Friends of Goodale Park

While listening to the fire/ems scanner I was alarmed at the situation on Glenwood this morning. Has the once proud neighborhood founded by Lucas Sullivant suffered another loss?? How much further will the Bottoms decay??

I remember the time when my family was young and I was a proud resident in Franklinton.... I am very often reminded of that fact. Franklinton is the only place I have fond memories of.... it was a time of bonding and belonging to a wonderful group of citizens. Gladden was a big part of our family life and my children were greatly blessed by the experience of belonging to a great community center. But, as time marches on all good things come to pass. I do keep track of what is happening in Franklinton and I am not happy... I realise the demise and decay that should not be happening to an area that was the first settlement in central Ohio. Why is this happening to the foremost establishment in the Columbus area?? Forget Columbus.... Franklinton was there long before the capital city. All other areas seem to "get their due" but Franklinton always gets left out.

Central Ohio is neglecting an area that provided the seed from which Columbus sprouted from.... Franklinton provided the base from which Columbus was founded on. The "Bottoms" came first and Columbus was the result!! Forget all other areas that are marketed as "prime" real estate.... they would not exist if it were not for Lucas Sullivant. It is very well time for the residents to take control of their heritage and bring Franklinton to the place that it deserves... Franklinton is number 1 in areas that needs to be revived. I can think of no other area that deserves to be tops on any list. I wish I had never left.... it is nice where I am at but I long for the days when I lived in a great neighborhood.

Getting back to the main topic..... I am saddened by the loss of another structure in "The Bottoms"... What do you guys want?? Do you want an empty field that is absent of your heritage?? Would another "crack house" be more to your liking?? Do you want the small time gangs to dictate your lifestyle?? Can you walk in the area without fear of being robbed??

I am not happy to hear of another structure being lost (not yet confirmed) in Franklinton. I remember my time as a resident and cherish those days the most. I have no idea what the current resident's are hoping for.

Hey Marc, I posted a comment to this post but it somehow ended up on your oct. 2008 comment.

Hi Shoafie,

I just posted a reply to that post.....LOL.

I was the adult when my family moved to the "Bottoms" in 1980. Most of the residents were retired or young families (like mine) and we had friends galore. Many great times were to be had at Gladden with the programs they offered all year 'round. I miss those days when I knew all my neighbors and socialised with them, but, those days seem to be gone with most people creating their own little world while looking at all others with distrust. Many times the residents don't stay long enough to become a part of the community due the number of homes that are rentals. With cheap housing the area has become slum lord heaven and the houses are used as an income source until they become completely dilapidated or tagged as a nuisance, then abandoned.

I'll check out the area in a month or two and see if I can determine some statistics on vacant houses and the slum lord situation. There has to be a way to hold the slum lords responsible for the deteriation that has occured. I know of two 4-unit flats that have been unoccupied for years with property taxes due. Why the city has not acted to get the units viable I do not know. These apartments need to be foreclosed and put into the redevelopement program...... along with many other properties.

Two new houses have been built on the block I used to live on. New houses are not the answer!!! The existing houses need to be addressed first.... how do you expect to sell a new house when the rest of the area has fallen into decay?? The city is going about the situation in the wrong way. Fix what exists and fill the empty lots later. Enforce the zoning codes and penalise the slum lords while giving tax breaks to responsible landlords who will try to reviatlise the area. I know incentives are in place but few have taken the advantage to bring this area back to stature it deserves.

Hi Marc, I totally agree with you that the older homes should be fixed up first. Most of them were built with good quality timber and are structurally sound.  But when government gets involved and dictates what, how and when neighborhoods are to be improved, it will in most cases be bass ackwards and contrary to good business practices. Those abandoned homes could be auctioned off with the provision that they be re-habed and cared for IAW good neighborhood practices such as a homeowners association. The governments roll should be to endure that the utilities such as sewer, water, electrical, sidewalks, streets and other in-ground utilities are updated and can last for another 100 years. But knowing how bureaucrats work, that won't happen.