The Unclear Path

With an arriving winter storm coming on the heels of one just a week ago I’m finding it difficult to navigate large stretches of the city’s sidewalks because many residents and businesses have failed to clear their sidewalks.

This is of particular concern because I use public transit to get to and from work almost exclusively.  While I never mind a brisk winter walk, such walks become dangerous when snow-packed sidewalks turn to ice.  Even a light dusting of snow or blowing snow over ice covered sidewalks creates potential danger.  Walking in the street, although much easier, should not be advised.

This year I decided to look into why certain sidewalks remain snow packed and icy winter after winter.

My commute to work on public transit takes me to the Easton area where sidewalk clearing is apparently not addressed whatsoever.  Morse Crossing, Easton Way and Stelzer Road are the streets along which COTA’s service operates.  The majority of pedestrian traffic is along Morse Crossing to and from COTA routes 16 and 95.   (The New Albany Express #40 travels along Stelzer where the land is currently undeveloped).

I contacted Easton management to get some information since the strip malls, hotels and restaurant along Morse Crossing are demarcated by the brick pylons with the Easton “E” carved into them.

Easton management stated that each business along Morse Crossing is responsible for clearing the sidewalks adjacent to their property as stated in the City Code.  I stopped by a couple merchants to see what they knew about this.

At Pier One, which sits on the large corner lot at Morse Crossing and Gramercy Street, I was given contact information to the corporate offices in Ft. Worth.  When I called and explained the situation I was first asked if there had been an injury.  I said that there hadn’t been, but as a transit/pedestrian commuter, I was concerned about the conditions.  I was then asked to describe the sidewalks.

“They are the concrete walkways that parallel the two streets.”  The woman at corporate said she’d look into the situation but did not offer to follow up.

I also contacted the Marriott Hotels as one of their properties sits on a large corner lot at Morse Crossing and Easton Way.  Within a few hours I was contacted by the hotel manager.  The manager responded to my inquiry with these words:

“I appreciate your suggestion but would be remised if I did not note that our parking lot is not an access route to the bus stop behind the hotel.  The sidewalks on the exterior of our landscaping are city sidewalks and should be used for getting to the bus stop.  The walks on our property only lead to the building and to the back parking lot.  The only way to get to the bus stop through our lot is by trampling through our landscaping which is not acceptable.”

He seemed to miss the point all together – that being that pedestrians might be walking through this parking lot precisely because the sidewalks surrounding this Marriott are not shoveled, nor have they for the three winters that I’ve been commuting by public transit.

Today I stopped by Chase Bank, also on the corner of Morse Crossing and Gramercy Street.  I introduced myself to the branch manager and asked if he was making plans to have the sidewalks cleared around his facility.  I explained that as a commuter I was concerned with navigating the now ice-packed sidewalks and that with the increase in bus service and ridership, I was concerned for my fellow pedestrians.

The Chase branch manager told me that he was of the belief that their lease lines did not include the public sidewalks.  “The sidewalks,” he said, “belong to the City.”
“Yes,” I replied.  “Just like the sidewalks in front of my house, for which I have the same responsibility.”  He was gracious and understanding and said he’d contact Easton management to learn more.

It’s not just the sub-urban locations where sidewalks go un-shoveled, but it is the most prevalent location to find an unfriendly pedestrian environment   Along portions of High Street downtown one can find business which fail to properly clear their sidewalks, and this is Columbus’ central business district.

While Columbus City Code states that it is a requirement for property owners to clear the adjacent sidewalks of snow, I am not aware of how or if the City enforces this code.  Is $100 the only penalty for non-compliance?  How is that $100 collected?

If you know the answer, please let us know.

In the mean time, however, I enlisted the help of a local graphic designer to make a little something that we can all use in our neighborhoods and along our streets.  Available in both English and Spanish, this printable door hanger offers neighbors a gentle reminder that it is their responsibility to clear snow from their sidewalks.

Simply click, print, fold or cut, then cut along the noted lines so that it’ll fit over a doorknob and voila’! (It’s a full-sized .pdf of the image to the right).

As with most Columbus challenges, things here work best when we work with each other – and perhaps this door hanger will be a way to get the conversation started where you live and along the streets where you walk.

For Sale – mostly at little or no profit

Within the past week I’ve had five showings for the house.  Still a mixed bag of buyer preferences and feedback and the competition in the neighborhood is still strong, though there are not nearly as many houses on the market now as there were in the fall of 2009.

I decided to take a look at the competition from a different perspective.  This time I compared the asking price of similar homes to their most recent purchase price.  The Franklin County Auditor’s web site was used to gather this information.

Of the twelve (12) similarly sized/styled houses for sale within an eight block radius, only four (4) homes have the potential for a reasonable profit.

Three (3) are on the market for less than what the buyers paid for them.

