Westside Messenger - April 7th, 2019

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PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - April 7, 2019 CENTER Continued from page 1 “My main concern is that there is an elementary school about 100 yards to the east,” said Jay McCallister, commission chairman. “I’m not sure about the location. Also, to the west, everything is residential.” Franklin Heating and Refrigeration, Inc. OH License #20692 SPRING IS HERE! Contact us NOW for your air conditioner tune up. $ 100 OFF a new system replacement! (614) 836-9119 Free Estimates for Replacement Equipment $ 99 00 A/C Checkup Exp. 5-31-19 24 Hour Service $ 10 00 OFF Contract or Service Call www.franklinheating.com Others in the room began speaking about their objections to the house moving into their neighborhood. Flores explained that the drop-in center would only be open 40 hours per week and that those in need could only stay at the center for up to a year if necessary. “I know that people are afraid, but what about the women that are pregnant and have no access to recovery,” said Flores. “This is what we’re all about. If you want to make a difference, sometimes we have to look at the situation and not treat them like garbage.” The house is not a rehabilitation center, but the facility would partner with groups who will help those in need. However, it is up to each individual if they participate. Just Enrolling K-8 Ask about our early entrance kindergarten program Tuition is FREE! ENROLLING NOW for 2019-2020 2018-2019 school year! Hurry, spots fill up quickly! “More addicts will be coming into our neighborhood because it is free here,” said Marilyn Wilson, a resident who lives near the proposed site. “It seems like I am always here to advocate against people coming into our neighborhood and deciding what we need in our neighborhood. Nobody has asked the neighbors. None of us have been asked what our opinion is of this place,” said Lisa Boggs, a Hilltop community resident and activist. “There’s already a safehouse over there and it’s increased the prostitution in our area.” The commissioners expressed concern about how the drop-in center would be operated. “We do need to know more plans. We need a clear understanding of what your program is going to do and how is it going Free produce at St. Agnes Free fresh produce will be distributed on April 26 beginning at 3 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 2364 West Mound St. Patrons are asked to please bring a photo I.D. and proof of a current address in Franklin County. The produce will be distributed on a first come, first served basis as supplies last. LIBRARY Continued from page 1 After rounding the corner near the main entrance, the patrons came across a piece of chalk art from youth services librarian Jessica Smith that depicts a scene from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s novel, “The Secret Garden.” As both book and expansion project share a theme of exploration and discovery, a “cement path” woven into the carpet leads visitors to an archway filled with stuffed animals that welcome them to the sensory room. There, the space is filled with books, puzzles, reading nooks, multiple tables, computers and furniture. Upon leaving the sensory room, the path takes visitors to the youth services program area that will primarily be used to host public reading events and activities, such as the popular Storytime series that is held throughout the year. “With all of this new space, people won’t have to sit on other people when they attend these events,” said Jane Barnhart, the youth services team lead. “Children and parents can be together as they take part whereas it used to be children in one room, parents in another.” Adjacent but separate to the program area is a section for teens where they can browse books on the tree shelf, use specialized tables to access the Internet or just take a few moments to chill out. “It’s just a neat space for teens,” said community events www.columbusmessenger.com to do it,” said commissioner Zerqa Abid. “I think nothing can work in any community unless both neighbors and the service providers are on the same page.” The commission went on to vote down the request of support with 13 against and one abstaining, but the conversation was not done. “I would really love to work with all of you to set up a couple meetings so that we can talk about this issue and come up with a solution that is collaborative and figure this out together,” said commissioner Nikol Madison. “I would love to take this on as my project for the rest of the year to work with the residents and the work that Ms. Flores is doing so that we can solve this issue together.” All parties agreed. Touch-a-Truck The Prairie Township Community Center will host a Touch-a-Truck event from 12 to 2 p.m. May 18 at 5955 West Broad St. For more information, contact the community center at 614-907-7990 or visit www.prairietownship.org. Barnhart. Having worked at the library for nearly two decades, Barnhart has seen the growth of the patronage and been a witness to the need for the expansion of all departments, particularly for youth services. “It’s been pretty cramped for a long time,” she said. Barnhart said she was excited when the expansion project began, but didn’t realize just how much space would be added. “I knew it was around 3,600 square feet of new additions, but seeing it firsthand is something else,” she said. “It’s a little overwhelming, having all of this space.” Still, she knows it will be put to good use. “We have so many programming plans for the future,” she said. “And now we’ll actually have the space for it.” Judging by the comments from the children and adults alike, they too plan to take advantage of the expansion. “I like it a lot,” said Cadence Williams, a kindergartner at Darby Woods Elementary. “I like the play area. I like to read too.” “We will definitely be coming back,” said Hilliard resident Jessica Linley, who came to the dedication with her 5-year-old son Isaac. “It’s such a lovely place to be.”
