Near East


The Mural showcased above was the brainstorm of two area artists as a means to remedy a chronic graffiti issue. If you look closely at the black lines, it is actually a street scene divided into multiple sections. Each section was completed by a different individual from the very young to the very old. A true representation of the community working together.

Brief History of the Near East Area Commission

 
Parsons Avenue was at one time the eastern most boundary of the City of Columbus Ohio. Anything beyond that could be considered uncharted territory consisting of scattered elaborate homes and farmland. The advent of public transportation (trolleys) was the impetus for further development of the Near East Side. No longer limited to jobs and housing arrangements within walking distance, individuals branched out past city limits. 
 
This development continued for years until two major upheavals – the infiltration of I-71 and I-70 which facilitated a huge exodus to the newly developed suburbs.
 
The Near East Side suffered a major loss of land and in many instances, free flowing traffic was lopped off. Housing deterioration quickly followed the loss of population and formerly stately homes were chopped up to provide, in many instances, sub-standard housing.
 
Model Cities was a federally funded program whose mission was to help relieve some of the damage inflicted on the Near East Side. This effort eventually evolved into the City of Columbus City Council establishing The Near East Area Commission in 1979.

Map of Area Commission Boundaries

Meeting location, Near East Neighborhood Pride Center 1393 E. Broad Street

Key Details

Meeting Time
6:30 pm
2nd Thursday of each month

See announcements below for up to date meeting information

Meeting Place
Near East Neighborhood Pride Center

1393 East Broad Street

Neighborhood Liaison
Jesus Ovalle
614-645-7131
jdovalle@columbus.gov

Appointment Opportunity

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Developers note – cutoff for projects to be put on the planning agenda to start the process through NEAC is before the first of the month. The planning agenda will be available by the third of the month.

Commissioners

  • District One:
    • Aaron Blevins, Planning Vice Chair, aaronblevins@me.com
    • Eric Hutchison, Secretary, Zoning Vice Chair, eric.f.hutchison@icloud.com, 614-561-4403
    • Nathan Harris, Vice Chair, Community Engagement, hrrsnthn@gmail.com
  • District Two:
    • Kate Curry-Da-Souza, Chair, Zoning, kcurrydasouza@gmail.com
    • Casey Crisp, Community Engagement Chair, caseycrisp74@gmail.com
    • Jill Frost, Planning, jillkfrost@gmail.com
  • District Three:
    • Joshua Lapp, Planning Secretary, lapp.46@gmail.com
    • Roxy Brown, Community Engagement Committee, neac.roxy@gmail.com
    • Candace Klepacz, Zoning, cklepacz@gmail.com
  • District Four:
    • Roy Lowenstein, Treasurer, Zoning Chair, rlowenstein6@gmail.com
    • Garey Berry II, Planning Chair, mrgberry2@gmail.com
    • Jennifer Hunt, Community Engagement, neac4hunt@gmail.com
  • At Large Education: Tawana Owens, Planning, tawanaowens226@gmail.com
  • At Large Religion: Kelton Waller, Zoning, kelton.d.waller@gmail.com
  • At Large Business: Ernest Levert Jr, Planning, ernest.neac@gmail.com
  • At Large Human Resources: Katy Macke, Zoning, katymacke@gmail.com
  • At Large Business: Anique Russell, Community Engagement Committee Vice Chair, aniquerussell91@gmail.com

Current Meeting agendas

(click on meeting ->more details and open PDF to see agenda)

Documentation Archives

2021 Meetings
December

DECEMBER 21ST, ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

Agenda (subject to change)

CV21-074, 464 OAKWOOD AVE

CV21-076, 419 S. CHAMPION AVE

DECEMBER 16TH, PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

Agenda (subject to change)

Dave Perry   225 S. Monroe – vacant parcel

Kim Mikanik  449-451; and 1186-1188 Mound Street and 1190-1192 Mound Street single two-car garage

Aaron Boeke, 930 Franklin Aevnue – building

Alaina Yocca – 1290 East Fulton – City owner-occupied program participant

MT Liggett, City Department of Public Service – turning N. Monroe into a 2-way street

DECEMBER 9TH, GENERAL MEETING

In- Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

DECEMBER 2ND, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

November

NOVEMBER 18TH, GENERAL MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

NOVEMBER 16TH, ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

BZA21-129, 151 Sherman Ave.

NOTE: 240 Parsons Ave. is tabled in Zoning and will not appear at tonight’s meeting (updated 11/16/21, 12 PM)

NOVEMBER 4TH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

October

OCTOBER 21ST, PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

OCTOBER 19TH, ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING

In- Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

OCTOBER 14TH, GENERAL MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

OCTOBER 7TH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

September

SEPTEMBER 21ST ZONING MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

Tentative Agenda:

DEMO02136351, 240 Parsons Avenue

BZA21-098, 264 Carpenter Street

CV21-050, 1816 Oak Street

BZA21-100, 47 North Monroe Avenue

163 North 22nd Street

BZA21-070, 767 McAllister Avenue

CV21-038 & Z21-029, 805 East Long Street

SEPTEMBER 16TH PLANNING MEETING

In-Person

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

SEPTEMBER 9TH GENERAL MEETING

In-Person Meeting

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

August

AUGUST 26TH ELECTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING

In-Person Meeting

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

The NEAC Elections Committee will be hosting a meeting on Thursday, August 26th, 2021:

1. To complete the certification of the at-large positions. (Business and Religious  At-Large)

2. To develop a process for the possible October Special Election to fill the several vacant seats on NEAC. (District 1 – 1; District 3 – 1, District 4 – 2) and remaining at-large seats. 

There will be room for physical distancing. Masks are required because it is a city-building.  

This meeting is open to the public.

AUGUST 19TH SPECIAL MEETING

In-Person Meeting

Near East Neighborhood Pride Center, 1393 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205

6:30 PM

July

JULY 8TH GENERAL MEETING UPDATE

April Recordings


This commission has 4 districts.

Committees

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee shall review existing area plans and recommend guidelines for the comprehensive social, economic, and physical developments of the Near East Area.

6:30 pm
3rd Thursday of each month

Community Engagement Committee (CEC)

6:30 pm

1st Thursday of each month

Zoning Committee

The Zoning Committee shall regularly receive, review and make recommendations on all applications for rezoning, variances, and other zoning adjustments; all appeals; all requests for demolition permits, graphics permits, and special permits; and all applications for the city historical designations pertaining to property wholly or partially within the Near East Area.

6:30 pm
4th Tuesday of each month

NOTE: To streamline the project process through NEAC, the Commission has approved moving the zoning meeting to the 4th Tuesday of every month.

Zoning Site Visit

Saturday before General Meeting

9:00 AM

Neighborhood groups within NEAC

Resources

City of Columbus 311

The 311 Customer Service Center is your one stop source for all non-emergency requests for City Services.  We are here to help you reach the correct City Department as quickly as possible.

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311 can help you:

Schedule bulk trash pick up

Report a pothole

Report high grass

Report street light outages

Request City service information

and more!

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Visit 311 online at 311.Columbus.gov