On the evening of September 19th community members, board members, project partners, city officials, staff, and students gathered to reflect on and honor NDC’s accomplishments over the past year. Throughout the office current and recently finished work was displayed, and those in attendance browsed and discussed the projects with the staff. Many discussions revolved around the HIlltop Community Plan, one of NDC’s most extensive projects in 2018-19. It was a lovely evening of

Students presenting project findings from a youth engagement activity in Spring 2019 Community planning efforts by the NDC in the Linden and Hilltop neighborhoods have created an avenue for collaboration between the NDC and the Knowlton School of Architecture’s City and Regional Planning Department, through studio work targeting these two neighborhoods. During the 2017-18 academic year, students explored a variety of topics ranging from food access and alley revitalization t

NDC welcomed Matt in the summer of 2017 as a Senior Planner. Though we haven’t known him for long, the following interview confirms our suspicion: that we hit the jackpot with this addition to our team. Tell me a little bit about your history-your studies and experience.  Well, I went to OSU for both undergrad and grad school- I have a B.A. in History and a Master of City and Regional Planning.  My first job out of college was the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) Fellowsh

After 18 months, the OneLinden plan was released and announced by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther at St. Stephen’s Community House on Oct. 23. The following day, the mayor discussed the plan at the Columbus Metropolitan Club in front of a sold out audience. The comprehensive plan includes action steps to improve transportation, housing, help Linden residents find jobs, reduce crime and improve safety, build business and reconstruct major corridors through the neighborhood. Ginther sa

On Thursday, Nov. 8 many residents of the Hilltop area came together for the second Hilltop Community Plan working meeting. Held at the Boys & Girls Club at 85 Clarendon, the group enjoyed dinner before starting two activities. The first was an individual exercise designed to understand the future aspirations residents have for their neighborhood. Vision 2038 asked participants to imagine moving away from the Hilltop for 20 years and returning. How would they want the communi

Representing much of Columbus’ West Side, the Hilltop is a historic neighborhood with beautiful homes, intriguing topography, and a business district along W. Broad Street. As part of its focus on neighborhoods, the City of Columbus is investing in a plan for the neighborhood—focusing on people, place, and home. With support from the Department of Neighborhoods, the Neighborhood Design Center attended community festivals, markets, civic meetings, and other special events over

Joined by dozens of project partners, board members, community members, city officials, staff and students — the NDC family celebrated our work at last night’s Open House. Brief remarks were offered at 6pm by David Brehm (current NDC board chair), Isabela Gould (Executive Director), City Council President Shannon Hardin, and Nick Bankston (Project Manager, Dept. of Neighborhoods). Our recent and current projects were featured on boards throughout the space, with a focus on th

On April 24, the Linden community gathered at St. Stephen’s Community House to hear a preliminary presentation of concepts developed through public input and engagement starting in March 2017. The presentation gave baseline data for Linden across five topic areas: Education & Workforce, Health & Safety, Transportation, Retail & Small Business, and Housing. The plan concepts were presented as 10 Big Ideas, using an integrated approach that combines multiple community issue are

Supported by Campus Partners, the Weinland Park Commercial Study was prompted by the Housing Committee of the Weinland Park Community Civic Association and represented a desire that the neighborhood have a well informed voice in the future commercial development of vacant land and redevelopment of existing structures. With increasing pressures from a shrinking housing supply in Italian Village, expanding development of student housing close to The Ohio State University, and a

From taking on new types of projects to getting settled into a new office space, 2017 has been a landmark year for the Neighborhood Design Center. Here are a few select highlights of our activities and achievements throughout the year. Leading the Linden Community Plan Starting in February, the planning process for the Linden Community Plan has been a fantastic opportunity for the NDC to focus even more on Linden and the Cleveland Avenue corridor, an area of focus since our f

The Neighborhood Design Center was filled with around 40 people last week when we hosted the Anchor District Council for part of their annual forum—held this year in Columbus. A coalition of nonprofit community service corporations, the Anchor District Council members work in partnership with education, medical, and arts/cultural anchor institutions to transform city anchor districts and their adjacent neighborhoods. The consortium formed in 2012 when the group first convened

One characteristic that often defines beautiful and desirable urban neighborhoods is plenty of trees. A project to increase the tree canopy in the Weinland Park neighborhood has engaged residents, property owners, neighborhood organizations, and institutional partners. Funds from The Columbus Foundation and The Ohio State University Office of Outreach & Engagement (Center for Urban and Regional Analysis) have supported the planting of new street trees in the neighborhood just

Many Linden residents and businesses are now aware of the Linden Community Plan, a process started earlier this year that will continue into mid-2018 to chart a path for the neighborhood’s future. The plan has been commissioned by the City of Columbus in partnership with United Way Central Ohio and The Ohio State University. What is a community plan? Community planning seeks to improve the overall quality of life through recommendations around various aspects of community lif

The neighborhoods within the Livingston Area Avenue Commission and the Neighborhood Design Center held a dedication for the recently installed streetcar sculpture in Livingston Park, near the intersection of Livingston Avenue and 18th Street. Image by Ryan Hillyer The dedication of this sculpture concludes a three year process made possible through funding from the City of Columbus, the Columbus Foundation, the Tom E. Dailey Foundation, and the Greater Columbus Arts Council.