This newsletter contains updates on SID activities, city projects related to the Short North, key property developments, and community activities. To submit ideas for content, please email sid@shortnorth.org.
Special Notice Regarding
Way-Finding Kiosks - Updated Maps
If you would like your business to be included on the kiosk map update coming fall 2011, visit www.ShortNorthGuide.org, or call Kris Harrison @ orbit design / 614.221.2161.
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City of Columbus slates $500k
for initial engineering study
to evaluate Short North SID's
proposed infrastructure improvement plan
Last night, at a special Capital Improvement Budget hearing held at city hall, Director Boyce Safford announced that the Development Department had earmarked $500k for initial engineering studies required to begin addressing much needed infrastructure improvements in the Short North. The announcement came after many months of collaborative diaglogue between the Short North SID and the city.
The budget allocation will be voted upon by City Council this Monday, March 7. The study would occur this year with the goal of beginning actual infrastructure improvements in 2012 (coinciding with the launch of the restructured SNSID and the opening of the Hilton Convention Hotel).
The allocation is crucial to clearly defining the gameplan to improve infrastructure deficiencies related to safety, access and aesthetics along the High Street corridor from Convention Center Drive to 7th Avenue. Proposed improvements include:
- Upgrade the district's woefully poor pedestrian-level street lighting... install newer model, architecturally appropriate fixtures; eliminate dark spots and entice pedestrians to explore the district during the evening; activate the north end and lessen the gap between the Short North and OSU;
- Bury utility lines;
- Install traffic light "mast arms" at intersections (do away with the spaghetti of overhead wires); and
- Install sidewalk "bump outs" on strategic blocks to foster plantings, art installations, al fresco dining and greater access... improve the pedestrian experience and, again, entice greater district exploration.
The Short North SID enthusiastically thanks the city for this vote of confidence and support of the future development of the Arts District... particularly the mayor's office and Mike Reese (Chief of Staff), the Development Department, and all the city council members who participated in the development dialogue and supported the attainment of this extremely significant milestone.
The SID also sends a shout of kudos to the community. Over the last three months, property owners voted with a very strong resolve to support the reauthorization of the SID and its five-year service/development plan. With a resounding 71% community authorization rate (the highest the city has ever received), the community helped leverage the city's buy-in to also support the vision.
As we move forward in pursuit of maximizing the potential of the Short North, we look forward to many more of these collaborative and celebratory moments.
Cheers!
Sharon O'Brien
Short North SID Short North SID
President Reauthorization Coordinator
SID Renewal Update
John to insert text here...
Note from SID Director Tim Wagner
During the past six months, SID activities have included two large re-plantings, four street tree initiatives, 100 hours of graffiti removal, and 50 hours of snow removal.
The mature Burning Bushes in front of the Mac’s parking lot were replaced with thorny Pyracantha bushes. In Poplar Park, the struggling Taxus shrubs along the I-670 fence were removed and 33 Arborvitae and eight Viburnum shrubs were planted.
To improve street tree health, SID personnel removed all the old Christmas lights from the trees and performed substantial interior tree pruning. Following that, all the trees were nourished with fertilizer designed to encourage feeder root growth in the area below the tree grate.
And then to improve the pedestrian thoroughfare, 20 tree grates were reset to eliminate the trip hazard caused by root growth. In seven less severe situations only the bricks around the grates were reset.
Plans for the upcoming warm weather include the usual attention to the planting beds; spraying off the winter gunk from the utility poles, trash cans and kiosks along the street; and finishing the kiosk project. The planting plan for the beds will feature a more orange color scheme with annuals that require less water than petunias.
Tim
The SNSID is proud to announce the winners of the first annual Star Awards, in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to public space enhancement and development in the District.
The winners for 2010 are:
Jackson on High, for quality new development.
Columbus Foundation
and the
City of Columbus
for work on the Short North kiosks.
Bollinger Tower
for a significant renovation.
The Greystone
for significant enhancements to the courtyard
(see June SID newsletter).
