Milo Grogan Sustainability Plan.Pdf
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Milo-Grogan Sustainability Plan A Product of City and Regional Planning Program The Ohio State University Spring 2015 Acknowledgements We acknowledge and extend sincere appreciation to everyone who assisted us in our research endeavors during the term. We would like to Student Team Members: extend particular thanks to: Robert Barksdale (MGAC), Todd Pulsifer James Burdin and Grant Pittmann (Department of Public Utilities), Erin Miller (Office Brian Kinninger of Environmental Stewardship), Shoreh Elhami (City of Columbus), Andrew Crozier Kevin Wheeler, Christine Leed and Mark Dravillas (Planning Division), George Larger Michael Kasler (Office of Sustainability), Ben Piscitelli (Franklin County Shelley Denison Board of Elections), Joanne Pearsol (Center for Public Health Practice), Kelsey Mailman Jason Mulhausen and Matthew Dickinson (Third Hand Bicycle Cooper- Timothy Dietrich ative), Laura Hess (Chamber of Commerce), Belinda Taylor and Andy Luan Nguyen Volenik (Central Ohio Transit Authority), Tasha Williams (Boys & Girls Ran Duan Club of Columbus), Doreen Gosha (Martin Janis Senior Community Richard Rush Center), Craig Nettles (J.H. Ross Family Life & Community Center), Richard Edwards Brittany Ylissari (Habitat for Humanity), Christy Rogers (The Kirwan Chia-Chin Yu Institute), Scotte Elliott and Tammy Robertson (MORPC), Kevin Ei- David Zeller gle (Ecohouse Solar), Mark Bellamy (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio), Cynthia Rickman (Department of Development), Shannon Pine Instructor: Dr. Maria Manta Conroy and Paul Friedman (Columbus Building and Zoning), Kraig Shrewsberry and Noel Alcala (ODOT), Rachel M. Silsdorf (Near East Area Liaison), Scott Ulrich (Public Health), Jake Boswell (OSU), and Steve Bollinger (Wagonbrenner Development). You all provided invaluable information, resources, and insight that guided our efforts throughout the planning process. We also want to thank the entire Milo-Grogan community, citizens and businesses, for their support and enthusiasm for this project. We hope you found it a valuable experience. Table of Contents Introduction 2 Background Purpose Methods and Means Indicators-Overview Energy and Waster Reduction 6 Economic Development and Social Equity 42 Land Use and Urban Ecology 79 Transportation and Mobility 101 Conclusion 127 Appendices 128 References 130 1 Introduction Background economics or environmentalism. Social equity became an equal part- ner in sustainability out of necessity. The 20th century was a tumultu- The term sustainability has its roots in the writings of economists ous time in terms of war, self-determination and national sovereignty7, such as Reverend Thomas Malthus, who foresaw disastrous outcomes and the Civil Rights Movement8; associating equity with sustainability between the skewed relationship between resources and overpopula- was a natural extension of learning from the destruction and hardships tion.1 His and others’ writings coincided with the Industrial Revolu- experienced by various peoples as a result of the conflict and upheaval tion, a time of unprecedented global economic growth and technolog- that occurred during the last 100 years. Because of its modern inter- ical progress. Picturesque landscapes gave way to urban growth and disciplinary nature, sustainability has been co-opted by environmental deplorable living conditions, which were, at that time, the antitheses groups and corporations alike, as well as by organizations focused on of environmental consciousness.2 Eventually, there were those who equality, and has become a tool for ensuring longevity and success in noticed humanity’s progress was made at the expense of the rest of the countless efforts and in various disciplines.9 earth and its resources, giving birth to mindfulness for the preservation of the environment. This awareness came to fruition in the words and It is this holistic idea of sustainability that makes it attractive for neigh- paintings of Romantic Period authors and artists, whose art renewed borhoods and communities. The British government recognized this an interest in and celebrated the beauty of nature.3 After the Romantic over 10 years ago, leading to the development of its 2003 plan Sustain- Period ended, environmentalism lay dormant for over a century during able Communities: Building for the future. The primary focus of this the industriousness of the Victorian Period. However, environmen- plan is housing. In studying how to approach its housing challenges, talism received a shot in the arm in the 1960s, in reaction to global the UK government realized that not only does inadequate housing growth, increasing concerns over pollution, rising distrust of govern- negatively impact other areas of concern, such as