Introduction  |  Conclusion   |   Speakers  |   Sponsors

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has made preservation and creation of housing in the city a focus of his administration. "Home ownership forms the cornerstone of my administration's approach to strengthening our neighborhoods. People who own their homes, paint their homes and mow their lawns care about crime, trash and the look and feel of their neighborhoods. They build wealth and hope for their families. They take pride in their streets."

Coleman has proposed action to achieve his goals. "The city's first Housing Trust Fund will be formed by convening a group of builders, bankers, realtors, investors and community leaders. It will help us determine how best to use city resources like the 154 vacant properties the city owns and the 1,000 other vacant properties that exist in Columbus. We can convert boarded-up houses and vacant lots into hundreds of new homes and apartments."

As new and rehabilitated housing is developed, citizens should remember that diversity is one of the great strengths of downtown Columbus and its neighborhoods. Housing should be planned so it enhances and does not reduce that diversity. Housing for lower-income people should not be segregated from higher-end housing, especially not in neighborhoods that already have sufficient housing options for lower-income people. Similarly, higher-end residential units should not be clustered away from other kinds of housing. Development incentives should include provisions to ensure that many kinds of housing exist together and that the community9s natural diversity is maintained.