COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first business corridor is wrapping up work for the Clean and Safe Corridor initiative, announced Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. 

The initiative aims to improve safety, boost economic prosperity and promote quality of life along business corridors within the city. The first to be completed is Parsons Ave., between E. Livingston Ave. and Hosack St., which has been undergoing the initiative since March 24. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Clean and Safe Corridor initiative will end on Friday on Parsons Avenue in Columbus

  • Through the initiatives, officials hope to bolster safety, the economy and quality of life

  • In total, the initiative ran for two weeks where the city provided targeted focus
  • Three more streets receiving the initiative will be named at the State of the City

It will conclude on Friday, April 4, according to Ginther and City Council President Shannon G. Hardin.

“The Clean and Safe Corridors initiative represents a proactive, collaborative approach to addressing our community’s needs,” said Ginther in a news release. “By deploying a strike force of city resources and engaging local businesses invested in a neighborhood’s safety and success, this initiative will create safer, cleaner, more vibrant corridors that will benefit the entire City of Columbus.”

The city reached out to business owners along Parsons Avenue to identify specific neighborhood needs. Following the feedback, a two-week project began within the area where the city targeted its resources. Amidst the work were physical changes, such as filling potholes, collecting litter and addressing safety concerns. The city also inspected businesses and improved code violations. 

In total, the services were valued at more than $164,500 in infrastructure and labor, according to the city. The South Side Thrive Collaborative received a $165,000 grant from the city to sustain cleanliness and safety efforts in the neighborhood.

“I grew up on the South Side and my son goes to preschool at the Reeb Center, so I see firsthand how Parsons Avenue is a canary in the coalmine for our City’s growing pains: dynamic small businesses and committed community leaders impacted by the lack of affordable housing and opportunity for all their neighbors,” said Hardin. “I was so proud to convene residents last year who developed this partnership with South Side Thrive Collaborative, which is a model for how we must walk alongside changing neighborhoods before their safety and quality of life issues become even harder to address.”

In total, the city accomplished many steps for safety, beautification and property inspections, including:

Safety

  • 25 cars impounded, 69 citations issued and 56 72-hour warnings for parking violations

  • Two arrests for felony charges and one search warrant executed

  • One handgun and 1g of Fentanyl recovered

  • Numerous citizen contacts, field interviews and traffic and pedestrian stops

  • Canvassing by the Office of Violence Prevention and the Columbus Public Health HOT team to understand safety concerns for residents and businesses

Cleanliness and Beautification

  • 78 man-hours of pothole patching and 55 man-hours of street sweeping

  • 541 bags of litter and 16.76 tons of bulk refuse collected, along with ADA ramp cleaning

  • 11 intersections enhanced with new crosswalks, stop bars and lane control arrows

  • 117 new street signs mounted and hung

  • 34 trees planted, 24 trees pruned, 5 dying and damaged trees removed, 17 stumps ground, as well as brush cutting

Property Inspections

  • 311 building inspections

  • 15 friendly code enforcement letters issued, informing building owners how they may bring their properties up to code compliance

  • 22 code enforcement follow-ups

  • Five buildings referred for graffiti removal by the city

There are three additional corridors where the initiative will be activated this year, which will be announced during the State of the City Address on April 16