NEAC site visit report 9/14/02
484 Linwood, CHP wants permission to tear it down
Many commissioners were there (I forgot to count, Bailey, Shelby, Jackson, Lewis, the Powells, Cooley and probably others) Maybe 10-12 members of the general public (Olde Towne, Old Oaks and next door sorts) and 1 CHP person- the project manager, Jeff, I think. Jeff tried to get the door open so we could go in, but it was too securely boarded up. Plans for the replacement house were not ready yet. He thought they would be available at the NEAC zoning meeting Sept 17. Several commissioners noted the structural problems. Zoning chair Commissioner Shelby, after some discussion, said that NEAC would not vote until the plans for the new house were available(Columbus Dept. of Development does not require plans first, as the CHP person reminded NEAC. There was general discussion about whether the house should be torn down. The Old Oaks guys and the Olde Towne sorts were against, the next door neighbors were for. There is a CHP fill house 2 doors down that was used as an example for both sides. No agreement was reached.
Oakwood and Fulton, Macedonia Baptist Church wants zoning variance to change from residential to parking.
Most of the same commissioners were there, and not quite as many general public. Mr. Towns, a religious leader of the church and a church elder whose name I didn?’t catch were there.
I think the commissioners were not pleased that the church demolished the house on one of the sites before they were allowed to. Mr. Towns went on a lot, but basically said that they need the parking space (so as not to upset the neighbors), they plan to grow and might even expand the church into one of their current parking lots (they have 48 off street non-handicap, 3 handicap and about 12 on street in front and on the side street).
He was very upset that the zoning committee voted to recommend the demolition of the house at the site visit but then NEAC didn?’t. Pat Lewis explained that she changed her vote since many of her constituents told her they were against the demolition. He repeated that he just didn?’t understand how the system worked, so one of the commissioners mentioned that there were several commission spots vacant and he could be one if he wanted. He seemed to consider it. Next he tried to tell us that we were better off without the crime that formerly took place in the demo?’ed house, but neighbors pointed out that it had just moved one house down. There was discussion about the guy who got killed there just after the demo. Mr. Towns pointed out that they take good care of the church and the empty lots, and this looks true. I pointed out that they were letting the baby street trees on their front and side die (sorry about interrupting like I did) but he said the City planted them. I didn?’t think much of that excuse, especially as he went on about how they care about the neighborhood, which includes trees, as far as I am concerned. Anyway, they had the plans for the new parking lot; your basic sea of asphalt, with a couple of bushes and trees around the perimeter, and an iron fence. Not bad as a parking lot goes. Several NEAC commissioners pointed out that we have seas of parking around churches, some still active, and NEAC doesn?’t think much of them. NEAC Zoning voted to not recommend the zoning variance to NEAC, which will vote on at the next general meeting.
484 Linwood, CHP wants permission to tear it down
Many commissioners were there (I forgot to count, Bailey, Shelby, Jackson, Lewis, the Powells, Cooley and probably others) Maybe 10-12 members of the general public (Olde Towne, Old Oaks and next door sorts) and 1 CHP person- the project manager, Jeff, I think. Jeff tried to get the door open so we could go in, but it was too securely boarded up. Plans for the replacement house were not ready yet. He thought they would be available at the NEAC zoning meeting Sept 17. Several commissioners noted the structural problems. Zoning chair Commissioner Shelby, after some discussion, said that NEAC would not vote until the plans for the new house were available(Columbus Dept. of Development does not require plans first, as the CHP person reminded NEAC. There was general discussion about whether the house should be torn down. The Old Oaks guys and the Olde Towne sorts were against, the next door neighbors were for. There is a CHP fill house 2 doors down that was used as an example for both sides. No agreement was reached.
Oakwood and Fulton, Macedonia Baptist Church wants zoning variance to change from residential to parking.
Most of the same commissioners were there, and not quite as many general public. Mr. Towns, a religious leader of the church and a church elder whose name I didn?’t catch were there.
I think the commissioners were not pleased that the church demolished the house on one of the sites before they were allowed to. Mr. Towns went on a lot, but basically said that they need the parking space (so as not to upset the neighbors), they plan to grow and might even expand the church into one of their current parking lots (they have 48 off street non-handicap, 3 handicap and about 12 on street in front and on the side street).
He was very upset that the zoning committee voted to recommend the demolition of the house at the site visit but then NEAC didn?’t. Pat Lewis explained that she changed her vote since many of her constituents told her they were against the demolition. He repeated that he just didn?’t understand how the system worked, so one of the commissioners mentioned that there were several commission spots vacant and he could be one if he wanted. He seemed to consider it. Next he tried to tell us that we were better off without the crime that formerly took place in the demo?’ed house, but neighbors pointed out that it had just moved one house down. There was discussion about the guy who got killed there just after the demo. Mr. Towns pointed out that they take good care of the church and the empty lots, and this looks true. I pointed out that they were letting the baby street trees on their front and side die (sorry about interrupting like I did) but he said the City planted them. I didn?’t think much of that excuse, especially as he went on about how they care about the neighborhood, which includes trees, as far as I am concerned. Anyway, they had the plans for the new parking lot; your basic sea of asphalt, with a couple of bushes and trees around the perimeter, and an iron fence. Not bad as a parking lot goes. Several NEAC commissioners pointed out that we have seas of parking around churches, some still active, and NEAC doesn?’t think much of them. NEAC Zoning voted to not recommend the zoning variance to NEAC, which will vote on at the next general meeting.
