Downtown Matters: 2010 Downtown Strategic Plan
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
The 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan was adopted by Columbus City Council on July 19, after many months of public input, planning, discussion, dreaming and synthesizing. This Plan is not a to-do list; rather it is meant to guide investment and development in downtown for the next 10 years. It takes off where the 2002 Strategic Business Plan for Downtown Columbus ended, building on the long-term framework and looking to identify catalysts for growth.
The planning process, which included public meetings, an online survey and discussion with downtown stakeholders, identified a list of 10 Principles to define the community’s goals and vision, 12 Ideas emerging from those Principles, and 8 Strategies to implement the Ideas. To view the complete Plan, including the Principles, Ideas and Strategies, click here.
What does this mean for Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (CCSID)? First off, Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director of CCSID, was involved in the planning meetings and participated in a downtown stakeholder interview. All efforts to improve the downtown are important to the SID, and Ricksecker approached the planning process with that point of view in mind.
“The SID had already worked with MSI to develop our Public Realm Enhancement Plan - a wish list for the SID, if you will. I was able to offer input from a SID-perspective through the strategic planning process,” explained Ricksecker.
Andrew Overbeck of MSI added, “We know Cleve real well and he was part of these meetings. The SID’s plan was done beforehand, so that informed our planning sessions with regard to what enhancements they were looking for downtown. It will be great to integrate these plans.”
As the City seeks to implement the Strategic Plan over the long term, public/private partnerships will play a vital role. And over the years, CCSID has acted as a catalyst for such parternships, from the revitalization of Gay Street in 2007 to the wayfinding sign system that was installed in 2008.
Overbeck identified Ideas four through nine of the Plan, which deal with the High Street Core, as falling specifically within the SID boundaries and as places where the City, the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and others will look to partner with CCSID. These ideas include:
- Redefining Broad Street as the civic spine of the City;
- Restoring High Street as downtown’s commercial corridor;
- Developing a Downtown Transit Center to replace the High Street Transit Mall;
- Building a 3-c Multi-Modal Station;
- Developing a Downtown Field House.
“We have looked at each part of the Plan and identified where partnerships currently exist and where they can be developed. Right now these are just ideas, but it’s important to get everyone at the table to let some of these ideas take hold,” added Overbeck.
Ricksecker agrees. “We look forward to partnering with the City, CDDC and others to bring these ideas to fruition. Through the SID’s efforts, some advance work has already been done, particularly with regard to bike facilities and restoring the High Street retail corridor.”
Overbeck noted that if one looked at photos of Columbus from 1995, one would see an abandoned prison, an abandoned school and an undeveloped gash through the city where 670 cut through. Fifteen years later, those same areas are vibrant sectors – the Arena District, COSI and the High Street cap over 670. The vision of our city leaders in the 1990s has taken root in our city’s fabric.
“It’s an inspiring thing. We can do an awful lot in Columbus. None of these things is out of reach,” concluded Overbeck.
The next fifteen years should be something to behold.
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