And the other five (5) will break even,  given a margin of between $6k and $23k.  While not a scientific fact, I think it’s safe to consider this a ‘break even range’ based upon mortgage interest, moderate upgrades, and general market conditions.

The three (3) that are selling for less than their purchase price were sold last in 2005 – just as the the housing bubble was reaching it’s peak.

Of the four (4) that are poised to make a profit, all but one were purchased prior to or during 2000.  The other was purchased in 2005 at below market rates and completely renovated.  The average profit on these four homes (based upon current asking price) equates to $63k.

Of the five (5) poised to break even, four were purchased in 2006 as the bubble reached it’s apex and have been renovated with new kitchens and baths, thus making their ‘break even point’ marginal, at best.  The one remaining break even house was purchased in 2003 and has had some upgrades to the kitchen and bath.

Again, nothing scientific about these scenarios, but interesting none the less.

Columbus Hope for Haiti

Support “Columbus Hope for Haiti” City and Local Media Join Forces to Raise Funds for American Red Cross

01.20.2010 –Join Mayor Michael B. Coleman, the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus and Central Ohio media outlets for a special one-day 
fundraiser to benefit Haiti relief efforts in the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake and today’s strong aftershock.

“Columbus Hope for Haiti” is this Thursday, January 21, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
at the Ohio Historical Society parking lot located just off of I-71, at Exit 111.

“When tragedy strikes, Columbus unites in prayer and support for people in 
trouble, and there is no doubt that the situation in Haiti demands our attention,” 
said Mayor Coleman. “We are urging everyone to take a few moments
 to stop by and give what they can to help hurry aid to Haiti through our partners
 at the American Red Cross – it could not be easier than stopping this week at 
Columbus Hope for Haiti at the Historical Society.”

How The Online Community Can Help

• Blog about the event on Wednesday and/or Thursday, sharing how people can donate
• Fan the Facebook page and ask your friends to join as well
• Tweet using the #Cbus4Haiti hashtag
• Share the content with your other social networks
• Email your Columbus friends and family, asking them to support the event

To Donate to the Red Cross

• Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
• Make a secure online contribution by visiting 
www.redcross.org. You can choose to designate your contribution to the 
International Response Fund or for the Haiti response specifically
• Text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross
• Drop off a check or cash donation on Thursday, January 21 to the Ohio Historical Center

244 Days Later

When I put my house on the market 244 days ago I was overly optimistic, at least compared to my feelings now.  I’ll agree that my initial price was a bit too high, but after some feedback and exploration, the price came down to what I determined at ‘reasonable’.

Then the real-estate tax credit was extended into 2010 and my realtor and I came to the conclusion that dropping the price again would help.  And although the new, lower price made me feel dirty, whorish – as if I were trying to be the big blue box of housing stock, I knew I’d qualify for a tax credit as well.  The new lower price hasn’t stirred up any new interest and now I’d like to put the price back up to where it was before I started feeling dirty.

What I’ve found most interesting throughout this process is the fact that I don’t see realtors selling lifestyle.  I see them as trying to sell houses as though this were still 1969.  Chrome bumpers on Buick LaSabre’s are long gone and so is cheap fuel.

For example, there has been no mention of the walkability score of my house which comes in at 68, or 13 points higher than the average Columbus score.  The fact that virtually every type of good or service is within close proximity on foot or by public transit doesn’t seem to be important to the realtors.  And if its not important to the realtors how is it going to be important to the buyers?

And speaking of public transit, one realtor stated that living on a bus line must be noisy.  Do I really have to tell an adult that streets with cars are noisier than streets with busses?  Yes – and I did (sotto voce).

My house doesn’t have central cooling (mechanical) and the real estate market makes this out to be a detriment.  No where however has it been stated that the forty-foot maple tree and the two new trees in front of the house now provide enough shade to substantially reduce summer-time heat gain.  By not having central cooling, I have no costs for annual maintenance and my electric bill doesn’t soar in the summer.

Additionally, the attic blankets, thermal pane windows and ceiling fans have added to the energy efficiency of the house.  A small $200 window unit that I bought 8 years ago cools the house just fine when it gets really humid – which lasts about a week or two at the most.  The new owners get to keep it! (That’s $25/year to cool the house vs $250/ year if I had central cooling).

My house doesn’t have a garage which means that I never have to repair the door or worry about getting stuck when the power is out.  And my property taxes are not reflective of a building designed to protect a depreciating machine.  If I were a farmer, that might make sense.   Not having a garage is also tied to my walkability score.  It hardly makes sense to own one car let alone a garage for two.

Did I mention that I have laminate countertops?  This too, is considered to be a detriment to my price.  It seems as if a coffee maker and a bottle of wine somehow sit better on granite.  I find this humorous.  What does one do with countertops other than look at them.  By the way, this house doesn’t have a mechanical dishwasher either.  It never leaks or breaks and costs nothing to repair because it doesn’t exist.  I have two hands and I’m going to assume that the next owner will too.

