Right Now Downtown

YET ANOTHER EXPERT

When it comes to downtown, everyone’s an expert.

That wasn’t sarcasm; the public knows what the public wants.  That’s why the city is hosting public meetings, to gather information about the community’s needs and interests.

When it comes to downtown’s planning and design, MSI Design enlists experts too.  The team is wholly invested in studying cities and development and human behavior.  What do the fulltime experts say?  MSI’s Andrew Overbeck has a few ideas of his own about the future of downtown.

First and foremost, he maintains, “We’ve got a great fabric to work with.”

What does that mean?  He continues, “Downtown has the Arena District, CCAD and the art museum, the Scioto Mile Project and COSI; we have great things here.”

What downtown needs is something to tie all this greatness together.

MSI favors what Overbeck terms “small interventions” when it comes to downtown Columbus.  Designed to improve walkability and livability in the community, Pearl Alley has already gone through a “small intervention” process and now it’s a hubbub of activity.  It’s proof positive that the right modest moves can make giant impact.

And although those small interventions make the magic, Overbeck still urges us to “dream a little bigger” for our city.  He points to statistics like the fact that 25 percent of downtown’s turf is devoted to surface parking lots:  “Every one of those represents an opportunity for us (as a community) to design and define what it means NOW to live in an urban setting.  We have the fabric; we just need to fill in the gaps.”

Our community will have the opportunity to make those big dreams a reality this week.  At the upcoming April 15 Strategic Planning Meeting to be held 6 – 8 p.m. at the Columbus State Conference Center, we will get a chance to learn more about the planning process and share our own insights and expertise.

Given the suggestions from the last meeting (and from the 500 surveys that have been completed), downtown Columbus is excited to build a new future. For more information about the public meeting, visit downtowncolumbus.com/plan.

DECISIONS ARE MADE…

Decisions are made by those who show up.

That’s usually a political battle cry – a call to voters.  In this case, it’s an earnest invitation… for TONIGHT.  As stakeholders in the future of our downtown, the whole community has been invited to participate in the core planning process for the next 10 years.

Leaders like Mayor Coleman, Councilman Ginther and Guy Worley, Director of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, will be in attendance to begin the meeting; and MSI’s Keith Myers will provide analysis and a review.  And then?

And then it’s up to you.

According to Columbus Downtown Development Corporation’s Amy Taylor,

“It’s all about the participants.  We’ll have eight breakout tables with various topics, including revitalizing High Street, transit, mobility and connections around downtown.  This is where the public will really take over, answering questions and sharing their thoughts about strategies and goals to continue downtown’s renaissance over the next 10 years.”

She continues, “If you can’t make it to every table, or if you think of great ideas after you leave the meeting, we’ll have opportunities for feedback through our web site.”

This is it!  This is your chance to show up, your chance to be a decision-maker: Tuesday, March 2, 6 – 8 pm at Columbus State Conference Center.  Visit downtowncolumbus.com for details and a free parking pass.