97-05-02 Trustees: Campus Partners Begin Redevelopment

CAMPUS PARTNERS PLAN STARTS REDEVELOPMENT BALL ROLLING

     COLUMBUS -- Campus Partners for Community Urban
Redevelopment got a thumbs up for its neighborhood revitalization
plan on Friday (5/2) and a pool of money to begin its work.

     The Ohio State University Board of Trustees voted to accept
the “University Neighborhoods Revitalization Plan,” prepared by
Campus Partners as a set of guiding principles for the
revitalization strategies and programs for the improvement of the
neighborhoods around the university.

     With the plan approved, trustees took a next important
toward improving the area at 11th Avenue and High Street, and
authorized Campus Partners to purchase the Columbus Bakery Co.
building on 2.3 acres at 1550-1552 N. High St.

     The $1.39 million purchase of the bakery is the first of up
to $15 million the trustees authorized spending to purchase
property in the vicinity of 11th and High -- an area where the
Campus Partners plan recommends major revitalization efforts.  If
city leaders agree with the revitalization plan, some properties
could be acquired by eminent domain.  That step, however, would
not come until Campus Partners conducts a detailed urban design
study of the area and the university executes a financial
agreement with the city.

     “We’ll try to purchase those properties that become
available for sale in the short term before any type of
aggressive acquisition in that area,” said Terry D. Foegler,
president of Campus Partners.  “The bakery purchase was made in
part because of the opportunity.  The business has closed, the
site is on the market, the building is no longer suited for use
as a bakery, and it doesn’t easily lend itself to a ready
conversion for mixed-use development.  The building is vacant and
we were able to purchase it at fair market value.”

     Foegler likened the bakery acquisition to the purchase of
the site of the former Papa Joe’s Bar and Pizza. The bar and some
of its neighbors at 1573-1581 N. High St. burned down last year,
and Campus Partners bought the land for $425,000 in February.

     “Even though we don’t have any firm immediate plans for the
land, that 11th and High area has been identified in the plan as
being in serious need of revitalization,” Foegler said.

     Ohio State established Campus Partners two years ago to
develop a comprehensive revitalization plan for the neighborhoods
around the university and to work with the city, neighborhoods
and the university itself to implement the improvements.

     Among the 250 recommendations in the plan dealing with
housing, safety, traffic and parking, urban planning and human
services, the plan offers numerous proposals to improve the
retail climate of High Street, including redevelopment of the
south campus bar district around 11th and High.  The plan calls
for a mix of stores, restaurants, offices and apartments in the
area.

     “That neighborhood is the first thing some visitors to Ohio
State see,” Foegler said. “It’s a gateway to the university, and
we believe it will better meet the needs of students and
neighborhood residents.”

     Trustees also received a proposal to set aside $500,000 as
seed money to attract more homeownership in the university
district.  The incentive money would be used to help faculty and
staff purchase homes in the area.

                               #

Contact: Terry D. Foegler, Campus Partners president,
614-294-7300
Written by David Bhaerman, University Communications,
614-292-8422


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Fri, 2 May 1997 16:43:12 -0400 (EDT)]
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