Greater Hilltop Community Development Corp.

Year 2000 in Review

May 23, 2001

The Year In Review

The year 2000 was not only the beginning of the new Millennium, but also a great year for the Greater Hilltop Community Development Corporation. Listed are some of the projects that the GHCDC was involved with this past year.

?¨ HILLTOP SENIOR VILLAGE: Ground was broken and construction started on the Hilltop Senior Village, a brand new senior housing community on Wilson Road. The GHCDC has worked in conjunction with many local churches and organization and National Church Residences to see that this project would happen. Units will be available for rent in Spring, 2001.

?¨ "HILLTOP HOUSE": The "Hilltop House" at 99 Belvidere was built and sold this year. A model design for infill housing, it was designed to complement the surrounding housing stock. By providing new housing in a traditional neighborhoods, infill houses offer alternatives to suburban sprawl. They also help to stabilize and increase housing values in the neighborhoods where they are constructed. A second "Hilltop House" is being planned.

?¨ NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY: The GHCDC was instrumental in working with the City of Columbus to obtain over $9,000 to help with a matching T-21 Grant to fund an Ohio Historical Society project to designate the National Road, Broad Street, as a National Scenic Byway. Hopefully, this designation will be in place for 2003, Ohio's Bicentennial. National Scenic Byway status could generate greater visitor activity for Columbus and the Hilltop and create economic development opportunities.

?¨ NATIONAL ROAD PLAZA PROJECT: Together with 9 community groups, the GHCDC formed a consortium that was successful in obtaining a Columbus Foundation Neighborhood Partnership Program Grant to begin the first phase for the National Road Plaza, to be located between the old and new Fire Stations on West Broad Street. The Plaza project will help to document several important aspects of the Hilltop's history and provide a public outdoor space for community activities. The goal is to complete the project for 2003.

?¨ HILLTOP FARMERS MARKET: A brand new Farmers Market came to the State office Complex on the Hilltop in August, and became an instant success. Fresh, Ohio-grown produce, vegetables and flowers were sold from stands set up in the complex parking lot each Thursday. Marketmasters Frank and Marcy Musson, of the Pearl Alley Growers' Association were extremely pleased by the amount of businesses the market generated and the community support they received. The market will reopen in July of 2001.

?¨ SULLIVANT TRACE TRAIL: This walking and biking trail has been planned for several years since the demolition of the Former Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital. Late this autumn construction was begun by the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department on the first leg of the trail that will begin in Glenview Park on North Eureka Avenue, wind its way along Dry Run Creek past the Centennial Stone then link up with the walking trail of the State Office Complex which begins at the retention basin and continues to Rhodes Park. Plans are to extend the trail across West Broad Street to Glenwood, Hauntz and Burroughs Parls.

?¨ "WOMEN OF CHARACTER" 10th Anniversary : The year 2000 was the 10th Anniversary of the "Women of Character" Awards program that the GHCDC co-sponsors with the WestSide Messenger newspaper. Over these past ten years, scores of women have been nominated by the community and 33 have been selected for their outstanding contributions to their families, churches and the community.

?¨ ENVIRONMENTAL COURT IN THE COMMUNITY: For the first time ever, Judge Richard Pfeiffer held the Environmental Court in a neighborhood location in response to the code citation resulting from the Neighborhood Pride Project activities in the Hilltop. The day-long court session at the GHCDC was declared a success in reaching agreements to correct code violations. The community location, without the time and parking problems involved in going downtown created a less stressful, more cooperative and productive environment for the proceedings.

What Is a Community Development Corporation?

A community development corporation is a not for profit organization that provides a community with a vehicle by which it can be actively involved in its own development or redevelopment. It is a legal entity that can secure funds and expend them on projects and activities that will improve the community.

The GHCDC was incorporated in 1987 through the sponsorship of the Hilltop Business Association and the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. Its mission is maintain a high quality of life for residents and businesses through revitalization by planning, developing, supporting and promoting the Greater Hilltop Area with a primary focus of economic development and opportunity for individuals of low and moderate income".

