Ohio Pen - Columbus: City Announces the Clean and Safe Corridors Initiative on Parsons Ave.

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~ Columbus, OH - In a joint announcement today, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and City Council President Shannon G. Hardin unveiled the Clean and Safe Corridor initiative, a strategic effort aimed at improving public safety, boosting economic prosperity, and enhancing the overall quality of life along key business corridors in the city.

The initiative kicked off on March 24 with work being done on Parsons Avenue between E. Livingston Avenue and Hosack Street. The project is set to conclude on April 4.

According to Mayor Ginther, the Clean and Safe Corridors initiative is a proactive and collaborative approach to addressing the needs of the community. By deploying a strike force of city resources and engaging local businesses invested in the safety and success of their neighborhoods, this initiative aims to create safer, cleaner, and more vibrant corridors that will benefit all residents of Columbus.

To identify specific neighborhood needs along Parsons Avenue, the City partnered with small business owners along the corridor. Multiple city departments then concentrated their efforts on addressing these needs over a two-week period. The services provided by Columbus crews during this time were valued at over $164,500 in infrastructure and labor.

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In addition to these efforts, the City also awarded a $165,000 grant to the South Side Thrive Collaborative to sustain safety and cleanliness efforts in the neighborhood.

Council President Hardin emphasized his personal connection to the South Side neighborhood where Parsons Avenue is located. He stated that he has seen firsthand how it serves as an indicator for some of Columbus' growing pains - dynamic small businesses and committed community leaders impacted by issues such as lack of affordable housing and opportunities for all residents.

Hardin also highlighted his pride in convening residents last year who developed a partnership with South Side Thrive Collaborative. He believes this partnership serves as a model for how cities must work alongside changing neighborhoods before their safety and quality of life issues become even harder to address.

During the two-week activation, the City implemented various repairs and interventions to improve safety, cleanliness, and beautification along Parsons Avenue. These included impounding 25 cars, issuing 69 citations, and giving 56 72-hour warnings for parking violations. Two arrests were made for felony charges and one search warrant was executed. Additionally, one handgun and 1g of Fentanyl were recovered.

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The City also conducted numerous citizen contacts, field interviews, and traffic and pedestrian stops. The Office of Violence Prevention and the Columbus Public Health HOT team also canvassed the area to understand safety concerns for residents and businesses.

In terms of cleanliness and beautification efforts, the City spent 78 man-hours on pothole patching and 55 man-hours on street sweeping. They collected 541 bags of litter and 16.76 tons of bulk refuse, as well as cleaned ADA ramps. Eleven intersections were enhanced with new crosswalks, stop bars, and lane control arrows. Additionally, 117 new street signs were mounted and hung.

As part of property inspections, the City conducted 311 building inspections. They also issued 15 friendly code enforcement letters to inform building owners how they can bring their properties up to code compliance. Twenty-two follow-ups were made on code enforcement issues, while five buildings were referred for graffiti removal by the city.

Looking ahead to the future of this initiative, Mayor Ginther announced that in 2025 it will activate along three additional commercial corridors in Columbus. The specific corridors will be revealed at the State of the City Address on April 16. By focusing resources on each corridor individually, this initiative aims to ensure concentrated and high-impact improvements tailored to each area's unique challenges and opportunities.

This announcement was tagged as a media release by city officials. It is part of ongoing efforts by Columbus leaders to address community needs in a proactive manner through collaboration with local businesses and residents.

Filed Under: Government, City

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