The Indianapolis Star Raves about the Short North
Two articles in the March 12 edition of the Indianapolis Star rave about "one of the hippest neighborhoods in the Midwest". Check out the main article here: What Indy can learn from two cities that created great neighborhoods
A second article compares Indy's arts district, Mass Avenue, to the Short North:
Mass Ave holds its own but doesn't quite measure up
Two articles in the March 12 edition of the Indianapolis Star rave about "one of the hippest neighborhoods in the Midwest". Check out the main article here: What Indy can learn from two cities that created great neighborhoods
A second article compares Indy's arts district, Mass Avenue, to the Short North:
Mass Ave holds its own but doesn't quite measure up
Update: High Street Trash Can Pick-up Change
Last summer, SID Director Tim Wagner worked with the city to fine tune trash pick-up in the Short North from the cans along High Street. The trash is now picked up on Mondays rather than Tuesdays, in order to reduce the amount of overflow from weekend and Gallery Hop visitors. "I think it’s really good that they now have a Monday pick-up. Trash builds up on Friday and over the weekend," said Chuck Kubat, owner of Magnolia Thunderpussy Records.The SID has also been working on measures to lessen the visual impact on Sundays, by putting in liners and removing garbage following Gallery Hop.
Parking Meter Installation Update
Installation of new Credit-Card Meters will continue at a number of new locations throughout the Short North this spring, including:
- Along the east side of High St. in between Hubbard & 1st (in front of the Greystone & Dakota Building)
- The south side of Hubbard Ave from Pearl St to Kerr St and on the west side of Kerr St from Hubbard Ave to Hull Alley
SID Gardening to Resume in April
The SNSID's resident gardening expert Greg Maynard will be back to work beautifying the district in mid-April, preparing the District's 20 garden beds and 26 container gardens for spring. The newly-planted garden bed at First and High, which contains a variety of roses, petunias, and a Mimosa tree (pictured right, in full bloom late last summer) will receive some special attention as the weather permits.
Kiosk Update
Many residents and visitors to the Short North have noticed new way-finding Kiosks popping up throughout the District, each containing a map and individual story highlighting the unique historical and cultural identity of the Short North. Content for the kiosks was a collaborative effort involving Columbus historian Ed Lentz, SID director Tim Wagner, former SNBA director John Angelo, Surly Girl Saloon owner Carmen Owens, pm gallery owner Maria Galloway, and Short North resident, Stephen Weed. Kris Harrison and Gina Cronley of Orbit Design handled graphic design work for the panels. Both the map and the illustrated stories are important to the Short North, says Stephen Weed. “The map side is so important for visitors trying to negotiate the District – it outlines the length and breadth of the Short North, and helps guide visitors to the northern end of the strip.” As for the stories, they “highlight the importance of Columbus’ contribution to the art world. These panels help Short North residents and visitors rediscover our city’s roots, and hopefully prompt further investigation and appreciation.”
The majority of funding for the project came from the Robert B. Hurst Fund of the Columbus Foundation ($50,000) and from the City of Columbus ($50,000). Additional funding was provided by The Susan Scherer Charitable Foundation, The Surly Girl Saloon, Fireproof storage, and GrandView Mercantile & Revue.
The location of each Kiosk and accompanying story is below:
- Arch City – located almost in front of Camelot Cellars, across from White Castle
- Goodale Park – in front of Hyde Park on the “Cap”
- Short North Murals - in front of the public parking lot just north of White Castle
- Gallery Hop – in front of the public parking lot just north of Greenwood pocket park, where the Limestone Sofa is located
- Short North History – in front of the parking lot north of Macs, across from Jeni’s
- Alice Schille – across from the Rebecca Ibel Gallery at the corner of High & W. Third Avenue
- George Bellows – parking lot entrance just north of Utrecht Art Supplies, across from the Bellows mural
- Hometown Circus – in front of Surly Girl Saloon
- Union Station – in front of the Bollinger Towers at the corner of High & Warren Street
- History of High Street – SE corner of Goodale and High, in front of the convention center. This panel faces south, to capture visitors approaching the SN from the convention center, unlike all of the other history panels, which all face north
- Emerson Burkhart (forthcoming) - will be located just south of Bodega, just north of the Fireproof building
- Elijah Pierce (forthcoming, writing text & procuring images) - will be located at the intersection of High & Price, in front of “Price pocket park” and the parking lot (Bellows reprint is currently there)
- Short North Pioneers (forthcoming, in preliminary design stage) - Location undetermined, but probably at the corner of Hubbard and High, in front of the Greystone parking lot, across from the new Hubbard Grille (Schille reprint is currently there).
