UniversityAreaCommission.Info

In efforts to develop and solidify the University District’s identity, UAC is currently trying to finalize a name for one of its densely populated neighborhoods.  Roughly from Woodruff to 11th Avenue and east of High to North 4th Avenue is an area that is mainly occupied by Ohio State University students.  With its reputation of housing many undergraduates as well as serving as a center for fraternity and sorority life, it may seem that a brand and identity has already been cultivated.  Surprisingly however, this neighborhood remains official unnamed.  During the Neighborhood Identity Forum held in January by the Planning Committee, some names surfaced as possibilities.  However, the commission was unable to come to an agreement.  The Community Relations Committee decided that in order to choose an appropriate name, the residents of the area must be a part of the process.  This is where you are needed! Do you live east of High Street, between Woodruff and 11th Avenue? If so, you have a unique opportunity to name your neighborhood!  Simply comment on this post and include: your suggested neighborhood name, your name, cross street of where you live, organization or school, and e-mail address.  So join the conversation!  Submit a name now!  Your name could become the official name of your neighborhood!

A) Find the Property Owner’s contact information.

- Search the Treasurer’s Office Property Search
If the Owner is a Business (eg ADDRESS LLC) you will need search the Secretary of State’s Business Listings for the Business Owner (possible Property Owner) or Statutory Agent (possilby their Attorney).  This can be found on the Doc Id. link.

- Search the for the Property Owner’s Phone Number

B) Call the Property Owner and politely ask them to contact their Tenant to clean up the yard.

Keep in mind that they most likely have no idea how their Tenant is living.  So keep the conversation on the Tenant’s behavior.

Ask the Property Owner to contact their tenant to clean the yard and not “commit waste” in the future.

If all goes well, they will thank you for keeping them informed.

Remember to stay calm and remember that the Property Owner may not act positively to your suggestions, that is okay you have another step.

*TIP: It is always good to take a photo and let the Property Owner that you can email it to them to see.  This will also give you another way to communicate with them.

**TIP: If the trash is aluminum cans, please let the Property Owner know that the Tenant might use “recycling” as an excuse, or that they are “helping the homeless”.  Suggest to the Property Owner that the Tenant bag the cans and place them next to their dumpster.  Someone will likely pick them up. The Tenant can even reuse grocery bags, which costs them nothing.

C) Submit a City of Columbus Online Service Request and report the litter.  A Code Enforcement Officer will follow-up with the Tenant and ask them to clean up the trash.

This can be done as a guest if you do not want to leave personal contact information. You only need the address of the property.  This can be a slow process, so I suggest this be done in combination with A & B.  You can even do this first if you don’t want to do A or B, however you will have more success if you have a positive dialog with the Property Owner.

If A, B, and C do not work, contact your University Area Commissioner and ask for a follow up with the Property Owner and City Code Enforcement. Remember to leave the Property Address, Your Name and Phone Number and or Email.  This will help us to determine your District Representative.

2 April 2008, 8:00 - 9:00pm
University Baptist Church, 50 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201
Present: Ahmed Ebady, Lissa Warncke, Grayson Atha, Joaquin Serantes, Sean Cunningham, Ian MacConnell, Sharon Young, Rick Allen

1. Livable University Neighborhoods
Chairman Allen provided the group with information provided by Karen Bruns at Ohio State University regarding similar programs.

The topic was not pursued further due to the excused absences of Emily Foster and Doreen Uhas-Sauer and their leadership roles in the project.

2. Veterans’ Project
President MacConnell presented an idea for a project to encourage veterans to purchase homes within the University District.

5 March 2008, 8:00 - 9:00pm
University Baptist Church, 50 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201
Present: Emily Foster, Grayson Atha, Catherine Girves, Doreen Uhas-Sauer, Sharon Young, Lissa Warncke, Ian MacConnell, Ahmed Ebady, Seth Golding, Rick Allen
Guests: Karen Bruns, John Howland, Michael Bradshaw

1. Livable University Neighborhoods
Karen Bruns from Ohio State University reported on several similar events as the one proposed in this committee, as well as pledging her support and aid in any such future endeavor. It was
agreed upon to further investigate this idea.

2. Good Neighbor Agreement with Sloopy’s
A Good Neighbor Agreement was signed by Sloopy’s owners John Howland and Michael Bradshaw after they explained their goals with the business.

Community Relations Committee
Wednesday, February 5, 2008, 8:00 - 9:00 pm
University Baptist Church, 50 W. Lane Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43201
Present: Sharon Young, Doreen Uhas Sauer, Grayson Atha, Rick Allen
1. Livable University Neighborhoods
Chairman Allen reported on his contact with Karen Bruns at Ohio State University and her shared desire to work with the University Area Commission on a tentative livable university neighborhoods project. Bruns will be attending the March Community Relations Committee meeting.

2. Media Letter
Details of the media letter were explored, including the possibility of using a color map. Also, the city code defining area commissions was agreed upon adding to the letter.

3. Open Forum
Those in attendance explored the idea of an ongoing press release function, which is likely to be further explored at future meetings.

The question was brought up as to why the city did not plan on having any of the Dream It Do It Neighborhood Meetings within the central city area. The question was answered soon after.