Due to overwhelming demand Weston Vision Inc. is out of the printed edition of "Creating Sustainable Strategies for West Columbus - Camp Chase Trail" however it can be downloaded via

http://facweb.knowlton.ohio-state.edu/jlara/finished_pages/community.html

Then click on heading: (Fall 2012: "Creating Sustainable Strategies for West Columbus - Camp Chase Trail")

The city of Columbus will add two significant pieces -- and 6.25 miles overall -- to its system of bikeway trails this year.

Included in the $8.7 million in planned 2013 improvements to city trails is the 3.5-mile extension of the Camp Chase Rail Trail, a $1.6 million project that will connect to the Ohio to Erie Trail, completing a 160-mile section of continuous path from Columbus to Cincinnati.

When the northern section is complete, the statewide trail will be more than 260 miles as it stretches from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

"I think we are beyond excited about the Camp Chase trail improvements because of what it does," said Terri Leist, an assistant director with the city's Recreation and Parks Department. "It allows that connection to Cincinnati via Dayton, via Yellow Springs and every little town along the trail."

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ThisWeek Community News

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/bexley/news/2013/03/18/city-to-spend-8-7-million-on-trail-upgrades.html

Auto dealer Chris Haydocy is quick to acknowledge that a casino and urban campground for long-distance bicyclists would be unconventional cornerstones for redevelopment of Columbus’ west side.

But the president of Haydocy Automotive on West Broad Street and leader of a group trying to revitalize that area said the Hollywood Casino Columbus and a possible hub along the Ohio-to-Erie bike trail south of the $400 million casino could help lift the west side’s image and attract businesses.

“They are polar opposites but will tell a really good success story for the west side” said Haydocy, president of the Weston Vision Inc. redevelopment group. “We want to be identified by two big iconic things – this urban campground and Hollywood Casino Columbus.”

The bicycle hub, which could include camping facilities for those traveling the 300-mile trail being built between Cincinnati and Cleveland, still is under discussion. The casino became a reality in October, when it opened off Georgesville Road, creating 2,000 jobs and inspiring businesses, including Haydocy Automotive, to invest in remodeling or expanding their buildings.

West side boosters are awaiting other major investments in the area by the private sector, including what Columbus developer Larry Ruben plans to do with his company’s nearly vacant Westland Mall. Ruben, principal of Plaza Properties Inc., could not be reached for comment.

“There is a whole lot of work going on behind the curtains that I’m not able to talk about,” Haydocy said. “There are still a lot of opportunities out here.”

‘Brilliantly subtle’ icon?

As for the bike hub and trail, the city is planning to build a 3.6-mile piece of the Ohio-to-Erie trail along the Camp Chase railroad from Sullivant Road south of the casino to an area near Rhodes Park along I-70. It will connect with about 11.5 miles of the trail, including a bridge to be built over I-270, being completed in western Franklin County by Metro Parks.

Haydocy expects the rails-to-trails project to bring home buyers and renters wanting to be close to the bikeway. It also would provide recreation for west siders and help rebrand the area as a green and healthy community that can attract entrepreneurs.

“It’s an unconventional way to revitalization,” he said, “but we absolutely believe it’s the right way.”

County Economic Development Director Jim Schimmer said an urban campground along the Ohio-to-Erie trial could be a “brilliantly subtle” icon for the area.

“It can be something that nobody else has,” he said. “It could become a source of community pride.”

 

Homes on the Hill and the Oberer Companies are partners in Hilltop Homes 2, a proposed 30 unit affordable housing development in Central Hilltop. This scattered site project reflects 10 months of extensive community outreach, mirrored with 7 community housing meetings. Oberer and HOTH staff worked with the Community on the development of the Central Hilltop Revitalization Strategy, approved by the Greater Hilltop Area Commission on Feb 5, 2013.

 

The strategy focuses on reducing blighted properties through rehabilitation and new construction, green space improvement on post demolished sites, and assistance to current homeowners. On February 21, 2013 HOTH and the Oberer Companies submitted a Low Income Housing Tax Credit application (LIHTC) to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to support Hilltop Homes 2.

