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Thursday, April 11, 2019
COMMUNITY MEETING

At the April 11, 2019 meeting, participants completed a mapping exercise designed to elicit their thoughts on particular neighborhood boundaries. Most responses indicated that residents acknowledge the existing boundaries of neighborhoods like Highland West, Westgate, and Wiltshire Heights. These appear to be the most identifiable and well-known “neighborhoods” in the Hilltop focus area. Some people indicated the influence of large arterial roads in defining sections of the focus area—such as the north of Broad St. section being known as “North Hilltop.”

The exercise demonstrated that the study area could benefit from having smaller, more identifiable districts within the area known as the Hilltop. The Greater Hilltop Area Commission encompasses such a large area that it is hard to communicate the unique aspects of neighborhoods like Highland West within such a massive region. Overall, responses to the mapping exercise show that participants each view their slice of the Hilltop differently.

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INDIVIDUAL MAPPING ACTIVITY

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HISTORIC SUBDIVISION MAP

This map is intended to be inspirational. It does not exactly represent these subdivision lines and some very small subdivisions were left out. The original map was provided by the Highland West Civic Association.

GROUP DISCUSSION RESULTS

VACANCY TAX

  • After 6 months vacant commercial building, begin taxing at a higher rate.

MEDIA

  • Stop inaccurately reporting story locations as Hilltop, spreading misperceptions

HOUSING

  • Improve direct outreach for housing programs/services

  • Proactive and targeted code enforcement

PUBLIC ART

  • Hilltop placemaking

  • Colorful displays, banners

  • Unifying visual themes

  • “Turn blight into beauty”

CLEAN-UP

  • Trash/litter

  • Create hyperfocused curb appeal efforts

  • Publicly fund trash teams

  • Empower neighbors to clean up

  • Spray/control weeds along curbs/sidewalks

RETAIL

  • Market available retail space through community events, inviting people to come see storefronts, etc.

PARKS & RECREATION

  • Tree-clearing/restoration along hillside at Glenwood Park

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  • Community quarterback

  • Paid staff

  • Economic development

  • Connect people to resources, to each other

  • Implement plans, strategies, execute projects and policies

Questions? Contact:

Nick Plouck - Neighborhood Program Specialist

(614) 724-2040 or email NEplouck@columbus.gov

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