A draft neighborhood plan for West Franklinton – which will be presented tonight at the last of three community planning meetings – calls for a “Downtown Franklinton” district, new parks along West Broad Street and a range of other suggestions for the area. The plan has been in development since the process first started in January.
“The community emphasized the need to improve the perception and appearance of the area,” said City of Columbus planner Christine Palmer Leed, adding that, “Broad Street was particularly noted due to its function as the neighborhood’s ‘front door’.”
The plan calls for office, residential and retail development just west of 315, with smaller-scale, mixed-use buildings to the west designed to mesh with the existing two- and three-story buildings along Broad.
Tedd Hardesty of Edge Group explained that rapid, large-scale development or gentrification is not the goal of the plan; the recommendations were developed with an eye toward steady growth, and with the needs of current residents in mind.
“Maintaining affordable housing opportunities for existing residents as changes occur was frequently mentioned throughout the planning process,” he said. “This plan strives to promote long-term economic diversity in West Franklinton.”
All of the proposals in the draft plan will be presented tonight from 5 to 7pm at the Gladden Community House.
More information can be found at www.westfranklinton.com and on the project’s facebook page.
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Renderings provided by The City of Columbus.