Since opening nearly five months ago, much of the media discussion of the Hollywood Casino in Columbus has centered on the number of people coming through the door and what kind of experience they are having once they do. A group of planners, business leaders and other interested parties gathered at an event on Thursday night to tackle the issue from another angle – how has the casino impacted the neighborhood outside its doors, and what does the future hold for the area? Chris Haydocy, President of Haydocy Automotive, sees the casino as the catalyst for what he hopes is a west side rebirth. Because of that “400 million dollar investment in our backyard”, things are starting to happen now, he said. As one example, he cites an ODOT plan for streetscape improvements along Broad Street; work is now beginning on the project two years ahead of schedule. Haydocy says the project was fast-tracked because he and others were able to persuade 27 property owners along the corridor to donate portions of their land within the right-of-way. He also spoke excitedly of plans for a greenway through the neighborhood – the Camp Chase rail trail is scheduled to be completed by 2014, and students from a Landscape Architecture class at OSU have suggested some innovative ideas for parks and green-space along its length. Former Franklin County Commissioner Dewey Stokes shared Haydocy’s excitement about the greenway and agreed with his assessment on the importance of the casino; “it’s an opportunity; we simply have to take advantage of it.”

The new Hollywood Casino in Columbus has the potential to jump-start the economic revitalization of surrounding west side neighborhoods. Much planning has gone into assessing, promoting and investing in the impacted neighborhoods by the casino’s developer and west side community leaders. Hear how these impacts have been anticipated and managed, and glimpse into the future of the west side.

Panel:

Chris Haydocy, President, Haydocy Automotive
Vince Papsidero, Planning Administrator, The City of Columbus
James Schimmer, Director Franklin County Economic Development and Planning
Dewey Stokes, Former Franklin County Commissioner

Agenda:

5:00-5:30 p.m. – Registration and Networking
5:30-6:00 p.m. – Panel Presentation
6:00-7:00 p.m. – Q&A

 

The web address is http://columbus.uli.org/event/the-hollywood-casino-impacts-planned-and-unplanned/ all of the event details can be found here.

 

Haydocy Automotive is hitching up to Airstream Inc.

The Columbus dealership group plans to open Haydocy Airstream and RV Center next to its west-side Buick and GMC dealership by April.

That 15,000-square-foot building at 3865 W. Broad St. and the five acres it sits on will become a dealership for Jackson Center-based Airstream’s travel trailers and touring coaches. Haydocy said the fit is ideal given the overlap with GMC buyers. He said Holman Motors in Batavia has proven that as one of the top dealerships in the state for RVs and GMC trucks.

Also, there’s room in Columbus for a dealership. According to 2012 sales data from Statistical Surveys Inc., only three of the top 20 dealers in the state operate in Central Ohio – Specialty Auto Sales in Lancaster, RCD Sales Co. in Hebron and Tom Raper Inc. in London – and none of them cracked the top 10.

Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department Director Jim Schimmer wants outlet mall developers to look closer to Columbus.

Schimmer wants Westland for new outlet center

The director of the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department wants developers looking to build retail outlet centers in Columbus to consider Westland Mall or another urban site for their projects.

Jim Schimmer laments that three developers have chosen “green grass” sites several miles outside the Interstate 270 loop for prospective outlet centers, perpetuating urban sprawl in an era of urban redevelopment. Two development groups identified sites at the Route 36/37 interchange on Interstate 71 and a third has shown interest in the Beech Road exit on the Route 161 expressway in Licking County.

“Why doesn’t Westland remain viable for another retail use?” Schimmer asks, noting Penn National Gaming Inc. spent $400 million to build the Hollywood Casino across Georgesville Road from the 860,000-square-foot retail complex that was constructed in 1969.

Value City Furniture might be an old, familiar brand, but with its young president and prototype store, the retailer is looking fresh and new.

Leading that effort has been Jonathan Schottenstein, president of American Signature, the parent company of Value City Furniture.

Striding through the retailer’s recently opened prototype store on the West Side, the 30-year-old in a pullover sweater and tan slacks looked more like a graduate student than a scion of the Schottenstein retail dynasty.

Retailers near Hollywood Casino Columbus say they need more than afternoon or evening gamblers to boost their businesses.

“We need some hotels over there,” said Dayna Sokol, who invested $600,000 to spruce up the Tee Jaye’s Country Place Restaurant on W. Broad Street across from the casino.

“You come to the casino, there’s nowhere to stay,” said Sokol, Tee Jaye’s president.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - After months of research, a group of OSU students made their final pitch on Wednesday for real life solutions to problems lingering on the west side of Columbus. “The quality and well-being of people is very important, obviously in the west side. Currently, the west side has about 5.2 acres per 1000 people and Columbus deems it adequate green space to have 5.5 acres; and so they have a deficiency there,” said OSU senior Daniel Yontz.

They said that deficiency can be corrected by by taking advantage of a new bike path that's already in the works over the next few years, and ultimately, more green space.The trail itself will follow the rail road tracks, which are close to Columbus’ casino.

