Franklinton Community Mobility Plan Stakeholder Meeting

• Brenda Dutton, Franklinton Library
• David Gay, Lower Lights
• Donna Woods, GCH
• Emily Campbell, COSI
• Cathy Fynes, Boys & Girls Club
• Christine Godward, Columbus Public Health
• Ann Lewicki, Safe Communities
• Joy Chivers, Gladden Community House
• Bruce Warner, Homeowners Association
• Janice Warner

• Dan Burden - Walkable Communities
• Brian Forschner - McKenna Associates
• Terry Stewart - City of Columbus
• Nick Shultz - EMH&T
• Larry Creed - EMH&T
• Bernice Cage - MORPC
• Dilip Karpoor - MORPC
• Chris Gawronski - MORPC

• Jim Hutcherson, COTA
• Derrick Pryor, Home Again
• Roger Betts, Paving The Way
• Barry Peel, City of Columbus
• Kymberlee Dudley-Thompson
• Tony Hull

Terry Stewart, City of Columbus, welcomed everyone to the meeting at 3:45 p.m.

Mr. Stewart explained that the City of Columbus is planning a traffic calming, community mobility, multi-modal traffic project for Franklinton. He stated that implementation may start as early as next year and introduced the project team consisting of the City of Columbus, EMH&T, Inc., MORPC, McKenna Associates, Inc. and Walkable Communities, Inc. from Florida.

Mr. Stewart briefly discussed the project goals including:

1. A balanced transportation infrastructure
2. Reduce traffic violations, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians
3. Strengthening connection between land uses and the transportation system
4. Promoting distinct and vibrant neighborhoods
5. Satisfying “Safe Routes to School” criteria

Mr. Stewart introduced Larry Creed, Project Manager for the Franklinton Project from EMH&T.

Mr. Creed briefly discussed the project steps including:

• Developing a plan to improve mobility and related livability issues in Franklinton by:
• Encourage public involvement
• Data Collection – (Currently in process)
• Analysis and Recommendations
• Final Reporting

Mr. Creed introduced Dan Burden from Walkable Communities, Inc. in Florida. Mr. Burden said that he was familiar with the neighborhood and has walked a number of the streets to refresh his memory as he used to bike through the neighborhood. Mr. Burden explained that for the last 30 years he has focused his life on building walkable communities, communities that are built for people. They still support cars and trucks but they are designed for neighborhoods. He stated that what he has been able to do in about 400 neighborhoods now, is to return the life and value to each neighborhood making it a great place for people to invest and to be able to get higher property values, better loans and better ways to fix their property. He said that the focus needs to be on the street making skills, i.e. they are attractive, they are functionally effective, and that they set a stage for the replenishment and rejuvenation of a neighborhood.

Mr. Burden said that the most important way of doing this is to have the neighborhood come up with a plan. He has never worked on a plan that was done by outsiders that was successful. He said that the outsiders know what to do but they don’t live in the neighborhood, they don’t live with the problems on a day-to-day basis, and when the project is over they are on to the next project. Mr. Burden noted that there will be a couple things tapped into with the charrette in July starting with the walking audit. The walking audit would include Mr. Burden and groups or a single group through the entire neighborhood and talk about all the things that are working and all the things that are not working. He stated that this is such a large neighborhood that it will need to be done in segments but all in one day. Mr. Burden added that the actual series of charrette events will go through a lot of activities designed to help with brainstorming ideas and then prioritizing ideas, guidance on what things to work with and what tools to use. Mr. Burden said that a lot of the work gets done by people just sitting around the tables working things out over maps, drawings, notes and writing ideas down so that the professional design team that comes in has a lot to work with to see how they can combine all the ideas together in one master plan approach and bring it back for the next steps.

Mr. Burden then opened the floor to discussion on what are the most important things to address with this project.

Mike Smeltzer – Columbus Public Health – Interested in the health and safety aspects, health around physical activity and safety around pedestrian and biking safety.

Christine Godward – Columbus Public Health – Interested to see how people can walk as a part of their everyday life, reach destination places and not use their cars.

Ann Lewicki – Columbus Public Health

Barry Peal – Economic Development – Interested to see how businesses on Broad Street get foot traffic and motor traffic accessible to businesses.

Joy Chivers – Gladden Community House – Interested in safety issues. Mr. Burden asked her to list her concerns. Ms. Chivers said vandalism, graffiti, issues with the sidewalks in need of repair.

Mr. Burden said that one of the things we like to do is put together maps that show different conditions, for example, one map alone would show where the sidewalks conditions are really bad, where we are missing good crossings at streets, where we might need more shade and other things. He said that one of the keys to walkability is that people don’t feel secure, they don’t feel like they can walk without being watched over.

Derrick Pryor – Home Again – Interested to see how the residential redevelopment of the community ties into the issues of walkability and mobility here in the community. He stated that if you have a block of abandoned and vacant houses, people aren’t going to walk down that street, so that street is cut off from the community because of all the criminal activities and safety issues. Mr. Burden added that during the walk audit it will need to be noted where those black holes are located so that we can make those priorities.

