Campus Partners will receive $450,000 to help with the revitalization of the Broad Street Portfolio.
Ohio U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Columbus, voted in favor of the $397-billlion spending plan for the 2003 fiscal year, which included the money appropriated for Campus Partners.
This is the second time the federal government has given funds to the revitalization efforts. The portfolio is a $65-million project to renovate Section 8 housing in the University District and the Near East Side of Columbus. The housing is not suitable for living and lacks many basic amenities such as air conditioning and carpeting.
Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing has taken the lead in the revitalization process and will buy the current management company, Broad Street Management Incorporated, and begin renovating.
“The $450,000 will help move things along and allow us to do a top-notch job with the revitalization,” said Hal Keller, president of OCCH.
Steve Sterrett, Campus Partners spokesman, said Pryce was approached in 2001 and asked for $3.5 million over three years.
“The funds were requested because there is so much predevelopment work involved with renovations,” Sterrett said. “It also will help pay for legal and regulatory costs associated with revitalization and to implement social services plans for people in the area.”
Campus Partners was awarded $750,000 of the $3.5 million requested the first time.
“Not only will the Campus Partners neighborhood revitalization effort increase the safety and attractiveness of the Ohio State University to current and potential students through enhanced economic development, but the project will also improve the standard of living for lower-income families living in the area’s affordable housing,” Pryce said. “This project is a win-win for the university and the Columbus community, and I am proud to have helped direct federal funding to this important initiative.”
A member of Pryce’s staff described the process of obtaining federal funds as a process beginning with public interest brought to the representative’s attention and ending with or without the funds, and in this case, a percentage of the funds requested.
Campus Partners met with Pryce’s staff members and made them aware of why they were seeking federal funds, the benefits of the money, and other money already acquired.
Pryce receives a number of requests for federal assistance. Based on the amount of money requested and the benefits of the project, she chooses whether to request funds from the Committee on Appropriations for the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee is divided into 13 subcommittees, including one involving the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Pryce wrote letters to the HUD subcommittee to request money to go back to Columbus for her district outlining why she thought the revitalization is important and why it would be a model for other cities.
Further support was sent to the subcommittee by other concerned citizens with interests in receiving funds for revitalization. The chairman of the Committee on Appropriations determines the amount of money to go towards the Portfolio based on benefit to the public.
It was determined Campus Partners will receive $450,000 of the $3.5 million requested. Sterrett said Pryce will be approached for a third time for the 2004 fiscal year with the same request of $3.5 million.
“We are very pleased with the funds we have already received to help make a difference and improve the quality of life in the University District,” Sterrett said.
Keller said OCCH is grateful for Rep. Pryce’s efforts. He said the funds will not change any established timeline for renovation and OCCH hopes to acquire BSMI by the end of March and begin construction in September.
