RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
A multi-part development announcement for the west side was just made today, which includes the formulation of an amendment to the Greater Hilltop Plan, the initiation of a Regional Commercial Overlay, and a market study and economic development implementation strategy currently known as “The Weston Vision”. These initiatives are collaborative efforts between The City of Columbus, Franklin County, Franklin Township, Hilltop area businesses, west side residents and the Weston Development Partnership.
The goal of these plans is to produce a cohesive redevelopment of the entire West Broad Street Corridor.
“We are creating a vision for seamless development along the West Broad Street Corridor as we lay the groundwork for the revitalization of the West Side,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman.
The Greater Hilltop Plan Amendment was submitted to City Council this week after being endorsed by the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. The plan was assembled following a full year of interaction with the Hilltop business and residential community. The original Greater Hilltop Plan was established in September 2001, and can be found online HERE (PDF).
“The amendments to the Greater Hilltop Plan will ensure the responsible and managed growth in the West Broad Street corridor near the casino development,” said City Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Development Committee.
The Greater Hilltop Plan Amendment suggests mixed-use commercial development along West Broad that is consistent with the Penn National casino development. Additionally, new overlay plans call for similar development standards for parcels along Georgesville Road and Phillipi Road.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for this community,” said Chris Haydocy, president of Haydocy Automotive and member of the Weston Development Partnership. “The city, county, townships, business stakeholders and community working in a unified and fast-paced manner is key in maximizing the opportunity this area has been given.”
More information about the redevelopment of the West Broad Street Corridor will be available online at the Weston Development Partnership’s new website, coming soon at www.thewestonvision.com.
Weston? Like Easton? Seriously?
It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses…. I mean, we can’t even get Westgate Park pond dredged, a task that hasn’t been done in 10+ years, so it’s hard to imagine the city actually putting some oomph behind real neighborhood renewal. I hope for it though, that’s for damn sure.
@johnwirtz -
Weston? Like Easton? Seriously?
Yup. I know. The owners of the Westland parcel (and the piece behind it) have been marketing it as “Weston” for years, hoping that a certain someone would notice and take an interest. It’s never happened though.
I mean, it’d be a damn miracle to get city trash cans from Roys to the RR tracks along W Broad – not that I’m bitter.
I personally would love to know how this will affect the Big Darby Accord and the planned Big Darby Town Center that was announced in 2008 and has been curiously silent since the Casino initiative was passed.
http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/BigDarbyAccord/PDF/Urban-design-assoc-BigDarbyProposal-low-res.pdf
Every township and municipality on the west side including Columbus had a hand in the planning.
It’s obvious that this will start at Wilson Rd and stop at 270, which will not help the neighborhoods
This announcement seems to be mostly addressing the “Westin Vision†which is just a part of the Greater Hilltop Plan. Unfortunately, the “Westin Vision†does not include most of the residential areas and stops at Wilson Road on Broad St. This “Westin Vision†is the “Casino District†only. This cohesive redevelopment of the West Broad Street Corridor only includes Broad St in between Wilson and 270. It does not extend down into Westgate and the Highland West Areas of Broad St. Which kinda sucks for those who have been working hard down in Westgate and Highland West to revitalize those areas (and were big supporters of Issue 2), only to get cut off by the Casino Developers.
The logo reminds me of the Batman sign.
My business partner and I looked at the Westland property 2 years ago and were looking to redevelop into Easton type of an outlet mall. With Jeffersonville getting older would be a great reuse of a dead mall.
Stuggots Says: My business partner and I looked at the Westland property 2 years ago and were looking to redevelop into Easton type of an outlet mall. With Jeffersonville getting older would be a great reuse of a dead mall.
Why didn’t you do it?
c3maddox Says: It’s obvious that this will start at Wilson Rd and stop at 270, which will not help the neighborhoods.
TaraMC Says: This “Westin Vision†is the “Casino District†only. Which kinda sucks for those who have been working hard down in Westgate and Highland West to revitalize those areas (and were big supporters of Issue 2), only to get cut off by the Casino Developers.
Neither of you think that having a redeveloped area within fairly close proximity to these west side neighborhoods won’t have a beneficial impact upon the more residential areas? I understand and agree with these sentiment that it would be nice to include redevelopment dollars along the entire stretch of Broad from Franklinton to 270, but at the same time, I don’t think the Westland area in its current state is helping those nearby neighborhoods as is.
I know this was part of the bike lane issue, but I can’t help but feel like the city has bigger plans for the Rhodes park – Wilson Rd section when I look at all of the parking meters they just installed along Broad. I only remember them talking about metering one side of it but instead they lined the whole thing from Hague to Wheatland.
@Walker – I think it has the potential to have a positive impact on the neighborhoods, but the planning needs to be done with intent to have that impact. Yes, I think just having the area redeveloped will be a good think. But, I think that there does need to be that cohesiveness down Broad Street (from 70 at the bottom of the hill out to 270). It doesn’t even have to be a big thing. Something like signs, or banners, or similar styles of streetscaping. Somthing to make people want to drive down Broad Street instead of getting on the highway. And that’s what’s not happening. However, it is happening west of 270. Lincoln Village (Prairie Township) is planning for their part of Broad St. as well, and they are looking and working together with this part of West Broad, but the city isn’t looking at anything further than Wilson for this project. So the way it’s going right now, I think it’s going to have a bigger impact on Prairie Township than it’s going to have on the City of Columbus.
@ walker: Despite having reservations about a casino in our midst, I am glad casino interests are working with community and business leaders for better design along this corridor. West Broad Street has been ugly for a long time, particularly the area west of Wilson Road. From Wilson east to Hague, we’ve lost much of our mid-20th century architecture to boxy buildings with large setbacks for parking. Design matters. The Greater Hilltop Area Commission will soon take up the issue of urban, regional and community commericial overlays in the city’s portions of the corridor.
Anyone notice the Westonvision website is about Lasik Eye Surgery right now? This originally made me think they were going to put in doctor offices here, yuk yuk.
@TaraMC I think that starting the redevelopment west of Wilson is the best place to start. It will make an impact on a lot more people and get more revenue into the area than pretty street lamps. You have to fix whats broken before you paint it nice otherwise you’ll just have pretty broken crap.
And people drive on the highway because there are NO stoplights.
ohiojimmie Says: Anyone notice the Westonvision website is about Lasik Eye Surgery right now? This originally made me think they were going to put in doctor offices here, yuk yuk.
Yeah, I noticed that when I got the press release on this announcement yesterday. Was told that the website would be up soon.
@twix. I will contact my friends at RPD to see about the pond.
I am conservatively optimistic that for once the City is actually going to move ahead with positive plans for the westside due to the casino coming. It may not be perfect, but it is much better than an empty, rotting building sitting there with no plans for redevelopment.
@ Walker – The strip of W Broad from Wilson to Hague is missing from any and all plans that may currently be out there. On one hand, I understand why that is, but as a resident of the area excluded, it’s frustrating as hell. It’s not part of the overlay, not included in the NCR district – and it doesn’t make sense. Sure, it will help to have the surrounding areas improved, but it also insures that no city dollars will be spent improving that section – why the deliberate exclusion?
kcrissinger Says: I am conservatively optimistic that for once the City is actually going to move ahead with positive plans for the westside due to the casino coming.
Sounds like the City produced plans back in 2001. What was absent from the equation back then was a private partner willing to invest in the area. No amount of city planning and public dollars on infrastructure upgrades will make a difference if the private property owners and businesses aren’t on board in a very significant way.
Twixlen Says: Why the deliberate exclusion?
Wish I knew. :(