(This article, reprinted with permission, is a portion of an article appearing in Bexley News on July 28, 2008)  8/4/08

Plan gives city things to consider

* Study by university students encourages the development of East Main Street, perhaps through the addition of apartments or restaurants.

By SARA JOHNSON

Bexley City Council was encouraged to envision the possibilities of a water fountain, outdoor seating by Alum Creek, and even a gourmet grocery store in Bexley at the last meeting before its August recess.

Ken Gold, an Ohio State University professor, presented a comprehensive plan to revamp the look of East Main Street at the council's July 22 meeting. The plan was created by his students in a 10-week graduate course that pushes students to study real-life cases that could be taken on within a community, Gold said.

"We believe the areas (in Bexley) chosen to look at are really critical pieces for Bexley to make a difference. Not for today, necessarily, but for the next 50 to 100 years. We, in Bexley, have the opportunity to stand up and recognize it. If we take control of the area, we can change Bexley forever," he said.

Gold bounced off ideas to possibly add a boutique hotel, a new city hall, apartments, a grocery store, restaurants along Alum Creek, a workout facility and a parking structure.
The students even went as far to call restaurant entrepreneur Cameron Mitchell to see if he would consider locating one of his restaurants in Bexley. He expressed interest, but saw the need for more parking, Gold said.

The proposed improvements would start at Bexley Gateway at East Main Street and Parkview Avenue and end at Drexel Avenue. OSU will assist Bexley in any of the proposals Bexley wants to pursue, Gold said.

The idea for the students to examine Bexley came about after Bexley Mayor John Brennan ran into Gold earlier in the year.

"You gave us the opportunity to come into your community to be at Main Street Redevelopment Commission meetings and Planning Commission meetings ... From this, they took away great stuff, and what they gave back to you is the beginning of thinking outside the box," Gold said.
 

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