Franklinton Community Mobility Plan Opening Workshop

• Kevin Chambers
• Gloria Fitzpatrick
• Sandy McCarty
• Brenda Dutton
• Rebecca Hunley
• David Paul
• Pauline Edwards
• Sherry Koch
• Carol Stewart
• Jennifer Flynn
• Steven Lambert
• Chris Winchester
• Jane Falks
• Sheila Lutz
• Donna Woods

• Dan Burden - Walkable Communities
• Beth Clark
• Christine Godward - City of Columbus
• Jim Hutcherson - COTA
• Nan Merritt - MCW
• Nick Popa - City of Columbus
• Terry Stewart - City of Columbus
• Beth Sliemers - EMH&T
• Nick Shultz - EMH&T
• Larry Creed - EMH&T
• Jim Sweeney - Franklinton Development Association
• Julie Walcott - ODOT
• Ahmad Al-Akhras - MORPC
• Bernice Cage - MORPC
• Dilip Karpoor - MORPC
• Chris Gawronski - MORPC
• Tony Hull - MORPC
• Brenda Noé - MORPC

Terry Stewart, City of Columbus, welcomed everyone to the meeting at 5:35 p.m.

Mr. Stewart explained that the City of Columbus Transportation Division is providing planning services for a comprehensive mobility plan in the Franklinton area. The city would like to see Franklinton be a walkable, transit-friendly place to live. The city in general is now providing resources toward this area with this program as well as a Home Again Program. There is also much private interest in revitalizing this area of the city. The city is working through transportation services to make Franklinton the type of community it wants to be. He added that the city wanted to find out and solve the community’s issues. He stressed that the city needed input from the community. He also explained that there would be a walk audit the following day (Saturday, July 14). A plan would be put together by the end of the year.

Mr. Stewart introduced Dan Burden from Walkable Communities, Inc. in Florida. Mr. Burden stressed that the community members had far more expertise than the outsiders. He said that they were there to listen, learn and interpret the details of the issues. The issues of Franklinton were very unique, and only by living here can one really know the right tools to apply and when and where to phase them.

Mr. Burden said that he grew up on the west side of Columbus and spent the first 25 years of his life there. Mr. Burden presented maps showing the study boundaries.

Mr. Burden explained that mobility gives us a chance to decide where we want to live. We went overboard in our country by having so much mobility that we fled our cities and left them behind somewhat in ruin. It was much, much later that we began to realize that the cities were the healthiest places to live, and we are now proving that with every research study being performed, but we have to take care of the cities. Resettlement is absolutely essential. Franklinton is not only an important part of Columbus; it is an important part of Ohio and of the entire early settlement of our country. It is important that we understand the significance of the history of this neighborhood as we bring Columbus to a much greater vitality of life as an entire city. We have to start at the core. This was not only the original settlement, but it will give us a lot of the long-term solutions to pulling together a really great masterful city. Although there are some wonderful things about this area, some mistakes were made, and we are here to figure that out. The good news is that these investments have already been made in other parts of Columbus, and those areas are coming back. We will take the same principles and apply them to the hardy core of Franklinton. Mr. Burden showed examples of how streets and communities have come back to life.

Mr. Burden said that we build cities for exchange, not only of services and goods, but the exchange of our friendship, ideas, history, knowledge, and culture – things that keep us glued together. This will only happen if we have the right environment. We also built cities to minimize travel, but in doing so made it easy to flee the cities, which has made us automobile-dependent, when in fact we would prefer to be close to our jobs and other activities. Mr. Burden showed examples of walkable and unwalkable communities. He said that place making was an important aspect of bringing a community back to life. When we create place it gives us a chance to develop associates, friendships and other relationships. Place is something we create or destroy. It is also important to understand how association occurs on the street and along the open spaces we create. These are all things that we transform over time, and we can bring back the vitality and life.

Mr. Burden explained that security is the Number 1 issue. People will not go where they do not feel secure. Convenience is Number 2; Efficiency is Number 3, Comfort is Number 4; and a Sense of Welcome is Number 5. He said that these are the five principles for security and showed examples:

• People always need to know where they are
• Create places for interaction and socialization
• Seeing and being seen
• Ownership and stewardship of buildings
• Schedule activities

Mr. Burden stressed that the residents needed to develop the tools because they know the problems, but he would come back to measure the success.

