[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[6:45] Presenter mics, bring me the mics.
[7:37] Hello? Oh, there we go.
[7:41] Technology works.
[7:47] Today's joint.
[7:50] City council meeting. Okay.
[7:55] There are two boards presented here today.
[7:59] I'm a three-development question.
[8:00] and City.
[8:01] I want to thank you all for being here either in person,
[8:04] most of everybody's
[8:10] roll call for the redevelopment.
[8:12] The Ebola,
[8:18] Lynna,
[8:21] so with us today,
[8:22] we have Heather Pope, Director of Redevelopment.
[8:25] Brown, Assistant Director of Redevelopment,
[8:27] Jason Major, Liaison from the BCSE Board.
[8:31] Mary Stroke, CRC Legal Council,
[8:33] Mayor for Don, Bonnie Boatwright, Project Manager
[8:36] for the Columbus Downtown 2030 Plan,
[8:38] that's a sake and team of SB freedman and story board. I'll turn it over to
[8:43] Kent City Council vice president, Grace Kessler, to proceed with the council roll call.
[8:48] That's good. Thank you. We will have our the win. Go ahead with our roll call for city council.
[8:56] First part tells Elaine Hilbert, Jerome Wood, Kent Anderson, Frank Miller, Jay Fois,
[9:03] Yes.
[9:05] Tom Dole.
[9:06] Grace Cessler.
[9:07] Here.
[9:08] And then we are also going to proceed with approving the minutes from our last city council meeting
[9:13] on July 1st.
[9:15] And so if I could have a motion for that.
[9:18] Again,
[9:24] thank everyone's in person.
[9:25] So we can just say all those in papers.
[9:28] Aye.
[9:29] Please.
[9:31] minutes pass.
[9:32] Thank you.
[9:36] Okay.
[9:36] This is a joint public meeting of the redevelopment.
[9:40] Council to hear the results of the Columbus Downtown 2030 plan study findings, we're
[9:45] incredibly excited to hear the results of the plan, which have been shaped by community
[9:50] and stakeholder feedback. I'll turn it over to Bonnie Boatwright, the project manager to introduce
[9:57] Sasaki and their team of SB Friedman and Storyboard. Bonnie, thank you very much. When the guiding
[10:03] team and I developed our RFP to bring in a consulting group to help us reimagine and enhance
[10:11] our already outstanding downtown. We set out with several priorities in mind, but for we're
[10:18] especially important. The first one that the recommendations be economically driven to maximize
[10:25] the impact of our investments. The second that we engage a broad cross section of the community
[10:32] and meaningful ways. We reached about 5,000 people, which is terrific. The third that the plan
[10:39] include actionable steps that we can begin implementing immediately and for that the final recommendations
[10:48] reflect Columbus' unique identity and needs. With the work you're about to see from the team of
[10:58] I believe you'll agree, they truly understood what we were looking for and delivered on every front.
[11:05] And on top of that, they were a pleasure to work with throughout the process.
[11:10] So I'm going to invite Chris and Martin from Sasaki and run a deep and Michael from S.B.
[11:15] Friedman to join me at the front.
[11:49] Excellent. Thank you.
[11:52] Thank you, Joel.
[11:53] our esteemed city councilors and board members and thank you to the public that we've had the
[12:02] pleasure of being able to work with for the past eight months. My name is Martin Zobren,
[12:08] I'm the principal and charge from Sasaki. We've been honored to work with this entire community
[12:13] on this very exciting project. So just as a way of introduction, we'll introduce ourselves very quickly.
[12:19] I'll give just the briefest of overviews and then we'll jump right into the presentation itself.
[12:25] Chris, my name is Chris Frida. I'm a planner and the Sasaki project manager for this.
[12:30] Michael Riseoff, senior project manager with SB Freedman. I'm around a deep boss. I'm a partner at
[12:35] SB Freedman and we worked on the economic side as part of the Sasaki team. As I mentioned,
[12:42] for the last eight or so months, we've been engaged in working with all of you on the Columbus
[12:48] downtown 2030 strategic plan. We'll walk through all the very specific steps of what we found
[12:54] more importantly what we heard from all of you in so many different events and then really sort
[13:01] of set the stage going forward into what the next steps should and could be for this exciting project.
[13:08] We want to remind everyone that these are concepts, these are images that we're sharing with you,
[13:14] they are placed specific, but they are not sort of architectural specific ideas.
[13:20] There are broad notions of all those different components that together with all of you
[13:25] and with the implementation groups will sort of set the stage for the revitalization of Columbus
[13:31] going forward.
[13:34] Thanks, Martin.
[13:36] Good afternoon.
[13:37] Councillor's commissioners, members of the public, we're really excited to be here.
[13:41] Let's jump right in.
[13:43] So what we'll cover today is a basic overview of the project that we've been engaged in for
[13:48] the better part of a year now, a brief recap of what we've been involved in the conversations
[13:53] we've had and how it's led to the recommendations that will present to you this afternoon.
[13:57] We'll do a recap of some of the basic assumptions that set us off on the course that we are on
[14:02] and led to the recommendations that will be showcasing to you today.
[14:06] As Bonnie mentioned at the outset, all of this was based in the economic realities of the present
[14:10] as well as the aspirations, goals, and perspectives of community members right here in Columbus.
[14:16] So we'll situate the recommendations in those first assumptions.
[14:21] We'll head into the Strategic Plan recommendations for some of the broad strokes and specific projects that we're recommending as part of the plan.
[14:28] We'll just touch upon some of the implementation guidance and next steps.
[14:32] There's a lot to be discussed on implementation.
[14:34] We won't get into a lot of the detail today, but we are excited to start talking about what those next steps look like.
[14:40] and the mayor will pick up after we present some initial thoughts
[14:44] and talk a bit more about that.
[14:46] And then we'll open it up for questions.
[14:49] So let's start with the project to overview.
[14:52] For those who are just touching the project
[14:54] for the first time today, we wanted to provide a quick overview
[14:56] of the Genesis of this project, who we are,
[14:59] in the perspectives.
[15:00] We're bringing, of course, this is a project of the city of Columbus and the redevelopment commission, more specifically. We as the consultant team have been brought on to help facilitate this process and work with the community to generate these ideas.
[15:12] The project is being led by society represented by Martin and myself today, where the team lead for planning, urban design landscape public realm and the community engagement process.
[15:21] And we're supported by SB Friedman represented by Michael and Ronald Deep here today who have helped us really do a deep dive into the economic realities of Columbus, the region and some of the larger trends and help situate a lot of these recommendations within that analysis.
[15:36] And then of course, Storyboard represented by Jessica in the back who's been handing out these wonderful story pamphlets here has helped facilitate this robust community engagement process.
[15:47] So, at the outset of this project, the Redevelopment Commission charged us to answer these three questions.
[15:53] How do we build a downtown where people want to be?
[15:55] How do we maximize the use of spaces and places that exist within downtown today?
[16:00] And what gaps exist within downtown?
[16:02] How do we start to address those gaps?
[16:04] This is a strategic plan focused on 2030.
[16:07] So, it's a pretty short planning horizon.
[16:09] And that means you're looking for actionable recommendations that fit within the overall structure and framework of downtown today.
[16:14] And that's what we took as our charge.
[16:18] Just a familiarized everybody here with the area that we're talking about when we talk about downtown Columbus.
[16:24] It's about 340 acres represented by this thin dash red outline here, generally bounded by 11th street to the north, mill raised park in the flat rock river to the west.
[16:36] Approximately the former wastewater site along the river to the south, and then Lafayette Avenue and extending a bit further south west to the Cummins plant over there.
[16:46] We were really thrilled with the community engagement process and just the enthusiasm community members brought to this planning process.
[16:53] There's clearly a lot of interest in the future of downtown and a lot of folks who are willing to contribute to that future.
[16:59] And they started that process by showing up and responding to the surveys and other online activities that we put out there.
[17:06] We had over 500 people show up to our in-person events that number is much larger if you count
[17:11] pop-ups where we interacted with undoubtedly hundreds more. Over 3,600 people responded to the
[17:17] two surveys we put out and we read through each of those responses and got a good understanding
[17:22] of what people wanted to see and their excitement for the future of this community. In addition to that,
[17:27] Jessica and her team at Storyboard helped us lead over 15 pop-up events and community group discussions
[17:33] ensuring that we were reaching deep into the community to understand the varied perspectives
[17:38] that exist in the priorities that they have for the future of the city and the downtown.
[17:43] That first community event, we held in the Commons, was a great opportunity to familiarize
[17:47] folks with the themes, the kind of things that we were looking at as part of the planning process
[17:52] and start a conversation around aspirations and the experience these experiences people are having
[17:58] downtown today. So let's start with some of those observations. We asked people at the
[18:04] very outset, what are you seeing and experiencing about downtown today? Among the many great
[18:10] things that we heard about what was working or people like to do downtown, we heard a lot about
[18:15] aspirations. The observations were that it's good. It's not great. There's not a lot happening
[18:21] at night time. Not a lot for young people to do. People wanted generally to see more vitality.
[18:27] they want more events. They really love attending the things that do take shape in downtown today,
[18:31] but they see opportunity for more of that. And also there's an opportunity for downtown to serve
[18:37] as more of a cultural and economic hub within the city than it does today. And lots of interest
[18:42] in revitalizing those streets that are so lovely to walk down lots of great things to do,
[18:46] but people generally told us that there could be more.
[18:51] When we asked them about what specifically
[18:53] they had in mind as far as what downtown could be, what those aspirations were,
[18:57] These were the five themes that emerged most strongly.
[19:01] People wanted to see a more vibrant social entertainment hub,
[19:04] more things to do downtown, and hands retail and dining experiences.
[19:07] More places to spend their time and spend their dollars within the downtown realm.
[19:13] More essential services and livability as downtown becomes increasingly
[19:18] a neighborhood and a place for people to live.
[19:20] They want more of those services that can support daily life.
[19:23] Improved connectivity and mobility.
[19:25] how can we think about the ways the downtown can reach deeper into the neighborhoods and create
[19:29] more viable paths for getting to through and from downtown. And then thinking about this great
[19:35] identity Columbus has as a community in the world that downtown plays and how do we strengthen
[19:39] and build on that identity and create a real place that is a destination not only for folks who
[19:44] live in Columbus but people who may be coming from the region and has we know lots of folks who
[19:48] come from all over the country and the world.
