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• Zoning and design of South Campus Gateway
• Gateway public improvements
• Gateway leasing and marketing
• Other Campus Partners real estate

• Community Properties of Ohio
• Special collection of bulk refuse
• Public safety
• Code enforcement

Zoning and design of South Campus Gateway

Columbus City Council on July 14 approved the rezoning of the South Campus Gateway site to a planned commercial development district (PCD). The University Area Commission, the University Area Review Board, and the Columbus Development Commission all recommended approval of the proposed rezoning. Meanwhile, the University Area Review Board held its second design review session for the Gateway project in June. The board will review the project again on July 17. The final plat (which creates the new building parcels, dedicates and vacates rights-of-way, incorporates several terms from our Economic Development Agreement with the City) is currently undergoing final review by the City.

The design development phase of Gateway project design has been largely completed. The design of Building D, to be located on the northeast corner of East Ninth Avenue and High Street, is on a somewhat slower track until the proposed cinema design and development issues are fully addressed. The design and construction schedules for the whole project are being refined. The project’s formal ground breaking will be held this autumn, with project completion still targeted for autumn 2005.

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Gateway public Improvements

Complete General Construction received the contract for the construction of the Phase 1 Gateway public improvements. Construction began construction on May 2. Shortly thereafter, work was delayed for a month due to unforeseen conflicts with improperly located telecommunication conduit installed in High Street two years ago. This issue was successfully resolved, and the project construction has been proceeding well since the delay. The project continues to encounter normal types of unanticipated conflicts, such as the discovery of 1,000 feet of buried trolley line (rail, ties, and concrete base) located in the center of High Street. Although the most recent project scheduling information indicates that the construction of the public improvements will not interfere with the planned construction start for Gateway buildings later this year, Campus Partners continues to closely monitor this situation.

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Gateway leasing and marketing

Having engaged Jones Lang LaSalle (which includes local team member Gregg Hanner of CEG Development) as the retail leasing team for the project, the Gateway development team formally launched the national implementation of the retail merchandising program during the annual meeting of the International Council of Shopping Centers on May 18-21 in Las Vegas. The response among retailers has been very positive. Significant leasing interest generated by prospective tenants has resulted in a number of proposals and counter-proposals and has helped the leasing team focus upon critical prospects for the project. The development management advisor has characterized the level of leasing interest and activity as very encouraging at this point in the project’s development.

Other Campus Partners real estate

Campus Partners is proposing to demolish the small apartment building at 1486 N. High St. that is adjacent to, and was acquired at the same time as, Campus Partners’ acquisition of the Kaplow portfolio at East Eighth Avenue and High Street. Because of the limited amount of space suitable for leasing in this property (three apartments) and the high maintenance costs, the property operated at a deficit last year.

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Community Properties of Ohio

Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH) is moving quickly to implement plans for the Broad Street Portfolio of Section 8 housing, now known as Community Properties of Ohio. Isabel Toth, chief of asset management for OCCH, has taken over as head of the management company, renamed Community Properties of Ohio Management Services. In turn, she has hired Lori McKenzie as director of supportive service.

OCCH is putting in place the financing for the renovation of the first 330 units, scheduled to begin by the end of 2003 or beginning of 2004. Renovation of the entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2005. OCCH will work with Columbus Housing Partnership and Community Housing Network on the renovation and management of portions of the portfolio. Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority will manage the temporary relocation of residents due to renovation. OCCH’s renovation team includes Red Mortgage Capital, Inc., as lender and financial advisor; Albert M. Higley Co. and Baker Henning Productions, Inc., as general contractors; Urban Order Architecture for technical assistance; Moody/Nolan, Inc., as project architect; and Project Control Systems as the owner’s representative. Meanwhile, the Neighborhood Research Institute, a Near East Side non-profit organization, has agreed to drop its law suit against Campus Partners, OCCH, local and federal governments, and others regarding the disposition of the former Broad Street Portfolio.

