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Update from Campus Partners:
Prepared for residents the University Area Commission
April 20, 2006
Contents:
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Gateway's retail
build-out continues ·
Campus Partners
submits application for New Markets Tax Credits ·
Campus Partners
may purchase Columbus Coated Fabrics site ·
Public hearing
will focus on draft Weinland Park plan |
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Gateway’s
retail build-out continues
Campus
Partners is managing the demolition and renovation of core and shell
improvements in South Campus Gateway’s Building D which are necessary
to accommodate Sunflower Market. Campus
Partners’ portion of this project will be completed in May, at which
time the space will be turned over to the grocery tenant for its interior
build-out work. The current
schedule reflects a Sept. 15 opening date for Sunflower Market. Meanwhile, The Happy Greek restaurant
is scheduled to open at the end of April, Caribou Coffee is scheduled to open
in early June and McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon is scheduled to open
in mid-July. Campus
Partners submits application for New Markets Tax Credits
Campus Partners has submitted an application to the federal government
for an allocation of $75 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) from the
2006 allocation round. While
Campus Partners expects the process to be highly competitive (historically
requests for credits have been ten times the amount available and only one in
four applicants has received an allocation), it believes its business
strategy and its ability to demonstrate positive community impacts will make
the application very compelling.
An announcement of successful applicants likely will not be made until
late June because the federal agency involved has been focused on a special
award of credits to applicants whose service areas were impacted by Hurricane
Katrina.
Campus Partners received an allocation of $35 million in NMTC in the
first allocation round in 2003 to support the construction of the retail
portion of Gateway. The NMTC
program encourages private investment in economically distressed
neighborhoods. If Campus Partners
receives an allocation in 2006, most of the investments would be targeted to
economically viable projects in Campus
Partners may purchase
Campus Partners has entered into a purchase agreement with Decorative
Surfaces International (DSI) to acquire the Columbus Coated Fabrics
site. Campus Partners has a
six-month period of due diligence (through mid-August) to evaluate the
environmental issues associated with this property and to work with the
various interested governmental entities on a successful redevelopment
strategy.
Paul Khoury, environmental prosecutor in the City Attorney’s
office, reported earlier this week that DSI has contracted with a welder to
permanently secure a number of doors and other openings around the site. DSI expects this work to be completed
by the end of April. Public
hearing will focus on draft
The University Area Commission will sponsor a public hearing on the
draft “Weinland Park Neighborhood Plan” on Wednesday, May 3, from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Godman Guild Association,
Meanwhile, the Weinland Park Community Civic Association has
established several committees which have been meeting to discuss
implementation of various aspects of the plan. Congresswoman
Pryce visits Weinland Park
Congresswoman Deborah Pryce toured the
Meanwhile, Community Properties of Ohio Management Services (CPOMS)
continues with the rehab of apartments across the housing portfolio. Renovation of 544 apartments will be
completed by the end of this month, including units in
The Summary
of safety matters In
recent months, the University Area Safety Committee has discussed the
effectiveness and possible expansion of the “blue light”
emergency telephones placed in seven locations in the neighborhood around the
campus. As the result of a request
from Campus Partners, Sgt. Jay Hammer of the Columbus Division of Police
(CPD) compiled a report on the usage of these seven phones. To read his report, go to
<http://campuspartners.osu.edu/bluelight.htm>. In brief, he found that 616 calls were
placed on these seven phones between Jan. 1, 2005, and March 20, 2006. Of these calls, 586 (95%) were false
calls, 16 (3%) were legitimate calls, and 14 (2%) were miscellaneous calls. A total of 698 police units were
dispatched. At this time, there
is no further discussion of expansion of the number of emergency phones.
The next meeting of the University Area Safety Committee will be
Wednesday, May 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the conference room of
The three student governments at On
April 13, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers announced a reward of $100,000 for
information in the arrest and indictment of a person or persons in the arson
that killed five young people on
The University Area Crime Stoppers Board heard from two citizens on
April 10 regarding graffiti and vandalism in the northern part of the
University District. Tom Wildman
and Lydia Pantages told the board that graffiti is increasing and is showing
up on garages and houses. Larry
Geis, community liaison officer with CPD, also noted numerous reports of
vandals in that area breaking off side mirrors on parked vehicles. Two young men were arrested in a
recent incident and a third young man in another incident. The board members voted to offer
rewards of up to $500 for information on persons committing the graffiti and
on persons vandalizing the vehicles.
The board will look into the possibility of a billboard to publicize
the reward. Subcommittee
plans litter survey
The Litter Subcommittee of the University District Code Enforcement
Task Force in cooperation with the University Area Enrichment Association is
planning to conduct a three-part litter survey of the University
District. The survey will consist
of a general qualitative analysis, a specific quantitative analysis, and a
behavioral/psychological analysis.
The purpose of the survey is to generate more specific recommendations
for effective action to prevent litter.
The subcommittee members hope to conduct a pilot test of the
qualitative analysis with the help of student volunteers participating in the
Rock the Block service day on May 6.
The Litter Subcommittee will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 16,
at 1 p.m. in the
The University District Code Enforcement Task Force and the Campus
Partners Public Service Committee on refuse collection and recycling will
hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, May 9, at 2 p.m. in the |
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Campus Partners for
Community Urban Redevelopment, Inc.
1824 N. High
St., Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 294-7300; fax (614) 294-7333