University Area Commission 2015 January Super Committee
Proposed Goals for 2015, Brainstormed Ideas:
(not in priority—not decided on as a group—categorized for a possible UAC committee goal)
Additional thoughts/suggestions from the University Community Association are added in red; input from other groups
always welcome as each committee will (in February) work on priorities and plans.
Executive Committee:
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Challenge ourselves to organize more effectively
Implementation of the newly adopted plan
Prioritize goals and help committees to take ownership of the goals
Continue continuing education for neighborhood and commissioner training
Work in tandem on agreed-upon goals with University Community Association, University District
Organization, University Area Review Board, and neighborhood groups
In considering priorities, does each committee’s agenda reflect needs for “bigger picture” change?
Develop a position paper on 5-7 issues as a base for where community wants to more forward
Provide a series of tutorials (community forums/information workshops) over the course of the year on better
understanding zoning, rooming houses, group homes, issues of public safety as they relate to community)
Planning Committee:
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Expansion of UARB district throughout UAC boundaries; ideas for working together better
Implementation of city plan into zoning reality
City historic preservation districts added or expanded—while some neighborhoods seem ready to embark
on a process to become historic districts by the city, other neighborhoods may need more information
before considering the process:
a. Dennison Place (part of National Register for Near North)
b. New Indianola expanded (look at present boundaries)
c. Glen Echo (already on National Register)
d. Circles neighborhood (part of National Register for Near North)
e. NECKO neighborhood (part of National Register for Near North)
f. Indianola Heights (to be created, following original layout of Indianola/Summit subdivision north of Iuka)
g. Fraternity/sorority “row”
h. Residential North Columbus (to be defined—Commercial North Columbus already on National
Register)
i. Looking at original King/Thompson developments as base for adding to Iuka or Indianola Forest
historic districts
j. Amended Oakland/northwood (Northwood Heights historic district) to include first block of East
Norwich)
k. Looking at increasing individual listings
Housing issues:
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Creation of a Historic Housing Trust and/or low interest loans to homeowners in historic districts for
improvements—perhaps initial target area for Columbus Landmarks Foundation’s home preservation
program
Homeownership programs from staff and faculty to encouraging diverse groups
Working on relation of housing issues to education issues
Working to accommodate effects of the sophomore rule; how to deal with STEP ramifications of the Greek
system
Expand the demographic of the district in response to sophomore rule—how to incentivize changes
Need to do more research on current housing situations and needs
Need to find means to keep elderly in their homes; virtual retirement community/ support system
Review work done last year on rooming houses and other university communities’ models
Transitional housing needs?
Does eventual fate of Buckeye Village fit into future of University District?
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How do group homes relate to occupancy?
Traffic issues:
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Conversion of Summit and North Fourth into two-way streets (controversial but worth studying for
neighborhoods to weigh in)
Traffic lights on major streets—are they staying or going?
Retimed traffic lights on major streets
Use of UAC for public forums on traffic issues and others
Parking issues:
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b.
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Working closely with Campus Partners and others on bus routes, student parking, expansion of C-Bus
to include University District, etc
Positioning and promoting of light rail/11th Avenue airport-downtown connector, etc.
New ideas on permit parking as “parking zones”
Code Enforcement and Safety Committee:
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Systematic code enforcement where city writes up order but there are also grants for people on low or fixed
incomes
Entity to oversee parking/zoning/code enforcement so that all are linked
Consistency of enforcement policies in code enforcement
Create an effective and viable UAC involvement in the code enforcement process
Community Relations:
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Bringing students into feeling they are part of the community-how?
Public relations to promote community (as community not as campus)
Create and build on small town sense of belonging
Promotion of places to go for students in community other than just High Street, focusing away from High
Street to other business nodes or opportunities
Microbusiness environment and nurturing, promoting, and incubating for young talent—of student (and
neighborhood) entrepreneurship (“Marvin’s Gardens”)
Matching student interest to community (older residents?) in more than just service day or MLK day of
service but in ongoing projects for students/community for engagement and ownership (more community
gardens? Art projects?)
More interaction with OSU leadership, as well as, with first year experience of students
Examination of previously proposed goals and measurements for knowing when goals are achieved
Community forums about bridging student/resident divide
Ways to prepare students for a role in the community
Promotion and encouragement of neighborhood groups—role of UAC?
Posting agendas or links for Historic Resources Commission, other city commission agendas on website
Education Task Force:
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Fate of Indianola Jr (Middle) school both physically and programmatically
Need for a public forum and/or charrette ?
Task Force is currently doing initial stakeholder interviews