[19:53] When we ask community members about their top desire
[19:56] uses for downtown. We heard a lot along those same lines of their aspirations. Number one,
[20:01] restaurants. People wanted places to go and eat entertainment venues. Things that they could do,
[20:06] not only with kids and family from the activities, but also young adult and adult activities
[20:11] like bowling, arcades, entertainment venues. People really loved the farmers market and wanted
[20:16] to see that expanded more access to it, potentially more centrally located. Of course, we heard a
[20:23] as a top aspiration, something that has been reflected in various plans in the past and is still a top desire from community members,
[20:31] things like water features and splash pads, outdoor activities that can be engaging for children and families.
[20:37] Activation of existing parks and open spaces, there's a good network of open spaces that existing Columbus today,
[20:42] but not a lot of those spaces are used on a regular basis. Events and social hubs for people get host events,
[20:49] bike and pedestrian linkages that connect more of these places together and provide access
[20:53] from neighborhoods and some of the natural features that encircled downtown, convenience store,
[20:58] pharmacy, youth center, annual regional events, things that capture a larger population,
[21:04] more art, and opportunities to experience that within the downtown, and then, finally,
[21:08] a conference and meeting space.
[21:13] At Community Event 2, we took all of what we'd heard from
[21:15] the community and our first phase of work and put it back to them and asked them to help us prioritize
[21:19] And understand where we should start looking for some of these opportunities to get sighted throughout the downtown.
[21:25] We engaged with a board game that asks people to place cards and chips across the city downtown to start the work of planning as a community and help us understand where those priorities fall.
[21:37] So you can see the kind of clusters of activity. Now we didn't encourage people to put them on some of these focus quarters, which is why you're seeing quite so much clustering there.
[21:44] but it gives us a good sense of what folks see as the potential identity of these different corridors
[21:48] and what different uses can really be successful throughout downtown.
[21:54] We asked people in our second survey, as well, to help us understand where these uses that we think
[21:59] are marketable and strong opportunities to increase foot traffic downtown, where should they take shape?
[22:04] And we took these lessons and what we'd heard from folks to understand where potential
[22:08] new development and sightings of new properties could emerge.
[22:13] So you see here in the yellow bars housing where we're seeing lots of concentrations in the east south and the southeast
[22:19] A little bit more of a distribution with a potential future office and lots of interest in the west and Washington some other places for a potential future hotel
[22:29] We also asked people beyond our kind of focus corridors of fourth street fifth street and Washington
[22:34] Where else would they like to see more activation more things to do more places to come to downtown to see and it was interesting to us
[22:40] just how much interest there was in citing some of these along the river and mill-race park really
[22:45] activating those natural and open space amenities.
[22:52] I'm going to hand it off now to Michael from
[22:54] SB Freedman to walk through some of our market analysis findings. Thank you, Chris.
[23:05] So Columbus today
[23:06] is downtown as a whole of experience. It's a place to live, it's a place to work, it's a
[23:13] place to gather and visit for many. You can attend shops, attend events, see the beautiful architecture
[23:19] of course. It is also a primary job center for Columbus and the region. Today, downtown Columbus
[23:26] has over a million and a half square feet of office space around 400,000 square feet of retail
[23:32] space. And these uses, along with the many institutional buildings, count for about 30% of the
[23:39] city's jobs. There is downtown living about 950 residents call downtown home, but it's relatively
[23:46] lower share of residents on about 2%.
[23:50] This next slide is emblematic of the challenges
[23:53] that are facing downtown Columbus
[23:56] post the COVID-19 pandemic.
[23:59] We use cell phone location data to estimate
[24:02] the number of visitors and workers who
[24:04] come to the downtown in-person on an average day.
[24:09] And some of these trends have echoed what we've heard
[24:12] anecdotally from our market interviews
[24:13] that we've conducted over the last eight months.
[24:15] In 2019 around 11,500 visitors visited downtown Columbus on an average day while around 5,700 workers did so.
[24:27] The pandemic changed a lot of that. In 2024 around 8,960 visitors came downtown on average day and around 3,330 workers.
[24:38] So declines about 22 and 42 percent respectively. These are resulting in a loss of activity,
[24:46] both in terms of vibrancy, the number of people on the streets, and also, but translate to
[24:52] reduced retail sales and taxes to the city.
[24:58] Downtown's share of the citywide population has
[25:00] increased however, and Columbus's population overall is projected to increase by 2030. This will be
[25:11] housing study from last year found that the city will need an additional 3500 units by 2030 of which
[25:18] approximately 940 could be multi-family units. And we believe that downtown has the potential
[25:23] capture a large share of these units. In many peer communities similar to Columbus,
[25:29] we observe much higher share of residents living downtown than we do here.
[25:35] Downtown is still continues to be a strong employment hub over the last decade.
[25:41] Employment grew by about 3,300 jobs.
[25:45] I grew by much of a smaller share outside of downtown Columbus.
[25:49] However, as I showed with the cell phone location slide, the nature of work has changed.
[25:53] There are fewer in-person workers downtown on a typical day,
[25:57] so the office market is maybe less reliable in it
[26:00] was in a year's past or thinking about future uses at the downtown.
[26:06] So the slides summarizes our market analysis which we did for for primary land uses in the downtown.
[26:13] And the office sector, like I mentioned, we think it's relatively weak.
[26:17] You know, market potential at least in the near term.
[26:20] The new office development that has been built has been built to suit.
[26:24] So for specific tenants like Cummins.
[26:26] And while we think there might be potential for some of that in the near future, the speculative types of office development that's filled by, you know, many different companies.
[26:36] I think there's a little bit less potential for that.
[26:38] However, co-working is something that we have, you know, looked into and we think that there is some potential to add that to it downtown.
[26:46] Multifamily we think is the strongest real estate product type. Over 200 units have been built
[26:52] downtown since 2015 primarily in the Taylor and while we know that there is a robust
[26:58] development pipeline we think that the town town could accommodate a lot more development beyond
[27:03] you know what's currently planned for the downtown. Hotel is performing fairly well. The hotel
[27:10] into go and one of the other hotels by the highway are performing well overall. They've had
[27:14] strong average daily rates and average daily rate growth since the pandemic. However, the market
[27:20] has a hold is still seeing occupancy a little bit below those pre-pandemic levels. So while we do
[27:26] think there's some potential for additional hotel development, it's a bit weaker than multi-family.
[27:34] And retail, as we say long-term, this is a really long-term for retail developments. So new retail
[27:40] buildings. We do think that there could be potential for new businesses and new retail offerings to open
[27:44] the near term. However, in the near term, we think that those new businesses will go into
[27:51] existing spaces that are currently vacant and the long term is, as those spaces are filled,
[27:57] could, you know, be accommodated through development potentially. And if that will turn back over to
[28:02] Sasaki.
[28:05] Thanks, Michael. So we used a number of different inputs to make some initial recommendations
[28:11] for the planning work here and the market research the communities input the observations we conducted
[28:19] ourselves prior planning efforts all fed into that and what you're seeing here is a projection
[28:25] for what growth could look like within Columbus in the immediate near medium and long-term across
[28:30] those different use types as well as some others. What we're taking away from the market analysis
[28:35] and those other methods of input is that housing growth is the primary opportunity in the near-term
[28:40] to increase foot traffic, increase just bodies downtown, more people doing more things spending
[28:46] more money.
[28:47] Public relevant improvements and activation as well as new programming can support that in
[28:52] the immediate term and well into the future as well.
[28:56] So our recommendations for the immediate term are really geared towards those three things.
[29:00] As we look towards some of the future uses and things that don't necessarily show demand
[29:05] right now, we do see opportunity for strategic retail infill filling in some of those spaces
[29:10] that do exist today with new businesses, new vendors, if that foot traffic starts to increase,
[29:16] more of that becomes more viable. And then as we think towards growth of some of these
[29:21] different product types, as Michael just walked us through, there's not demand today necessarily,
[29:26] but as you start to see success with new housing growth, with new public realm improvements,
[29:30] an activation of some of these existing spaces and new programs that bring more people to
[29:34] downtown more frequently, you can start to see demand emerge for new retail. So construction of
[29:39] within new properties, whether it's ground floor or otherwise, new hospitality growth that
[29:44] is largely dependent and in the future potentially more office growth, we still don't have
[29:49] a fully clear picture of what the post pandemic world looks like for office, but trends do
[29:53] suggest that there could be increased demand in the future, particularly as some of these other
[29:57] uses take shape.
[30:00] So with that, we wanted before we jump into some of the physical recommendations and what the future of downtown could look like. We wanted to frame out the overall strategic plan objectives. These are the nine objectives that outline and cover all of our recommendations as part of this planning process. The first diversified downtown's offerings to ensure there are multiple engines of growth and opportunity. That's offices, that's businesses, that's residences, that's everything. Focus energy and activation strategically. This is a five-year planning horizon. We're looking express
[30:29] at 2030 and beyond, but most primarily at 2030, we really want to think about focusing that foot traffic to
[30:36] create a critical mass that can prove success within a smaller downtown court that can then
[30:43] extrapolate out to the rest of downtown. Make downtown a more vibrant residential neighborhood. We've
[30:48] seen some products emerge. They've been very successful. We know there's more demand. We know that
[30:53] that is a great way to get more people downtown. Fourth, improve connections between downtown Columbus
[30:59] and it's surrounding neighborhoods. We want to make it a comfortable experience for people to come
[31:03] downtown and enjoy all that has to offer. Enhance and expand access to mill race park. This
[31:08] is a beloved public landscape. We heard that in every conversation we had, there are more opportunities
[31:13] to use it better and importantly to connect it better to downtown. Making downtown a pedestrian
[31:20] first place, creating a positive environment that is exciting, that is enticing, that feeds
[31:26] curiosity, they get people to park their car once, leave it there, and enjoy a multitude of things
[31:32] throughout downtown spending more time and more money downtown. Making downtown an accessible
[31:37] and enjoyable destination for all. Columbus is not a homogeneous community. There are lots of
[31:41] different stakeholders and community members and groups that call this place home. We want downtown
[31:47] to be a kind of place that is accessible to them in terms of physical access in terms of cost
[31:52] of access and everything else. Continuing Columbus' legacy of excellence, we were so excited to work
[31:59] on this project and work with this community, it's such a special place. There's so much
[32:03] that makes Columbus so great, keep that going, maintain that momentum, maintain that pride of
[32:09] legacy and excellence in everything that pushes forward. Enhance and expand downtown Columbus's role
[32:15] as a regional destination. So first and foremost, this is a community for Columbus, a downtown
[32:19] for Columbus, but it's also our regional club, and how can we look towards the larger region
[32:23] to get to more of what we want to see downtown? So those are nine objectives that cover the
[32:29] entirety of the plan. Let's talk a bit more specifically about some of the downtown specific interventions.
