Economic study set for 161 corridor
Columbus city officials are taking a closer look at the Northland area in an effort to attract more businesses and customers to boost the neighborhood’s economy.
The city Council voted Monday to enter into a contract with Arch City Development for up to $50,000 to provide a market analysis of a roughly 4-mile stretch
of the Route 161 corridor, from the I-71 exits on the west to the I-270 exits on the east.
Officials say thestudywillreview current and expansion opportunities for businesses, evaluate land-use patterns and make recommendations that address market constraints, real estate development opportunities and potential programming tohelp businesses in the area thrive.
Brian Higgins, the principal for Arch City Development, said he will be analyzing the conditions along the corridor and talking to landowners, merchants and residents.
“It’s declined from its heyday, but that’s created opportunities for small ethnic businesses,” Higgins said. A
key is making sure that what comes next doesn’t push out those mom-and-pop businesses, he said.
Higgins said he’ll also be looking at housing needs.
The studyis slated to begin in September and projected to take six months.
Many residents agree that the area could use some attention.
“This used to be a very thriving neighborhood,” said Virginia Hilgert, 68, who lived in the area for more than 40 years before moving farther south to downsize. “But now, this area has been ignored.”
Hilgert recalled takinga bus to Northland Mall when it first opened in the mid-1960s. Everything was new and very exciting then, she said. But throughout the years,newer malls like Easton and Polaris opened, contributing to Northland Mall’s closing in 2002 andother businesses movingoutto those areas, she said.
Mark Lundine, Columbus’ economic development administrator, saidthis stretchof Route 161 is home tomore than 400businesses, and the city needs to understand thosecompanies and the dynamics of the areato better support them.
“It’s the most multicultural business corridor we have in the city,” Lundine said. “Supporting new businesses and entrepreneurs — no matter where they are from — is important to the city.”
Vikram Rimal, 33, and his brother ownindreni Mart, a Nepali-indian restaurant and grocery store at 1573 E. Dublin-granville Road. The brothers came to the United States as refugees from Nepal in 2009.
Rimal said the pair initially wantedto locate their business along Morse Road, a little south of the Route 161 corridor, but they couldn’t find any available space.
He said they are happy with
their current location, andthe shopping plaza that they’re in has grown in the past three years since the opening of their business in 2016.
“The new American community is very entrepreneurial and we want to showcase it,” said Nadia Kasvin, director and co-founder of US Together, one of the two refugee resettlement agencies in Columbus, which is located on the Route161 corridor. “These businesses need to be promoted. They shouldn’t be best-kept secrets.”
Kasvin said she is grateful the citywill study the region. Alarge-scale studyof this sort, she said,will create a broader picture and tell the whole story of the neighborhood and its strengths and challenges.
“Immigrant businesses have prevented the area from having an economic downturn,” said Alice Foeller, president of the Northland Area Business Association. “We are grateful to have these entrepreneurs and new American businesses that are keeping it alive.”
Foeller said the study will help the cityget a better idea about the types of businesses and spaces that are available in the area so it candirect new investors accordingly.
Itwill also recommend a location for Elevate Northland, a proposed community hub for multicultural businesses withcollaborative space and a conference center.she said thebusiness association, Northland Community Council and Northland Alliance are spearheading the project.
“Elevate Northland will create economic development around the community,” Foeller said. “It will also be an anchor for the international community in the region.”