The claw foot tub.  I almost forgot.  This ultra deep original cast iron tub with shower must somehow make humans less clean than would a shallow fiber glass tub and shower combination.  You see, I’m told that cast iron now seem to be less valuable than fiberglass.

All of these missing amenities make the cost of living in this house less.  Having less to maintain, less to repair and lower utility costs create expendable income – and the ability to walk to most everything means that automobile costs are reduced dramatically.  It is a way of living, not just a stand-alone building.

Jeeze, I almost forgot!  My house is on a park.  An expansive view out the front windows and from the front porch mean offer an uninterrupted vista filled with yet more trees.  Never will the owner of this house have to worry about what moves in across the street because it’s a city maintained park.

Wouldn’t it be wise for realtors to be singing the praises of sustainability first and foremost?  I understand that the house I’m selling is not the perfect house for everyone – I really get that.  But to have sub-urban style expectations for new-urbanist location is, in my opinion, completely off base.

Generally speaking I see realtors promoting the “keep up with the Jones’” mentality rather than ushering in the new concepts of sustainability and long-term cost reduction.  Certainly the rules have changed in the past couple of years and it only seems logical that realtors modify the way they market property.

Warm-Up, Tweet-Up

We’ve read about your plans, your trips, your nights out, the books you’ve read and we’ve opened the links you’ve sent.  We’ve read the remarks you’ve made to others and  most likely, we even know where you live and what bus lines you ride.  But we’ve never met you.

That’s why we’re planning the Warm-up, Tweet-up this Saturday on Chicago’s north side.  Join us at the Wild Pug on Saturday January 9th at 6pm and finally meet the people with whom you share your daily tweets.  Seriously, we know you’ve been waiting for this.

Mix, mingle and meet face to face at the Wild Pug, 4810 North Broadway from 6p-9p on Saturday.  Name tags will be available for those who would like them, or just introduce yourself to the folks who already know you.

We’re using the ‘hash tag’ of #wutu so that we can follow the progress that evening via Twitter.  Use that hash tag in your tweets as you come, go and participate.   And, if you snap photos that night use the same hash-tag, upload them to Flickr and we’ll organize a post meet-up photo pool.

Accessible via the Red Line at Lawrence,  the 36 Broadway or 81 Lawrence – it doesn’t matter how you arrive, just so long as you arrive.

COTA Expands Weekend Service

COTA is once again expanding service beginning January 1st 2010.  New service extends weekend hours, adding two new line-ups on both Saturday and Sunday.

Currently the last downtown line-up is at 10pm.  The new service adds both and 11pm and 12am departures in all directions.  On Sunday as well, two new line-ups are added at 8pm and 9pm.  Previously the last Sunday departure was between 6pm and 7pm depending upon the route.

The downtown line-up is when all busses arrive, wait for transfers, then depart.  It is an effective method of ensuring that customers have access to connecting busses and helps COTA re-set any schedule fluctuations that have occurred.

Fares also increase beginning January 1st.  One-way single fare local will be $1.75 up from $1.50 and monthly passes increase to $55 up from $45.  The last fare increase took place in 2006 however a tax levy of 0.25% passed in 2006 offered COTA additional revenue to increase service.  However, the recession has led to reduced spending and thus reduced tax revenues for COTA.

The extended services on the weekend routes offer tremendous potential for Columbus residents and businesses.  Venues such as the Arena District and Short North are now accessible without the need for a taxi after 10p which is often about the time the fun gets started on a Saturday night.  Visitors to Nationwide Arena and Huntington Park can now travel via COTA following hockey and baseball games and concerts, which should help alleviate congestion.

Sunday’s service extension is a benefit to both retailers and employees, offering greater access to all parts of the city to more people.  Adding almost three additional hours of transit access on Sunday increases the employment opportunities for most Columbus residents.

For more information, please visit www.cota.com

From a personal standpoint, these service additions make it almost possible to eliminate the car for the sake of commuting to work.  There is only one instance now where I would have to use the car, whereas in the past, I had to calculate my schedule precisely and any delay would have meant the need for a taxi.  That potential led me to drive more often, just in case.  That worry is eliminated with the extended COTA service.

It may also mean that a 2010 COTA Challenge is about to begin.

Ganther’s Place Helps Neighborhood Family

In August of 2008 a group of active bloggers, with the help of WOSU and COSI, helped a small Columbus neighborhood learn how to use social media to spread the word about its triumphs and struggles.

The neighborhood, Ganther’s Place is located in Columbus’ south side, just south of Whittier Street.  They now have a blog in addition to their web site.  They use Twitter and FaceBook to keep their neighbors and the adjoining communities informed.  The neighborhood has been the recipient of grants and funding for their community-led projects and has been in the local and national news for a variety of reasons.  Just yesterday they were featured in the New York Times.

