In an update to the first phase of it's "Zone In" project, Columbus City Council members rezoned 160 parcels along Route 161 in Northland to encourage redevelopment in the area.
The rezoned parcels stretch from the Worthington border east to Ponderosa Drive.
Alice Foeller, president of the Northland Area Business Association, said the area was one of the last parts of Columbus built within the I-270 belt. Northland Mall became a staple on Morse Road and Route 161 had what was known as "restaurant row," where people could find many national chain restaurants.
Those restaurants that were popular in the 80s and 90s are no more 鈥� Foeller said Red Lobster was the last, and it closed about a year ago 鈥� but local, ethnic restaurants have sprung up in their place.
"These restaurants aren't vacant, they've been purchased by members of our international community and there are all sorts of cool different international foods for people to explore. It's just not what was there before," Foeller said.
Foeller said the Northland's residents are diverse, but many don't have cars.
"And it's just not a walkable place. It's very hostile if you get out of your car on 161. It's a very wide road that's 50 miles an hour," she said.
Then, there's a development problem: most buildings are set far back from the road, with large parking lots.
"There are all these cool little businesses and ethnic restaurants and cool specialty grocery stores and you can't see them at all unless you stop your car, go into a parking lot and look around," Foeller said. "So, it's very hard for people to discover things along this district."
Foeller hopes the new zoning will encourage design standards that push for new buildings to be constructed closer to the street with parking in the rear. She also wants to see the area become more walkable or public-transit friendly, with a more cohesive look.
"I imagine, you know, canopies of twinkling lights over some of the shopping plazas and outdoor seating," she said. "Lots of things could happen in the future as things are beginning to head in a better direction that's focused on design and people."
Foeller said Northland residents went to Columbus City Council and asked to be included in the city's Zone In plan. Last year, council members along several major corridors, including parts of High Street, Parsons Avenue, Morse Road and a small section of Route 161 around Cleveland Avenue.
The intent was to encourage more housing and mixed-use development where houses exist alongside offices, restaurants and shops.
"Rezoning is often a really contentious thing. Most communities push back and say, 'we don't want this,'" Foeller said about dense development. "In Northland, we recognize we have these corridors that have a lot of capacity."
City council noted they received about 300 mostly positive comments on the proposal to rezone Route 161 in Northland.
Foeller said the city sent people to Northland meetings.
"It was a very detailed process and the city was right there with us," Foeller said. "They were happy that we wanted this part included and we were happy that they were willing to pass a separate ordinance just for this area."
