My report from the Italian Village Society Meeting. « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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My report from the Italian Village Society Meeting.

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Started 4 years ago by Cyclist
Latest reply from Brewmaster

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Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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I attended the IVS meeting last night.
The following topics came up...
Jeffrey Place was the butt of a joke or two... there seemed much displeasure with the project's lack of progress. The Kramer Apartments came up too... not a single unit sold inside. One member claimed this is likely a result of the current slow economy and high residential vacancy rate in the downtown area.
There were 8 proposed Info Kisosks proposed for both sides of High St thru the SN. The society liked the idea of kiosks but felt that 8 were way too many.
Ibiza was brought up, but nothing about a start date.
Bollinger tower may get either new landscaping or retail addition in the front of the building where there is currently some grass. The parking lot in the back will be turned into greenspace, whatever that is?
A dof park is proposed in Wheeler Park, IVS supports this and it is in Harrison West's jurisdiction.
Susan Ashbrook, Cols. Environmental Steward, was the guest speaker.
She said that City Hall is really behind cycling and hopes that 2008 is the biggest year yet for biking. She highlighted the Bikeways Plan, The Pedal Instead Valet Services.
All city buildings are becomeing green buildings. Cols. has one of the most comprehensive green-fleet policies for city-owned vehicles including emergency vehicles, tractors, mowers, and blowers.
Ashbrook is creating a GreenSpot campaign for households and businesses to get regonition from the city for efforts to be more environmentally friendly.
Overall I enjoyed the meeting and will likely get more involved with the IVS. They meet every 2nd Tuesday at the church next to Bodega at N. High and 3rd Ave at 7:30pm

Posted 4 years ago #
bjboose
Weinland Park
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another problem with Kramer place might be that you can't open the dishwasher all the way!!
On City hop last year they had a unit so small that the dishwasher door hit the cabinets on the other side.
jeffrey needs to step the f*** up.

Posted 4 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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The city needs more rickshaws powered by dagwood defeaters.

Posted 4 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Ndcent wrote The city needs more rickshaws powered by dagwood defeaters.
Not really, there is not really the business for it. Cols. doesnot have enough street activity to pull it off.. unlesss we had Buckeye football games everyday. Gallery Hop doesn't do it- too small, not enough people.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Cyclist wrote The Kramer Apartments came up too... not a single unit sold inside. One member claimed this is likely a result of the current slow economy and high residential vacancy rate in the downtown area.
They recently switched to rental units for now. Which is think is a great short-term solution until the market bounces back.
Cyclist wrote There were 8 proposed Info Kisosks proposed for both sides of High St thru the SN. The society liked the idea of kiosks but felt that 8 were way too many.
Really? Too many? 8 for a one-mile stretch would mean one every quarter mile on each side of the street. That's not bad.
Cyclist wrote Bollinger tower may get either new landscaping or retail addition in the front of the building where there is currently some grass. The parking lot in the back will be turned into greenspace, whatever that is?
That is awesome news. Did they have any renderings or timelines?
Cyclist wrote Overall I enjoyed the meeting and will likely get more involved with the IVS.
Great to hear! Anyone willing to chime in their two cents about their neighborhood on CU should be willing to attend monthly meetings about their neighborhoods in person. Great way to get involved and help shape the community! :D

Posted 4 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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The Society seemd somewhat dissapointed by both the lackluster performance of Kramer and Jeffrey Places. They were happy about the Jeffrey through.
The 8 kiosks were not for the length of the whole SN, but rather the more touristy/expensive/less fun part south of 2nd. The thinking was that the sidewalks are already too crowded to accomodate 8 kiosks. That combind with more bike racks/bollards, like the ones installed recently.
No renderings/timeline for Bollinger tower. Casual talk of remodeling the tower's exterior. But just talk. The lanscaping project looks more likely.

Posted 4 years ago #
uncoolcynthia

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Cyclist wrote Overall I enjoyed the meeting and will likely get more involved with the IVS.
Great to hear! Anyone willing to chime in their two cents about their neighborhood on CU should be willing to attend monthly meetings about their neighborhoods in person. Great way to get involved and help shape the community! :D
I have to disagree with you on that one. Everyone should try, but some of these organizations are filled with infighting, byzantine power struggles, and not a few single issue people. Depending on the neighborhood, it can be a very disheartening experience after a very short time. I would love for Columbus to implement a ward or precinct system of representation rather than the at-large system currently used.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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uncoolcynthia wrote I have to disagree with you on that one. Everyone should try, but some of these organizations are filled with infighting, byzantine power struggles, and not a few single issue people. Depending on the neighborhood, it can be a very disheartening experience after a very short time.
Sure, that can be disheartening, but there is still strength in these organizations. If you don't like how they are run, you can step up and try to make change. To just ignore the problems in these groups isn't going to solve anything.

Posted 4 years ago #
surber17

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Walker wrote
uncoolcynthia wrote I have to disagree with you on that one. Everyone should try, but some of these organizations are filled with infighting, byzantine power struggles, and not a few single issue people. Depending on the neighborhood, it can be a very disheartening experience after a very short time.
Sure, that can be disheartening, but there is still strength in these organizations. If you don't like how they are run, you can step up and try to make change. To just ignore the problems in these groups isn't going to solve anything.
I completely agree with Walker. You have a chance to succeed if you try, you have no chance if you don't.
Also, on Ibiza, it's already started. They are building a huge underground parking lot so that's why you don't see anything being built up currently. The timeline I was given was Oct. 2009 to spring 2010.

Posted 4 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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uncoolcynthia wrote I have to disagree with you on that one. Everyone should try, but some of these organizations are filled with infighting, byzantine power struggles, and not a few single issue people. Depending on the neighborhood, it can be a very disheartening experience after a very short time. I would love for Columbus to implement a ward or precinct system of representation rather than the at-large system currently used.
And I have to disagree with you on that one. The more people that are involved, the less prone people are to be douchebags.
Also, I like our at-large system. It allows certain councilmembers to be experts in areas like public safety and transportation. That way, everyone doesn't need to know how wide a certain section of sidewalk should be, where a parking space should or should not be located, or how many walkie talkies does the police force need. Specialization helps. Otherwise, you've got a bunch of "jacks of all trades, masters of none."

Posted 4 years ago #
uncoolcynthia

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Walker wrote
uncoolcynthia wrote I have to disagree with you on that one. Everyone should try, but some of these organizations are filled with infighting, byzantine power struggles, and not a few single issue people. Depending on the neighborhood, it can be a very disheartening experience after a very short time.
Sure, that can be disheartening, but there is still strength in these organizations. If you don't like how they are run, you can step up and try to make change. To just ignore the problems in these groups isn't going to solve anything.
That's all true. I've work with this type of group (not the IVS) for over two years and found it not be a rewarding experience for me. I think it really depends on the neighborhood and the individual. If someone hasn't tried it, s/he should by all means get involved but with the knowledge that it may be a less productive use of time than expected.

Posted 4 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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Not to beat a dead horse, but

Posted 4 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Dammit, that reminds me that the DSID meeting was yesterday. Whatever happened to email reminders?

Posted 4 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Columbusite wrote Dammit, that reminds me that the DSID meeting was yesterday. Whatever happened to email reminders?
I'm pretty sure they sent one.

Posted 4 years ago #