The New York Times has given the city of Columbus an unequivocal stamp of approval, and without condescending to do it.
The latest sign of the development renaissance: a plan by Arshot Investment Corporation to build Millennial Tower, "a 25-story, $90 million, 400,000-square foot mixed-use development that includes 180,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space and 100 apartments," according to Schneider. "Within a few blocks of the coming tower are five other buildings that are under construction or just opened, totaling $241 million in private investment to construct 275,000 square feet of office space, about 800 residential units and 80,000 square feet of retail space.
Schneider credits the downtown revitalization to a city income tax increase in 2009, among the other planning and design decisions that Columbus has implemented since—and there are a lot of projects and positives to describe. The feature-length article sends a resounding signal that Columbus, Ohio is a model of urban revitalization.
Susannah Elliott, a writer for The Columbus Dispatch, noticed the sober and thorough celebration of Columbus' achievements from the mainstream media. Usually, writes Elliott, "national publications…write gushing, but incredulous, stories about Columbus. You know, the 15th-largest U.S. city that most Americans still seem to dismiss as flyover country." In addition to noting what was different about Schneider's example, Elliott also provides a list of examples of the more incredulous variety.
FULL STORY: Open Spaces Bring Light to Downtown Columbus
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research