[32:38] Thanks Chris.
[32:42] So we'll start sort of an understanding of the physical attributes of the downtown
[32:47] and how these objectives and recommendations really find a place on the streets and building
[32:55] and community gathering places that you all know so well.
[33:00] So for us this downtown framework plan is just that.
[33:03] It's a framework upon which you want to make strategic investments.
[33:07] A framework upon which you want to understand the opportunities for public investment,
[33:12] private investment, philanthropic investment, investment and
[33:16] partnership amongst all of you in the various roles that you play in the community.
[33:21] So again, this framework is really the scaffolding for
[33:24] investment into the future. Broadly what you're seeing on the screen is really sort of an
[33:30] understanding both of sites, as well as then what we're saying are corridors here. So urban
[33:38] infill, that emphasis on housing, of course, is very important. You can see some sites that are on
[33:43] the former wastewater treatment plant, some sites that are closer to the tailor and the southeast,
[33:48] and some other sort of orange-y-colored infill sites throughout the city, in which again,
[33:53] we're gonna really think about that housing.
[33:56] But as we saw in the community engagement activities
[33:58] that sort of dot map that we did,
[34:01] there really was a strong consensus
[34:02] that fourth, fifth, and Washington were the corridors
[34:07] most in need of investment,
[34:09] but also those which already had a substantial
[34:12] sort of visibility and legibility
[34:16] of understanding within the city itself.
[34:20] We heard repeatedly, both from the market sector
[34:23] in terms of what draws people to downtown, festivals and events, as well as sort of a great
[34:29] desire to really make the connection to Mill-Race Park as strong as it can be as a beloved
[34:34] asset which we know will only improve into the future. So that was also a big emphasis.
[34:41] Throughout we identified new destinations, we identified places that are difficult today
[34:46] that could be improved and as Chris mentioned in one of the planned objectives, really thinking about
[34:52] this sort of pedestrian environment. We bring our experience from across the world from across
[34:58] the United States on towns and cities big and small, knowing that the one common denominator is
[35:05] often the pedestrian experience, the simple ability to be able to walk from point A to point B
[35:11] without feeling you're going to be right over by cars necessarily or other intrusions and really
[35:16] making that as comfortable as possible,
[35:19] much like what you see today in many parts of the city,
[35:22] but in particular in fourth street.
[35:25] At the beginning of this exercise,
[35:28] we were given a set of priority sites,
[35:32] which are those largely in control by the public,
[35:37] some are CRC-owned, the ones that are hatched,
[35:39] a little bit hard to see on these slides,
[35:41] but nevertheless, it will be in all the documentation
[35:43] going forward.
[35:44] And we really took a hard look at all those sites from a number of factors.
[35:48] Again, ownership, investment opportunity, size of the parcel, and we're at sat within the overall geography of the downtown itself.
[35:58] So we grouped those into four categories, from the catalytic sites, immediate action, which will spur future development and investment.
[36:08] The second tier of opportunity sites, the ones that are just a bit farther afield, public realm sites, which are not the private buildings necessarily, but rather the open spaces and streets and pluses and parks that you currently have.
[36:28] And then lastly, the ones which we felt were most peripheral, the other potential growth sites,
[36:33] the ones just a little bit outside, maybe a little bit longer term, in terms of their impact,
[36:38] but nevertheless, really important to think through both from those things which can change immediately
[36:42] and which should change immediately, the catalytic sites to sort of this longer horizon.
[36:51] This next image is sort of our first take from a very sort of land use oriented understanding about some of those specific sites.
[37:00] within and around the downtown itself.
[37:04] Highlighted and orange are the central quarters of 4th and 5th and Washington.
[37:10] Again, which leads you from Library Plaza to Mill-Race Park quite simply,
[37:17] which leads you from Washington Street at the Oculus,
[37:20] again, to Mill-Race Park past the end ago.
[37:23] That sort of desire to move in that direction.
[37:26] And as well, we know that you've been invested in Washington Street for many, many years.
[37:30] and this project should continue and will be part of the recommendations that we make.
[37:36] For the field we see some of the sort of yellow infill sites towards the south and southeast here,
[37:42] where we see different opportunities for a whole range of residential infill projects.
[37:48] Neighborhood types of retail, smaller scale, they don't have to be exactly like the tailor or the
[37:53] coal, but some other version that is marked friendly and sort of gives us the sort of increase in
[37:59] number of overall residents in the downtown. Each of these projects will be explained in a
[38:04] little bit more detail in the slides going forward.
[38:10] A little bit of by the numbers we're looking
[38:12] broadly at what this might mean for a 2030 plan, which is to say up to or in addition of the 750
[38:21] possible new housing units for the downtown.
[38:27] Approximately 260 or so new hotel rooms
[38:30] That's sort of serving both an internal capture, the audience of folks here,
[38:35] but more typically folks coming from afar and visiting the city
[38:38] and bringing those dollars, which are very, very important.
[38:41] We also see the capacity for about 125,000 square feet of new in adaptive retail.
[38:47] That's slightly longer term in terms of its gross potential for the downtown.
[38:53] But nevertheless, an important sort of outcome of once you bring people downtown,
[38:57] those restaurants, food and beverage places, will do even better.
[39:03] So there is a real sort of timing issue about what steps you do first and what things
[39:07] follow along with that.
[39:10] So all of this will be provided to you in the final report which will be issuing,
[39:14] and you'll see all those sort of very specific metrics.
[39:17] When we think also about the public realm improvements,
[39:20] we really tried to be very, very strategic and very minimal, as a matter of fact,
[39:24] in terms of identifying those places
[39:26] which are already performing well today,
[39:28] such as the Plaza and front of the library,
[39:31] two new opportunities, such as creating more
[39:33] of a gateway into Mill Race Park at the end of 5th Street.
[39:37] And even thinking about that connection
[39:39] at the end of 4th Street.
[39:41] So how do you invest wisely with things
[39:44] that are already underway,
[39:45] such as the gateway park endeavor
[39:49] that you've already begun to think about
[39:51] and the design aspects there.
[39:53] But then think about how do you make those places, which exists today, even better.
[40:00] So as we begin to zoom in into this one drawing that we created, and we'll show you a variety of details here.
[40:08] I'll walk you through a few things that you might notice here.
[40:11] Well, in orange is really your legacy, this amazing legacy of architecture and civic gathering places that really make Columbus so special to visitors far and wide as well as to all of you who live here and call this place.
[40:25] home from first price to the library, the Cummins downtown office building itself, all of these architectural
[40:33] gems. Of course, the architecture of the master's architecture program as well as city hall,
[40:38] the beloved courthouse. Those buildings you see sort of together within the downtown, but
[40:44] somewhat disparate. So again, you focus here on fourth fifth and Washington is really to provide
[40:50] network to pull those places into one experience, as well as then to make that access to
[40:56] Mulrace Park that much easier. So we're thinking about those strategic corridors and that
[41:01] connection to Mulrace Park. So broadly, these are the three big moves that we're suggesting for
[41:08] the downtown. Think about the investments today on Washington Street and continue those investments
[41:16] continue to invest in understanding the dynamic between retail versus professional offices,
[41:23] continue to encourage the use of second floors with access, and continue to think about the
[41:29] public realm on that to make Washington Street what it is today but even better which is really the
[41:35] spine of the downtown experience. But importantly there's two more sort of ways to think about
[41:41] both forced and fifth. So the logo or the slogan for forced street is finished for us. Go one or two more blocks towards
[41:50] mill race and really think about that incremental movement.
[41:53] Chris and I stood on the street today. We looked towards mill race park and we said this is very doable.
[41:58] We were right next to the Oculus looking down towards the park in the end of the go and said yes.
[42:03] If this experience just extends a few more feet, two more blocks, that can be a coherent experience with
[42:10] destination. As well, thinking about the avenue of the architects, of course, that which is
[42:15] combining the library and first church, I'm going to get it wrong. First, first, first,
[42:21] sorry, church there. All the way down to that vehicular connection to Moll Race,
[42:27] past the Cummins headquarters, as well as the Irwin Bank gem of mid-century modern architecture.
[42:37] As we zoom in, a little bit closer to each of those here, we're seeing really the terminus of
[42:44] fourth street as it meets Moll Race Park.
[42:47] These are suggestions not to be taken 100% literally, but again, there are artistic interpretations
[42:54] of a series of elements which come together.
[42:57] The idea of that great sort of pedestrian zone that you currently have today on fourth street
[43:02] sort of extending those two additional blocks,
[43:05] thinking about both the sear site,
[43:09] as well as the sears parking lot,
[43:11] which is just to the one side of four street there,
[43:14] what that future development might be,
[43:16] as well as then the expansion,
[43:17] which is already in the sort of pre-designed phases
[43:20] for the hotel indigo,
[43:22] and then thinking about what would be the long term
[43:24] for the post office site itself.
[43:27] This is really our four pack, as we call it,
[43:29] for blocks which can really see fundamental sort of change in the near term, in the timeline,
[43:38] horizon of this project, and transform substantially this part of downtown. There are some
[43:44] special sort of destinations highlighted in the darker sort of red color here,
[43:49] whether that's a market hall, which is really meant to extend the season of the farmers market,
[43:54] even into the fall and even into the winter there,
[43:58] think about some indoor activation for that,
[44:01] as well as then a connection to Mulrace Park.
[44:04] We know that we have both the rail line
[44:06] and of course Lindsey Street
[44:08] and thinking about how pedestrians might feel more comfortable
[44:11] moving towards the park itself.
[44:16] As we think about also some of those investments here,
[44:20] it's thinking about that pedestrianization of four street,
[44:23] thinking about the lighting, the trees, the activation of those spaces currently on the post office site.
[44:30] And then thinking about at that sort of terminus, as you move to that space, which is currently
[44:35] between the Indigo and the Sears parking lot today, if that could be a vibrant new destination
[44:41] shown here in Orange, as a Plaza space. We heard over and over again about no race and how
[44:48] maybe just a very small interim change could really get people to that part.
[44:55] Much like folks go elsewhere to look for that big sort of children's playgrounds.
[45:00] This flashpad and neighboring communities, you might think about that. That's an actual, um, a doable project in the three to five year range that doesn't need to
[45:10] preclude the larger master plan from low-race park, but might get that level of activity. The parking is already there today, and we'll draw people and families, especially in the summer, like it is now to the park itself and begin to establish these relationships.
