, will endeavor (1) to provide residential tenants eligible for relocation benefits with referrals to apartments to which the tenants may choose to move, (2) to provide residential owner-occupants eligible for relocation benefits with advisory services and referrals to comparable replacement structures, and (3) to provide businesses eligible for relocation benefits with referrals to replacement sites to which the businesses may choose to re-establish their business.

Residential tenants, residential owner-occupants, and businesses may appeal their relocation benefits eligibility status by providing to Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative a written appeal no later than 30 days after their receipt of their written Relocation Notification. Businesses choosing to receive payment for actual, reasonable and necessary moving expenses may appeal any disallowed moving expenses by providing to Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative a written appeal no later than 10 days after Gateway Area Revitalization Initiative’s disallowance of the proposed expense.

Upon appeal, final determination of relocation benefits eligibility or disallowed moving expenses will be determined by an Appeals Board made up of one representative from each of the following five organizations:

• The City of Columbus
• The Ohio State University
• Campus Partners For Community Urban Redevelopment
• The University Community Business Association
• The University Area Commission