March 1, 2019 at 4:45 pm

Wealth & Poverty | Fieldtrip to See Inequality and Urban Change in Columbus, March 30

The Wealth and Poverty theme presents a fieldtrip titled “Inequality and Urban Change in Columbus” on Saturday, March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To sign up, contact Dr. Yeong Kim, Associate Professor of Geography and Wealth and Poverty theme coordinator, at kimy1@ohio.edu. Space is limited.

Columbus will add 1 million new residents by 2050. An anomaly among its Midwestern peers, the city has become an exciting laboratory for city planning policy. For local planners in Columbus, the work is diverse and dynamic. Whether you are in the public sector helping the city envision innovative new policies or the private sector working with clients around the region, it is an exciting time in the capital city of Ohio.

The Wealth and Poverty theme and the Geography Department at Ohio University together seek to forge a stronger connection between OHIO students and planning opportunities in Columbus. If you are interested in learning more about recent changes in Columbus from those who are leading the way, join our Columbus fieldtrip on Saturday March 30.

Kyle May

Alumnus Kyle May ’09, senior planner with planning NEXT, will lead students on a tour of major sites around Columbus while meeting with some of the key figures who help to shape the future of the city. May earned a B.S. in Geography-Urban Planning from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University.

Itinerary (see the map below for visiting sites)

Saturday, March 30, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Departure: 8:30 a.m. at GoBus stop (lower Baker Center)
Walking tour around several Columbus neighborhoods centered around downtown

1. Preparing for Growth: Planning in a Major American City—10 a.m.

Topics: Planning in Columbus, past, present and future; History of the city and the Planning Division; Day to day operations: What does a city planner do?; Looking ahead: What’s next for Columbus?
Presenter: Mark Dravillas, Planning Division Assistant Administrator
Location: City Building, 111 North Front, 8th Floor Conference Room

2. Green Spaces, Park Development and Community and Public Health—11 a.m.

Topics: Park and trails development; From mall to community park; Columbus City Center/Commons; The Scioto Mile, Rivers, greenways and people; Public health and planning
Presenter: Justin Goodwin, Columbus, Transportation and Scott Ulrich, Columbus Public Health. Goodwin is an Ohio University alum, having earned a B.S. in Geography from the Honors Tutorial College and a Certificate in Environmental Studies and an M.A. in Geography from the College of Arts & Sciences.
Location: Start at 111 N. Front, walk to Commons and along Scioto Mile and on to Franklinton

3. Redevelopment and Reinvestment in Franklinton—noon

Topics: New life in Franklinton, planning for equitable redevelopment; Rise of Franklinton; Breweries as a catalyst for growth and investment; Equitable growth, how do you maintain the character of a place while the investment pours in?
Presenter: Blake Compton, Owner of Compton Construction
Location: Walking tour of Franklinton

Lunch: North Market—1 p.m.

OPTION: Following lunch, students can choose one of two options, Arena District or Short North.

4a. Arena District, Building a New Urban Neighborhood—2 p.m.

Topic: Formerly the home of Ohio State Penitentiary, the development of Arena District began around 2000 with the completion of Nationwide Arena (Home to the Columbus Blue Jackets). As one of the country’s first mixed-use development projects centered on a major entertainment venue, the district has grown significantly to include hundreds of residential units, office space, restaurants, a ballpark, and most recently, a planned new home for the Columbus Crew professional soccer team. From the streets to the architecture, every brick in the district can be traced back to a initial master plan developed by local firm MKSK. On the tour, principals Andrew and Chris will walk you through the process and explain how you build a modern, urban neighborhood from scratch.
Presenter: Andrew Overbeck & Chris Herman, Principals, MKSK
Location: Walking tour of the Arena District.

4b. Short North, From an Arts District to Economic Driver—2 p.m.

Topics: Maintaining the soul of a district in the midst of extreme growth and investment; History of Columbus’ Short North Arts District; Maintaining the soul of a urban neighborhood amidst rapid growth and investment; What’s next for Short North?
Presenter: Betsy Pandora, Executive Director, Short North Business Association
Location: TBD, either walking or in another location on High Street