The GHCDC has a Board of Trustees made up of Hilltop Residents and currently has a staff of two. Its primary financial support comes from the City of Columbus through its Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds.
99 Belvidere Sold !

The Greater Hilltop Community Development Corporation is pleased to announce the sale of its first new construction infill house at 99 Belvidere Ave. The three-bedroom home, bath and a half home features an eat-in kitchen with all major appliances including a dishwasher. It also has a full basement and central air. The house sold for $85,500, and was appraised at $86,000. The house, known as "Hilltop House", was especially designed to complement the architecture of the surrounding homes and to add to the ambiance and value of the neighborhood. The GHCDC plans to construct additional new homes in the area.

Farmers' Market A Success

The Hilltop Farmers' Market has been declared a huge success, according to Market Masters Frank and Marcy Musson. The Mussons are from Harden County, and head up the Pearl Alley Growers' Association, which operates four Farmers' Markets in Bexley, Upper Arlington and Pearl Alley, (downtown) and the Hilltop. After lengthy negotiations, the Hilltop market started in August toward the end of the growers' season, but was well received by the Hilltop community and employees of the State Office Complex.

So, in 2001 the market will be back better than ever in the same location. Plans include beginning the first of July and developing a "Farmers' Market Festival" late in the summer. The festival will have a special theme, as yet undetermined. The growers are also looking into ways of creating signage that could be placed on Broad Street to publicize the market. Stay tuned for new information next spring.
Mental Health Fair

The Twin Valley Psychiatric System (formerly Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital or COPH) is sponsoring a "Family Education and Mental Health Fair" on Friday November 3,2000, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The Fair will be located at the TVPS Multi-Purpose Room at the Kosar Building, 2200 West Broad St.

Speaking about mental health at the Fair will be Jim Ignelzi, CEO, Twin Valley Psychiatric System and David Royer, CEO, Franklin County ADAMH Board. The public is invited to attend. For additional information call 276-0060.
Historic Markers

A grant has been submitted to the Ohio Bicentennial Commission for historic markers for the proposed National Road Plaza to be located between old and new Fire stations #17 on West Broad Street. The markers are funded through the Longaberger Initiative with partial funding coming through the Longaberger Basket Company as a means of placing historic markers throughout the state for Ohio's Bicentennial. Markers usually cost around $1600 each, plus installation, and are quite expensive for any one organization to undertake the entire cost. The request was made for three markers: one to commemorate the Sullivant Family who farmed the land originally, one for the Central Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, now demolished, and the last for the National Road.

The request was made through a consortium of Hilltop groups as a 2003 project. Participating groups are The Hilltop Historical Society, the Greater Hilltop Area League for the Arts, the West by Southwest Garden Club, the Highland Garden Club, the Greater Hilltop Area Commission, the Greater Hilltop Community Theater, Friends of the Hilltop, the West High School Alumni Association, and the Greater Hilltop Community Development Corporation.

The Hilltop Historical Society submitted the grant application on behalf of the consortium and will act as fiscal agent if it is successful. Earlier this summer, the Greater Hilltop Community Development Corporation was awarded a grant of $18,000 from the Columbus Foundation to support the consortium's project.

Environmental Court in the Neighborhood

On Thursday, October 26, 2000, the Greater Hilltop Community Development Center was the scene of the first-ever Environmental Court in a local community. The court was scheduled as a follow-up to code violation citations sent to property owners during this summer's Neighborhood Pride Project.

Judge Richard Pfeiffer, Jr. presided over the day-long court. More than 20 individuals, who had been cited, appeared for hearings according to Patsy Thomas, Assistant City Attorney for code violations cases. Residents who attended felt that it was much easier having the court in the community with easy access to parking instead of going down town. The Judge commented that people appeared more relaxed than appearing in the "normal" courtroom. Hopefully, this effort will continue in other communities.