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Columbus, OH

COLUMBUS

Turning Neighborhoods Around

Reactivating South Linden

South Linden is 83 percent African American and contains much of the city’s unrehabilitated housing. The population dropped significantly over the last decade, and those who remain are less likely than ever to own homes. Crime rates have gone down, but rates of incarceration have gone up. Living Cities has supported the efforts of Greater Linden CDC (GLCDC) to revitalize the Linden community, both by improving quality of life and providing support to local business. Since 1991 GLCDC has distributed more than $150,000 to nearly 50 business and community groups. Old, dilapidated structures have been replaced by new commercial, retail, and residential buildings, and Cleveland Avenue, the artery of the old city, is beginning to attract business again. GLCDC has also lent support to the Four Corners Project, the first major commercial development project in Linden for almost 40 years, including retail stores, housing, and offices.

Franklinton Gets the Edge

The Franklinton Development Association has taken major steps towards increasing opportunities for homeownership.    It is preparing to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the West Edge Business Center, a new $60 million office/light industrial park now under construction, which is expected to bring approximately 1,000 jobs to Franklinton over the next 5 to 7 years.

Development on the Hilltop

Columbus’s Hilltop neighborhood is one of the city’s most treasured historical districts. Hilltop CDC has been active there over the last decade, redeveloping commercial property, assisting with the creation of Hilltop Senior Village, and developing several recreation trails and parks in the area. It has also been heavily involved in the ongoing efforts to make sure that efforts to revitalize Downtown Columbus respect the integrity of historical neighborhoods like Hilltop.