health, transportation, ment and literature such as Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.4 education and social services, but housing itself is affected by such topics as healthy environments, strong economies and social well-be- Although resource depletion and its devastating effects on economics ing10 – the very same tenets central to sustainability. The UK under- and human populations were around since Malthus’ time, and even stood that sustainability is an effective way to revitalize, strengthen and though environmentalism and environmental movements had been ensure the success of urban neighborhoods like Milo-Grogan. around before, sustainability, as a recognized and legitimate subject matter, did not enter the public consciousness until the 1987 United Purpose Nation’s World Commission on Environment and Development – also called the Brundtland Commission – exulting sustainable development Originally framed by a network of industrial railroads coming north- as the panacea that would enable human progress and development east out of Columbus, Milo-Grogan was initially two neighborhoods to succeed without compromising the Humanity’s future.5 It is also in the late nineteenth century: Milo, named after a brickyard owner because of the Brundtland Commission that sustainability became an named Milo Streets, making up the western side of the neighborhood, amalgamation of economics, environmentalism and social equity – called and Grogan, named for Joseph Grogan, a local shopkeeper and Post the “Three E’s of Sustainability”6 – rather than remaining focused on Office administrator, comprising the eastern portion. The two neigh- 2 Report Overview p.123 borhoods were isolated in their infancy by the railroads that surrounded which contained proposals for community-building, urban design, land them and by the fact that the neighborhoods were not part of Columbus use, and public and private investment14; as of 2012, most of the plans nor connected to its infrastructure. The City of Columbus needed tax recommendations had not been implemented15. In 2009, Dr. Jesus revenue from the bustling industry growing along the railroad tracks Lara, a landscape architecture professor in The Ohio State University’s in Milo and Grogan and the pair of neighborhoods needed modern- Knowlton School of Architecture, conducted an urban design studio, ization. Columbus annexed the two neighborhoods in 1908. For the which made recommendations for the physical design of a portion of next half-century, Milo-Grogan and its industrial businesses prospered. the neighborhood in order to improve residents’ quality of life16. In Sadly, suburbanization and highway construction, maladies that afflict- all, three significant planning efforts have focused on Milo-Grogan in ed many industrial neighborhoods in the mid-20th century, precipitated the last eight years, and there is little evidence that any of them made a Milo-Grogan’s decline; economic, industrial and social conditions lasting beneficial impact. began deteriorating after World War II and have continued to do so since.11 This plan is a culmination of the efforts of Dr. Conroy and 13 students, who studied and evaluated the Milo-Grogan neighborhood during the The Milo-Grogan Area Commission is an organization that represents spring 2015 semester. The purpose of this plan is to introduce sustain- the neighborhood and works with Columbus, local businesses, neigh- able principles into the community and to encourage and foster practic- borhood residents and potential developers. Founded by the Columbus es and behaviors that produce sustainable outcomes. These outcomes City Council in the 1970s,12 the commission is a quasi-governmental will serve to reinvigorate Milo-Grogan, effectively planting the seeds body, comprised of 11 volunteers who serve in a decision-making for a prosperous community. and advisory capacity, facilitating communication between the afore- mentioned stakeholders.13 It is this organization that represented Methods and Means Milo-Grogan and served as the point of contact with Dr. Maria Manta Development of the sustainability plan began with researching Mi- Conroy and her graduate students in City & Regional Planning at The lo-Grogan background information, including previous plans and Ohio State University during this effort. historical literature, most of which were posted on an online project management website called Basecamp. Basecamp served as the re- During the fall 2014 term, Dr. Jack Nasar of the City & Regional Plan- pository for all work done on the project as well as the primary means ning program oversaw an urban design studio in Milo-Grogan; it was by which the project teams communicated and shared information he who recommended to Dr. Conroy that she continue their work in her with the Milo-Grogan community. After sufficient