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A Note from the Executive Director
On behalf of MidTown, Inc., I wish the best to all of our students that are returning to school today and on Monday, August 9th with hopes that curiosity, hard work , new friends and mutual respect for fellow students and teachers will rule the day. It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to a close, but we have been busy and hope you will be pleased with our project, program, and event updates.
With warm regards,
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Rendering of 13th Street after a lane closure in each direction and the addition of on-street parking | |
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City leaders have confirmed that the road resurfacing and re-striping on Spur 22 from Reese Road to Veteran’s Parkway– including 13th Street, from 5th Avenue to 13th Avenue, as well as Macon Road and Wynnton Road – are now in full motion. Road work has begun on the east side of Spur 22 heading west towards Veterans Parkway.
The roadwork is another cog in the plans to improve the beauty and safety of the corridor connecting MidTown to Uptown. Now that this much anticipated project has started, we will continue to move forward and explore ideas to further beautify and reactivate this MidTown gateway with several key partners, including architect Will Barnes and Trey Carmack, owner of a significant portion of the corridor’s commercial property. Remember, slow down on your drive through this area and enjoy our partner businesses' murals! We want to change drivers’ habits to make the thoroughfare friendlier to all road users and to ignite economic growth in this core area of MidTown.
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We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Knight Fund and SouthArts for financially supporting LightUp MidTown - a public art initiative we adopted to make 13th Street a more vibrant and livelier corridor. We are thankful for the City of Columbus’s commitment to this transformative initiative. And we also thank you, our stakeholders, for your continued support and patience while we strive to enhance our MidTown community. | |
"Our capital investment in the Warehouse District of Midtown Columbus was partly due to the proposed 13th Street right-of-way improvements. The wider streets with improved traffic flow, on-street parking, and bicycle lanes will reshape the community's use and perception of the area. I see the east-west corridor is a critical link between the rapidly evolving Uptown and Mid City submarkets to Lake Bottom Park. I'm encouraged by this investment by our community and the efforts of Midtown, Inc. and Julio Portillo in fostering this project forward."
Jack Hayes, Commercial Realtor,
Recent 13th Street Investor
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The G.W. Carver Victory Community Garden and Farm
Ronzell Buckner is a very determined man. He began tutoring children from Martin Luther King Elementary, Brewer Elementary, and Carver High School over a decade ago, then added a gardening and entrepreneurship mentoring program in a tiny Carver Heights community garden. Dozens of students loved his program and he recognized the impact a much larger operation could have for many, many more young people. Over the last several years he took his dream to City Council, potential donors and scores of other Columbus movers and shakers, resulting in the rendering above- the conceptual site plan for the G.W. Carver Victory Community Garden and Farm- illustrating a dream that will likely become a reality in the next five years.
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We are honored to partner with the non-profit Mr. Buckner formed, Turn Around Columbus (TAC), under which the Victory Community Garden will operate for the next few years. Mr. Buckner sought stakeholder and investor advice from other successful, similar farms and has adopted best practices for this size and scope that will put The Victory Community Garden in a better position to implement the entire project. At TAC’s request, MidTown, Inc. has served in an advisory capacity to help formulate a three year organizational plan structured to get them up and running with an office and staff.
Our board voted to help secure funds for their building as one of the projects we adopted in our Five year Strategic Plan. We fell in love with this project immediately and recognize its importance to our community. We can't thank Mr. Buckner enough for what he has done to Make MidTown EVEN Better!
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Our second MidTown GetDown struck a happy chord on May 15th by attracting over a hundred folks of all ages, following disappointing cancellations for two years due to Covid19. We orchestrated a wonderful return for this free MidTown concert held at the bandshell in Lakebottom Park.
Opening act was Flint & Steel, a Hilton Heights middle school-aged garage band with an edgy sound. Our Executive Director, Julio Portillo, joined in their jam on bass guitar. Next up were The DeClue Brothers, followed by The Breakdowns, a Tom Petty Tribute Band.
Artist Ralphy Betz invited everyone to channel their inner artistry by painting his iconic van. The Kona Ice truck served up colorful, tasty shaved ice cones and kids took an imaginative break from their electronics to enjoy our MidTown Cardboard Playground. Many thanks to Columbus Parks and Recreation and VSA Security Systems for all their help with set up, and to Storage Xxtra and Brickyard Bicycles for donating the wonderful array of cardboard boxes. We believe the MidTown GetDown hit a high note and we can't wait to do it again next year!
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For sponsor and event information, click here.
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For friends you think could use a lift,
Please consider a MidTown gift!
To shop, click here.
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MidTown, Inc. is funded entirely through private and foundation gifts, grants, and our sole fund-raising event, the MidTown Mingle. This is an exciting time of growth for our community, but we cannot do it without you. Please consider making a contribution to help us advance our mission to “Make MidTown EVEN Better”!
To donate, click here.
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Thank you for reading MidTown Momentum!
MidTown, Inc.: Sustaining and enhancing the neighborhoods and businesses in MidTown Columbus
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MidTown, Inc.
1236 Wildwood Avenue Columbus, GA 31906
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