Highlights from “Advancing Ohio’s Urban Agenda”

On our journey from Cincinnati to Columbus to Cleveland for the joint ULI/GOPC/LOCUS event series, “Advancing Ohio’s Urban Agenda: Walkable Communities for Globally Competitive Cities,” trends amongst the three cities became apparent as participants engaged in the dialogue about addressing the market demand for walkable development in Ohio. We were able to capture some of these trends in both text and film (yes, videos are coming!) form and would like to share some of the key highlights with you.

Highlights from the Events:

• Millennials (aka Generation Y) are shifting market demand and cities in Ohio must meet that demand for walkable, urban development in order to remain globally competitive.
• As more walkable development (approximately 100-500 meters in diameter of mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development) is added to areas, their property values increase and the local market improves.
• Transportation drives development. If developers build quality products in the right locations with access to urban-friendly transportation systems, they will get a price premium. Seventy percent of ballots across the nation to increase sales tax to fund public transportation have passed.
• Parking is part of the transportation system. The space needed for cars can decrease with decked garages and underground parking. Parking ratios can decrease by encouraging double and triple uses of parking spaces at different times of the day and week with various activities and events.
• In response to the high cost of living in walkable places for residents, developers should create more walkable places and include affordable housing.
• Developing walkable urbanism often requires a private-public partnership. The role of “place management” (such as that of business improvement districts) cannot be overstated. The private sector can lead the way with support from the public sector.
• Place-based and regional governance is needed to identify target areas for densification and investment. These areas should have the capacity, infrastructure and transportation systems to support dense, walkable development.
• The right mix of residential, office and retail depends on the location and business cycle of the area. It’s a good idea to have a mix that encourages activity at all times of the day. Generally, retail follows residents. See Chris Leinberger’s presentation for the six typologies of walkable development; varying product types and mixes perform differently.
• By reusing structures with “great bones,” reinvesting in central business districts, and updating our zoning and form based codes, we can solve many of our cities’ vacancy issues.
• We need to stop subsidizing the kind of development that will not help us stay competitive and start strategically planning how to become what we would like to be in the future. Using comprehensive plans to make decisions and focus resources is important. As Chris Leinberger pointed out, we need to decide if we want to join the 21^st century economy, and if so, and how we want to build. Each of us has the opportunity to be agents of change, each with our own respective roles.
• GOPC and LOCUS can help developers and real estate professionals provide a voice for walkable, sustainable development in policy at the state and federal levels.

The discussions that ensued in each of the cities during these events brought up a diversity of topics, including the high cost of drivable suburban infrastructure, the importance of jobs and business attraction, the role of education, the effect of great public spaces, the market demand of the “creative class,” the impact of technology, and the roles that individuals can plan in creating change in Ohio’s cities.

Stay tuned for more information and videos from these events!

Advancing Ohio’s Urban Agenda

In Ohio and around the country, real estate developers and investors are recognizing pent-up demand for and a market shift toward sustainable, walkable urban places. Despite this paradigm shift and change in market momentum, many local, state and federal policies currently in place distort development incentives and hamper efforts to create the development consumers want and that support strong local economies. Urban developers and real estate and land use experts can align to provide state and national policy makers with expert advice on current consumer demand and the many benefits of urban and metropolitan growth strategies.

Over the past few days—January 16th and 17th—Greater Ohio traveled to Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland to co-host events with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) district councils of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, as well as LOCUS to host “Advancing Ohio’s Urban Agenda: Walkable Communities for Globally Competitive Cities,” an exclusive series featuring Christopher Leinberger, President of LOCUS—a national network of real estate developers and investors that advocates for sustainable, walkable urban development in America’s metropolitan areas.

These first-of-their-kind events in Ohio provided a forum to connect developers from urban centers across the state to discuss the demand for sustainable communities. The gatherings were a critical first step toward identifying ways to inform policymakers and ultimately help more communities across Ohio develop in ways that are sustainable for the environment, the people living in them, and their bottom lines.

