The Confluence Cast

Five years after approving a restructuring of Columbus City Council, voters this fall will see an expanded council where members reside in geographic districts but one that remains largely the same in terms of who sits in the chamber. This week, Columbus Underground Co-Founder Walker Evans discusses the change, the lack of participation in the races, and a new resource for Columbusites to explore their respective districts.

Shownotes

• ColumbusDistricts.com
• Map to find your district
• Youtube video on council redistricting
• North Market Graveyard episode

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

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In the land surrounding the North Market, there are bodies. “Any time you stick a shovel in the ground out there, you’re gonna find somebody,” says one expert. As developers prepare to erect the 31-story Merchant Building, Columbus Underground reporter Jesse Bethea has been covering the removal of remains from what was once the North Graveyard, a site that pre-dates Columbus. Today, we discuss what is happening at the site, the work that should have been done 150 years ago, and the opportunity that Columbus has to look back at its history.

Shownotes

• “Archeologists Unearthed 40 Graves at North Market in 2022”
• “Come Get Your Dead: The Long History of Excavations at the Old North Graveyard” 
• North Market
• Lawhon and Associates
• Rockbridge
• Merchant Building
• State Historic Preservation Office
• Greenlawn Cemetery Association

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

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Downtown Columbus has continued to evolve over the last 20 years. That evolution has been more prescriptive than some might know. The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation was created in 2002 to implement the city’s strategic plan for Downtown and it has continued to iterate on the policies and projects that allow the neighborhood to reach its potential. On the occasion of its next strategic plan initiative, the organization’s president, Amy Taylor, discusses its history, tactics, and why they are pivoting to focus more on people.

Shownotes

• Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
• Columbus Partnership
• Capital Crossroads
• Columbus Commons
• Scioto Mile
• Veterans Memorial
• COSI
• LinkUS Columbus

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

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Eastland Mall, once a thriving hub of retail activity in Columbus, has closed its doors for good. Historian Doug Motz takes a look back at the history of the mall and examines its impact on the local community, the retail industry, and the city as a whole. We also discuss the political fights that have always followed developments in Columbus and the need to look at the plan for the neighborhood now that Eastland is gone.

Shownotes

• Doug Motz
• Doug Motz on Amazon
• Fashion2Fiber
• City Council Residential Districts

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

The post Eastland Mall appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

Public libraries are a democracy’s best-kept promise and the Columbus Metropolitan Library has boasted that it is “open to all” since its founding in 1873. Chief Executive Officer Patrick Losinski talks this week about the challenges and opportunities facing libraries today, how the system has grown and evolved during his tenure, and how they continue to meet their customers where they are. 

Shownotes

• Columbus Metropolitan Library
• Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation
• Friends of the Library
• Columbus Foundation
• Franklin County Digital Equity Coalition
• Smart Columbus
• Batelle
• The Big Table

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

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Sours, IPAs, and stouts, oh my! Dan Whalen, a reporter for Columbus Underground, has quickly become well-versed in the local brewery and beer scene, despite only living in Columbus for two years. We talked about the high quality, diverse selection, and unpretentious atmosphere of the beer scene in Columbus, as well as ways for people to expand their taste preferences and the current trends in the city.

Shownotes

• The Food in My Beard
• Land Grant Brewing Company
• Seventh Son Brewing Co.
• Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
• Perfect Pour Beverage Company
• Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery
• DankHouse Brewing Co.
• Hoof Hearted Brewing
• Nocterra Brewing Co.
• Gemüt Biergarten
• Chapman’s Eat Market
• Dan Whalen bio and social profiles

Full transcript on page 2

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The children of our community need advocates in order to ensure that they are safe, stable, and able to thrive. When it comes to homes and families, that is the role of Franklin County Children Services. They are tasked with making sure that children are safe in their homes, providing families with resources if they are needed, and providing support to the community in general.

Shownotes

• Holiday Wish Campaign
• Franklin County Children Services
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

The post Franklin County Children Services appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record that you’ve heard before: Voting is important. On the occasion of next week’s midterm election, David DeWitt, the editor-in-chief of the Ohio Capital Journal, sat down with the Confluence Cast this week to discuss how the political landscape has changed in the last two years, the Ohio Supreme Court races and the issues that will be decided as a result of them, the Ohio governor’s race, of course, the US senate race, and why it is so important to vote.

Shownotes

• Ohio Capital Journal
• Ohio Supreme Court
• State redistricting
• Mike DeWine
• Nan Whaley
• Tim Ryan
• JD Vance

Full transcript on page 2

The post The Ohio Midterm Election appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

The role of our elected officials is largely known to us. That is less true for our county commissioners. Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley joins the Confluence Cast this week to discuss what the commissioners’ office does, her background, and how she translates advocacy into her role on the board for the largest county in the state.

Shownotes

• Franklin County Commissioners
• Commissioner Erica Crawley
• Columbus Clippers
• Court Appointed Special Advocates
• Franklin County Rise

The Confluence Cast is sponsored by The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission featuring stories about local and regional partners that envision and embrace innovative directions in economic prosperity, transportation, sustainability, and an inclusive Central Ohio. MORPC’s transformative programming, innovative services, and public policy initiatives are designed to promote and support the vitality and growth of the region.

Full transcript on page 2

The post Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley appeared first on The Confluence Cast.

It has been said that festivals are one of the best things about our community. By extension, the folks who conceive and orchestrate them are making the city measurably better. This week, on the occasion of the upcoming Hot Times Festival, organizer Candy Watkins discusses the origins of Comfest, why Hot Times Community Festival is the friendliest festival in town, and the importance of leaning in to ensure that these festivals continue to thrive.

Shownotes

• Goodale Park
• Comfest
• Hot Times Community Festival

The Confluence Cast is sponsored this week by the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival. The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival has celebrated and shared the arts with the community and region for over 50 years.  This event features fine art and fine crafts from over 120 artists, live performances, food trucks, and art activities. Join the fun at Northam Park on Monday, September 5, from 10 am-4 pm. 

Full transcript on page 2

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