Jim Hutcherson – COTA – Interested in how COTA can improve access to public transportation.

Mr. Burden mentioned that while driving down Broad Street he saw the Franklinton milestone and wondered if that was being done everywhere or just here in Franklinton and kudos to the community for adding that milestone.

Janice Warner – Resident – Interested in seeing the neighborhood cleaned up, painted houses.

Bruce Warner – Homeowners Association Chair – Said that he has a lot of ideas and sees lot of things such as people being approached on Broad Street by “working women”, criminal activity and there is a lot of work to be done and it is not going to be easy. Mr. Burden recalled an area in South Beach Miami, one of the streets that he worked had security cameras on all the corners seventeen years ago and that today the streets are always packed with people and it’s making money right and left. He said that all neighborhoods fall into ruin if they are not watched over, but once they come back with the right investments, they become the most marvelous places. He said he is convinced that Franklinton is going to become one of the gems of the city.

Cathy Fynes – Boys/Girls Club – She said they use to be very accessible to the neighborhood kids and now that the neighborhood has changed, kids are having to come farther distances. Her other concern is transportation available to the kids to get to the club, as well as a concern that more sexual predators coming into the neighborhood and living rather close to the club so safety is an issue.

Donna Woods – Gladden Community House – She listed her concerns as being safety issues, not being able to take a bus, being dropped off in front of vacant houses throughout the community and especially with kids walking to school. She also mentioned access in the south area of the community; it is very hard to get access to the COTA bus. She also mentioned that you can’t go North and South in Franklinton. Mr. Burden asked if anywhere in the city a shuttle is used to get people from one area and take them to a major transit link in another area. Mr. Hutcherson said that COTA does have a circulator route in the Linden area. And as far as the southpark area that Ms. Woods referenced, COTA does plan to restore the #17 Greenlawn service hopefully next year.

Wally ??? – Vandalism has been a problem for years and the railroad tracks are easy access for vandals.

Brenda Dutton – Franklinton Library – Miss Dutton mentioned that Franklinton has two brand new neighbors in two of the Home Again houses. She mentioned that safety is her prime concern. Mr. Burden asked if Home Again puts people in as owners and the response was yes.

David Gay – Lower Lights Ministry – His number one concern is closing the “Franklinton Speedway” that is Cypress Avenue from Sullivant to Mound. He mentioned that there are a lot of children in this area. Mr. Burden asked about the number of churches in the Franklinton neighborhood. Mr. Gay responded that the list in the twenties but he is not sure how many are still active.

Emily Campbell – COSI – Miss Campbell mentioned that someone from this team should contact Pilot Dogs, they are always walking dogs on routes through the neighborhood and would have a lot of possible input on mobility.

Mr. Burden’s next topic of conversation was how do we draw people out and what are some of the other things that haven’t been said so far.

Mr. Warner asked how the general public who won’t/can’t attend the meeting can make a contribution to this process. Mr. Burden said that we want to get the word out any way we can and the website would be one way. Ms. Cage added also that if someone is unable to attend the meeting that they can pass the information along to someone who will be attending one or all of the meetings. They can also write or call any of the team members. She said that we, MORPC, City of Columbus or EMH&T, would also be willing to come and speak to a group.

Mr. Stewart asked if the group had any suggestions as to how to get the word out, any additional ways to publicize this. It was suggested that information be posted at the homeownership center that will be opening soon.

Mr. Warner stated that he does not think you will even see 50 people.

Mr. _____________ stated that as far as the flyer was concerned, it occurred that most people would not understand how the mobility plan was going to help them, i.e., how will this help me on my street, there is no wording that addresses any of the issues that I have.

Mr. Burden said that one of the things that have been found to help boost attendance, especially by families, is to offer things like daycare, live music and catered meals and have seen as many as 300 come out. He said that people do respond to meetings that meet their needs.

Mr. Burden closed by saying thanks to everyone for coming and to do all you can to get as many people to come as possible, and if we hear from 20, 30 or even 50 or 60 people, we are going to feel really good. He said you start where you are, you make things better and when things get a little better, then you hear from more people and you hear more positive feedback as people start to realize that it affects their home values, their qualities of live, etc.

Mr. Stewart closed the meeting by saying he would be passing out his card and any concerns can be directed to him and we continue to want to reach out to the community and to get a representative sample throughout the community is very important for this to be successful.

Mr. Creed added that tonight’s open house is going to be very interactive, we will have maps posted up for comments and post-it notes to stick right on the maps. Comments forms will also be available. He also said that even though we have done some of that here with Mr. Burden, it is important to makes these notations downstairs at the open house as well and give us a much feedback as possible.

Mr. Stewart mentioned some key project dates as follows:
• Friday, July 13 - Opening charrette
• Saturday, July 14 - Walk Audit
• Thursday, July 26 - Closing charrette

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.