Click here to read Mark Ferenchick’s Columbus Dispatch article on the Columbus event: “Walkable urban development will keep younger professionals in Columbus, expert says”.

Greater Ohio 2012 Accomplishments

We are proud of the accomplishments we have made in 2012. To fill you in on what’s been going on at GOPC’s office and throughout the state in the past year, below is a list of our accomplishments within our three priority policy areas: Urban Core and Neighborhood Redevelopment, Transportation and Sustainable Growth, and Regional Governance Reform. Together, redeveloping our urban centers, expanding our transportation options, and fostering regional cooperation will contribute to smarter, more sustainable growth, improving our quality of life and economic competitiveness in Ohio.

URBAN CORE & NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT

Raising Our Statewide Profile:

• Ohio Properties Redevelopment Institute. GOPC hosted this innovative two-day forum that promoted solutions to vacant and abandoned properties. Nearly 200 local leaders from municipalities and non-profit community development organizations across the state attended.
• Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program. The Ohio Attorney General’s office contracted with the GOPC to provide technical assistance to communities for the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program, which supports Ohio’s communities undertaking activities to demolish abandoned and vacant residential properties.
• Panels and Keynotes. GOPC presented on urban revitalization issues over 20 times to a variety of audiences including Ohio code enforcement officers, Cincinnati’s Foreclosure Group, Cleveland’s Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council (VAPAC), and Heritage Ohio workshop attendees.
• In the Media. In 2012, GOPC was quoted or cited over 50 times in Ohio’s major newspapers and other publications around the country. In one article about vacant properties, The Columbus Dispatch relied heavily on data and graphs produced by GOPC.

Extending Our Capacity & Impact through Partnerships:

• Creation of the Revitalization Steering Committee. GOPC created this advisory committee of banks, public and nonprofit stakeholders to assist in the development and evaluation of essential policies and local practices to combat the vacant and abandoned property crisis and foster community revitalization.
• Collaborating with Ohio's Urban Land Institute District Councils. GOPC and ULI are holding events in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus to forge an urban policy agenda for Ohio.
• Working with Smart Growth America. GOPC worked with SGA on an advocacy campaign to reinstate funding for Partnership for Sustainable Communities Regional Planning and Community Challenge grants, which are housed at HUD.
• Brookings Global Cities Initiative. GOPC participated in the planning and hosting of the Brookings Global Cities event in Columbus.

Legislative Advocacy:

• Neighborhood Infrastructure Assistance Program. GOPC co-led a coalition of community development organizations creating a tax credit program for for-profit corporations that invest in place-based catalytic projects in communities around Ohio.

TRANSPORTATION & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Advocating for Change and Building partnerships:

• Transit Campaign Development. GOPC re-convened the Ohio Transportation Coalition in February. Through ongoing conversations with partners, GOPC will work to develop a statewide campaign for increasing funding for public transportation systems throughout the state.
• Clean Ohio Coalition. GOPC participated in an environmental and conservation advocacy coalition around the Clean Ohio Fund.

REGIONAL GOVERNANCE REFORM

Advocating for Change:

• GOPC Presentations. GOPC regularly gave presentations urging reform of current governance structures for sustainable growth and regional economic development in Ohio. Audiences included First Suburbs representatives, government accountants, and community groups.
• Testimony Defining Local Government Profile Report. GOPC continued advocacy for improved data collection on a variety of indicators relating to the fiscal health of the state and its local governments.
• Columbus Metropolitan Club Series. GOPC developed a forum that spotlighted current efforts in Central Ohio that are fostering sustainable communities through collaborative, region-focused, relationships. Impact through Partnerships:
• Tax Loophole Reform. GOPC continued collaboration with the Buckeye Institute and the Center for Community Solutions on joint calls for a critical review of Ohio’s tax expenditures.