Author: M. Adair

From the archives: Zoning processes of the past Columbus originally passed its first zoning legislation in 1923, then made major updates in the 1950s. In this post, you’ll find a collection of selected articles from The Columbus Dispatch and The Ohio State Journal about zoning issues throughout the 20th century. May 13, 1923 — The…… Continue reading From the archives: Zoning

A housing crisis for every decade The current realities of our housing situation often seem new. The media regularly speaks of a “housing crisis” driven chiefly by a supply shortage. This shortage is often characterized as a result of recent underbuilding. But media headlines throughout the 20th century have consistently proclaimed the existence of a…… Continue reading A housing crisis for every decade

Macro-level reactions to Phase One of the ‘Zone In’ updates The reforms in the ‘Zone In’ proposal resemble what cities around the country have been doing over the past few years to modernize outdated land use policy. Overall, this is a rather modest package of reforms that would create a more standardized and predictable pathway…… Continue reading Macro-level reactions to Phase One of the ‘Zone In’ updates

Density Daydreams Old-time Columbus had a lot more people! Not only people, but hundreds more shops, restaurants, and retail services of all kinds were available throughout our downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. And they were accessible by foot or by using miles and miles of streetcar tracks that criss-crossed the city—in addition to interurban trains that…… Continue reading Density Daydreams

How “the preferences of white property owners have been institutionalized” by land use policy Trounstine’s largely quantitative work of political science is a clear portrait of how white property owners have leveraged the power of separate political jurisdictions to exclude others while enriching themselves. Segregation by Design reveals how “the preferences of white property owners…… Continue reading How jurisdictional fragmentation exacerbates inequalities

How public meetings empower neighborhood gatekeeping Einstein, Glick, and Palmer pored through thousands of meeting minutes and matched public commenters with the voter roll to make fascinating advances in the scholarly understanding of public engagement and socio-demographic status. Unsurprisingly, they found that commenters are generally older, whiter, and more likely to own property than average…… Continue reading How public meetings empower neighborhood gatekeeping

Do you support more housing…but have one of these common concerns? True story: we need more housing. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good, and be careful how you voice support. Find more awesome pro-housing and pro-neighbors swag here: https://neighbors-for-moar-swag.creator-spring.com/

Harrison West: Once home to 7,500 people—now about 3,500. Neighbors for More Neighbors—Columbus is excited to learn of the addition of new housing units in historic Harrison West, an important downtown neighborhood that has experienced enormous change over the past century. A plan to convert a 1927 building at 875 Michigan Avenue to residential use…… Continue reading Harrison West: Once home to 7,500 people—now about 3,500.