Jody Dzuranin, with Consider Biking, is ready to see a completed path on the west side. “So, this is a key section that will welcome people in to Franklin County,” said Dzuranin.

She's excited about the 325 mile trail, which will eventually connect southwest to north east Ohio.
“So there would be recreational trails and then maybe the bike hub,” said Dzuranin.

Now she, along with students, park enthusiasts, and city officials are envisioning its ripple effect. They plan to capitalize on yet another catalyst for the west side's growth. The group said green space and trails can increase home value, attract home buyers and boost people’s health.

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/12/05/columbus-westside-facelift-parks-paths.html

COLUMBUS -- Parents and staff members are voicing concerns about plans to open a homeless shelter next door to a daycare facility.The Community Shelter Board expects 200 homeless people to take advantage of the new overflow location on Industrial Mile Road this winter, which will operate directly beside Creative Child Care.

Those associated with the daycare are worried that children will be exposed to loitering and panhandling, among other concerns.Shelter board members told ABC 6/FOX 28 they considered 55 potential locations for the shelter, but the Industrial Mile Road venue was the only one that suited their needs.

In an effort to ease the fears of parents, board members say they've agreed to conduct background checks to identify possible sex offenders, and will attempt to set up warming stations around the city to discourage loitering near the daycare.Creative Child Care's operators have created a website to solicit public support for their effort to block the shelter from opening next door, including suggestions for alternate locations.

http://www.abc6onyourside.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wsyx_vid_20703.shtml?fb_action_ids=10151206303594279&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UKMRiRSTPC8.like&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%2210151206303594279%22%3A244201245709216%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210151206303594279%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%7B%2210151206303594279%22%3A%22.UKMRiRSTPC8.like%22%7D

Across the eastern half of the Hilltop are 150 houses so fire-damaged or dilapidated that they should be demolished. That’s the assessment of Leah Werner, project manager for a Dayton-area development company that surveyed the neighborhood over the summer. Her for-profit company is working with the nonprofit Homes on the Hill to build or fix up 40 houses in the neighborhood in 2014.

She and Hilltop leaders say they hope that the lease-to-own houses will take shape on those lots.

Steve Torsell, executive director of Homes on the Hill, said he would like to see some houses renovated for the project.

“One of the ideal things would be to take a street and plaster it with a bunch of new houses,” said Geoff Phillips, who leads the Highland West Neighbors Association.

Columbus would share more than $38 million of its future tax revenue from the Hollywood Casino with Franklin Township under a proposed agreement.

Columbus has tentatively agreed to pay the township an average of $760,000 per year for 50 years to compensate for the potential taxes the township lost when the casino site was annexed to the city last year. Some of that money would come from the property taxes Columbus collects from the casino site. The rest would come from a rising share of income taxes the casino and its employees pay to the city over that time.

The payments assume that the city’s income-tax collections from the casino will be $4.6 million annually, according to a township memo detailing the draft agreement. It does not take into account the taxes the casino is required to pay on its revenue by the amendment to the state constitution that allowed it to be built.

Franklin Township is pleased with the plan, said Tim Guyton, trustees chairman, acknowledging that it needs the approval of township trustees and the Columbus City Council.

“We were receiving under $70,000 a year when it was a vacant piece of ground,” he said. “And now you see the numbers. Are we happy? We’re elated.”

As Columbus and Franklin County officials worked out the kinks of how to properly police and respond to emergencies at the new Hollywood Casino, the city’s Fire Division decided to call a friend.

“I thought of Chris Haydocy, because he has been very much out there promoting the casino and the West Side,” Assistant Fire Chief Karry Ellis said. “We had no idea what the crowds would be like, so we thought putting a medic out there might be a good idea.”

Haydocy said he “didn’t think twice about saying yes.”The public/private partnership seems to be paying off.

An emergency medical vehicle and firefighters to staff it were installed at the Haydocy Buick GMC dealership at 3895 W. Broad St., next to the casino on Georgesville Road.Last Monday, firefighters responded to eight calls at the casino on its opening day. Five people were taken to hospitals for a range of ailments, from chest pains to shortness of breath.

The response time in each case was about a minute. Two city fire stations are each about 3 miles away, but being so close to a place with so many people better protects the public, Ellis said.

The Fire Division is treating the casino “kind of like an Ohio State football game, (where) we have seven medics for 100,000 people, and here we have one for about 20,000,” he said. “This helps us to be in position to better service them.”