iNSIGHT UA SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 | 10 AM-4 PM Northam Park | 2070 Northam Road BI-MONTHLY NEWS FROM THE CITY OF UPPER ARLINGTON, UPPER ARLINGTON SCHOOLS & UPPER ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CityiNSIGHTSEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 BI-MONTHLY NEWS FROM THE CITY OF UPPER ARLINGTON WORK BEGINS ON LANE AVENUE PLANNING STUDY The Lane Avenue business corridor is the growth, and put in place a framework about the significance of the business City’s most rapidly evolving commercial to guide this growth in a way that best district for Upper Arlington’s future and district, and it continues to experience benefits the community. to provide input on what they believe unprecedented levels of reinvestment. The Lane Avenue Planning Study should be priority considerations. This transformation has enhanced the process will include: This September, residents can par- area’s vibrancy and appeal, providing • A detailed review of pertinent guid- ticipate in the first round of information new dining, retail, housing and service ing documents, such as the Master gathering, in the following ways: options, along with the community’s first Plan, Unified Development Ordi- • Open House 1: 6-8 pm, hotel (with a second under construction). nance, past studies and survey data. Wednesday, September 18, As the area has changed, the City • Developing commercial streetscape COhatch, 1733 W. Lane Avenue has implemented measures to address standards to enhance the district, • Community Pop Up 1: parking and traffic concerns, provide with a focus on pedestrian activity, 7:30-9 am, Thursday, September transitional buffers from the commercial bicycle access, transit use, outdoor 26, Crimson Cup, 2468 Northwest district into the adjoining residential dining, and opportunities for public Boulevard neighborhood, and to enhance pedestri- art and public gathering spaces. • Community Pop Up 2: 5:30-7 pm, an and bicycle access where possible. • Reviewing and making recommen- Thursday, September 26, Whole A statistically valid survey on the dations for modifying the City’s Foods, 1555 W. Lane Avenue corridor—conducted at the close of commercial design standards. 2018—demonstrated high levels of • A comprehensive traffic evaluation A second round of engagement will resident satisfaction with recent of Lane Avenue, from Riverside occur at the close of the year, at which developments, increased access to Drive to State Route 315—to include time OHM will present its findings and shops and amenities, and the steps traffic counts and projecting maxi- initial recommendations for review and taken to mitigate traffic and access. mum future development counts—to discussion. With new developments already develop a phased approach to The City encourages residents to underway and on the horizon—such as congestion mitigation and parking become involved in this important The Lane II (which began construction requirements. review process to help develop a this summer) and Arlington Gateway— roadmap that will further the corridor’s combined with the pressures of a The study process began in August appeal as a major hub for community growing region, City Council has 2019 and is expected to conclude in the activity, while preserving the peaceful approved a contract with OHM Advisors, Spring of 2020. It includes two phases nature of surrounding neighborhoods. to take a detailed look at the district to of citizen engagement, providing Full details and project updates can better understand the impacts of future opportunities for residents to learn be found at upperarlingtonoh.gov. upperarlingtonoh.gov SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 CityiNSIGHT 3 UA Fire a Huckleberry House Safe Place U.S. Flag Collection Box Huckleberry House’s beginnings date back to 1970, as a single shelter The U.S. flag’s history and the proper etiquette for runaway teens. Today, it has multiple locations that provide shelter for for the retirement of a U.S. Flag are sometimes children in need and support four core programs: Family Support, Youth misunderstood or not practiced. In 2018, local Outreach, Transitional Living, and Crisis Shelter. Eagle Scout Joseph Piccininni wanted to help When children run away, many don’t know where to go. The Safe raise awareness to these issues, putting together a Place Program fills that void, offering safe places for children that then plan to purchase a U.S. Flag collection box for the connect them with the support services offered by Huckleberry House. community and to educate members on proper In the Columbus region, Huckleberry House has over 90 Safe Place etiquette through his Eagle Scout Service Project. partners, with the City’s Fire Division recently joining this effort. Fire Joseph raised the funds needed to purchase Stations 71 on Arlington Avenue and 72 on Reed Road are designated a U.S. Flag collection box, and to cover other Safe Places, providing immediate help and safety for all youth in crisis, miscellaneous costs associated with the project. He while Huckleberry House is contacted and further arrangements made. also worked with fellow Scouts to write brochures After reaching a Safe Place, children are welcomed into the Huck about U.S. flag history, etiquette and proper House Crisis Shelter, where they receive counseling and guidance in retirement in order to provide information and addressing the issues that caused them to run away. The Crisis Shelter is resources for people who want to learn more. 100% voluntary and guardian consent is required once children have These brochures can be found at the U.S. Flag arrived. An overarching goal of the program is to reunite these children collection box, which is located at the Municipal with their families. Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road. All Safe Place locations have a black and yellow Safe Place sign on the Residents can stop by any time during regular exterior. Children/teens can send a text to 69866 with the word SAFE and business hours to properly retire any worn flags. their current location, and they will immediately receive a text with details The City thanks Joseph and his fellow Eagle of the closest Safe Place. They can also call The National Safe Place hotline, Scouts, and all who helped make this project a at 1-888-290-7233. To learn more, visit huckhouse.formationstudiocreates. reality for our community. com. UAHS Class of 1949 Celebrates 70th Reunion with Visit to Historic Tree Grove Of the many traditions that make UA’s Independence Day celebrations so special, the milestone class reunions for UA High School graduates are a favorite. Former classmates travel from near and far to reconnect and share fond memo- ries of their childhoods. This year, the UAHS Class of 1949 gathered to celebrate their 70th anni- versary in a special way. Twenty years earlier, this group commemorated their 50th anniversary by donating a grove of historic trees to the City for the commu- nity’s enjoyment, located at the east end The class is pictured in front of a burr oak, of Northam Park. The alumni worked one of the trees originally planted in 1999. with then students of Tremont Elemen- tary School to plant a selection of tree species propagated from trees of histor- Despite the changes within the tree knowing their gift represents a legacy of ic significance. A kiosk with interpretive grove, as members gathered at Northam history and sustainability for decades to signage was also installed. Park to visit the grove and reminisce, come. Some of the original trees were not they shared with our Parks & Forestry We thank all members of the UAHS well suited to the Central Ohio climate, Division how inspired they are by the Class of 1949 for their generosity and requiring replacement by new species. progress made in just 20 years, while enthusiasm for preserving UA’s beautiful natural environment. 4 CityiNSIGHT SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2019 upperarlingtonoh.gov Community Center Feasibility Task Force Front row (from left): Chuck Manofsky, Matt Rule, Bill Westbrook, Greg Comfort, Nick Lashutka (Co-chair) Back row: Todd Walter, Kelly Boggs-Lape, Supen Bowe, Margie Pizzuti (Co-Chair), Linda Mauger, Merry Hamilton, Linda Moulakis, Wendy Gomez, Brian Perrera Not Pictured: Friedl Bohm There is a strong interest by many “It’s an honor to be able to serve my residents to revisit the issue of community on an issue that is important inadequate indoor community gathering to my family,” said Nick Lashutka. “Like space. Most notably, in a statistically so many parents, we know first-hand the valid survey conducted for the 2018 challenges of getting our kids to their Parks & Recreation Comprehensive extracurricular activities. While we are Plan, 81% of respondents supported a unsure of what the outcome from this feasibility study on a multi-generational process will be, I’m glad the City has set maintaining a prospective facility. indoor recreation facility. The plan also the framework for us to have this • Reporting out the emerging brought to light that a number of recre- important conversation.” options and cost scenarios, and ation and leisure components desired An initial focus of the Task Force studying the level of community by residents are currently lacking in will be to determine if Upper Arlington support. UA—components that would typically be needs a community center. If the answer found within a community center. is yes, they must then find out if the A first meeting was held August 13. On July 8, City Council formed the community will actually support such a Members shared details of their back- Community Center Feasibility Task Force facility. grounds and reasons for participating in (previously called the Community Center The scope of the study will likely the Task Force. Staff presented informa- Study Group) to guide this process. include: tion that would be of use to the group, In July, Council President Kip • Extensive opportunities for including highlights from the 2018 Parks Greenhill asked the members he community participation.