EDITORIAL

everyone deserves kindness.”

Columbus police and city government agencies are trying to make a difference with less-punitive, more problem-solving law enforcement and some attention to repairing and cleaning up crumbled streets, sidewalks and weed-and-trash-choked alleys. Meanwhile, a few social service advocates and volunteers are offering hope and help in the form of free food, clothing and first aid.

But a much more intensive and strategic effort by a much larger contingent of the community is required to turn around this tragic decay while other areas in and ringing Columbus’ Downtown — think Columbus Commons, East Gay Street, Franklinton, the Near East Side around Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Discovery District and Weinland Park — enjoy redevelopment and renewed prosperity.

This is most definitely not to say the Sullivant Avenue

corridor should become the next hot new neighborhood. It would be a serious mistake to seek a makeover that would push current residents away when what they need instead are things any healthy community offers: help to treat addiction and the opportunity to work in good jobs and businesses, including banks, restaurants, retail shops and medical and dental offices.

Affordable decent housing in place of abandoned homes must also be a priority.

The Sullivant Avenue corridor is as good a place as any to focus the attention of Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s goal of improving life in the Hilltop and Franklin County commissioners’ work to alleviate poverty. It also will take significant buy-in from corporate and nonprofit interests.

Surely Columbus has the resources and can muster the will to take Sullivant Avenue out of the shadows of neglect and create a shining example of possibility.