[45:26] Some of the suggested images and other places that we've seen across the United States and across
[45:32] the world really that give us a little bit of a mental picture for what some of these things
[45:38] might look like. In terms of the extended retail and outdoor activation of a really nicely
[45:44] designed street about what a conference center might actually look like in terms of its transparency,
[45:50] the draw for outside visitors, the draw, and synergy that it has with the hotel itself.
[45:58] Thinking about that splash pad and playground in Mill Race Park, we've seen those projects
[46:03] be very successful across the United States. And one example, which is in Eugene, Oregon,
[46:09] in the upper left hand corner, that year-round market hall, a sustainable building, which is actually
[46:14] quite simple, and which allows for them to really, again, extend that sort of beloved farmer's market,
[46:20] that you currently have right outside here at City Hall.
[46:25] So those are just some examples of these components.
[46:30] As we think about Washington Street, again,
[46:31] extending the policies that have already been put in place.
[46:35] The small business focus community events on Washington Street,
[46:38] the facade improvement programs, upper floor activation,
[46:42] as I mentioned before, and prioritization of the Washington Quarter
[46:46] for any new retail, which could be coming to town.
[46:49] So again, great work that you've done so far, continue that work and continue to move forward.
[46:56] Some of the examples there, again, thinking about how the signage itself, something very simple and low cost,
[47:03] can drive businesses, can drive activity to really interesting ways of thinking about public space activation.
[47:11] That space in front of the courthouse.
[47:13] Again, can we make it a little bit more friendly in terms of how people approach it.
[47:18] might feel comfortable bringing picnic, hanging out if there are some benches, some movable chairs,
[47:23] and sort of in liveening some of that network of spaces that you have today. So all of those
[47:29] components together sort of help to create and maintain a more vibrant Boschian and Streep.
[47:36] As we think about the avenue of the architects of course, fifth street here, extending from the
[47:48] with the existing fantastic architecture that exists today at the Irwin Bank, as well as the potential
[47:56] for the post office, which is challenging today. Again, right across from your major employer here
[48:02] of the Cummins, a signature building again in the downtown. And then thinking about all those sort of
[48:08] potential opportunities, both short and long-term here, where we can think about a reuse adaptive
[48:15] reuse of some of those existing buildings, as well as then these infill opportunities shown
[48:20] in the light yellow for some of the new residential and a variety of formats from multifamily
[48:27] all the way down to smaller scale townhouses.
[48:30] That diversity of investment is very important for the viability of any of these projects.
[48:37] As we think about some of the public realm investments on the avenue of the architects, we
[48:43] can think about making it as friendly as possible
[48:45] for pedestrians moving there.
[48:48] Think about the Plaza at Fifth and Jackson,
[48:52] how it might be more inviting,
[48:54] how there may be a future tenant in those buildings,
[48:56] which would be very much of interest to the city.
[48:59] And also thinking through a public art program,
[49:01] again, drawing on sort of the mid-century modern legacy
[49:03] that Columbus is so well known for,
[49:06] as well as how it's been extended
[49:08] to the exhibit Columbus program year after year after year.
[49:12] think about sort of how murals simply, again, relatively low-cost, can in life in the environment
[49:18] and begin to pull all of this together. Some of those examples of what the moments might look like.
[49:27] Simply, uplighting some of the existing architecture extends the life of the downtown well into the
[49:32] evening and to the nighttime. Thinking about this flexible branded park-plaza opportunities,
[49:38] such as along some of the open spaces on the corridor itself.
[49:43] That public art and then that great sort of gateway opportunity
[49:47] as fifth extends into mill raise and begins to announce
[49:51] the presence of that deeper into the city.
[49:56] So we wanted to create just one sort of snapshot
[49:58] of a potential moment in the plan.
[50:01] This is looking down fourth street towards mill raised park.
[50:05] You see the hotel in to go on the right-hand side and the block in the distance there with its extension further to the right here. You can't really see that. It's off the page.
[50:17] And then on the immediate right up near where it says sort of draft up in that corner, that's potential residential infill with building lobby potentially there.
[50:25] that street scape, which you have today on fourth street can be extended. It works very well.
[50:30] This is a one-way street with parking on either side and so traffic is coming towards you.
[50:35] But on occasion, let's make it easier to have that street be accessible for pedestrians to close
[50:41] that off and have it be more of a regular sort of feature in the downtown. On the left hand side,
[50:47] we're seeing potentially the Sears Block existing today, repurposed into some retail as well as
[50:54] entertainment, indoor entertainment venues,
[50:58] we're also seeing really the potential for the
[51:01] Sears parking lot site, which is substantial. It's a very large site. One of the things
[51:06] that the outside sort of conference operators are looking for, which is a co-location along with
[51:16] a hotel. So that's very important as well as the parking. So parking hotel and the conference
[51:22] center could be a draw. Again, there's sort of discussion and we're happy to answer questions about that.
[51:27] What are the economic benefits and returns on investment there? But it is something that has,
[51:32] in the past, been identified as a potential strategic investment for the future and would draw
[51:39] those outside visitors to the city itself. So in the middle of the drawing, you're seeing two things.
[51:45] There one is that potential for the market hall,
[51:50] a very simple building that again,
[51:52] extends the life to the farmers market
[51:54] and you get some of those outdoor tents there
[51:56] for the different seasons summer fall
[51:58] and spring, which is so great,
[52:00] and extending that a little bit.
[52:02] And also the idea of a connection to Mill Race Park
[52:05] over both the rail and the roadway there,
[52:09] which are both quite busy.
[52:10] So we'll think creatively about how that might be accomplished.
[52:13] But overall, it really does have to do
[52:15] extending this notion of the pedestrian environment, which is so attractive to downtowns,
[52:20] which you see in so many different places.
[52:25] We know that phasing will play out over a long time
[52:31] and that the specifics of the phasing can actually be subject to, you know, whims and opportunities
[52:37] that come your way. But we took a first pass of thinking about what those things are that could be
[52:42] immediate short-term, medium-term, and longer-term.
[52:46] So immediately, we know that we want to sort of continue to, again,
[52:51] help you invest in Washington Street.
[52:53] Use that investment.
[52:54] It's the heart and soul of the downtown.
[52:56] Continue that.
[52:57] Secondarily, we think that that opportunity for a sculptural gateway
[53:00] in Demo Race Park sort of fits nicely,
[53:03] with the master's and architectural program today.
[53:05] They're interested in doing something.
[53:06] And so that's another opportunity to show sort of an immediate win,
[53:10] right away as we're moving forward.
[53:14] So as we begin this sort of look at the short-term phasing,
[53:17] there's a lot of things that could happen.
[53:19] Again, this is sort of a list of things that are good for me.
[53:40] On the short-term phasing, some of those investments that can be made.
[53:43] Again, we'll think about sort of what does it mean to extend?
[53:46] That streetscape along for a street.
[53:49] When is it most appropriate to begin to imagine that the market home may happen and the adaptive views of even the serious building?
[53:57] All those things again create that synergy, the sort of extent for that sort of logo for the project itself, or at least for this one piece of the project.
[54:05] And how might these public and private and philanthropic investments together create the momentum to move this forward into the...
[54:21] There are both short-term and medium-term uses to think about for the sears parking lot
[54:26] parcel itself. There's also opportunities to think about when and where sort of the redevelopment
[54:33] of the post office site itself happens, which is shown here. Conference center can be long-reterm,
[54:40] the connection to Mill-Race Park can also be in the longer term category. Again, these will be
[54:46] much subject to sort of investment and the decisions that the mayor will talk through a little bit
[54:52] at the end of this presentation.
[54:57] Great, so that was a quick overview of the many ideas for
[55:02] downtown for some of these specific sites. We're really excited about these. We hope you are too.
[55:08] The next step is in implementation and what we would like to do is show you a bit about how this will
[55:13] get delivered to the city, to the redevelopment commission. What kind of guidance will get provided?
[55:17] So you are not intended to read this, but this is just a screenshot of the way that we are starting to fill out an action plan, a table of recommendations and all the kind of resources that we would recommend you all pursue to make some of these projects happen.
[55:35] Each of them, these recommendations is getting organized under one of these three headings real estate economic development, public realm and infrastructure programming and activation, which is also how the city is starting to organize itself around recommendations and implement.
[55:47] which is just terrific. Each of these recommendations will provide the details that you see here on screen.
[55:54] What kind of recommendation is it? Is it a project? Is it a policy, a program, or a potential partnership?
[56:00] We'll articulate what that recommendation is, what we're trying to accomplish by it.
[56:04] We'll provide a bit more description to help round that out and help provide the guidance needed to move forward.
[56:09] We'll also identify the who we think are the right partners in concert with the city.
[56:14] not just us coming up with these, but working with you all to figure out who should lead each of these
[56:19] recommendations, who are some of the partners who can help support the implementation of these
[56:23] recommendations, where within that overall trajectory of planning and the realization of these
[56:29] recommendations does this fit? Is it an immediate term opportunity? Something akin to a quick win?
[56:34] Is it a longer term opportunity that requires a bit more investment first or something in between?
[56:39] We'll also start to identify potential funding sources. So there's a lot more to discuss on that
[56:44] We won't get into a tremendous amount of detail today, but we'll talk a bit about it in an action steps.
[56:49] So, some of these projects are quite discernible and easy to tackle.
[56:53] Some of them are much more complex and have a whole sequence of steps that we would recommend to take and invest time and money and attention to.
[57:00] And so we'll provide that guidance as well.
[57:04] As we think about what implementation looks like, we are taking a close look at all the different kinds of development models that would typically underlie projects of this type.
[57:12] We are going to provide guidance on what we think the role of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission should be, as the owners, a lot of these properties.
[57:20] We also want to provide guidance on the disposition of publicly-owned sites, moving them from the public hands into actionable private hands.
[57:29] Providing recommendations for how some of the privately-owned sites that we are making recommendations for could move forward. Obviously, the public section doesn't play a huge role in that,
[57:38] that you can start to guide and help people realize these projects.
[57:43] And then starting to prioritize,
[57:45] which public financial assistance for real estate projects
[57:49] are the top priorities.
[57:51] When it comes to some of these more specialized uses,
[57:53] things that are not necessarily
[57:56] super typical or that don't have robust models ready for us.
[58:02] We'll take a look at what are some of the strategies
[58:04] that are unique to Columbus and to these particular investments.
[58:07] things like the market hall if there is to be a pedestrian connection over the rail and the road to
[58:13] mill race park. What are some of the mechanisms you could use to implement those?