Mr. Burden explained that traffic-calming was a modulation of speed through an accepted range for the neighborhood. He encourages communities to adopt the most visually pleasing tools and have the greatest impact for the least amount of money. He showed examples of using paint, trees, bike lanes, parking changes, and curb extensions to reduce speeds. Tools for larger streets include inset parking, curb extensions, and medians. These tools help people to cross streets more easily and safely. Roundabouts are another safety feature. They manage 30 percent more traffic than does a signal, and reduce personal injury crashes by 80 to 90 percent. Mini circles and road diets can be used on streets that are too small for roundabouts.

Mr. Burden asked those present to create a list of problems, issues and needs in Franklinton.

The participants then separated into four groups to brainstorm ideas for things they would like to change. Mr. Burden also asked everyone to join the study team on the walk audit the following day and to attend the closing charrette on Thursday, July 26 at 5:30 p.m.

Each of the four groups was represented by one spokesperson, who summarized what each group discussed.

• Group 1

  Talked about shopping on Broad Street and non-Italian restaurants. Designated some areas that were really bad for speeding. Drug problems at Town and McDowell, the McDowell area on Rich Street (Riverside Bradley), and across from that land is open for major development because of senior housing that is no longer there and the McDowell Senior Recreation Center that is no longer there. Some housing is going into that area, but it’s not yet planned. Trying to figure out where the new middle school will be. That area would need traffic calming. Above that a new senior center is going in and will need a left-turn lane off Central Avenue to get to the bank. Need a gateway coming down the Hilltop into Franklinton that would also funnel traffic in. That traffic coming in would need to slow to 30 m.p.h. Would like to see A. D. Farrows in Cooper Stadium area because it will bring major innovation and jobs and “spiff up” Mound Street. Would like major beautification along main corridors of Sullivant, Town, Rich, Broad, and Mound. None of the schools are mobile as far as getting vehicular traffic into them safely. Not safe to walk to school. Social problems, like drug activity, around schools.

• Group 2

  Section of Franklinton near 315 corridor is area of prostitution and abandoned buildings. Problem of slum landlords in all of Franklinton. Broad Street needs to have more activity – shops, businesses. Lacking real community spirit. Although there are many services available in Franklinton, they are not advertised. Many people may not know how to use Google or have web access to get services and resources they need to take charge of their lives. Most jobs are outside of Franklinton. No shopping or restaurants. Need to instill education in the residents so they know they can do anything – people need hope and belief. Also discussed what sometimes happens to areas that are revitalized – people who live there now are pushed out for the more affluent. Suggested grants for current homeowners to fix up their properties.

• Group 3

  Would like to see farmers’ market in community where people can buy food that is good for them instead of sex, nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Disabled people to not feel safe. Need better access to ADA ramps, walking and biking trails. Would like family-oriented activities and restaurants in area. Health center is out of room. Feel that some of the area on Broad Street could be made into a nice health care center. Mt. Carmel is also interested in doing this to cut back on Emergency Room trips. People need to be able to access healthcare and pharmacies.

• Group 4

  Franklinton is segmented – parts are cut off. Feel that if Broad Street is made crossable for pedestrians, people on the north side will be connected to those on the south side of Broad Street, especially in a couple of key areas. With the addition of a few more restaurants, the area where Tommy’s Diner, Milo’s Deli, the Florentine, Downtown Connections, and Josie’s Pizza are located could be a regional draw in the evenings as well as at lunchtime. This is really the geographic heart of the neighborhood. Since McKinley Park is on an industrial corridor it makes it not surveillable (no eyes on the park). It could be good for softball games or other sports activities, but not a safe area for children to be by themselves. Dodge Park is historical, but 315 splits it off from Franklinton. Nice new activity center with huge parking lot that cut too far into the grass. Also, when the 70/71 split is realigned, more park space will be taken. Feel they need a new park in Franklinton central to Franklinton, taking advantage of the historic school across the street and the Gladden Community House, something that connects the commercial district to the social heart of Franklinton (Town Street). We should encourage the large squatters on Broad Street to redevelop their land into a regional draw. Should build at-grade or slightly elevated crossings on West Park. Should enhance entry feature on Broad Street.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.