Westside Messenger - April 21st, 2024

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Westside
April 21 - May 4, 2024 www.columbusmessenger.com Vol. L, No. 19
4220 W. Broad St.
(Across from Westland Mall)
614 272-6485 open 7 days a week
Featuring
our
famous
STEAK
COMBO!!
Green
Teens
By Christine Bryant
Staff Writer
A local organization is offering teens
looking for a summer job the opportunity
to spend some time outdoors while earning
some cash.
The Highland Youth Garden has
opened applications for the Green Teens
program, a paid, summer work program
at the garden for youth in the Hilltop
area ages 14 to 18. Teens who live or go to
school in Franklinton or in the Hilltop
areas are invited to apply for the program
that runs from mid-June through mid-
August.
Teens will work approximately 20
hours per week and help maintain the
garden by planting, weeding, fertilizing
and using hand tools.
The Highland Youth Garden is a halfacre
plot of land that sits at 67 S.
Highland Ave. just south of West Broad
Street and is home to a wide variety of
fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2023, the
garden produced 3,800 pounds of fresh
produce that was distributed to neighbors
and residents in need.
“At Highland Youth Garden, we are
interested in supporting our immediate
community: the Hilltop and
Franklinton,” executive director Shelly
Casto said. “We want to grow ‘the good
stuff’ right here, where so much good
already exists. We want teens to feel
pride in their neighborhood and play a
role in helping to build it up further.”
The Green Teens program began in
2019 and has employed 51 youth, Casto
says. This year, the organization aims to
hire 15 youth.
“We want teens to feel pride in their
neighborhood and play a role in helping
to build it up further,” she said. “We
believe that’s the way that all our communities
will thrive - by tapping into all
the talents and positive energy that
exists in a place and encouraging it to
thrive.”
See GREEN TEENS page 3
The Highland Youth Garden has opened applications for the Green Teens program, a
paid, summer work program for youth in the Hilltop area ages 14 to 18. Teens who
live or go to school in Franklinton or in the Hilltop areas are invited to apply for the
program that runs from mid-June through mid-August.
Input sought on
zoning changes
By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
Should the construction of buildings
that are four to seven stories high be allowable
on portions of West Broad Street? Is
the area around Great Western and
Interstate-270 an ideal location for a seven
to 10 story mixed-use building? Should
members of area commissions continue to
have a role in approving or denying zoning
variances on properties in the community?
These are just a few of the questions westside
advocates want residents to consider
as city officials mull changes to the zoning
code.
The Columbus City Council voted earlier
this month to declare its intention to
amend the city’s current zoning code. It is
part of a multi-phased plan to modernize
the 70-year-old zoning code in order to
meet the demand for anticipated population
growth and to combat the rising housing
crisis.
The council did not vote to amend the
current zoning code at its meeting on April
8. Instead, the motion opened up a 60-day
comment period for the public to provide
feedback on the proposal. It also kick-started
an engagement campaign with local
area commissions to discuss how the zoning
changes could impact their community.
Inside
See ZONING page 2
Pets of the Week ................. 10
Traffic Enforcement
Franklin Township uses grant funding to
tackle ongoing traffic issues Page 5