[58:19] So we took a look at
[58:20] the different recommendations. There's a lot of them. We're organizing them by the project's policy
[58:24] partnerships and programs, the four pieces we call them, and then we'll group them into these different
[58:29] implementation teams so that your city implementation team is ready to take them from day one
[58:34] start making progress within these three groups and you can see those implementation action
[58:41] teams there. So I think this is where we will leave it for our presentation and hand it
[58:46] to the mayor further to discuss the next steps on how to take this point forward.
[58:53] You so much to the Team of Susaki SB Friedman and storyboard for the immense efforts you have
[58:58] undergone to provide a thoughtful analysis of the current conditions facing downtown today
[59:04] to make recommendations for a refreshed and rejuvenated downtown.
[59:09] So Mayor Ferdon is ready at the podium to introduce the implementation plan to carry out the study recommendations.
[59:18] Mayor Ferdon.
[59:24] I think that deserves a round of applause.
[59:35] They consolidated in about 50 minutes what has taken eight or nine months.
[59:39] And I've got to tell you that last year when I threw out the whole,
[59:43] I want them done by June. Everybody looked at me in horror, but they managed and so, so thrilled to be able to work with Cesaki and S.B.
[59:53] Creedmen in Storybook. Next, for slides. So, I'm going to irritate a bunch of people with the next slide.
[1:00:00] But
[1:00:03] if you've ever worked with me, you know that this is one of my favorite quotes, right? Plans are useless. But getting there is indispensable, probably the most famous quote, one of the most famous quotes of, at that time, General Dwight Eisenhower.
[1:00:20] And we're as deaf, Bergman. I'm not talking about you,
[1:00:32] right?
[1:00:32] It sets a framework on what we need to do to achieve a goal and so that's what this is.
[1:00:39] So I want you to hear hear me when I say that. This is a plan. It's a great plan, but it's not
[1:00:44] set in stone, right? It will evolve with us because that's what we do so well. As circumstances change
[1:00:52] and as they evolve, you know, challenges are going to pop up and then opportunities are going
[1:00:57] pop up. And so we will make sure that we deal with both as they happen. And as Cesaki talked about,
[1:01:04] there's been abundant input, 5,000 touch points. That's pretty amazing for a community our size.
[1:01:10] So that we know the community is really invested in the success of this success of this plan.
[1:01:17] So we are going to take these recommendations and we're going to shape them over the next few
[1:01:22] years and then we're going to implement the critical themes and concepts and those will come forward.
[1:01:28] So I want to let you know that I think as of right now this plan, this presentation is on on the website.
[1:01:37] So I know a lot of you were taking notes and it's really hard to see because you know the font was really small, but I know that you will have the ability to look at that this on your own.
[1:01:47] Next slide. So what's the purpose? The purpose is to support overseen and ensure the successful implementation of these recommendations. In other words, the purpose is to just get stuff done.
[1:01:59] We do compete with ourselves, but we also do.
[1:02:04] Our residents and our visitors look at other communities and try to always compare them with us.
[1:02:09] And I think we've seen that most kind of now post-pandemic.
[1:02:14] And so our purpose is really that this is a call to action from the community, saying that we want to adapt now that things have changed.
[1:02:21] And then we want to reimagine what can we look like.
[1:02:25] And what we found is that cities who are focused have post-pandemic,
[1:02:31] who focused on tourism, entertainment, in-person workers have recovered and are doing well as long as they have downtown residents.
[1:02:43] So we know that, we've seen it in other communities and I think you'll find that thread throughout this plan.
[1:02:51] Failure is often driven by the inability to make a decision, so we're not going to be there.
[1:02:56] we're going to identify what makes the best uses of our resources and then we're going to just dive in.
[1:03:04] So how did we divide up the work? Next slide.
[1:03:09] As Chris and Martin were just talking about, they really focused on three areas, which is a logical
[1:03:14] separation of the areas of impact. First of all is real estate. A lot of properties downtown,
[1:03:20] And some we own we the city or redevelopment others we don't and so the goal here is to prioritize the recommendations and then work with the property owners to support and work through any obstacles and facilitate the next best steps.
[1:03:36] This is probably the most difficult sub team that we're setting up right.
[1:03:41] Because it's costly and these are the really big ideas.
[1:03:45] The second sub team, or sub group, has been set up around public realm as, again, Sasaki talked about.
[1:03:52] These are the upgrades and the enhancements to our public streets, our plasas, our trails, our plasas and our parks.
[1:03:59] I get really excited about this, because this is how we connect people around the downtown.
[1:04:05] And that's what we hear over and over and over, people want to be able to move freely, they want to bring visitors to town,
[1:04:11] want to have kids running around and so connectors are really important. And then the last piece is
[1:04:17] the programming and activation. And again, this is where we want to increase our foot traffic
[1:04:22] downtown through activation and events. Next page.
[1:04:29] So we've built some broad-based teams to get a
[1:04:33] cross section of stakeholders, users, business owners, and property owners. And first of all, I have to
[1:04:40] the Bonnie boat right has been amazing and she has facilitated this process up to now and she's
[1:04:46] agreed to facilitate through the implementation piece. So she will be she will be on every
[1:04:54] action team. Thank you Bonnie. So first we started with a steering committee and this the goal of this
[1:05:01] is obviously to just synthesize the recommendations and support the overarching goals and they've
[1:05:08] to keep everybody moving in the right direction. And then they want to make sure that the
[1:05:12] information is collected to make decisions and make sure that it's shared out both to the
[1:05:19] public as well as the media. So we're really fortunate to have two conveners who they didn't know
[1:05:27] each other until they were brought together but are going to lead this forward. One is John Burnett,
[1:05:31] you all know John right retired CEC president part of envisioned Columbus he was part of Columbus 2020
[1:05:41] he may have come over on the Mayflower I don't remember is a great historian and so I'm so
[1:05:47] pleased that's he agreed to be one of the communeers the other is Jake Syp we sit in over here he's
[1:05:53] our new community development director we stole him from the state he was the former director of the
[1:06:03] He is an expert on housing and all things housing, so he with Paul Smith is a system director
[1:06:09] are going to be co-convening with John, and so we're really really excited that they'll move forward.
[1:06:15] We also have Tom Dell is the City Council President, sorry.
[1:06:21] That was a slip of the tongue.
[1:06:22] Tom Del City Council representative as well as a long-time downtown business owner.
[1:06:27] We have Shannon McDonald who's representing redevelopment. I declare as the director or president.
[1:06:34] I can't remember titles of the office of downtown development.
[1:06:39] Sharon Andrews who's sitting here or somewhere in Ravey Hand, there she is.
[1:06:43] She is representing the art community and I think she just came from Charlie and the chocolate factory this weekend, right?
[1:06:48] Yep, Dania Martinez, who is the director of the IU Miller Architect Program, Chris Raskop, who represents
[1:06:58] Cummins, who I know is sitting here and then Kelly Schwartz, who owns the fourth street bar
[1:07:04] and is a downtown property owner and business owner. So we have a wonderful steering committee who's
[1:07:09] committed to be that team that will move this process forward. Secondly, we have an economic
[1:07:17] development real estate team or remember I said this one's the hardest right and so that will be led by John Burnett and Al Ross check who I know is here raise your hand if I call your name raise just you just kind of like you know to stand right and they will be joined by
[1:07:33] Scott Shannon McDonald from redevelopment.
[1:07:36] I can't read, 80, 80 blakeslee, did we spell your name right?
[1:07:41] Right, the new president of Heritage Fund.
[1:07:44] I did clue Cindy Fry with the Chamber of Commerce, President of Chamber of Commerce,
[1:07:49] Kylie Broad, who's a downtown property owner, and then Richard McCoy from landmark Columbus.
[1:07:54] So you see we have a really diverse group on the real estate team,
[1:07:59] and we're trying to balance public, private, philanthropic, and then property owners.
[1:08:04] The next team, which is programming an activation, will be led by Misty Wise and Steiner and Chris Raskop, raise your hand again.
[1:08:14] They're here.
[1:08:15] Thank you.
[1:08:16] Thank you.
[1:08:18] Back to them.
[1:08:20] Flexible here, right?
[1:08:21] Are adaptable.
[1:08:23] So then on the public realm, that's where I'm at, right?
[1:08:30] Okay, so we have Jenna Passano, who was with Department of Public Works.
[1:08:35] We have Brooke Hawkins with the Arts Council.
[1:08:38] We have the Jim Blackstock with Joyner Architect and a recent graduate.
[1:08:43] You know you're here at Jim Raise your hand.
[1:08:45] Right, recent graduate from the IU School of IU Miller School of Architecture.
[1:08:53] Did I get that right? Kind of sort of, I'm sorry.
[1:08:55] Amber Fischvot, I know she's here, Laura Miller, who's out with Elsey, and then Angela
[1:09:03] Thor.
[1:09:03] I know Angela's here.
[1:09:05] So again, we had a great group of combination of stakeholders, experts, and designers.
[1:09:13] And then lastly, we have the programming, and that's being led by Shanda Sassie with the
[1:09:17] city.
[1:09:18] She manages city parks.
[1:09:19] She's sitting over here.
[1:09:20] We've got Sharon Andrews, again, representing the arts community, and they'll be joined
[1:09:25] by Ike DeClu, Brooke Hawkins,
[1:09:28] with the Arts Council, Misty Wise, and Steinner again.
[1:09:30] Jason Hayden from the Library, I don't know if he's here,
[1:09:34] Freddie King, I saw Freddie Sneak in,
[1:09:36] there he is back there, representing CYD,
[1:09:38] he's so excited to have you here.
[1:09:40] He's kind of representing the youth,
[1:09:42] and then we have DeepD from the BCSC Foundation,
[1:09:46] I don't know if she's here.
[1:09:47] Again, the goal was to find experts and stakeholders
[1:09:51] who are already active in this area.
[1:09:57] One last note that we will have represents from representatives from the Planning Department, Parks,
[1:10:02] TBW, and Engineering all actively engaged to provide support.
[1:10:07] And the reason why I read these names and I wanted people to raise their hands is because you need to understand
[1:10:11] this is a really important group of people and they represent a really wide swath of the community.
[1:10:17] so we're so I'm so pleased that they've stepped up to the plate to do this next page and what
[1:10:25] will the work process look like? They're going to meet monthly and we will be collaborating
[1:10:32] with Columbus City Council and Columbus Redevelopment Commission because we have representatives on the
[1:10:39] teams and there are goals again they will be meeting and prioritizing these very very detailed
[1:10:45] recommendations that Cesaki has listed. They'll be analyzing them looking at funders, looking
[1:10:51] at timelines and then bringing that back to the larger group. Their goal is to talk with stakeholders,
[1:10:58] interested parties, and funders, and the public. So if you have ideas, your goal is to find one of
[1:11:05] these people and bend their ear. They're actually beginning this next month in August. They'll have
[1:11:11] to the community in October, and the goal is to have an end-of-year report back to December.
