Neighbors Still Not Sold On 70-71 Split Plan

Thursday,  July 8, 2010 8:04 AM

Representatives with the Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association said Wednesday that concerns about the plan have been brewing for years. It said ODOT has provided few details about how the redesign will impact the surrounding areas, 10TV’s Kevin Landers reported.

The two-year, $550 million project will add freeway lanes and widen bridges and bike lanes, among other improvements, ODOT said.

The goal, ODOT said, is to improve safety, reduce crashes, consolidate and eliminate ramps and decrease the amount of weaving that occurs at the split. 

Mike Moore with the Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association said the state has failed to discuss specifics, including how to solve noise issues.

“What it boils down to is ODOT is hearing us, but they’re not listening,” Moore said.  “When we ask questions, they cannot give us straight, specific answers.”

ODOT spokeswoman Nancy Burton said the state has been open to resident feedback about the plan.

“Since 2002 we’ve had more than 250 community meetings, and at ODOT’s request, we’ve asked to be part of the neighborhood monthly meetings,” Burton said in a statement.  “We continue to engage with the community and we understand there are many issues that neighborhoods are concerned about and we are very aware of that.”

ODOT said it shared noise analysis with neighborhoods, and plans to have future meetings with all neighborhood groups, Landers reported.

Meanwhile, Moore said he hopes planners will take his neighborhood’s concerns to heart before any plans are finalized.

“All we want to do is make this project the most successful project that we as a community can,” he said.

The city of Columbus said it too has questions about the project, and continues to hammer out details with ODOT on a weekly basis, Landers reported.

Trash to Treasure: OTE Community Yard Sale 2010

Saturday, June 12, 2010 9am-3pm 

To be listed on the map, send your street address to info@oldetowneeast.org. 

FREE listing for paid OTENA members, $5 for non members.

Send payment to OTENA, PO 7016, 43205. Questions? Call 866.234.0414

Sponsored by OTENA with generous financial support from BLACK CREEK BISTRO (www.blackcreekbistro.com)

CCHMulchSale

OTENA General Membership Meeting February 10, 2010 with Leslie Montgomery, P.E. Project Manager, ODOT. Information to be presented will include urban avenues plans, sidewalk (s) and caps. The Olde Towne Quarter Business District Economic Development will be looked at in regards to how urban avenues and sidewalks may/may not affect the plan.

Tim Hill will also be present to address the 106 process and will open up for public interaction after the presentations are completed. ODOT will be seeking public input on these topics to take back to development. At this meeting ODOT will present progress from November 2009 to present.

The Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association General Membership meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. located at the Columbus Public Health Building 240 Parsons Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43215 in the 2nd Floor auditorium.

The community is encouraged to attend. For questions or information e-mail: info@oldetowneeast.org

COLUMBUS, OHIO MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENTS:

• The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St. The Rev. William J. Shaw, past president of the National Baptist Convention USA, is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $35 and must be bought in advance at the King Arts Complex, 867 Mount Vernon Ave., or by calling 614-252-0868.

• Holy Rosary & St. John the Evangelist Church, 660 S. Ohio Ave., will have its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mass at noon. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Mamie Jenkins, a retired United Methodist Church minister. Call 614-252-3132, Ext. 251, for more information.

• The King Arts Complex, 867 Mount Vernon Ave., will host an open house from noon to 4 p.m. featuring choral and dance performances and a 1 p.m. address by Ohio State University football legend Archie Griffin. More information is available at kingartscomplex.com.

• City Year Columbus is organizing a day of community service to begin at 1 p.m. The service day follows a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Lincoln Theater, 769 E. Long St., for teenagers participating in a leadership program. To participate in the community-service projects, contact Anthony Geraci at 614-586-4529 or ageraci09@cityyear.org. More information on City Year is at cityyear.org/columbus.

• A Martin Luther King Jr. Day march starts at 4:45 p.m. at City Hall, 90 W. Broad St. Participants will walk to Veterans Memorial at 300 W. Broad St., where there will be music and dramatic performances. Visit http://community.ci.columbus.oh.us or call 614-645-1993 for more information.

Monday, January 18, 2010

12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM at The King Arts Complex

Happy Birthday Martin! Join NBC4 WCMH TV, American Electric Power, Fifth Third Bank and Cardinal Health for the Open House birthday celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event is an excellent opportunity for children, families and friends to see performances in the theatre, view videos, learn about the civil rights movement, participate in hands-on- art activities, view art exhibitions in the corridor and Elijah Pierce Gallery and meet new friends.

Open and Free to the public

Sponsored by:
NBC4, Fifth Third Bank, Radio One Inc. and AEP (part of the global traditions series)

The King Arts Complex
867 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43203
(614) 645-KING

Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association  (OTENA) representatives and the I- 70/71 Corridor Project committee met with ODOT on January 11, 2010 to discuss revised construction plans and designs.
 
ODOT stated they intend to honor the design elements and enhancements outlined in a March 2009 letter, and have every intention of working on a neighborhood-friendly design plan.
 
In the upcoming weeks, OTENA and the committee expect to receive results from the studies being performed and will review revised drawings of the project. OTENA and the committee will meet again with ODOT in March. OTENA is pleased with the outcome of this meeting and look forward to a working  relationship with ODOT. 
 
Leslie Montgomery, the ODOT Project Manager with this project, will attend the February OTENA General Membership Meeting (February 10, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m). She will provide a project overview and present updates.
 
Thank you
Mike Moore
Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association, President