At the request of OCCH, Mayor Coleman invited social service agencies to attend a “summit meeting” on June 24 to discuss the future of Community Properties of Ohio and opportunities for partnerships to improve the quality of life of the residents. The mayor offered opening remarks at the meeting and stayed throughout the morning to hear more about OCCH’s plans for the housing. Although Mr. Coleman has been supportive of this housing initiative in the past, he clearly was much more engaged with the possibilities for this housing and more passionate in his support for renovation and improving the neighborhoods. His enthusiasm may have been related to his major news conference later that same day in which he announced new initiatives against crime and violence in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of several children. Four persons involved with outreach and engagement at Ohio State attended the meeting. University administrators and faculty will begin a discussion later this month on how university departments and offices might best partner with Community Properties of Ohio on future projects.

Crime continues to be a major concern in the neighborhoods. Three shootings this spring in Weinland Park have left three persons dead. The most recent shooting on June 11 left a 13-year-old boy with a bullet in his neck. Police arrested a suspect in the last shooting at 228 E. Eighth Ave., a three-story building owned by Community Properties of Ohio. The building has a reputation as a magnet for criminal activity. OCCH is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to get permission to demolish the building and to provide housing vouchers for residents with valid leases. Community Properties of Ohio also has applied for federal criminal justice funds through a Byrne Memorial Grant administered by Franklin County. The grant would pay for special duty police officers to work closely with the management company over the next year to reduce criminal activity in and around the Section 8 buildings. Campus Partners staff has written letters of support to local officials who will act on the application. The University Community Business Association and the University Area Commission also have sent letters of support.

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Special collection of bulk refuse

The city’s Refuse Collection Division is preparing for the seventh annual special collection of bulk refuse in the University District from Monday, Aug. 25, to Monday, Sept. 8. This program has been critical to keeping the neighborhood’s alleys clean during the busy days of move-out and move-in at the conclusion of the university’s summer quarter. Campus Partners staff has worked with the city and property owners to identify locations for large metal roll-offs for the special collection and will assist with communication to students about the program. Additional locations will be added this year. So far, the following companies have provided locations for the collection: Buckeye Real Estate, Inn-Town Homes & Apartments, Kohr Royer Griffith, University Apartments, and University Manors, plus Campus Partners and Ohio State.

The Campus Partners Public Service Committee will hold its next meeting on refuse collection on Wednesday, July 16, at 4 p.m. in the Northwood-High Building, 2231 N. High St. The next meeting on street sweeping will be on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 1:30 p.m. in the Northwood-High Building.

Public safety

University Area Crime Stoppers and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers worked with the office of Off-Campus Student Services in late May to distribute several thousand flyers in the predominantly student neighborhood that asked for information on the fire on April 13 that killed five young people. The flyers noted that more than $34,000 had been pledged in a reward fund for information leading to the arrest of a person or persons responsible for setting the fire.

The University Area Safety Committee will not meet during the summer, unless called by the co-chairs. The next meeting of the committee will be Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 3:30 p.m. in 33 W. 11th Ave.

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Code enforcement

Code officer Sam Harachis told the University District Code Enforcement Task Force on June 10 that only one property was not yet in compliance from the systematic exterior code enforcement inspections of the area from East 15th to East 18th Avenue. The task force discussed extending the systematic exterior inspections to a new area south of West 11th Avenue and west of High Street.

Jennifer Evans-Cowley, assistant professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State, recounted on her follow-up on the report and recommendations prepared during winter quarter by her graduate planning class. The class researched several code issues identified as important by neighborhood residents. She has met with City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer and Councilman Rich Sensenbrenner. Code enforcement supervisors are looking into the report’s recommendations.

Andy Baumann, code enforcement supervisor, distributed a summary of his investigation of a report of an infestation of rats west of Neil Avenue between Hudson and Oakland Avenue. Numerous rats were reported leaping and falling out of a dumpster being emptied by a Refuse Collection truck. One problem may be that the metal dumpsters have drain holes in the bottom, which allow easy access for the rats. The city’s Refuse Collection Division also is being asked to investigate the matter.

The University District Code Enforcement Task Force will not meet in July. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. in the Northwood-High Building, 2231 N. High St.