[1:11:18] And then with that report, then we can start moving forward with a lot of other pieces.
[1:11:22] I haven't told them, I kind of told them that maybe they would be done in December,
[1:11:26] but my real plan is it'll probably be next August.
[1:11:30] I'm also showing on this slide,
[1:11:34] the Suzuki slide that showed all those recommendations.
[1:11:37] because I just want the public to understand,
[1:11:40] they've got a lot of data to go through.
[1:11:42] Sazaki and SB freedmen are providing immense detail,
[1:11:46] which will help us make good decision.
[1:11:49] So it's going to take a while to be able to plow through all of it.
[1:11:54] As I said, this plan is we'll be on the website,
[1:11:56] we'll have updates in October,
[1:11:59] and anytime we have new information that'll automatically be added.
[1:12:04] I guess the last thing I want to say is that this work
[1:12:07] is really exciting. It's going to be messy. It's going to be expensive. It's going to evolve
[1:12:15] but I hope because you're sitting there that you believe it will have impact like we do.
[1:12:21] Somebody asked me earlier today, they were interviewing me for radio program and said,
[1:12:25] so what will success look like? And my response is I've already seen success. You all are sitting here.
[1:12:31] We've had touch points of 5,000 people who've shown that they desire to have reinvestment
[1:12:40] in this downtown, and they want to have aspirational transformation of this downtown. And for
[1:12:46] me, that's progress already. And so I think success is not only that, but see how we move forward.
[1:12:53] So with that, I'm going to, I think I have one more slide. I want to just do a few thank yous,
[1:12:58] which do they have?
[1:13:00] Sasaki, SB, Friedman, and Storyboard.
[1:13:02] You guys have been amazing.
[1:13:05] We just can't reiterate how wonderful they've been
[1:13:06] to work with.
[1:13:09] They were one of 18 firms that were chosen unanimously,
[1:13:12] representing over 65 firms.
[1:13:15] So you need to know that we got the best of the best.
[1:13:19] I want to thank the Clems down to on 2030 guiding team.
[1:13:24] You volunteer a lot of time, and you plowed through a lot of data
[1:13:27] to get us to where we're at. So thank you. Bonnie Boat Wright is phenomenal. I said that
[1:13:33] can't lose her the public. Again, 5,000 touch points, which means a lot of people gave up time to
[1:13:39] meet with someone or come to a public session or even to fill out a survey. So thank you for doing that
[1:13:45] because that's a wonderful reflection on Columbus. And then a special thank you to the redevelopment
[1:13:50] commission for paying for this, right? Got to love the fact that you can you're willing to and
[1:13:56] see how important this is to the community. And then Columbus City Council, because again, you
[1:14:02] supported this, you see the need for this and you know that a lot of this will come back to you for
[1:14:07] eventual approvals. So thank you. And with that, I think we're going to turn it over for questions.
[1:14:13] Right, Bonnie? Yes. For, for City Council and the redevelopment commission,
[1:14:19] I'd love to take your questions and then after those questions are answered by our experts, we'd like to open it up to the public for questions.
[1:14:31] Thank you, Mayor Ferdon.
[1:14:33] Bonnie, are you going to take the microphone around?
[1:14:37] I'm not going to start with all of you.
[1:14:39] Okay.
[1:14:40] We'll go to the public.
[1:14:42] Okay.
[1:14:42] Sounds great.
[1:14:43] So what questions do you have for us?
[1:14:51] I don't have any questions, but Bonnie, thanks for what you did.
[1:14:54] And thanks to the team there, you know, been watching this kind of brewing slowly over the month.
[1:15:00] And from my point of view, you guys just knocked it out of the park. That was absolutely phenomenal. And having that, I think is going to be very powerful and informing, you know, our decisions moving forward here downtown. So thanks.
[1:15:19] Great work. Thank you for the presentation. Hi. And I, I just was curious about the, some of the housing numbers that you presented. So it says 750 new housing units in the downtown area.
[1:15:31] So did you incorporate the two projects that are coming as well, so that we have the development on 11th of Washington and then six in Washington.
[1:15:40] So those numbers are already are they included in the 750 number or was that in addition to those projects that have already been approved.
[1:15:48] Yes, so those projects have been incorporated into that number of 700.
[1:15:51] So it's included so 750's inclusive of those two projects.
[1:15:55] That's correct.
[1:15:55] Okay, perfect. Thank you.
[1:15:58] And then I guess I had some questions around like the, so you have a lot of programming, right?
[1:16:05] You had a lot of programming recommendations and I guess my question is around with implementation of some of those programming recommendations.
[1:16:15] Do you also, I didn't see if it was included in here because this was just a lot of information, but we have, you know, a lot of internal competing programming that we do currently,
[1:16:26] right like at Nexus and at the air park and so do you have recommendations for us on how
[1:16:30] we kind of incentivize people to come downtown or prioritize some of that programming?
[1:16:37] We do absolutely. So one of the things we heard loud and clear from folks here in Columbus through
[1:16:42] our many phases of engagement is how much they love the events that take place downtown and we saw
[1:16:47] in the numbers that SB freedom was able to collect just how many people that those events bring
[1:16:52] downtown, not only locals but folks from the entire region and from afar. And we're seeing more
[1:16:57] things bubbling up with some of the projects that are taking shape in other corners of the
[1:17:02] community to revitalize the massets downtown and to think about the reuse of some of these spaces
[1:17:06] in new ways. So we took a multi-pronged approach to thinking about programming and I'll relay some of those.
[1:17:13] So first is strengthening the opportunity to use some of the spaces that are already beloved
[1:17:19] as destinations for programming, like the library,
[1:17:23] Plaza, like Mel Race Park, making them more accessible to more people,
[1:17:28] streamlining the process for hosting those events,
[1:17:32] and actually starting to build into the calendar,
[1:17:37] some kind of default opportunities,
[1:17:39] which I can get into more detail if you'd like,
[1:17:41] but essentially creating a platform that makes it easier
[1:17:43] for more people more organizations to host events
[1:17:45] in some of these spaces.
[1:17:46] A second instance is using some of the spaces that you have downtown already that we see as underutilized have heard from folks are underutilized those are pockets of green space in some cases in some cases their grander landscapes, but they're they're just not activated right now people don't feel they have permission necessarily to use it just speaking kind of in terms of the everyday experience of people.
[1:18:08] So, we're putting recommendations for about how you can give permission to people to use those spaces with really low cost,
[1:18:14] minor things that just kind of open them up for greater access.
[1:18:19] So, activating spaces that are already active today, but could do more activating spaces that are not used today
[1:18:24] and encouraging more casual use.
[1:18:26] And then, as far as some of the grander spaces like Mill-Race Park, of course, we want more formal activation in the way of a
[1:18:38] connectivity to, and then improvements that specifically are geared towards being able
[1:18:44] to host events. We know that there's some infrastructure in there that was originally designed
[1:18:48] for hosting events and has since fallen into state of disrepair or doesn't meet modern needs.
[1:18:54] So we know you'll embark on a process to master plan and they'll raise parts specifically,
[1:18:58] but we've incorporated some recommendations that get right at those spaces.
[1:19:02] Okay. And then, selfishly, I'm curious what your recommendation timing is on the
[1:19:08] flash pad specifically.
[1:19:13] Do you have, that would be the next week? As I mentioned and Chris
[1:19:20] also just sort of mentioned, again, from SB Freedman's sort of the metrics of the
[1:19:26] market analysis, they saw some of your events, you know, whether it's pride or other
[1:19:32] it's Latinx festival that you have really drawing tremendous amounts of people in the
[1:19:36] town. And so to sort of, you know, add an additional use to that and, you know, we visited some
[1:19:44] of your competitors, cities around here, who have very impressive splash pads and children's
[1:19:49] place faces. But that was something which, again, alongside a longer-term mill-race park master plan
[1:19:58] for how to sort of think about the amphitheater and the tower and some of those faces, which needs
[1:20:03] and help. There is a sort of a shorter term investment that can be made, again, quite simply
[1:20:10] with this flash pad and sort of playground area. You have ample parking already existing today.
[1:20:16] And so I think you could do sort of a mini charat around big picture sort of ideas for the
[1:20:23] park. That's make sure we're not putting it someplace where it's going to preclude some other
[1:20:27] future use. But really think about in that area, which is close to fourth and fifth close to the
[1:20:33] community to parking so that families can get air
[1:20:35] your store where all the other things that you need to take with
[1:20:38] the kids and you can move on that very quickly. Again, as this city
[1:20:42] owned land we would recommend that you do also I think it's a pretty easy
[1:20:46] win. So I was trying to look in your eyes could zoom in on this thing.
[1:20:51] I didn't see it under economic development or public realm or
[1:20:54] programming do you wear without fall that's the group I'm gonna follow.
[1:20:59] Oh see Thank you.
[1:21:00] So you're zooming all the way just to
[1:21:01] in the 50 plus record.
[1:21:02] So I need to harass you.
[1:21:05] I don't look for too much detail here.
[1:21:08] This is very outdated at this point.
[1:21:10] But that is in our public realm and infrastructure.
[1:21:13] OK, thank you.
[1:21:15] Because I would require construction
[1:21:17] of a public realm.
[1:21:18] OK, yeah.
[1:21:20] We'll just play your answer.
[1:21:22] It's a there.
[1:21:23] Yeah, it's under that.
[1:21:24] Yeah, and there are public realm and infrastructure.
[1:21:25] And the first ones.
[1:21:26] Thank you.
[1:21:27] And then for the last question, sorry.
[1:21:29] And then I'll be done.
[1:21:30] For the conference center, I was just curious
[1:21:34] how did we come to the determination that that was still
[1:21:37] like a really high priority was this like,
[1:21:39] hotel data that we collected, citywide,
[1:21:41] or how did we come, what were the kind of the drivers
[1:21:44] for that decision?
[1:21:46] That was what we said, yeah, that's what we wanted to do.
[1:21:48] So the way we were looking at this was,
[1:21:51] there's a hundred study which is relatively recent.
[1:21:53] There was one which was done pre-pandemic
[1:21:55] and then there was a more recent donation.
[1:21:56] And that does show strong ADR and relatively high occupancy.
[1:22:03] Much of the feedback that we've also received
[1:22:05] from institutions, corporations, and stuff have also
[1:22:09] suggested that that's one of the top priority uses.
[1:22:13] And then the final component, I would
[1:22:15] say, is that residential brings a particular kind of demand
[1:22:19] or vibrancy look at downtown.