www.columbusmessenger.com Government Focus By Sandi Latimer Staff Writer The Westland Area Commission approved a modified version of the rezoning request for Blauser Farm on the far west side. A 7-5 vote at the March 20 meeting drew applause from about 100 Summerlyn residents and sent the proposed plans to the city. It will first go to the development commission for consideration. This vote, which came after more than 90 minutes of presentations and discussion, supports all the proposed zoning of a portion of the 200-acres of land except for allowing apartments to be built. The apartment issue was forefront in Summerlyn residents’ testimony at the meeting and a zoning committee meeting a week earlier where about 125 people crowded into a classroom in the Osteopathic Heritage Center of Doctors Hospital. “Apartment (dwellers) are not always that great about maintaining the area around them,” said Janet Cahill, president of the Summerlyn Homeowners Association, “Apartments lower the value of single-family housing.” Annie Mitchell agreed. “I’ve worked at Doctors Hospital and I’ve seen what apartments have done around Lincoln Village North.” Immunizations in Prairie Township Franklin County Public Health will offer adult and childhood immunizations Thursday April 18 at the Prairie Township Fire Department, 123 Inah Ave. Most insurance plans accepted. Discounted services are available for those with no insurance. To schedule an appointment, call (614) 525-3719 or visit www.myfcph.org. Prairie Township Community Cleanup Prairie Township will host its annual community spring cleanup from May 2-4 and May 9-11 at 6725 Alkire Road. The Thursday and Friday events will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the Saturday events will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cleanup is for township residents only, no businesses. Hazardous waste and yard waste will not be accepted. For more information, contact the township at 617-878-3317. Fresh produce to be distributed Free fresh fruit and vegetables will be distributed on April 13 to qualified, low-income Franklin County residents. The fresh produce will be available at Central Baptist Church, 1955 Frank Road in Cahill said when she returned to Columbus in 2014 after a 17-year absence from her native Westside, she was told that the Westside should not expect nice homes in the area. The Blauser property lies west of the Prairie Township Community Center and abuts the Summerlyn single-family housing development. “We’ve been working with the city on this since 2000,” said applicant Jeff Brown of Smith and Hale in his summation of the current plans. Those plans call for as many as 451 housing units on 29 acres near Summerlyn. Two areas are to be rezoned for limited residential and apartments. “I don’t need anyone from apartments looking down on me,” said Cahill, who lives in the southwest corner of Summerlyn, adjacent to an area where apartments are planned. She was also concerned about the proposed walking trail that would bring pedestrian traffic into Summerlyn. “Why can’t you make that a circular trail?” An area along West Broad Street would be zoned commercial planned development for businesses such as restaurants, office space and retail, Brown said. Columbus, beginning at 10:30 a.m. To assist in registration, bring a photo ID and your current address in Franklin County. You are asked to also bring heavyduty bags, boxes or carts to carry the bulk produce home. For more information, contact the church at 614-279-3115 or www.centralbaptistcolumbus.org. Spring into Service at West High School To celebrate Global Youth Service Day, IKIC AmeriCorps will host a Spring into Service event on April 12 at West High School. Volunteers are needed to clean-up the high school grounds, plant flowers and mulch the flower beds. Volunteers can pick from shifts of 8 to 10 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon and 12 to 2 p.m. West High School is located at 179 South Powell Ave. in Columbus. To sign up, go tinyurl.com/WestGYSD. April 7, 2019 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 Commissioners approve plans for vacant Target site By Josh Jordan Staff Writer At the April 2 meeting, the Greater Hilltop Area Commission made its unanimous decision to fill a void in the West Broad landscape. Solstice Sleep is a mattress manufacturing company currently located off of Fisher Road. Now they have the commissions support to buy and renovate the old Target store at 3720 West Broad Street. “What we’re looking to do is bring our entire operation over from Fisher Road and also build a small retail outlet store in the front portion of the building,” said Evan Fercasso who was representing Solstice Sleep. “We would be adding around 10 loading docks to the back of the building to accommodate our inbound and outgoing freight.” Initial questions from the commissioners and the community showed concern about the amount of trucks coming and going from the facility, but Solstice Sleep has a plan for that. “All of our trucks will be heading west on West Broad Street. If they’re going out the opposite direction, they’re going out to Wilson Road,” said Fercasso. This plan means that all truck traffic would only take right turns into and out of the lot in front of Target. Fercasso also said that no trucks would be allowed to park on site, even with the large parking lot out front. This is a continued policy from their current facility. With 20 to 40 trucks expected daily, these policies were welcomed by the commission and was followed by the unanimous decision to approve the variances required for Solstice Sleep to purchase the property. Westland Area Commission shows support for Blauser Farm plan community events The Blauser proposal came up after a request to rezone the corner of Hall and Galloway roads to allow for the construction of up to 138 housing units and a variance for an improved access road. Both issues were approved on a voice vote and sent to the city. Join the Catholic Parishes of the Hilltop on a Journey through Holy Week and Easter St. Agnes St. Mary Magdalene St. Aloysius Holy Thursday - 7:00 pm - St. Aloysius Good Friday - 2:00pm - St Aloysius 7:00pm - St. Mary Magdalene 7:00pm - St Agnes (Spanish) Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil 8:30pm - St Mary Mary Magdalene 8:30pm - St. Agnes (Spanish) EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES 9:00am - St Mary Magdalene 11:00am - St Agnes (Spanish) 12:00 - St. Aloysius
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Westside Messenger - April 7th, 2019

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