So much good has come as a result of their efforts, and the neighborhood leaders continue to press ahead despite the occasional political and social setback.

Slightly more than a year following the creation of their new-media efforts, Ganthers Place is using their local media efforts to communicate the need for help for one of their neighbors.

In early November, a young man was beaten near South High School  which lies adjacent to Ganther’s Place.  The young man known as Justin is now home, but with a trachea and feeding tube.  His mother has had to take two months off from work and Justin’s father is also in the hospital with health-related issues of his own.

In response, Stephanie Sherwood, the woman who runs Ganther’s Place on-line media, set up a fund at the Charter One Bank inside the Parsons Avenue Kroger to assist Justin’s family.  All proceeds from the fund go directly to Justin’s family.

While many people in Columbus are dealing with a challenging economy, this is an exceptional situation that needs our assistance.  Thanks to the ongoing community efforts of the good neighbors at Ganther’s Place, if we all pitch in with whatever we can, we will help the Justin’s family.

Please donate to The Justin Bailey Fund.  Monetary donations can be made at The Charter One Bank inside of Kroger on Parsons Avenue.  You may also donate such things as food and clothing to Ganther’s Place.  Please call 614 732 4436 for more information.

Density, Transit and Parking

The debate over the increase in parking meter rates in Columbus has been raging for a couple of weeks now.  I’ve listened to and read information from the opposition – those who feel that they were not informed about the rates and that the new rates will be too high.  I’ve read and listened to the folks on the defense – those hoping to gain additional revenue for the city to help fund the new convention center hotel.  Both sides of the story have specific merits.

One certainly can’t fault the city for looking for additional sources of revenue.  Columbus is not alone in it’s search.  And downtown business owners are there against all odds, coming to the table with as many creative ideas as they can to help sustain themselves.

There is, in my opinion, a debate that should come somewhere in the middle of both arguments.  It is, I believe, why there is such a chasm being created within this issue.

The middle argument is really about density (or lack there of) and transportation.  Columbus city government has been saying for years that they’re in favor of a strong and healthy urban center – an anchor for the region.  The challenge is that they have failed to deliver.

When we speak of “downtown” I believe its safe to refer to it as the land mass between Nationwide Boulevard and the 70/71 split.  The Short North and the Arena District are doing rather well, but only the revival of Gay Street can be seen as a tiny speck of hope within the landmass referred to as downtown.

While there are more people living downtown than in the past  (4,900 as of the end of 2007), there is now less retail than there was in 2007.  Commercial (office) vacancy rates are now about 13% and there are fewer and fewer reasons to spend time in downtown Columbus.  The city may be constructing parks and parkways, but until there is sufficient pedestrian activity, these amenities are not much more than landscaping.

Columbus city government has also failed to develop a comprehensive transportation system that will support the future growth of the downtown core.  While COTA’s bus system works to a certain degree for the residents of ‘in town’ neighborhoods, it simply does not address the needs of bringing in large numbers of suburban workers or visitors.

Additionally, a vast majority of the new downtown residents still must depend upon the use of an automobile to get to and from basic vendors of goods and services.  That is hardly a draw for downtown living.

It should come as no surprise to Columbus city government that downtown business owners are upset over increased costs being applied to their customers.  The battle downtown businesses currently face is that they must rely upon people in cars to survive – the City of Columbus has failed to deliver an alternative to the automobile.  Density is still too low downtown and the public transportation system is not adequate.

Had these two situations been addressed properly over the past decade, there might be enough pedestrian traffic downtown to prepare for a parking rate increase – the demand would have already been present.  But downtown Columbus is failing and increasing the cost to park is yet another obstacle for our entrepreneurs to overcome.

The debate over this issue has sparked dialogue between the two groups and city government appears eager to appease these entrepreneurs by holding more meetings and carrying out more studies.

Perhaps it’s nice to live in a city where local government is willing to react to its mistakes.  It’s certainly nice to live in a city where the local entrepreneurs have a vision for the place where they chose to set up shop.

Perhaps it would be nice to live in a city where the government takes on a leadership role in the first place by providing vision and alternatives – rather than finding themselves at odds with it’s businesses and residents.

Finding a Home – Part II

Tune into the second part of Finding a Home.  Follow this link to Vocalo to listen.

Finding a Home – Part I

It’s been six months since I’ve put my house on the market.  It still hasn’t sold, but that’s okay.  This time has given me the space to make sense of how it was that I found myself in Columbus and what I’ve gained while being here.

It has also helped me understand why it is that I find myself ready to leave.  This is part one of a two part podcast that explains exactly what happened.

Follow this link to Vocalo where you can listen to Part I.  The second part will be posted on Thursday, so stop back then.