[1:22:22] And they're there living for shopping,
[1:22:25] daily niche shopping, you know, they'll probably go out of the downtown, you know, in the near
[1:22:30] town. But when you have a hotel visitor, it's a very different niche of like, of spending that
[1:22:37] you get, and it's very captureable in that local area. So, you know, so if you had 150 hotel plus meetings
[1:22:44] and events, it brings a slew of people with it that does spending. So, ultimately, I think the
[1:22:51] redevelopment commission has to look at the cost benefit of that because there's a high upfront
[1:22:55] cost, which would be public subsidy, but there is a long-term benefit in terms of just spending
[1:23:00] and vibrancy and activity that it would generate.
[1:23:09] The only comment I'd like to make is that I really appreciate what the mayor and you all have
[1:23:15] done as far as the structure is concerned, because we have a very organic growth out of what's
[1:23:20] going to be the priorities for each one of these teams that is going to basically set some more
[1:23:25] direction for us to act on, and I think that shows the community's commitment to be involved
[1:23:32] in those, but for us not to set those but us to look and see what comes up from the ground
[1:23:38] up, and I think your guidance is going to give them a lot of a lot of road maps in order
[1:23:44] to get there.
[1:23:45] So it's going to be exciting to see what comes out of each one of those groups.
[1:23:48] Thank you.
[1:23:49] It looks
[1:23:53] like I don't think it's lines off.
[1:23:57] So a real quick question on all this first, you guys have done a great job putting
[1:24:02] all this together and with the work that you put into it.
[1:24:05] I have an assumption that you might have an estimate for cost.
[1:24:12] So if we did, you've suggested the
[1:24:21] N10 million.
[1:24:23] I know you're not,
[1:24:27] but a lot in some of us like myself being on a school corporation board.
[1:24:35] We're going to have a lot of questions coming up in taxes and how,
[1:24:43] and so I just, I'm curious is to have, have you run any preliminary numbers that might show investment and return on and ask me to pay back.
[1:24:56] I don't know, I'm happy to answer that, but I had to run it, but I guess that part of it is like the pure number crunching on it was beyond the scope of a planning effort.
[1:25:07] I will say this, that the way to think about cost, like the first level that we think of it is that if it's a private redevelopment, for example, the first dollar is a private dollar.
[1:25:21] It's not a city dollar that goes out first.
[1:25:24] It is private investment that we're trying to get when it is a private site, we development.
[1:25:31] We will look at, you know, we're hoping that there's philanthropic opportunities, like even on public improvements and public parks.
[1:25:38] There are significant shares of philanthropic and dollars that often come in and in a community like yours.
[1:25:45] We would expect that to be a part of the capital stack.
[1:25:49] In certain instances, you can also go for state and federal grants.
[1:25:53] So you want to go for state and federal.
[1:25:55] And then you know, there are local resources like tick, which are in play.
[1:25:59] But in terms of the order of priority, you want to look at private investment
[1:26:03] and then when it's necessary, you use public investment.
[1:26:07] Obviously, some of the pure public projects, there's going to be like public dollars to it.
[1:26:12] And like public investment.
[1:26:14] But you want to leverage that with additional private investments.
[1:26:18] So like our first moves that a lot of it
[1:26:21] is recommended as private investment,
[1:26:24] which generates tax dollars in public investment.
[1:26:27] So we've not done a return on investment
[1:26:30] in every one of those, like that's sort of beyond the scope
[1:26:33] of where we are right now.
[1:26:35] But in general, we've just done it on experience
[1:26:37] that these kinds of projects generate activity,
[1:26:40] generate tax dollars and they'll be identified
[1:26:43] find the kinds of uses that make sense.
[1:26:47] But it's an excellent question, not one,
[1:26:52] that in any way, shape or form, we're trying to avoid.
[1:26:55] I think it's several months premature.
[1:26:58] In another couple of months, that's a incredibly valid
[1:27:01] and important question to begin asking
[1:27:04] as the mayor and her teams begin to think about
[1:27:08] those sort of real estate piece, the public programming,
[1:27:12] the public realm, sort of component.
[1:27:13] and they begin to prioritize those projects that I think the question is absolutely necessary
[1:27:20] and you begin to think more collectively, you know, now that I see what the priorities are
[1:27:26] and some of the potential costs as well as return assessment, and let's start to think about
[1:27:33] where we can most probably spend that money. I think it's absolutely a great question to be asking
[1:27:38] I think it's a little bit early, specifically within what we were asked to do on this.
[1:27:44] No way trying to avoid it.
[1:27:46] Great.
[1:27:47] Hi.
[1:27:48] Hi.
[1:27:48] I had our team.
[1:27:49] I had a question.
[1:27:50] Thank you, sister.
[1:27:51] For presenting.
[1:27:54] We obviously know housing is very important.
[1:27:57] And you referenced which we greatly appreciate the housing study as far as implementation.
[1:28:03] Some of the high level.
[1:28:04] And I know this is high-level mentioned multi-family housing
[1:28:08] and a variety of areas.
[1:28:09] Will the further break down for recommendations
[1:28:13] include various types of housing structures of housing?
[1:28:17] I know there's a large need for multi-income housing,
[1:28:22] artists, just people who we can just work at our services
[1:28:26] establishments for the ability to live,
[1:28:28] live where they work and live downtown.
[1:28:30] And so I guess I'm short.
[1:28:32] Well, that broader idea of types of housing directed at a really diverse income level be addressed in the further plan.
[1:28:44] Absolutely. So we have as one of our objectives that this is a downtown for all of Columbus and that should be.
[1:28:53] That should manifest in each of the recommendations particularly as we think about growth and new development opportunities.
[1:28:58] What we are doing for each of the sites that we're recommending housing is looking at a variety of different models.
[1:29:05] So in fact, we showed one select example of different housing that could take shape for each of these sites in the presentation today.
[1:29:12] But so the final report that we deliver will look at one, two, and in some cases, three different models of housing for each of the sites.
[1:29:20] So that that takes on a kind of formal character.
[1:29:23] is this townhouses, is it multifamily, is it some kind of hybrid, that's a kind of typology
[1:29:27] discussion offering more product types to more people who are looking for different living
[1:29:31] situations. The kind of next layer of that is the the model housing as far as affordability
[1:29:38] as far as the specific communities served. We will provide recommendations to encourage diversity.
[1:29:43] We will not go as far as to put together a form of any of these particular products to show
[1:29:49] how that could work, but we will certainly encourage diverse housing across the different dimensions that you mentioned.
[1:29:59] Are there any other questions?
[1:30:02] All just give some feedback, Mr. Major, maybe think about BCSE's vision statement to be the choice to live work and play.
[1:30:13] And as I was hearing, your presentation and maybe think about helping our downtown be that choice to live work and play.
[1:30:23] saw that balance of trying to maintain extent and preserve our architectural legacy as well as
[1:30:33] you know, at a pooling that into the future. I was some pretty fun ideas as well as some very
[1:30:40] practical things. I wanted to give that feedback that I felt like you really listened to the people
[1:30:49] Columbus. I know that it's hard to come into a community and to both download a long history as
[1:30:58] well as the pulse of things and with the downtown being, you know, the heartbeat of our community
[1:31:05] felt like you really nailed that and I'm excited to hear the short-term long-term and everywhere
[1:31:12] between. So, thank you, Bonnie, as well. I really appreciate you being so key in this. So that's my feedback.
[1:31:23] Any other? Any other questions?
[1:31:28] comments? Yeah. Well, then if there are no further questions, Bonnie,
[1:31:35] putting it up for the questions from the public, Bonnie will bring the mic to you and then
[1:31:41] Sasaki and their team will address them comprehensively at the end of the questions.
[1:31:47] So note that your question will be noted and they will comprehensively answer them at the end.
[1:31:54] In the interest of time, we thought we would open it for 15 minutes of your questions.
[1:32:00] So I can come to you ask the question, these guys are going to write really fast and then at the end of the 15 minutes they'll respond.
[1:32:08] Does anyone have questions?
[1:32:14] Someone's gotta be the first.
[1:32:16] There we go.
[1:32:21] Hey, great work.
[1:32:22] Excited to see all of this.
[1:32:24] I'm very much excited about when you talk about
[1:32:26] walkability.
[1:32:29] Visit a lot of places and it seems like
[1:32:30] more walkable it is.
[1:32:31] The more people are there.
[1:32:33] What's fortunate is somewhere to visit
[1:32:35] back on a island.
[1:32:36] And everybody I tell that they're like,
[1:32:38] oh, there's no cars there.
[1:32:39] There's no cars there.
[1:32:40] You have to walk.
[1:32:41] You have to bike.
[1:32:41] You're so exciting.
[1:32:42] I think, you know, we could do that in all our other communities to be, that'd be kind of cool.
[1:32:47] I just wanted to know, like, we'll kind of get data or anything we can provide, because I know,
[1:32:51] once we do, if you were to say, start to take streets away in our change streets, car people,
[1:32:57] don't like that very much, so provide on information about if there's anything real data
[1:33:03] about providing more capability, making that kind of a more of a priority.
[1:33:08] I'd love to hear it. Thanks.
[1:33:11] Thank you, Todd.
[1:33:13] Now there were some other people that had questions.
[1:33:20] Yes, one of the recommendations of the housing study or finding was that there's
[1:33:27] will be growing interest in housing for retirees.
[1:33:31] I think that was a major finding both young retirees and well settled retirees.
[1:33:39] And I'm familiar with one of the peer communities Holland, Michigan that's been successful in downtown housing and senior services.
[1:33:50] So was that a specific focus of your study looking at retirees as a population needing more diversity as far as housing?
[1:34:10] Thank you.
[1:34:11] other questions.
[1:34:31] I just have a question about younger people in the community and I know
[1:34:36] in my experience I have a lot of younger that since their work is no longer in person they
[1:34:43] have moved away to for bigger cities and I was wondering if that was the factor in your plan.
[1:34:49] I didn't know you did mention something about or Mary for our mayor. Mary mentioned about
[1:34:56] cities that have done better about bringing people back into work. Is that a part of your plan and do you think that'll help younger people stay in town?
[1:35:06] Right. Question.
[1:35:16] Other questions?
[1:35:21] Okay. I'll let you take it from here.
[1:35:24] Do you want to use the book?
[1:35:26] Well, I feel awkward.
[1:35:31] I'm happy.
[1:35:33] Thank you.
[1:35:33] Excellent questions.
[1:35:35] Well, I've certainly
[1:35:37] fielded much more contentious questions from other communities.
