The downtown area, all of the wonderful events, friendly neighbors!

Wonderful Opportunities

The ability to connect with wildlife like deer – and the trees – greenspace

Small town atmosphere, friendly people, feels local

Wonderful Opportunities

Our small businesses, our rec center and parks, walkability, library

I love the parks along the river; the walkability and bike paths; school system; and sense of community. Being in Worthington helps create a neighborhood that feels like home but close to downtown Columbus. We love the community center programs and indoor facilities

Walking / sidewalks connecting to the trail (in our neighborhood), Joyas, Libraries, our schools

River access, parks and rec, charm of Downtown, trees, great services (waste and plowing)

Extensive sidewalk / trail access, library system, great schools, Christmas lighting Downtown, inside 270, Olentangy Trail

The inclusivity and commitment to diversity, the schools, diversity in housing (everything doesn’t look the same), the downtown area, the trees and that people take care of their property, the rec center and pool and library

Walkable, charm, safety, community organized events / downtown, easy access to highways, schools in neighborhoods – walkable

The quaintness of downtown. The people and pride in the neighborhood. The bike path along the river. Fishing access park / pickleball courts. Farmers Market. Several small local businesses (Chiro, Wine Shop, Pub Out Back, Yoga). Library.

I love the small town, close community – I love to know our neighbors well and feel safe letting our kids bike around to meet friends and play, I love small downtown area with great restaurants and green space. i love the farmers market and the schools! and that so many of our teachers live in Worthington 🙂

Our local Farmers Market, Alternative education programs (Phoenix and Linworth), Bike Trail and Public Parks, Community Events

I value our community, walkability, fun events, and yummy restaurants. I currently live with family and would love to find affordable housing/condo in a walkable area.

Walkability, community, safety

1) Community spirit of diversity and inclusion. 2) Village Green and events there. 3) Walkable neighborhoods and busineses in old Worthington. 4) Parks and greenspaces. 5) Worthington Schools.

The historic village green, brick buildings; sidewalks: single family homes;

The village green as a place for community gatherings/activities (Sunday funday, farmers markets, market day, art festival – love it that is returned to the green while twhs under construction)

We invested in Worthington many years ago because it is a stable and mature community that’s a great place to raise kids and now, for us to retire in place. Lots of trees, quiet streets, low traffic, and basically a nice predictable place to live. Simply explicitly, we invested in Worthington 44 years ago and every year since, because Worthington is already built out, and not an open corn field with unknown development projects clouding its future.

Unfortunately, these very qualities of life in Worthington now make it an attractive target for outside investors seeking a greater return on their investments in high density apartment buildings. For the same construction cost, 200 apartments in Worthington will command ~18% higher rent than the same apartment complex built just outside of Worthington. This attractive ROI has in turn spawned developer claims that such high density apartments will cure everything from claimed short comings in City tax revenue (that are not there), to empty office and commercial space, to Worthington’s “housing shortage”, to the lack of lower income housing and even diversity. How exactly high density apartments solve any of these problems has not been demonstrated with actual results from the large number of apartment units built in Worthington in the last ten years. In fact carefully examined such apartment rental units often makes these claimed problems worse.

It is distressing to us that Worthington’s current City Planning process evaluating the merits of high density apartment development does not include any other alternatives. Assessments of the relative merits of high density apartments are thus not possible. Neither does City Planning provide financial projections exposing where the resulting wealth creation ultimately goes from various alternative ways of adding homes / residences in Worthington. When a new complex of rental units is built using outside investment funds, the portion of the resulting wealth generated by the labor of the residents living in those apartments and paid out each month to cover the cost of their housing, is transferred out of Worthington, forever. To be clear, the entity “Worthington” is explicitly defined in our City Charter as the citizens residing in Worthington. Any valid evaluation and claim of greater benefit to Worthington citizens must define and consider alternative investments in new Worthington housing where the wealth creation accrues directly to Worthington citizens now and in the future.

It is also distressing that the current City Planning process producing recommendations for high density housing fails to resolve the City’s clearly expressed goals to encourage lower cost housing and promote related population diversity. Specifically, outside investment funds demand the highest return on their investments as possible, in turn demanding the highest initial rents and rent increases as possible. This in turn drives the cost of housing in Worthington up, and defeats lower cost housing and encouraging related increases in diversity.

To finish up, there are many other problems with the current Planning Process that we could cover, but the final important point to prove here is there is at least one alternative way to increase housing units in Worthington that accrues wealth to Worthington citizens, promotes modest housing and rental costs, and keeps local residents in control and confident about the appropriateness of housing development directly impacting them. Accessory Dwelling Units permitted one at a time by the MPC/ARB and open only to the owner occupant in the current house. Income tax goes up from rental income. School property tax goes up when an elderly couple moes into the ADU and rents. Kids can afford to move into their parents neighborhood first into the ADU and then later into the home when they have kids and their parents move into the ADU. Work at Home quiet office space. An office to launch a startup. And the wealth creation and taxes STAY IN WORTHNGTON.

Such alternatives must be held up against proposals to build more high density apartments and judged by the financial benefits they create for Worthington residents, not some anonymous outside investment fund. This is the primary duty of our City Council and City Management.

I love dq

Quality of life, welcoming spirit of community members, schools, city services and libraries, collaborations among government and nonprofit organizations.

Small town feel, inside 270. Livable, walkable and great schools

The small shops and places to explore.