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Civic leaders celebrate
installation of new street lights in student area Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Ohio State University students last July
broke ground for 150 new streetlights in the predominantly student
neighborhood of the University District with a projected completion date of
July 2008. Four months ahead of schedule, the city and university officials and
student leaders on March 6 turned on the lights in a dedication ceremony near
the Summit United Methodist Church, 82 E. 16th Ave. The nearly $1 million project upgraded
street lights installed in the 1970s to improve safety in the neighborhood. “The city and OSU are committed to making campus area streets safer,
and I am proud the students stepped up to ask for the lights and be part of
this partnership,” Mayor Coleman said.
“Our investment in these street lights and construction of the new
Moody/Hall Neighborhood Policing Center on 11th Avenue sends a clear message
to criminals that we stand together against you.” The new lights were installed on a dozen streets and are placed 160
feet apart, which is closer together than the standard 180-foot spacing for
street lights. The closer spacing make
the lights appear to be brighter. “The culmination of years of Ohio State students working closely with
the city has led to this great development for our campus,” said Kate
Christobek, president of Ohio State’s Undergraduate Student Government. “I can attest that students at Ohio State
couldn’t be more excited about what an excellent change this new lighting
brings to our neighborhood.” “I am very proud of the leadership of our Undergraduate Student
Government,” said Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee. “By working closely with officials from the
City of Columbus to improve lighting in areas adjacent to the campus, these
students are enhancing the safety of those who live in and visit the
University District.” Funding for the $938,000 project began with an initial investment of
$295,000 from the City’s Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund (UIRF) in the
Development Department, with the balance included in the City’s 2007 Capital
Improvements Budget. The project’s original timeline called for its completion by November
2009. However, Mayor Coleman in 2006
directed the Department of Public Utilities and the Development Department to
work with Ohio State and City Council to make this project a priority and
begin construction 18 months earlier than planned. The accelerated construction scheduled
brought completion of the project 21 months earlier than originally
scheduled. “This project continues a City Council commitment to improve the
utilities infrastructure of Columbus neighborhoods,” said City Councilmember
Andrew J. Ginther, chair of the Safety and Utilities committees. “These lights will provide a previously
unmatched level of safety and security for those who live and visit this
area.” Speaking on behalf of the neighborhood were Ellen Moore, executive
director of the Community Crime Patrol, and Pasquale Grado, executive
director of the University Community Business Association. The lights were installed within the following boundaries: Woodruff
Avenue on the north, Chittenden Avenue on the south, Summit Street on the
east and High Street on the west. The
150 decorative street lights were installed on 12 streets: Indianola, 12th,
13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, Waldeck, Iuka and Woodruff avenues. |