[1:35:42] is there all terrific?
[1:35:43] So we'll start with,
[1:35:45] I'll talk about the very first one, which is
[1:35:46] walkability.
[1:35:47] So that's a great point.
[1:35:49] And for all of us who travel near and far,
[1:35:53] we do see this sort of relationship between
[1:35:56] the higher level of, you know, walkability in a place, specifically as we think about the spectrum from everyday users to tourists as a matter of fact. And oftentimes that walkability correlates with, you know, spending, but also increased safety, as well as sort of this broader issues sort of accessibility as we begin to think about, you know, there's other two questions.
[1:36:24] the very young to the older and making sure that everyone feels welcome and safe.
[1:36:32] And so one of those great little lessons is that what you do for the least among us,
[1:36:38] let's say handicap ramps actually helps this broad spectrum, specifically around
[1:36:43] walkability from a stroller to someone using a walker.
[1:36:49] So it's really interesting to think about that walkability.
[1:36:51] So in terms of the actual metrics, I think the society team, particularly, we work a lot in cities.
[1:36:59] I mean, look at sort of the understanding of walkability in cities. I don't think we have hard numbers.
[1:37:05] But, however, there is a way to sort of think about those places where we can bring people together, keep them concentrated, keep them relatively close together in terms of how far folks are willing to walk.
[1:37:21] And I think one of the recommendations that we made was really to sort of emphasize the journey from interoculous to mill race is actually only about three blocks and there's a sort of metric and urban design which is about 1200 feet is as long as you want to sort of extend and activated street.
[1:37:41] So you think about where on Washington folks feel most comfortable, and then you think about sort of that distance between
[1:37:48] interoculous and the park. And that's just about right. And so that's a little bit of a metric around
[1:37:53] walkability and activation that we think is relevant. One of the other points that sticks in my mind is we did sort of review
[1:38:01] the availability of parking downtown because we heard often that there wasn't enough parking. And we sort of went back to your
[1:38:10] parking study, which is a number of years old, and also, you know, recounted and looked at that.
[1:38:15] And there's over, there's close to 7,000 spaces downtown, parking spaces, both private and public.
[1:38:22] Some of them are muted, some of them are in garages, but there's a whole variety.
[1:38:26] So you really have to think about the prioritization about the walkability and parking, ease of access, help people move about.
[1:38:34] And actually those two things don't need to be exclusive, but you can park and walk a few blocks.
[1:38:41] I think that's really the key to sort of making it a more comfortable downtown, more broadly,
[1:38:46] that achieves both goals of walkability and then ease of access for folks coming from near and far.
[1:38:52] So that's a little bit about walkability, but it's a great point in something that we actually heard from some of the members of the steering committee
[1:38:59] When they started talking about pedestrian bridges up and over things and we said no, it's just simpler that I'm walk on the sidewalks that I'm experienced the stores and let them move quite simply it's easier for a greater ray array in spectrum of folks.
[1:39:13] Great question. Let's number one second question.
[1:39:21] So we took a really close look I'll stand up as well.
[1:39:25] We took a really close look at the housing study that was conducted very recently and in fact when we were here back in October that was the presentation of it
[1:39:31] So we started this project with a great kind of insight into what the housing needs were
[1:39:35] This trend of people moving to downtown is cross cutting across all the different kind of populations young people
[1:39:45] senior's are all looking for a more urban lifestyle, not all of them, but each of those
[1:39:51] demographics is picking up urban housing more and more. So we definitely did look at the
[1:39:56] opportunity for senior housing as part of the growth that we're projecting and recommending
[1:40:01] to take shape downtown. It's a definite demographic that you benefit a huge amount to capture
[1:40:09] in the downtown. So we are not making recommendations specifically about where senior or
[1:40:14] our housing or anything like that can go, but it's all part of the mix and it is definitely considered
[1:40:18] as part of the process. Do you think that's what that has to be Friedman folks?
[1:40:24] No, I think we can do anything I would add to that. General trends. So when we look at housing,
[1:40:32] this is the aging of the baby boomers. So there's a general demographic shift towards the
[1:40:37] older retirees and like they have you know they have money they have they can spend. So we do want
[1:40:43] that opportunity downtown but the way we've also looked at it is as Chris said you want the full diversity,
[1:40:50] you want the young person downtown, you want the you know more elderly person downtown and it has to get
[1:40:56] downtown which works for all. So that that is generally the thrust of what we focused on. So it's a
[1:41:05] developers want to do will come downtown and I'm hoping that there's a way for the city to encourage
[1:41:13] like access to all kinds of housing for all people. So I think that was one. The only thing I wanted
[1:41:18] to respond with the younger people point and you can take it from there is I think what keeps
[1:41:25] young people. Obviously there's access to opportunity. So if you have a job elsewhere, you know,
[1:41:30] to that. But the other piece of it also is that young people are looking for a really exciting
[1:41:37] place and with a lot of activities and things to do. And that's kind of where the thrust of
[1:41:43] our plan is. It's really looking at finding opportunities which you already have the right bones for
[1:41:51] it. You have parks, you have plaza. Some of them just need to be activated a little bit more
[1:41:56] little bit more retail and restaurants and we're trying to come up with the program of other
[1:42:01] uses like residential hotel with sort of creates that activity with then generates the retail
[1:42:08] and the restaurants and more and sort of become self reinforcing. So we are trying to make a
[1:42:14] doubt on which is school for everyone and then that attracts the young people and and the
[1:42:19] older people as well.
[1:42:23] So I'll just add one more point to that because the question
[1:42:26] that question we received by younger people
[1:42:29] asks specifically about working in person.
[1:42:32] Well, that'll keep them here or bring more people here.
[1:42:35] The reality is we don't know what the future of office
[1:42:37] looks like in cities.
[1:42:39] We just don't depend on them because change things.
[1:42:41] We're seeing it in numbers here in Columbus.
[1:42:43] We're seeing it in the numbers everywhere we work.
[1:42:45] So there's a little bit of a way to see mentality
[1:42:47] with that to see if office becomes a predominant use
[1:42:50] in downtown if there's growth opportunity there.
[1:42:53] But there are a few glimmers of light that we're seeing.
[1:42:55] to run the, I think I mentioned this or I'm sorry, Michael, in the presentation, we're seeing
[1:43:00] opportunity in co-working. We're seeing opportunities to get people who do work remotely
[1:43:05] out of their homes into coffee shops, doing some work in that environment. There are opportunities
[1:43:10] around the edges of some of this and a lot of the investments that we're proposing as part of this
[1:43:14] plan are directly aimed at capitalizing upon that. So we didn't get into it a lot today, but we're
[1:43:19] actually recommending the introduction of a co-working space downtown that requires an independent
[1:43:23] an operator to come in and find the value and make that happen. Of course, and there's lots
[1:43:27] of recommendations we can provide about how you all as a community can support that. But that's
[1:43:31] a new model of work that you can bring more people downtown. They're working downtown, but in a
[1:43:36] very different model than what you've seen before. They're spending downtown. You know, if they're
[1:43:39] going to work in and look at the day, they're spending money on coffees and beverages and things
[1:43:44] like that. So we want to see that and we want to capitalize on those opportunities. But as far as office,
[1:43:49] you know but we don't know.
[1:43:56] Other questions before we turn it back over, I just wanted to clarify
[1:44:00] there's 53 hundred parking spaces downtown, not 7,000 for those taking notes. I just wanted
[1:44:07] to clarify. I got that from your slide. So yeah, so it's 53 hundred. So don't go out and count.
[1:44:15] Other questions?
[1:44:20] Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. As we approach the closing of our meeting,
[1:44:25] I'd like to thank Bonnie once again for her efforts and managing such a pivotal project shaping
[1:44:31] the future of our community.
[1:44:33] I would also like to express additional gratitude, just socky, SB freedmen, and storyboard
[1:44:39] for their incredible work and attention to detail.
[1:44:42] These recommendations have been informed through many community workshop, two community workshops
[1:44:48] with hundreds of attendance, two public surveys, with thousands of responses, event engagement,
[1:44:53] accountless stakeholder and guiding team sessions of market study analysis and an immense intense.
[1:45:01] We are incredibly excited and energized to hear these strategies for downtown success and we're excited for the implementation to come. I also want to say a pre thank you to the implementation steering committee and action teams. I know you guys have your work cut out for you. So thank you and advance.
[1:45:21] Lastly, in review is the review and approval of our claims, this is our last, this is our action item as the redevelopment commission.
[1:45:29] I believe there have been a few updates to our claims table.
[1:45:33] Heather, would you please explain what that is?
[1:45:37] Yes, thank you.
[1:45:40] Commissioners, the claims table that went out has had two additions to it.
[1:45:45] I don't know if you've had an opportunity to swing by the office this morning.
[1:45:49] We've added the sharp Nick Bigley Stroke and Washburn invoice and a JS held invoice.
[1:45:58] Those two added together brings our total expenditure for the month of $2 million, $937,972.
[1:46:08] dollars and 39 cents. Originally it was 2,931,712, 10. So it's it's a little bit more
[1:46:18] but I just wanted to let you know we opted to go ahead and pay those those some places
[1:46:22] came in today and we wanted to just, hey, do I do go with you and get it done?
[1:46:33] Thank you Heather. What I would like to do ask if there are are there any questions regarding
[1:46:38] our claims. Yeah. Well, then I would take an emotion for approval of our claims. I'll make that
[1:46:46] motion. Second. Okay, the motion was made by Cindy and seconded by Shannon. All those in
[1:46:52] favor say aye. It's fast. If there is no further action, I would entertain a motion to adjourn
[1:47:01] the meeting.
[1:47:06] Is there a second? Okay, we have a motion by Jim and a second by Scott. All those
[1:47:13] in favor say aye. And now we turn it over to council. Yes, thank you. Yes, thank you. Again to our
[1:47:21] presenters and to the mayor and everyone who attended and listen, I think as they mentioned,
[1:47:27] there will be additional follow up information as they wrap up this project in this presentation on the
[1:47:33] that he's website. I believe the downtown 2030 website itself will still be live for a bit,
[1:47:43] but eventually all the information will be somewhere on the city's website.
[1:47:47] Like, the under redevelopment for house under relevant projects that it's addressing, but
[1:47:53] thank you all. So we have no other agenda items as a city council. And so we are just looking
[1:48:00] for a motion to adjourn. We have to adjourn.
[1:48:05] Second.
[1:48:07] All is in favor?
[1:48:08] Sam?
[1:48:10] Hi.
[1:48:11] I'm Sam.
[1:48:13] The meeting is adjourned.